New House - Building HT advise?

[Gimpy Ric]

Here's a pic of my inferior China built system. Sorry about the flash.

Like it or not, China is an ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER. So get over it. My $1000.00 Aperions would cost $3000.00 or more to build in the states. Americans want something for nothing, ie say a person that puts bumpers on Toyota trucks expects a 401k, health care, collage funds, etc. for what? A retard can put a fender on a Ford.

When I was in the Army I spent two years in Germany and they do build things right. But whats the difference in China and Germany when it comes to the American dollar? Either direction it means money offshore.

 

[gus6464]

LOL! That was a reply to the speakers designed in America, and made in China.






I believe German products are superior to American. I believe in any company who tries not to outsource jobs for profit. I am not a fan of outsourcing to China.

I'll take a Toyota over a VW any day of the week. Also a Lexus over a BMW, Audi. But I will take a Porsche over any of those, that's because I can't afford a Ferrari!

 

[mtrycrafts]

All,

looking for a little advise. I'm building a house, and in the new house I'm getting a Media Room ( 13w x 24L x 18h with vaulted ceilings ). The TV wall will be against the 13 ft wall. The room will have no windows, so it's completely enclosed. The new house will not be completed until November 1st, so I have time to research and shop. I'm working on about a $12,000 budget.

I'm planning to buy Plasma and big. Planning to put the either the new Pioneer Elite 60" 1080p ( est $7500 ) or Samsung 6374 ( $5500 ) or Samsung 5884 ( $4700 ). Given the choices here... what do you suggest????

Blue Ray and/or HD DVD? I''m not sure here. 1080p/24 to take advantage of my TV's ability. and since the cost of HD DVD's are going cheap, I may have both.

As for Reciever, I'm considering either the Denon 4308ci or 3808ci or Pioneer Elite vsx94. My house has "wireless" 802.11b/g, but I will not have an Ethernet drop in the media room, so

Question, What exactly will wireless option on the Denon 4308 give me? I have a PC with iTunes ( 22gb of music ) and iPod with USB doc. I guess what I'd like to know is.. will the Denon be able to accept a wireless signal from the PC to be able to project a) music b) movies that are downloaded or c) is it simply a way to update firmware and features of the receiver for later? or am I better off buying the AppleTV and going cheaper on receiver?
Next, Speakers. Right now the room is pre-wired for a 5.1 system. 2 front speaker drops about 5ft high on the wall at about 1 ft IN on each side of the 13ft wall. Not married to wall speakers for the fronts, so considering nice Floor speakers instead set at the front corners.
Next, Surrounds. drops are at 10ft high at about 15ft from the TV wall, with nothing on the back wall ( and at this point, no ability to add rear drops ), so planning to maybe use floor standing for the rears unless I you think I need to mount them up high or can I leave it off the plans altogether?
Next, Sub? confused here.. I see SVS had been discussed but have not heard this.. is it too much for my set up? which model will work? don't need to feel the bass 2 blocks away, so what will work and not cost me a fortune?
Considering Definitive Technologies for all the speakers because they sell them at best buy and it's convenient for me to listen and see. I prefer to buy Internet to save on taxes ( 8.25% ).
I know this is a lot, but I'd love to hear what people think?
Thanks!

Not much time between now and November. It looks like you have it prewired already? Can this be changed or will you need remodeling already to redo the Sheetrock?

Nice size room, big. Off the bat, most likely you will need at least two great subs for that 5600 cu-ft room. Its location will impact how good the frequency response will be. So, perhaps several location with a low box for an interconnect run to the receiver and then you can experiment. You can use cable TV type Rg6 wire to these outlets, so the wire is cheap. You will need 120V by them for the sub amp.

Front speakers. As was mentioned, the present height is way too high. If not too late, I'd place them about the level of a 120 volt outlet close to the floor just in case you do floor standing speakers. But, if you still want it in wall, you can drop it down in the wall cavity when you open the wall for speakers.
ALSO, I think they may be too far apart and certainly you don't want to plan on placing the speakers too close to the side walls.

Same goes for the side speakers. 10 ft high is way too high. Hope you can bring it down to about 7 ft max, 6 is better. Where will the seating be, how far from the TV? This also impacts on the TV resolution if you will see it on that size of a screen. You should consider at least a 6.1 system since that 13 ft width may not do 2 rear speakers. But if you can, do 7.1 wiring at least with the rears at 6ft apart, same height as the side speakers.

