How much $ do you have tied up in gear- and did you expect to spend that much? (1 Viewer)

[HankB]

Paradigm Studio 80's $1,250
4 JBL S26's $300
JBL S Center $200
PW2200 Subwoofer $600
Pioneer Elite 45tx $1000
Sanyo XW15 Projector $2175
Panasonic RP82 $210
Belden/Canare Interconnects $500
Sony 400 Disc CD Changer $220
Audiosource EQ $50
Tripplite Rackmount SS $50
Touchscreen TFT $300
Equipment Control/HTPC $600

2 IKEA Chairs+Ottomans $300
Room Treatment, Lighting $1000
Screen $100 (yea for DIY!)

DVD's 154 * $18 $2772

Yikes! $11,627! I knew there was a reason I wasn't adding it up. I'm only 24 too, I shudder to think what the system will look like when I'm 40...

 

[Steve_Corrick]

Equipment: When purchased PAID / Sug-RETAIL

Toshiba TZ50V61" RPTV 1100.00 / 1500.00 -closeout
Boston Acoustics VR970 RL/FR 600.00 / 1600.00 -closeout
Boston Acoustics VR970 10" SUBx2 internal $0.00
Boston Acoustics VR-12 Cntr 225.00 / 450.00 -closeout
Boston Acoustics CR-8 RL/R 150.00 / 350.00 -closeout
Axiom M3ti Cntr Surround L/R 200.00 / 350.00 -MfrOutlet
Marantz MM9000 5x150w AMP 625.00 / 1100.00 -closeout
Marantz VC-8100 300xDVD 750.00 / 1100.00 -closeout
Marantz SR-7300 Receiver 700.00 / 900.00 -grey mkt
SONY DSS 1st generation 125.00 / 500.00 -closeout
SONY 200xCD 250.00 / 300.00 -on sale
SONY PS-DVD/SACD 250.00 / 300.00 -on sale
Cables IXOS - AR-Pro 350.00 / 700.00 -closeout

Total investment 5325.00 -vs- 9150.00 Retail

Purchased equipment over a three year period. I got lucky on many of these purchases as a local/regional retailer liquidated much of their stock at well over 50% off just before being bought out by a larger nationwide chain.
For now I'll spend my mad money on new tunes and movies, One of these days I'll probably start looking to upgrade the TV to take advantage of PS-DVD's and H-def, But there's no rush.

 

[Ryan Wright]

I'm easily into the 5 figures not including furniture & room treatments. A large chunk of that is my RPTV - I was an early adopter (2 and a half years ago) when prices were double what they're going for now and progressive scan DVD players couldn't be had for less than $700.

TV: Toshiba TW65X81 65" 16:9
Speakers: Haven't upgraded them yet. Inexpensive KLH speakers all around.
Receiver: HK-525
DVD: Toshiba SD-5109
Control: AMX color touchscreen
VCR: Inexpensive Sony

 

[Hap C]

Peter, I hear you loud and clear on the guitars. I'm still a guitar junkie first, with major GAS, have several small luthier acoustics, plus a Taylor, and several small maker (Anderson, PRS) electrics, plus a Fender or two, some amps, pedals, a small PA, microphones, etc. Ouch. You are right - HT is definitely a less expensive hobby.

I never bothered to add up the HT expenses until this thread, but it's not exactly cheap either.

Sony 53XBR HD RPTV
Sony remote
Denon AVR3300
Sony Prog Scan DVD
Samsung HD Receiver
Antenna for HD
Sony VCR
NHT VT 2.4 Fronts
NHT VS 2.4 Center
NHT VT 1.2 Rears
NHT VS 1.2a Sides
NHT Sub One, w amp
Salamander rack
Cables
Total (ouch) about $9K

And still counting; time to upgrade to separates soon, and I'm probably going to do that in the next month or so. I added the NHT VT 2.4 pair recently, and want more power for them. That will bring the total to, uh, way too much.

