Advice needed for AVR + Amplifier combo for first Home Cinema

[Pyzio]

Hi everyone!

New member and first time poster.
I posted the same question on Reddit and some other forum, so don't be alarmed if you find it.

I'm currently in the process of setting up the home theater of my dreams in my living room. And, as per title, I'm looking for advice on the equipment I should get to make it sound the absolute best while listening to music and have great dialogue clarity for movies and YouTube. More details below.

My setup:

The room where I'm setting up my home theatre is a Living+Dining+Kitchen room, about 50+ square meters (550 square feet) of open space with the ceilings in the listening area at around 5m (17ft tall). I got windows facing directly north, south, and a giant one (5x5m) facing west. It's really bright.

I have a 5.1 speaker setup based on Focal's Aria Evo X no.4, Aria Evo X Center and two Dome Flax speakers. I might want to add more speakers for an Atmos setup in the future, but only if I figure out how to hide the cables. I'm quite happy with the speakers so far, but if there's something else you would recommend I'd be happy to hear about it. The Sub is a REL HT/1205 mk2.

Waiting for the delivery of the 85-inch Sony Bravia 9, should be there in a week or so. Since I got a VERY bright room with direct sun shining on the TV wall in the afternoon, hence OLED is out of the question. Distance from the TV is about 4,5 meters (about 15 feet). Right now I'm an an old Samsung 55Q7FN.

My problem:

I'm in waaaay over my head. This is my first serious home theatre and I'm still figuring everything out as I go. I'm no audiophile, but I do enjoy listening to music, especially with a glass of wine and with company, so I do want the best sound possible. I listen mailny thtough Spotify/Tidal and from Vinyl records. I intend to connect my vinyl player to the AVR because I'm a barbarian and really enjoy the 5.1 sound.
I want to connect the tower speakers to a separate amp for the power/current delivery. I need the sound from the towers to shine the most, fill the room even at low-moderate loudness.

I've already tested a bunch of equipment: for AVRs the Marantz Cinema 70 (lacks a bit in sound stage and sound quality. For amps the Atoll IN300 amp - my favorite so far, the Pier Audio MS-880SE - second favourite, but a bit too bulky, Marantz Model 50 - lacks power imo, and my old Pioneer A-30 - is trash in comparison to the others.
I'm currently deciding between these two sets:

1. Marantz Cinema 40 receiver with the Atoll IN300
2. Anthem MRX 540 8K with the Pier Audio MS680SE

I would really appreciate to hear your advice and thoughts on the equipment.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Pic is the view from my sitting position on the couch.

 

[DVDdoug]

I've already tested a bunch of equipment: for AVRs the Marantz Cinema 70 (lacks a bit in sound stage and sound quality.

Don't blame the AVR unless you are over-driving it into distortion. And the speakers have to be able to handle the power. You shouldn't need separate amplifiers unless you need to go "louder". But if you want to use separate amps you'll need an AVR with preamp outputs.

Of course EQ, tone controls, or room correction will alter the sound.

With electronics, "sound quality" comes-down to noise, distortion, and frequency response and most electronics is fine in all of those respects. Occasionally noise (hum, hiss or whine in the background) can be audible. Audiophoolery describes the characteristics that define sound quality.

Since you have a turntable, phono preamps sometimes have hiss or hum but it's usually not as bad as the noise on the record. There are lots of "limitations" with analog vinyl.

With speakers the main thing is frequency response (on and off-axis) and as you know, room acoustics also affect the sound.

When it comes to "soundstage", here are a couple of quotes from Floyd Toole:

The important localization and soundstage information is the responsibility of the recording engineer, not the loudspeaker.

I enjoy upmixed stereo for many, but not all, programs... Switching back to stereo results in a diminished sense of envelopment and a shrinking of the soundstage.

I'll add that it's an illusion so your brain is involved. Speaker placement and room acoustics can affect soundstage, or if you have an "unusual" speaker like an omnidirectional or dipole or bipole.

Personally, I mostly listen to rock where the "soundstage" is artificially created in the studio and I don't think too much about it. I enjoy "stereo" (and also stereo upmixed to surround) mut I don't care if the soundstage is "accurate".