First Time Home Theater Questions

Hey y’all. I’ve been collecting headphones on and off for my entire adult life but I recently purchased a Samsung S95B QD-OLED and figure I should get some better audio to go with it. I have two questions:

1. In an apartment would I be better off with something like a Samsung Q990B 11.1.4 that offers Dolby Atmos or building a 5.1 or 7.1 home theater setup? Since I live in an apartment I can’t go blasting whatever sound system I have and I know some speakers can sound better at higher volumes https://nox.tips/ .

2. With a budget cap of approximately $2,000 all in what components would y’all recommend for a home theater setup if you think that’s the way to go? Totally open to solutions that come in under the $2k mark, haha.

i got this....

I would recommend a 5.1 channel setup for your main home theater, sound bars are OK for a bedroom setup IMO.

This Onkyo receiver with Dirac has enough channels for a 5.2.4 system and is on sale. ($899)

2 pair of JBL 530’s

A JBL 520 center channel

and a JBL 550P sub

The JBL 5 series is a part of their upper end Synthesis line and are now on sale at substantial discounts, especially the sub.

You cam always add additional speakers for height channels/atmos later.

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While a home theater system with individual speakers sounds better than a sound bar. I think in your case I would recommend considering a sound bar.

I would recommend keeping your eye out for a sale on the Sennheiser Ambeo. You will get top notch natural sound with a simulated surround sound and great bass (you can add a subwoofer later if you have some neighbors you do not like). Over 85% of the sound comes out the center speakers of a surround system, and the Ambeo throws a pretty convincing sound field on both sides of it… so that would be 95% of the sound from a surround system. You avoid the wires and hassle of placing speakers all over the place and it is a very substantial step up in sound quality.

I have a full blow home theater in our living room with sound that can shake the house to it’s foundation (see my UserID) and a Sennheiser sound bar in the bedroom with our 65”. We previously had lessor sound bars. The Ambeo is the one to get.