Home Theater on a Budget, Part 4: Luxury System

Luxury home theater speakers should offer superior audio reproduction and power to spare, as well as the ability to guide sound to your ears instead of off the walls. Yamaha NS-F901 floor standing Soavo speakers fulfill all these requirements and are distinguished for their stylish appearance and transparent sound when reproducing data-rich, high resolution audio sources.

The primary function of a center channel speaker is to keep dialogue at the forefront without it getting lost in the surround mix behind things like gunshots, explosions and other ambient sound. A good option here is the Yamaha NS-C444 center channel speaker, designed specifically for home theater applications. It’s magnetically shielded and incorporates dual 5″ diaphragm cone woofers and a 1″ aluminum dome tweeter that utilizes an exclusive waveguide horn for improved imaging.

To complete a 7-channel or 9-channel system, you’ll need two sets of rear speakers that can capture subtle elements like wind blowing or water rushing up from behind in your favorite action movie. The Yamaha NS-333 bookshelf speakers incorporate a two-way bass reflex design that integrates a 5″ Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm (PMD) cone woofer and a 1″ aluminum dome tweeter with an exclusive waveguide horn. When setting up your rear surround speakers, be sure to plan out where the wires will run — either above or below the floor or through the walls — and be sure to place them on a sturdy surface such as a speaker stand or bookshelf.

If you want the most from your home theater, you should consider adding in-ceiling speakers for height and even more subtlety. Yamaha NS-IC800 in-ceiling speakers feature a slim design for easy in-ceiling or in-wall mounting. They incorporate an 8″ blue PP (polypropylene) mica cone woofer for high performance mid-low sound reproduction and a 1″ fluid-cooled soft-dome swivel tweeter for pure high frequency with precise sound positioning. Whichever in-ceiling speakers you go with, bear in mind that it takes some effort to remove them once they’re installed, so make sure they’re durable and built from quality materials.

In a 5.1-channel system, the “.1” stands for having one subwoofer. But for an extra kick, why not boost your bass by having two subs? By providing dual subwoofer pre outs, the Yamaha RX-A3080 and all Yamaha AVENTAGE receivers give you the ability to run two subs with any setup. The Yamaha NS-SW1000 powered subwoofer is a good choice here since it provides 1,000 watts of digital power, plus a stable and accurate low range response — important in everything from fantasy movies to the rumble of engines in your favorite sci-fi film.

By upgrading your components to the very best on the market, you’ll be able to enjoy home theater like never before. If you’re setting up your own system without professional help, be sure to do your research thoroughly. A valuable resource can be the Yamaha AV Setup Guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for your AV receiver and system as a whole.