Question Should I get a Samsung Q990C or a full AV Receiver setup ?

Logick

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Jun 21, 2009
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Hello I'm looking to get into home theaters and I want to make a 5.1 Dolby Atmos setup.

I have a few requirements thanks to the missus.
1. No more than $1.5k(although a little bit more is negotiable).
2. Rear speakers must be wireless.
3. Needs to be listenable while in low volumes. This is when the kids are asleep, we can watch our shows that don't need a badass speaker setup.

So I'm looking at two options.
1. Samsung Q990C - This is the easiest option. Got a Samsung TV, phone, watch etc. one more product couldn't hurt.
2. This setup here:
Denon AVR-X2700H
Klipsch Reference Cinema Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System
DYNASTY PROAUDIO WSA-5RP
The reason this looks attractive to me, is like PC building, it feels like a project that will likely yield a more superior result. Am I correct on this assumption?

Also will this support surround sound on the Nintendo Switch(assuming it needs to be plugged into the devices, not the TV for it)? Will this allow me to get 5.1 on the Nvidia Shield also when streaming games via steam link?

Thank you in advanced.
 
I can immediately tell you a sound bar will come nowhere near a dedicated front channel audio solution, no matter how many buzzwords or technology they cram in the thing. The Klipsch doesn't include any smart features like the Samsung, but your Nvidia Shield should already be taking care of that aspect. The Samsung also has to mimic having front right and front left speakers, because it only includes the real channel, subwoofer and center channel. I'm unsure of how well it may or may not sound, but I'm willing to bet money it cannot replace having dedicated speakers. I would opt for this 5.1 setup from Klipsch over either of the two you listed. It's slightly more than the Samsung, but the speakers are much bigger. I can guarantee this will blow the Samsung kit right out of the water. If you wanted the smaller footprint of the other kits you listed, I would still go with the Klipsch. Someone else might have a different take.

Your Nintendo Switch and Nvidia Shield will plug right into your receiver via HDMI, which will then send the audio signals to the speakers. So yes, you will have surround sound with your gaming console. Hope this helped, take care.
 
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The 5.1 setup does not support atmos, there are no atmos speakers in the tops of the speakers. The one you selected does not have wireless rear speakers. Hopefully you understand that there is no such thing as a wireless speaker; it needs to be plugged into an outlet somewhere. (Even portable bluetooth speakers need to be plugged in at some point to recharge their batteries).

Personally I use a Sennheiser Ambeo Max soundbar, but that's a little above your budget even when its on sale (mine was only $1700 and now they're $2000). You could consider their small Plus soundbar which is on sale for $1200 and you could add a subwoofer for $600. Their website also says something about a 10 percent discount.
 
The one you selected does not have wireless rear speakers.
Oh I know, thus the Dynasty pro audio wireless speaker kit. I know it will need to be plugged into something, I am just not allowed to have cables running all over the living room.
 
Oh I know, thus the Dynasty pro audio wireless speaker kit. I know it will need to be plugged into something, I am just not allowed to have cables running all over the living room.
Mixing speakers/amps for surround is not a good idea.
Every brand/set of speakers/amps have their own particular sound.
For example the Klipsch line is infamous for being +3 db hot on the high end from about 2000-15,000hz and dropping off sharply from there on up. No real high bright symbols etc similar to Bose Cubes.
Back to mixing.
A sound starts in the front an moves to the rear. That passage will sound off and not smooth because of the different sounds the speakers produce. Some amps can compensate for this but now we are in the $800-$1200 and up range. Yamaha does pretty well but not perfect.
So the Klipsch properties make them very good for movies. The elevated high end covers almost all of the female vocal range and most of the male vocal range, enhancing it so effects don't drown them out.
We all have our own "preference" on sound ,so do yourself a favor and visit a few music stores and listen to a few before deciding.
As for sound bars, they are at best passable. Polk and Bose seem to do better than others, but nothing like a good 5.1/7.1 system. No comparison at all.
 
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I read reviews for the Dynasty pro audio and its seems like for rear it shouldn't be an issue. Since rear is mostly for ambience and such. My hearing is below average(like my mother I'm destined to wear a hearing aid in the future), and my wife simply wants good sound and no wires running around. So will it be an issue?
 
