Dolby Atmos New Home Theatre Build - speaker selection

[Joe B]

I'm new to this forum but not new to custom building theaters and was hoping to leverage the 'wisdom' of the community in help to come to some decisions I've been debating around a my next theater using Klipsch speakers...

 

I'm looking to build a new home theater (unfinished basement).  My construction and spacing requirements will require in wall and in-ceiling speakers and want to create a very engaging surround experience using Dolby Atmos configuration.

 

My gear selections so far are:

 

- Onkyo NR3030 receiver (supporting 11.2 or 7.2.4 speaker configurations)

- Sony 4K projector (model TBD)

- Elite Screens Lunette 2 16x9 150" Curved Acoustically Transparent 4K 3D screen

- Klipsch Reference series in-wall and in-ceiling speakers (models TBD)

- klipsch Reference series Subwoofer(s) (TBD; in-wall vs. free-standing, possibly 2)

 

The basement area will be a semi-dedicated room with couch or lounge style seating and the room is relatively large, roughly 18' x 28'.  However the actual room size has not been determined based on how I decide to finish the space.

 

 

1.  I'm trying to decide on the sub or subs, in-wall vs. free standing (I'm OK to have the subs exposed or possible hidden behind a fake wall with grills, vs. using the actual in-wall subs.  I'd like to know if anyone has experience with the RW-5802-II speaker and associated RSA-500 AMP.  I was thinking:

a.  if I went in-wall I would use one RSA-500 driving two RW-5802 speakers

b.  or go with two R-115SW sub-woofers (the Onkyo can support 2 discrete LFE outputs)

 

2.  Then I would like to decide on the wall and ceiling speakers.  My thinking was using a similar sized set of speaker for the front (3) channels; the surround channels, and the height channels (Dolby Atmos).  Given that I will have either 2 in-wall or possible 2 free-standing subs was trying to keep all the sound and surround channel speakers as close to similar as I thought possible.  Here is my proposed configuration:

 

1. For the {L}eft, {C}enter, {R}ight channels: R-5502-W II in-wall speakers placed behind the acoustically transparent screen
2. For the surround channels, {L}eft Surround, {R} Surround, {L}eft-back Surround, {R}ight-back Surround: R-5650-S II in-wall speakers
3. For the ceiling ATMOS configuration a set of front high and rear high speakers, {L}eft-High Front, {R}ight-High Front, {L}eft-High Back, {R}ight-High Back: CDT-5650-C II in-ceiling speakers

For the L&R channels I was debating between going with the 8" R-5800-W II for the left and right channels and using the R-5502-W II for the center but decided to keep these 3 as close to similar as possible given that more mid-range was probably the focus for these and the subs would handle the low-end.

 

Similar thinking I decided to use the 5650-S II for all the surround channels as then I can use them sort of like dipole speakers and have the sound diffused around the listening area.

 

And lastly, if I'm choosing a 6.5" style speaker for most of the surround channels then I thought to use a similar footprint for the ceiling ATMOS channels with the CDT-5650C II vs. the larger CDT-5800C II.

 

Would appreciate any experience of advise on the above.  Sorry for the long post (initial) but I thought I would provide the thinking (thus far) and a desired configuration to provide comments on...

 

Many thanks....

Edited March 23, 2016 by Joe B

[mustang guy]

If you can use an Infinite Baffle (IB) system, you will not be tripping over subs, and you will achieve sub-bass better than about anything else you can spend money on. 

 

You should consider the THX Ultra2 ceiling and wall speakers. Be prepared, those things are bigger than they look in pictures. 

 

Check this out. Speakers to be behind the screen. Those IB's are massive. I got the image here: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/92-community-news-polls/1498374-home-theater-month-old-vic.html

Speakers:

 

Klipsch KL-650-THX (front LCR)

Klipsch KS-525-THX (side and rear LR surrounds)

Klipsch RB-51 (LR wides)

Klipsch KW-120-THX subwoofers (2, rear)

DIY subwoofers (2, each with 2 Fi 18" drivers in dual-opposed configuration, infinite baffle design)

 

4 Fi 18's and 2 KW-120-THX's for rear fill. I bet that shakes the whole neighborhood.  

Edited March 24, 2016 by mustang guy

[Paducah Home Theater]

1.  I'm trying to decide on the sub or subs, in-wall vs. free standing (I'm OK to have the subs exposed or possible hidden behind a fake wall with grills, vs. using the actual in-wall subs.  I'd like to know if anyone has experience with the RW-5802-II speaker and associated RSA-500 AMP.  I was thinking:

a.  if I went in-wall I would use one RSA-500 driving two RW-5802 speakers

b.  or go with two R-115SW sub-woofers (the Onkyo can support 2 discrete LFE outputs)

Two entirely different solutions. If space was an absolute premium and you had no other choices to get any kind of bass in the room, look at those in-walls. If space isn't an issue and you want ground pounding movie LFE that will rattle dishes on the other side of the house, go with two R-115SW's.

