Need help picking out home surround sound.

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I want amazing sound but don’t want to get carried away on cost.

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Not gonna happen. For that you are looking at least $1k for a receiver, $1k for dual subs and could easily spend $2k+ for just one and $3k-$4k for speakers.

Amazing sound doesn’t come cheap, good sound will still cost you $2k+

AVS forum will put you down a very expensive, but very detailed, frustrating and rewarding journey.

SuddenJerk is correct.

That’s a very large room to drive. It’s going to show the weakness of what you choose. Do not think you can get away with satellite speakers and a wimpy sub in that huge room.

Is there not something I can put together now? I’m going to have the TV setup with the TV being on the 17 foot wide wall. I can add tower speaker later just trying to figure out what size and brand of speaker to put in the ceiling. I’d be ok spending $500 a speaker for in ceiling for my downstairs and probably the same upstairs. Out back on my patio I’m not sure if I should do regular speakers because they will be mounted in the ceiling or waterproof.

Back patio is 35x15 and I did 4 drops because I will have 2 75 inch TVs.

With Dolby Atmos available, I would go 5.4.1

Drop your money in the front and sub. In ceiling rears are just for effects. Don't need an expensive unit there and don't need to match brands.

Maybe spend some money deadening the sound by getting rugs, acoustic paneling, and other things.

I haven’t looked into that. I used to pay more attention to some of that stuff but haven’t paid attention for the last 8 years or so.

I concur. SVS is a phenomenal sub. The ported ones come with plugs sometimes.

And Klipsch horn tweeters in a non dampened room will reflect and sound harsh.

Denon and Marantz are fantastic brands. To save on the AVR, check out accessories4less. They are an authorized dealer of refurb and new products from Denon and Marantz. They also have Focal, Kef, Def tech, and a few others.

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Go to a shop and listen. I cannot stand speakers with metal tweeters

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Normally I'd go with that; however the new Klipsch Reference Premiere (RP) silicon coated tweeters (tractic or something close) seem to do away with the ear fatigue. They did for me. As for subwoofers give the HSU's a good look. While not SVS's they are mighty fine and close enough that most will not hear a difference. They are available online only.

This might help you get closer to your budget?

Unfortunately nothing to add abvout ceiling mounts. . . haven't been there.

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The last place is my bonus room that will be wired for a 7:1 system. I’m looking at adding the speakers later but want to have them picked out so my builder can put the rings in now and I can add the speakers later.

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I would future proof and wire for two subs and go at least 9.2 but probably wire for 11.2. As those additional formats become more popular and common you may be wishing down the road you'd have wired for them.



Here’s a couple of questions I have;

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1. For upstairs would you mount all speakers in the ceiling or do some in wall mounted? Room is 38x17.

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That's a big room. You may definitely want the option for dual subs. Also, I'd recommend you consider floor standing/wall mounted for center, left, and right as those are gonna do most of the heavy lifting and wall mounted or floor standing will blow away virtually all in wall speakers (and you get more speaker for your money).

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2. What size and brand would you go with?

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I would recommend SVS. Prime Tower System gets you a 5.0 system for $1600. Or you could go with the bookshelf system for $1000 and get a 5.1 system, all SVS. Then add speakers from there.

Denon Receiver: $1,000

5.0 SVS System: $1,600

SVS PB-2000 Sub: $700

Total: $3,300...and you've still got $700 for the other rooms But hey, you've got an amazing system to build on over time in the big room.

ETA: I realize I basically said what VA said, so second his post. I have a Denon x4400 receiver and really like it.