Need suggestions for speakers, processor and amp


I am building a new house with a 17.5 x 20 ft family room that will have a cabinet built to house a rear projection tv and will have cabinets/bookshelves built on each side to house speakers and processor and amp. Cabinet will be on the 17.5 ft wall and left side of 20 ft wall will have fireplace while right side will have approx 15 ft of windows. Ceiling height is 10 ft and rear speakers will need to be in ceiling. Cabinet can be built to house either bookshelves or floor-standers. My wife prefers front speakers built in to cabinet, although I may be able to place floorstanders outside the cabinet on each side. I am also going to buy a subwoofer. I'm considering totems or spendor (local av retailer recommends jamo concert series)

I also need suggestions for preamp/processor and amp. I don't know whether to go 5.1 or 7.1 in this size of room (rear centers would also need to be in ceiling). I'm considering the new outlaw 950 and matching amp, but I've heard good things about rotel.

Any suggestions would be helpful.
thanks,
mark
msf

Showing 1 response by natalie

Firstly speakers must be positioned at ear Level to sound good.Dont waste your time mounting them in the ceiling.
Also whatever you buy will not sound good placed in a cabinet.
In your situation.Since your wife is more interested in looks than sonics.
I would not invest a great deal of money since you wont be able to set it up properly.
Look at PSB Atoms 189.00.
They are a great little speaker and will be invisible.
A 5.1 will do.Entery level Mid fi products will fit your room and placemt limitations.
You are just not going to benift from HI end gear with the type of set up you are trying.

What would work well if you can pull it off is a pair of monitors on stands for the front and a piar in the back on stands with a good sub.
Then you will get nice sound and steping up to some Hi end Electronics will pay off.

DO not under any circumstance put speakers in the ceiling.