Question First time purchasing a AV system for the Living Room.

[damosapiens]

Hello All,

Just looking setting up the AV in my living room;

My plan is to have Denon receiver powering sizeable 2.0 speakers, something like a Q Acoustics 3020 when listening to music.

A pair a Q Acoustics 2000, a 2000i and a 2070i would be added for surround mode.

Been looking a Denon receivers, and are quite impressed with them and they have airplay, bluetooth etc. So, can these receivers be able to switch from Stereo and Surround automatically i.e. When listening to music it will only power the two primary speakers and flash up the rest when in surround?

To finish off, I would be looking into expanding to a multiroom system as well, would Denon receivers be up for this task?

Is my approach right one or is it not going to work?

Sorry for all the questions, but relatively new to AV scene, would like recommendations from you guys who use them!

Thanks in advance

Damian

 

[PSM1]

The amp will most likely not switch automatically between the modes but very easy to select stereo mode to only have the fronts L/R playing.
Which Denon are you looking at?
Multi zone on AVRs is not the best function and you would be better going for something like Sonos (although I think Denon now do their own version of this called HEOS).
On the sub, I would look at the BK Electronics range of subs instead of the QA one as they tend to offer better value for money.

 

[damosapiens]

Thanks for the reply, ok I understand if its easy to select then it won't be bad.

Would I have to worry about the two fronts overpowering the rears because its bigger, I presume this can be adjusted.

On the AVR front, I was looking at the AVRX-3200W, I will need the HEOS link if I want multiroom functionality but its not on the agenda for now as I mostly spend my time in the living room!

Thanks for the Sub suggestion, I will look into that.

Just for curiosity, is a full 5.1 SONOS setup good or I better going down the route above?

 

[PSM1]

Sonos is good for multi room but I would say your 5.1 system will be a lot better than the Sonos playbar with rear speakers.
The 3200 really deserves better speakers to get the most from it but if that is the receiver with the features you want then that is what you need to get.
The auto setup/calibration system with the AVR will set the relative levels of the speakers which will stop the fronts over powering the other speakers.

 

[damosapiens]

Thanks for the info and clarification. What speakers do you suggest ? Im from Ireland and specialist shops where you can listen to speakers are becoming rare!

 

[Harkon321]

The amp will most likely not switch automatically between the modes but very easy to select stereo mode to only have the fronts L/R playing.
Which Denon are you looking at?

My Denon 2100 plays all my movies in 5.1 and anything I play on Spotify as stereo. (Unless I tell it to do otherwise)

 

[Joe Fernand]

With no indication of your room dimensions, seating layout and mounting options it's not possible to give you a steer on suitable loudspeakers.

Joe

 

[pompeydean]

On the sub, I would look at the BK Electronics range of subs instead of the QA one as they tend to offer better value for money.

+1 for looking at BK Electronics for the sub. My first sub was a Gemini II, then upgraded to an XXLS400 and I reckon I'll go Monolith next. Both of the ones I've had have sounded better than other subs in their price bracket imo.

 

[damosapiens]

Thanks for the replies guys. So just doing some more research the denon AVR's I've looking at has multiroom Denon HEOS built in so I've settled on that.

Yes Joe, you're right so I've attached a crude plan of the living room. Upstairs is open plan so they're no walls dividing the kitchen and living room.

I've told to have floor standers in front of the TV to maintain good music quality when listening to music.

 

[Joe Fernand]

'I've told to have floor standers in front of the TV to maintain good music quality when listening to music' - hopefully by someone who hadn't looked at your room layout!!!

Corner mounting your TV makes both Music and TV/Movie audio potentially compromised.

Look at the Dolby Surround Sound layout guidelines for Movies - corner mounting the screen is not covered, Speaker Setup Guide

Is there an option to reposition the TV to be central to the sofa?

Joe

 

[damosapiens]

eh no, just some shop I was on the phone to! Actually I was more thinking of putting a floor stander in at the two top corners so at least they will be pointing at sofa. (start with the basics, right!?)

Hmm, moving the tv might be difficult as it might be too high above the mantelpiece where the woodturning stove is (that would be another problem with heat?). Wouldn't think it would too comfortable looking slightly up all the time.

Should I scrap the idea and get a bigger house!?

Adding to this, my original plan was to keep it simple and get a decent soundbar (yamaha YSP-2500) but again, its difficult to get the "surround" effect right because of the windows and unusual layout. But this isn't something I have experience with and can prove without buying.
Perhaps, I could go down the route of the soundbar and just having two floor standers and watch corner for the music.

as always, thoughts are welcome.

 

[Joe Fernand]

YSP - would be used in 2.1 or 3-Beam mode if mounted across a corner and forget about any surround 'effects'.

Floor standers - avoid sticking them in corners, ideally you form an equal sided triangle between the centre of the sofa and the two speakers; which will place them mid way between the chimney and the side walls.

Mad as it 'sounds' you may find a 2.0 or 2.1 system with the TV offset to one side may work OK for TV/Movies and Music.

Joe

 

[Hixs]

Could you not have the TV on that left hand wall?

Try this floor planner - Create floor plans, house plans and home plans online with Floorplanner.com. It's very simple if you take a few mins to go through the options.

 

[damosapiens]

yip, thought as much from what you said about the soundbar.

Thanks for the advise for the speaker placement. Going to rethink the situation and start off with getting the music sorted with a 2.0 system, at least that something achieved.

@Hixs, that left wall is only a half a wall. The rest is to the kitchen. But yeah, the living room is still bare bones in regards to furniture (shelves etc). Ill just have to rethink my approach, thanks for the room planner link.

Cheers, Damo

 

[Harkon321]

I've got a corner tv with bookshelf speakers near the two corners of the room and centre under the tv. Works alright for watching tele and it's bearable for movies. I drop my projector screen down perfectly opposite the sofa for films though and move the centre on to a stand. Works for me. It's a compromise but allowed me to keep a feature fireplace.