August Austin HTF meet. (1 Viewer)

The dog days of summer are upon us, and it's much better to be indoors this time of year in Austin. That means it's a perfect time for another HTF meet!

I suggest we have a meet on Saturday, August 16, 23, or 30 (first two weekends in August are not good for me).

Whatever date works for the most people will become the date of the meet.

Next, we need to agree on a topic. Here are my suggestions...

- HDTV: Someone with HDTV can show off the vastly superior picture quality and discuss the technical aspects of receiving HDTV programming in Austin.

- Home theater rooms: We could have a meet all about the physical environment of a home theater. This could include room analysis/acoustics, room treatments, and decor for turning an ordinary room into a home theater. We could talk about where to get those 'cool touches' for home theaters (framed movie posters, Dolby Digital/dts plaques, use of paint/moldings/lighting, etc.).

- HTPC: Delve in-depth into how to build a home theater PC. What works and what doesn't work so well? How can you make your own media center PC with PVR functionality and high-quality scaled DVD playback? How does one use a DVD burner to record one's own DVDs?

- Equipment auditions: Curious about hearing the current crop of affordable high-performance gear available over the Internet? Stuff that would be interesting to demo would include...
* SVS subwoofers
* Outlaw Audio receivers/pre-pros/power amps
* Rocket and/or nOrh loudspeakers

Let the games begin!!!

First, I'm in. Colin you have the predecessor to the HGS line, what do you think of the Velodyne HGS II's? I've been thinking of a single/pair of the HGS 10's for my bedroom theater.

Secondly, I'd put off my buying of either a L300 or a CS10 projector if those items could be demo'd side by side. Of course that would be an ideal situation. Also opinions on which is better for HD signals if anyone has experience with those.

Third, I have a Samsung TS-160 HD capable Satellite receiver and it has terrestrial reception capability. I can bring it along to any meet if there is interest. I can get at least 2-3 stations locally off a small Zenith Silver Senor tv-top antenna and if a DirecTV dish feed is handy I can tune in HD-Net. Currently I'm not paying for the HBO, ESPN etc.. feeds. I mainly picked it up as a way to watch some of the Prime Time shows in widescreen w/Digital sound. The Samsung will plug into just about anything a person might have.

Humphrey

PS: On another note if someone has these and wouldn't mind demo'ing them for me privately I'd appreciate a look. I've heard good things about both and really don't want to learn the hard way I should've bought the other one. Been there, Bought that :frowning:

I'm in. Right now, all of August is open for me, but I think the later in the month the better. That will give us more time to plan and discuss the meet before hand.

Sounds good and I vote for room measuring/acoustic treatment design/build. HT room acoutrements also sounds good.

I won't be able to attend if the meet falls on the weekend of the 30th.

Humphrey: I have an L300U I'd be happy to demo for you. Drop me an email and we can set something up sometime. Kinda busy lately, but we can figure something out I'm sure.

I have an EBS Shiva subwoofer that will be for sale soon... perhaps a bit large and imposing for a bedroom theater, though. I'll demo that for you too if you're interested.

Colin,

I could probably host if anyone is interested, but it'd have to be on a Saturday night as my theater really needs darkness to shine. If so, I'll check what dates would work.

I do have a Samsung T160 HDTV/DirecTV receiver running into the NEC LT150. I also have the DirecTV HD package, with ESPN HD, Discovery HD, HDNet and HDN Movies. And I also get OTA HD (NBC, CBS, WB, and hopefully ABC by mid-August if their antenna is finished on time). Its not true HD as its scaled to 576p, but its better than DVD for sure. ESPN HD baseball looks exceptionally good (and I *HATE* baseball!).

My Denon 3803 receiver is also probably worthy of a demo. Its pre-pro is very comparable to the Outlaw 950. Its setup for 7.1 so its a pretty cool demo system for DD-EX and DTS-ES discs.

And I also have some cheap plaques for DTS and DD that I made for $3 each

Of course, I live out in the boonies near Frederick, so its a bit of a drive.

