Help with new HT (1 Viewer)

[ehindes]

Hello all thanks for being here. I need some help in many areas but tonight I am focusing on my HT. I am completely overwhelmed here. I don't currently even own a stero so this is a huge jump for me. Here is what I have and what I am thinking.

10 x 24 no windows room.
currently needs wired for av. Everything else is done and I am needing the sheet rocker in next week.

I want an HTiB for sure. I have been looking at YHT-390bl. The one thing throwing me is the HDMI.

Oh and I am going to put a Front Projector

Looking to use for Wi, dishnetwork, dvd player.

What cables do I need in the ceiling and can i run all inputs into avr and only HDMI up to the FP?

Store said that I need to run the components seperate from the avr to the projector. Why can I not just put one line up to the FP?

I hope I covered everything. please help.

Eric

 

[Greg_R]

It sounds like your room is being built and the clock is ticking to get cables in-wall. Given your equipment selection, it sounds like you are operating in a budget mode. Normally I would say run every possible cable but that might get expensive (relative to the Yamaha system). Instead, do the following:

1) Run 1.5" or 2" PVC pipe through the walls with pull strings in them. This way you will be able to pull new cables through the wall and up to your PJ when required.
2) Start with a HDMI cable from your receiver location to the projector. bluejeanscable.com and Markertek sell good cables at a fair price (do not buy Monster cable at the local store).
3) You may also want to run the speaker cable through the walls. For this you can just run speaker cable (instead of using the PVC conduit). If you have the funds, run the conduit for future-proofing.
4) The subwoofer requires a RCA terminated coax cable. RG-59 or RG-6 "tv cable" will work in the walls for this. Be sure the cable has a good shield (quad shield is overkill but a safe choice). The wall plates for this will be F-type connectors ("cable TV plugs"). Radio Shack and others sell F-type -> RCA converter plugs for a few bucks.
5) Wall plates are recommended and make the room look neat and clean.

OK, now the immediate stuff is taken care of. Read around on the forums and pick out a PJ and screen (this can be a wall painted white). Once you have the equipment selected come back and we'll tell you what you need to hook everything up.

Good luck!

 

[ehindes]

Greg thank you for the response. I will run the pipe as you suggest and use the clean look of plates on each item. As you noticed I am on a budget a bit as I am finishing my entire basement. What I dont want to do is paint myself in a corner. So the pipe is sound advice.

Is the YHT-390bl an ok system? Is there an alternative when it comes to price?

I am going to go ahead for sure and run component, composite, hdmi and perhaps coaxil into the FP for now I think. On the HDMI cables is there any distance issue I should know about? I may need to go 30' from av to FP.

Thanks again
Eric

 

[David Willow]

Planning to have Blu-Ray? If so, this unit will not accept any HD audio.

Also, the speakers in most HTiB setups are extremely weak. The receiver can be as well. The best HTiB's are generally Onkyo's, since they include a standard receiver. However, at that price point, you still won't get HD audio even with Onkyo.

Entry level to get HD audio would be the Onkyo HT-S6100. You can find them for about $600. Again, don't expect much from the speakers....

 

[ehindes]

Thanks for the response. I understand I am not buying top of the line. I do believe that the rec. is standard and not a proprietery setup. I can buy better speakers and put on later. However, the bluray is a question. how long before this becomes the only medium for movies any idea? Seems that DVD is still holding on ok.

 

[Greg_R]

Since your budget is super-tight, I would suggest looking at the used market (Craigslist, local classifieds, etc.) and get separate components instead of a home theater in a box. The gotcha here is that you will need to know what you are buying (is brand XYZ a good speaker, etc.). As an example, my brother and I recently bought our parents a set of Polk R70 towers & Denon's top receiver from 4 years ago for $400. New this would have been $3k+. Now the Denon did not have HDMI video or video conversion. However, a good external HDMI switch will run

 

[ehindes]

So it sounds like I need not worry so much about the HDMI thing right now? It can be overcome later if need be.

So for now as you previously pointed out I need wires in the ceiling. So I will do the following

Run an HDMI from say Radio shack or something
Run RGB
Run Y
and install a pipe along the wall for future cables.

Just to be sure on the HDMI cable does the length of run mater? I have heard it does but can not confirm. I need 30' perhaps?

 

[ehindes]

Ok I just read a number of reviews on the YHT-390BL so that is what I will buy. Everyone that reviewed seemed really impressed with it.

Do I have to buy a HDMI DVD? Or just a standard DVD player?

cabling to the FP?

Thanks for everything I really enjoy this site and can see this HT thing becoming like Lowes for me...."crack"

 

[David Willow]

I believe you are safe with DVDs for many years to come. Plus, you can play blu-Ray discs on this receiver, just can't do the HD sound formats (will default to the older DVD formats).

 

[ehindes]

DW thank you and I am moving forward. Just have to buy all the cables now.... :-(

 

[ehindes]

I have an opportunity to obtain an older projector for a reasonable price but wonder if it is a good deal. I saw the FP and we watched a movie on it just using a white wall and it was excellent.

The FP is a used Sharp Notevision6 XG-NV6XU MSRP in 99 was $10,000 I can get it for a few hundred I think. Lamp has around 600 hrs on it.

Here is a link to it if someone would mind commenting on it.

Sharp Projectors: Sharp Notevision6 (XG-NV6XU) 3 LCD projector

Cant figure out how to hyperlink sorry.

This has 2200 ansi 250:1 contrast so I thought it would be pretty good.

HDTV, 1080i, 720p compatible.

eric

 

[ehindes]

Doing some more looking in my price range and it appears this may be a good buy and new.

Sony Bravia® VPL-AW10

Feelings anyone?

 

[SethH]

You will want a heavier gauge HDMI cable for that long of a run. Also, make sure you get cables that are rated for in-wall use so you are up to code. If you look at monprice they have a 22awg HDMI cable that is rated CL2 for a good price.

 

[ehindes]

Wow never even thought about in wall vs. not...... Thanks

 

[ehindes]

Ok I am trying to buy a projector on Ebay. I have spent a great deal of time over the last few days studying projectors that are are couple years old to try and get a better projector and stay under $700.

Here is what I am considering so please comment on which might be best.

This is for a dark 25 x 10 room. lights on a dimmer of course.

Sanyo PLV-z5 just missed this on ebay dang speed bidders
Sanyo PLV-z4
Infocus sp-4805
Optoma HD70
Optoma HD65

I do want HDMI, around 1,000 lum, 720p

I also looked at PLV-z2 and 3 but kept reading about this blue haze that set in.

please help me sort this out.

 

[Greg_R]

Eric, don't buy your HDMI cable locally... check out the two companies that I mentioned in my first post. Bluejeans sells a thicker gauge HDMI cable for longer runs... I would use that one given your 30'+ length run.

 

[ehindes]

thanks greg I will do that. I also dont think I have to go that far now. What is the cable called that goes in the wall?

I ended up buying a sanyo PLV-z4 it has a working bulb and I got a spare all for under 650 with shipping.

eric