Recommendation Request: 3.1 or 5.1 System | €2500 Budget | Europe / Switzerland | Challenging Room Layout

[tackleberry]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to upgrade my home cinema setup to a proper 3.1 or 5.1 system.

• Budget: Max €2500 for speakers and subwoofer(s).
• Usage: 80% Movies/Series (mostly evening viewing), 20% Music (Metal, Rock, Punk, Electronic).
• Sound Preference: I value detail and clarity. I am not a fan of boomy or exaggerated bass for music; I prefer accuracy over "thump."

Current Gear:

• TV: 77” LG C5 OLED
• AVR: Denon X2600 (A Denon X3800H is currently in the mail, as I wanted the better room correction/Audyssey XT32 for the new speakers).
• Current Speakers: Teufel Concept E Magnum Power Edition (PC-style 5.1 system; two satellites are dying).

Room Layout & Environment:The living area is open-plan and L-shaped. The main living area is ~30 m², the open kitchen is ~7 m², and it connects to a 10m² hallway.

• Placement: Front speakers and the center will be flanked by walls, firing directly toward the sofa.
• Rear Area: There is significant open space behind the sofa (indoor bike, laundry rack, small home office).
• Construction: Very solid internal walls (I never hear my neighbors). However, the exterior wall is roughly 80% floor-to-ceiling glass.
• Ventilation: Swiss "Minergie" house with ceiling vents. No noise leakage from neighbors so far.

The Rear Speaker & Cable Challenge:I currently have no rears connected. My rental apartment has no cable ducts, and I use a robot vacuum, so cables on the floor are a no-go. I could potentially install removable surface-mount ducts.

• Note: The flat has Ethernet (ETH) ports in the walls. Could these be utilized for a creative solution for rears or the sub?

Questions:

1. Towers vs. Bookshelfs: I have the space for floorstanding speakers and would prefer them. Are there any technical "vetos" against this?
2. Recommendations: Which Front and Center speakers would you recommend within this budget?
3. Subwoofers: Do I still need a sub if I get capable floorstanders? If so, one or two? Which brands/models play well with the Denon/Audyssey?
4. Neighbor Concerns: I’m less worried about volume and more about low-frequency vibrations. With my small Teufel system, I just turn the sub down. Will floorstanders be harder to "tame" regarding bass leakage? Can I manage this effectively via crossovers/EQ in the Denon?
5. Placement: Should towers stay close to the TV rack or as far out in the corners as possible? How much distance from the wall is typically required?
6. Toe-in: Straight ahead or angled toward the listening position?
7. Creative Cabling: Can the Ethernet ports somehow be used for the sub or active rears?

Note on Market Availability: As I am based in Switzerland, please note that US-centric brands like Revel or Ascend are often prohibitively expensive here. I have excellent access to European brands (KEF, Dali, Canton, Focal, Arendal, etc.). Klipsch is also available here.

 

[voodooless]

With this budget, floorstanders will be tricky. Usually a smaller speaker will be more price-effective.

How about KEF Q Concerto for LR, Q6 Meta for center. Maybe Q1/3 Meta for rears, add sub to taste, look here for something in your budget:

Subwoofer Comparison

I've created a *slightly large* subwoofer comparison spreadsheet. :D Info: -==Link to my Subwoofer Comparison spreadsheet ==- https://bit.ly/SubwooferComparison

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you can, buy multiple subs

 

[unmutual]

For a similar sized room, I used the following:

XTX 99.36 floorstanders, $450 used and very high value for money at that price

REL Habitat subwoofer, $450 used, chose this for its slim profile. Possible to have wireless connection if you buy the wireless module

Douk A5 Pro amplifier, $100 new, ridiculously inexpensive and actually sufficiently loud for TV / movies, although I would prefer a more powerful amp with a dedicated sub / LFE out.

This is a setup I am quite happy with, and if you are patient you can generally get some real bargains used.

 

[EERecordist]

Your space is very live. If you don't want to annoy the neighbors, I would skip the subwoofer. Try out a subpac or a couch shaker.

The only way I can imagine to eliminate the wires to the rear speakers, which I would put on stands at ear level, might be something like the KEF LS/LSX 50 wireless with a rechargeable battery to run it by the speaker base. Or you could just run wires to the rear speakers from your AVR when using them and disconnect and coil the wires when your vacuum runs.

You can learn a lot from reading ASR and Erin's Audio Corner reviews of your candidates.

 

[mh87]

Modern Swiss apartments are overbuilt concrete bunkers. I have two RSLs going as I type this.

Keep an eye on Tutti and Ricardo. Kleinanzeigen if you're willing to ship to a consignment shop and drive across the border.

XTZ has refurbished equipment on sale occasionally. You'll have to pay for shipping and import fees, but it's not particularly bad.

RSL discounts international shipping when they run their group buys. It makes the 10s and 12s competitive with their SVS counterparts.

If I had to build a 5.1 setup and I didn't want to deal with dsp, I'd probably go with Genelec bookshelfs, an XTZ subwoofer, and call it a day.

