Help with Purchase or Build

[Markie Warkie]

Heyo,

I’m looking for guidance on what to do speaker-wise for my room. It’s around 35 square meters (5 m × 7 m / ~16.4 ft × 23 ft), with concrete walls, ceiling, and tile flooring (though I do have a carpet in front of the speakers). Most of the walls and the ceiling will be treated with proper acoustic panels, and I’m also using blackout/soundproof curtains on the side walls.

I use the space equally for music and movies, so I’m aiming for a proper centre channel and support for Atmos (with height speakers). Sound quality is my top priority — I don’t care about matching the décor.

My main listening distance is around 3 meters (~10 ft), but I also have a second row of seating at about 5 meters (~16.4 ft).

I was eyeing the KEF R5 Meta floor-standers because of how great they measure. However they retail for about €3,600 per pair in Cyprus, That pricing is quite a bit above my current budget of ~€1,500, but I could save up till the end of the year ish if they’re truly worth it—and I’m curious how they’d perform in a home theatre context versus pure music playback.

I’ve already got the low end covered with two DIY 15-inch subwoofers, so I’m mainly focused on mains, center, surrounds, and Atmos.

Also, I don’t mind getting my hands dirty I’ve always wanted to design and or build some speakers myself, ive already built the Nexus centre channel by MTG so DIY is totally on the table if it makes sense.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[DVDdoug]

With a budget of €1,500 for 7 or more speakers you can probably do better with DIY. I've built speakers before and I always feel like I'm getting more for my money that way. Plus, I like big speakers... And you always feel like anything you build yourself sounds great! But in reality I probably couldn't match the KEF's no matter my budget.

Normally for DIY speakers the 1st thing I recommend is getting some speaker design software (WinISD is FREE) and then plug-in the Theile-Small parameters for various woofers and model open or ported designs before buying the speakers. That's less important since the bass is already covered with your subs but it's probably still worthwhile.

I’m curious how they’d perform in a home theatre context versus pure music playback.

Speakers are speakers... The main difference with home theater is that a subwoofer is required for the "point one" LFE channel. The LFE is not included in any downmix. And most people don't want, or don't have space for, 5 or more large full-range speakers so that's another reason for the sub.

With regular stereo recordings I like to use a "hall" or "theater" setting for some delayed reverb in the rear and the feel of a larger space. But I admit that's hi-fi heresy since I'm not listening accurately as intended.

Sound quality is my top priority — I don’t care about matching the décor.

Usually I cover my DIY speakers in leather-look vinyl like you see on guitar amps/speakers. It's easy, cheap, and more rugged than a nice wood finish. To me it's acceptable in a living room. My current speakers are brown which at a distance, or if you're not looking closely, doesn't look much different from wood. I've used black, and once I used white with black grill cloth which IMO could look good in with modern decor. (I don't have much of a "decor theme". )

 

[Markie Warkie]

With a budget of €1,500 for 7 or more speakers you can probably do better with DIY. I've built speakers before and I always feel like I'm getting more for my money that way. Plus, I like big speakers... And you always feel like anything you build yourself sounds great! But in reality I probably couldn't match the KEF's no matter my budget.

Normally for DIY speakers the 1st thing I recommend is getting some speaker design software (WinISD is FREE) and then plug-in the Theile-Small parameters for various woofers and model open or ported designs before buying the speakers. That's less important since the bass is already covered with your subs but it's probably still worthwhile.


Speakers are speakers... The main difference with home theater is that a subwoofer is required for the "point one" LFE channel. The LFE is not included in any downmix. And most people don't want, or don't have space for, 5 or more large full-range speakers so that's another reason for the sub.

With regular stereo recordings I like to use a "hall" or "theater" setting for some delayed reverb in the rear and the feel of a larger space. But I admit that's hi-fi heresy since I'm not listening accurately as intended.


Usually I cover my DIY speakers in leather-look vinyl like you see on guitar amps/speakers. It's easy, cheap, and more rugged than a nice wood finish. To me it's acceptable in a living room. My current speakers are brown which at a distance, or if you're not looking closely, doesn't look much different from wood. I've used black, and once I used white with black grill cloth which IMO could look good in with modern decor. (I don't have much of a "decor theme". )

English is not my first language so sorry for the miss understanding i meant 1.5k For the Main L and R speakers

 

[ZolaIII]

English is not my first language so sorry for the miss understanding i meant 1.5k For the Main L and R speakers

Try to catch Revel F36 on outlet right now if possible. You have high sealing so they won't be a problem. Nice room by the way.
Edit: if not Wharfedale Linton's will do the job just fine.

 

[ZolaIII]

Whose thinking about better absorber material that wouldn't be toxic and easy to live with and clean. Came up with gimnastic mats with 80 KG/m³ density as best and secure one. With cuple costume covers that can be mounted to the wall with hucks (just that it stays in place, not carrying it).

 

[Markie Warkie]

Try to catch Revel F36 on outlet right now if possible. You have high sealing so they won't be a problem. Nice room by the way.
Edit: if not Wharfedale Linton's will do the job just fine.

Thing is revel do not ship to cyprus and the lintons dont have a center channel