The official Talk Bass Home Theater club.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Okay, here we are. The official Talk Bass Home theater club.

Just a thread to post, discuss or ask questions about your home theater set-up. Doesn't mater what you have. Everything from a home theater-in-a-box to a full blown, dedicated home theater, entertainment room. Pretty informal, no numbers will be issues. Pictures of your setup would be great.

My system, a typical living room set up, about two years in the making when I decided to upgrade piece by piece from my Sony HTB system.


Display: Recently acquired, Panasonic TC-P50V10, 50" plasma.

BluRay: Samsung BD-P1500

Receiver: Marantz SR7002

Speakers: L/R: Polk RTi8, Center: Polk CSi3, Rear: Axiom QS8.

Subwoofer: HSU VTF-1

For more specs, pictures, and screen shots take a look at my web space over at google-sites.
http://sites.google.com/site/mattshometheatersystem/

[BartmanPDX]

Nice! I'm in!

I haven't done much to mine in several years (bass is sucking up all my "fun" money these days), but here are a few pics of my "man cave":

Front:



Back:



Gear closet:



My front projector is an aging Sharp XV-Z9000, projecting onto a 80"x45" Stewart Firehawk screen.

Speakers are Paradigm Reference 100s (front), CC, ADP (side surround), with 20s providing rear surround. Sub is a Paradigm Reference Servo-15. I also put bass shakers in the reclining seats.

My receiver is a cheapo Panasonic 7.1 channel model that actually sounds great.

I have a home theater PC but rarely use it any more. Most of the time, I'm either watching movies, sports, or playing XBox 360 or Wii on the big screen. Video games are great on the big screen. Tiger Woods golf on the Wii in particular is almost like virtual reality.

[PasdaBeer]

Thats an awesome man cave.

I used to do home theatre installs, ill have to find my old show book. I did a lot of big richy houses in San Fran and marin county.

Glad to see someone else loves paradigm speakers!

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by PasdaBeer

Thats an awesome man cave.

I used to do home theatre installs, ill have to find my old show book. I did a lot of big richy houses in San Fran and marin county.

Glad to see someone else loves paradigm speakers!

That used to be my dream job. Maybe still is. I did all the work on mine other than installing the dedicated circuit in the ceiling for the projector. I had an electrician do that.

The man cave is still pretty fun even though I've had it for 5-6 years. People are still impressed, though not as much as when I first built it.

And I do love the Paradigms. The Reference series was probably a little overkill for my tiny man cave, but I sure do like them.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Very nice, BartmanPDX!


I'm thinking about selling my two family house and buying a single family. Room for a man cave is must for the next home. I'd love to do a large screen setup like that.

I hear you about bass sucking up the cash. Talk about two expensive hobbies where G.A.S. can run rampant. I don't need anything right now, but I always seem to wind up on the Swan Speakers website drooling a little. Subwoofers,....don't get me started.

For now, what I have is just fine. The Polk speakers I got were incredibly cheap on a close-out deal and the subwoofer performs great in my room. I love the look on my friends faces when they practically jump when something dynamic happens in a movie.


PasdaBeer, I'd be really interested in those pics. I'd imagine you're talking about some pretty upscale installations.

[mrpackerguy]

I've got an older (7 yr) Denon Surround receiver, Polk surrounds that were considered tp of the line 7 years ago and still sound good, Polk Center speaker, Velodyne 15" powered sub, 60" Sony Grand Wega rear projection LCD.

Funny thing, though, we don't use it much at all. The grand Wega has a built in sub and great sounding audio speakers and the whole surround system is just too much to listen to anymore. For personal listening, our MP3 players dominate.

[PasdaBeer]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

That used to be my dream job. Maybe still is. I did all the work on mine other than installing the dedicated circuit in the ceiling for the projector. I had an electrician do that.

The man cave is still pretty fun even though I've had it for 5-6 years. People are still impressed, though not as much as when I first built it.

And I do love the Paradigms. The Reference series was probably a little overkill for my tiny man cave, but I sure do like them.

Reference speakers are MADE for small rooms. The concept behind them is accurarate audio, not volume

As far as a dream job...meh. It was fun at first, but unfortunatly with the economy I had to get a "normal" job. Went from 20-30 installs a month to 5. Wasnt fun.

The only issue, just like any custom inhome work, the people staring over your shoulder consently is not fun.

[vespasian1]

"Reference speakers are MADE for small rooms. The concept behind them is accurarate audio, not volume"

Absolutely correct.

