Budget Builds - What would an audioholic do?

[ZeosPantera]

Just to get a feel for the community's views and opinions (and probably accidentally start some arguments) I would like to know what equipment you guys would pick out on a few different budgets of home theater.

All 3 systems can be dreamed up in a room size of your choosing. Assume you are always starting with a completely empty room with adequate power and no windows. Ignore picking out furnishings if possible as we aren't playing dollhouse. Labor doesn't count, the budget is for parts alone. Used items are allowed as long as your price isn't just a guess. Feel free to ask questions and comment on other peoples choices as this will be a learning experience for us all.


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#1 An unlimited budget Home theater. Balls to the walls no price is too high. What Home theater equipment do you choose to make the greatest home theater in the world?

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#2 $20,000 Budget. A pretty high budget to set aside for a dedicated home theater. Will you save money on 2nd rate speakers just to afford a better projector? Can you afford tube amps?

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#3 $4,000 Budget. This type of budget is what separates the men from the men with calculators and 3 mortgages. Can you squeeze perfection out of a mere 4G's? Do you go 5.1 instead of 7.1? Do you choose the TV last or first and work around it.



** If you think I left out any rules or guidelines or haven't explained this treads purpose clearly enough post in this thread and I will add changes to this post.

 

[TLS Guy]

Just to get a feel for the community's views and opinions (and probably accidentally start some arguments) I would like to know what equipment you guys would pick out on a few different budgets of home theater.

All 3 systems can be dreamed up in a room size of your choosing. Assume you are always starting with a completely empty room with adequate power and no windows. Ignore picking out furnishings if possible as we aren't playing dollhouse. Labor doesn't count, the budget is for parts alone. Used items are allowed as long as your price isn't just a guess. Feel free to ask questions and comment on other peoples choices as this will be a learning experience for us all.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#1 An unlimited budget Home theater. Balls to the walls no price is too high. What Home theater equipment do you choose to make the greatest home theater in the world?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#2 $20,000 Budget. A pretty high budget to set aside for a dedicated home theater. Will you save money on 2nd rate speakers just to afford a better projector? Can you afford tube amps?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#3 $4,000 Budget. This type of budget is what separates the men from the men with calculators and 3 mortgages. Can you squeeze perfection out of a mere 4G's? Do you go 5.1 instead of 7.1? Do you choose the TV last or first and work around it.



** If you think I left out any rules or guidelines or haven't explained this treads purpose clearly enough post in this thread and I will add changes to this post.

What you have not made clear, is that you are an installer. I suppose if members want to do your job for you that is fine, but you should have disclosed that.

We have already been treated to the sock in the sub port thread.

If this is what you want to do as a career, them you should think about paying your dues and getting certified as an installer. Have you explored getting CEDIA certification for instance?

 

[highfigh]

What you have not made clear, is that you are an installer. I suppose if members want to do your job for you that is fine, but you should have disclosed that.

We have already been treated to the sock in the sub port thread.

If this is what you want to do as a career, them you should think about paying your dues and getting certified as an installer. Have you explored getting CEDIA certification for instance?

That said, there's a big difference between an installer and a competent system designer.

 

[TLS Guy]

That said, there's a big difference between an installer and a competent system designer.

Very true! But there is a huge leap here to system designer, especially when playing with other people's money. I think installer would be the OP's place to start.

 

[AVRat]

We've played this game many times before!

 

[ZeosPantera]

I apologize if it seems that I am looking for someone to do my job. That is not the case here at all. I only recently was able to answer that high school question of "what do you want to do for the rest of your life". I graduated with a degree in computer networking in 04 and tried several mundane jobs in and around that field. I hated it. There is no passion in almost any tech job. Nobody is impressed when your network runs smoothly with 99.9999% uptime. It is a soul-less profession. Home theater however is something I have always been interested in and you can create something beautiful, with soul and magic. If I put on a certain song at a certain volume on my cheap, mismatched, get laughed at here little home theater here I tear up. There is an emotional shift when something sounds perfect, even if that perfect isn't to anyone but you. I don't possess all the knowledge about ohm curves or class d amp specs in my head. I am not a golden ears. I just know I can do a better job then most people on their own could (minus anyone here). My father taught me all about setting up a surround sound when I was a kid, back when dolby digital was it. I cant expect him to keep up with current technology and teach me anymore. I am on my own.

