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My Home Theatre Room Challenges - Is It Worth It To Upgrade Speakers

I have a very nice 2-channel stereo room where I love to listen to music by myself.  I am happy with the equipment and set-up in this room (at least for now).

Our family room (on the other side of our home) serves as our Home Theatre room and my wife and I watch a movie in this room together almost every night.  We recently upgraded to a Sony 83" A90J television and we love the picture quality.  

I consider sound quality to be just as important as picture quality when it comes to watching a good movie.  The 5.1.2 sound equipment in this room currently features:

  • Yamaha RX-1080 Surround Processor
  • Paradigm Prestige 15 Front Speakers on stands 
  • Martin Logan ESL Center Channel
  • Polk PSW1000 Powered Subwoofer
  • Paradigm Millenia 1 Overhead Speakers
  • Polk In Wall Rear Speakers
  • Room size = 20' wide X 18' deep (no rear wall)
  • Ceiling Height = 20' tall

The room has two big challenges:

  • WAF is critical - this is our family room, having front speakers that sit 4' out into the room is not going to happen
  • there are two couches that sit directly between the Front L&R speakers and our two primary listening chairs.

I would love to make a big and impactful improvement in sound quality in this room. I am currently considering replacing my two front main speakers (Paradigm Bookshelf 2-way speakers with 6" drivers) with full-sized speakers.  I am considering speakers, like perhaps a nice used pair of B&W 803 D2's, with the intent to dramatically improve base and be able to better fill the large room with sound.

Question:  Will the two couches block the sound improvement that I am trying to achieve?  (Right now my bookshelf speakers sit on stands which allows the soundwaves to not be blocked by my couches.)   Does this upgrade of front speakers in my large room seem like a logical first step?  I would love to hear from someone else who possible made some similar changes.

Thanks!

hikerneil
kota1
2,706 posts
 

@hikerneil

Absolutely upgrade the sound for that nice Sony. I have a Paradigm 9.2.7 HT you can see in my profile. Step 1, don’t change the bookshelves, for a surround system with a sub you are fine. Change the CC to get the matching Paradigm 45C center channel. Critical that F-C-L are perfectly matched. You can also keep the bookshelves on stands so they are not blocked by the couch. What do you think?

 

ghdprentice
7,052 posts
 

You ask a great question. I would give this a lot of careful thought. 
 

You can see my systems under my ID. I have B&W 805’s with two B&W 800 series subwoofers. It is great you can keep HT separate from your two channel music system. They have different objectives.

 

Our HT audio has always cost many times what our TV cost. It is worth it… but it is still not as critical as two channel audio. I am really happy with our stand mounted B&W 805’s with subwoofers. I would not want furniture get in the way of the mid range drivers. So really high quality stand mounted speakers are required.

 

You want them voiced the same… so, all the same brand. Moving to all one voicing will really help. 
 

Also, you have a tremendous opportunity to get a better surround processor. I would get a surround processor and separate seven channel amp. Your receiver is a “does everything” box. Look to NAD and Rotel for these. 

soix
9,591 posts
 

I would love to make a big and impactful improvement in sound quality in this room. I am currently considering replacing my two front main speakers (Paradigm Bookshelf 2-way speakers with 6" drivers) with full-sized speakers.

For this, I’d simply add another sub. It’ll give you much more impact and even out the bass in the room. I really think that’s all you need. Look at something like an SVS SB1000 that’s not too big but still gets down to an honest 20Hz (-3dB) for only $400 with free shipping and a 45-day, in-home trial with free return shipping if it doesn’t work out. They also offer great customer service if you need help integrating the subs. Best of luck.

https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000-black-ash-outlet-1

samac's avatar
samac
499 posts
 

@hikerneil 

+1

For soix’s suggestion of adding a sub to your setup.

Cheers,

Scott

erik_squires
16,138 posts
 

I don't think you need larger speakers. In fact, given the placement of the couches small stand-mounts are probably ideal.

Your 10" sub is probably too small for the room.  I'd recommend upgrading to a 12" or 15" unit instead.  And make sure your crossover is high enough, at 80 Hz. 

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