John SiracusaFeb 26, 2023

I have disappeared down a home-theater-speakers rabbit hole these past few days. As usual, my situation is complicated by my extremely inconveniently shaped room and furniture, my existing equipment, and (poor me, I know) my access to deep discounts on a few specific brands.

I keep asking myself which speakers will work well, don’t cost a lot, and will actually fit and sound OK in the insane places I have to put them? Round and round I go…

Show threadJohn Siracusa
Do any knowledgeable folks have an opinion on mixing speakers from different brands or product lines in a multi-channel home theater setup? Everything I’ve seen has warned against it (mismatched timbre, etc.) But having to stay within a single brand/line really makes this puzzle even harder to solve.
Feb 26, 2023 at 12:45amIvory for iOS
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
Oh, and if anyone reading this has the inside track on one of those aforementioned “deep discounts” on the SVS brand in particular, I’d love to hear from you…
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
Here’s my unfortunate room arrangement (not to scale). It’s already got a (tiny) 5.1 setup in it. (Try and guess where the speakers are!)
Show threadMatthewFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa wow that window to the right (or from couch viewing position, left) of the tv is so frustrating!
Show threadDan FrakesFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa Your room layout may outweigh any potential differences in speaker matching :)
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@df I’m doing what I can, here! :)
Show threadJohn BishopFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa cursed radiators 💨
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa oof, that's tough. this is why I mostly just do stereo unless someone is paying me for more
Show threadColin DevroeFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa time to buy a new house 😂
Show threadChristopher White Feb 26, 2023
@siracusa seems like you should put the tv over the fireplace. 🫠
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@Stoneymonster 👿
Show threadChristopher White Feb 26, 2023
@siracusa sorry, if it helps I felt bad typing it
Show threadAndrew GrantFeb 26, 2023

@siracusa @Stoneymonster Have you seen Mantle Mount? Our fireplace mantle is pretty high but with MM it pulls down to a near-perfect viewing height. Being able to store the TV above the fireplace when not in use is actually pretty handy.

https://www.amazon.com/MantelMount-MM540-Above-Fireplace-Mount/dp/B01N5JMX8G

Amazon.com

Show threadGlenn HoppeFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa surprisingly similar to mine, except no hallway behind second couch and instead of radiator and fireplace I have doorways there. “Rear” speakers are at sides of primary couch, L/R squeezed beside tv.
Show threadQuinn NelsonFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa And I thought my spot was tough!
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@snazzyq New England, man. None of the houses have anywhere to out a TV. Windows, radiators, fireplaces make it impossible.
Show threadCasey LissFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @snazzyq This is 1000% where I’d snark and say “come to Virginia”, but in my case, you’d have your TV in the sky.
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@caseyliss @snazzyq The worst sin is “new construction” (meaning after 1950, in New England parlance) that *still* doesn’t have a decent place for the TV.
Show threadAlex CashFeb 26, 2023

@siracusa @caseyliss @snazzyq where the tv would go was unironically a primary concern for me when house shopping.

wild how many brand new houses had put HDMI and power or conduit in the wall for TV in the most awful places.

Show threadAdamFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa i hate how TV over the fireplace was a necessity in some older homes but then became common even in new builds. /r/tvtoohigh
Show threadKavehFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @caseyliss @snazzyq maybe your best solution is to just use the AirPods Max/Pro with spatial audio…at least that bypasses the room problem 😂
Show threadKarl BaronFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @caseyliss @snazzyq After following /r/TVTooHigh for a while, it seems even in new construction, architects assume people don’t have TVs and instead spend every evening staring at a fireplace
Show threadAndrew KerrFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa As much as you wouldn’t want to admit that @caseyliss is right, Sonos just works. We have the Beam, One SL pair and Sub Mini combo (in black, though white could just happen to you) and it’s worth listening to in-person if you haven’t. Sonosnet and eARC obviates a lot of cables and Trueplay will send some mix to the Ones for more stereo separation than just the Beam (which fit better than an Arc for us too).
Show threadMichael GocFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa Do you really have no way of getting rid of that fireplace? It would make things so much easier. 🙁
Show threadDragos RistacheMar 1, 2023
@siracusa @caseyliss @snazzyq first thing after i bought my house in (boston) west roxbury was panic super hard that there wasn't a good place for the tv and couch. managed to find one but no optimal solutions for my 77" oled :/
Show threadJuan VillelaFeb 26, 2023
@caseyliss @siracusa @snazzyq Don't lie to him. Only place to put TVs here is over the fireplace like an animal 🤦🏽‍♂️
Show threadMike TaffetFeb 26, 2023
@caseyliss @siracusa @snazzyq he just needs to embrace the projector lifestyle and install a screen that can go in front of the fireplace
Show threadʎllnɔsFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @snazzyq yep. I live in Vermont. All windows and radiators in our house. My wife is an audio engineer and we never found a good way to set up a home theater. I’d recommend HomePods to be honest. They have worked well for us. Good luck!
Show threadT.G. CidFeb 26, 2023

@siracusa @snazzyq the house I grew up in was built in Lexington MA, in 18somethingorother. We had to build an addition to fit a TV more than 27 inches.

(So we bought a rear projection Sony when the addition was done. God that thing was terrible.)

