New to Home Theater? Buy This FIRST! Home Theater Basics

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[Youthman]

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[justinzamora]

One useful strategy is to start with smaller, but good speakers for your front L+R. Then, when you have saved enough for a bigger front stage, you can repurpose the smaller speakers as surrounds.

[ericbates]

I'm glad we have somebody that understands that we all need the initial information consistently, there's always somebody who's just starting their home theater journey today we can't forget about them.

[welderfixer]

I've been at this home AV thing for several years. It can be fun, exciting, frustrating and expensive.
Here's my suggestion for the first things to buy for your HT: 1) Something really nice for your wife. 2) Time with a therapist. 😁

[CharloBagis]

This was exactly what I did back 3 years ago, with the only difference, I started with buying the rear bookshelf speakers and used them as fronts for the time being, because the cost of an AVR and 2 floorstanders were a bit too much. I then moved my bookshelves to the back once I got my floorstanders.

[airman]

Good advice. I had a home theater in a box for several years so I had time to plan this in my mind. Started with a Marantz AVR and some smaller Klipsch speakers and a SVS sub (budget friendly). Have upgraded the speakers one by one as I can afford. Also the SVS upgrade program was great for upgrading too. About 10 years into this and still making improvements as I learn more. Been a great experience. Wish I could have come to MWAVE but maybe next time. Have a good one!

[dans]

Great speakers last a lifetime, I have klipch bought new in 98, they are mint.
The electronics especially the AVR or processor will become obsolete over a mater of about 10 years or so

[caczech]

Gotta say he is doing things right if he's not only asking questions, but making the trip to KC/"L-Town" this week to gain extra insight.

[happymaskedguy]

First I would research which AVR is the best value for your room. Unless you have a very large room, I'd say an (eventual) 5.2.4 is more than enough for most people wanting a truly cinematic experience. So figure out which AVR will give you the most mid-longterm (2 to 10 years) bang for your buck.

For example, my current AVR is also my first (I'll have to save a long time to upgrade, possibly a few years). I bought a Pioneer VSX 934 - it can power 5 front/surrounds and 2 Atmos ceiling speakers, and it has 2 subwoofer ports. (However, it doesn't have pre-outs for an amp, so I have to make do with the power available from the receiver alone). I'm still saving for my Atmos speakers, so it will be a while before I go full Atmos. So I'm currently running a 5.2 - which I absolutely LOVE - yes, that's right, my setup sounds awesome even WITHOUT Atmos.

Which brings me to a major point: Atmos is NOT essential. It's a minor bonus. The vast, VAST majority of your cinema sound experience will come from your front 3 speakers - your left, centre, and right, and your subwoofer. Surround speakers are merely complimentary, by the way - adding only the odd low sound atmospheric effect. By no means are they essential.

If possible, I would recommend purchasing the best towers WITHIN YOUR BUDGET (or the best bookshelf speakers on stands). Most people DO NOT need high end equipment. All these YouTube channels that show fancy setups with Klipsch etc are major overkill for beginners, IMO. Honestly, unless you have tons of cash to burn, forget that. As a beginner - trust me - you will be blown away by a decent AVR running entry/ low-mid budget equipment.

My current speaker setup is all Q Acoustics - I believe the 3000 series. That's:

2 x 3050 Towers (front)
1x 3090C Centre Speaker (front)
1 x 3000 series Sub-woofer (I forgot the exact model)
2 x 3010 Bookshelf Speakers (Rear Surrounds)

The sound delivered by these speakers is excellent, particularly the towers - the level of detail and separation/ range in the sound is amazing. Great for music too.

*I have also recently added a Q Acoustics QB12 Subwoofer for a front and rear subwoofer setup, but this is not essential starting out, IMO.

Just beware that towers have their own subwoofers built in, which is fantastic for giving you a much 'fuller' sound stage, but might be a problem if you live in an apartment/ block of flats with regular to no soundproofing. In that case, just go for bookshelves on stands. I was running 2x Q Acoustics 3020 bookshelves on stands for 2 years and I loved it - plenty loud. I just love my towers more!

I hope that helps people starting out somewhat. You will need to spend a bit of cash, but it definitely doesn't need to be thousands. 

