[TwinDad]

Destroyed by Fire
Greetings,

My old A/V setup was lost in a fire a few days ago.

I am interested in building a system around an ONKYO TX-SR875 Receiver, a 52" TV (Sony XBR5 or Samsung), or a state of the art Plasma TV such as the 52" PIONEER ELITE KURO, a hybrid player with HD audio/Blu-ray/HD DVD, a surround sound speaker system (DALI IKON 6 5.1 or similar), a Marantz DV7001 SACD/CD/DVD player or equal, a piece of Light Cherry furniture to place TV on and store components inside - with doors to fight off dust build up. Finally, I would like a DV Recorder with storage built in (250GB).

I need advice on my choices. Are they a good fit? Please make recommendations especially on the Hybrid player or if I should go with just a dedicated Blu-Ray player instead. I know nothing about interconnects, video cables, HDMI 1.3 cables etc. I would prefer not to use Monster Cable this time around. Should I configure the new system with your help and buy via internet or go through local dealers and let them do the install on the system we design here. There are 4 people in my family - 2 adults and twin boys. Should I buy professional Home Theatre seating in a semi circle from Stressless Seating? The prior sofa/loveseat reeks of smoke damage.

Please adopt my cause and help steer me in the right direction. I am a musician so the audio has to be stellar on the new system. My old setup was over 20 years old and I am a neophyte with regards to todays industry standards. All the new products I named were pulled from various web reviews. MY BUDGET IS $15K TO $17K FOR EVERYTHING. Please feel free to amend my original design.

Currently we are using a borrowed TV from my in laws so my kids don't go crazy and drive us crazy as well. Feel free to make as many changes to my initial design as possible to help me reach the current state of the art. A fire is a horrible thing to go through.

Thanks,

Eddie

[Robert_J]

I'm not going to make recommendations about individual components. There are sections just for that where you will get better responses. This section is more for getting the room right and setting up the system.

What type of room is this? Dedicated media room or just a living room with a big TV? Size?

You already know enough to skip the Monster cable so that's a start. Seating, that depends on what YOU want. I'm still looking for a love seat with cup holders and foot rests. My wife and I sit close when watching TV and don't want an arm rest between us.

No matter what you buy, to tie everything together, get a Harmony remote control. I recommend the 880 IR or the 890 IR/RF depending on how your equipment is set up. It will simplify even the most complex systems.

-Robert

[troy evans]

First off, I hope you and your family are doing allright given your recent loss. Fire damage is a traumatizing thing to go through. The one thing I would recommend is if you don't have any HD DVDs then there's no need to get that player. Just get a Blu-ray player.

[mayhem13]

Yeah-same here-sorry to hear about the fire, obviously you're ok so thats whats important. With that kind of budget you have a lot of options. Here's something to think about. How about self powered mid field studio monitors and a AV processor that can be upgraded as technology advances-say outlaw990. And yes, i agree only blue-ray is needed now with HD DVD dead ro dying.

[TwinDad]

Thanks for the replies. I had a difficult time getting site to allow me to post and contacted moderators via PM. I asked them to put this post in the forum that would be the best place to get guidance.

The room is 20'L x 14" W with 8' ceilings. The floor is an open floor design with giant archways separating rooms instead of doors. Only the bathroom and main door are actually doors. There are 2 standard windows on one wal and a giant bay window on the wall in the adjacent room. The home is 100% carpeted except for the bathroom.

I am a musician. The musical part of the system is very important to me. Please keep that in mind.

I WILL purchase a Blu-ray player.

Am I allowed to post this thread at the multiple sites required to help put system together?

This is more of a family room than high end dedicated Home Theater as seen on CRIBS and similar shows. We have a piano in there. Guitar and Bass Amps and drums. Also several different guitars and basses. I plan on shifting the room around so the primary focus is on the new Home theater setup. I will move drums to kids room. Guitars and bass stuff into my bedroom. Piano stays where it is.

A local dealer told me to save my money and buy the 50" non-Elite Kuro plasma 1080P HD TV today and apply savings to source equipment and speakers. He said after a properly done recalibration I would not notice a difference in picture quality. Is this true? I am a neophyte and truly require aid.