 

[delta76]

With this budget, floorstanders will be tricky. Usually a smaller speaker will be more price-effective.

How about KEF Q Concerto for LR, Q6 Meta for center. Maybe Q1/3 Meta for rears, add sub to taste, look here for something in your budget:

Subwoofer Comparison

I've created a *slightly large* subwoofer comparison spreadsheet. :D Info: -==Link to my Subwoofer Comparison spreadsheet ==- https://bit.ly/SubwooferComparison

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you can, buy multiple subs

second this, I have a very similar setup, and don't forget Q8 Meta for atmos

BUT, and that is a big but, Q Concerto can be quite limited in loudness. They don't fill the room with sound. Going from Aria 948 to Q Concerto was quite a bit of let down in loudness alone (and I have ~ 1 month gap). Maybe Q7 or Q11 meta a better choice even if OT is adding subs, just for loudness alone

 

[voodooless]

Maybe Q7 or Q11 meta a better choice even if OT is adding subs, just for loudness alone

They are in every respect. From experience I can say Q11 meta will go quite loud, even without a dedicated amp (on X3800h). I did not offer them due to budgetary constraints.

 

[tackleberry]

Thanks to everyone for the input so far! I will try to go through all recommendations and read up reviews of individual products on the weekend. You may also suggest stuff that is above or below budget if you like. We frequently have crazy sales here in Europe and in CH in particular.

I was just wondering why KEF is recommended so much. Are they currently considered best bang for money (in that price range) or do they have have technological advantage? Previously I read many recommendations on Dali (e.g. Oberon 7) and Klipsch. Are these brands not as easily available to you guys or are they just recommended at lower budgets?

 

[delta76]

KEF Q Meta is a bang for the buck and they offer a complete range of floorstanding, bookshelf, surround, center. Measured great (many best in class), priced well. Available from many retailers, and 5+1 years of warranty from KEF.

A lot of things to like about them.

Of course confirmation bias as I bought them too!

 

[voodooless]

I was just wondering why KEF is recommended so much. Are they currently considered best bang for money (in that price range) or do they have have technological advantage? Previously I read many recommendations on Dali (e.g. Oberon 7) and Klipsch. Are these brands not as easily available to you guys or are they just recommended at lower budgets?

For more inspiration, see:

A collection of loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Dali & Klipsch usually do not score the highest points.

 

[tackleberry]

KEF Q Meta is a bang for the buck and they offer a complete range of floorstanding, bookshelf, surround, center. Measured great (many best in class), priced well. Available from many retailers, and 5+1 years of warranty from KEF.

A lot of things to like about them.

Of course confirmation bias as I bought them too!

I assume you do not buy the original KEF Stands for the Concertos but some third party stands? Any recommendations? I assume I need to calculate 100-300 also for 3rd party stands?

Given the Layout and size of the room, is the bookshelves recommendation (KEF Concertos) a compromise due to budget restrictions? I checked local prices and the KEF Q7 are "only" 200 Euro (400 total) more per Speaker. The K11 Meta are 400 more per Speaker (800 Total). Let's say I skip the rears and keep the current sub for now. Would you stay with the Concertos (and get new sub etc.) or decide to go for the K7/K11?

 

[delta76]

I assume you do not buy the original KEF Stands for the Concertos but some third party stands? Any recommendations? I assume I need to calculate 100-300 also for 3rd party stands?

Given the Layout and size of the room, is the bookshelves recommendation (KEF Concertos) a compromise due to budget restrictions? I checked local prices and the KEF Q7 are "only" 200 Euro (400 total) more per Speaker. The K11 Meta are 400 more per Speaker (800 Total). Let's say I skip the rears and keep the current sub for now. Would you stay with the Concertos (and get new sub etc.) or decide to go for the K7/K11?

I DID by KEF SQ2 for my concerto and regret slightly. it's not worth the 300EUR price and there is no way to secure the speakers on top. I had to use some tape to secure it. Most bookshelf stands will work.

I guess you meant Q7/Q11. If you can extend your budget or save - to - buy later, (you already have space), so yes, go with bigger speakers. You can always add a pair of Q3 Meta/Q4 Meta later

 

[tackleberry]

I DID by KEF SQ2 for my concerto and regret slightly. it's not worth the 300EUR price and there is no way to secure the speakers on top. I had to use some tape to secure it. Most bookshelf stands will work.

I guess you meant Q7/Q11. If you can extend your budget or save - to - buy later, (you already have space), so yes, go with bigger speakers. You can always add a pair of Q3 Meta/Q4 Meta later

Yes, I meant the Q7 and Q11. Sorry.

Regarding the stands. That is exactly, what I am talking about. If you cannot place the speakers on any TV furniture but need super pricey stands (if you want good looking ones), floor standing options become much more attractive. This leaves the question which floor standing ones are the best options. Q7 and Q11 were mentioned above already.

Once I managed to get rid of all the unopened Ikea parcels that are crowding my living room atm, I will make and upload a picture of how the wall with the home theater stuff looks like atm. This might help further with the recommendations.