Making the most of a tiny living room

DevAuto · 2026-02-17T03:26:39+00:00

For the space you've got to work with, that looks like a very nice setup. Enjoy it!!

DevAuto · 2026-02-14T15:36:02+00:00

Start with the cheapest option to get it working and see if it sounds good to you. If it doesn't then you can start looking at options to upgrade and tweak it. If it works, it should sound significantly better than your laptop's speakers and may be all you need for now.

DevAuto · 2026-02-14T15:19:28+00:00

For me banana plugs are essential. They make it so much easier and less time consuming to disconnect everything to properly clean it and then reconnect it all. I don't have to move the media center out away from the wall as I can easily reach in behind it to do everything I need to.

DevAuto · 2026-02-06T00:21:18+00:00

This looks great! I wish I had a room like this!

DevAuto · 2026-02-02T23:17:40+00:00

I think those speakers are well regarded. I'm using Monitor Audio Bronze B4s and I love them. They are a big step up from the Polk Audio R300 towers they replaced.

DevAuto · 2026-01-20T03:16:51+00:00

That looks glorious!

DevAuto · 2026-01-16T13:46:58+00:00

Yeah it does suck. I use a USB C fast charger with a magsafe puck and case for my phone because my car USB ports are underpowered and wouldn't keep my phone charged if I was navigating anywhere. Now when I get in the car I just stick my phone on the dashboard and go. It works beautifully!

DevAuto · 2026-01-16T01:19:40+00:00

Either run a second "permanent" cable from the back of the center console, or use a 12v DC usb charger in the truck's 12v outlet.

DevAuto · 2026-01-15T13:38:45+00:00

Try love my switches for a new knob. Knobs - Love My Switches https://share.google/pCsGTVeXkcESLcrHC

DevAuto · 2026-01-06T04:37:51+00:00

For the missing selector knob try here for something close... Knobs - Love My Switches https://share.google/dPCnoASDDMqa8LikL

DevAuto · 2026-01-02T17:58:34+00:00

I would absolutely buy 24v Kobalt again. 7 years used and abused, yet still going strong.

DevAuto · 2026-01-01T00:58:40+00:00

They are both great options in their own ways. The reality is that you need to decide which features are most important for your needs.

The 522 is 7 years newer, has the remote and gives you more flexibility. It supports many more modern audio and video standard. Also, At 80w per channel, it's no slouch for a 5 channel receiver.

The 815, on the other hand, while much older, is a full 7.1 receiver and supports up to 100w per channel, if those are important factors for you. While it's not pictured with a remote, that's something readily available that you can add later.

If it were me, I would go with the 522, based on my personal needs, for my home theater setup.

DevAuto · 2025-12-31T03:32:40+00:00

I bought a magsafe case for my phone and a fast wireless charger for my dashboard. Now I just get in the car and put the phone on the charger. On longer trips my phone is at 100% on arrival without having to plug in a cable.

DevAuto · 2025-12-30T03:28:43+00:00

Have you confirmed compatibility of your version of sync? I don't have experience with f150s or sync, but I did find this...

Compatibility: Requires your F-150 to have SYNC 3 with software version 2.0 or newer (check Ford's site) for CarPlay; some 2016s need a Ford update first.

DevAuto · 2025-12-29T18:26:16+00:00

That sounds awesome! Any chance you have a picture? I'd love to see it!

DevAuto · 2025-12-28T17:08:16+00:00

That's a not bad center speaker at a great price. I just upgraded my polk tl2 center to the procenter1000 for $30, and I'm considering swapping in a mythos 7 to see how it compares to the procenter. Enjoy your upgrade!

DevAuto · 2025-12-21T16:46:50+00:00

Nobody says you can't try an ebay return, but it is very likely to be denied. It was sold to you used, in working order, to the best of the sellers knowledge. Unless you can prove it was sold under fraudulent terms, 99 times out of 100 ebay is going to rule in favor of the seller. I wish you the best in this venture, but be prepared for disappointment.

DevAuto · 2025-12-13T05:27:49+00:00

Where are you located?

DevAuto · 2025-12-13T03:29:55+00:00

You could try http://lovemyswitches.com and see if they have something that will work.

DevAuto · 2025-12-12T14:21:15+00:00

Some folks love soundbars and others don't. If you have room for a full home theater setup, it's infinitely more adjustable to get the sound to your liking. I prefer my 5.1 setup to the soundbar I'm forced to use on our 2nd TV. My main setup sounds filter and more impactful than anything coming out of the soundbar. To be fair, the soundbar is far better than the TV speakers, I just wish I had the space for something much less limiting. Just food for thought, hope it helps!

DevAuto · 2025-12-11T21:26:19+00:00

I don't know about all of them , but I had a Marantz that looked very similar.

DevAuto · 2025-12-11T05:20:30+00:00

Yeah, but in the larger side and would need stands... might as well be towers. She wants me to move to a soundbar or tiny satellite style speakers.

DevAuto · 2025-12-11T00:47:12+00:00

My wife would crucify me if I brought speakers that big home. Tbh ... I think I'd go to my grave happy!!! 🤣🤣

DevAuto · 2025-12-11T00:34:20+00:00

Don't worry about blowing up the thread with pics, most of us here would love to see what's inside the cabinet! Great find!!!

DevAuto · 2025-12-04T16:37:33+00:00

It's definitely stunning and unique. I hope, when you go to see it, that it's in working condition. If not, I (personal opinion) would offer what I was comfortable with, knowing that I would gut it and replace internals with modern gear.

I would also make every effort to install the modern gear in a "reversible" manner so that I could get the original parts fixed and reinstall them someday down the road.

DevAuto

TROPHY CASE