Audioholics Ultimate System Guides - Official Thread

[Audioholics]

<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/systemguide/12KRecommended-HTSystem.html"><IMG style="WIDTH: 114px; HEIGHT: 100px" alt=[MordauntShortAvant] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/MordauntShortAvant_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>After receiving numerous requests to update the Ultimate System Buying Guides, we have revamped the $12k System Guide with our latest system recommendations. We'll try to keep up with this as much as possible - but we have to say, the emails <EM>really</EM> helped prod us into action! Featuring Mordaunt Short's Avant Series speakers, an InFocus ScreenPlay projector,&nbsp;and the new Denon AVR-3805 receiver, this system is made for impressive sound and visuals. This is <EM>not</EM> your father's home theater!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>[Check Out the Updated 12k&nbsp;System Guide]</FONT></P>

 

[ned]

No more RBH speakers???

 

[gene]

RBH speakers will go in our 50k recommended system coming soon. They don't have a replacement series to the one we recommended in the 12k system at this time.

 

[BMXTRIX]

And a projector with no lens shift a lower contrast ratio and lower brightness than the newer, less expensive LCD units? Or the similarly priced Sharp Z2000 with higher brightness, superior contrast and 1280x720 resolution.

Hopefully, the list was made from products that you have only tested as there definitely looks like there is product that is a better buy and better product for consumers in some areas. Like the Denon choice a lot... Blue Jeans seems to be getting shoved down a lot of throats here all the time though, I think there should be some options on cables listed - a couple of companies at least since there are lots of choices and some great values.

CINEMA CHAIRS??? Well, I would have gone for some good room acoustical treatments so I can enjoy the sound in the room, then gotten a new couch or some seats later on... or just used the sofa I already own. Cinema seating is almost never a bargain, though it is cool... not something I would ever even think of recommending, in good concience, on a $12K budget.

The speakers look great, but the sub is something that I would consider sinking some more money into. Frequency response is lacking for a sub and with a 12K budget there are better (much) that could have been purchased. The best for the best value across the board...

I don't know, I'm not saying the list is bad, but it definitely doesn't make my mouth water as far as performance quality for the $$$ spent especially in the projection department and those silly chairs.

 

[Rob Babcock]

Yeah, I agree. I raised an eyebrow at the chairs. A bit o' leather & wood 'snake oil'?

 

[Audioholics]

[snip]especially in the projection department and those silly chairs.

A universal remote and nice theater chairs will make for a more impressive HT room (as far as your friends are concerned) than any DIY room treatment we could have afforded to toss in here...

Room acoustics are tricky, so until someone gets a better process and kit down for DIY use in a lower price point (we're working on this), we're going to put this into our higher end system that is coming up.

Good feedback!

 

[RLA]

Hello
When recommending products for custom installation there are many things to consider Take a projector recommendation for example Good specifications mean squat if

#1 the projector is not reliable, the company has poor customer service, and the projector has very high maintenance. The LCD’s that you speak of all have significant problems.

Sure you can get a 1280x720 LCD then you have top deal with scan line artifacting, Dust blobs, panel misalignment and color uniformity.

The Sharp has not been revived yet and cannot be recommended based on specification, if it turns out to be a high value product and meets other criteria then it may be a good machine.

How valuable is lens shift once the projector has been properly installed? The 5700 was selected because it has a good reliable track record, Infocus has very good customer service and it is a low maintanance machine.

A recent shoot out that was conducted they compared the 5700 a lower
Resolution machine to a well know 1280x720 HD2 machine many thought the 5700 looked better. Resolution is not the only thing one should consider when selecting a projector.I have viewed this projector running along side the
Sharp 12k,BenQ 8700,Infocus 7200 and yamaha DPX 1000 The 5700 did a superb job at normal viewing distances 1.5-2.0 x the screen width and it's color and brightness were very good. Coupled with the fact that it's darn near perfecly calibrated out of the box and has very conservitive specifications based on D-65k instead of Peak to Peak like the other manufactures and you have a very nice projector for the money



IMOHO the recommendations are for the average people who want a well-balanced system. They are generally looking for products that are easy to use, Reliable, sound good and are aesthetically correct.

Gear heads don’t mind having a Heinz 57 System and I agree you can get a lot of performance out of a system by selecting various Components from different manufactures, but this would be a hard sell for many of the Working Joes out there that are married.

I assume it would go something like this...
Honey do you think the silver DVD player looks better on the top shelf or the black VCR or the bronze Receiver. Hey Hun we can just put a plant over that big SVS tube to hide it and I really do think that the 3 different wood finishes look nice with our carpet don’t you?

Recommending acoustical treatment is fine and can be added as the system progresses maybe A/H can do an audiophile system at 10 or 12 k but with the 12k system we wanted WOW effect something that separated the average home theater from this one How much wow effect can one have with acoustical treatment on the wall’s and milk crates to sit on? Unless you like the butt waffle effect

 

[Paul D. H.]

I'm in Margate Florida, were can I find Mordaunt Short's Avant Series speakers.

Thanks

Paul

 

[HookedOnSound]

chairs....

Although the chairs would add a nice touch I agree with someone else who posted earlier and I think at this price point more emphasis on choosing a higher end subwoofer could add create that WOW factor. One thing that I noticed was missing - A/V furniture, there was no mention on storing the dvd player, receiver etc.

Another point, being that your 12k$ budget system will likely find itself nestled in the family room, I am sure the topic of furniture will be debated very lively with the spouse! These comforts are highly subjective and therefore I think it would be wised if the chairs would moved up to the higher budget buyer guide where a dedicated room would justly warrant it.

