Any Home Theatre Recommendations? Looking to Upgrade to Surround Sound

long time listener on 28/10/2023 - 21:58

I am definitely no audiophile but am in the midst of doing some research on some basic home theatre setups.

Looking to upgrade from a sound bar (Samsung MS650) which has been pretty solid for 5 years. I believe you can buy wireless rear speakers for it but I’ve read that the multiroom app might be a bit troublesome and there are plenty of reports of connection and noise balancing issues.

I don’t want to spend an absolute bomb but I’m thinking I might go the classic 5.1 wired approach with two rears, two sides, a front, sub and amp. Looking for any advice or recommendations or where to research or what brands/models to look at.

Electrical & Electronics Home Theatre System

Comments

  • jv on 28/10/2023 - 21:59
    -7

    I just use my TV's speakers.

    They work just fine…

    • ThithLord on 30/10/2023 - 09:39

      SkyNews broadcasts in 2.1 so you're sorted. Some people enjoy Surround Sound experiences

      • jv on 30/10/2023 - 09:53

        I don't watch SkyNews. Do you?

  • AustriaBargain on 28/10/2023 - 22:07

    I'd be happy with two very powerful and clear (that won't distort at loud wall shaking volume) bookshelf speakers and a sub. If I had real budget I'd be happier with the latest 12.2 Atmos or whatever. But never underestimate loud, wall shaking power. It'll serve you well for anything; music, tv, movies, games. Make sure it has at least a remote control for volume.

    • Ozbar Gain on 28/10/2023 - 22:44
      +3

      For watching content, having a centre speaker for dialog is a must

      • AustriaBargain on 28/10/2023 - 23:34
        -2

        If the LR and good enough dialogue sounds fine through them. I use the tousling output on my tv and it must mix it down cleverly enough for dialogue.

  • sumyungguy on 28/10/2023 - 22:24
    +1

    5.1: front L/R, centre, rear L/R. subwoofer. Upgrading at this point in time you should consider Atmos.

  • Hybroid on 29/10/2023 - 00:17
    +3

    Buy USED! One of the very very very rare few items I have no issues buying second hand.

    You can get really great stuff for super cheap if not fussy. It's that happy medium where people won't pay much for them second hand but at the same time people can't bear to throw them away so you can snag a decent bargain. Check your local marketplaces and you should be able to get a decent 5.1 or 7.1 system for $200-250. Even a Sony 7.2 Muteki system is about $250.

    Define what features you really want and that'll narrow down options for you. Do you need Bluetooth? Do you want ATMOS? Then those pretty much kill off anything more than couple years old and you'll want to pickup a receiver alone for $250 then match some speakers to it.

    • ForkSnorter on 29/10/2023 - 07:36
      +2

      I agree. 5-15 year old amplifiers/receivers in perfect condition sell for as cheap as $50 secondhand. If they don't come with speakers, you can usually get a decent pair of floor speakers for less than $100, sometimes less than $50. Then all you need is a cheap centre speaker (for clearer voice sounds) and a subwoofer. Although they often do include 2 speakers and a subwoofer. Sound will be far better than most soundbars.On the other hand, it will take up more space, but if you set it up nicely (I use a beautiful timber TV cabinet and put plants on top of the floor speakers), it can look better than a soundbar. I don't bother with the extra surround sound speakers because they look silly no matter where you put them, and the improvement in sound, if any, is negligible.

      • long time listener on 29/10/2023 - 21:14

        Would definitely be on board with that. Would it be possible to use the soundbar in the av receiver setup as the front centre speaker? I think it’s spec’d as a 3.0 channel. It has optical, hdmi and aux in, wireless, and hdmi out (arc).

        If you don’t bother with extra speakers, where do you place your floor speakers? 90 degrees to seating or further behind?

  • DGrayson82 on 29/10/2023 - 10:53
    +1

    Do you have a budget in mind? Maybe look at an AVR by Denon, Onkyo or Yamaha. Speakers by KEF, Polk, Q Acoustics, Monitor Audio, Paradigm (and heaps more)
    For the sub i'd probably look at SVS

    • long time listener on 29/10/2023 - 21:16

      I don’t know enough yet to know what a reasonable budget is but will keep looking.

      Thanks for the recommendations.

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