Seeking Advice on My First Home Theatre Sound System

beefmaster on 31/12/2024 - 11:34

I’m looking for recommendations on a decent home theatre sound system for my first setup. I’m not planning to expand it in the future or dive into the audiophile hobby, so I just need something simple and functional. I don’t have much knowledge about sound systems, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Here are my requirements:

2.1 Sound System: My living room is spacious, but my TV is in the corner, and I don’t want to rearrange furniture or change my seating position to optimize the experience.

Compatibility: It must work seamlessly with my current TV, an LG OLED55C3PSA, without requiring additional devices.

Media Sources: My primary media outputs are a Chromecast with Google TV, a laptop, a PS5, and a Nintendo Switch.

First Watch: The first thing I’ll watch with the system is the anime Fire Force on Crunchyroll, which I’ve heard has exceptional sound quality.

Budget: My budget is $500, though I’m willing to stretch it slightly if the upgrade is justifiable.

With my limited knowledge, I’m currently considering the Edifier S351DB Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers with Subwoofer as a baseline option.

Link to Edifier S351DB https://edifier.com.au/collections/tv-home-theatre/products/…

I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions based on my needs. Thank you in advance for your help!

Electrical & Electronics Home Theatre System

Comments

  • elgrande on 31/12/2024 - 12:00
    +12

    Have you applied for the first home theatres grant? You should be eligible.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:07
      +1

      Sounds too good to be true, but I still google it.

  • Hybroid on 31/12/2024 - 12:13
    +6

    2.1 bookshelf speakers aren't really "home theatre". Have you considered how you will connect them to the TV? They appear to only have RCA and Fiber Optic TOSLINK - does the LG have either of those?

    You can get a 5.1 or 7.1 system for cheaper. Especially if you go used, it's one of the few things that's worth getting second hand. Not much goes wrong with them and people don't have the heart to chuck them out so they sell them on for cheap.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:09

      Never knew 2.1 is not a thing. I will look into a sound bar as other have suggested. As for cabling, I have no idea what is on the back. I will check later.

  • MS Paint on 31/12/2024 - 12:14

    I would aim for a sound bar with wireless sub. It will turn on with the TV and allow you to just use the cwgtv remote the majority of the time. Sound quality will be pretty similar.

    • S92WTB on 31/12/2024 - 12:21

      Wireless subs any good? I currently have a 5.1 Sony Blu-ray surround sound with sub wired to the Blu-ray and the rear speakers on their own separate receiver which connects wirelessly to the Blu-ray. (This would be a good set up for the OP, as the system allows for auto calibration so you can mount the speakers wherever you want and get the best sound quality still)

      But my next house will have the tv mounted in a location where a wired sub on the floor nearby will standout from a mile away, so am interested in wireless sub options

      • MS Paint on 31/12/2024 - 12:23
        +1

        Works perfectly fine for me.

        IANAL - I Am Not An AudiophiLe

      • spackbace on 31/12/2024 - 12:24

        Could you have the receiver in a cupboard etc to the side, and just run RCA's under a rug/couch etc to put the sub near where you're sitting?

        • S92WTB on 31/12/2024 - 12:30

          The tv is going to be in a 10cm recess in the wall next to the back door, the wall will be the same wall which runs down a long hallway to the front door. So I'm concerned when you open the front door you will see a big black box at the end of the hallway (there won't be a cupboard there either to keep the sight line to the backdoor).

          I might be able to wall mount the Blu-ray system and try to run the cable under a rug. Can you locate a sub near a couch etc? I've always had it located near the tv

          • spackbace on 31/12/2024 - 12:32

            @S92WTB:

            Can you locate a sub near a couch etc?

            For most modern systems it's just RCA's, though yours sounds like a "home theatre in a box" setup which I've had before and had it's own connectors to the blu-ray/amplifier box

            You could also just have the whole system in a cupboard away from the TV and just run an hdmi cable to the TV? Could use conduit etc. Even better if you could just run the cords up to the ceiling

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:11

      I thought 2.1 is the way to go to achieve decent sound. I will look into a sound bar.

      Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar + Bose Bass Module 700

      • MS Paint on 01/01/2025 - 22:14
        +1

        Great for music and stereo separation but not necessarily TV and movie audio.

  • spackbace on 31/12/2024 - 12:25
    +3

    I would think you'd find it lacking without a centre speaker handling audio, and everything will get muddled into one.