Now the TV and receivers. Is this for movies mostly or regular TV viewing? Broadcast TV will not do 1080p for a long time. 1080i and 720p. Since you are properly planning on high def DVD, you need a receiver that will support its new loss-less audio formats. Receiver/amp power depends on speaker sensitivity, impedance and how far you sit from the speakers, and, your preference to normal levels or reference theater levels?

Have you considered Front projection?

 

[jfdawson]

Thanks for the advise.

As for budget.. it's loose but $12,000 was for all electronics; TV, Blue Ray, Receiver, Center, Sub, front and rears. I might be able to swing more and probably will but I'll have to do it in stages vs. forking out all the cash up front.

Since the concensus seems to be on speakers, etc.. Let me bring focus back to the RECEIVER for a second. Here's the main features I'm looking for

1. 4x HDMI 1.3 INPUTS with upconversion to 1080p
2. 1x HDMI 1.3 OUPUT ( to 1080p TV )
3. Support for All the Dobly Digital HD stuff THX would be nice, I think?
4. Enough Power to make $3K - 4K worth of speakers in a 13 x 24 room sound kick ***...

Is the Denon 4308 too much, or would the Denon 3808 be fine? Also not knowing but is Pioneer Elite just paying for the name? I know the vsx 94 isn't out yet, but lets assume that features aside it sound like "other" Pioneer Elite recievers, is it a model I should consider? I would also entertain Yamaha too.

Thanks again!

 

[jfdawson]

mtrycrafts and others, Thanks...

Here's the deal... Even though the room is prewired and It's already set ( ie. Sheetrock is final ), I'm most likely going to buy floor standing speakers for the front and rear ( assuming I need rears ) running the cables along the base boards, and was planning to buy something like the "ON WALL" types or mounts - Definitives or Klipsh to set up as surrounds. I realize that the drops may be too high here and I might be able to lower them a little, but the reason I set them up that high was to keep them out of reach of my kiddo and avoid people hitting them. Actually they are only about 7ft, not 10ft like I mentioned earlier. As for 2 subs, I'm not going that route.. only 1 sub and it will be positioned in the front of the room under the TV somewhere, which is why I want a good one.

Seating will be about 12-15 ft from the TV

Thanks again!


PS. I already own a Pioneer Elite 64" 1080i Rear Projection TV, with DirectTV H20 DVR and H20 HD recievers, so I'm very familiar with the HD world and what limited 1080p sources I'll get ( ie.. Blue RAY and HD DVD ), but since I'm building the media room that hopefully will last for several years, I want to put in the best/most I can afford, but appreciate the feedback. I'll mostly be watching Movies: Blue Ray/HD DVD and maybe playing xbox 360 on this set up...with occassional Dallas Cowboy's football over DTV ( 1080i ).

 

[emorphien]

Americans want something for nothing, ie say a person that puts bumpers on Toyota trucks expects a 401k, health care, collage funds, etc. for what?

The American that puts the American made bumpers on many Toyotas is reasonably well compensated, and yet the Camry for example doesn't cost 3x as much as a Ford Taurus (good thing they brought the name back, I'm not sure what the competitive Ford would have been otherwise. The 500 maybe?).

Certainly many things can be made cheaper in China but at what cost? We're beginning to find out, I believe.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

The American that puts the American made bumpers on many Toyotas is reasonably well compensated, and yet the Camry for example doesn't cost 3x as much as a Ford Taurus (good thing they brought the name back, I'm not sure what the competitive Ford would have been otherwise. The 500 maybe?).

Certainly many things can be made cheaper in China but at what cost? We're beginning to find out, I believe.

I bet less than 5% of Walmart shoppers even know that Walmart is the Number 1 importer of China made products. And they don't care. Just keep building Japanese cars in America, while GM and Ford build them in Mexico. My Moms Honda Pilot was built in Canada! Is there a method to the madness?

 

[zumbo]

I bet less than 5% of Walmart shoppers even know that Walmart is the Number 1 importer of China made products. And they don't care. Just keep building Japanese cars in America, while GM and Ford build them in Mexico. My Moms Honda Pilot was built in Canada! Is there a method to the madness?