[BOOCAKE4U]

heres my submission in the "poor white boy" category:



Display: Samsung LN46A550 (46" LCD - purchased from amazon last year and currently only about $30 cheaper now for the "B" version, which has that awful red tinted plastic)

Blu-Ray: Sony PS3 (and a meager but fantastic quality blu collection - 2001, blade runner, close encounters, road warrior etc.)

Other Sources: PS2 (component and optical connections, wireless controller), two Sony 5 disc CD/DVD carousels (one circa 2000, one circa 2006), and a PS1 and VCR in the closet if i happen to need either

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V661 5.1/7.1

Speakers:

Mains - Acoustic Research XP408 (two 4" aluminum mids, 1" tweet, one 8" woofer)
Center: Infinity Primus P142
Rear: KLH L853B (nice sounding 3 way cheapos) and a set of 4 little TEACs on standby (for when i get around to buying some proper wall-mounts)
Throbbage: Yamaha 10" and JBL/Frankenstein 12"
Shakage: 4 Aura bass shakers mounted to a flimsy futon and powered by my old Kenwood receiver

there you have it, my assortment of cheap/overstock/close-out etc deals, all brought together in my 9x12' mancave (which also doubles as my bedroom and living room) and which combine to create a life-changing audiovisual experience when at full power (seriously, watching "close encounters" in trueHD or DTS-MA with both subs and the shakers on at reference volume had me completely disoriented and questioning what was real and what was just part of the movie)

[Brick Top]

I am more of a two channel guy....since that is what my system was originally built from...but I do have a complete HT setup.

Sorry...no pics. Maybe in the future if I remember.

Display: Sanyo 42" Plasma
Source: Oppo multi format player, Sota Satellite Turntable with Jolida JD-9 tube preamp
Preamplifier: Outlaw Audio Model 990
Power: Adcom GFA-5503(fronts & center), Rotel RB991(rears)
Mains: Mirage 1295is
Center: Tube Audio Design 805-C
Rears: Emotiva ERD-1

I don't get the use out of my system that I used to since I took up the bass last december...but every once in awhile, it's nice to sit back and enjoy great stereo or surround sound.

Hey BOOCAKE4U....is The Big Lebowski available in true 5.1 yet? My disc is the old Dolby Pro-logic.

Cheers,
BT

[Philbiker]

I have an old Infocus X1 with a 96" Da-Lite screen in my man-cave. Nothing current, but everything looks and sounds great. An old Onkyo Integra DTR-7 receiver, HDTV over the air, Panasonic DVD-A, no Blu-Ray. I even have a LaserDisc player with a shipload of LDs. Infinite baffle sub I built myself rocks the entire house. Old Mirage 290is main L/R at the moment, with Athena bipole rears and a B&W DM602 center. Works fantastic.

The installation looks really slick because when I had the house built a few years ago I had all the wiring done in the walls and ceilings, and conduit run so I could send cables at will, with dimmable wall sconces and an in-wall Mid-Atlantic 19" equipment rack.

[BOOCAKE4U]

Originally Posted by Brick Top

Hey BOOCAKE4U....is The Big Lebowski available in true 5.1 yet? My disc is the old Dolby Pro-logic.

i have the old DVD (not the newer version with the photo album on it) and it is indeed 5.1, not sure why yours is defaulting/downmixing to pro-logic (not a big deal, it was probably recorded stereo anyway)

[joeyl]

Slowly building my home theater on the cheap here. I have an Olevia 247, upgraded to Dish HD and got a pair of Polk Monitor 30 from Polk's ebay store for 45 dollars. I also have an Onkyo TXSR507 coming in the mail (used my AMEX points on this item so it only cost me 160 dollars total) I will see if I can get another pair of Monitor 30s and use 3 of them for fronts, or if the budget allows it get better fronts and use them as surrounds.
I will probably get a Velodyne or a BIC as sub.

[Brick Top]

Originally Posted by joeyl

I will probably get a Velodyne or a BIC as sub.

Word of advice...stay as far away from BIC as you can. Comparing BIC with Velodyne is like comparing a broken bicycle to a Lexus.

Being in and around audio as long as I have has taught at least one thing. Buy quality. Even if it means waiting a lot longer to get what you want. It's worth it in the long run. Buy one piece at a time if you have to to achieve quality gear.

[PasdaBeer]

velodyne area great subs.

Look for the 8 or 10 inch modles. Personaly, I always install 2 8s over a 12. Much cleaner sounding. If the system is being used for lots of music, it will make a huge diffrence!


Edit:

Great choice on the monitor 30s! great speakers for not much $$

If you trying to still stay on the cheap, check out the older Boston accoustic Towers, they match well, but are a little deeper sounding which you might like for all your 2.1/2.0 audio and music!

