Q Acoustics 5090 howl.me/clmKL0CRGrf SVS SB Series bit.ly/4aJs1Vc Polk OWM3 howl.me/clmKRkLkveR check out my other channel www.youtube.com/@cheapwatchman_official Intro graphics by johnvilardi.com Support the Channel! Shop on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Join the best hifi community out there! patreon.com/cheapaudioman TRY ROON www.rofjdjk3ns.com/33G977/2CTPL/ Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
Will the Sony xv900 large Bluetooth speaker have better sound quality or worse sound quality than the Sony sscs5 speakers + subwoofer setup (my current setup), because the Sony Bluetooth speaker has 3 dedicated drivers like my current setup? Just curious. Thanks!
Hey Randy, when I click on the links in the video description to go to your Test Track Playlist, I get an error message from Amazon Music that says, "We're sorry, but this playlist is no longer available." The other two playlists also return the same error message. Were you being naughty? Did Amazon Music remove your playlists? 🤣🤣 Keep up the great reviews! 💓
I've just bought a polk signature Elite ES35 it not only improved the dialogue of the centre speaker but improved the hole sounds of the other speaker.
Always enjoy your videos. Would it be possible to do an updated video on buying your first home theater system at several different price points? Also include either this is all you plan to spend and also how to build it over time? Thanks again Randy!
If anyone is looking for a super affordable and great sounding ht system for a living room. I recommend Micca OoOs you could easily create a sound bar for a 3.1 setup or you can add 2 more for a full 5.1. I recommend for the surrounds mount them slightly lower than your seated position and mount flush to the wall pointed up at the ceiling. I currently do this and its awesome. Get a good receiver that can do room correction. Like Cheapaudioman said invest in a good sub and do your measurements(I manually did this after room correction).
I have to agree with you about the height speakers over up firing just v recently moved them to height and the separation for me is the biggest difference ive noticed . Where as before it sounded kind of muddled together . Wanted to mention the sony 360 spatial audio and how impressed I am with it . Its bloody brilliant
Thanks for this vid. I’m getting back into surround after a long sabbatical. Man, I do well for myself, but I ain’t spending $10K on speakers. Ordered the Onkyo RZ30. Speakers have been brutal to figure out. Wish I could use my old Infinity SM102’s to save a buck.
purchasing an SPL meter was the best purchase I have ever made. Use that to match all the test tones and bump up the center channel +1db makes a huge difference
I run all floor-standing speakers. RP8000's (and RP504C) in the front and RP5000's for surround and rear surrounds. Pumping 300W ea into the 8000's (bi-amped) and about 180W ea into the 5000's. Also use 4 Pold OWM3's on the ceiling also 180W ea. Overkill, I know, but it sounds amazing with a HUGE sound. This is my first time using (mostly) all towers, and I love it! Also two PB1000 Pros up front corner loaded (corner loaded works more than not)
I love toids audio where he had that broad tweeter driver that played very low. Interesting stuff there. It was a flat driver that had great off axis response.
I moved into my first apartment in 1994 when I was 24 I had my first surround sound system Sony receiver and nht speakers and a Cerwin Vega subwoofer passive
My frist was a Philips year 2000 5.1 plus I could use the 8 Speakers on the large TV. Very loud because i swapped the speakers around and added my own separate speakers off the hi fi. : )
I realised today that I have a subwoofer that they don't make anymore. It's a DSE 10 inch. It really pumps! Dick Smith Electronics (A disolved Australian company). A2669 model 100 watts powered. Got a DSE 100w center speaker too, it's pretty huge as well.
Awe man... You started this home theater work after I bought 4 Focal Theva No.3-D, 2 Focal Theva Surround, 1 Focal Theva Center and 1 Marantz SR8015 in mid November. If you had reviewed them before I had I would have clicked your Amazon link to buy all over $8k of it... if only you had reviewed the Focal Theva speakers!
@cheapaudioman I couldn’t agree more on the center channel tips and I am intrigued that the Q Acoustics MTM design worked so well for you. I have a 5.2.4 setup. I switched my center channel from the Klipsch RP-504C (MMTMM) to a SVS Prime center (WMTW) and it made a HUGE difference in understanding dialogue, especially in the less than ideal off axis seating positions associated with our large L shaped sectional couch. Wife loves it. And there are no issues with “timbre matching” even though I am still using my gen 1 Klipsch RP-600M for LR (but seriously considering the Arendal 1723 Monitor S now in part due to Randy’s review) and Klipsch RP-502S for surrounds. And if you’re wondering I have SVS SB-2000 Pro subs using the wireless transmitter that he showed, although I have never had the popping he mentioned.
I was waffling about SVS for my center, but hearing of timbre-matching, I settled on the RP-504Cii. I also have the RP-600Miis for my L/R and RP500SAs for my heights, but my surrounds are cheap Polk satellites I want to eventually replace, and I have a Klipsch 12" and Polk 10" sub stacked on top of each other due to space issues. It does seem to give me more boom, though. Eventually I want to get matching subwoofers. As for my surrounds, I sent a picture of my MLP (one chair) to Paducah Home Theater and they commented that it was like I was wearing headphones, because the speakers surround my chair, which is up against the wall. I agree that the rear heights made a huge difference in my 7.2.4 system! SPR and John Wick are awesome to hear in surround.
"Your Center Speaker is your most important speaker." YES! It took a few years for me to admit this to myself. I was so focused on big floor standing mains and ignored the center channel. Once I bought my Klipsch RP 450C, the dialogue and effects sounds came alive. I dumped the big mains and replaced them with smaller, more focused L/R speakers.
