Question for those who have 'proper' home theater systems?

[Naruzeldamaster]

So I will eventually be upgrading my TV (I'm not convinced when exactly but the gears are in motion) and I'm currently re-evaluating my home theater setup.

The biggest thing is I need to lower my TV to eye level of my seating area, which we are going to do when we get the new TV.

The question in question: For a small gaming / media room / office is surround sound better or 3 speakers (Left / Right / Center)?

I want to 'upgrade' my sound system but I also don't want to 'blast' myself with sound either. Doing some light googling has shown that speakers at all are leagues better than TV speaker quality. Most of my budget for this project is going to the tv so I don't have a ton to give to the sound system and TV console. My light research also shows that Sound Bars are Pathetic if you want quality for what you pay for.

 

[pmmg]

Heck, I only have one speaker. Its good enough.

 

[casval]

As you say, almost any speaker is better than the one built into the TV - as long as you don't go wireless! You lose a lot of audio quality over Bluetooth.

I have two speakers + a subwoofer in my audio set-up, but I'm a bass girlie so the subwoofer is perhaps optional depending on your music tastes. I think two/three speakers is the best choice if you are mostly gaming or watching television. If you are a huge fan of Christopher Nolan films, I'd recommend going with surround sound - particularly with Atmos - so you can hear the dialogue without the subtitles on.