Home Theater project HW recommendations($40k)

[TankTop5]

In-Wall is probably the worst option from a sound quality standpoint. You could use in-wall for surround/elevation effects speakers, but for front LCR, I highly recommend switching to acoustically transparent screen and behind the screen speakers.
You need to focus on speakers/subs first - I suggest something with high sensitivity/dynamics like Klipsch THX Ultra2 or PSA's MT speakers. JTR Noelis would a great option for larger venues or if you'd like more cinema-like sound.
Consider speakers/subs and projector first. AVR second. Everything else is pretty much accessories.

He originally mentioned in wall speakers and a $30k budget, that’s why I recommended JBL Synthesis and a professional installer... and adjust his budget up a little.

 

[erpauls]

I am leaning toward either the JVC NX7 or Sony VPL-VW915ES. They are around $9-10k.

 

[DigitalDawn]

You didn't mention your ceiling height. It will help with selecting the correct speakers for your space.

Triad is a great choice. They are unique in the way they design and build their speakers (in Portland, OR).
Keep in mind, that Triad speakers within a series (Bronze, Silver, Gold etc) are designed to sound the same -- cabinet characteristics, driver placement, and crossovers are all adjusted to make each speaker sonically identical. So, for example, InRoom, InWall, OnWall, and even InCeiling speakers should match one another acoustically. Also, speakers within a series are all the same price.

Let me know if you want my Triad Speaker Matching and Room Size guides.

 

[erpauls]

Well I live in St. Louis, MO. Haven't found a Triad dealer yet...
Any info you have on them greatly appreciated

 

[BMXTRIX]

Definitely pick JVC over Sony.
Do NOT get a screen that's more than a couple thousand dollars. Stewart is up towards the top, but a DaLite screen with HD Progressive material in .9 gain or so is an excellent option.
I'm not sold on your in-wall choices, but so be it.

Using your phone as a remote control sucks. PERIOD. A tablet isn't much better.
WHY?
First, your phone isn't always with you when you are in your home. So, that makes it a crap option. If you have it upstairs on your charger, then it's no good to you in the theater.
A tablet that is dedicated is at least there all the time.
But, a tablet sucks as well.
WHY?
Because the interface to control your cable box is up on the screen in front of you, not on the tablet in your lap. You can't easily use a smooth screen for tactile navigation. Up/down/left/right/enter, channel up/down, volume up/down, etc. These are all easy buttons to memorize on a remote control, but with a smooth surface touch screen, you must look down at the screen to use it. But, the channel is up in front of you. The guide is up in front of you. The volume feedback is up in front of you. Absolutely nothing you need is displayed on the tablet, it's all on screen.
You WANT a tactile remote control with hard buttons that you can memorize. Yes, it can be incredibly simple to use. A single button that says "Blu-ray" or "Cable" or "Roku", etc. One touch, the projector turns on, the receiver powers on, everything switches to the proper input, etc.

Projector and screen should be no more than about $10,000.

Be aware that if you are having this installed for you, then that's going to eat into budget. If this is a finished space, then in-wall cabling is recommended. You will need to pick an equipment location, and may need a proper cabinet/rack for the gear (budget). If walls are up, then holes will be made, those will need to be repaired, and the room painted appropriately. That will be part of budget. While you do have a very solid budget for a very nice system, there are many directions it will need to go, so breaking down fixed costs first is a good plan.

I would start with the room design. Where are you going to sit? How far from the screen? Do you want two or one row of seating? Plan on painting walls DARK as well as the ceiling. If you already have lights installed, you may want to rework them so that they are appropriate for theater use. Zoned lighting with spotlighting over seating areas is strongly recommended. Then a lot of lighting in the rest of the space to compensate for the dark walls, ceiling, and carpet. If you have light carpet, plan to replace it with dark carpet. If it is all hardwood surface, plan on a dark area rug to reduce brightness of both audio and reflected light in the room.

Quickly a budget that may have sounded like $30,000 for speakers can become $20,000 because of other items which are potentially more important to the setup of a proper home theater space.

But, stick with JVC and do NOT spend more than a couple thousand dollars on a fixed frame screen. In a good room, a $500 screen will outperform a $5,000 screen in a poor room.

