Spend my $5000 (1 Viewer)

[wcb323]

OK, after stalking for a while, I am ready for my first post. I will be delvinglve into my first HT project and would like to do it right. Not too worried about a superior music listening experience, my HT will be almost exclusively for movies and sports, but I want a really good system to make it worth the trek into the basement!

My room will be 12' X 13' with one side opening up into a much larger section of the basement.

I want the largest screen I can reasonably afford to maximze the theater effect, so I am leaning towards the 65" Sharp Aquos LC65D64U, which I can get for around $3100.

I know I want the best possible 5.1 sound system, so where should I be looking to spend my remaining $1900? Should I be looking to spend the largest part of this on the speaker system, or in the receiever?

Any ideas will be most welcomed!

 

[Robert_J]

The largest screen for the money is a projector system. I picked up a Panasonic AE900U for about $2K a couple of years ago (whenever they were new) and built a 103" screen for $75. I'm building 7 speakers for about $80 each and use a Pioneer VSX-1014 that I picked up for $400 (again when it was new). My current sub did cost me about $1,000 but with dual 15" drivers, 2,400w amp and 12 bands of digital parametric EQ, it was worth it.

I threw that out to show you that you can save some money with DIY. It's not as difficult as you think. And your money will go much further.

You should spend the majority of the budget on speakers. Quality speakers will last for decades. Based on that go out and at least listen to speakers so you know the sound that you like. What sounds good to me may sound like crap to you. It's a very personal thing.

-Robert

 

[SethH]

DIY is great, but it's not for everyone.

If it's not for you, you can still do very well for $1900. For instance, you could pick up the following:

Denon AVR-1909 - $650
SVS 5.0 SBS-01 Speakers = $599
SVS PB12-NSD = $599

There are definitely other options out there, but this is just one example of something I think you would probably be very pleased with.

 

[staindrocks]

If you're main concern is to "maximize the theater effect", as far as video is concerned, then you should strongly consider a projector(as Robert suggested). Around $2000 could get you a great pj, couple that with a DIY paint-on-wall screen(search Black Widow), and spend $2000 on your audio. Then take the $1000 left over to get a 50" plasma(Panny at Sears) for upstairs, for those times when you don't want to take that trek into the basement.

 

[sestamuch]

Like the experts suggested the projector may be your best bet here if you're wanting to have that theater feeling and you'll still be left with some credits in your budget that you could then use elsewhere.

 

[Greg_R]

Good suggestions so far. Budget some money for cables. I recommend high quality options like the stuff sold on Markertek or Bluejeanscable.com. Do not spend a bunch of cash on Monster cables... they are overpriced. Look for a PJ and receiver that can handle HDMI video (less clutter and best picture).

 

[Rennie Cowan]

I can help you spend, and get what you want for less than $5,000.00 . First, get a 7.1 sound system, and steer away from 5.1 sound systems. Because 7.1, that's the highest you can go. I've got the Onkyo 7.1 surround sound system with subwoofer. If you want to get into blu ray movies, get a Playstation 3 because you can play games on it and watch movies on blu-ray as well. Some of the blu ray players, especially earlier ones, those made last year have trouble playing some of the newer blu-ray movies. I have never had any problems playing blu-rays on my Playstation 3. Which is probably because PS3 was designed to work with higher-end computer graphics. Another suggestion, you want to go for an HD widescreen LCD big screen. Mine is a "47 incher, and I use it for my computer editing as well by simply attaching the VGA to the HD screen in the back. But you want to use HDMI to hook up your blu-ray player (or your Playstation 3) to get the ultimatum picture. God luck with your spending spree. You can get all of this that I mentioned for a little under $2,000.00 .

 

[wcb323]

Thanks, all. I looked closely at projectors but I just did not see the same sharpness in the picture. Maybe it was exctess light, I don't know, but I just liked the Aquos 65" s much, that one of of my first choices. I got this for $3100, including an Aquos Blu Ray DVD player.

I got the Yamaha RX-V2700 7.1 Receiver with Paradigm CT 110 speakers, that totalled about $1400, so with taxes and good cables, it came in just about $5 K.

I'll post some pics when the work is done!

 

[OmahawkSCM]

If I had $5k to spend, I would buy the following
$900 50" pansonic 720p plasma
$1950 mits hc5500 1080p projector
$350 onkyo 606
$100 diy 106" screen
$60 all cables from monoprice
$285 sony s350 blu-ray player
$350 elemental designs a2-300 subwfoower
$750 3 acculine a2's and 2 acculine a3's
$75 switch from monoprice to go hdmi out to 2 monitors
$4820 includes shipping and tax