Soundbar with Wireless Surrounds vs AV receiver that supports wireless surround speakers?

GeneticDeviant · 02-03-2026 02:07PM #1

Hi. I'm trying to figure out the best setup for my small 11ft by 14ft room for Dolby atmos.

I have a 65 inch LG OLED G2 on one of the narrower walls and my seating position is approx 6 to 7 feet away from the screen with approx 6 to 7 feet behind the seating position to the rear wall.

I was considering a soundbar such as the Samsung Q990F due to simplicity and tidiness of setup but I'm aware a proper AV receiver and wired speakers will yield better results.

However, the speaker wiring to the rears / heights etc is very off putting for both the wife and I.

I see some AV receivers support wireless rear / height speakers , such as the Sony with their own brand wireless speakers. I think I saw Yamaha nay support this also?

My question is how effective and reliable is this ? Will it still be better than a soundbar setup with and without wireless rears / height speakers.

What AV receivers support this function and what speakers pair with them?

Will this be overkill for my room size and layout and perhaps I'd be better off with the simplicity of a soundbar?

Thanks in advance.

GeneticDeviant · 03-03-2026 09:42AM

Perhaps a 5.1.4 setup for my room size will be pointless and I would be better going for a 5.1.2?

Do the Sony Rear 8 wireless speakers work with the Sony AN1000 receiver ?

Richersounds.ie: DavidS · 03-03-2026 07:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058434835/soundbar-with-wireless-surrounds-vs-av-receiver-that-supports-wireless-surround-speakers

Apologies for the delay getting back to you GeneticDeviant, it's been a bit mad in store.

To be honest you can't go wrong with the Samsung HWQ990F - it's a fantastic soundbar and the wireless rears sound great with the Atmos speakers in the main bar. As a compact solution I'd highly recommend it.

Saying that a wired system will always sound better provided you have a good amp and speakers. The Sony TA-AN1000 is a great amp and it's designed to work with the SAR5S and SAR3S wireless speakers. This will only work for the rear channels though - I would still recommend wired Atmos speakers on top of a floorstander or bookshelf speaker. The front channels would then give a beefier sound than a soundbar and the wireless rears would sound quite similar to the wireless rears from a soundbar.

Would you be looking to put larger floorstanders at the fronts or a bookshelf set up?

Kind regards

David

GeneticDeviant · 03-03-2026 07:50PM

I guess with the size of my room , four height channels might be overkill. So a 5.1.2 setup might be better. Would you agree here ?

I was thinking of going for the Sony amp, two floor standers or good bookshelf speakers for the front channels and a matching centre channel that will not be overkill for my compact room size.

I was thinking if putting two speakers on the top of my front wall angled downwards towards the seating position as my two Atmos channels.

I understand the Sony amp will only support two Atmos height channels even with the wireless speakers.

So I'd want two rear speakers (preferably matching in type and colour way to the front and centre speakers (sorry but OCD) , these can be wired speakers as I've figured out how to do it in a tidy way.

What will.you suggest speaker wise ?

Thanks in advance

GeneticDeviant · 04-03-2026 11:06AM

Also at what price point for AV and speakers would yield noticably better results over the Samsung sound bar for example .

As a comparison to the Samsung soundbar , sound wise how would the Sony AN1000 AVR , the Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 speaker set with added Sony wireless RS8 speakers as the rears speakers better the Sammy soundbar? So a 7.1.2 setup in theory, with the upfiring atmos channels being at the front.

Richersounds.ie: DavidS · 04-03-2026 06:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124283662#Comment_124283662

Thanks for getting back to me Genetic Deviant.

I would highly recommend the Fyne Audio F501E floorstanders, F5E rears, F310 subwoofer and F5E LCR centre. You could then add a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze AMS speakers to the wall to downward fire for Atmos.