Hey Randy, been watching your videos for about 3 years now. This is one of your best thus far. Am into Home Theatahh and this was just packed with info :)
big fan big fan! have tried Spatial Audio calibration tool kit by techno dad & joe n tell? i am a fan of this product. I recommended this to you. it will take take your home theater to the next level
Thanks for this Mr Randy. I'm big into home theater, I think as long as you have actually. I love your channel because I've learned enough to enjoy both music and movies on a single system. I do appreciate your love of two channel; it's at play in my office and dining room. 🙃
Good info and setting up a home theater system, and thank you. However, I would have appreciated it, if you could remember to include AFFORDABLE speakers to recommend as well given that most of us here cannot afford the expensive $hit.
Idk iv just been using a blu-ray 3d surround system from like 2008 with a Frankenstein of goodwill and speakers that originally came with it bc I keep cutting the cords and rewiring lmao. Rn I'm using the philips mid speaker it came with and it has 2 speakers and a tweeter and I'm using the smaller speakers it came with for left side audio and front left bc it's closer to my bed. The front right uses a smaller 8" sony speaker and the right side speaker is a sony bookshelf speaker on the floor and the subwoofer is the same speaker. All together iv only spent like 20$ on speakers since I just wait for goodwill or similar stores to get them. Whole thing is just set up with optical to my TV but I'm thinking ab getting a dac of som kind as my TV can have iffy optical somtimes but for the most part all my consoles sound amazing through it and I can shake my house if I want.
The center channel is so important... that I tossed that sucker into the garbage. Spend more on your mains and get that soundstage. That voice will seem to come from the screen. Really the main purpose of the center channel came from big theaters that you had to try to anchor the voice to the screen. Especially for those that were way to the left or right. Do better than the horn loaded terrible sounding theaters and what is great is it is easy to do.
I got a rsl 12 s 85 pounds of pure power love it so much better then the budgets ones i have. Do ceiling speakers work for rear surrounds. I have two polk speakers in the ceiling
Great video Randy. Good info in it. Agree with going with larger rear surrounds. I put 8” Monitor Audio in my drop ceiling, reinforced the cut out with plywood. I’m still amazed a 22 year old Denon Dolby digital receiver sounds good as it does. Thinking about the SYN as an option moving forward. Just wish Schiit had a 5 channel amp to go with the SYN.
I have 4 Monoprice 5.1.4 speakers a Sony Center channel speaker and Sony 12 inch sub with a Sony DH790 surround sound receiver. With The 4k Blu-ray player that’s plays 99.9% of the discs out there it’s been an amazing 2 years of watching and re-watching older movies again! Sure it’s budget build but I’m am pleased so far.
I can't figure out how to add a "DAC that can process Atmos" via HDMI out from my PC, into a Denon x4700h with 4 heights, 2 rear heights are the angled "Sony SSCSE" that match the SSCS5's. Only thing I tried for 2 chan is USB out of PC into a Fiio dongle, then 3.5mm to RCA cable into the AVR, but don't hear an improvement. I switch source to AUX for 2 channel. I'd love to add a component DAC but not finding a surround / HDMI in then HDMI out to AVR. It doesn't exist pretty much under $800 and up, so rely on the Denon's internal DAC for Atmos which is about average I'd guess.
Randy, I have a confession: I love home theater/multi-speaker surround as much, if not more, than I love basic 2-channel listening. I have one room for HT and 7-channel stereo, and another a dedicated 2-channel space for that reason. Over time I pieced together a very respectable 7.2 system utilizing older used but well-cared-for gear. Fell in love with old school Definitive Technology bi-polar speakers from the 90's (passive, no built-in amps). BP20's front, BP10's rear, CLR-1000 center, ELAC BS41's for front height speakers, and two ELAC SUB1010 subs to fill the bottom end. PC is used for source, Yamaha TSR-7850 for HDMI processor, NAD AV716 powering the BP20 towers. And of course, a Geshelli J2 feeding it all. End result: a headphone-like experience that I enjoy immensely.
building my first q acoustics 5.1 system, how would you compare this speaker with the previous 3090c? and in your opinion can this speaker integrates with the 3020i? (I dont have a budget for the new 5010 or 5020)
Absolutely, without a doubt, the most important speaker in-home theater is the center channel. It doesn't matter one little bit how good your left and right image.
@@stonefree1911 I was only referring to those people who use their left and right to produce a phantom image. Of course the left and right are important
Great as always, Randy! It would be really interesting if you could try the Sony SSCS8 center speaker, and pair it with 4 (or 6) SSCS5s to see if they sound as good for home theater as they do for music. Besides, there are very few reviews on that center speaker...
@@cheapaudioman Hi man, can you please tell me which speaker sound better for stereo Jamo c93ii, polk es 20, q acoustic, Canton, elac 6.0, Dali spektor 2 If you can please rate from best to worst ( also my intention to keep this speaker as front side of home theatre in future)
@@ahambhramasmii Did you ever get an answer to this question? There's so many choices I'm suffering from analysis paralysis. I was personally thinking a 2.1 system with a Fosi Audio amp powering HSU research speakers and HSU sub. It appears to be the best bang for the buck.
Not intended to be a slight. Figure out how to take a sabbatical. Get refreshed. Write down new ideas. Love on your family. I don’t think you need new ideas, you need a break.
Agreed. You’ve been prolific. Burnout was kind of inevitable (I do it to myself a lot in my work). At least give yourself time to reconnect with what you love most, find some cities to travel to if you can or travel at least catch a lot of shows. Sit back and enjoy your system(s). Do some simulcasts when live if you want to keep the algorithm fed.
Problem with taking a break is you tubes algorithm. If you don’t upload content daily sometimes several times a day you start to fall off the algorithm and people searching for content on what he does gets less recommendation from TH-cam.
Hey man. I have a 4.1 matched set of powered studio monitors. Jbl. Almost 2k canadian. I cant find definitive info for repurposing the massive things so i can add a center and atmos speakers. I never know which receiver to buy. The speakers sound amazing when i record guitar or play pc games.