Show threadmarlies Feb 26, 2023
@siracusa @snazzyq my house is from 1904 and I feel your pain. It’s impossible!
Show threadvince propaneFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @snazzyq imagine old England 🙄
Show threadPaulFeb 26, 2023

@siracusa there’s no problem overengineering can’t fix. Lower the tv when you’re watching it, stow it above the mantle when you’re not watching. You can even mount the center channel under the TV!

https://a.co/d/4ukjaFw

Show threadJason Petersen (he)Feb 26, 2023
@siracusa hear me out: a projection screen hanging from the ceiling
Show threadJeff ByrnesFeb 26, 2023
@jason @siracusa Yup, this. We had one in our old place that would descend & separate our “living room” from our “dining room”, but otherwise it was one big room from front of apartment to back in a 2-fam house. Worked great w/ 5.1 surround!
Show threadJason Petersen (he)Feb 26, 2023
@jeffbyrnes yeah I had a room with a huge window view of downtown, from an elevation. But that was the only place a TV made sense. Stuck a 100” screen there. Excellent life choice (and I am still using that PJ 10 years later)
Show threadJonathan PolleyFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa I would love to see the sound reflection analysis of that room.
Show threadJonathan LaCourFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa It’s fine. Pay attention to impedance, and you’ll be good. The typical argument is about having a consistent “profile” or “soundstage,” and while that is true-ish, it won’t really matter in most situations. I have a mixture of Jamo and Polk, and it sounds great.
Show threadAndrew LaurenceFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa see, you’re going about it all wrong. First build the home theater setup. Then build a room around it. Then build your home around that.
Show threadJonathan PolleyFeb 26, 2023
@atlauren @siracusa Don’t forget to find your the next home location for when you upgrade the theater.
Show threadPhilip Mallegol-HansenFeb 26, 2023
@atlauren @siracusa And then pick the property to buy around where the house would best fit. Right?
Show threadHenrik NyhFeb 26, 2023
@atlauren @siracusa I *have* been wondering listening to ATP whether it wouldn’t be better to replace the house. But I feel like it’s one of those “wherever you go, there you are” situations…
Show threadSteve WilliamsFeb 26, 2023
@atlauren @siracusa And if you are over 50, build a Time Machine to travel back to your 20s to reclaim your upper frequencies😚
Show threadDan MorenFeb 26, 2023
@atlauren @siracusa Reminds of me my favorite Stan Freberg sketch about hi-fi, circa 1957: “Your whole house becomes a speaker. You move into the garage.”
Show threadRob RobinsonFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa no discounts for me unfortunately, but I recently grabbed a pair of the SVS Prime Wireless Pros and they are *amazing*. Absolutely smoked the pair of HomePod 2s I tried (and returned). Anyhow, it’s my first time owning an SVS product and I’m now a fan.
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa as long as they are the same impedance as the output, I see no problem. We do it all the time in the pro world.
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin Thays good to hear! Speaking of impedance, I’m not sure how to read the specs for my receiver. I can’t drive 4 ohm speakers with this thing, right? https://www.pioneerhomeusa.com/product/vsx-lx305-av-receiver/
VSX-LX305 Elite 9.2-Channel Network AV Receiver - Pioneer Home USA

Featuring Dirac Live® Room Correction, the VSX-LX305 ELITE AV Receiver is designed for the ultimate experience for your movies, music, and gaming.

Pioneer Home USA
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa I'll take a look. A few caveats: in pro audio we have much finer control over output EQ than you would see in a home device. Also I would never mix brands/type pairs. So, L and R would be the same, for example.
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa can't open that link
Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin Yeah, the vendor website seems to be down. Try a shopping site: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1706997-REG/pioneer_vsxlx305_vsx_lx305_elite_9_2_channel_network.html
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023

@siracusa looks like it will handle a pretty wide range on impedance. I would probably recommend using speakers of the same impedance across the board, but brand is not a concern.

So, yes on 4ohms.

Show threadJohn SiracusaFeb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin Thanks!
Show threadSlb1125Feb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin @siracusa mixing impedance shouldn't be a real issue. Mixing brands of speakers is something I would have more reservations about considering that you're picky enough to let it bug you. The only concern I would have re impedance is the rating is nominal, and not always the whole story, although that tends to be more at the high end
Show threadSlb1125Feb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin @siracusa as an example a lot of electrostatic speakers that are nominal 4 ohm can get down to like 1 under certain loads
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023

@slb1125 I usually just stick to 8ohm, but I'm lazy. home theater audio is a strange animal compared to theater and av work.

also I've never seen an electrostatic speaker, so that shows you how much I know about audiophile stuff!

Show threadSlb1125Feb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin yeah most home speakers are. I mostly deal in 70v these days which is even easier
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@slb1125 things would be so much messier without 70v systems
Show threadSlb1125Feb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin amen to that
Show threadJohn WarneFeb 26, 2023
@siracusa @mattgriffin I built that website a number of years ago. You may have better luck parsing the owner’s manual. https://www.pioneerhomeusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/VSX_935_En.pdf
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@johnny5w @siracusa more good news
Show threadJohn WarneFeb 26, 2023
@mattgriffin @siracusa Best used with banana clips ;)
Show threadMatt GriffinFeb 26, 2023
@johnny5w @siracusa I was just thinking how much banana plugs classed-up an operation. Amazing value for almost no money.