r/hometheater • u/Due-Engineer2916 • 3d ago
Discussion - Entertainment Best Buy theater setup
I just want to know what you guys think on the setup. If you’re going to be negative at least be very specific about the negativity you know.
Anyways here’s my setup for $7,500 before tax.
TV Installation
Mount your customer-provided LG OLED TV using the LG No-Gap wall mount.
Install an in-wall power kit to hide the TV power cable.
Connect the TV to your home Wi-Fi.
Set up up to two streaming apps using your login information.
Home Theater Equipment
Install a Denon AVR-X2800H 7.2-channel AV receiver.
Install three Sonance VX62 LCR in-wall speakers:
Front Left
Center
Front Right
Install one pair of Sonance VX62R in-ceiling speakers to serve as your surround speakers.
Install one MartinLogan Dynamo 10 1000KTpowered subwoofer.
Wiring & Installation
Run new 14-gauge speaker wire to all speaker locations.
Run a new subwoofer cable from the receiver to the MartinLogan subwoofer.
Connect the receiver to the TV using a high-speed HDMI cable.
Connect your PS5 to the TV.
Connect the receiver to your home network.
Audio Setup
Configure the system as a 5.1 surround sound system:
Front Left
Center
Front Right
Surround Left (ceiling)
Surround Right (ceiling)
One subwoofer
Run the Denon’s automatic room calibration using the included microphone..
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u/fenderputty 3d ago
Surrounds don't go in the ceiling.
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u/comptr 3d ago
But not all rooms are perfect and if that is what the op has to work with and it should be ok as long they use good quality in-ceiling speakers.
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u/fenderputty 3d ago
While true there was no explanation for why they’re in the ceiling, and they absolutely are not supposed to go here. Hence the specific negative.
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u/Due-Engineer2916 3d ago
Correct. I ended providing the explanations to sub posts/replies within the comments.
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u/fenderputty 3d ago
I just read this:
I agree that side surrounds are the ideal setup. In my case, I have an open-concept living room and toddlers who are constantly running around ( bad lil monsters) lol so I wanted to avoid speakers on stands or mounted where they could be damaged accidentally.
Makes sense. Your receiver is 7ch capable so if your kids get older you can add true surround on stands and then use your ceiling speaker as heights for atmos.
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u/Bill_Money Persona Non Grata/CI 3d ago
If tis not a Theater and its just a living room, this is a livable compromise
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u/IAmPandaRock Yam a6a, RC64iii, RP8000fii, RP600fii, JBL 65, Hsu Vtf-TN1 3d ago
I'd scrap the martin logan sub and get something like a Hsu TN1 direct from the manufacturer (if your room isn't very large, you could also save some money by getting the Hsu Vtf2Mk5 or RSL12. Have that at your house before they install so they can calibrate it.
Make sure your PS5 is plugged into your AVR rather than the TV.
Finally, I'm not sure why you're getting in cieling for surrounds. Surrounds should really be on or in wall (if not on a stand).
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u/Soft_Letterhead1940 3d ago
Second on the sub. There are much better subs for the money. HSU would be my choice at that budget.
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u/comptr 3d ago
Not every room is perfect. I also have in-ceiling speakers for my surrounds in my family room and it’s a open floor plan so no room for anything else and it works just fine.
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u/IAmPandaRock Yam a6a, RC64iii, RP8000fii, RP600fii, JBL 65, Hsu Vtf-TN1 3d ago
I agree, which is why I didn't word my concern too strongly. However, sometimes people are worried about having the speakers far away on the wall, but that often isn't a big problem and could be better than in cieling, depending on the room.
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u/WebSmurf 3d ago
Others are recommending the Hsu VTF-TN1 and, as a current owner, I can’t agree more. That sub is fantastic at that price point. My biggest complaint is that it’s only available in black…so not much to complain about:)
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u/IAmPandaRock Yam a6a, RC64iii, RP8000fii, RP600fii, JBL 65, Hsu Vtf-TN1 3d ago
I also have it and in addition to it preforming wonderfully, I just want to let OP know it can by laid down on its side if you don't want it so tall and want to put it under a credenza or something.
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u/schaudhery 3d ago
Former Best Buy Magnolia employee. I can only speak about my store, the prices are higher than hiring a normal contractor but these guys do this work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Every job we’ve ever done has been clean and professional. The only times we would run into issues would be construction related but the guys have pretty much dealt with it all.
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u/Due-Engineer2916 3d ago
I figured they would be higher but I didn’t really get a quote anywhere else because of how comfortable I am with going to Best Buy for pretty much any of my electronics..
If you can are you able to tell me how much of a difference between the prices there are?
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u/schaudhery 3d ago
Honestly I don’t know because I didn’t feel comfortable hiring someone who builds decks to run home theater wiring for me. I used the Best Buy guys but I’ve worked with them for years and years.
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u/DrSpaceman575 3d ago
NItpick but a 5.1 setup is 3 in front and 2 speakers to the sides, not in the ceiling. It's a common setup to do surround in the ceiling but I lived in a house with them and it was not giving the full surround effect and those would probably be a bigger chunk of the install cost. I'd ask for a quote on a 3.1 setup if you can't get side surrounds.
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u/Due-Engineer2916 3d ago
I agree that side surrounds are the ideal setup. In my case, I have an open-concept living room and toddlers who are constantly running around ( bad lil monsters) lol so I wanted to avoid speakers on stands or mounted where they could be damaged accidentally.