My computer friends and I always enjoy piecing together different budget computers for other people and then arguing with each other on the stupid choices we all make. I thought maybe it would be fun to try it here with people just as passionate with their opinions on HT Gear. Don't play if you don't want to. I will submit what I would buy for the 3 budgets later. Again I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[ZeosPantera]

I am leaving out shipping costs but finding the cheapest prices for all major parts.


$4000 BUDGET

TV $885- Mitsubishi 60" DLP Open Box - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889248050R

Receiver $417- Denon AVR-1910 - http://hdtvdreams.com/denon-avr-1910-7.1-channel-home-theater-receiver-avr1910.aspx

Blu-Ray $325 -Playstation 3 - http://electronicsonly.auctivacommerce.com/Sony-Playstation-3-80GB-Game-Console-P297267.aspx


Speakers:

Center $330 - Elemental Design http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_131&osCsid=8321ab3640100e8a55424dafc70bb45b

Fronts $660 - Elemental Design"See link Above"

Surrounds+Backs $150x2=$300 - A3 - 5TC - Bookshelf Pair(s) http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_42&products_id=94

Subwoofer $400 - A3-250 http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=309


Leaving $683 for cables, speaker wires and mounting brackets.

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$20,000 BUDGET

Projector $5,799 - EPSON ENSEMBLE 6500 - http://www.plasmacraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3650

Screen $4,689 - Draper 204" Fixed - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/501052-REG/Draper_253766_Onyx_Fixed_Frame_Front.html

Processor $2,099 - LEXICON MV-5 - http://www.plasmacraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3239

Amplifiers $300x4=$1200 - Onkyo M-282 Stereo Amplifier, 2 x 140W http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284061-REG/Onkyo_M282_M_282_Stereo_Amplifier.html

Blu-Ray $448 - Pioneer BDP-05FD Elite - http://www.ibuydigital.com/product/?51286&camp_id=209

Remote $89 - URC Digital R50 http://www.jr.com/universal-remote/pe/UNV_R50/

Speakers:

Center+Left+Right $679x3=$2040 - Klipsch Reference Series RC-64 http://hdtvdreams.com/Klipsch-RC-64-Center-Channel-Speaker-RC64.aspx

Surround+Back $190x4=$760 - Klipsch Reference Series RS-42 http://hdtvdreams.com/Klipsch-RS-42-Surround-Speaker-RS42.aspx

Subwoofer $2100 - P7-650 http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=682

Leaving $770 for cables, speaker wires and mounting brackets and popcorn.. and the lens to make the Epson project correctly onto the 2.35:1 screen I choose.

============================================

$9,999,999,999,999,999 BUDGET
"Be prepared to witness the child in me!"

Projector $75,000 - Sony SRXS105 http://review.zdnet.com/product/projectorspresentation-devices/sony-srxs105-sxrd-projector/32576289

Screen $2,632 - 4 Gallons of screen Goo Rear projection paint http://www.goosystems.com/products/
+ Largest piece of glass I can purchase.

Processor $5,999 Denon AVP-A1HDCI http://avliquidator.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8863

Amplifiers $42,900.00x7=$300,300 mbl-9011 http://mbl-usa.com/View.aspx/2116/mbl-9011

HTPC $5,000 - Custom built, Ati Graphics HDMI output, 10TB storage, Multiple BRdrives.

Speakers: if you care to call them that.

FrontL $250,000 mbl 101 X-treme http://mbl-usa.com/View.aspx/2154/mbl-101-X-treme
FrontR $250,000 mbl 101 X-treme""
Center $250,000 mbl 101 X-treme""

SurroundL $59,990.00 mbl-101MKII http://mbl-usa.com/View.aspx/2101/mbl-101---MK-II
SurroundR $59,990.00 ""
SurrBl $59,990.00 ""
SurrBr $59,990.00 ""

Subwoofers $5000x4=$20000 Dodecasub http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_119&products_id=607

Leaving 9,999,999,998,605,567 for cables, speaker wires and mounting brackets and popcorn.. LOTS of popcorn.


Feel free to comment and rage at my choices. Afterward please supply your own.