Just a suggestion.

Thanks

 

[mcwilson]

I agree that budgeting 20% for 3 recliners is a bit steep. I would also note that Berkline 090s can be had for significantly reduced prices from a NC furniture store and they are unbelievably comfortable! I have them in my theatre and I always get comments. Women like the chairs. Men like the electronics...

Also, is there a reason acoustical treatments are not included?

My 2 cents...

 

[gene]

We figured for around $2k people would get more bang for their buck with the chairs rather than moderate acoustics treatment. Most acoustics treatment at this price level are best left to natural treatments such as throw rugs, furniture, bookcases, etc, unless you build them yourself, but thats not the point of these systems.

We designed these systems for reliability, to be cosmetically appealing, and chose components that work well together. When time permits we will design a few systems for propella heads that don't care if things don't match cosmetically.

Here are a few suggestions:
I would change out the sub for an Axiom EP500, though the existing Morduant Short one is no slouch.
I would change out the Monster Power Conditioner for a new one from APC (when they become available).
I would keep the chairs and do my own room treatments and rely mostly on natural means.
I would change out the speaker cables for Audioholics GLOB

 

[BMXTRIX]

Guys, keep in mind all of what I am saying is definitely my own 2 cents on it, but I gotta say that the new Panasonic when hooked up to a good source looks almost as good as the $10,000 Runco machines. I would definitely just like to know if the 3 top gun LCD machines have been looked at yet or not. The Z3, AE700, and Sony. They not only have higher ratings across the board than the InFocus, they also have the added features that make installation possible for more users.

If I could add one feature to my projector, it would have been lens shift. I will never recommend a projector without it. It allows for a customer to decide where they want the projector instead of a projector dicatating where it must be placed. If the ceiling or screen doesn't work, then the customer is SOL, which definitely is a major detractor from any product. If you guys haven't worked with those projectors, then don't rule them out either, or let others know they haven't been reviewed either.

Chairs? Yeah, nice chairs are good, but a reliable touchscreen remote has more wow. How about Lutron lighting control with mulitple zones? That's phenomenally impressive.. Motorized IR blinds can be had for under 200 bucks a pop... those make people go nuts as well.

Just lots of things that are easily as valuable as $2,000+ chairs to make a theater schwing that people may want to consider.

Once again, just my 2 cents which is about all it's worth at times.

 

[Paul D. H.]

Gene, Hawke

I'm in Margate Florida, were can I find a seller of Mordaunt Short's Avant Series speakers. I've looked all over the web for a local seller. Do you know of one.

Thank you

Paul

 

[RLA]

Hmmmm.
Can anyone tell me what 3 very large oversize overstuffed chairs
Are good for in a room besides sitting in? First one that answers gets
A smiley face

I have not tried placing a remote at the first reflection point
Does that work?

 

[RLA]

BMX
On the subject of DLP vs. LCD we will just have to agree to disagree.
IMOHO there are no LCD projector's on the market that would meet the performance criteria of the $12k system, Including the Infocus 5000 1280x720 LCD. The Yamaha 510 looks very nice but it is out of budget. The AE 700 and Z-3 have major problems. The Z-3 that I viewed at CES in a black room was by far the worst Image I saw at the show of the projector I viewed, and the AE 700 still has the scan line artifacting.

I have installed a few Studio Experience HD-2's the clone of the Z-2 so I know the projector line quite well. Panel miss alighnment, color uniformity,
Black level and dealing with dust blobs on the LCD panels are a few of the well-known issues associated with the current crop of low priced 1280x720p LCD projectors.

Many manufactures are just now starting to or will be shipping
DLP HD2 machines that may fit in the budget of the 12k system, however
We cannot recommend a product based on specs alone the product must be reviewed and tested before a recommendation can be made. Another issue is
Overcoming ambient light in many rooms that are going to be used for the
Home theater none of the projectors in this price class can over come ambient light hitting the screen but the 5700 is a light cannon in its class and does a much better job of this than any other that I can think of at this price level

Cheers

 

[mcwilson]

thos chairs are good for:

The Berkline 090's come with two (count 'em - two) cupholders. One in each arm. So they can hold a beer and a remote, or two beers, or ...

And, if fully reclined you can do more than sit... You can lie down!

 

[RLA]

Yes the cup holder are nice and you can lay down but that was not the
correct answer so you get a partial smiley

 

[jeffsg4mac]

RLA, hmmm I can think of one or two things my wife and I could use overstuffed chairs for, but I think bass traps is the answer you are looking for Besides, there might be kids reading the forums

 

[Leprkon]

RLA, hmmm I can think of one or two things my wife and I could use overstuffed chairs for

I don't think a chiropractor could be included for under $ 12 grand.......

 

[RLA]

Jeff gets a
And to some degree they will minimize slap echo. Have you walked into an empty room or an apartment with little or no furniture and started a conversation? Another important aspect of the room is how you set up your room (IE) you would not want a hard reflective surface in front of the listening position.

I have seen installs that have had allot of expensive room treatment installed and directly in front of the listening position or at the first reflection point a huge glass table will be placed there.

A little trick to help locate about where the first reflection point is going to occur on the side wall is to sit in the listening position and have your significant other or chair buddy walk down the side wall with a mirror, as soon as you see the front baffle of the speaker in the mirror this will be the appx. Occurrence of the first reflection and where you will want to place acoustical treatment