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Reggit
Avid Contributor II
March 16, 2017

Building a 5.1 system - slowly!

  • March 16, 2017
  • 19 replies
  • 1067 views
I've just bought a playbar, my 1st Sonos device and have to say that I'm impressed, it sounds way better than the bose stuff it's replacing. I'm wanting to slowly expand it to a 5.1 system as funds allow. What would people recommend to buy next? The sub or a couple of play 1's for the rear channels?

Also I can't mount the rear speakers behind the sofa as it's up to a wall, would the sound be right if they where out to the sides around 8' high and angled down to the seating position?

Cheers
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    19 replies

    bigosufan
    Enthusiast I
    March 16, 2017
    In a 5.1 setup, the surrounds should be to the sides of the main seating area, not behind it.
      CapnLes
      CapnLes
      Virtuoso
      March 16, 2017
      Go for the Sub next!
      My Sonos system is rock solid 100% of the time and your system should be too!
        Airgetlam
        Airgetlam
        March 16, 2017
        In all honesty, that's a hard call. When I first dipped my toe in the pool, I did the surrounds first (and you have to have a pair, just one won't work). Later on I added the Sub. I didn't expect the sub to be such an earth shattering difference (pun intended), but it really was. So, I'd tend to go with CapnLes, and suggest the sub, and then things become easier later to pick up a pair of Play:1s to act as surrounds.
        Bruce
          tom12
          Enthusiast II
          March 16, 2017
          Yes, I agree. Go with the sub first.
          ReggitAuthor
          Avid Contributor II
          March 17, 2017
          Thanks all, that was my feeling as well, just the £700 putting me off.
          The bright side is I can sneak one in and put it behind the corner TV unit and my missus will never know that I've been spending money on more speakers! ?
            Nik of Time
            Trending Lyricist I
            March 17, 2017
            I think go for the sub first and you can avoid the impact of the dreaded DTS issue for longer as stereo PCM won't impact you as much. Hopefully by the time you get around to adding the surrounds there'll be more work around options for the surround sound issues.

            Also the sub is absolutely awesome.:D
            ReggitAuthor
            Avid Contributor II
            March 17, 2017
            Is the DTS thing a big issue for a non-audiophile?
            I've read about it but can't say i really understood it! All I know is that the playbar on its own whips the pants off the acoustimass system/onkyo av-amp I've replaced.
            CapnLes
            CapnLes
            Virtuoso
            March 17, 2017
            Depends on the person. For me it is no big deal and I do not notice it at all, for others????
            My Sonos system is rock solid 100% of the time and your system should be too!
            SHARKB8T
            SHARKB8T
            Prodigy I
            March 18, 2017
            I'll add my vote for the SUB first.. it really transforms the audio from the Playbar... (on a side note... that transformation is enough I can't image your significant other won't notice 😉 )

            when you eventually add them, place the "surrounds" to the side of your sofa - and they do not need to be/should not be elevated too high. I have mine on side tables and they are awesome (subtle though.... they are not primary audio, but provide ambiance so there isn't a lot of audio directed through them.)

            as for the DTS issue.... I don't play discs for my movies.... so it is a non-issue for me... but that thread had been written many times on this board....
            ReggitAuthor
            Avid Contributor II
            April 20, 2017
            Being an impatient type of person, I've ended up with the play1 surrounds first. Only got them added to the setup yesterday, but 1st impression is good. Had to mount them high due to room layout, but on flexson mounts, so they are tilted down as far as possible.

            Wifey is worried a sub will make it 'boomy' and wake the kids, we are in a bungalow so one of them is just across the corridor. I'll probably sneak one in anyway when funds allow.
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