    That said, I'm coming from a 5.2.2 system and I'd struggle to go back to anything else

    • Bruceflix on 31/12/2024 - 13:19
      +1

      I 2nd this. Look at 3.1 as minimum.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:14

      With all the furniture and the TV on the corner, I dont think I can do any 5.X sound system, the cabling will be ugly.

      Never knew sound bar is better than a stereo setup. I will look into Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar + Bose Bass Module 700

  • brendanm on 31/12/2024 - 12:30

    As above, get something with a centre speaker.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:15

      So a soundbar is better than a stereo setup?

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 31/12/2024 - 13:49

    Go second hand with that budget. You'll find great gear cheap, just because peeps want to go compact soundbars these days.

  • sumyungguy on 31/12/2024 - 13:53
    +1

    Per @Bruceflix, definitely go 3.1 but with a $500 budget you'll struggle to find a decent setup even at pre-owned prices. Perhaps a soundbar plus sub will do for now, for example… unless you listen to music more often than disclosed.

    • spackbace on 31/12/2024 - 14:07
      +1

      I wonder if a Z906 setup would suffice, and just don't install the rears?

      • sumyungguy on 31/12/2024 - 14:12
        +1

        I feel the soundbar will perform much better with 5.1 content; and it has a much beefier sub with crossover optimised to the bar.

        • spackbace on 31/12/2024 - 14:16

          Beefier? The sub on the soundbar is 100W, Logitech sub is 165W. Both RMS

          Not crazy compared to a standalone, but still fairly comparable, more leaning the Logitech way. Soundbar speakers are both 50W each, Logitech satellites are 67W each

          • sumyungguy on 31/12/2024 - 14:21
            +1

            @spackbace: I stand corrected, Logitech sub is an 8-inch so would have more doof/woof; but no HDMI and wired sub are deal-breakers for me

      • MS Paint on 31/12/2024 - 14:20

        and just don't install the rears?

        Ad advised above, IANAL.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:15

      I am considering Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar + Bose Bass Module 700

  • Gunnar on 31/12/2024 - 15:22

    For $500 I honestly wouldn’t bother with a home cinema setup, just a sound bar

    Is also go second hand (esp. for speakers). Speaker technology doesn’t really change much so you can get nice speakers cheap but again I wouldn’t bother with this with a $500 budget

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:16

      Thanks, I will up my game

  • Sal in SA on 31/12/2024 - 16:42
    +1

    $500 budget… yeah ok..
    Talking bottom end soundbars .. not really HT at all.
    Basically any at that price range will all sound as bad as each other.

    • beefmaster on 01/01/2025 - 22:17

      Then how about Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar + Bose Bass Module 700

  • apple2016 on 31/12/2024 - 18:32

    Probably get a sonos beam 2 , you can add surrounds , sub later on. You cant get much under $500

  • Aus Falcon on 31/12/2024 - 21:03
    -1

    Whatever you do, don't get a Samsung.

    Nothing but trouble, mediocre features, and misleading specifications.

  • jattsta on 01/01/2025 - 08:20
    +1

    id go with samsung HW-Q600C Q-Series. $400 if you have samsung corporate otherwise $500 at JB. Its a 3.1.2 channel with wireless subwoofer, Dolby Atmos. You wont be disapointed. Had my samsung soundbard for 8 years and still going strong.

  • dimmies on 01/01/2025 - 12:56
    +1

    Given you have an LG OLED, I can highly recommend the LG SC9S as an option. It's just slightly over your budget, but you could probably pickup a bargain from eBay or Marketplace.

    It works really well with your LG TV and has a bracket that mounts to the TV. It's got a wireless sub and also Dolby Atmos and other connections you may need (spare HDMI 2.1 bypass and other acronyms I don't fully understand). Sounds quality is pretty good, bass is more than enough for action movies.

  • Rockets84 on 02/01/2025 - 11:57

    For $500 your going to struggle with a Home Theatre setup even if you buy used and then it would be something older and on the lower end. Active speakers like the Edifier's will 100% be a upgrade on the TV's speakers and one of my friends does something similar for his living room setup, he also has a beefy HT room though. But I wouldn't call that setup HT. Facebook market place is full of home theatre setup's (amp & speakers) that people are wanting to sell. If your patient and know what to look for you could get a bargain. In the HT world $500 is considered a good budget centre speaker.

  • the1doood on 06/01/2025 - 22:13

    Try Samsung Q60R/Q90R.

  • GrazerAu on 12/01/2025 - 14:04

    The hell are all these recommendations. Just get a second hand 5.1 that can handle arc hdmi and store the rear speakers until you need them. I've picked up two different 5.1 for less than $300.

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