What's new

Help me to choose (1 Viewer)

jmartingarcia

Auditioning
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
8
Real Name
Martin
Hi all, I'm finally looking at proposals to create my dreamed (kind of) home theater. My budget is 10 to 12K. I have look into three different places/companies to do this project and they have provided me with different quotes. I will like to have your help to determine the best option for my money or even if I should combine their offerings. Please find attached the room dimension diagram plus the file with the proposals. Some comments about each proposal: Option-1: - Not sure about projector compared with the 6030UB - High Labor cost Option-2: - Not sure about the screen. - Are they using better speakers ? - EXPENSIVE (If I downsize the speakers to DALI ZENSOR 7 I will save like 1k. What do you think? Is really worthy those 1K extra for the speakers?) Option-3: - I'm not sure about the speakers Paradigm. Specially his comment about putting them on the wall flat (not pointing to me). In addition I was thinking I can save some money by not getting the universal remote control. I don't really think I need that. Any comments ? Thanks and regards,
 

Attachments

  • Option-1.pdf
    155.5 KB · Views: 120
  • Option-2.pdf
    422.3 KB · Views: 75
  • Option-3.pdf
    239 KB · Views: 59
  • RoomDimensions.pdf
    174.9 KB · Views: 59

Jason Charlton

Ambassador
Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 16, 2002
Messages
3,557
Location
Baltimore, MD
Real Name
Jason Charlton
I would ditch whoever offered option #1. No one who professionally installs home theaters, should suggest in-ceiling main speakers. Stewart screens, while nice, are overpriced and his budget allocation is skewed in all the wrong directions.

If I were building a system from scratch, I would allocate 50% of the budget to the speakers + subwoofer, 30% to the display + screen/mount, no more than 10% to the AVR and other electronics, with the remaining 10% going to cabling and accessories.

Since you're getting it professionally installed, you have to factor in labor costs, which shifts everything down a notch, but at least for me, the ratios would remain roughly the same.

I would shop for your own subwoofer - neither subwoofer in option 2 or 3 is worth getting for a $12k theater. I would also suggest supplying your own HDMI cables.

Are you located in the US? Monoprice or Bluejeans for cables - lots of subwoofer options in the
 

jmartingarcia

Auditioning
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
8
Real Name
Martin
Jason, thank you for your response.

- Yes, I'm located south of Houston, TX.
- What subwoofer would you recommend ? (for the price range < $300)
- I've tested the DALI speakers only, they were good but hard to say If I cannot compare with other brands.
- I have the feeling from option 2 you only didn't like the subwoofer. Is that correct ?

Now, what do you think about the projector?. The one in Option 1 is considerable cheaper than the Epson 6030UB ... Not sure how much better is the last one really.
Should I downsize in the projector and with that money increase the subwoofer quality ?

Othe thing I'm not sure is if white screen or grey screen will be better for me. The room is a dedicated media room and no windows so I can control the light.

Thanks,
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
When i get to a comp, I'll look at the proposals...Keep in mind...I loathe LCD projectors. Where are you finding Dali in the US? Glad somebody is picking them up.Thought my ears were burning...
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
Of all three...2 makes the most sense. Get rid of the power bar and cables(sad what people charge).

Ignore one(including the company) completely.


And Jason is right. False wall with a woven*(I prefer Seymour and Screen Research. Falcon is recommended as well) AT screen.

Then all your components reside...hidden, behind it.

Is there a reason for the in-ceiling?

*There are two types of AT.

Woven and micro-perf.

I wish micro-perf would disappear from the market.
 

jmartingarcia

Auditioning
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
8
Real Name
Martin
This is for a 7.1 setup. The way he explained to me was to be prepared for Dolby Atmos but they don't have to be on the ceiling.

Thanks for the recommendation. I will look at the option of the false wall.

What about the screen color. Is white the best option here ?
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
First we are hearing Atmos....(where are the remaining speakers? cause Atmos would be 11)

Grey or white to be determined by your projector. Low contrast projector...go grey. High...choose white.

And I would choose a DLP...but that is me.

And...

IF you go AT you can back the screen up and get around another foot of distance...which in turn you could get your couch another foot off the back wall(it is too close....)
 

jmartingarcia

Auditioning
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
8
Real Name
Martin
Yes I was reading that about the Atmos.

Do you have a specific (in budget 3K) DLP projector to recommend ?

The reason the screen is at that position is because I'm trying to keep it three feet from the floor. I might be able to play with that little bit to push it back. Why the AT solution will let me push more the screen back ?
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
I assumed it was where it was to clear a center speaker. I would go equal height above and below(based on actual ceiling height).W7500...BenQHowever, not run a room calc...
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
Major difference is the DLP design.Fluid motion. Better handling of 24fps.If you do any of this yourself(like buy your own AT fabric and build the wall)...then you have the budget for JVC and Sony.
 

jmartingarcia

Auditioning
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
8
Real Name
Martin
If I get the BenQ W7500 I can upgrade the receiver to a Yamaha RX-A1040 and still is cheaper.

What do you guys think ? ...
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,710
Messages
5,121,078
Members
144,145
Latest member
treed99
Recent bookmarks
0
Top