$1500 for Home Theatre - Help Me out!

mreddie on 30/10/2020 - 10:32

Hello I have up to $1500 to spend on a small and simple home theatre setup

Ideally looking at
2 x wireless speakers (small profile - we don't have a large lounge)
1 x sound bar
1 x smallish sub woofer (perhaps wireless as well)
Perhaps an amp but again needs to be simple.

Was thinking Sonos might be the way to go although unsure how well they integrate together (I do own a Sonos One already which has nice sound). Or perhaps all we need is a Sony basic home theatre setup?

Currently have a Sony Bravia TV it has ARC and digital out. Be interested in everyone's thoughts.

Thanks

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • 87percent on 30/10/2020 - 10:36

    Are you putting the wireless speakers in the home theatre setup, with a soundbar?

    • mreddie on 30/10/2020 - 10:37

      Yes ideally, perhaps not feasible?

      • 87percent on 30/10/2020 - 10:50
        +1

        Isn’t that the point of a soundbar (to replace a 5.1 setup, or instead of a 5.1 setup)??

        • mreddie on 30/10/2020 - 12:41

          No idea, that's why I'm asking.

  • Fergy1987 on 30/10/2020 - 10:55

    Track down some B&W 685 speakers or similar and get an amp and you'll be good to go in a small room

    Years ago I bought 685's and a NAD Stereo amp for $1700 and haven't looked at upgrading since. Sounds great. Way better than any soundbar or "surround system" from Gerry

    • SwampCrack on 30/10/2020 - 12:36

      Not really home theatre though is it Ferg buddy?

      • Fergy1987 on 30/10/2020 - 12:56
        +1

        and a soundbar is?

        • SwampCrack on 30/10/2020 - 12:59

          I've auditioned a few that are pretty convincing.

          Notably the Yamaha YSP-5600Mk2.

  • This Guy on 30/10/2020 - 11:16

    That is a Samsung q950t. Sonos will cost at least a grand more.

    • ozbargainsam on 30/10/2020 - 20:42

      To add: sign up for TGGC via Sunsuper (don't even need to enter in TFN, I think).

      Take that price ($1348), take it to JB HiFi, then pay for it via discounted gift cards. There are 5% ones available via Suncorp. One JB store refused to price match but another one did.

      • popcornready on 31/10/2020 - 14:19

        Can anyone sign up? Or do you need to be with sun super?

        Can anyone take a screenshot of the Sonos Arc price and post it here? :)

        • ozbargainsam on 31/10/2020 - 14:27

          Doesn't cost anything to join Sunsuper.

          • popcornready on 31/10/2020 - 14:39

            @ozbargainsam: Awesome. Good to know.

            I am assuming it will take some days to apply and be accepted into the Good guys commercial platform?

            If anyone is so kind to post a screenshot of the Sonos arc page, that would be appreciated as I am hoping to buy this weekend

  • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2020 - 12:26

    From my user experience (not an expert, mind you) I spent a lot of time analysing the differences between Home Theatre systems, and the difference on consumer products in that price range is negligible.

    Due to 3 kids, I "downgraded" to a soundbar last year. I think it's great. When I can trust the kids not to be pulling cables etc i will get another HT system. If I spend more than $1k on it I would go all in on a high end celiling mounted system.

    • This Guy on 30/10/2020 - 23:43

      Not with sound bars.

      At that price the Arc and the Q950T are both significantly better than the competition sound wise, but both have their limitations. If sound is not your first priority, most of the competition have a compelling use case.

      I guess for $2.5k you could be going 5.0 with Krix Atmospherix as a high end ceiling mounted HT system. You would be pretty game to install yourself. There is a reason install on roof speakers is often $500 per speaker. Your budget is a little short if you want sides, 'atmos', to match it with a Seismix or if you want stronger fronts like the Epix. Yes, you could easily do it with Polks, but if that is your goal, don't demo the something like the Krix. Polks are fine in isolation, but their tone, to my ears, is a little off for HT (and my ears suck).

      • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2020 - 09:51
        +1

        I would go all in with a HT/surround sound system, paying what is required to get top quality, is what i meant.

        Not with a sound bar

  • StickMan on 30/10/2020 - 13:10

    Get at least a 3.1 channel soundbar.

    Subwoofer is required for movies, and works really well for most types of music.

    The '3' is the addition of a third center channel. This is where all your dialogue for movies will come from, instead of the L/R speakers which also play every other environmental audio. This is incredibly important for movies, and is the difference between watching a movie and hearing all dialogue comfortably, vs putting the volume up and down like a madman.

    • mreddie on 30/10/2020 - 14:20

      Good advice, like it!

  • Damien A on 30/10/2020 - 16:53

    I am in a similar position, I have a 10 year old Sony Bravia (looking for 2021 models before I upgrade to 4K - X9500i maybe?)
    This was paired with a 10 year old Sony 5.1 Home Theatre (BDVE970W) with floor standing speakers and Sub and was looking for a replacement audio solution.

    I looked at Sonos ARC and decided against, apparently there is some Dolby audio challenges where is won't play certain sound formats - low risk but still.
    Also didn't like that I would lose an HDMI port on my TV as I am currently using them all (the Sonos ARC only has 1 HDMI in and 1 HDMI out)

    Last weekend I picked up a Sony HT-Z9RF, it's a 5.1 system (3ch Soundbar, 2 wireless small rear-speakers and a wireless Sub)
    It has 2 HDMI in and 1 HDMI out, so I actually gain an HDMI port.

    It's an older model but I really like it so far - sounds really good for my use.

    Sony HT-Z9RF is currently on sale at JB-HiFi

    • mreddie on 31/10/2020 - 09:20

      thanks will check out too

    • mreddie on 31/10/2020 - 09:21

      how do the rear speakers work, are they powered?

      • Damien A on 09/11/2020 - 08:36

        Yes, they are powered.

  • chillybags on 30/10/2020 - 19:11
    +1

    What about the JBL 9.1. It’s $1499 RRP, and has been advertised for as low as $1300 recently. It’s a Dolby atmos 5.1.4 speaker setup. The rears mount onto the sound to charge, just pull them off and you get allegedly 10hrs of playback completely wireless. 3.0.2 in the soundbar and each rear is 1.0.1. I don’t have but reviews show it’s got a good subwoofer and looks good in terms of the ease of use without having to run power to the rears.

    • mreddie on 31/10/2020 - 09:20

      Thanks will look into

  • berger on 30/10/2020 - 21:53
    +1

    Consider a Bose Soundbar 500, a 500 bass module and rear speakers. A great package and around your budget. We sell plenty of these!!

    Or a Sonos Beam and Sub. Close to budget too.

    • mreddie on 31/10/2020 - 09:20

      cheers will look into

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join