ok, thanks i understand the center speaker part. how about your thoughts on speakers....boston, klispch, 360 swiveling tweeters, polk, sonance??? and after a bit of review i'm waiting for the new samsung hlp5685 specs look to be far superior to the current versions. I'll get the sound installed while i wait. One of the reasons I asked these questions was I got a bid from an installer just for installation $800 but he didn't seem to be to hip on the speaker knowledge. This stuff is expensive and you all work with this daily I'm just trying to figure a good combo and brand of speakers. I've had retailer salespeople say buy all six speakers the same, but do I really need it...is it the fronts and center driving the system with sides and rear requiring less speaker.
Thanks for taking your time on a sunday to even bother.

I'm a strong advocate of 7(6) Identical speakers for surround. However, If the budget just cant swing it, going down a level or 2 within the same family of speakers is fine.

Speakercraft AIM8 In-Ceiling Series do an unbelieveable job of sounding like they are in front of you. I've used these speakers on several occations with fantastic results.

Atlantic Technology makes a KILLER THX5.1 pre packaged in-wall set, model "System 20", retails for about $5000. (You could get an extra pair of surrounds and get this, they're dipole surrounds.)

Anybody know if its ok to put dipoles in the ceiling??

This message was edited by freddyfreeload on 06/13/04 20:51.

Three Triad in ceiling gold omni's, Four Triad in wall/ceiling Bronze Surrounds and one Triad in room Bronze Sub (system around $4500) The gold omni's have drivers at 45 degree angles and the surrounds are di/bi-pole

I did an all in the ceiling surround system last week with a Samsung HLN617W and an Onkyo receiver. The speaker placement was at the customers insistance but the results were surprisingly good and the sound seemed to come from the set. If I wasn't under budget constraints by th client I would have used Triad or Speakercraft but I used Niles CM6HD for the front LCR and CM5MP for the surround and rear with a Pinnacle sub. Not a highend system but way better than the Bose the customer originally wanted.

Installer without knowledge. Seems a little scary to me. Depends on your price range. Your best bet is to pose the question with, "I have XXX to spend on speakers w/sub, what would be the best bang for the buck?"

Yeah... I'll run wires because thats what I do for my electrician boss for my weekly 40. oex beat me to the punch on this one. Call this guy "installer" only. If he doesn't know about speakers than he doesn't even have the right to be in your house. Actually, your approach here is good. We are not threatened by the DIY guy and as a collective, offer good advice as long as the client is upfront and doesn't pull us to the house to waste out time.

One potential thing to do is shelf the center above the TV. I know this is a guy thing and I'm sure there is another set of eyes here but the company that did your woodwork would most likely have matching stain and an attractive shelf with a lip and a slight downward tilt can look pretty good. A pair of floor standing sides can also be attractive (look at something like JM labs). I know I'm probably doing a 180 on what you have thought out for the room but the reason we do this is that the best acoustical performance comes from a predesigned cabinet (hence the previous noting of Triad).

Since you only want to do it once and want to do it right... leave the speakers and placement up to a pro (give "install guy" the heave ho). You've already got a good TV and Receiver... many of us would have no problem putting together the rest of the package. Many of us have 12 months same as cash financing (budget extender). You'll end up with the sweetest audio performance if you go with someone who has done it many times over and in the end you won't be sorry. You obviously understand that the systems weakest link defines the system and you haven't skimped yet so don't now.

do we get a budget?

Is around $3500 doable?? Installed.

Someone on pg one said Aim8 speakers. I have used these extensively, and find that they perform extremely well. My first choice is to put the center somewhere near the TV, but in situations where that's not an option, the in-ceiling Aim does a remarkable job.

I don't know if they're thx, dolby, dts, smpte, ntsc, atsc, isf, haa, naacp, aclu or blessed by God, but they sound great!

just my solid copper pair

$3,500 for everthing, 7.1 spkrs, receiver, dvd, power condiotner too? cables, remote, everything? ill think about it and post tonight

I would recommend using Boston Acoustic VRi series, sound great for in-ceiling and you can crank the fire out of them. If you want a higher end speaker try Thiel PowerPoints.

oex...no i have the receiver, onkyo TX NR 900, only looking for the speaker system, wired and installed.

In the Setup Shown, theres no reason not to do In-Wall for the front 3 (Speakercraft MT8TWO, with AIM8-TWO's for the sides/rears. That puts you around $2500ish leaving a grand for install/wiring. Still need a Sub I guess, But you could probobly drop down to AIM8-ONES to cover the Sub.

What are your opinions on an inwall or inceiling sub? I have a Parasound 10" inwall subwoofer that I think sounds pretty good and I know that Sonance and SpeakerCraft make their versions.

CJ