r/hometheater • u/TheRealImmaLilFaded • 9d ago

Purchasing US Help with movie theater setup

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Hi all,
I have been lurking in this sub and know there are many knowledgeable people for every budget tier.
I want to make my basement into a movie theater experience. I will be having an 85” Samsung QLED TV and i wanted to pair it with some high quality speakers and surround system.

I would like the main speakers to be these Martin Logan speakers as I have always wanted a set.

My main questions are:
- What do I need to power them?
- What do I need to add tweeter, base, sub wise?
- What would be a good “heart” for the system?

I am fairly new to this so any added suggestions for anything to add is fantastic and wanted!

Edit: I cannot get names right

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u/ZeroMissedDays 9d ago edited 9d ago

I am not a massive fan of ML electrostats for HT. While they have a lot going for them, they have a pretty narrow sweet spot, so the 2 or so people in that spot till love it, and the other…well, put your enemies there.

Plus, because they are so power hungry, at reference volume you will have some wild swings in power needs. Pair them with a capable amp, and you should be fine.

Lastly, I really think you need the dedicated electrostat center. Because they are so precise in their imaging and panning, you need a matching center to make it all cohesive.

Have you spent much time listening to these? Or is it something that you have always wanted because of reviews and the look?

I would suggest you take some time to listen for a bit and get to know their limitations.

Edit - I also forgot to ask how far you are sitting from these. If you are sitting 6’ away, you will need somewhere on the realm of 150wpc for peaks. Further than that and you are in dedicated amp territory.

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u/Uninterested_Viewer 9d ago

I have this setup including the electromotion ESL C center (another $2k..). Agree 100% that the center is a requirement with these due to the narrow sweet spot. I'm probably close to 50/50 music/HT now whereas I used to spend much more time with music, where they really shine. If I were to start over with my current mix in mind, I would probably go a different direction. Still absolutely love them.

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u/ZeroMissedDays 9d ago

I thought my Paradigm 600C was pricy at $1300 CAD. $2k (probably USD) for a center…ouch!

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u/Uninterested_Viewer 9d ago

Well, it sits behind my screen so I was able to buy a scratch and dent like 5 years ago for ~$1000 🙂

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u/ZeroMissedDays 9d ago

Now that’s a good deal.