No regrets. The HT is truly enjoyable, and there is nothing better than watching a good HD TV show or prog scan DVD movie or concert with DTS or other great sound. We never go to the movies anymore, it's just not a satisfying experience after you have lived with a nice HT. Who wants to go sit in a crowded, sticky theater with mediocre sound and so-so picture when you can sit in your own HT, pet the dog, pick a little on the guitar, make a sandwich, pause the movie, and have really exceptional video and audio?

Hap

 

[Yee-Ming]

hmmm, let's see, my Sony Wega 29" is almost 2 years old, paid S$2,000 for it (retail is S$2,299 here).
got the Marantz SR8200 and Mission Cinema 8 series (782 + 78C + 78DS) as a package for about S$4,500; SVS25-31PCi for US$605 (about S$1,100), add around S$200 for cables & wires. throw in a Sony VCR and Pioneer DVD player for around S$300 each.
all in about S$8,000, about US$4,550 at current exchange rates. rather modest, compared to some of the rest of you lot out there. but I've noticed that Singapore prices are often a little lower than equivalent US prices in shops, although I don't think we can beat close-out or re-furb prices. (e.g. the SR8200 would have been about S$1,800 on its own, that's about US$1,000, which at the time -- 5-6 months ago -- was a good price for a brand-new unit).
upgrade plan: in about a year or two, when hopefully 42" plasmas reach about S$5-6,000 (presently decent ones go for a bit more than S$10,000), I'd like to get one, and at that time a good DVD player (with progressive scan, DVD-A and SACD natch). estimating that at S$1,000 or so, that's a S$7,000 video upgrade, taking the entire HT setup to S$13,000. still modest, I think, compared to some of you die-hards...
edit: forgot to answer the question on whether I expected to spend that much.
no. I already had the TV and DVD player, and I budgeted S$2-3,000 for a receiver and speakers. wound up dropping almost S$6,000 instead. what's a guy to do, at the S$3,000 level it didn't seem enough of an improvement over my HTiB, especially for music, but right now, I'm very happy with my system, audio-wise. now for the video upgrades...

 

[GregLee]

$994 since last June. No, I did not expect to spend this. I replaced a broken TV, then subscribed to digital cable to make better use of the new TV, then needed a receiver to use the cable box's digital audio jack, ...

$476 (w. 15% floor model disc.) Panasonic CT32D11, 32" SDTV
$199 Radio Shack RCA STAV-3990 5.1 A/V receiver
$_16 front speakers (garage sale), Sansui A3100, 3-way
$_12 surround speakers (Salvation Army sale), Aiwa SXNA34, 3-way
$_11 2 Coral BX-300 speakers (Salvation Army)
$__0 2 JBL 4310 "Control Monitor" 3-way
$100 Sony SA-WM20 subwoofer
$_80 Mitsubishi HSU-447 VCR, NTSC composite video out
$100 Samsung DVD S221

 

[Harlan]

I can't really say...but here's what I have:
Dedicated Theater:
Sharp 9000
Pioneer Elite 47TX
Sherbourn 5/1500A
Panny HD20 HD STB
Panny RP91 DVD player
Sony 300 CD player
Parasound HCA 1000 AMP
Parasound PSP 1000 preamp
Dynaudio Speakers (L,C,R)
Atlantic Tech 350/250 (Side rear, rear rear)
Monster HT2500 Surge protector (2)
Phillips CD burner
Hitachi VCR
Interconnects by Kimber, Monster, Audioquest, videoquest
Pronto 1000
Niles Speaker selector
Xantech IR repeater
Family Room Theater:
Sony 57" XBR
Hughes E86 HD STB
Panny A310 Dvd
Denon AVR 5700 receiver
Pronto 2000
AT System 350
Panamax Surge protector
Now if Santa is nice, I'll be adding a Samsung 15" Widescreen LCD TV to the Game room to go along with the Dynaudio speakers.

If I had to guess I'd say around $35,000 not including construction costs for the Theater.
Harlan

 

[Brae]

I didn't know we were including video, too. Add another $8500 to what I said above.

 

[Harlan]

Brae,


Good point, if we're not then take $14K off for displays and another $900 for DVD players.


