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Contributor I
April 17, 2023

What should i get, 2 300's or 2 Fives?

For home theatre surround sound.

 

I currently have the arc and 2 subs…. i just bought the sub today on my way to work, i have yet to install it… i have an open layout… living room and kitchen is all open space, pretty big space… ill put up pictures later so u can have a better idea… im having trouble on where to place the 2 back speakers though, i dont want stands and my only option i feel is towards the back walls that face the tv… my concern is that they might be too far back and i wont achieve the proper sound.

Idk if i should get the fives or the 300s though.... i asked the employee at best buy and he didnt hesitate to say the 5s… when i researched ive seen mostly pictures of people having the 300s in their recent purchases for surround sound, so now im conflicted.

 

What do u guys recommend?

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12 replies

GarlandAuthor
Contributor I
April 17, 2023

The Era 300s are atmos capable speakers that fire audio primarily from the sides and top when used for surround speakers.  So placing them ~10 feet back of the seating area is pretty much useless at any volume. You may hear them from your seating area, but you will have lost the effect of having audio coming from the proper direction (bounced off walls and ceilings).

If you went with a ‘standard’ speaker, you can place them that far back and adjust by turning up the volume.  It’s not ideal, and audio will be very loud in your back area, but you can do it.   I wouldn’t spend money on Fives though, the new Era 100s should be plenty good enough for surround duty at half the cost.  I would also place the speaker near fridge on the other side of the stove.  It’s a better angle at that distance with less interference.

That said, you definitely are better off with rear speakers closer.  I get that you don’t want use stands, or a sofa table behind the sofa, perhaps due to lack of a near by electrical outlet.  Is there an outlet on the pillar?

As far as movie theatre sound and why it ‘works’.  First, they don’t bounce any audio off walls.  All the speakers are in walls and ceiling directly pointed at the audience.  Second, the speakers are above the seating area pointed down, so the seats near a speaker won’t be overpowered by the volume, but won’t hear as much coming from that audio channel.  Third, there definitely is a sweet spot in theatres where you’re going to hear the audio the best, as it’s intended.  If you sit on the edges, you likely are not getting the best sound and may not even be hearing some of the audio.  When setting up a home theatre, you want the sweet spot to be where you typically are going to sit.

 

I do have an outlet on the pillar, I’ll upload more photos or if I can video of my current set up… I connected my second subwoofer and I didn’t get that boom that I expected, I had to increase the bass to get it, maybe it’s the placement where I put it.

GarlandAuthor
Contributor I
April 17, 2023

From the tv to the other wall where the refrigerator is was close to 30 feet, I measured it.