 

[lsiberian]

Just to get a feel for the community's views and opinions (and probably accidentally start some arguments) I would like to know what equipment you guys would pick out on a few different budgets of home theater.

All 3 systems can be dreamed up in a room size of your choosing. Assume you are always starting with a completely empty room with adequate power and no windows. Ignore picking out furnishings if possible as we aren't playing dollhouse. Labor doesn't count, the budget is for parts alone. Used items are allowed as long as your price isn't just a guess. Feel free to ask questions and comment on other peoples choices as this will be a learning experience for us all.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#1 An unlimited budget Home theater. Balls to the walls no price is too high. What Home theater equipment do you choose to make the greatest home theater in the world?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#2 $20,000 Budget. A pretty high budget to set aside for a dedicated home theater. Will you save money on 2nd rate speakers just to afford a better projector? Can you afford tube amps?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#3 $4,000 Budget. This type of budget is what separates the men from the men with calculators and 3 mortgages. Can you squeeze perfection out of a mere 4G's? Do you go 5.1 instead of 7.1? Do you choose the TV last or first and work around it.



** If you think I left out any rules or guidelines or haven't explained this treads purpose clearly enough post in this thread and I will add changes to this post.

I'll need time to give this a thorough DIY analysis, but something tells me a few members of the forum might have new jobs on option 1.

This is kind of a tired topic actually. We've said it a lot IOTW. If you want to learn about home theater I suggest you stick to this place and read like crazy.

 

[MatthewB.]

Wow, 75K for a FP and only 2K for paint on screen. Hmmm If I'm spending 75K, I'm looking at a Stewart Cinecurve 140" screen

 

[ZeosPantera]

I just always wanted to do a rear projected screen goo screen. Only issue is finding and installing a piece of glass big enough to compare to a 140" screen. Then there is the fact that you need a huge room filled with nothing but a projector.

 

[lsiberian]

If you have an unlimited budget why not just build your own IMAX.

 

[Quickley17]

haha, I like it Isiberian... If I had an unlimited budget, James Hetfield and the San Francisco Symphony would be in my very own Sydney Opera House...

Seriously though, with an unlimited budget, you get to fly everywhere and try anything. You don't even need to worry what brands are "best" or what costs the most. You get to see/hear everything and take what you want.

The truth is, you will throw 250k speakers into a room and a client will love them because they cost 250k, but if you are building a room/system/etc. because you LOVE it, you use your money to get the BEST THING EVER (for you).

 

[allargon]

Your $4k budget is a bit strange. Most of us wouldn't go w/ rear projection DLP (although I am a fan of the tech). The budget speakers that most tend to promulgate here are the Infinity Primus line, Usher and The Speaker Company.

Audioholics publishes various budget configs every year. A lot of us disagree with their recommendations as well.

And for the $20k budget....Klipsch? Each to his/her own.

HTPC w/ an unlimited budget on Audioholics? HTPC still doesn't have all the kinks worked out with Blu-Ray especially w/ regards to lossless audio. It works, but IMHO it's not as seamless or userfriendly as a standalone.

 

[jostenmeat]

#2 $20,000 Budget. A pretty high budget to set aside for a dedicated home theater. Will you save money on 2nd rate speakers just to afford a better projector? Can you afford tube amps?

Based around a JVC RS20.

#3 $4,000 Budget. This type of budget is what separates the men from the men with calculators and 3 mortgages. Can you squeeze perfection out of a mere 4G's? Do you go 5.1 instead of 7.1? Do you choose the TV last or first and work around it.

Based around a plasma. Duh.

I just always wanted to do a rear projected screen goo screen. Only issue is finding and installing a piece of glass big enough to compare to a 140" screen. Then there is the fact that you need a huge room filled with nothing but a projector.

BMX tipped me onto this, and I've told my installer friend about it, who also just loves RP. I tried egging the Dawg on it for the pool, but no dice.

Stewart Starglas 60, available at least up to 126" x 204".

 

[ZeosPantera]

If you have an unlimited budget why not just build your own IMAX.

Mostly because non IMAX 70mm films in suck in IMAX.. Watched the mummy returns and it was a giant sandy colored burning sun in the middle of the screen the whole movie and I could only see one half of the movie at a time.

Rather watch a good quality digital then an IMAX. Which aren't.