$4500 Home Theater Audio Recommendations

[AVRat]

Since you are a novice, and you still have bare framing, have you considered a front projector/screen setup now or possibly in the future? At a viewing distance of 13’-14’, you could do a nice big 126” dia. screen. Now would definitely be the time to get all the wiring in place.

Here’s a setup in a room of similar size with a non-traditional twist, preferred by some HT enthusiasts myself included, that takes the HT experience up a notch.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71416

 

[drman]

That's an amazing setup. Thanks for passing it along. I was planning to put wiring in for a projector at some point in the future. But seeing this, hmmmm, I wonder if I could cobble together enough denaro to get the screen and projector in now. My wife definitely wants the 52" LCD out of the family room and into the basement, but I saw a setup at a local AV store with a retractable screen covering a LCD display - the LCD for the morning news or short programs and the big screen for movies and sports.

 

[AVRat]

These screens can be pricey and I'd need to do a little more research. BMXTRIX has a setup that does exactly that and keeps up on the availabity of the video gear since he's in the biz. Projectors can start at around $1000.

One that comes to mind that uses an Acoustically Transparent material is http://www.seymourav.com/store.asp.

More affordable: http://www.visualapex.com/Projector-Screens/Projector_Screen_Details.asp?chPartNumber=TE120HW2&AR=HT

PJ: http://www.visualapex.com/Epson/Projector-Specifications.asp?For-The=Home-Cinema-8350

 

[jostenmeat]

That's an amazing setup. Thanks for passing it along. I was planning to put wiring in for a projector at some point in the future. But seeing this, hmmmm, I wonder if I could cobble together enough denaro to get the screen and projector in now. My wife definitely wants the 52" LCD out of the family room and into the basement, but I saw a setup at a local AV store with a retractable screen covering a LCD display - the LCD for the morning news or short programs and the big screen for movies and sports.

The pulldown over a flat panel is extremely expensive, typically, for the screen because now the screen needs to be tab tensioned. This means a 4 digit increase in price. If you go for it, and mount the LCD high enough to do 3 identical speakers, check out Seymour's tab tensioned.

Otherwise he sells the material as is for DIY. You are doing all this theater DIY, so that means YOU have the ability to save a TON of money, if willing to build the subs, build the speakers, build the screen, etc. There are a bunch of us here who built our Seymour screens, GO-NAD! being the most recent. I'm taking about $300-400 bucks for the whole screen, including the blackest of black velvets meant for telescopes, to the straightest wood you can possibly find, and guess what, George Lucas uses the same exact material in his home.

Run wiring for everything, 9.1, even 11.2, whatever, speaker wire is so darn cheap from Monoprice in bulk, and that's even as 12 AWG. Do it now when it's easiest, and think conduit conduit conduit when the walls are down. I don't know about the quiet rock and its cost, but the typical method for isolation is staggered studs, insulation, double dry wall, with green glue in between. If you start a thread at AVS dedicated theater subforum, people like Ted White or Dennis Erskine may give you better pointers on where to place critical beams or doorways, in terms of best reduction of sound transmission.

 

[drman]

Thanks again for the great info, AVR. It looks like the lower price option gets me into a screen and projector for around $2K. Not too bad, but in order to do it now I'd have to compromise on the audio setup, which I think I'd regret over the long haul.

I'll install the electrical to add the projector later. I hadn't decided whether to mount the LCD on the wall or stick with my stand, but I'm thinking the wall mount will work better with the projector and screen. I have a mechanical room behind the wall where I'll have the TV (and later the projector screen). I didn't frame for any built in cabinets, but I'm thinking about changing that so I can put my components in wall shelves.

I like the tiered seating in that setup you sent me, but the low point in my ceiling is 6'10" under a 4' wide soffit that runs the length of the room, so I'm not sure that would work well.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks again for the great info, AVR. It looks like the lower price option gets me into a screen and projector for around $2K. Not too bad, but in order to do it now I'd have to compromise on the audio setup, which I think I'd regret over the long haul.

Then just buy the front three speakers, or in fact just a pair of stereo speakers. Trust me. And personally I think 126" is too small from 13-14', but I can't remember what you said what the distance was.

