Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Lets plan a theater space

I hummed and hawed over it too during my build planning phase. In the end I decided I'd be kicking myself later for not doing at least the rough-in for it.

Your fault Nick with your CEDIA coverage.

Amazon.ca has a receiver for $1800.
Amazon.com has one for $1600.

That's really interesting stuff. Thank you. Sounds like short version is regardless of whether I spend the money for Atmos or not, losing my on wall QS8 surrounds in favor of only having in ceiling surrounds is not the best choice. Better to figure out a way to create the space on the walls for the surrounds and decide if I want to further upgrade for the Atmos. Appreciate this insight. Very helpful.

You don't give up wall surround and replace them with ceiling ones. You take a regular 5.1 or 7.1 setup (you talked about going 7.1) and then ADDING 2-4 additional speakers to the ceiling. Thus the 7.1.4 I mentioned before. You have 11 speakers and 1 subwoofer channel (split between however many subs you want).

Which models? I didn't know that there was anything out there that could drive 11 channels (powered) for a 7.1.4 setup. I know that there are some that have 11 channels "processed" but not that many are powered, and then you have to add a separate amp to drive those extra channels.

If there is an 11 channel receiver that powers all of those 11 channels for $1600-$1800, then I am going to have to start looking at that more. I know that the Onkyo TX-NR3030, which powers all 11 channels, is running a little over $2,200 and it is one of the (if not THE) lowest cost Atmos receiver powering all 11 channels for a 7.1.4 setup.

Yeah I got it now. My initial question was would it be reasonable to move my on wall surrounds to in ceiling so I could use more of the wall space for décor. That's when someone chimed in with the Atmos and here we are. Glad I asked, learned a lot.

Namely, don't ask Nick for advice on how to spend money!

doh!

Yup. Atmos (and Auro, and DTS:X) are all things that can easily run a few thousand dollars ON TOP of a nice 5.1 or 7.1 setup right now.

The prices will go down on the electronics as we get 1-2 years out.

In the realm of audio, and the construction of an altar to exalt that audio experience, the price is not the cost of doing immersive, but not doing it.