Surround Sound

[Seeitsaveit13]

There have to be some audio nerds in here somewhere...

I currently have a samsung surround sound set with 5 speakers, a sub, and a receiver. It integrates nicely with my Samsung TV. Our previous apartment in Florida was prewired so it required minimal cable running/hiding etc.

We recently (well, my wife did, I've been on the road for 45 days) moved back to Ohio and our in a temporary apartment until we can find a house. The TV location in the current spot is not ideal for wired surround sound, but my wife has been complaining about how bad the TV on its' own sounds (and I'm sure I'll agree when I get back there finally).

The question... Are there WIRELESS surround sound options out there? I know there are wireless subs, and wireless independent speakers, but are there actually any wireless surround systems? I would think that audio travelling that far over wireless would degrade the quality quite a bit, so I think I may know the answer here... but just haven't really researched this much outside of a CNet article or two.

I don't really want to run wires in the temporary place because they'd be super hard to hide (neatly at least). I figure beside just looking cleaner, a wireless set would also be able to get placed into any room/configuration that I have in the new place as well. I'd likely end up using the wired set in the man cave and putting the new (if it exists) wireless set into our living room.

Corey? Pino? JD? Other tech nerds?

[cougnix]

Yes

[Cnasty]

Not truly wireless that I am aware of and if there are they are probably very expensive for a temporary set up.

I have Sonos in my living room and a deeper set up in my media room for the bigger movie/sports experiences.

Sonos is fantastic and great quality with an excellent sub but it can get pricey but they are always on sale it seems. Ease of use, great app, and play music throughout the entire home. They aren't truly wireless as you need an electrical outlet but no speaker wire so somewhat wireless?

I would go with one of their soundbars for a temporary solution now and then you can use it later in a bedroom or another set up.

The Sonos Beam is an excellent option for your needs it sounds like.

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/beam.html

[GeorgesGoons]

I would just go with a soundbar for now to be honest. How long do you plan on staying in the apartment? Even if it's a year I am sure a soundbar will be sufficient until you get into your permanent space.

But like Corey said, if you truly need surround then the Sonos would be a good option

[The_Niddler]

Sonos is a fantastic option. you can hook up just the sound bar for now. Then once you move, add more speakers to create a true surround sound.

Corey, correct me if I am wrong, but from what I understand, you can configure speakers as you want them.

So today, You setup the sound bar in the front, buy 2 smaller Sonos to use in the rear and a sub.

4 months from now, you buy bigger Sonos to use for rear speakers, you can take those 2 smaller ones and wire 1 as a rear center for 7.1 or you can move 1 to a bedroom to use in there, etc.



I know Samsung made a sound bar with wireless rear speakers and a sub, but I believe it was in the $600 range. For that price, start a Sonos setup.

[Cnasty]

Thats correct.

I started with just the Sonos Playbase, Sub, and 2 Sonos1s. Fantastic sound for a small living room set up with such great flexibility to add more whenever you want across your home and outside as well now.

[Seeitsaveit13]

Yea I get that power is still obviously needed, but was trying to avoid wiring speakers to a central receiver.

I’ll have to give Sonos a look. So we’re saying Sonos doesn’t need wiring? It just the sound bars and subs?

I was thinking a 4.1 type setup

[ReignOnU]

Yea I get that power is still obviously needed, but was trying to avoid wiring speakers to a central receiver.

I’ll have to give Sonos a look. So we’re saying Sonos doesn’t need wiring? It just the sound bars and subs?

I was thinking a 4.1 type setup

There is a Sonos sound bar, wireless sub and wireless rear set option out there. I've got an A/V consultant coming on 12/27 (thanks for the delay COVID) and the Sonos wireless setup is one that I'm looking at for my downstairs area. I believe that part is in the ~$1300 range.

[Seeitsaveit13]

Yea I get that power is still obviously needed, but was trying to avoid wiring speakers to a central receiver.

I’ll have to give Sonos a look. So we’re saying Sonos doesn’t need wiring? It just the sound bars and subs?

I was thinking a 4.1 type setup

There is a Sonos sound bar, wireless sub and wireless rear set option out there. I've got an A/V consultant coming on 12/27 (thanks for the delay COVID) and the Sonos wireless setup is one that I'm looking at for my downstairs area. I believe that part is in the ~$1300 range.

Eek. Let me know how that goes

[The_Niddler]

Yea I get that power is still obviously needed, but was trying to avoid wiring speakers to a central receiver.

I’ll have to give Sonos a look. So we’re saying Sonos doesn’t need wiring? It just the sound bars and subs?

I was thinking a 4.1 type setup

Sonos Beam sound bar is $399.99 - Use this for the front and front center speakers.
Sonos One SL is $179.99 - Need 2 to use as surround speakers = $359.98
Sonos Sub (this is where it gets expensive) - $699

$1458.97 total

This exact setup is on sale as a set for $1359 on the Sonos website.
https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/home-theater

Or $1856 with the Arc as the sound bar, which is better than the Beam, but the Beam still sounds damn good.


I have to say though, if I piece out what I have:
I have a Yamaha Receiver, RX-V685BL, that is bluetooth, apple airplay, etc.- $445
Sony 12" active subwoofer - Was like $150 back when I bought it 10 years ago.
Bose Speaker setup - It was something like the Acoustimass 12 system. bought it like 17 years ago. Retailed for $1200, I got it for like $700 when I worked at Best Buy. Their employee discount is like half off of home and car audio.

So retail price, I have roughly $1795 invested.
So the Sonos for $1359 is a great idea and setup.
No speaker wires to run to the rear or sub and it sounds great!

[ReignOnU]

Pretty sure that's the setup I was looking at for $1300 on my install. I'll know next Sunday.

[Seeitsaveit13]

Yea I get that power is still obviously needed, but was trying to avoid wiring speakers to a central receiver.

I’ll have to give Sonos a look. So we’re saying Sonos doesn’t need wiring? It just the sound bars and subs?

I was thinking a 4.1 type setup

Sonos Beam sound bar is $399.99 - Use this for the front and front center speakers.
Sonos One SL is $179.99 - Need 2 to use as surround speakers = $359.98
Sonos Sub (this is where it gets expensive) - $699

$1458.97 total

This exact setup is on sale as a set for $1359 on the Sonos website.
https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/home-theater

Or $1856 with the Arc as the sound bar, which is better than the Beam, but the Beam still sounds damn good.


I have to say though, if I piece out what I have:
I have a Yamaha Receiver, RX-V685BL, that is bluetooth, apple airplay, etc.- $445
Sony 12" active subwoofer - Was like $150 back when I bought it 10 years ago.
Bose Speaker setup - It was something like the Acoustimass 12 system. bought it like 17 years ago. Retailed for $1200, I got it for like $700 when I worked at Best Buy. Their employee discount is like half off of home and car audio.

So retail price, I have roughly $1795 invested.
So the Sonos for $1359 is a great idea and setup.
No speaker wires to run to the rear or sub and it sounds great!

Yea the Sonos setup seems impossible to beat other than price but you're getting more than what you pay for.

Last night after talking with Corey and seeing some of the price options, I pulled out my current set and wired up the receiver, sub, L/R's and the Center speaker and just kept them all on the entertainment center. They're better than a sound bar alone, so for now, I think I'll keep an eye on Sonos and keep trying to find a house and make a purchase when I know what I'm working with. LIkely Sonos though, those setups look legit.