Bomber

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

In the past year i've been through 5 receivers, 4 DVD players, 7 sets of mains, 7 center channels, 6 sets of surrounds, 5 sub-woofers, 3 displays, 2 complete cable overhauls, and 2 sets of speaker stands. Here's what i currently have and what i have invested:

TV: Hitachi 43" HD RPTV ($1290 open box)
DVD: Panasonic RP56 ($45 open box, $90 off from TV purchase
Receiver: Denon 1803 ($300 through a friend)
Mains: JBL N28s ($130, J & R)
Center/Surrounds: JBL NSP1 Package ($150 used)
Subwoofer: RCA 12" 200W ($200, Radio Shack)
Speaker Stands: 3 pairs ($75, DIY)
Cables: 10 cables, NXG ($45, shoppingmatrix)
Speaker Wire: 150ft 14AWG Zennith ($7.50, shopping matrix)
Banana Plugs: 7 Parts Express Dual Gold ($15 used)

TOTAL: $2257.50

When i look at what some others have spent and what they have, i'm pretty happy with my setup and what i've paid. My one regret is my subwoofer, which was purchased before i found the forum. It will be replaced w/ a DIY sub in the next week or two which will up my total about $100 since all i have to buy is the driver and building materials, i'll be scavenging the amp from my current sub.

Just for fun, my retail total is around $3500, which means by being a savvy consumer i've saved around $1250. That also makes me feel good. The one thing i know for sure is that if i have this kind of money invested in HT as a college sophomore, my total will most likely continue to climb as time goes by. I do know i enjoy my setup alot more than $2300 sitting in a bank somewhere, so i have no trouble justifying the expense. I know it's not alot to many, but to people my age it is.

Home theater is like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. 99% of the time you're going to enjoy what you get out alot more than holding on to what you put in.

 

[Scott Oliver]

My initial HT purchases came without much knowledge, listening, or planning but have since recovered and with a little luck actually came out of early mistakes in better financial footing then I had been. My last round of upgrades were done with care and bought based upon the piece being something that I will keep for the long haul. No really!

JM Reynaud Offrandes
Art Audio Concerto MKII
Analysis Plus Oval-9 bi-wire
Argent Jaden IC
Theta Casa Nova
Meridian 500
Bag End Infrasub-18
Sony DVP-S7000
Sony XBR 35" TV
Sony VCR
Atlantis Reference 4 shelf and AV rack
various lengths and types of Tara Labs and Kimber cabling
Panamax PLC's

Retail ~30K / Paid ~14K.

 

[Tom Lee]

Started at $2000 CAN, but ended up over 20K. This stuff is too addictive. My next project will run alittle more.

 

[Michael Marklund]

Ok, moved into new house July of 2001. That's when the bug bit. Went from 27" tv w/ cheap(!) rack system to:

Mitsubishi 65" Diamond hd-rptv...$2700/$5000
Denon 3802 AVR...$900/$1200
PSB Image 6T mains...$630/$1000
PSB Image 3LR rears...$350/$500
PSB Image 9C center...$250/$400
PSB Image 10S rear surround...$425/$650
SVS PC+ 20-39 sub...$825/$825
Monster HTS3500 conditioner...$230/$350
JVC dvd...$0/$150 (won this at xmas party)
cables...approx $750 (Monster 1.4 bi-wire,Better Cables,etc)
this Friday adding Denon 3800 DVD...$995/$1200

so far in a year and half: $7305paid/$10300retail

Upgrades planned for 2003:
Samsung hdtv tuner w/ sat dish...$1300ish
B&K 200.3 ref amp...$1600
B&K 200.2 ref amp(x2)...$1200ea
Denon dual cass deck...$175
Ah! Njoe Toeb cd player...$1000
ISF calibration...$750
and probably more cables.
coming to another $7200 for 2003 and that $15k should make the system complete until...Anthem AVM-20 or it's successor.

More than I expected?...yup! Happy?...yup. Used to blow $100 a week on golf. Since the birth of my daughter, I knew I'd be at home more and wanted to really enjoy hometime/movietime. Golf $$ spent on HT gear. Fair trade. Just hope the wife doesn't see how much I spent. (We have an agreement: I get to buy whatever I want for the HT as long as she doesn't know how much and I only use my monthly bonus $$. Works for me.