Randy, 100% agree with you on all of these tips. One thing I recently found when tuning my system - I set the audio output mode to "all speakers stereo" so that my AVR plays all of the same signals at the same time along the right and left side of the room. Doing so gave me a weird reverb and/or echo from the speakers. The Ah-Ha moment was my thought that the speakers should sound like one big cohesive stereo system. I adjusted the distances until I got the stereo, no echo, sound. This helped greatly with sounds panning smoothly through my room. Movies, games, music all sound much better now. Happy New Year to you and yours, Kevin Oh, BTW, I'm not running my center channel for a test just the towers and dang it sounds pretty good without any change in tonality from left to center to right anymore, even though all of my speakers are Emotiva.
After a couple decades of fiddling with home theater setups, I ended up falling in love with a phantom center. It is not for everyone because you need a near perfect room and setup, but once you dial it in, there is zero fatigue and a much more natural sound. Of course this is from a DIY position. If I had the funds to get a professionally designed system, then yes, I might feel a little different about this.
Those polk ohm3s are BADASS actually, but for some reason i want to say they gave me issues with my onkyo when i put them.up higb in the rear... maybe i cat⁵Nt eeally remember 😮
I got Klipsch 600m and th 12" sub for my 20m2 living room. Which center should i take from the RP Mark 1 series? 404, 600 or 500? I think the 504 is way too big?
Hey Randy, I'd love it if you did some center channel comparisons. I have the system built off of the Fluance XL8F R/L mains and I like the mains, but their center is garbage. There's a big hole in the YT audio review market for center channel reviews/shootouts, and I suspect I'm not the only one craving them out here
Thanks for this information on an often ignored environment. Taken me years to get some joy in my multi-speaker environment. Got a subwoofer dialed in recently, and I heard things that others have spoken about, but I thought was audiophile pretentiousness. I recently got a Wharfedale D300C and have finally heard center channel stuff, too. Stay well, my friend, and take care.
So It's not that important to have the speakers match (type and manufacturer)? The problem I have with spending more on speakers is that I have to buy 7 of them, plus the sub. It adds up quick.
I actually started out with like 2 inch satellite speakers from an old HTI V, and then upgraded to 5 inch bookshelf speakers. I was amazed at the difference it made!
A little off topic, but related. Do any of these amazing little amps, Fozi, Ayima, SMSL, etc have a home theater replacement? I'm wanting something with (at least) 5.1, 4k and eARC? I'm tired of battling my Marantz and it's disdain for eARC.
This looks amazing !!!! Im after a decent speaker set up for me TV......I was after something with Dolby Atmos (a buddy has a Sonos Beam Gen 2 and its sounds great) but Im after something with a bit more punch. Great video, thanks for sharing 🙂
The height mount ATMOS speaker option you talk about I have to agree on being better than the upward firing ATMOS speakers. I am using an awesome but vintage set of Bose 201 series IIs as ATMOS speakers in this height mount as well. The primary speakers in this setup are Bose 601 Series IIIs from 86 and same year 301s as surrounds. I don't use a centre speaker with this and the sub is an ancient Acoustimass module but with no satellites connected. This is my main vintage audio listening setup as well and it doubles for occasional home theatre on an older Pioneer Elite series AVR but I also swap in and out various other vintage gear. I know people like to either love or hate Bose but I have had them for decades and always really liked them. ...and I had a PumpkinHead (actor is Lance Henrikson sp?) poster on the wall in my college apartment back in 90. LOL Great video Randy, thanks again.
Sounds like a nice setup! I’m running Monitor Audio Bronze for the front 3 speakers, 4 Emotiva ceiling speakers (sale) for Atmos, and I purchased two pairs of Q Acoustic Concept 20 speakers for the side and back surrounds when Amazon had them on sale for $250. The main receiver is the Yamaha Aventage A8A and I am powering the front 3 speakers with the Emotiva BasX A3 to take some pressure off of the Yamaha. For now, I am running a 12” Polk Audio sub, which I plan to update in the future. Sounds really clean overall!
I use the MCAAC set up for my avr’s which sets the distances and levels to correct phase issues from room issues(use your avr’s phase control as well). When you look at the levels and distances afterward you see that they are not the same as each other which is correct in accounting for room issues. I then adjust to my liking with the eq. Don’t just use a tape measure because you will have phase problems that will cause echoes and improper balance in the sound. Use your calibration mic set up first then tailor to your likings
and if you pair the svs wireless adapter to an amp like FOSI Audio, you can make any speaker wireless… thats how I setup my surrounds without having to string wires across the room.. works great!
My centre channel is a Dali Oberon Vokal with Oberon 5s flanking left and right centre stage and SVS PB1000 holding the bass. I use Klipsch bipole rears. The Oberon's are honestly the best value speaker I have heard at their price point and the clarity is phenomenal. The PB1000s are scary good as well, they really shake your core. Worth the investment.
Even then, a good center has to produce realistic male dialog. Even if it didn't do comb filtering, if the male voice is thin and tinny, it sucks you out of the movie experience immediately. So don't go cheap on a nice big good sounding center.
I wired an old set of bookshelf speakers in series as a huge centre once instead of using them elsewhere. They were sick but hard to implement due to height in any of my stands at the time. These days I 2ch + Sub everything - just simpler suits me but could easily go back down the HT gear bug
I'm really getting excited about the 5000 series Q Acoustics stuff! I am curious if more people would you go 5020s and a sub, or the 5040s?! ...I guess that's just the classic bookshelf speaker vs floor-standing debate.
Hi mate. You were looking for some content ideas. Not sure if you allready did that: sound quality with different transports. I was running my office system (Geshelli J2 and Rega iO) with a Wiim Mini but decided to use the Macbook as a transport. I thought it sounded better IMHO.
