Welcome back, Dreamedia family! This is Zach, coming to you from my own home in Colorado, where I’ll be doing a massive upgrade in my open-concept formal area, which combines the living, dining, and kitchen spaces.
Today, I’ll give you a walkthrough of my current setup and dive into the exciting upgrades on the way!
Current Setup: Simple Yet Functional
In my current setup, I’m running a Sonos Arc soundbar, which pairs nicely with a Sonos sub and Sonos Amp to drive my in-ceiling speakers. The Sonos Arc has been a reliable workhorse, delivering exceptional sound quality with AirPlay 2 and Alexa built-in. It’s easy to use and integrates well with other Sonos products, which makes it perfect for background music across the house.
The Arc and Sonos ecosystem are great, but I’m ready to step it up with high-end, full-range sound. Enter the RBH speakers and Marantz Cinema 30—some of the most exciting upgrades in home audio technology.
Why Upgrade?
Since I’ve had the chance to tour some jaw-dropping home theater setups across the country, my own setup started feeling a bit underwhelming. With Sonos, I had great sound, but I wanted that high-fidelity experience I’ve been seeing in dedicated theaters.
Given how much time we spend in this open-concept space, it’s only fitting to bring in some serious audio firepower.
The Upgrade: Bringing High-End Audio Home
Here’s the plan: we’re replacing the Sonos soundbar with a new RBH passive soundbar featuring independent channels for the left, right, and center. These units use AMT tweeters, which I first heard in a two-channel setup at Audioholics and later during my factory tour at RBH in Salt Lake City. They blew me away with their clarity and natural sound, and I’ve been dying to integrate them into my own space.
I’ll also be adding RBH’s new 8-inch in-ceiling speakers with matching AMT tweeters for immersive Dolby Atmos. These speakers will enhance not only the height effects for surround sound but will give me a clean and natural sound field across the room.
Subwoofer Power: Going Big with RBH
The bass needs some serious attention in this space, so I’m bringing in RBH’s new 21-inch subwoofer to add depth and power. With this, I’m aiming for a full, immersive experience with bass that’s deep enough to feel but controlled enough for music listening.
Key Equipment: Marantz Cinema 30 and In-Ceiling Magic
Everything will be powered by the Marantz Cinema 30, a robust AVR that’s perfect for this type of high-performance setup. I’ll be doing an unboxing and in-depth setup video on the Marantz Cinema 30 to walk you through its capabilities, which include advanced surround processing, precise EQ, and compatibility with all major audio formats.
In addition to the soundbar and subwoofer upgrade, we’re integrating RBH’s in-ceiling speakers, featuring their AMT tweeters, into my layout. With these speakers strategically placed throughout the open-concept layout, the room will be flooded with balanced, high-quality audio for every listening session.
Project Challenges and Goals
The wiring in this room was pre-installed, with speaker wires running to all the key locations: the front, sides, and four in the ceiling. This allows us to seamlessly integrate the new equipment into the space. However, since I’ll also be incorporating an advanced power management system, I’ll be using Big Dog surge protection for network and voltage stability, ensuring all components remain protected.
This isn’t just about filling the room with sound—it’s about making sure that sound is delivered with clarity, impact, and precision. My goal is to bring a high-end listening experience to an open space that’s both a gathering spot and a prime listening area.
Repurposing My Sonos Setup
As much as I love Sonos, it’s time to relocate this setup to our guest suite, where I’ll install the Sonos Arc and sub, plus a few Sonos A100s and in-wall speakers. With a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup, it will be a great addition for guests and keep that familiar Sonos functionality alive in a new space.
Ready to Upgrade?
If you’re interested in upgrading your own home or adding new tech to your theater space, Dreamedia is here to help! Reach out today for a free video consultation. We have installers in 28 states, a Dreamedia Plus program nationwide, and an online store ready to ship everything you need right to your door.
