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Considering ditching 5.1 for a soundbar; suggestions?

I just built a basement room meant for both TV/media and 2 channel listening. At first I thought I'd split the room and have my two channel at one end, the TV and 5.1 system at the other.

I'm having second thoughts. The room is about 27 feet long and 16 feet wide, and if I divide it, then the most I can get from the front wall for my two channel listening is about 12 feet. Feels a bit cramped.

If I do decide to put everything on one wall, I really need to get rid of my 5.1 system and go with a soundbar and sub — for movies.

I know soundbars are not audiophile things, but I'm wondering how many of you bit the bullet to economize space, ditched the 5.1 and what did you get as a good soundbar? I'm thinking I could spend up to $1k. (I would cut my losses by selling my Klipsch R/L and Center channel speakers.)


128x128hilde45
spatialking's avatar
spatialking
612 posts
 
I'd never go with a soundbar if I had a decent home theater.   What I did was put both on the same wall, wired the surround speakers where they are supposed to be, and set the 2 channel speakers to an optimum position.   It worked great until I moved and I now have two separate, but slightly smaller, rooms.  Frankly, if I had to buy another house, I would go with the one big room approach again.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,131 posts
 
@spatialking Noted.

If anyone else wants to say, "I wouldn’t do it", Spatialking has that covered. Your work is done.

Anyone with advice about soundbars, please weigh in. I like movies but the fetish about surround sound/movie conditions doesn't grab me. A separate AVR, wires all over the place, additional speakers -- it's too much clutter. I have read there are good soundbars that can throw a decent soundfield for movies which can be cleanly mounted on the wall. That would be enough for me, especially if it meant preserving the maximum utility of the room for listening. Which is, for me, the priority.
riley804
1,224 posts
 
i have always suggested to members that if they want to have 2 channel and a ht setup, that they do it in different rooms if possible.

you are the one that has to live with the decision of selling the ht gear and going with a sound bar if you decide to go that route.

is it going to sound the same, definitely not …..and i guess you have to ask yourself can you live with it ?




ml8764ag's avatar
ml8764ag
507 posts
 
I used to be a big 5.1 guy…but when got into high end 2 channel …sold the home theatre stuff and ended up with a klipsch sound bar and wireless sub..Sounds great…. Ironically, get unsolicited comments on how good the tv sounds more than the 2 channel.

My bar is 20 years old and has functioned flawlessly….it is a Best Buy purchase…and, if I remember correctly, cost about $300. Suspect you could buy better now…especially if willing to spend more.

For me….I’d never go back to all that equipment and wires.  But that’s just me.
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