Complete systems, expertly matched

• 5.1.2

  The First Cinema

  Living rooms and spare rooms to about 4.5 × 3.4 m

  The smallest system that still does Atmos honestly: five channels around you, two overhead. Assembled from the cheapest current stock it comes in near $3,500; most first systems land closer to $5,000.

  • AV receiver with seven channels of amplification
  • Front left and right speakers
  • Matched centre channel
  • Bookshelf surround pair
  • One subwoofer
  • Two in-ceiling height speakers

  Typical build$5,000

  Build this system Talk it through first
• Most chosen
  5.1.4

  The Media Room

  Dedicated media rooms to about 5.0 × 3.8 m

  Four height channels instead of two, so a helicopter crosses the ceiling rather than jumping from one corner to the other. This is the step most people are glad they took.

  • AV receiver with nine channels of amplification
  • Floorstanding front pair
  • Matched centre channel
  • Bookshelf or in-wall surround pair
  • One subwoofer with room correction
  • Four in-ceiling height speakers

  Typical build$9,000

  Build this system Talk it through first
• 5.2.4

  The Enthusiast

  Purpose-built rooms to about 5.5 × 4.0 m

  Two subwoofers rather than one. Nothing else you can buy at this money does as much for how even the bass is from seat to seat, and the amplification has headroom left at reference level.

  • Receiver or processor with nine or more channels
  • Floorstanding front pair with genuine low end
  • Matched centre channel
  • Bookshelf or in-wall surround pair
  • Two subwoofers, placed for even bass
  • Four in-ceiling or in-wall height speakers

  Typical build$14,000

  Build this system Talk it through first
• 7.1.4

  The Reference Room

  Dedicated theatres from about 6.0 × 4.2 m

  Seven surround channels, four heights, and a projector and screen budgeted in from the start. At this level the room matters as much as the boxes, so we begin with a design consult rather than a cart.

  • Separate processor and multi-channel power amplifier
  • Timbre-matched front three
  • Four surround speakers
  • Subwoofer sized to the room
  • Four height channels
  • Projector and screen
  • Room design, treatment and calibration

  Typical build$22,000

  Book a design consult Or start it in the builder

Typical build is what a sensible system at that level costs today; the builder prices every component live, so the total moves as you change things. Nothing is locked in until you or one of our specialists confirms it.