My Home Theater Page

Like many of us here my HT is a work in progress and I have been working at it since 1984. My home theater started off with a basic Kenwood rack system, I then added components like a JVC CD player, Onkyo Integra Turntableand a Onkyo Integra Cassette Deck. At that time I used a 19" Color TV, not sure what brand actually. This hobby has been funded off of $10 - $14/hr so it allways takes longer to upgrade than I would like it to. But like many of us here we do what we can and it is a passion.

At some point I added a Yamaha laserdisc player, JVC 4 head Hi-Fi VHS was purchased at some point along with a and a Sylvania 27" TV. I own a pair of Altec Lancing A-7 Voice Of The Theater speakers that I purchased from my father for $400.

Equipment has come and gone and since I started I have added components like a Denon DTR-2000 DAT Recorder, Denon DCD-1290 CD Player, JVC QL-50 Turntable, Marantz LD-520 Laserdisc Player and Toshiba 31" TV. I also have owned a McItosh MX-130 pre/pro which was one of the best a/v peices I have ever owned, wish I still had it. I also purchased a Yamaha RX-V995 just to have DTS & DD and it has been trouble free and sounds very good. It still sits in my current HT system and is part of my HD configuration.

Over the past two years I have been upgrading to HD and this has been the most serious upgrade so far. I have added a Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player, Sony BDP-S300 and a Sony KDF-F50A10 720P 50" LCD HDTV. The Sony KDF-F50A10 was actually only purchased as a temperary HDTV and will be ugraded in the near future.

I am also planning on upgrading the following gear:

Yamaha RX-V995 5.1 Receiver ---- Possible Denon AVR-3808ci or Onkyo ?
Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player ---- Panasonic BD-30 or Denon DVD-3800
Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player ---- Most likely will not upgrade to HD-A3
Sony KDF-F50A10 50" HDTV ---- Mitsubishi Laservue or Samsung 60" -73" 1080p HDTV
Add Subwoofer - Velodyne or SVS

Old Kenwood system that I started off with many years ago.


First Dolby Prologic Surround Setup



Past HT Configuration: McIntosh MX-130 Pre/Pro
(Harman Kardon CD Player, Denon CD Player, Denon DAT Recorder, Onkyo Integra Cassette Deck, Onkyo Integra Turntable, Yamaha Laserdisc, JVC VHS Recorder and a Onkyo Amplifier).




Yamaha RX-V995 5.1 Receiver with 31" CRT TV




Altec Lancing Decal




Yamaha configuration: Yamaha RX-V995 5.1 Surround Receiver.
(Marantz Laserdisc Player, Denon CD Player, Denon DAT Recorder and Onkyo Integra Cassette Deck).




Yamaha 995, Sony DVP-S9000 ES and Toshiba HD-A1




Yamaha 995, Sony BDP-S300, Tohshiba HD-A1, Sony DVD and Denon CD




A/V Rack with Sony HDTV and Altec A-7





Possible candidates to replace current Yamaha RX-V995

Denon AVR-3808ci
Denon AVR-4308ci
Onkyo TX-SR805
Onkyo TX-NR905
Marantz SR-7002
Marantz SR-8002

Receiver brands that will not be used:
Sony
Kenwood
Sherwood

The next upgrade: Profile 1.1/HDMI 1.3 Blu-ray player with bitrate output.

Next upgrade: HDTV 60" - 73" 1080p, not sure what brand I will purchase at this time but I am keeping an eye on the upcoming Mitsubishi Laservue HDTV and the Samsung is another brand I am considering as far as rear projection models go. I might consider a Panasonic plasma but I will be doing alot of research between now and then before locking in a choice.


This is what my HT could possilbly look like if I go with a Denon receiver and Blu-ray player.




My HT with a Mitsubishi Laser TV

Re: My Home Theater Page

Update:

HT upgrade is on hold until later this year 2009. I can not wait to get my aging Yamaha RX-V995 replaced. It is nice that there is so many good choices out there but I am leaning towards a Denon AVR-3808ci over everything else. I was close to pulling the trigger on the Onkyo 805 but after Onkyo castrated it with the new 806 I decided not to go that route. Just incase there was a major problem where Onkyo tried to replace it with an 806. I know that the chance of that happening is small but I wouldn't own the 806! The amplifier section on the 806 will not touch the 805 and there is now no Burr Brown DAC's so no sale on the 806 or 805. I could go Marantz or Integra but I like the Denon more and I can always get a power amp later on. It is amazing how much time and money can be spent planning and building a home theater system and the job never ends.