-Dave

I'm in. And for once I don't have any topic suggestions. How odd.

I'd love to come. My birthday is on the 16th, which probably nixes it for me, as I'm sure my wife will have some plans. But if it's later in August, I can most likely make it if I'm in town.

Steve

Messuer Jonathan, could you please check your email or cell phone messages? I have been frantically attempting to contact you since I sold my beloved SVS yesterday, and my living room is sans sub :^( It's truly, truly a pathetic sight. Thanks.

If anyone is interested in seeing what all the hubbub is about with the Infocus X1 I can bring mine along. I am also interested in the room dimensions aspect as I have a difficult room I am working with right now.

Steve, I'll call you this evening. My phone was in airplane mode all weekend; didn't get messages till today, sorry.

I hate that freakin' airplane mode. I just turn the dang thing off now. I won't be at the house this evening, but give me a ring on the cell (589-9472) and we'll work out the details. Thanks.

Steve

Hey guys.

Colin... great idea!!!

I might be able to fit into this meet.

I might be tied up at first because the family and I are going to be moving on Aug 14 & 15 and the 16th and 17th I will be moving the home furniture around.

But on Aug 13th I will be doing some indoor painting and that includes my theater room painting also .

I doubt I will have all my drapes and curtin equiment ready by the time we have the meet, but I will keep you guys posted to let you know if I will be avaliable to go to the meet or not, but I think I might be able to squeeze in.

-But I will tell you this much. I am getting an new set of 5.1 speakers which are the AR HC6 (which I hear are really nice speakers from what I read from others, I will also run 2 power subs and thats my DCM 10" and the AR long throw 8",, which I think will rock really nice since I have an pulse switch on my DCM amp)
My theater room is 14'x13' and seating depends on furniture, but I know I will be able to sit about 3-6 people and then some if wants to sit on the floor.
I am not going to ramble, but this is what I have coming 4 sure. As for a/v receiver,,, I think might just keep mine since I been happy with my HK .

I'll keep checking back.

-Mike

Doug,

How is that Goo Screen working out for you? What other screen material did you try out with the X1?

I'd like to attend the meet if it's on the 23rd or the 30th. I'd be happy to show the HD cable offering by Time Warner with my Sony VW10HT (I know it's old, but it works). I'm also interested in the room acoustics stuff as well as the HTPC stuff. I guess I'm easily entertained, so I have an interest in all of the suggested topics.

Rich

Master, if I may be so bold. May I leave the laboratory in August for this gathering? I promise not to stray too far.

Scott "Igor" Hinson

Igor is now your new nickname Scott. If Master Dr. T will let you out of the lab and away from your design software and soldering iron, it'll be nice to see you. I think we forgot what you look like, so wear a nametag. This speaker biz is time-consuming ain't it?

Looks like the consensus is drifting toward August 23. Any protests before we lock in that date???

23rd works for me

How is that Goo Screen working out for you? What other screen material did you try out with the X1?

The Goo is great but I moved my X1 and have to paint another wall. I am in a new house and setup has been a &$tch because of room size. The room is a little too cozy.

I tried a Da-lite screen, a cheap pull down screen (which I am selling cheap if anyone is interested), and I tried blackout cloth. I experimented with the Parkland product as well and I probably should have painted it with goo but the new room has very flat walls so the painted on screen works really well. It also avoids the angle problems associated with a ceiling mount.

Really funny thing though the new room has a reddish brown, almost orange paint and nobody has seen a rainbow on it at all. Once I adjusted for the color I am getting a great picture so I haven't been as driven to get the goo out. Well that and my SO has a list a mile long of things to take care of. We have only been in the house a month or so.

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Hey guys,

I was wondering if any of you own an dvd player that supports DVI? I like to see how an dvd movie looks in 1080i ..
Or if anyone see one in action and can post your thoughts about it. I am just wondering if it is worth getting one since I can grab one for about 199.00

Thanks

The Adventures of Dr. T and Igor. Movie at eleven.