Does it ever end?
Michael

 

[Bill_D]

$2 much and hell no with more to come.

 

[Peter Patentcad]

>>We never go to the movies anymore, it's just not a satisfying experience after you have lived with a nice HT. Who wants to go sit in a crowded, sticky theater with mediocre sound and so-so picture when you can sit in your own HT, pet the dog, pick a little on the guitar, make a sandwich, pause the movie, and have really exceptional video and audio?

 

[Mathew Shelby]

I don't think I really want to know how much I spent, but for the sake of the forum, I will divulge it. Keep in mind that I am still in college (one more semester) and that I have a girlfriend who has a reasonably tight control over our budget.

Samsung 47" Wide HDTV w/ 4 year Service Plan $2300
HK AVR525 (my first was a Kenwood HTIB) $620
(2) Polk Audio Towers (Open Box; originally $600) $300
(1) Polk Audio Center Channel $200
(4) Polk Audio Surround Speakers ($99/ea.) $400
(1) Better Cables 3M Component $140
Misc. Wires/Plugs $200
(1) Toshiba Progressive Scan DVD $180
(1) Playstation 2 $200
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $4540.

This is my current setup. It does not include any figures for equipment that I have upgraded. This total is probably another $1500-$2000.

I also own in excess of 500 DVDs. So if you figure an average cost of $15/ea (some higher, some lower): $7500

 

[Ryan Wright]

Ah, I forgot to mention whether I intended to spend "that much."

Answer: Heck no. I started out wanting a $1500 big screen TV. Nothing special. Saw the new HD sets (they had two of them next to a dozen regulars, just the opposite of today) and there's no way I could have walked out of there with a regular old big screen after that.

It was all downhill from there. Had to have the progressive scan DVD player. Then the motorized blinds for the "cool" factor and to protect the screen during the day (blinds automatically lower to prevent the sun from shining directly on the screen in the late afternoon when I'm not home). Then I wanted to move all of my equipment to the back room except for the TV and speakers, and normal IR distribution just wasn't doing it for me since I couldn't see the displays on the equipment for feedback, so I went with AMX automation & an 8" color touchscreen. Now I bought the HK-525 when I intended to spend only $300.

Now I'm saving for an SVS subwoofer and after that it will be new speakers. Then I'll be talking front projection. Then, building a totally dedicated room with theater seats and a concession stand / bar. Then I'll want a bigger theater.

It never ends.

We never go to the movies anymore, it's just not a satisfying experience after you have lived with a nice HT.

Darn right. I go to maybe one movie a year. Haven't been to a single one yet this year, though I am going to see The Two Towers later this week - but only because I got a free ticket with my LOTR:EE purchase. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be going. I don't enjoy spending $8 and change when my home theater far surpasses the quality of local theaters. When you figure in the cost of tickets for both my wife and I, we could have bought the DVD.

 

[kevitra]

Mits 55809$2400
Denon 3802$800
Jolida 302b tube amp$1000
ACI Sapphire III$1200
Diva C3$400
Axiom QS4$300
SVS 25-31$400
DirecTiVo$300
Monster HTS2500$180
JVC SA70BK DVD$225
Hughes E86$500
Philips Pronto$200
Sony 400 disc changer $300
Cal Audio Sigma II DAC $300
Cables:$400

$8725

Software:
CDs400x$13 $5200
DVDs 30x$18 $540

Total: $14,465

I never really had a budget. I started with a modest 2 channel system, purchased my Sapphires, then decided to get an HDTV. With that came the HD decoder, surround setup, etc.

 

[Peter Patentcad]

I didn't factor in the cost of the 20 DVD's and 300++ CD's I own, but if you figure $12 avg per CD you get $3600 alone, so I probably have $4K+ in software too. Wow, this stuff really adds up if you analyze it. We're probably better off ignoring the cost. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

We never go to the movies anymore, it's just not a satisfying experience after you have lived with a nice HT.

By the end of the year, we will have seen only three films in the theater -- "Attack Of The Clones", "Die Another Day" and "The Two Towers". Meanwhile, our home theater movie viewing frequency is probably 3-5 films per week, so I think we are getting our money's worth out of the setup.