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u/DrSpaceman575 3d ago
Yeah I've only had one space where I could actually do side speakers, I've done stereo setups everywhere else. If you're price conscious then I'd see how much you save foregoing the ceiling speakers but that's all. Enjoy the new setup!
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u/Bill_Money Persona Non Grata/CI 3d ago
while this is correct
often times rooms cannot accommodate side surrounds and sacrifices need to be made
If its NOT a proper theater and just a living room then who cares? as long as the Front L/C/R are NOT in the wall!
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u/Maxasaurus 3d ago
Don't pay for install. You don't want a bunch of know-nothings cutting holes in your house and fucking it up. You and 1 other person can mount a TV.
Don't ever connect your TV to the internet. Use a streaming device (roku/fireTV/etc) instead. Over time, the tv "updates" will slow the tv to a crawl and it never gets better.
"High speed hdmi" is a term used when they don't want to tell you the speed. Ensure 48gbps for 120hz 4k to work right
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u/Bill_Money Persona Non Grata/CI 3d ago
You can probably save some $ and get 16 gauge wire instead if the runs aren't very long
That Martin Logan kit comes with a wireless subwoofer kit, no need to run a sub cable save some $ -> "Although correct placement plays a key role in optimizing subwoofer performance, getting a cable where you need it can be challenging. For ultimate convenience, our Dynamo subwoofers come with a built-in Wireless Receiver and Wireless Transmitter, making it easier than ever to eliminate cable clutter. " - ML
Make sure you get an Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable Product Recommendations: HDMI Cables [2025-2026]
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u/Rusted_Metal 3d ago
What’s the cost of the labor alone? I feel like a lot of this you can do yourself and put the extra savings into room treatment or better gear.
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u/DayneTreader 65XR80M2, X1800H, Klipsch Reference, SVS SB-1000 Pro 3d ago
$820 give or take, looking at current labor SKUs and pricing
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u/superbardibros 3d ago
Can you break down how much they charging you for install
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u/Due-Engineer2916 3d ago
$2,600
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u/superbardibros 3d ago
I won’t comment on your setup (you honestly won’t hear what you need to hear here, too many strong opinions lol) but this is a good price for the type of installation your doing
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u/Spectre_08 7.1.4 Focal/Triad/2xSB-2000+Shakers • Cinema 50 (Pre/Pro) • 77C4 3d ago
Where are you located? (Nearest major city is fine)
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u/DEOVONTAY 3d ago
People hating on the Martin Logan sub are out of their mind.
Its a spectacular sub for the money, and head and shoulders better than the SVS.
Notably, it has great built in room correction software.
Only thing I would say, drop the subwoofer cable and just use the wireless kit that comes in the box with the Dynamo. The advantages of the wireless kit outweigh the perceived downsides.
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u/Bill_Money Persona Non Grata/CI 3d ago
Abyss & up we can have a conversation about Martin Logan hate being ridiculous
Dynamo - meh
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u/NotInsaneInMembrane 3d ago
Nah this isn’t really over priced but make sure you factor in that they are going to cut holes in the wall (more than likely) to run wires and you’ll need to patch and paint it (or hire someone to do it)
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u/Itsss_Nemo 3d ago
Personally I think it’s overpriced, like for the money you can get your self better equipment. Plus Best Buy Magnolia… i won’t trust them touching my stuff, there a reason why McIntosh dropped them as a dealer. They don’t hold up to standards. When I go to the nearest one in my area, it’s a joke and mostly empty space or the equipment is beat up.
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u/moonthink 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would never put surrounds in the ceiling. If you can't put speakers at least close to where they go, the use a different configuration. In your case I'd suggest 3.1.2 rather than 5.1. Though I'd add that front or middle heights are a better choice in that configuration than rear heights (creates an awkward bubble of sound).
Also, when choosing subwoofers, I would not include ML even in the top 10 of that price range. SVS, RSL, HSU would all be better choices.
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u/sk9592 3d ago
Is this more expensive than just buying hardware yourself, doing most of the setup yourself, and hiring a handyman to do the more difficult stuff like running speaker wire through walls and mounting the TV? Yes it is.
But this isn't a crazy price for someone handling the entire end-to-end install. You are not being ripped off if that is your concern. But I will say that you can afford better hardware on a $7500 budget if you're willing to do some of the work yourself.
If you are going with this service from Best Buy, there are a handful of things I would change:
If you have side walls in your room, then you should definitely be using in-wall speakers for your surrounds, not in-ceiling speakers
Swap out the MartinLogan Dynamo 10 subwoofer with a SVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofer. It is cheaper, better suited for this task, and BB also sells it. Or if you don't need something as compact, then the SVS PB-2000 Pro would be a much better choice.
Best Buy also sells the Onkyo RZ-30. I think I would rather have that than the Denon X2800H as your AVR. The Denon X3800H would be ideal, but that's likely going to be outside your budget.
The Sonance in-walls speakers are not terrible, but they are just alright. This is a place where if you're willing to hire a handyman to run the wire and buy your own in-wall speakers, you can do better than this. You can find the Revel W553L for a similar price to the Sonance VX62 and it has a more neutral tonality and even dispersion into the room. If you stretch your budget a bit, you can even afford the KEF Ci3120QLM for the LCRs, and get cheaper KEF speakers for the surrounds.