I'm going to finally finish the basement in my new home and I'd like to have a space for both Stereo Listening and Movie Watching. This is a very open space as my basement is L shaped. I'll do the Music Listening/Movie Watching are in one end of the L. So really there are only 3 walls about 19' square with the rear wall 42' back. Thus I have an open ended room here and want to stick with Open Concept and not close it off by putting in another wall. The finished ceilings will be about 8'6". This system will be used about 80% for Music Listening and 20% for Movie Watching. I'd like to do a pass through so the Front Speakers have their own Quality Amp for Stereo Listening.
I need help with equipment choices.
Up front I will go with either Triton Reference or Triton One R's. My local GoldenEar Dealer advised against a Dedicated Center Channel Speaker. That just blew my mind! I want a full Dolby Atmos System with all the bells and whistles!
I'll most likely go with (4) in ceiling HTR 7000's.
I'm thinking about the Marantz AV 8805
Maybe Parasound Halo Amps, Front Speakers powered on their own. (someone did suggest the PrimaLuna EVO for the fronts)?
I really need advice for Side Surrounds and Rear Speakers.
And I'm open to any other thoughts or suggestions as to Speaker or Equipment choices!
I've waited 40 years to do this. I want to do it right!
I'm looking forward to receiving some great ideas here!
Thank you in advance!

Hi jdressel

Good for you to finally get a good HT system! You'll love it!

A couple comments, suggestions. All for sticking with GoldenEar speakers for each channel for perfect tonal matching.

First, re center channel speaker, I'm a bit surprised your dealer recommends against using one. I guess with most any pre-pro like the Marantz you're thinking about, you can, in speaker set up direct the fronts to fill the center channel's content instead. You would lose several things with that set up, like ability to control volume for dialog, more exact positioning of what the sound mixers want to be represented in that channel. I'd vote FOR a center channel speaker, and for a recommendation, the SuperCenter Ref. It's a perfect match with the Ref level technologies and drivers in the 1.R's or T Ref's.

Re surrounds, I love having some "beef" back there to fill in the meaty part of the soundtrack, either in the form of a sub in back to fill in the bass portion, or speakers that can go deep on their own. Lots of ways to do that. With an open back to the rest of the room, your rear surrounds might need to be either stand mounted SuperSat or bookshelf, or tower I guess. Side surrounds could be wall mounted? Anything from SuperSat’s to Invisa MPX or SPS, or same options as for rear surrounds if not wall mounted. And if budget is big enough, love powered towers as surrounds, especially side surrounds.

Re amps for the fronts, the powered Tritons have internal amps for the bass drivers, and the mid/bass and tweeter drivers are passive and need external amp input. Primaluna is a great brand. I'd want some serious power available for great dynamics whatever you choose.

Have fun with your project!

Added comment: with ceiling height of 8’ 6”, though you could probably make a pair of HTR 7000’s work as rear surrounds also. You have enough room depth to get them far enough back from the listening positions to present at ear height I would think.

Rick

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!
Narrowed it down to these. What do you think?
(2) Triton One R's (mains)
(4) Triton 7's (side and rear surrounds)
(4) HTR 7000's (in ceiling)
Super Center Reference
(1) A21+ Parasound HALO 2 channel Amp
(2) A52+ Parasound Halo 5 channel Amps

That speaker arrangement should work great. The front/center clarity and musicality will be superb.

A couple questions/observations/suggestions on options.

The Halo A+'s are a step up from the originals, more power etc. and should be great with your speakers. You mention a 5 channel version plus a 2 channel, or 7 channels total. Your speaker arrangement would consist of 11 channels. Are you still considering the Marantz AV 8805 preamp? If so, you'll need 11 external amp channels in total. Or are you now considering using a receiver, with it's internal amps, to power the other 4 channels?

Re the four T7's for surrounds vs. other options, in part the choices depend on how much bass slam you'd like in your system. (I'm an admitted bass head, love to FEEL the bass from good action movies, or even some music.) Most of the really deep bass will come from your two T1.R front mains. There's a fair amount of discussion now, that Atmos height formats and extra ceiling speakers have entered the picture, about whether the two extra surrounds, as rear surrounds, still have the same added value. I'd value the extra pair of ceiling height speakers over the extra pair of surrounds, but ideally four of each is the "perfect" set-up I guess. I have four ceiling height speakers and 2 surrounds, as T1's, and the T1's just plain fill the surround space with gorgeous, deep sound. I'm happy with that set-up. If you'd like to ensure great bass slam, and you're at your budget upper limits, an option to consider would be to forego the two extra T7's as rear surrounds and get a SuperSub X for a little less total money (($1,399 for the SuperSub X vs. $1,598 for the two extra T7's). If bass impact isn't a big priority, then the four T7's are going to do just fine, with lots of bass fill down to whatever crossover you use.

It's what works for YOUR listening preferences that counts! Any of the choices you're considering will give you an amazing HT system and gorgeous music!

Hope this helps.

Rick

I had a really good friend of mine tell me I really should go ahead and make the plunge for the Triton Reference Towers instead of the One R's. He said it probably won't do much as far as my Stereo listening, but thinks it will help in the Atmos system I'm putting together.
I've already decided on the 7000's for (4) in ceiling Speakers and was going to go with Triton 7's for the side surrounds and rear surrounds. The Reference Center as well.
If I go ahead and step up for the Reference Towers up front, would I (or should I) also upgrade from the Triton 7's for my surround speakers?

jdressel wrote: I had a really good friend of mine tell me I really should go ahead and make the plunge for the Triton Reference Towers instead of the One R's. He said it probably won't do much as far as my Stereo listening, but thinks it will help in the Atmos system I'm putting together.
I've already decided on the 7000's for (4) in ceiling Speakers and was going to go with Triton 7's for the side surrounds and rear surrounds. The Reference Center as well.
If I go ahead and step up for the Reference Towers up front, would I (or should I) also upgrade from the Triton 7's for my surround speakers?

Great question!

Your friend is right, the T Ref IS a step above the T1.R. But I would say the effect is also very noticeable in stereo also: better, deeper 3D imaging, better, deeper bass. We're talking degrees of excellence here, both are extraordinary.

As for bass support, the T Ref is amazing, Beginning with the T2+ (the 3+'s are pretty amazing also, just not the same bass punch), the powered Tritons, with their bass drivers, internal amps and LFE connections, begin to have the bass capability of some pretty amazing subs. The T Ref's with their larger bass drivers, amps and bass radiators, each have the output capability of a SuperSub XXL, per the Moderator. They have amazing bass, for both music and movies!

So, yes, yes to your friend if that is in your budget range! You would be installing the bass equivalent of TWO SuperSub XXL's, even better sound for movies AND music. Go for it if you can! In that case. I'd say stick with the four T7's as surrounds. If later you want to add even more bass (we all tend to grow our systems a little over time), a SuperSub X or say T2+'s at side surrounds would add an extra punch.

You're gonna' love that system!!!

Rick