If you have friends on this forum that are highly gifted when it comes to putting together a system from scratch - please ask them to visit this post and make recommendations or change everything I listed into a better setup as far as synergy is concerned.

My kids are fine. My wife is fine. I was the only one to get injured - however, I heal quick!

Thank You,

Eddie

[Robert_J]

I would create a thread in each section giving a little background info and then ask specific questions about the piece of equipment you want. For example, I only go to the receiver section when it is time for me to buy a new receiver so I don't know what is on the market now.

Your room is about the same as my dedicated home theater. But based on your description, I would stay away from plasma TV's. They have glass screens and have reflection problems in rooms with a lot of light. Look at LCD models. They have less of a reflection problem.

I have never heard of the speakers that you mention. Do you have a link? Are you looking for towers or bookshelf models? How about a sub? Are you a bass nut like I am? With an open room, you are not going to get the response down low like in a closed room. If you want massive bass, then you have to compensate and use a larger sub.

-Robert

[mayhem13]

Taking into account you are a musician, as i am is why i mentioned the studio monitor setup-lets say monitors from Genelec,Adam, or Dynauido. The first two have some very nice HT arrays that would outperform most commercial audio systems. I am currently doing a system for a friend using 5 M-audio nearfield monitors and a pair of velodyne subs along with the Outlaw 990 processor.

[Robert_J]

Nearfield monitors are made for listening close to them. Hence the name.

I suggest that you go audition as many speakers as possible. Circuit City, Best Buy, Magnolia Home Theater, Fry's and any local home theater shop you can find. The forums as AV123 have people who will let you into their home for an audition. AV123 makes some great speakers but they are only available internet direct.

-Robert

[TwinDad]

Check this out:

Hi everyone,

I spoke with a local dealer several times over the last few days via phone and told him my budget was no more than $17K for everything.

When I got to his store today - the high end listening room was piled high with boxes. The system he tried to sell me with install cost in the mid $30K range. I was really disappointed. He had Thiel CS3.7 speakers hooked up to some exotic stuff - ANTHEM processor, etc. He did not listen to a thing I said prior on the phone.

I'm bummed out.

I'd like to issue a challenge. You know my budget. Design a great sounding A/V system for me and I will pick the winner and send him a great knife as a gift for the effort. I collect knives as a hobby.

PM me with trustworthy internet or phone order dealers who are known for being reputable and their discounting of price.

Does this sound like a fair challenge? I will post pics of the system once installed.

HT seating already taken care of by my wife. She purchased beautiful HT seating by Stressless Seating.

Great Big Thanks!!!

Eddie

[Robert_J]

From the ED Home Theater package builder:
7.1 System Contents

A6 - 6T6 - MTM Pair - Please select the main speakers for your 7.1 system
A6 - 5T5 - MTM Single - Please select the center channel speaker for your 7.1 system
5TC - Bookshelf Pair - Please select the rear speakers for your 7.1 system
5TC - Bookshelf Pair - Please select the secondary rear speakers for your 7.1 system
A7 - 450 Subwoofer - Please select the subwoofer for your 7.1 system

Your Current Package Price is: $1768
Package Savings
15%
Regular Price
$2080
Your Package Price
$1768
You Save
$312

You can get similar setups from SVS and AV123. All offer EXCELLENT customer service.

A quality receiver from Pioneer, Denon, Onkyo, etc and your source equipment (DVD, cable, satellite, CD, etc) and the appropriate cables are all you need. You don't need installation. You can wire this stuff up in an hour. You also learn how it works. If you have someone do it for you, then you have to call them when something doesn't go right as opposed to troubleshooting it yourself and saving a service call charge.

-Robert

[TwinDad]

Spoke with three dealers on phone today and have appointments set up for Saturday.

My wife is insisting that we visit the BOSE store in the local mall. Her co-worker has a 1-2-3 system and swears that it is outstanding. I doubt it very much. However, she is very supportive about the whole HT system set-up and i have to give in and go on the wasted time travel excursion.

Nicest dealer and most informative on phone is a LINN / ARCAM / REL dealer who said he can put together a great system within my budget.

Things are looking up.

I LOVE THE PIONEER KURO PLASMA 50" TV!!!