I would be interested to kknow what you think of Toid's centre channel - he also explains the d'Appolito lobing, but deals with it with a BMR driver and a low crossover. It won't go very (very) loud though, the BMR drivers have poor xmax and power handling.
May I add one very important but often overlooked point here? We are biological life forms. We often forget that over the last 70 years, we have solved so many technical problems "period"! I studied Psycho Acoustics for years and am a qualified Audio/Visual engineer. However, trying to get a home cinema or stereo system sounding great for everyone IS IMPOSSIBLE! Spending $1,000 on an Australian center channel by Revolution solved that problem....for me. It'd be great if we could all connect to each say like The Borg from Star Trek or Brainstorm, Natalie Woods last movie, but as we age, our ability to hear higher frequencies rolls right off. My 93 year old mum did a hearing test. I was shocked at the fact that not one part of both ears made it into the normal area of the "The Smiley". At 8 kilohertz, her hearing literally dropped right off like a stone hitting terminal velocity. I was a club DJ and A/V Engineer and my hearing at 62 nearly 63 was classified as great. Work that one out?? Bass was great but as I expected I only managed to get up to 15 kilohertz at most before I couldn't hear the test tones anymore. If you were unfortunate enough to hear BOSE 802s speakers which is just 8 tweeters jammed into a box with 2 front ports, that's what I call atrocious. It needed an active processor to filter out......I don't know.....everything!! Sound is something that's subjective....DUH. Television shot its way across the screen and here we are in 2024 with 4K screens today with size and your wallet being the only real restrictions. Digital TV was an easy sell. The only thing about it is that I have a Panasonic Hi Def 3D Plasma 1080p for the man cave and another 1080p plasma in the lounge which is going on for 13 years old and a PVR that plays all region DVDs and Blu-ray discs which is also great going on 13 years of use. Paul from PS Audio in the states says that at the moment we haven't reached audio nirvana just yet. On a very brave scale of 1% to 100%, we're sitting at around 40%.which is excellent. I paid $600.00 for a pair of Sony headphones with Blu-tooth and StarTrek Picard sounded phenomenal. The sound stage those headphones produced from Star Trek to Queen and Enya was a trip. Headphones today along with valve amplifiers (we call tubes valves in Australia and the UK) is getting ridiculous. Tubes are not making a come back as such, they never left. Now, tube amps today like the Primaluna HD Integrated amplifier I own are just gorgeous. In 20 years, you've got 20 year olds making nixie tube clocks. Who remembers waiting for a lift and watching that orange glow given off by cathodes shaped into the appropriate number. I'll finish here. Cheers from Australia, Andrew.
if you were to run a tower speaker in the rear . and run it full range .. you would notice a big difference .. there is alot of bass coming from the rear .. it was eye opening for me like it was for you when you added your height speakers .. try it when you can .. you will love it
Without the proper room acoustics and size, the quality of your equipment means absolutely nothing lol. I have to mention this because I wasted TOO much money on my Home Theater system! Now I mainly use headphones 😅
Something I got to experience back in the 90's in a Japanese car . ( a car sold originally new In Japan) It was called body sonic, and you feel it. Sound level low and get kicked in the back by an elephant.
I never got along with the center when I still used a 5.1 Now I just use stereo. In retrospect my left en right channel just muddied op the sound because their bass was too extended. It muddied the vocals. A center couldn't save that. Got a different one, didn't help.
Last year I upgraded my front speakers to the q 3030i due to lack of space. I then bought some used Q AV wall surround . Next I want to swap my old jamo 100 center for the q 3090, is this a good idea or are there better options? Can't justify the 5090 unfortunately.
I've tried many center channels, and I've never liked them . I run a phantom center with two encores . Yes, I've had small surrounds, and i had to get larger ones.
Will the Sony xv900 large Bluetooth speaker have better sound quality or worse sound quality than the Sony sscs5 speakers + subwoofer(my current setup), because the Sony Bluetooth speaker has 3 dedicated drivers like my current setup? Just curious. Thanks!
What are your thoughts about Wharedale Diamond subs? I had a SW150 and although it was pretty basic, no app or anything and manual crossover settings, but they sounded pretty good. Just wondering if you'd ever experienced them and what you thought.
Q Acoustics 5090 howl.me/clmKL0CRGrf
SVS SB Series bit.ly/4aJs1Vc
Polk OWM3 howl.me/clmKRkLkveR
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Will the Sony xv900 large Bluetooth speaker have better sound quality or worse sound quality than the Sony sscs5 speakers + subwoofer setup (my current setup), because the Sony Bluetooth speaker has 3 dedicated drivers like my current setup? Just curious. Thanks!
Hey Randy, when I click on the links in the video description to go to your Test Track Playlist, I get an error message from Amazon Music that says, "We're sorry, but this playlist is no longer available." The other two playlists also return the same error message. Were you being naughty? Did Amazon Music remove your playlists? 🤣🤣 Keep up the great reviews! 💓
Make a video on best center channel speakers best to worst atleast 10 speakers.
It will make sense to lot of people.😊
Thanks!
I've just bought a polk signature Elite ES35 it not only improved the dialogue of the centre speaker but improved the hole sounds of the other speaker.
Always enjoy your videos. Would it be possible to do an updated video on buying your first home theater system at several different price points? Also include either this is all you plan to spend and also how to build it over time? Thanks again Randy!
If anyone is looking for a super affordable and great sounding ht system for a living room. I recommend Micca OoOs you could easily create a sound bar for a 3.1 setup or you can add 2 more for a full 5.1. I recommend for the surrounds mount them slightly lower than your seated position and mount flush to the wall pointed up at the ceiling. I currently do this and its awesome. Get a good receiver that can do room correction. Like Cheapaudioman said invest in a good sub and do your measurements(I manually did this after room correction).