I read reviews for the Dynasty pro audio and its seems like for rear it shouldn't be an issue. Since rear is mostly for ambience and such. My hearing is below average(like my mother I'm destined to wear a hearing aid in the future), and my wife simply wants good sound and no wires running around. So will it be an issue?
The rear speakers are not just for ambience. With most movies and tv shows, the sound mixers who create the soundtrack move all of the music to the rear channels when they don't want the music to interfere with the actors' dialog or special effects on the front channels. So the rear speakers have to be able to carry much of the music content. Although some people prefer being able to only hear the dialog and not the music.
 
The problem will be getting it set up properly.
If set up properly you do not hear individual speakers. the sound will emanate from within and around the room.
For this to happen you need the tone ,volume and delay to be spot on.
It can be achieved, just be prepared to spend many hours listening , adjusting, listening, adjusting to get it perfect.
When done you will enjoy it much more than a soundbar.
 
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The problem will be getting it set up properly.
If set up properly you do not hear individual speakers. the sound will emanate from within and around the room.
For this to happen you need the tone ,volume and delay to be spot on.
It can be achieved, just be prepared to spend many hours listening , adjusting, listening, adjusting to get it perfect.
When done you will enjoy it much more than a soundbar.
No, you get a system that includes a microphone and automatic adjustment.
 
I was reading up on pre outs and even though I don't plan to get bigger beefier speakers(on account of my hearing and the S.O. saying no), but like my PC gaming rig, I always try to future proof as much as practically possible.

I found a good deal on a factory refurbished Onkyo TX-RZ50. I was thinking of pairing it with the DYNASTY PROAUDIO WSA-5TR and a Fosi Audio TB10A. Would that be a better solution?



 
Some amps have variable pre-outs and some do not, check the specs of the amp you are buying.
Other wise your rear amp will have to be adjusted along with the front amp.

Couple of questions, if you don't mind.
Do you own your home.
Is there a crawl space or basement below your media room?
Is there an attic above the media room.
Is there carpet in the room?
The whole wire mess is actually 2 wires that need to go to the rear surround speakers.
The others are all on one wall usually.

If you have carpet and a couple walls without doorways you can usually run jacketed 12/14 gauge wire under the baseboard around the room.
It is jacketed low voltage and passes code. most media rooms have carpet or large area rugs to cut down on reflections. Bounced sound from hardwood or tile floors.

Try to keep it simple. The more wireless devices you add, the more complex controlling it gets. And the more sound quality drops.
the cost for a qualified installer to run 2 or 3 wires( Sub in rear I assume.)in the wall or attic or crawl space would be similar to all the wireless devices.
 
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Yes I do own my home but I'm planning on selling in 2-3 years.
There is no crawl space under my living room (in that area alone 😕).
No carpet.
No attic above.
Whats stopping the wall issue one way is blocked by a fireplace, the other the back door.
Trust me I've looked. I was only lucky my office shares a wall with the media room so I could easily add ethernet jacks to it. FYI with the exception of practicality(phones, controllers), I always prefer wired over wireless.

I've talked to wire runners in the past(past home) they seemed awfully pricey.


In our future home I hope to run speaker wires.
 
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I talked my wife into running wire along the fireplace. Enough stuff cover it where it can look very discreet, and the little ones won't be curious enough to play with it. No more wireless worries

Would you still recommend getting an AVR with preouts?
 
Not unless you want to extend the system to another room via another amp.
not sure if you understand completely.
Pre-outs pass the incoming signal with no processing.
Outs are after signal processing .5.1. 7.1/2 9.2 ,Dolby ,EQ,Hall, theater,jazz effects etc.......
My controls for the kitchen, dining room and living room are hidden above the fridge.
That way all rooms are controlled by one source. And play the same music in all 3 rooms with each having its own volume control.
So yes I have lots of wires running through the basement and crawl space.
Just depends what you want the system to be.
A single room theater or control other rooms also.
Your wireless amps could run another room if you are listening to music and want it in another room when entertaining.
 
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Two last questions. 16 gauge for all the speakers near the receiver and 14 for the ones in the back? Running along the sides and giving from extra leeway, I'm going to need 45ft of cable per speaker for the rear)? Is that practical?
 
It is a couple bucks different so I would run all 14 gauge for a 100-125 watt amp.
12 gauge for up to 200w amps.
Thinner wire loses some of the punch of the lower end.
You can get by with the 16 gauge but 14 and 12 are better sounding.
my living room run is 55 feet so I ran 12 gauge for more bottom end on a set of Infinity 2000.6s .125 watt p/c amp.
With the Klipsch setup 14 will be fine. 75w nominal 300w peak. 75 watt constant power with brief peaks to 300watt.
Don't skimp on wire size or quality.Walmart has lengths of monster cable pretty cheap.
 
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