What I've been looking for is a not-outrageously priced home theatre system that supports all the latest standards, like DTS-X, Dolby Atmos, etc... and has proper, decent speakers, not tiny little tin cans or a soundbar or something.
However, nobody seems to make the "proper" speakers that have the up-firing part needed for Dolby Atmos and are also wireless so I don't have to run cables from the TV to the rear speakers.
The few that I've found so far are crazy expensive.
I think home audio needs an IKEA-type manufacturer to upend the traditional economics of the products.
The expensive part of home theatre audio is that proper wood speakers are big and expensive to ship.
Someone needs to figure out a way to flat-pack full size speakers that consumers can assemble at home, but without requiring soldering irons and power tools.
If you want good value for money, Dayton Audio is your best bet. They used to do some kits, IIRC, but their FBU speakers are reasonably priced for what they are.
For kits there's Madisound (high-end[1]), and in Australasia, The Loudspeaker Kit[2] for more moderately priced kits -- often using Dayton drivers.
You can get cabinet makers (kitchen designers and the like) to make up the boxes locally for you if you can supply them plans in a format they can use.
1. "High end": Buy components for a total of $1k, build your own box to the plans, and get the equivalent of a $10k pair of speakers.
However, nobody seems to make the "proper" speakers that have the up-firing part needed for Dolby Atmos and are also wireless so I don't have to run cables from the TV to the rear speakers.
The few that I've found so far are crazy expensive.
I think home audio needs an IKEA-type manufacturer to upend the traditional economics of the products.
The expensive part of home theatre audio is that proper wood speakers are big and expensive to ship.
Someone needs to figure out a way to flat-pack full size speakers that consumers can assemble at home, but without requiring soldering irons and power tools.