I have to agree with you about the height speakers over up firing just v recently moved them to height and the separation for me is the biggest difference ive noticed . Where as before it sounded kind of muddled together . Wanted to mention the sony 360 spatial audio and how impressed I am with it . Its bloody brilliant
I started my HT journey in '95
Good year. Mine was 86 or 87
Thanks for this vid. I’m getting back into surround after a long sabbatical. Man, I do well for myself, but I ain’t spending $10K on speakers. Ordered the Onkyo RZ30. Speakers have been brutal to figure out. Wish I could use my old Infinity SM102’s to save a buck.
purchasing an SPL meter was the best purchase I have ever made. Use that to match all the test tones and bump up the center channel +1db makes a huge difference
I run all floor-standing speakers. RP8000's (and RP504C) in the front and RP5000's for surround and rear surrounds. Pumping 300W ea into the 8000's (bi-amped) and about 180W ea into the 5000's. Also use 4 Pold OWM3's on the ceiling also 180W ea. Overkill, I know, but it sounds amazing with a HUGE sound. This is my first time using (mostly) all towers, and I love it! Also two PB1000 Pros up front corner loaded (corner loaded works more than not)
I love toids audio where he had that broad tweeter driver that played very low. Interesting stuff there. It was a flat driver that had great off axis response.
I moved into my first apartment in 1994 when I was 24 I had my first surround sound system Sony receiver and nht speakers and a Cerwin Vega subwoofer passive
My frist was a Philips year 2000 5.1 plus I could use the 8 Speakers on the large TV. Very loud because i swapped the speakers around and added my own separate speakers off the hi fi. : )
I realised today that I have a subwoofer that they don't make anymore. It's a DSE 10 inch. It really pumps! Dick Smith Electronics (A disolved Australian company). A2669 model 100 watts powered. Got a DSE 100w center speaker too, it's pretty huge as well.
Awe man... You started this home theater work after I bought 4 Focal Theva No.3-D, 2 Focal Theva Surround, 1 Focal Theva Center and 1 Marantz SR8015 in mid November. If you had reviewed them before I had I would have clicked your Amazon link to buy all over $8k of it... if only you had reviewed the Focal Theva speakers!
@cheapaudioman I couldn’t agree more on the center channel tips and I am intrigued that the Q Acoustics MTM design worked so well for you. I have a 5.2.4 setup. I switched my center channel from the Klipsch RP-504C (MMTMM) to a SVS Prime center (WMTW) and it made a HUGE difference in understanding dialogue, especially in the less than ideal off axis seating positions associated with our large L shaped sectional couch. Wife loves it. And there are no issues with “timbre matching” even though I am still using my gen 1 Klipsch RP-600M for LR (but seriously considering the Arendal 1723 Monitor S now in part due to Randy’s review) and Klipsch RP-502S for surrounds. And if you’re wondering I have SVS SB-2000 Pro subs using the wireless transmitter that he showed, although I have never had the popping he mentioned.
I was waffling about SVS for my center, but hearing of timbre-matching, I settled on the RP-504Cii. I also have the RP-600Miis for my L/R and RP500SAs for my heights, but my surrounds are cheap Polk satellites I want to eventually replace, and I have a Klipsch 12" and Polk 10" sub stacked on top of each other due to space issues. It does seem to give me more boom, though. Eventually I want to get matching subwoofers. As for my surrounds, I sent a picture of my MLP (one chair) to Paducah Home Theater and they commented that it was like I was wearing headphones, because the speakers surround my chair, which is up against the wall. I agree that the rear heights made a huge difference in my 7.2.4 system! SPR and John Wick are awesome to hear in surround.
"Your Center Speaker is your most important speaker." YES! It took a few years for me to admit this to myself. I was so focused on big floor standing mains and ignored the center channel. Once I bought my Klipsch RP 450C, the dialogue and effects sounds came alive. I dumped the big mains and replaced them with smaller, more focused L/R speakers.
Hey Randy, been watching your videos for about 3 years now. This is one of your best thus far. Am into Home Theatahh and this was just packed with info :)
Thanks, my friend
big fan big fan! have tried Spatial Audio calibration tool kit by techno dad & joe n tell? i am a fan of this product. I recommended this to you. it will take take your home theater to the next level
Love your videos. New subscriber here! Shout out to your Metallica - ...And Justice For All poster in the back (my favorite album ever :)).
Thanks for this Mr Randy. I'm big into home theater, I think as long as you have actually. I love your channel because I've learned enough to enjoy both music and movies on a single system. I do appreciate your love of two channel; it's at play in my office and dining room. 🙃
Good info and setting up a home theater system, and thank you. However, I would have appreciated it, if you could remember to include AFFORDABLE speakers to recommend as well given that most of us here cannot afford the expensive $hit.
Idk iv just been using a blu-ray 3d surround system from like 2008 with a Frankenstein of goodwill and speakers that originally came with it bc I keep cutting the cords and rewiring lmao. Rn I'm using the philips mid speaker it came with and it has 2 speakers and a tweeter and I'm using the smaller speakers it came with for left side audio and front left bc it's closer to my bed. The front right uses a smaller 8" sony speaker and the right side speaker is a sony bookshelf speaker on the floor and the subwoofer is the same speaker. All together iv only spent like 20$ on speakers since I just wait for goodwill or similar stores to get them. Whole thing is just set up with optical to my TV but I'm thinking ab getting a dac of som kind as my TV can have iffy optical somtimes but for the most part all my consoles sound amazing through it and I can shake my house if I want.
The center channel is so important... that I tossed that sucker into the garbage. Spend more on your mains and get that soundstage. That voice will seem to come from the screen. Really the main purpose of the center channel came from big theaters that you had to try to anchor the voice to the screen. Especially for those that were way to the left or right. Do better than the horn loaded terrible sounding theaters and what is great is it is easy to do.
