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Message
Home Surround Sound Questions
Posted on 4/23/15 at 10:22 am
Posted on 4/23/15 at 10:22 am
I am currently building a home. Yesterday I met with the Surround Sound guy that my builder uses. The same guy that will do our alarming system.
We discussed a 5:1 system in the main living room (Zone 1) and 2 speakers outside on the back patio (Zone 2). For roughly $2600, he will provide the 5 ceiling speakers in Zone 1 and the 2 speakers in Zone 2, I will have to buy the sub separately. He will also supply the receiver (pioneer) and all the wiring, which includes the HDMI hookups. When we move in, he will come set everything up and get us rolling.
I feel as though this is a pretty good deal. He will give us the entire package for no more than $2600. My question is:
Is it worth trying to save money and purchase my own speakers and receiver then just let him wire it up? I feel as though I would need to save $500 or more to make it worth my time and effort.
TL;DR - Do I let a company supply my home entire surround sound system or do I try to purchase some pieces myself to save money?
We discussed a 5:1 system in the main living room (Zone 1) and 2 speakers outside on the back patio (Zone 2). For roughly $2600, he will provide the 5 ceiling speakers in Zone 1 and the 2 speakers in Zone 2, I will have to buy the sub separately. He will also supply the receiver (pioneer) and all the wiring, which includes the HDMI hookups. When we move in, he will come set everything up and get us rolling.
I feel as though this is a pretty good deal. He will give us the entire package for no more than $2600. My question is:
Is it worth trying to save money and purchase my own speakers and receiver then just let him wire it up? I feel as though I would need to save $500 or more to make it worth my time and effort.
TL;DR - Do I let a company supply my home entire surround sound system or do I try to purchase some pieces myself to save money?
6
Posted on 4/23/15 at 10:25 am to GumboDave
quote:
do I try to purchase some pieces myself to save money?
i can't imagine spending $2600 and not getting a fantastic set of speakers, wiring of MY choice, a HSU sub and AVR of my choice *and* a giant HDTV.
if you're currently building a house its stupid easy to put HDMI wiring and power in the walls. i woudln't even think about hiring someone to do this.
just remember, if you want it done right...
This post was edited on 4/23/15 at 10:25 am
Posted on 4/23/15 at 10:28 am to CAD703X
I wont be getting a TV with this package. I already have a good one.
You say take everything from him, but do the HDMI Wiring myself?
You say take everything from him, but do the HDMI Wiring myself?
Posted on 4/23/15 at 10:42 am to GumboDave
quote:
You say take everything from him, but do the HDMI Wiring myself?
no i would shop for everything 100%.
speaker wiring and HDMI and mounts = monoprice
speakers & subs = read threads here particularly by VABUckeye or whoever
zone 2 = buy sonos and be done
i will be completely honest with you, though. surround sound is a bit 'dated' IMO. don't get me wrong..i have a killer surround setup at my house but its big and bulky and i don't know how much i really appreciate the satellite/ambient speakers.
i just moved and gave my son the whole shebang to put in his basement apartment.
we use chromecasts all over the house and so any room that needs television we just plug it into the wall and attach the chromecast.
cable is gone.
sat tv is gone.
the "main" tv in our den i bought a soundbar with wireless sub and its way less bulky and the wife loves it.
with bluetooth and wifi i dont think i'll ever run speaker wires again.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 11:57 am to GumboDave
A couple of things. If you're going through a production builder the likely hood of them letting you into the house to do anything before handing the keys over to you is low.
I'm in the business and think that you probably got a pretty competitive offer from him. He's providing a fair amount of material and time. He'll also warranty his work which you will have to deal with yourself if you do it.
Personally, if you tried to get me to just provide the labor and bought the materials separately and asked me to install them I'm politely decline.
I agree on surround speakers. Family room setup right so it's not like it's a room with proper acoustics or made for dedicated listening. I'd do in wall and in ceiling and be done with it Will it sound perfect? No. Will you notice? Not if he uses quality speakers. They will sound just fine for the application.
I'm in the business and think that you probably got a pretty competitive offer from him. He's providing a fair amount of material and time. He'll also warranty his work which you will have to deal with yourself if you do it.
Personally, if you tried to get me to just provide the labor and bought the materials separately and asked me to install them I'm politely decline.
I agree on surround speakers. Family room setup right so it's not like it's a room with proper acoustics or made for dedicated listening. I'd do in wall and in ceiling and be done with it Will it sound perfect? No. Will you notice? Not if he uses quality speakers. They will sound just fine for the application.
