Forced to choose between a big screen or a 7.1 system

[redryder]

Because of spousal restrictions, I have to choose one of the below options to setup my home theatre. Which option would you choose to watch your blu-rays?

1. 7.1 surround system in a bedroom, sitting 6ft away from a 720p 32" LCD

2. 2-ch headphones in the living room, sitting 10-12ft away from a 1080p 46" LCD

I'm partial to option 1 because I can then enjoy surround music on my SACDs as well.

[tibbydriver]

What kind of LCD are you thinking about getting?if it were between those 2 options for me I would take the 46" TV or the sound set up.

[redryder]

Just to clarify - my current system is the 32" LCD in the living room, using headphones.

I'm moving to a bigger place, so I'll definitely buy a 42" or larger LCD for the living room, and move my 32" to the bedroom. My wife won't let me setup a surround system in the living room, so it has to be in the bedroom, with the smaller TV.

I'm really quite torn between the 2 options.

[Aurora]

I'd recommend trying out a soundbar for your living room. They take up almost no space, with no wires all over the place, can be mounted on a wall, and offer a pretty nice surround experience with no clutter. I bet you can sell her on the idea, since she's probably worried about aesthetics.

I'd try to sell her on a 42" LCD and a soundbar. Seems like a good compromise for you both.

[redryder]

Thanks for the tip Aurora, but aesthetics is just part of the reason.

Usually movie watching time is from 10pm onwards, after the kids are asleep. That's why I've been using headphones for the past 4 years. With a dedicated room, I can isolate sound better.

[Favelle]

7.1 system. 46" TV isn't nearly large enough (for me) to negate the surround-sound experience. No-brainer.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by redryder

Thanks for the tip Aurora, but aesthetics is just part of the reason.

Usually movie watching time is from 10pm onwards, after the kids are asleep. That's why I've been using headphones for the past 4 years. With a dedicated room, I can isolate sound better.

How thin are your walls? Cardboard? I've been using a 6.1 setup for about 4 years now placed right up against our main bedroom wall. My wife sleeps less then 10 feet from my center channel and sub, and yet through equalization and (as needed) Night Mode, I can watch any movie I need at a loud enough volume to hear everything, yet not wake anyone up. Granted I'm not getting to enjoy the full power of my system, nor am I able to hear every detail or part, but I can hear more then enough to watch any movie I need. My wife is a light sleeper as well... she typically wakes up 3-4 times per night on her own without me making any extra noise, and if I'm sick or have a cough, then forget about her sleeping much, yet she rarely says she can hear my system. Go for the tv, ditch the headphones and buy a $40 air purifier that can act as a white noise machine. She'll sleep better, and you''ll get to enjoy your movies more.

[FinalJenemba]

My opinion would be to get the best TV you can, and then get some really good headphones. It doesn't matter how thick your walls are, bass travels. Quite frankly iv always found big surround systems to be overrated anyway, a good set of headphones (Etymotic, Bose, Sure, etc) can sound just as good if not better imho.

PS. It sounds like your the only one thats gonna be using this system. If that's the case, you may want to consider a smaller, one person setup like mine. I have a 1080p 37" LCD plugged into a PC that I sit about 2 feet from. The PC has an HDDVD and a DVD drive, an xfi sound card, and a smaller 5.1 system. Plus some etymotics for when it gets late. I dont bother anyone in my apartment complex, and to be honest I like this setup much better then when I had a 42" set in my living room. I love sitting so close to the screen.

[vaca]

Try restricting your spouse to only three pairs of shoes and see what she does.

[LastSonOfKrypton]

Originally Posted by vaca

Try restricting your spouse to only three pairs of shoes and see what she does.

Oh dear lord. I laughed so hard Very funny comment bud!

[GamerGuyX]

Originally Posted by FinalJenemba

Quite frankly iv always found big surround systems to be overrated anyway, a good set of headphones (Etymotic, Bose, Sure, etc) can sound just as good if not better imho.

I bolded the part where you lost all credibility.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by vaca

Try restricting your spouse to only three pairs of shoes and see what she does.

LMAO. Yeah, I don't know if that's gonna fly.

[FinalJenemba]

Originally Posted by GamerGuyX

I bolded the part where you lost all credibility.

Good point, I did feel a bit dirty including them. But I still stand by the fact that Bose makes some pretty good (if overpriced) headphones. Everything else they make might be garbage, but the quite comforts are a decent product.

[93xfan]

go with the sound. it's easy to get used to big screen tvs, but awesome HD sound never gets old.

[daybreaker]

If it were me, I'd get the TV I wanted first...and for what it's worth, if I had it to do over again I would've chosen something like the Yamaha YSP-800 sound bar. I set up my 5.1 system the right way, with concealed wires and everything...and it was hard!