[Brad Johnson]

I have a few systems set up in my house. Much like I am with music gear, I'm a bargain hound.

A 19" display in my kitchen with Yamaha RX-E100/CDX-E100 mini (but not the typically mini crap) receiver and CD player, Samsung PC/TV switch, DVD/VHS, Tivo, in-wall mains, subwoofer hidden on top of the cabinetry over the refrigerator. All components are installed on the top shelf inside the same cab and I've installed large vents in the rear and have fans on the top so everything stays nice and cool. The big sound makes the monitor feel bigger. Everything is controlled with a Logitech Harmony 550 remote through an IR repeater so nothing is visible except the monitor and mains.

Panasonic PT-AE900U projector with 106" Da-Lite screen temporarily setup in the basement until I can finish the area I want to use for it (one of these days). Using it with a Samsung Bluray and a pair of the older Acoustic research Powered Partners and they sound surprising good alone. I also have a two channel system setup in the same area. Call of Duty on the 106" with a PS3 is ridiculous... or so my son tells me. I don't do games.

I also have a 61" Samsung DLP, Yamaha receiver, TivoHD, Samsung DVD, Polk CS400 center channel, Infinity Composition Overture 1's mains, a pair of powered Polk 12" subs and in wall rears in my family room. I use a Western Digital WDTV to run a 1TB drive (among other things) through the system. Works great. It's basically a player system for USB devices.

43" Samsung DLP with Harman Kardon receiver, DCM center channel, Signet SL 280 B/U mains and Gekko flat panel rears, M&K sub. RCN DVR, Samsung DVD. Master bedroom

My most used system is probably the most ridiculous on paper... an Epson EX70 projector and Elite 84" fixed frame screen, HK receiver, Samsung DVD, PJB Image 6T mains, Definitive Technology center channel and Tannoy rears, passive sub, another WDTV, TivoHD, remote HDMI switch. Ridiculous because of where it's installed... in my 11x12 home office. I watched the Redskins blow their game yesterday. The amount of trash on the field is glaring on the Elite 84". The Epson is a steal for a nice affordable projector ($550 refurbed with warranty direct from Epson).

I have another system (26" LCD-based) installed in a guest room, another in my son's room (his 42" LCD-based) and need to figure out where to put the professional Samsung 40" monitor (400CX) I just found for a song. Have it mounted on a Z-Line flat panel stand ATM.

I still have several pieces that need to be hooked up. I just bought some Monoproce in-walls to check them out (2x5 center, 8" 2 ways), a Harman Kardon AVR 254 that I got from HK on ebay and basically don't have enough rooms to use all of the audio/video gear I have (the curse of the bargain hunter).

I'm using a Logitech Harmony 1000 remote with the 61" and have four others (Logitech Harmony 550, cost around $50 refurnished) in use on other systems. I couldn't be happier with these remotes. Very powerful yet relatively easy to program via their website.

I use X10 components for lighting control.

Great resource for projector shopping: http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...ulator-pro.cfm

This was a fun mental exercise.

[joeyl]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will try to get a Velodyne although they are a little bit more expensive than my budget allows. What do you guys think about HSU subs?

[Brick Top]

I have never listened to an HSU...but I have read many good things about them. I didn't realize they were more affordable than a velodyne.

When it comes to a sub....don't be afraid to buy used. There are no moving parts...so better chance of it not being broken...or breaking anytime in the future. You should be able to get a good high quality sub for way less than buying new on CL. My subs that are built into my mains are over 12 years old with lots of use....still work like a charm. Of course they are from the days when Mirage made nothin but quality. They are owned by Klipsch now....so I don't hold the same regard for quality in them anymore.

[joeyl]

I was able to find Velodyne 10" Subs on Ebay for about 200 bucks new. I have not heard HSU but a lot of people rave about them.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I think Brad wins the award for the most setups in one house! What? Nothing in the Bathroom?

Also, a big +1 for Logitec remotes. I have the 670 and it just about replaced every remote I have. At least five for the HT system alone.

Easy to program and one push of a button turns on/off whatever component I need then switches everything to the appropriate input.

Originally Posted by joeyl

I was able to find Velodyne 10" Subs on Ebay for about 200 bucks new. I have not heard HSU but a lot of people rave about them.

$200.00 for a Velodyne sub is great deal. Which model did you get?

I have a HSU VTF-1, one of their smaller subs. They do make a great product and they perform very well. I watched the newer version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, last night and things were just shaking in my room when the sphere thing was landing. I'd love to add a second or upgrade to a bigger model with deeper Hz extension, but it's suffice for now.