 

For the L&R channels I was debating between going with the 8" R-5800-W II for the left and right channels and using the R-5502-W II for the center but decided to keep these 3 as close to similar as possible given that more mid-range was probably the focus for these and the subs would handle the low-end.

Don't mix and match here, especially with in-walls going behind a screen. Absolutely no reason to, no good can come from it. You want three identical LCR's on the same plane. Ideally match the rears as well, especially with Atmos. Dolby recommends direct firing rear speakers at the same height as your mains for Atmos. So, ideally, 7 identical speakers and match the size of those for your ceiling speakers.

Edited March 24, 2016 by MetropolisLakeOutfitters

[Joe B]

 

If you can use an Infinite Baffle (IB) system, you will not be tripping over subs, and you will achieve sub-bass better than about anything else you can spend money on. 

 

You should consider the THX Ultra2 ceiling and wall speakers. Be prepared, those things are bigger than they look in pictures. 

 

Check this out. Speakers to be behind the screen. Those IB's are massive. I got the image here: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/92-community-news-polls/1498374-home-theater-month-old-vic.html

Speakers:

 

Klipsch KL-650-THX (front LCR)

Klipsch KS-525-THX (side and rear LR surrounds)

Klipsch RB-51 (LR wides)

Klipsch KW-120-THX subwoofers (2, rear)

DIY subwoofers (2, each with 2 Fi 18" drivers in dual-opposed configuration, infinite baffle design)

 

4 Fi 18's and 2 KW-120-THX's for rear fill. I bet that shakes the whole neighborhood.  

 

Thanks for the feedback - have you used the matching Klipsch THX Sub KW-120-THX and matching amp?  If money is not as much of an object (it always is)...

[Joe B]

 

1.  I'm trying to decide on the sub or subs, in-wall vs. free standing (I'm OK to have the subs exposed or possible hidden behind a fake wall with grills, vs. using the actual in-wall subs.  I'd like to know if anyone has experience with the RW-5802-II speaker and associated RSA-500 AMP.  I was thinking:

a.  if I went in-wall I would use one RSA-500 driving two RW-5802 speakers

b.  or go with two R-115SW sub-woofers (the Onkyo can support 2 discrete LFE outputs)

Two entirely different solutions. If space was an absolute premium and you had no other choices to get any kind of bass in the room, look at those in-walls. If space isn't an issue and you want ground pounding movie LFE that will rattle dishes on the other side of the house, go with two R-115SW's.

 

For the L&R channels I was debating between going with the 8" R-5800-W II for the left and right channels and using the R-5502-W II for the center but decided to keep these 3 as close to similar as possible given that more mid-range was probably the focus for these and the subs would handle the low-end.

Don't mix and match here, especially with in-walls going behind a screen. Absolutely no reason to, no good can come from it. You want three identical LCR's on the same plane. Ideally match the rears as well, especially with Atmos. Dolby recommends direct firing rear speakers at the same height as your mains for Atmos. So, ideally, 7 identical speakers and match the size of those for your ceiling speakers.

 

Thanks for the suggestion - would you then use the matching Klipsch PRO-7800-L-THX for LCR and Klipsch PRO-7800-S-THX for the surrounds?

•  

[Paducah Home Theater]

Thanks for the suggestion - would you then use the matching Klipsch PRO-7800-L-THX for LCR and [/size]Klipsch PRO-7800-S-THX for the surrounds?

If Atmos was a priority, I'd do like I said earlier, get 7 of the same direct firing speaker and follow Dolby's recommendation on placement height for Atmos since it is lower than the old recommendations.

If you want the dispersed surround version it should be fine, especially on the sides. Typically it's still considered most correct if the rear 7.1 surrounds are direct firing but the other version should still work.

[mustang guy]

 

 

If you can use an Infinite Baffle (IB) system, you will not be tripping over subs, and you will achieve sub-bass better than about anything else you can spend money on. 

 

You should consider the THX Ultra2 ceiling and wall speakers. Be prepared, those things are bigger than they look in pictures. 

 

Check this out. Speakers to be behind the screen. Those IB's are massive. I got the image here: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/92-community-news-polls/1498374-home-theater-month-old-vic.html

Speakers:

 

Klipsch KL-650-THX (front LCR)

Klipsch KS-525-THX (side and rear LR surrounds)

Klipsch RB-51 (LR wides)

Klipsch KW-120-THX subwoofers (2, rear)

DIY subwoofers (2, each with 2 Fi 18" drivers in dual-opposed configuration, infinite baffle design)

 

4 Fi 18's and 2 KW-120-THX's for rear fill. I bet that shakes the whole neighborhood.  

 

Thanks for the feedback - have you used the matching Klipsch THX Sub KW-120-THX and matching amp?  If money is not as much of an object (it always is)...

 

Nope, but the forum user Michael Colter uses them in his home theater. Michael sets up rock concerts, so he should know a thing or two.  

 

Don't forget about Infinite Baffle. It will destroy any inwall sub you can buy, and it can mount on the wall. Local forum member Carl uses them, and he's one of the local bass guru's: 

 

https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/gallery/image/42-ht/

Edited March 24, 2016 by mustang guy