I got a rsl 12 s 85 pounds of pure power love it so much better then the budgets ones i have. Do ceiling speakers work for rear surrounds. I have two polk speakers in the ceiling
Thanks so much. Your videos are SO helpful. I just added to my shopping list..after the Geshelli DAC (yes with THOSE chips lol) and an Emotiva pre-amp
Great video Randy. Good info in it. Agree with going with larger rear surrounds. I put 8” Monitor Audio in my drop ceiling, reinforced the cut out with plywood. I’m still amazed a 22 year old Denon Dolby digital receiver sounds good as it does. Thinking about the SYN as an option moving forward. Just wish Schiit had a 5 channel amp to go with the SYN.
I have 4 Monoprice 5.1.4 speakers a Sony Center channel speaker and Sony 12 inch sub with a Sony DH790 surround sound receiver. With The 4k Blu-ray player that’s plays 99.9% of the discs out there it’s been an amazing 2 years of watching and re-watching older movies again! Sure it’s budget build but I’m am pleased so far.
I can't figure out how to add a "DAC that can process Atmos" via HDMI out from my PC, into a Denon x4700h with 4 heights, 2 rear heights are the angled "Sony SSCSE" that match the SSCS5's. Only thing I tried for 2 chan is USB out of PC into a Fiio dongle, then 3.5mm to RCA cable into the AVR, but don't hear an improvement. I switch source to AUX for 2 channel. I'd love to add a component DAC but not finding a surround / HDMI in then HDMI out to AVR. It doesn't exist pretty much under $800 and up, so rely on the Denon's internal DAC for Atmos which is about average I'd guess.
You probably figured this out by now, but you don't need a DAC.or any intermediate device between a PC and an AVR.
Randy, I have a confession: I love home theater/multi-speaker surround as much, if not more, than I love basic 2-channel listening. I have one room for HT and 7-channel stereo, and another a dedicated 2-channel space for that reason. Over time I pieced together a very respectable 7.2 system utilizing older used but well-cared-for gear. Fell in love with old school Definitive Technology bi-polar speakers from the 90's (passive, no built-in amps). BP20's front, BP10's rear, CLR-1000 center, ELAC BS41's for front height speakers, and two ELAC SUB1010 subs to fill the bottom end. PC is used for source, Yamaha TSR-7850 for HDMI processor, NAD AV716 powering the BP20 towers. And of course, a Geshelli J2 feeding it all. End result: a headphone-like experience that I enjoy immensely.
building my first q acoustics 5.1 system, how would you compare this speaker with the previous 3090c? and in your opinion can this speaker integrates with the 3020i? (I dont have a budget for the new 5010 or 5020)
Cah u do a video on subwoofer repair options
Absolutely, without a doubt, the most important speaker in-home theater is the center channel. It doesn't matter one little bit how good your left and right image.
I agree that the center is the most important in the series.....but I disagree that your left and right "doesn't matter one little bit"...
@@stonefree1911 I was only referring to those people who use their left and right to produce a phantom image. Of course the left and right are important
Great as always, Randy! It would be really interesting if you could try the Sony SSCS8 center speaker, and pair it with 4 (or 6) SSCS5s to see if they sound as good for home theater as they do for music. Besides, there are very few reviews on that center speaker...
Would love that. Next time they go on super sale I’m buying 2 more pair
@@cheapaudioman
Hi man, can you please tell me which speaker sound better for stereo
Jamo c93ii, polk es 20, q acoustic, Canton, elac 6.0, Dali spektor 2
If you can please rate from best to worst ( also my intention to keep this speaker as front side of home theatre in future)
@@ahambhramasmii Did you ever get an answer to this question? There's so many choices I'm suffering from analysis paralysis. I was personally thinking a 2.1 system with a Fosi Audio amp powering HSU research speakers and HSU sub. It appears to be the best bang for the buck.
@@cheapaudioman Randy now’s your chance! they are $123 now on Amazon!
Would ELAC Debut 2.0 A4.2 work for the height speakers in the front like your have yours setup?
Not intended to be a slight. Figure out how to take a sabbatical. Get refreshed. Write down new ideas. Love on your family. I don’t think you need new ideas, you need a break.
Agreed. You’ve been prolific. Burnout was kind of inevitable (I do it to myself a lot in my work). At least give yourself time to reconnect with what you love most, find some cities to travel to if you can or travel at least catch a lot of shows. Sit back and enjoy your system(s). Do some simulcasts when live if you want to keep the algorithm fed.
Problem with taking a break is you tubes algorithm. If you don’t upload content daily sometimes several times a day you start to fall off the algorithm and people searching for content on what he does gets less recommendation from TH-cam.
It's probably tough when he gets so much push back when he reviews more expensive stuff. There's only so many products to review.
He can’t take a sabbatical because he needs push affiliate links. He’s essentially acting like a contractor who doesn’t get paid if he doesn’t “work”.
Hey man. I have a 4.1 matched set of powered studio monitors. Jbl. Almost 2k canadian. I cant find definitive info for repurposing the massive things so i can add a center and atmos speakers. I never know which receiver to buy. The speakers sound amazing when i record guitar or play pc games.
I just finished cabling my Nakamichi Soundwafe/Samsung TV with silver cables.
Best I’ve seen and heard this A/V system.
Randy, 100% agree with you on all of these tips.
One thing I recently found when tuning my system - I set the audio output mode to "all speakers stereo" so that my AVR plays all of the same signals at the same time along the right and left side of the room. Doing so gave me a weird reverb and/or echo from the speakers. The Ah-Ha moment was my thought that the speakers should sound like one big cohesive stereo system. I adjusted the distances until I got the stereo, no echo, sound. This helped greatly with sounds panning smoothly through my room. Movies, games, music all sound much better now.
