FAQ
TL;DR: For mixed music/cinema in a living room, use a 5.1 receiver with pre‑out feeding a stereo amp; “Home theater receivers play stereo music ‘incidentally’.” This hybrid preserves music quality and surround convenience. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
Why it matters: It helps buyers who want strong stereo music and home theater from one system without wasting budget.
Quick Facts
- Room size around 28 m² favors floorstanding fronts; tiny cube satellites underperform in such spaces. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17009391]
- Budget target discussed: approx. 7,000–8,000 PLN for amp/AVR and speakers. [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #17012679]
- If music is the priority, consider a 2.0 setup with floorstanders over a small HT satellite kit. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17010401]
- Best-of-both approach: AVR with 5.1 pre‑out plus a dedicated stereo amp driving the fronts. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
- Brand pointers: Onkyo or Marantz for pre‑out AVRs; audition speakers since tastes vary. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17016275]
Is the Bose Acoustimass 10 Series V a good match for a 28 m² living room?
Not ideal. For this room size, use floorstanding fronts. Small cube satellites struggle to fill 28 m² with balanced sound and dynamics. This advice came from an experienced forum member assessing that “these children… will die in such a room,” pointing to larger fronts as a better fit. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17009391]
I care more about music than movies—what should I buy first?
Start with a solid stereo: two quality floorstanding speakers and an amp. That yields better musicality than a compact 5.1 cube set. You can add theater pieces later. As one helper put it, for stereo music, go with two floorstanders and pick models that suit your genres. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17010401]
How do I get both good stereo and home theater in one setup?
Use an AVR that has 5.1 pre‑outs and feed those front pre‑outs into a dedicated stereo amplifier. Drive the front speakers with the stereo amp; let the AVR handle center, surrounds, and processing. This hybrid preserves stereo quality while enabling surround. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
What does “pre‑out 5.1” actually mean?
Pre‑outs are line‑level outputs from an AVR’s decoder section. A “5.1 pre‑out” allows you to route channels, especially the front left/right, into an external stereo amp. That way, movies use all speakers, but music benefits from the better stereo amplifier. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
Which AVR brands were suggested for this approach?
Onkyo or Marantz AVRs with pre‑out were recommended. The guidance also stressed listening before buying, since voicing differs. It added that certain speaker brands excel in cinema but may divide opinion in music, underscoring the need to audition. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17016275]
Are Klipsch speakers a safe bet for music?
They can be thrilling in home theater, but may not suit all music tastes or amps. The advice warned they won’t sound good with every amplifier. Treat them as a demo priority, not an automatic choice. That’s an important edge case to consider. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17016275]
What budget should I plan for speakers and amplification?
The thread settled around 7,000–8,000 PLN. That range can cover an AVR with pre‑out, a stereo amp for the fronts, and capable speakers if you shop carefully and audition. Set aside funds for cabling and stands if needed. [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #17012679]
Is there a value alternative to the Bose set mentioned?
Yes. One reply noted a Siesta 5.1 set available for about 200 PLN more than the linked auction’s price. That highlights how conventional speakers can offer better room coverage and value at similar cost. Always compare with a demo. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17009391]
Will an AVR alone satisfy me for stereo music?
Only at the very top tiers. “Home theater receivers play stereo music ‘incidentally’,” so quality improves meaningfully when you add a dedicated stereo amp for the fronts via pre‑out. This preserves musical nuance and dynamics. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
What speaker size works best in a 28 m² room?
Use floorstanding fronts for proper scale and headroom. Small satellites risk thin mids and limited dynamics in larger rooms. For immersive music and cinema, larger mains create a stable soundstage and better bass integration. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17009391]
How should I connect an AVR with a stereo amplifier? (3‑step)
- From the AVR’s Front L/R pre‑outs, run RCA cables to the stereo amp’s inputs.
- Connect your front speakers to the stereo amp; center and surrounds to the AVR.
- Run AVR calibration, setting front speakers as “Large/External Amp” as available. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17011139]
I’m new and feel lost—what’s the simplest next step?
Define your split between music and movies, then audition a few speaker pairs. Bring familiar tracks. Follow with an AVR that has pre‑outs and add a stereo amp later if needed. Personal preference should drive the final choice. [Elektroda, indianin11, post #17016275]
