Life's Trade Off in our equipment setup.

[3dbinCanada]

What trade offs did you encounter in your system's setup be it two channel or home theater because the setup is in a shared living space rather than a dedicated room? What did you do to try and mitigate the problem if it was possible?

As an example, my great room HT setup had no place to put the surround speakers. My late wife didnt want stands or wires running across the floor. I was stumped until she suggested using ceiling speakers for my surrounds. Its not ideal and the ceilings are 9ft high.

Whats your story and were you able to find a work around?

 

[VJM]

I have a dedicated theater now but I still have a setup in the living room, I'd like a little more but it's limited to 3.1. As you said I'd have to have the rear speakers on stands or maybe on-walls but I don't think my wife would be happy with that. But I still enjoy the 3.1 setup.

 

[3dbinCanada]

I have a dedicated theater now but I still have a setup in the living room, I'd like a little more but it's limited to 3.1. As you said I'd have to have the rear speakers on stands or maybe on-walls but I don't think my wife would be happy with that. But I still enjoy the 3.1 setup.

Are in-walls an option for the surrounds?

 

[VJM]

Are in-walls an option for the surrounds?

I wish, unfortunately not currently

 

[NBPK402]

I went with a dedicated room last time...I wish I would have went with a dedicated room this time. If we ever move...I will.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

While I have a great room with a 75" TV... don't do a system there, But for our dedicated room, we gave up a two-car garage.

 

[Spidacat]

Not much - my wife is very understanding. I have a 5.4 system with two large subs in my living room. When I set up Atmos, I did height speakers mounted high on the walls angled down. On or in ceiling speakers just weren't going to happen.

 

[3dbinCanada]

Not much - my wife is very understanding. I have a 5.4 system with two large subs in my living room. When I set up Atmos, I did height speakers mounted high on the walls angled down. On or in ceiling speakers just weren't going to happen.

Its always nice to have a spouse that supports one's hobby.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I never will forget when I tore out the half garage theater room because it was just too small. The theater got integrated with the great room again. It did not take long for my wife to agree to give up the entire garage. She couldn't handle the theater in the house... too much constant bass rattling things, and just too loud for her. I did NOT plan it, but it sure worked out nicely.

 

[3dbinCanada]

I never will forget when I tore out the half garage theater room because it was just too small. The theater got integrated with the great room again. It did not take long for my wife to agree to give up the entire garage. She couldn't handle the theater in the house... too much constant bass rattling things, and just too loud for her. I did NOT plan it, but it sure worked out nicely.

My late wife and my two daughters hate the bass. Everytime my youngest daughter visits, she goes around and turns off the 3 subs. My new g/f loves the bass which I'm grateful for.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

My wife accuses me of having the TV too loud. I set it on 17-18, and she will bump it down to 14-15, and I strain to hear it.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

We just moved from Iowa (The Land of Dirt Cheap Real Estate) to Seattle (The Land of NOT Dirt Cheap Real Estate) a few years ago. Found the exact type of house we were hoping for, in a dream location just a couple blocks off the water, in our price range, and we didn't even lose any square footage. But it's different square footage.

The tradeoff in the theater is that we get to still have one, but my home office is in the back (turned out to be great because my video edit system is now easily integrated with the theater equipment for client screenings) and there's no way to completely close it off at this point. There is no door at the stairwell to the upstairs, so sound containment is impossible. But we're always watching together at this point, and it will be easy to eventually add a door to seal it off a bit.

The tradeoff in the 2-channel room is mostly symmetrical. The ideal listening position isn't a practical place to have a seat for everyday use, so I just need to move my chair into that space for real critical listening sessions.

So yes, there were tradeoffs with this move, but they are so incredibly worth it. Even with the tradeoffs, I've done a lot of upgrading of equipment and am performing at a much higher level now than we were in Iowa.

 

[Spidacat]

Wow, didn't realize how long it's been since I posted here. Updated basically everything sound wise from my old profile.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Trade-offs? Well, I've made a few but in recognition of my priorities. Music system first, TV/HT second.

We are near to completion of a complete renovation of our apartment and, fundamentally, my main 5.3.? audio system remains intact. The configuration of room treatments is altered so that the bass traps and the panels to minimize critical reflectionsare less obtrusive. There is no possibility to place a viewing screen for use with this system.

As a result, the 2 video screens will be in other locations each of which will be suppported by a soundbar and sub(s).

 

[Todd Anderson]

@Kal Rubinson, you're in New York City, correct? You must have lots of space restrictions to grapple with?

 

[Todd Anderson]

Wow, didn't realize how long it's been since I posted here. Updated basically everything sound wise from my old profile.

Welcome back... time to make this your home! ;-)

 

[Todd Anderson]

My theater room is also dedcated and even when it wasn't dedicated, it was a place in the home where tradeoffs between aestetics and equipment didn't need to happen.

That said, we do have a TV in our living that, until recently, did have any external sound help. It's always been a space where minimal room impact (equipment-wise) was valued. Due to some renovations, we gained just enough extra space to discretely add a soundbar and I'm thrilled with the addition.

 

[Todd Anderson]

What trade offs did you encounter in your system's setup be it two channel or home theater because the setup is in a shared living space rather than a dedicated room? What did you do to try and mitigate the problem if it was possible?

As an example, my great room HT setup had no place to put the surround speakers. My late wife didnt want stands or wires running across the floor. I was stumped until she suggested using ceiling speakers for my surrounds. Its not ideal and the ceilings are 9ft high.

Whats your story and were you able to find a work around?

I think using ceilings as surrounds is perfectly do-able. In fact, I've heard a complete home theater systems made only using inceiling channels and it was incredibly convincing - it was a GoldenEar demo at CEDIA circa 2017 (maybe?).

As long as a system with inceilings for surrounds is properly calibrated, I think you're fine!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

@Kal Rubinson, you're in New York City, correct? You must have lots of space restrictions to grapple with?

Sure but, again, they are of my own choosing. I've had a few homes with lots of space but I am (we are) happier here now. (My wife has become more tolerant of my addiction.)

 

[Sdk]

maybe, considering to use wireless surround speaker will make WAF better

 

[Mike Schramm]

My theater is in our open basement, so it is definitely not a dedicated space. I have HVAC in the ceiling where my top front left and top rear left channels should be. My left surround speaker is on a stand in the middle of the room. Sound absorption is at a minimum and a projector is not an option due to spouse acceptance.
So the Atmos speakers are about 10-15 degrees off of where they should be. My surround speaker is paired up as much as possible with a support beam so that it isn’t just floating out in the open. I put some sound absorption on the back wall, but my first reflection point is untreated. And finally I went with the highest quality and largest panel I could afford since the projector was a non-starter.
I absolutely love my theater!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

maybe, considering to use wireless surround speaker will make WAF better

Wireless is not yet mature. We went for in-wall hardwire.

 

[VJM]

As long as a system with inceilings for surrounds is properly calibrated, I think you're fine!

That reminds me, was it Meyer Sound that has some kind of setup that has in ceiling LCR speakers aimed at the screen so the sound seems like it's coming directly from the screen? I wonder if that really works at all.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yup, they do. It’s mean for microLED walls.

I have my suspicions about it… and I can’t remember if I’ve heard it or not! I want to say “yes,” but not confident enough to say it.

 

[Sdk]

Wireless is not yet mature. We went for in-wall hardwire.

there are some wireless speaker product out there that perform well (Wifi/BT AptX), and should be enough for Surround Channel