2. speakers
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confused and don't know what to do

We would like to buy a nice audio system and also have this double as a surround sound but listening to music is the priority. We have listened to many speakers but have settled on the B&W 804's. Now the challenge is to select a receiver and all the other accompaniments we require. We have a little challenge in that our home is a condo and the outside wall is all glass. The space is combined kitchen, living room, and dining room all open with hardwood floors and hard tile on the walls of the kitchen and a lot of granite counter tops. It seems that every where we go, the recommendations are different depending on what the store is selling and of course, the sales people would like us to buy the most expensive. What would give great sound without going crazy. We are thinking about 2 tribe sub woofers and space is limited and an in wall center B&W speaker but we don't know what we are doing and don't want to throw our money away. Help! Too many choices and we don't have enough knowledge. Thank you so much.
raw33

Showing 1 response by boneman73

boneman73
36 posts
 
Some really good advice here, as well as some monster systems. Let me lend my experience; I’m sure some will not get past my first sentence or two - I hope the OP does! :) I’m envisioning your condo with a lot of "life" going on: kitchen, dining, living, etc. AND - you have a significant other IIRC. This system can’t be a mess of wires or remotes or components (did anyone ask what you play? Stream? Vinyl? Physical media? I’ll assume you stream...) I had the same issues. I wanted GREAT sound and intelligibility from movies and TV...and I wanted GREAT sound from music. What I did: I listened to as many top-line soundbars, then purchased a Martin Logan ’Vision’ bar; I’m sure there are even better ones now. I was going to add a sub, but have not yet. For music, a pair of wonderful North Creek standmount speakers designed for near wall placement (NC is no longer in business, but my point is some NICE stand mounts or towers, ultimately should be purchased with consideration for placement). If I were buying components today, I would purchase a fine integrated from Jeff Rowland, Rogue, Moon, Bel Canto, McIntosh, etc etc. Go tube if you want! Add a (matching?) streamer. DONE.
What I just described is a one or two box solution; speakers for music, and a sound bar which is completely dedicated to you video system. (I use a Roku 4K with mine, mounted behind TV. Very clean)
The advantages of a fine soundbar have blown me away after living with it for 3 years: absolute simplicity with very superb sound and legible dialogue. I simply do not miss rear channels (most have the ability to "project" the rear information - sometimes quite spooky), or the wiring. In a combined (condo!) living space I can’t recommend the complexity of an Atmos or 5.x system. With a fine soundbar - you get a 3.0 or 3.1 system for movies and TV. One button operation.
I hope this helps with another viewpoint; really envision "life" with the equipment and what you and your significant other want to live with.

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