Josh-PA wrote What's your price target? Do you want to maximize sound quality or component aesthetic integration? Do you want a musical system as well or just movies? Do you want a simple out of the box type of system or discreet components you can upgrade/individually change out later? Lots of ways to go, but a little more info would help narrow down the possibilities
I would say around $5k - 7k.
ctjalsma wrote Well, this could go south fast...
But, as someone who has spent years and years at this pursuit and who currently has a 9.4.6 system (9 base level, 4 subs, 6 overhead speakers). Here's my 2 cents worth.
Bar none, the hardest thing is to get the bass right. To that goal, a single big subwoofer is a NO NO! Use multiple smaller subs, preferably four, one in each corner. Then comes the bass management, the job of your receiver. For this, it's Denon, hands down. Marantz is the same electronics as Denon for more money, get Denon. Best value is the AVR-x3800h. Around 1200 on sale (accessories4less is good, Safe and Sound another, shop refurbs or open box).
The Denon can individually run 4 subs. Plus you have a choice of room correction tools. The free built in Audessey or the optional Dirac, up to the best-in-the-business Dirac ART (an $800 software add on). You WILL need room correction, and those are the best (affordable) in the business.
Beyond that, decide if you want a basic 5.x system (front left, center, front right and surround left, right). This gets you most of the way there. For movie watching the most important speaker is your center channel. I'd base my speaker selection around this choice. You want your front row to be timbre matched as much as possible, so left and right should be from the same vendor and same class as the center. Center should be three-way with tweeter above midrange, woofers either side.
I'd start with a 5.x system, then decide later if you want to add rear surrounds (not that noticeable) or overheads for Dolby Atmos. The 3800 will support those configurations.
I'll stop here, speaker vendor selection is wild. I prefer Revel, KEF is good, there are a bunch.
Plus read these
This won't let me add attachments for some reason
Lots of great info here! Appreciate it! I will need to do some research as well!