***A lot of soundbars are very good these days too, many coming equipped with subwoofers, and I don't believe they require separate receivers, as far as I know. But I would say that a GREAT soundbar doesn't match a GOOD separate/ surround setup.

[michaelslocumbsr.]

Lol...lol... Youthman! I knew you were going to get that Holly-Cow smile when you mentioned getting the Subwoofer next...Lol...Lol...

I'm going to play the lottery! If I win, I'll sponsor the YHCT (Youthman Holly-Cow Your)... The goal is for people see if they can get you to say Holly-Cow either one of two ways.

1. Just the appearance of the Home theater.
2. Your reaction to the Bass from home theater.


Just my two cents...

[techsamurai]

I think it's important to distinguish between a real home theater and a living/comfort home theater. Cleary, if someone is building a real home theater (dark room, projector or massive tv) then the advice would be different. However, for most people who want to enjoy home theater sound in their living room when gaming/watching movies/shows/sports/music etc, my advice would be to consider soundbars for the easiest Atmos implementation. If they want a combination of music/movies/gaming, I'd say most people would be more than happy with a great 5.1 system.

[jayluvonde]

I bought Klipsch 5:1 surround system then added a second sub. Upstairs I have a Klipsch 1200 soundbar with Atmos and rear speakers. I'm pretty happy with both setups.

[normrubio]

Make compromises, buy twice.

Look at what you want, see the costs/budget then start saving or get your loan.

[dsolomon]

This video is just what I need. I have a little bit of a different question - how do you handle pets that may harm your speakers or electronics? I’m ready to get started on my HT, but we also just got 2 kittens that like to claw at my TV and everything else. I worry that they would destroy any speakers I get. I’ve searched online for advice is to just live with it. I wasn’t sure if you or the community had any experience with this.

[milkman]

first thing. sit down and decide what your final design/ idea is going to be. then work from that.

[MyFatherLoves]

Acoustic treatment first, cheaper AVR, then center, then subs, then L&R, then rest of speakers, then endgame AVR or processor/amps.

EDIT: still don't understand the whole "these speakers are too bright, too dark, too etc..." argument. Even cheap AVRs come with user-configurable DSP. I've got a super old Denon AVR-SW700 with Audyssey MultEQ (no MultEQ-X) and even that old version of Audyssey allows me to tune my speakers properly to my room. My speakers are a ragged mess when measured raw and they sound absolutely awful. After tuning them with Audyssey and getting their response to match my favorite speaker, the Genelec 8361a, verified using REW, they sound absolutely incredible.

This is why when I choose speakers or suggest speakers to others its very simple. Choose speakers that exceed your SPL needs at your MLP (by at least 6-9db), have a wide enough dispersion for your seating arrangement, and fit in your space. If all those needs are met, DSP will take you the rest of the way. Again, acoustic treatment first, DSP to get it the rest of the way. Lastly, I know what Toole says about using DSP above 500hz or so in your room. However, if intergrated properly, DSP above 500hz is the cherry on top and curves your speakers to sound wonderful.

[downersup]

Gee wiz!! Now you tell LOL I literally went in total reverse and bought my surround processor and amps first, then all my video gear, then projector and screen! Now I'm trying to figure out what configuration of JBL Synthesis 7.4.4 speakers to go with?!?!?! Although I'm most likely going to use Seaton or JTR subs?! Awesome video, I'm so bummed I can't make it to MWAVE I'll be out of town...GRRRR! Hope you guys have a great time!!!

[breezebreeze]

the best thing to do is buy an SVS pb16 ultra, and then go from there....

[justinlaird]

Great video, I would even throw in there that whole it’s important to plan, save and wait, but you’re never going to be able to completely future proof your system. Buy a good balanced price to performance products because I find myself always upgrading soon than I say I was going too

[michaeloutlaw]

Nice ironic thumbnail. Any opinions on the equip you highlighted. I have setup a Kef layout mainly R series R11s, R3's, and r8a for Atmos/Auro, and Ci200rs but swapped out the R2c center and upgraded to the Reference 4 meta and man did the front stage step up in depth, and detail and thinking about going all meta, running the Avm70- 7.1.6 setup.