Happy New Year to you and yours, Kevin
Oh, BTW, I'm not running my center channel for a test just the towers and dang it sounds pretty good without any change in tonality from left to center to right anymore, even though all of my speakers are Emotiva.
After a couple decades of fiddling with home theater setups, I ended up falling in love with a phantom center. It is not for everyone because you need a near perfect room and setup, but once you dial it in, there is zero fatigue and a much more natural sound. Of course this is from a DIY position. If I had the funds to get a professionally designed system, then yes, I might feel a little different about this.
Those polk ohm3s are BADASS actually, but for some reason i want to say they gave me issues with my onkyo when i put them.up higb in the rear... maybe i cat⁵Nt eeally remember 😮
I got Klipsch 600m and th 12" sub for my 20m2 living room. Which center should i take from the RP Mark 1 series? 404, 600 or 500? I think the 504 is way too big?
Hey Randy, I'd love it if you did some center channel comparisons. I have the system built off of the Fluance XL8F R/L mains and I like the mains, but their center is garbage. There's a big hole in the YT audio review market for center channel reviews/shootouts, and I suspect I'm not the only one craving them out here
Thanks for this information on an often ignored environment. Taken me years to get some joy in my multi-speaker environment. Got a subwoofer dialed in recently, and I heard things that others have spoken about, but I thought was audiophile pretentiousness. I recently got a Wharfedale D300C and have finally heard center channel stuff, too. Stay well, my friend, and take care.
So It's not that important to have the speakers match (type and manufacturer)? The problem I have with spending more on speakers is that I have to buy 7 of them, plus the sub. It adds up quick.
I actually started out with like 2 inch satellite speakers from an old HTI V, and then upgraded to 5 inch bookshelf speakers. I was amazed at the difference it made!
A little off topic, but related. Do any of these amazing little amps, Fozi, Ayima, SMSL, etc have a home theater replacement? I'm wanting something with (at least) 5.1, 4k and eARC? I'm tired of battling my Marantz and it's disdain for eARC.
Wow I just bought a center channel Klipsch R50C and now you’ve got me wanting to upgrade and I haven’t even heard it yet. Dang it Randy!
This looks amazing !!!! Im after a decent speaker set up for me TV......I was after something with Dolby Atmos (a buddy has a Sonos Beam Gen 2 and its sounds great) but Im after something with a bit more punch. Great video, thanks for sharing 🙂
7 Channel receiver or better still a nine channel, therefore you won't have to buy another one
How does this compare to an svs ultra center?
The height mount ATMOS speaker option you talk about I have to agree on being better than the upward firing ATMOS speakers.
I am using an awesome but vintage set of Bose 201 series IIs as ATMOS speakers in this height mount as well.
The primary speakers in this setup are Bose 601 Series IIIs from 86 and same year 301s as surrounds. I don't use a centre speaker with this and the sub is an ancient Acoustimass module but with no satellites connected. This is my main vintage audio listening setup as well and it doubles for occasional home theatre on an older Pioneer Elite series AVR but I also swap in and out various other vintage gear.
I know people like to either love or hate Bose but I have had them for decades and always really liked them.
...and I had a PumpkinHead (actor is Lance Henrikson sp?) poster on the wall in my college apartment back in 90. LOL
Great video Randy, thanks again.
Thanks Randy
Sounds like a nice setup! I’m running Monitor Audio Bronze for the front 3 speakers, 4 Emotiva ceiling speakers (sale) for Atmos, and I purchased two pairs of Q Acoustic Concept 20 speakers for the side and back surrounds when Amazon had them on sale for $250. The main receiver is the Yamaha Aventage A8A and I am powering the front 3 speakers with the Emotiva BasX A3 to take some pressure off of the Yamaha. For now, I am running a 12” Polk Audio sub, which I plan to update in the future. Sounds really clean overall!
I use the MCAAC set up for my avr’s which sets the distances and levels to correct phase issues from room issues(use your avr’s phase control as well). When you look at the levels and distances afterward you see that they are not the same as each other which is correct in accounting for room issues. I then adjust to my liking with the eq. Don’t just use a tape measure because you will have phase problems that will cause echoes and improper balance in the sound. Use your calibration mic set up first then tailor to your likings
I need a good sounding center for $150 or less…
and if you pair the svs wireless adapter to an amp like FOSI Audio, you can make any speaker wireless… thats how I setup my surrounds without having to string wires across the room.. works great!
I'm first today but got nothing to say yet. 😅
😂🤣😂
Pumpkinhead is awesome!
My centre channel is a Dali Oberon Vokal with Oberon 5s flanking left and right centre stage and SVS PB1000 holding the bass. I use Klipsch bipole rears. The Oberon's are honestly the best value speaker I have heard at their price point and the clarity is phenomenal. The PB1000s are scary good as well, they really shake your core. Worth the investment.
How would a source point like a kef 150 or ls 50 work as a center as it would negate comb filtering?
Kef makes center channels
Even then, a good center has to produce realistic male dialog. Even if it didn't do comb filtering, if the male voice is thin and tinny, it sucks you out of the movie experience immediately. So don't go cheap on a nice big good sounding center.
Kef 150/350 works good as a center and is used quite often
I wired an old set of bookshelf speakers in series as a huge centre once instead of using them elsewhere. They were sick but hard to implement due to height in any of my stands at the time.
These days I 2ch + Sub everything - just simpler suits me but could easily go back down the HT gear bug
I'm really getting excited about the 5000 series Q Acoustics stuff! I am curious if more people would you go 5020s and a sub, or the 5040s?!
...I guess that's just the classic bookshelf speaker vs floor-standing debate.
Hi mate. You were looking for some content ideas. Not sure if you allready did that: sound quality with different transports. I was running my office system (Geshelli J2 and Rega iO) with a Wiim Mini but decided to use the Macbook as a transport. I thought it sounded better IMHO.
