Surround Sound

[Paraflier]

here. I have a 42" LG LCD TV mounted on a wall in my bedroom. The only components I have on it are my PS3 and HD DVR (cable box). Both of these are connected via HDMI.

My question is this..... What kind of surround sound would be an upgrade from the little baby TV speakers that LCD and Plasma's are so well know for?

I saw a 'sound bar' at Wal-Mart. Looks like essentially 3 speakers in a bar with a seperate powered subwoofer.

Then there are traditional 5.1 or 7.1 systems. But then you have to run the wire either under the carpet, or up in the attic.

Someone out there has to have a situation similar to me... What did you do?

Looking for an inexpensive solution.

Have a good one!

 

[bornagainst]

Samsung HT-WS1: Budget sound bar speaker | Crave - CNET

I have this unit.

Not overly expensive, and for the price, really does the job! Won't replace a fullblown system, but with the soundbar hanging over the tv and the subwoofer on the floor, watching blu-rays has been GREAT.

 

[shorty70]

Agreed... to eliminate masses of wires and hookups, sheetrock work, and lumpy carpets , if I had it to do over I would go with a soundbar.

 

[smokum]

Look at the Yamaha sound bars (there's a low end and a high end model), I heard the high end and its pretty darn good for what it is, but I'm still on the fence myself because I'd hate to blow an $1800 bar on those shoot em up movies, lol..

Wish I could afford to even look at what B&W's got in store in this line.....

VapeOn,
Greg

 

[chief]

I have seen some 5.1 speaker systems that use wireless rear (satellite) speakers. They have a transmitter that transmits to the rear speakers and eliminate the need to run wires to the rear speakers. I have not heard them but the concept sounded good.

 

[shatner]

I've also heard of, but not heard in person, the systems with wirelss rear speakers. Fronts aren't hard to wire at all, neither is the sub.

Wish I could give more info, but at least now you know it's possible. I've been thinking of doing surround in my 'Man Cave'.

 

[halfevildruid]

If you really want true HD sound do not get a sound bar and don't go wireless. I am a satellite/home theater expert and NOTHING beats wired. The wireless systems for rear that I have used ALL have to periodically be reset or reconnected some more frequent then others.

Attic work and wall-fisch can suck and be intimidating but the benefits are well worth it. It is the best. An easy way to drop a wall is to cut the hole for your plate at the wall and drill your hole in the attic above, attach your wire to a piece of chain and go down to the wall and use the magnet to pull it to your hole. walla!!! done in 30 minutes.....

 

[halfevildruid]

here. I have a 42" LG LCD TV mounted on a wall in my bedroom. The only components I have on it are my PS3 and HD DVR (cable box). Both of these are connected via HDMI.

My question is this..... What kind of surround sound would be an upgrade from the little baby TV speakers that LCD and Plasma's are so well know for?

I saw a 'sound bar' at Wal-Mart. Looks like essentially 3 speakers in a bar with a seperate powered subwoofer.

Then there are traditional 5.1 or 7.1 systems. But then you have to run the wire either under the carpet, or up in the attic.

Someone out there has to have a situation similar to me... What did you do?

Looking for an inexpensive solution.

Have a good one!

also to add a couple of hours and some wire is the inexpensive way to go. There is also plastic conduit or sleeves available at home depot you can run along you cieling or basboard to the location and then just snake your wire through it. (flush mount track) If they don't have your wall color just paint it.

 

[halfevildruid]

I prefer Harmon Kardon and Onkyo recievers. (Yamahas are good, but I son't sell them when I do a home theater due to not having a inexpensive enough supplier. If a customer wants yamaha I send them to best buy) 300 to 500 for a nice HDMI switching unit, some in-wall speakers and a standalone powered sub. Heck I even have a set of 7 NXG in-walls brand new in the box I might part with at cost!

 

[Paraflier]

In-wall would be the way I want to go. Guess I will set a little money aside from the paychecks, and get one component at a time. I hate waiting. Sigh.

 

[shatner]

In-wall would be the way I want to go. Guess I will set a little money aside from the paychecks, and get one component at a time. I hate waiting. Sigh.

I hate waiting, too. But when you finally put it all together, it's so worth it. And I agree with the above. If you can do a little wire running through the attic, do it. It's not too hard, even for someone who's never done it before.

 

[Paraflier]

Attic wiring is a breeze....It's just the pitch of my roof is so in two corners I'm going to have to get my 3 year old ro fish the wires down! I thnk the builder hired elves to put in the bathroom fan, too.

 

[shatner]

Attic wiring is a breeze....It's just the pitch of my roof is so in two corners I'm going to have to get my 3 year old ro fish the wires down! I thnk the builder hired elves to put in the bathroom fan, too.

Hey, atleast that 3 year old can DO WORK! Seriously thoug, it'd be a good skill to learn 'em.

 

[shatner]

Attic wiring is a breeze....It's just the pitch of my roof is so in two corners I'm going to have to get my 3 year old ro fish the wires down! I thnk the builder hired elves to put in the bathroom fan, too.

Get that 3 year old to DO WORK! Seriously though, if you can it's never too early to teach 'em stuff like that.

 

[Houdini]

also to add a couple of hours and some wire is the inexpensive way to go. There is also plastic conduit or sleeves available at home depot you can run along you cieling or basboard to the location and then just snake your wire through it. (flush mount track) If they don't have your wall color just paint it.

That's what I did for the rear speakers. Going up the corner between the yellow and brown walls.

 

[ejoker]

That's what I did for the rear speakers. Going up the corner between the yellow and brown walls.

is that cat wireless then?

 

[shatner]

That's what I did for the rear speakers. Going up the corner between the yellow and brown walls.

Hardly even seen.

is that cat wireless then?

I think it's ceiling cat, in the flesh.

 

[jdandison]

If you do end up going the full-receiver wired route, I highly suggest Yamaha receivers. Had mine for a couple years now, paired with some Polk speakers & Yamaha sub, and it sounds great. Bought the speakers from a friend, receiver was about $400. Tried a Pioneer and it paled in comparison.

If you still aren't convinced wired is the way to go, a co-worker of mine just got a nice Yamaha soundbar from Best Buy for a couple hundred bucks, and reports great sound.

 

[Rhetoric Camel]

If I had the money I'd invest in wireless surround sound... just so I don't have to run and hide wires and hope they're long enough to be ran in places out of the way and out of sight. Such as this, which isn't too expensive, couldn't tell you the quality, just did a quick search and saw these Frisby Home Theater System 5.1 Surround Sound Wireless Optical - FS93000 - Buy.com

 

[pianoguy]

If wireless speakers perform as poorly as wireless headphones, I would run, not walk, from them. I bought a pair of Sennheiser's a few years ago that were atrocious.

If you are going the traditional route, I heartily recommend SVS subwoofers. I bought this one several years ago to go with Polk surround speakers and a Yamaha receiver. When my wife first saw it, she said, "You're not bringing that huge thing in the house, are you?" and gave me that look. But it is her favorite thing now - she rawks the house with it:

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