Did I do it backwards?

[JKL1960]

We are getting one of the worst snow storms I can remember here and so I'm a little bored.

When I read how others build their home theater I get the impression that I did it backwards.

"What do you mean backwards?" I can hear you all thinking.

Well I did sound first video later. I had a pretty decent stereo system and it was always hooked to the TV for audio. I guess about five years ago I thought I'd like to try out this surround sound and DVD thing. I had a 25" RCA TV (not even flat glass) hooked to my stereo. A VCR provided movies and basic analogue cable the TV signal.

So, I set about researching and found that I could (as expected) use my stereo speakers as mains. I just needed some surrounds and a center. I also needed a DVD player and an AV receiver. I bought some cheap speakers that came with a center and two bookshelfs for $100. I bought a little Panasonic amp and a dvd player. It was awseome. DD 5.1 sound in my living room. We started buying DVDs and watching way more movies.

A year later I started eyeing the widescreen sets and ended up buying a 30" Toshiba CRT based HD ready unit. The Panasonic DVD player I had wasn't progressive scan so I bought a Panasonic DVD changer, which I still use. Honestly I didn't see much difference between 480i and 480p but who cares. Now the picture was awesome too.

I knew it wasn't a great system but it was better than what most people I knew had. Later that year I got an awesome deal on the whole set of Klipsch RF25 speakers including an RC25 center, RS25 surrounds and an RW10 subwoofer. It was still driven by the little Panasonic amp but the sound quality was night and day particularly the center channel. Later that year I added an HD PVR cable box. Now things were really looking up.

It really completed my system when I added a Denon 2805 receiver. There was an immediate improvement in sound over the Panasonic amp. I was in heaven. I had to listen to all my old music and watch lots of movies over again. It was a very decent system.

Now I'm putting the finishing touches on a theater room. The Klipsch / Denon sound system will go there as will the HD box. I added a Hitachi HDPJ52 projector (I really like Hitachi video equipment) and I have finally almost completed my system. The living room gets to keep the Toshiba TV and the old Panasonic amp gets to go back to work pushing a Paradigm CT90 speaker package. I need another HD box.

Will it end here. No chance. I was just thinking that four 12 inch subs would be killer in the new theater. IT NEVER ENDS.

I think compared to many people my sound first video later might seem backwards but I see a lot of "I just got a blasted huge flat panel what cheap piece of crap sound sytem should I get?" I think that is backwards. Sound is what really makes a real home theater. I've always thought that.

What can you get from this? I dunno, I'm bored, but I hope some HT noobs read this and see it is possible to gradually build a good system and hopefully give them the right perspective in regards to the importance of audio in the experience.

You guys who can hire a consultant, cut a five figure cheque and get a turnkey theater, well, I envy you. But I'm having more fun. (I hope. I keep telling myself that.)

Some pics and random musings about building my theater are at jkl1960.blogspot.com

How did you get to where you are? All at once (lucky b*st*rd) or piece by piece?

 

[jcPanny]

HT setup

JKL,
Sounds like you have put together a couple excelent HT and living room systems. I agree that a lot of people seem to be willing to spend $2-3k on a display and budget $300 for a HTIB sound system. Obviously the sound is an important part of the HT experience.

I am in the same boat is you piecing together a quality system sarting with my Yamaha receiver, Onix Refrence 1's, and a 32" LCD. I have my SVS sub on order. Check out SVS, HSU, and Onix subs for the HT room, you might be able to get away with 2 subs instead of four! Av123 is comming out with a 15" ported sub that might be a good option.

 

[j_garcia]

There is no backwards, because as you already said, it never ends...

 

[JoeE SP9]

I was using a Pioneer TVX-9500 TV audio tuner in the middle 70's. It was mono (of course) and I fed that mono signal into both channels of my preamp. When I get one of the first VCR's (Beta) sold it was connected up the same way. The way things are now I have 4 full range ESL's and 3 sub woofers in my room (no center channel). The only thing I don't have is a "large" TV. I plan on buying a front projector quite soon. My system was put together with the reproduction of music the first priority. Everyone who has heard it says it sounds very very good (better than any local theater) on TV/DVD/VCR surround sound and about the best they've heard for 2 channel.
When I play 2 channel music I use only the front 2 speaker systems. I don't ever use the bass management in my surround processor as I have bi-amped subs/ESL's with an 85Hz crossover for my front speakers. My rear speakers when in use (MC mixes and MC TV) are also bi-amped and crossed over at 85Hz to a dual sub in one cabinet.
I have been improving my system since 1967 when I bought my first component.

 

[Nuglets]

I focus my effort's on sound as well so no, I don't think it's backwards. I still have a big 50" Hitachi rear-projection tv from the early 90's and I am satisfied with it. My next video upgrade will be a front projector but I don't watch enough television to worry about that at the moment so I'll probably end up with a new center channel before that.

 

[abboudc]

I did sound first too. Piece by piece. Started in college, moved to an apartment, got bigger better stuff. Bought a house, bought bigger better stuff. I'm set until i get a bigger house