 

[drman]

Thanks Josten. This showed up while I was typing my last post. Hmmm, I will definitely have to look into the DIY option for the screen - that's a huge savings. I hadn't thought about making my own speakers, so I'll do some research on that, too, but I'm thinking that's probably more than I want to tackle.

I just checked monoprice.com on your suggestion. Nice!!! Those prices are much better than what I was going to get from my local shop.

I really appreciate all the advice from you and AVRat. I'll start a thread on the AVS dedicated theater forum.

 

[drman]

Then just buy the front three speakers, or in fact just a pair of stereo speakers. Trust me. And personally I think 126" is too small from 13-14', but I can't remember what you said what the distance was.

That's a great idea. I suppose it makes at least as much sense to phase in the audio as it does to phase in the video. The room is 21' and I plan on putting the seating at 13' or so.

 

[AVRat]

Let’s clarify things:

The DIY screen JM is talking about is a fixed wall screen not an electric/manual drop-down.
That 4’ wide soffit is going to make a preferably sized, width-centered, drop-down screen a little difficult, but not impossible. I'd suggest about a 1' soffit along the front wall as an option.

It's funny, JM always seems to upsize my screen recos, but I can't fault him because at 13.5' I'd probaly do a 137" dia. in a room I've had plans for awhile.

When doing a project like this there are many things to try and take into account, but invariably there are always some compromises. It sounds like you’re able to delay the project a bit to assess what will/won’t work for you.

This is almost deja vu: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71280

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/Verticalviewing.html
http://www.theater-calc.com/

I’m not espousing a false wall screen layout per se, but these people have done nice layout plans. Here’s another: http://mysite.verizon.net/res8ycu4/index.html

 

[drman]

The layout of that room you posted is deja vu - almost exactly like mine, even down to the placement of the door. The suggestion to move the cold air return to the other side of the room so there is a soffit on each side is brilliant. I wish I had thought of that before I framed the soffit. I'm still going to think about that one.

As far as a projector and screen, maybe I need to consider putting the LCD somewhere else and just doing a fixed screen. I haven't given more thought to a projector for everyday use because I don't like the idea of waiting for the projector to fire up if I'm just checking the news or something along those lines. I may rethink that one too, though.

I've just added a couple of photos of my basement to my post in the Acoustics/Layout forum.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

2 Paradigm Monitor 7 towers $798
1 Paradigm CC-290 Center $549
4 Paradigm ADP-190 Dipole Surrounds $996
1 Paradigm Ultracube 10 Sub $999

The surround channels get the least amount of information most of the time, so it doesn't make any sense to me to spend $1,000 on surround speakers.

The total for your surrounds should be like $200 - $300 and put the $700 towards your mains.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Integra DTR 40.2 - $1000

Here is just one example of a $1,200 Harman Kardon AVR for $763 (saves you another $237):

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-7-1-Channel-Performance-Receiver/dp/B002IKKFUA/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1297182579&sr=1-4

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks Josten. This showed up while I was typing my last post. Hmmm, I will definitely have to look into the DIY option for the screen - that's a huge savings. I hadn't thought about making my own speakers, so I'll do some research on that, too, but I'm thinking that's probably more than I want to tackle.

This sub is huge (even though there are multiple size options), but it's arguably the greatest subwoofer value in the world. You can hide it behind some false wall, but try to avoid having it fire directly into the screen (won't happen unless you try, but just a warning). You could couple it to the most modest of amplifiers and still worry about cracking your drywall. Probably several hundred dollars all said and done, but it'll outperform multi thousand dollar subwoofers.

http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/THT.html

I like this build here for speakers. I am still trying to figure out what my other options might be for a possible first time speaker build on my part. Like the subwoofer, another excellent value. This build can be done for less than $300 per speaker, all said and done, and the closest resembling speaker (and in fact by the same designer) is $2100 per speaker (though it uses superior drivers, if still SEAS as well).

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68531

 

[drman]

AcuDef thanks for that AVR, it looks like a good alternative, and you make a very good point about the surrounds.

Josten, that sub looks amazing, and I would have just the room in back to put that puppy.