Yes! You can start today.
Check the labels of the products you buy.
Research the company.
And stay the h#!! out of walmart.

Glad to know I am of the 5% of people who actually care.

The above statement says it all.
American companies complained about foreign products.
Foreign products contributed to our communities by building their plants here.
American companies sent our jobs to Mexico and China.

I am not a flag waver. I just believe that a company shouldn't have it's product built by another country to save money. There is no passion in that.

Research MB Quart, B&W, Dynaudio, and Focal JM Lab.
Quality.
Passion.
Commitment to excellence.

If people keep buying speakers made in China, then all of the quality brands we love will go out of business. Or, their speakers will read MADE IN CHINA as well.

 

[gus6464]

Thanks for the advise.

As for budget.. it's loose but $12,000 was for all electronics; TV, Blue Ray, Receiver, Center, Sub, front and rears. I might be able to swing more and probably will but I'll have to do it in stages vs. forking out all the cash up front.

Since the concensus seems to be on speakers, etc.. Let me bring focus back to the RECEIVER for a second. Here's the main features I'm looking for

1. 4x HDMI 1.3 INPUTS with upconversion to 1080p
2. 1x HDMI 1.3 OUPUT ( to 1080p TV )
3. Support for All the Dobly Digital HD stuff THX would be nice, I think?
4. Enough Power to make $3K - 4K worth of speakers in a 13 x 24 room sound kick ***...

Is the Denon 4308 too much, or would the Denon 3808 be fine? Also not knowing but is Pioneer Elite just paying for the name? I know the vsx 94 isn't out yet, but lets assume that features aside it sound like "other" Pioneer Elite recievers, is it a model I should consider? I would also entertain Yamaha too.

Thanks again!

You need to check out that new Yamaha RX-V1800. It's half the price of the Denon and for the most part has all that stuff you want. Might have one less hdmi out though.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

You need to check out that new Yamaha RX-V1800. It's half the price of the Denon and for the most part has all that stuff you want. Might have one less hdmi out though.

I would go look that Yammie up, but yesterday their website resized my browser without my consent. But I am a fan of Yamaha, I still own a DSP A1000 Integrated Amp.

Someone give a dumb Alabama boy a link to an RX-V1800, but not on yammies site please.

 

[mazersteven]

Thanks for the advise.

Since the concensus seems to be on speakers, etc.. Let me bring focus back to the RECEIVER for a second. Here's the main features I'm looking for

1. 4x HDMI 1.3 INPUTS with upconversion to 1080p
2. 1x HDMI 1.3 OUPUT ( to 1080p TV )
3. Support for All the Dobly Digital HD stuff THX would be nice, I think?
4. Enough Power to make $3K - 4K worth of speakers in a 13 x 24 room sound kick ***...

Is the Denon 4308 too much, or would the Denon 3808 be fine? Also not knowing but is Pioneer Elite just paying for the name? I know the vsx 94 isn't out yet, but lets assume that features aside it sound like "other" Pioneer Elite recievers, is it a model I should consider? I would also entertain Yamaha too.

Thanks again!

All the questions here depend a lot on what speakers you choose to go with.

 

[gus6464]

All the questions here depend a lot on what speakers you choose to go with.

Yeah I forgot about that because if he goes with 4ohm speakers he might run into problems. But then again it's nothing a couple of Behringer A500's won't fix.

 

[jfdawson]

Thanks for the link on Aperion Audio. Now this is hypothetical:


2 x Intimus 533-T Tower Speaker - High Gloss Black $375 each

Intimus 533-VAC Center Channel Speaker - High Gloss Black $280.00

2 x Intimus 534-SS Dipole/Bipole Surround Speaker - High Gloss Black $245 each

1 SVS PB 13 Ultra High Gloss Black $ 1599

Subtotal - $ 3119, which is within budget..

How would this set up sound in 5:1 ( for now until I get some more cash for adding the 2 rears )?

Assuming I went with this set up, what Receiver? Yamaha Rx-v3800 or Yamaha RX-V1800 or Denon 3808 or Denon 4308? Thoughts....?

Thanks!

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I would love that setup, because I'm an Aperion Audio fanatic. And the SVS PB-13 Ultra will not disappoint!