 

[slipperybidness]

Well I live in St. Louis, MO. Haven't found a Triad dealer yet...
Any info you have on them greatly appreciated

Post #23, read the signature, DD is an authorized dealer, and a long time AH member.

 

[DigitalDawn]

Stewart CIMA is a very good value compared to their standard line.

 

[erpauls]

Definitely pick JVC over Sony.
Do NOT get a screen that's more than a couple thousand dollars. Stewart is up towards the top, but a DaLite screen with HD Progressive material in .9 gain or so is an excellent option.
I'm not sold on your in-wall choices, but so be it.

Using your phone as a remote control sucks. PERIOD. A tablet isn't much better.
WHY?
First, your phone isn't always with you when you are in your home. So, that makes it a crap option. If you have it upstairs on your charger, then it's no good to you in the theater.
A tablet that is dedicated is at least there all the time.
But, a tablet sucks as well.
WHY?
Because the interface to control your cable box is up on the screen in front of you, not on the tablet in your lap. You can't easily use a smooth screen for tactile navigation. Up/down/left/right/enter, channel up/down, volume up/down, etc. These are all easy buttons to memorize on a remote control, but with a smooth surface touch screen, you must look down at the screen to use it. But, the channel is up in front of you. The guide is up in front of you. The volume feedback is up in front of you. Absolutely nothing you need is displayed on the tablet, it's all on screen.
You WANT a tactile remote control with hard buttons that you can memorize. Yes, it can be incredibly simple to use. A single button that says "Blu-ray" or "Cable" or "Roku", etc. One touch, the projector turns on, the receiver powers on, everything switches to the proper input, etc.

Projector and screen should be no more than about $10,000.

Be aware that if you are having this installed for you, then that's going to eat into budget. If this is a finished space, then in-wall cabling is recommended. You will need to pick an equipment location, and may need a proper cabinet/rack for the gear (budget). If walls are up, then holes will be made, those will need to be repaired, and the room painted appropriately. That will be part of budget. While you do have a very solid budget for a very nice system, there are many directions it will need to go, so breaking down fixed costs first is a good plan.

I would start with the room design. Where are you going to sit? How far from the screen? Do you want two or one row of seating? Plan on painting walls DARK as well as the ceiling. If you already have lights installed, you may want to rework them so that they are appropriate for theater use. Zoned lighting with spotlighting over seating areas is strongly recommended. Then a lot of lighting in the rest of the space to compensate for the dark walls, ceiling, and carpet. If you have light carpet, plan to replace it with dark carpet. If it is all hardwood surface, plan on a dark area rug to reduce brightness of both audio and reflected light in the room.

Quickly a budget that may have sounded like $30,000 for speakers can become $20,000 because of other items which are potentially more important to the setup of a proper home theater space.

But, stick with JVC and do NOT spend more than a couple thousand dollars on a fixed frame screen. In a good room, a $500 screen will outperform a $5,000 screen in a poor room.

The 40k budget was just for the a/v equipment. The room is going to be built. There is a separate budget for the room and finishing affects. If you really want to know I'm trying to get the complete room done for about $80k
Not sure if this will be adequate for what I want as my finished product. This is the stage where I'm finding out lol.

 

[Movie2099]

The 40k budget was just for the a/v equipment. The room is going to be built. There is a separate budget for the room and finishing affects. If you really want to know I'm trying to get the complete room done for about $80k
Not sure if this will be adequate for what I want as my finished product. This is the stage where I'm finding out lol.

Have you decided on speakers?

 

[erpauls]

The 40k budget was just for the a/v equipment. The room is going to be built. There is a separate budget for the room and finishing affects. If you really want to know I'm trying to get the complete room done for about $80k
Not sure if this will be adequate for what I want as my finished product. This is the stage where I'm finding out lol.

Yes I totally agree on the tactile remote will be a must. I am looking at control4. I plan on having a tablet also dedicated to the room. I also plan on having many other things connected through the Control4 system. Yes, I plan on having a rack system.
I am in the early stages of the room design other than dimensions. As mentioned before, I want 2 rows of 4 seats with the 2nd row elevated. The screen will be a cinema wide. The room will be carpeted. The lighting will all be custom. I will try to post a pic that closest resembles the look I am going for.