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-15458-fyne-audio-f501e-black-6yr-what-hifi-5-star-speakers-per-pair.aspx?swapstore=1

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-15459-fyne-audio-f5e-black-6yr-speakers-per-pair-including-6-year-guarantee.aspx

http://euro.richersounds.ie/p-209220-fyne-audio-f5e-lcr-black-ash-single-lcr-speaker.aspx

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-209838-fyne-audio-f310-black-ash-6yr-subwoofer.aspx

https://euro.richersounds.ie/p-209777-monitor-audio-bronze-ams-7g-black-6yr-dolby-atmos-speakers-per-pair-includes-6-year-g-tee.aspx

These would pair really well with the Sony and give a much better sound than the Samsung soundbar - I can also work out a package price for you if this system would be of interest to you?

I would need to check to see if you can upgrade to a 9 channel amp on on the Sony with wireless rears as it's only a 7.1 amp so I don't think it'll process 9 channels.

Kind regards

David

GeneticDeviant · 04-03-2026 08:57PM

If I want 9 channels, it looks like I'm better stepping up to the Onkyo TX-RZ50.

What speaker pairings would be a good batch for the Onkyo ?

The Fyne audio stuff looks fabulous but Is there anything speaker wise in a grey / silver or white trim that would suit ?

Richersounds.ie: DavidS · 06-03-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124285420#Comment_124285420

Thanks for getting back to me Genetic Deviant.

I would recommend going for the Onkyo or even the Denon AVCX4800 which is another great 9 channel amp.

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-206682-denon-avcx4800h-black-6yr-dolby-atmos-and-dts-x-av-amplifier.aspx

Unfortunately the Fynes only come in the black finish (which is a shame because they blow a lot of other speakers around the same price out of the water!)

If you're looking for a white or silver finish the new Dali Sonik range would be a great option - they're a great home cinema set and you can get them in white, including the Alteco downward firing speakers:

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-210555-dali-sonik-5-white-6yr-speakers-per-pair-inc-6-year-g-tee.aspx

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-210547-dali-sonik-1-white-6yr-bookshelf-speakers-per-pair-inc-6-year-g-tee.aspx

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-210643-dali-sonik-cinema-white-6yr-single-lcr-speaker.aspx

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-13747-dali-alteco-c1-white-surround-speakers-per-pair.aspx

Please don't hesitate to drop me a post if you'd be interested in this option!

Kind regards

David

GeneticDeviant · 07-03-2026 11:22AM

Oooh those Dali's look good, I also like look of the Q acoustics concept 50 loudspeakers. How do they both compare? I know you don't have matching Atmos channels in the q acoustics but that doesn't matter. As long as the rest match.

After discussions with my wife about what's acceptable to her in regard setup and wires etc. She is very keen for me to have the wireless rear speakers and not to have speaker wires going all the way across the room.

So I will need to go for the Sony AN1000 AV receiver, and a set of Sony RS8 rear speakers and settle for the 5.1.2 setup.

I think then it'll most likely be the Dali's or the Q acoustics concept 50s for my front and centre speakers.

Richersounds.ie: Kenny · 07-03-2026 11:47AM

Hi GeneticDeviant.

Personally I prefer the Dali's over the Q Acoustics and the Dali's are just newly released.

The Concept range are all special order and only ordered in as we require them unfortunately.

GeneticDeviant · 07-03-2026 05:33PM

The Dali's look good then so

Which subwoofer would you recommend ?

Any deals possible on my intended setup above?

Richersounds.ie: DavidS · 08-03-2026 03:52PM

Hi

Thanks for the post. For a Subwoofer you could check out the Dali e9f subwoofer

https://www.richersounds.ie/p-205125-dali-e9f-satin-white-subwoofer.aspx

Unfortunately I don't have the margin to do any discount on the AN1000 or the RS8 speakers

I could do the

Dali Sonik5

Dali Sonik cinema

Dali E9f

Dali Alteco c1

Sony AN1000

Sony RS8

For £3400

Best regards Stephen

Soundbar with Wireless Surrounds vs AV receiver that supports wireless surround speakers?

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