Noob needs help with first home theater

[supernoob]

Hi everyone,

I'm building our first home theater, and would appreciate any input from the experts here regarding component selection. I've just started, and am looking for any ideas that I can research.

The room size is 15 ft X 18ft, and I recently purchased the JVC 61" 1080p D-ILA [HD-61FH96]. I'm looking to build a great system for both movies and music (primarily classical and acoustic) with a real "wow effect."

I'd also like to be able to pipe music through the house into other rooms if possible.

My budget is about an additional $12K, but would like to be as frugal as possible without sacrificing quality. The "room" is a section of a great room, so is not dedicated. There is also a lot of tile, so we tend to get some echoes.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks, Jason

 

[jaxvon]

Welcome!

I have a few questions: how large is the great room that your system will go in?
Also, how many rooms do you want to pipe music into, and in what capacity? Background music?

 

[supernoob]

room dimensions

Thanks for the reply! The theater area is a 15X18 section of a great room which is "separated" from the rest of the area only by couches (seating area for the theater). The remainder of the room measures approx 20X25. I tried to draw this below, where the x's are the couches, the O is the TV set - you can get an idea of the general shape of the room.

------O------
--.............--
--.............--
---...xxxx.....--
-..................--
-..................--
-..................--
---------------


Since we have an open area, with no back wall (just the couches), I'm wondering what this will do to the sound quality for the theater area.

In regards to the music, we have 3 other rooms and a pool where we'd like to be able to listen to music while reading/studying etc. Thanks!

Jason

 

[jcPanny]

New System

Speakers:
Sound like you will be able to install a 5.1 speaker system: Fonts, center, and surrounds on the sides of the listening position. No room for rear surrounds which would be behind the couch. Check out the AH recommended systems and their reveiew on the Axom M80/600. The axioms are great for music, and you will probably prefer the full range floorstander type speakers for 2 channel listening. Paradigm, PSB, and Klipsch Reference series are also good options in your price range.
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/AxiomAudioM80tiEP600p1.php

Subwoofer:
You have a large room, but a nice sub like an SVS Ultra or the Axiom EP500/600 should provide plenty of LFE for your theater.

Receiver:
Consider a Yamaha RX-V2600 or Denon 3806 as a minum for your system. If you go with 4 ohm speakers, like the M80's, you might want to add an external 2 channel or multichannel amplifier.

Whole House:
The assignable amps on the Yamaha and Denon should drive 4 pairs of speakers to reasonable background levels when used with impedence matching volume controls in each room. If you want to blast the music at the pool, then you might want to add a Zone 2 amplifier. In ceiling speakers start at $100 pair. You need outdoor weatherproof speakers for the pool.

 

[naisphoo]

My advice to you. Don't talk to any salesmen at any retail stores like BB or CC or you'll end up buying over priced cables like me. They are worthless...Should you have any questions or concerns, then post them here and they will help you. Me, I'm kinda new and clueless...sorry. But I know I could do a lot with 12 big ones hehehe...

 

[supernoob]

Thanks for the suggestions! Would it be possible (or a good idea) to mount rear surrounds from the ceiling/wall? Any suggestions on brands of in-ceiling speakers for the rooms? Thanks! Jason

 

[TheLaw]

Flexibility of rear surrounds

If you are looking to be able to mount rear surrounds in places other than professionaly specifed(I use the term professional lightly) the Axiom audio quadpolar surrounds are pretty forgiving when it comes to placement. Just a thought.