$3K System Recomendation

[Rutlanda]

OK guys here it is...My buddy at work is finishing his basement and he has asked me for help in system design. He is looking for 5.1 or 6.1 for an L shaped room approximately 15x30 with the theater being in the long part of the L. This will be for 90% HT. I have read the Audioholics recommended systems and I will probably push for the lower end Denon receiver. What I am concerned with is speakers. I am thinking a Pardigm Monitor set-up with Titan surrounds. His budget of $3k has to cover the display, recvr, source and speakers. No offense to Gene and the guys but I thought I would get the members take as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[nm2285]

So what exactly are the dimensions of the section where the theater will be? What kind of lighting/lighting control does he have? Any space requirements for screen/display and speakers? Any customizability (such as drop down screens etc)?

 

[krzywica]

The paradigms are a little pricey for a 3k system?no? It really depends on what he wants in his display size/type. Since that will surely be the most expensive. And like mm said that will depend a lot on lighting/room size.

 

[jaxvon]

Well, since it's going to be dedicated theater in the basement, I would definitely go for a projector setup. In that price range, I would go for an Optoma H31 or InFocus 4805. For pricing, I'll use the Optoma. As for a screen, a 92" Carada Criterion in Brilliant White. Another option might be a DaLite screen off eBay.

This will be $1029 shipped for the projector from Visual Apex and $730.28 for the screen shipped.

A component video cable of proper length should be about $100 from Blue Jeans.

So, after a projector, that leaves you with $1140 to spend on other stuff. I'll get back to you on other options.

 

[krzywica]

Yea it'll be damn hard to find a reciever, dvd player, and 5.1 for $1140, start shoppin around!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I would have to agree, that if you have adequate light control in the basement, then going with a front projection setup is (IMO) the only true home theater experience anyone can have. It completely blows people away to see 100"+ screens in someones home... and it can be done easily at that price point.

With a H31 or the SP4805 (H31 seems to be getting slightly better feedback) you want to have a screen that is about .5 times the width of your primary seating distance. That is, if people will be sitting 14 feet from the screen, you would get a 7 foot wide screen (84 inches).

Now, while a really good screen can enhance the viewing experience, if you are up for making a screen, which can be a fun project for some, you can save a TON of money. On a tight budget this really opens up possibilties to invest the money other places. For example, I recently made a 100" fixed frame screen with a nice velvet border for about $200.00 with a neighbor for his home theater. How does it compare to my $4K screen? Well, not bad at all really. Others go with painting their wall for a screen. Either way, it saves you hundreds of dollars towards your receiver, speakers, and a DVD player.

So, with a $1030.00 projector, plus 200 bucks for the DIY screen. That leaves over $1700.00 for the audio stuff.

Pick up a new Samsung HDMI DVD player for ... I think ... $150.00

That leaves just over $1500.00 for the rest. I will stay out of the audio arguement, but I just picked up the Pioneer 1015TX receiver (for same neighbor) for $500.00 and going by that, it would leave $1K for a 5.1 - 7.1 speaker package for you.

I would try to find a few extra bucks on the side for some wiring....

 

[wilkenboy]

Given your budget you may want to strongly consider a do-it-yourself screen for now with a later upgrade. A real screen can run you $400-$1000 depending on size, construction, and materials. That $$ would probably be better used to push more of your budget into the speakers / receiver / projector, then do the real screen upgrade later. Just a suggestion.


My suggestions for your budget:
Projector: $1050 H31 or 4805 are both good
Receiver: $450 Pioneer 1015tx or Yammy 1500 or denon 1805
Speakers (5): $900 (I've looked at Ascend, Axiom, Aperion, or Polk in this range, leaning toward Ascends CBM-170s)
Sub: $500 (SVS PB10-ISD or HSU VTF2 MK2)
Interconnects: $100 (roughly, depending on lengths)
Screen: $50 in parts plus some manual labor

Here's a link to some more info on DIY screens - lots of options here.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=417641

If you need DVD player, etc it would be in addition to this.
Might also want to consider some DIY sound treatments for the room.
Might also want to consider a Behringer unit for bass management ($100) to tame room modes.

Happy hunting!

~Josh

 

[wilkenboy]

BMXTRIX,

Funny we made almost the same recommendations... typing our posts at the same time.

My recommendation on the 5.1 vs 7.1 is to do 5.1 to start, then save for the rear surrounds for a later addition. This allows you to get a better speaker setup up front without missing a lot of the sound - if you skimp too much by distributing the budget across 7 speakers instead of 5 you may not be happy with the final setup.

900 / 7 = $128 per speaker (assuming all the same)
900 / 5 = $180 per speaker (assuming all the same)

It may not look like much on paper but that extra $50 per speaker can make a difference.

Listen to both price ranges and let your ears decide.

Enjoy!

~Josh

 

[Takeereasy]

I'm right behind Jaxvon on that projector/screen combo. I'd swap out the Carada for a Dalite to save some $. Right now ubid has on a 72" by 96" screen for $253 including shipping. So that Optoma H31 and the screen would be about $1285. For speakers I'd suggest Bic DV-84's for fronts. About $350 a pair shipped. Some 62sib's for rears, about $125 shipped. And a 62clr for the center about $110 shipped. For a sub how about a cadence Xsub for about $220 shipped from Ubid. For a DVD player I'd suggest Panasonic's s77, just read the review in S&V and it smoked the competition (budget/mid players with HDMI). The only con the player had was no SACD playback. It retails for about $215 shipped from bhphoto.com. That leaves close to $700 for the receiver and cables. For the receiver JR.com has on a JVC flagship that I posted a link to in the deals section, but another good choice would be to go with a refurbed Marantz 7400 from accessories4less.com for about $600 shipped. While at accessories4less check out their closeout on AR pro cables. Very nice stuff, fantastic prices. Also check out Impactacoustics.com for your cables. More nice stuff at a good price. I'd suggest at least 100 ft. of 12awg Beleden Wire from Westlake. Should run you about $25 shipped. I know everything I listed is from web stores, but all of them are authorized dealers. It will take a little longer for your buddy to get his stuff, but he'll get way more for the money by ordering this way.

I also like Wilkenboy's suggestions by the way. Lots of support for that front projector idea.

 

[BMXTRIX]

... ubid has on a 72" by 96" screen for $253 including shipping...

4:3 screen + 16:9 projector = not a great combo.

Things that I would (from experience) avoid: Cheap, manual, retractable screens. Yes, they are super inexpensive and seem like a good value, but, they develop waves in the material over time. Usually a year down the road and the surface relects the video differently and produces hot spots and hot lines. Very obnoxious.

In about a week I'm going to try to do a 3 screen shootout between a DaLite $200 screen, a home made, permanently tensioned 100" screen (about $200 also) and a $4K Draper tab-tensioned motorized screen.

I will post opinions here and on Projector Central with some photos... as worthless as they are likely to be.

 

[wilkenboy]

In about a week I'm going to try to do a 3 screen shootout between a DaLite $200 screen, a home made, permanently tensioned 100" screen (about $200 also) and a $4K Draper tab-tensioned motorized screen.

I will post opinions here and on Projector Central with some photos... as worthless as they are likely to be.

BMXTRIX,

Lookin forward to it, keep us in the loop over here when you post at Projectorcentral.

I'm planning on doing the low-end version of this shoot out - when I get my DIY screen in have some screen samples I'm going to compare to.

~Josh