This post was edited on 4/23/15 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 4/23/15 at 12:57 pm to GumboDave
We went through the same dilemma, we decided to buy all ourselves and install ourselves. Was not hard. We spent less than 1200 for all and we have a great system. This is with klipsch sub, mirage rear ceilings, pioneer towers and center, denon avr and all wiring. We also got ir extenders to hide components behind cabinets.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 1:13 pm to GumboDave
My father in law did this. The installer/alarm guy gave him the cheapest Pioneer shite made. My advice is to at least ask him which equipment he will be installing(model #'s), but I would buy the stuff myself.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 1:22 pm to CAD703X
Bulky wont be an issue. They will all be ceiling mounted and hidden like dome lighting.
The contractor is my Father in Law, so he would let me get in there during construction. Just need to start pricing equipment.
The contractor is my Father in Law, so he would let me get in there during construction. Just need to start pricing equipment.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 2:04 pm to GumboDave
Do you know what models or brands of anything other than the Pioneer receiver?
Give me $2600 and I'll get you all you want to, just don't ask what it is.
Give me $2600 and I'll get you all you want to, just don't ask what it is.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 2:12 pm to GumboDave
My dad had this done about 15 years ago when they built. It turned out to be way too loud for people in other parts of the house. The back wall of the great room backed up to a hallway where there were 3 bedrooms in a line. We would be watching a movie or football game on a saturday night and inevitably one of my sisters would be trying to sleep back there and complain about the subwoofer. Just a consideration if you have young kids or women in the house who don't want it cranked to 11. There was a way he could turn the receiver off and just use the TV speakers, but it was a pain. When he moved out of there 3 years ago he didn't bother with anything but a soundbar in his new place.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 2:57 pm to GumboDave
In my opinion speakers look like
not
.
Just my opinion though. I built a two channel system that sounds amazing for the price of what you're looking to pay, but I'm sure your wife doesn't want to have to 'see' speakers (or you wouldn't be in this predicament).
If I were in your shoes I wouldn't even do a speaker system, I'd just buy a soundbar and call it a day. I'm all for hiding speakers if your wife'll be a bitch about it, but the ceiling is the last place I'd hide them (though I have seen subs mounted up there for a 7.2 system...and that was neat).
not
.
Just my opinion though. I built a two channel system that sounds amazing for the price of what you're looking to pay, but I'm sure your wife doesn't want to have to 'see' speakers (or you wouldn't be in this predicament).
If I were in your shoes I wouldn't even do a speaker system, I'd just buy a soundbar and call it a day. I'm all for hiding speakers if your wife'll be a bitch about it, but the ceiling is the last place I'd hide them (though I have seen subs mounted up there for a 7.2 system...and that was neat).
This post was edited on 4/23/15 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 4/23/15 at 3:59 pm to Gaston
quote:
If I were in your shoes I wouldn't even do a speaker system, I'd just buy a soundbar and call it a day.
this!
soundbars >>>>>>>> a fussy 5.1 setup.
never thought i'd say that
Posted on 4/23/15 at 4:02 pm to CAD703X
In a family room I agree with you. Surround sound in a dedicated room? Absolutely but not necessary in a family room setting.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 4:04 pm to CAD703X
quote:
soundbars >>>>>>>> a fussy 5.1 setup.
traitor
Posted on 4/23/15 at 4:11 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
traitor
i know i know. i spent years perfecting my 5.1 system then i moved and realized i didn't want to set it back up again.
with a new baby we can never crank it to 11 these days and watch chronicles of riddick.
the soundbar and wireless sub is the new 5.1 hsu
This post was edited on 4/23/15 at 4:15 pm
Posted on 4/23/15 at 5:36 pm to CAD703X
Towers for life!
Posted on 4/23/15 at 8:23 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
Towers for life!
Agreed. But if I ever had an SO who wouldn't allow them or a dedicated theatre, I would settle on a nice in-ceiling 5/7.1 system. The house I lived in had a 7.1 in-ceiling setup when I was in college. It wasn't ideally set up, but soundstaging for movies/tv and surround/immersion was much better than a single center/soundbar could offer.
Posted on 4/23/15 at 8:28 pm to CAD703X
quote:
surround sound is a bit 'dated' IMO
Posted on 4/24/15 at 9:01 am to Hopeful Doc
quote:
I would settle on a nice in-ceiling 5/7.1 system.
In walls would probably be better. My wife didn't want towers either until I showed her how they kind of become a new piece of furniture and look nice.
I think the key is to get the good looking ones.
Posted on 4/24/15 at 9:02 am to Hu_Flung_Pu
I'm at devil post count. extra post
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