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House renovation: Help with 3.1(.2) vs 5.1(.2) vs soundbar

Hi all, I'm renovating our new house where we have a pretty 'special' area where we'll place the TV (LG 65 SK8500). It's a family room in the middle of the house, 3 stairs above the living room, and 6 stairs below the bedrooms. Notice there are three levels of ceilings in that area. I'm attaching some photos and the floor plan. We're spending lots of money on silly decorative stuff the wife insists on, but at least it gives me an excuse for spending a nice amount on home cinema. I also need to make decisions now, while it's still easy to crack up the walls open and move cables around.

I always dreamt of 5.1, but then I realized there won't be room for rear speakers, and even the side speakers might be too close. I then thought of buying a soundbar such as Sonos arc + sub or Yamaha ysp 2700 based on recommendations I saw. But now I saw some discussions regarding 3.1(.2) separates vs soundbar which really got me confused. I watch Netflix and my LG supports Atmos so I'd like an Atmos support if that's possible for my space as well (is it really that good?..). I also feel like moving wires around is old-fashioned so I tend to prefer wifi/ethernet based system but it's not a must. 

What do you think will give the best experience? In the case of 3.1, I can place the center below the TV (on a shelf in a cabin), and the sides can either be bookshelf speakers on the cabin sides (the cabin is 2 meters long), or they can be wall mounted on the wall and the pillar. I thought that atmos speakers could be mounted on the lower/upper ceiling above the tv/sofa respectively. I'm a real noob so let me know if I'm missing something. 

Room photos:
https://ibb.co/S6ttGfh
https://ibb.co/xSKj5PG
https://ibb.co/gt3jLjG
https://ibb.co/yWy0y9p
https://ibb.co/d2y6t7B

thenoob1

Showing 1 response by thenoob1

thenoob1 OP
3 posts
 
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help! I’m attaching a visualization of the TV cabinet. I’m also adding a photo with the dimensions with respect to my head location: 3.3m to the TV and 2.5m below the ceiling.

I’m having a hard time to follow your suggestion for 5.1. How can I place the rear speakers given the sofa is touching the wall behind? It would mean they are 30-40cm behind my or my movie-partner's head if we're sitting at the corner. Isn’t it too close?

Also, regarding the left and right speakers -- does it make sense to place them as I’ve drawn (pillar and wall)? Or placing them on the cabinet is better? And regarding two atmos speakers in case of 3.1.2 -- does it make sense to place them as I’ve drawn, 2.5m above my head?

Markings and cabinet:
https://ibb.co/rc4WpCg
https://ibb.co/9yKC7x6


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