Thanks
Brought to you by Q Acoustics...
I would be interested to kknow what you think of Toid's centre channel - he also explains the d'Appolito lobing, but deals with it with a BMR driver and a low crossover. It won't go very (very) loud though, the BMR drivers have poor xmax and power handling.
My first AV receiver was a JVC for $200 that I put on layaway at Circuit City.
May I add one very important but often overlooked point here? We are biological life forms. We often forget that over the last 70 years, we have solved so many technical problems "period"! I studied Psycho Acoustics for years and am a qualified Audio/Visual engineer. However, trying to get a home cinema or stereo system sounding great for everyone IS IMPOSSIBLE! Spending $1,000 on an Australian center channel by Revolution solved that problem....for me. It'd be great if we could all connect to each say like The Borg from Star Trek or Brainstorm, Natalie Woods last movie, but as we age, our ability to hear higher frequencies rolls right off. My 93 year old mum did a hearing test. I was shocked at the fact that not one part of both ears made it into the normal area of the "The Smiley". At 8 kilohertz, her hearing literally dropped right off like a stone hitting terminal velocity. I was a club DJ and A/V Engineer and my hearing at 62 nearly 63 was classified as great. Work that one out?? Bass was great but as I expected I only managed to get up to 15 kilohertz at most before I couldn't hear the test tones anymore. If you were unfortunate enough to hear BOSE 802s speakers which is just 8 tweeters jammed into a box with 2 front ports, that's what I call atrocious. It needed an active processor to filter out......I don't know.....everything!! Sound is something that's subjective....DUH. Television shot its way across the screen and here we are in 2024 with 4K screens today with size and your wallet being the only real restrictions. Digital TV was an easy sell. The only thing about it is that I have a Panasonic Hi Def 3D Plasma 1080p for the man cave and another 1080p plasma in the lounge which is going on for 13 years old and a PVR that plays all region DVDs and Blu-ray discs which is also great going on 13 years of use. Paul from PS Audio in the states says that at the moment we haven't reached audio nirvana just yet. On a very brave scale of 1% to 100%, we're sitting at around 40%.which is excellent. I paid $600.00 for a pair of Sony headphones with Blu-tooth and StarTrek Picard sounded phenomenal. The sound stage those headphones produced from Star Trek to Queen and Enya was a trip. Headphones today along with valve amplifiers (we call tubes valves in Australia and the UK) is getting ridiculous. Tubes are not making a come back as such, they never left. Now, tube amps today like the Primaluna HD Integrated amplifier I own are just gorgeous. In 20 years, you've got 20 year olds making nixie tube clocks. Who remembers waiting for a lift and watching that orange glow given off by cathodes shaped into the appropriate number. I'll finish here. Cheers from Australia, Andrew.
if you were to run a tower speaker in the rear . and run it full range .. you would notice a big difference .. there is alot of bass coming from the rear .. it was eye opening for me like it was for you when you added your height speakers .. try it when you can .. you will love it
Great topic, do you recommend matching speaker manufacturers from Mains to center, I’m upgrading my Definitive center to Heresey III mains.
Without the proper room acoustics and size, the quality of your equipment means absolutely nothing lol. I have to mention this because I wasted TOO much money on my Home Theater system! Now I mainly use headphones 😅
What do you think about level matching speakers by rotating them into the same position in your room and measuring each from there?
Huh? That only applies to subwoofers.
Check out a subwoofer from Emotiva, particularly the Xs series.
I’d like to learn how to use height speakers better too!
Something I got to experience back in the 90's in a Japanese car . ( a car sold originally new In Japan)
It was called body sonic, and you feel it. Sound level low and get kicked in the back by an elephant.
Thx, very interessting. I am about to buy a Polk sub. Are they any good?
I never got along with the center when I still used a 5.1 Now I just use stereo. In retrospect my left en right channel just muddied op the sound because their bass was too extended. It muddied the vocals. A center couldn't save that. Got a different one, didn't help.
You may want to cross the subs higher in the AVR. Make sure the fronts are set to small as well .
Basically buy the best that you can afford at the best price.
Randy your playlists on amazon have disappeared! I really enjoyed your music selection on them. Could you please post new links a new playlist?
Last year I upgraded my front speakers to the q 3030i due to lack of space. I then bought some used Q AV wall surround . Next I want to swap my old jamo 100 center for the q 3090, is this a good idea or are there better options? Can't justify the 5090 unfortunately.
Hi Randy, Happy New Year! You previously said you loved the Polk ES35 center. You still have that same opinion? Thx!
I've tried many center channels, and I've never liked them . I run a phantom center with two encores .
Yes, I've had small surrounds, and i had to get larger ones.
Will the Sony xv900 large Bluetooth speaker have better sound quality or worse sound quality than the Sony sscs5 speakers + subwoofer(my current setup), because the Sony Bluetooth speaker has 3 dedicated drivers like my current setup? Just curious. Thanks!
How would you compare the Q acoustics center to the E 35 Polk with the 6 little 3 inch woofers?
What are your thoughts about Wharedale Diamond subs? I had a SW150 and although it was pretty basic, no app or anything and manual crossover settings, but they sounded pretty good. Just wondering if you'd ever experienced them and what you thought.
I have one. Love it. Never seen them reviewed, however.
Hey man. Why can't I find a video comparing reciever sound characteristics? Any chance you can make one for regular people recievers? 500-1k?
Can u review the smsl ao300 I want to know your opinion on it
I'm calling you the Ronald Reagan of Home Theatre..........!
am i the only one who thinks NETFLIX muffles the vocals badly?
6 ohms impedance?? - naahhh bro,, nahhhhhh. If aint 8, then it aint gr8 😀
"cheap"... while I own many of the speakers you recommend, none of them are cheap. Think it's time to rebrand.