Hi,

My house is under renovation and planning to get a 42" LCD/Plasma for my living room. I need to get a 5.1ch consumer brand sound system to go with it. I intend to lay the wires through the plaster ceiling for the rear speakers and ceiling mount them...if that's possible.

My questions:

1) Recommendation for a decent consumer brand 5.1ch setup...those type of whole set shebang.
2) What sort of cable should I purchase to lay over the plaster ceiling? Can one type fits all different brands?
3) Should I also ceiling/wall mount the front speakers too...if the speakers are the tiny kind?


Thanks.

if you set up new house?
use custom set up for better sound

If you are planning to get the HTiBs, I doubt the packaged cables are long enough to run up yr plaster ceiling, across and down to yr rear speakers.

That's why he asks in question 2, what type of cable he should purchase.
If you using HiTB speakers, just get those cheap speaker cable is enough. You can find them in hardware shops.

I am making my 3rd floor as my AV room. The system will be on the higher end. I am just gonna use simple and cheap setup for my living room.

Thanks...what is HiTB btw...not sure with all the acros.

Those standard systems uses normal speaker cables? no special connectors?

Typo, it is HTiB, Home Theater In a Box.
Usually it comes with a receiver, 5 speakers, 1 subwoofer and cables etc.
Those are normal speaker cable and you don't need special connector

Get yourself a sound bar like Yamaha YS71. But I dun recommend the Philips brand as they dun work so well with DTS external source. If from the built in DVD its OK, but if from a WDTV example..DTS could be inconsistent...I know cause I'm using philips and also get feedback from other philips users.
As for the yamaha...do some googling for background checks.
One thing about these sound bars, it will never 100% create true surround effect unlike rear speakers.


Or you can get yourself a wireless surround speaker type of HT. Its not an easy job extending and hiding speaker cables all the way to the rear...
Take note, if you wanna use wireless type, make sure you have a AC socket in that area for power source.
And make sure the model has wireless features in the box and not optional add in stuff. Those optional 'add in' will cost a lot to get...if you can find them.

have you considered a Yamaha Soundbar for the living room? though its virtual surround, it does make your living room look neater, givng it a minimalist feel.. depending on how your living room is decorated.

Yeah, i am going for the minimalist theme for my home. I have seen one of the soundbar at the recent AV fair. pretty neat. Just not sure whether to pick that over a HTiB...will the bass from a soundbar be sufficient?

One of the Philips SoundBar, it comes with a wireless sub... can't remember the model name but it's width is the same as a 32" LCD TV. There's another higher end model (same width with a 42" LCD TV) that comes with a sub but its wired.

I'm not so sure about the Yamaha SoundBar but I believe it should come with a sub as well which you might have to buy separately.. Most Yamaha systems require you to buy the Sub separately..

I have that long throw Philips Sub...its only adequate...after all only 6.5inch...what can you expect? 35hz the lowest..
If you want to tremble when T-Rex comes chasing you in Jurassic park than minimum is 12inch...for that you need separate system.

Use only sound bars for your last resort..check the specs. first...some dun come with subs, some even dun have HDMI..

i agree, sound bars is really no match with surround speakers put at the back as well as a good subwoffer.

wireless?
http://www.panasonic.com.my/web/pid/8000
your solution

When it comes to sound, cutting the wires doesn't really cut it................... ( ... shud I trademark this? )

catchy...

it actually comes with 4 speaker (2 sold seperately)
so you get full surround system
and it produces up to 7.1ch sound

Well, you still need to connect the speakers to a AC socket...unless it runs on batteries.

To make it more attractive, they should have included a 10inch woofer on every speaker instead of a measly 5 inch woofer.

Yes, u get the full channels but it being wireless, the SQ is called into question.

But it is still pretty much a personal choice. I initially wanted a wireless system as well, less messy, but after 'reserching' and testing, I guess the wires aren't that messy after all ...

lol i dont think there are any which runs on battery xD

not into conversion much *sighs*, its a 12cm woofer ;/
its because of space constrain and a higher capacity woofer would effects the sound produced anyway

uhmm sound quality? i suppose its quite good
if you have a decent home theather room
but i heard bamboo cone is awesome eh

yep totally personal choice, besides wireless system are eff expensive ;__;

This post has been edited by musica22: Sep 2 2009, 03:40 PM

how much is the yamaha soundbar actually
?