I've been searching for a couple of days but and have found quite a bit of information, but nothing that quite answers my question:
We are about to start building a new house, and I need help deciding whether or not to install built-in speakers.
It's a rather open-plan design and has a bulkhead all around the room with the TV.
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- The red line indicates the wall where the TV will be mounted.
- The wall behind the TV is no longer a cavity slider, we've changed it to a normal wall with a hinged door.
- We aren't super into TV or movies, buy would like a reasonably nice system so that when we do have the time to watch something it's a good experience.
- We cannot have a separate sub or anything that sits on the floor
- We can't have inbuilt wall-mounted speakers, but we can mount them into the bulkhead
- The TV and soundbar will be wall-mounted
From what I've read, these are the options available:
- 5.1 active soundbar with built-in sub
Pros:
- Everything is balanced and managed by the system
- I'm not sure how effective it will be with the wide open space towards the kitchen and the glass stacker door to the other side
- Surround effect is not as good as with individual speakers.
- Everything is balanced and managed by the system
- All built-in speakers around the bulkhead (all the same kind of normal built-in speakers). Not pointing down, but on the sides of the bulkhead facing towards the centre of the room
Pros:
- Even more discreet than a soundbar
- Separate speaker for each channel - true surround
- Separate amp required (amp will live in another room and be cabled accordingly)
- Once the speakers are in, it's not easy to get rid of them.
- If the positioning is not perfect, then it's always going to be off. If we want to move the furniture a bit, will that cause problems?
- Is it ok if all the speakers are so high (I've read that L, R & Centre channel should be about head height)?
- Even more discreet than a soundbar
- 3.1 active channel Soundbar with built in sub + 2 rear speakers in the bulkhead driven by the soundbar
Pros:
- Correct height for Left, Right and Centre channels
- Good combination of properly balanced Left, Right and Centre channels, and rear for surround
- Maybe doesn't suffer so much for lack of solid side walls?
- Is it easy to find a soundbar with a built-in sub that that will drive external rear speakers? (I had trouble finding one online)
- Correct height for Left, Right and Centre channels
- 3.0 active channel Soundbar + 2 rear speakers in bulkhead + sub in bulkhead (all driven by the soundbar)
Pros:
- Same Pros as previous
- Maybe better bass quality?
- Maybe easier to find an LCR soundbar that can drive 2 rears and a sub?
- Same cons as above
- Is a sub effective above you?
- Same Pros as previous
What would you recommend to be the best option?
Would you have recommendations on specific soundbars that would what I need?
Thanks so much!