Remember with Aperion Audio they give you a year to Trade in / Trade up. So keep the boxes for your mains, if you go with Aperion, and you can get the mains I have, the 633's or whatever you want as long as you trade up.

Any receiver you choose will drive those Aperions. But have you considered separates? The New Emotiva preamp processors will be out in December, and Dan the President told me the LMC-2 (bottom of the line) will have 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs for audio and video! I'm buying one 40% off as that is company policy if you move up. Or maybe a MMC-2. Hmm.

Anyways Mr. Dawson you'll be so happy when it all comes together.

 

[mazersteven]

Assuming I went with this set up, what Receiver? Yamaha Rx-v3800 or Yamaha RX-V1800 or Denon 3808 or Denon 4308? Thoughts....?

Thanks!

You don't need to spend the cash on seperates or any receiver over this one IMO.

Denon AVR-2808CI

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3526.asp

 

[mtrycrafts]

mtrycrafts and others, Thanks...

Here's the deal... Even though the room is prewired and It's already set ( ie. Sheetrock is final ), I'm most likely going to buy floor standing speakers for the front and rear ( assuming I need rears ) running the cables along the base boards, and was planning to buy something like the "ON WALL" types or mounts - Definitives or Klipsh to set up as surrounds. I realize that the drops may be too high here and I might be able to lower them a little, but the reason I set them up that high was to keep them out of reach of my kiddo and avoid people hitting them. Actually they are only about 7ft, not 10ft like I mentioned earlier. As for 2 subs, I'm not going that route.. only 1 sub and it will be positioned in the front of the room under the TV somewhere, which is why I want a good one.

Seating will be about 12-15 ft from the TV

Thanks again!


PS. I already own a Pioneer Elite 64" 1080i Rear Projection TV, with DirectTV H20 DVR and H20 HD recievers, so I'm very familiar with the HD world and what limited 1080p sources I'll get ( ie.. Blue RAY and HD DVD ), but since I'm building the media room that hopefully will last for several years, I want to put in the best/most I can afford, but appreciate the feedback. I'll mostly be watching Movies: Blue Ray/HD DVD and maybe playing xbox 360 on this set up...with occassional Dallas Cowboy's football over DTV ( 1080i ).

You may want to save this link and digest the info. Video resolution. At 12 ft and 60" or further back 720p is about it.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/download/0602_tech_talk2_large.jpg

 

[mazersteven]

2 x Intimus 533-T Tower Speaker - High Gloss Black $375 each

Intimus 533-VAC Center Channel Speaker - High Gloss Black $280.00

2 x Intimus 534-SS Dipole/Bipole Surround Speaker - High Gloss Black $245 each


Thanks!

$1520 bucks?

I think this would be a better value in my opinion. For $277 more.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=12.1

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

1) I would go with the Samsung 6374--> $5,500
2) I would get both Blu-ray & HDDVD--> $300 + $500= $800
3) I would go with the Denon 4308CI--> $2,500
4) Speakers: BINGO: Def Tech!
Main: BP7002--> $1,800 (Digitalcraze.com)
Center: CLR2500--> $650
Surround: SM350--> $220 ea x 2 => $440
Subwoofers: Each BP7002 has a built-in 300-watts 12" powered sub and the CLR2500 has a built-in 150-watts 8" powered sub, so you DON'T NEED a separate sub!!! I guess you could call this a 5.3 HT system since there are 3 powered subwoofers.

Total cost: $11,690

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

1) I would go with the Samsung 6374--> $5,500
2) I would get both Blu-ray & HDDVD--> $300 + $500= $800
3) I would go with the Denon 4308CI--> $2,500
4) Speakers: BINGO: Def Tech!
Main: BP7002--> $1,800 (Digitalcraze.com)
Center: CLR2500--> $650
Surround: SM350--> $220 ea x 2 => $440
Subwoofers: Each BP7002 has a built-in 300-watts 12" powered sub and the CLR2500 has a built-in 150-watts 8" powered sub, so you DON'T NEED a separate sub!!! I guess you could call this a 5.3 HT system since there are 3 powered subwoofers.

Total cost: $11,690

Actually, I would get this 73" 1080p Mitsubishi DLP for $3,300

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=87796

so that I can have more budget for the DefTech BP7000SC + CLR3000 + SM450 for $5,230