I do know I do not want a Sony receiver in the mix as I would rather have the wimpy Onkyo 806. The Denon seems to put out closer to advertised specs and I know that the video section is going to be better on the Denon as well. This has been the hardest upgrade I have ever done as I can not believe how much time I have spent going back and forth which receiver will do the best job for the money.

And trying to finish off refinishing my old Altec A-7 VOTT's


Denon AVR3808ci


Possible power amp added later? Emotiva mps2

Re: My Home Theater Page

All I see is equipment references, do you have any links to the actual theater? What type of sound treatments did you use? Insulation? How many rows of seating? What type of lighting/scenes? Soffits? Columns? Riser? Share the details.

Re: My Home Theater Page

Sorry I forgot to finish my update post yesterday.

My home theater is still in the upgrade stage and does not have theater seating or sound treatments yet. The pictures above are pictures of the equipment I have now and how it might look with certain upgrades. I also am in the middle of restoring my Altec A-7's and hope to have them refinished in a piano black high gloss finish this year or next year. I do not make alot of money so it is going to take me alot longer than I like to actually finish this project.

Planned upgrades:
Denon AVR-3808ci (unless I find a reciever that will do a better job ?)
Denon DVD-2500 Bluray player (or equivelent)
DirectTV HD receiver with DVR
New Center Channel and Rear Speakers
Subwoofer
1080p Projector
110" - 120" Stewert Film Screen
Room Treatments

The equipment set up has been changing and has been added to over and over again over the years. Sorry I forgot this detail regarding the things I had vs the things I still needed to actually upgrade and buy.

I will also look into posting some nice pictures once the home theater is actually finished. Feel free to make suggestions as they are welcome.

Here is a crude picture of what the system would look like with a projection screen and after make my move. Altec A-7's still need to be refinished in a piano black with new voice of the theater decals. And a new tv stand so I can fit a larger center channel to go with the Altec A-7's.

Re: My Home Theater Page

As if upgrading and adding to a home theater was not enough for most of us.

This is my second project that I am taking my time on and will hopefully not take to long to finish.

What I need to finish:
1970's JBL Speakers
Pioneer Reel to Reel Tape Deck
Stereo Power Amplifier
AM/FM Tuner

 Here it is August 13th, 2009 and I am still trying to stash money away for a new a/v receiver.    I am still wanting to get that Denon AVR-3808ci as I feel it would be the best choice for replacing the current Yamaha RX-V995.  But if it takes to much longer to get the money the fallback plan is to find a smoking deal on a discontinued Onkyo TX-SR805 for under $600.


Here are some current photos of my HT after moving back to California:

9/08/2009  Well I could kill for a Onkyo TX-SR876 after seeing it priced at Fry's for ether $899 or $999!  It is sad when money is so tight that you can not seem to save up for a receiver or even get one on credit!      

My focus still remains on replacing my lacking Yamaha RX-V995 with something with more power, better amplifier section, component video, HDMI & upscaling to HDMI, internal decoding of DTS-HD MA & Dolby True HD, Audyssey and multi-channel input and output.  I really do not want to move down from the 995 and unfortunately I honestly see the lower end receivers as just that, a downgrade!

The other things I want to focus on is upgrading my Sony BDP-S300 to a Denon 2500 or Marantz Bluray.  If I wasn't so dam poor I could have picked up an open box Denon 2500 Bluray for $499 @ Fry's.     Then I would like to finally get a subwoofer, ether a SVS, Velodyne or Klipsch?  I would like to have a 1080p projector with a 100" screen but hell lets be honest I am having a hard enough time getting my receiver.  I have however decided that if I can not get the equivalent of a Onkyo 807 or better like a Denon 3808ci then I will just put up with the Yamaha 995!  I see no point in downgrading to a Onkyo 707, Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K, Yamaha RX-V1065 or a Sony STR-DA5400ES.  Even though I want something with Audyssey if the right deal came along I wouldn't be against going with a Pioneer Elite, Rotel, Marantz (which has Audyssey) or stepping up to a Adcom!

All I can say is I hate being poor and want a new receiver !        
Edited by Dave Moritz - 9/14/09 at 8:15pm