 

[erpauls]

Hard to find an image that is real close. but think cinema screen as large as we can fit on front wall, of course front speakers in wall. I do like the starry ceiling. These are NOT the colors. lol. This is somewhat in the ball park

 

[mazersteven]

Noticed one thing in that picture traditional floorstanders and center speaker.

 

[slipperybidness]

Noticed one thing in that picture traditional floorstanders and center speaker.

View attachment 40900

Right!

@erpauls

This is what we are getting at here. You look to have the space and the budget to build your "Dedicated No Compromises Theater". But, right out of the gate you are making a compromise for the in-wall speakers!

It just doesn't make sense for most of us here.

I do believe that in-walls can be very good, but you are likely gonna pay more $ for a lesser speaker, as compared to the same $ for a traditional speaker.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm looking to build a new HT room. The $40k should include the hardware(tv, screen, proc, amps, power, speakers and wiring) not the actual installation or room effects.

Ps. The budget is not stone so if there is a good reason to say add a couple $k its ok.

Wow. $40,000 budget + a few extra thousands if needed? For one room? I bet that kind of money could do 2 rooms - if you have 2 rooms.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

ps. they were pushing me towards a screen that costs $8-10,000.

You mean $10K for the Screen + 4K Projector, right?

Who the heck spends $10K on just the SCREEN?

 

[Movie2099]

Right!

@erpauls

This is what we are getting at here. You look to have the space and the budget to build your "Dedicated No Compromises Theater". But, right out of the gate you are making a compromise for the in-wall speakers!

It just doesn't make sense for most of us here.

I do believe that in-walls can be very good, but you are likely gonna pay more $ for a lesser speaker, as compared to the same $ for a traditional speaker.

I'm going to disagree with you on the In-walls not being as good. Almost all major high-end home theaters use In-wall speakers. there will always be those people, like yourself, that will refuse to use them. Assuming you have a dedicated HT. Most major and some non-major speaker brands make in-wall versions of their top tier towers speakers. If done correctly, they will sound exceptional. Of course you will have to spend the money. My next theater build is using all in-walls from RBH. 9.2.4 to be exact. I can guarantee it is going to sound amazing. This erpauls dude will have a solid setup as well. But you can't discredit his choice to use in-walls because you don't have enough experience with in-walls. High end in-walls that are at the very minimum $1500/each. I have listened to $45k LCR in-walls before on multiple occasions and can tell you the sound is incredible.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm going to disagree with you on the In-walls not being as good. Almost all major high-end home theaters use In-wall speakers. there will always be those people, like yourself, that will refuse to use them. Assuming you have a dedicated HT. Most major and some non-major speaker brands make in-wall versions of their top tier towers speakers. If done correctly, they will sound exceptional. Of course you will have to spend the money. My next theater build is using all in-walls from RBH. 9.2.4 to be exact. I can guarantee it is going to sound amazing. This erpauls dude will have a solid setup as well. But you can't discredit his choice to use in-walls because you don't have enough experience with in-walls. High end in-walls that are at the very minimum $1500/each. I have listened to $45k LCR in-walls before on multiple occasions and can tell you the sound is incredible.

I think most people's experience with "in-walls" is probably some cheap in-ceiling speakers at the dentist office playing elevator music or some cheap in-wall little speakers at someone's house.

But well designed in-wall speakers using the same drivers and technology as high-end free-standing speakers will sound just as awesome as the free-standing speakers.

I think it comes down to personal preferences - some people love the looks and feel of big free-standing speakers while some people hate it.

 

[Movie2099]

I think most people's experience with "in-walls" is probably some cheap in-ceiling speakers at the dentist office playing elevator music or some cheap in-wall little speakers at someone's house.

But well designed in-wall speakers using the same drivers and technology as high-end free-standing speakers will sound just as awesome as the free-standing speakers.

I think it comes down to personal preferences - some people love the looks and feel of big free-standing speakers while some people hate it.

<insert Michael Scott slamming his hand on the desk yelling "Thank You"> 100% agree with you.

 

[TankTop5]

Again, JBL has been doing in wall speakers for dedicated theaters forever and they are probably the authority on in wall systems.

 

[erpauls]

well as mentioned above, I still want to do in-wall or behind screen. I don't want them to be a distraction in the room.
Yes I love the look of good speakers just like you. I just want the only focus to be on the, hopefully, incredible image on the screen.
I was just trying to give an idea of the walls, ceiling and seating.