Home theatre setup ~12k

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860 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#363070 4-Aug-2010 15:32

Go for Wharfedale Diamond speakers for your speaker choice.

No problems there - very fine speaker indeed :)

Oh and as for the receiver, after recently purchasing the Denon AVR-2310 I have to say it is an incredible AV receiver for around the 2k mark. It does everything!

Denon AVR-2310 9.1ch AV Receiver at 140 Watts per channel Dolby Digital TrueHD/DTS-HD Master, HDMI Full 1080P/24FPS Pass-through

lyonrouge

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#363079 4-Aug-2010 15:39

Are you planning a dedicated HT room or a blend, i.e. a TV panel (Plasma, LED or LCD) and Projector?

lyonrouge

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#363082 4-Aug-2010 15:43

For center speaker vs. screen challenge I have mine mounted in the ceiling (purchased angled Polk speakers)

99GTB

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#363162 4-Aug-2010 18:09

Budget I'm aiming for with speakers is 12k for everything preferably. If it comes to 14ish then I will just have to do some good convincing. I was up ~14 with some of the gear I was looking at using with speakers included.

In terms of visiting hifi stores I'm in christchurch by the way.

Not looking for a logitech harmony as I beleive I can get a better setup with an ipod touch and the other accesories I listed under the remote in the first post.
Irule can do macros and multiple screens to be able to keep button layout etc simple.
I will be setting all that sort of stuff up for them.

I realise the EPG limits of playtv until it is released in NZ properly and regarding the pixelation in recordings probably isn't an issue as recording isn't likely to be done a huge amount.
Also with my dad most likely wanting sports he will get mysky later on I'd say.

I have a 50" 1080p myself which is great, but for a better theatre experience a projector is needed.

What made the oppo better than the ps3 'lookingup'?

A 120" 2:35 screen would still give a 94" screen in 16:9 which is a massive improvement over the current 42" in the lounge. So when you watch 2:35 content it will look just that much more impressive.

I also was looking at that denon vinnieg.

Going to be a dedicated projector room. Got enough tvs lying round the rest of the house.

LookingUp

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#363239 4-Aug-2010 20:43

The Oppo is designed to play DVDs and Blue Ray, and does a much better job of it. It's treatment of DVDs is especially good (Google some reviews), and it completely blows away my other previously "close to top of line" equipment.

I'm also in Chch, and will contact you off-line. You're welcome to wander around for a look & listen.

If you're looking for shops in Chch, I'd recommend The Listening Post in Mandeville St (just up the road from Placemakers). Crighton will try to sell you expensive cables (resist, or at least question), but the rest of the advice is pretty sound, and once he gets to know you he'll give you stuff to take home and try, knowing full well you'll only bring the money back! You can't beat that - having the chance to play with something for a week or to in your own home, before making the big decision.

Also, if you get the right amp you might find that it's remote is programmable enough for your needs. I run everything off the remote that came with my new NAD amp, including macros recorded then edited using a free PC app.

Finally, don't get a "cheap" amp. Think V8 versus shopping trolley? The best speakers in the world will still sound bad once the sound has been mangled. A good amp can make average speakers sound OK, but not vice versa. If you have to skimp, get reasonable front speakers and average rears. Then, once you've saved a bit more, ditch the rears, move the fronts back, and get some really good fronts. You will however need a reasonable centre from day one.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)

99GTB

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Wannabe Geek

#363309 4-Aug-2010 22:27

I have considered the remote from one of the device which can usually control most things. But feel a remote that only has a few buttons to mess with would work better for them. Which can be achieved with irule. Control with gestures is also possible.

Lets say a budget of $2500 -3000 for fronts, centre and rears.
Rears will need to be ceiling mounted. And I'm convinced less money can be spent on these unless proven otherwise.

Anyone see any issues placing floor standing speakers either side of the screen?
With a screen being 2.8m wide and centre just below the screen. Haven't figured out screen placement in terms of its height yet.

Also on the topic of screen height with the projector in particular, will the projector be able to do its zooming to change the aspect ratios for CIH (constant image height) suitably even if mounted higher than the top of the screen?
As that will mean projector hanging lower from roof or screen being higher. Which I don't think would be ideal. I haven't setup anything over a 50" before and I think the height relative to the viewer would be more important with such a big screen.

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99GTB

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Wannabe Geek

#363320 4-Aug-2010 22:39

Another thought, will the benefits of an oppo bdp-80 of ~$800 really be that noticeable over a ps3 which includes a freeview decoder for $700.
Considering such a choice would need a standalone freeview pvr (~$500) and reduced money for speakers/receiver. And will then lack games and streaming ability from a pc.

lyonrouge

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#363396 5-Aug-2010 06:57

99GTB: Another thought, will the benefits of an oppo bdp-80 of ~$800 really be that noticeable over a ps3 which includes a freeview decoder for $700.
Considering such a choice would need a standalone freeview pvr (~$500) and reduced money for speakers/receiver. And will then lack games and streaming ability from a pc.

Also worth considering Panasonic DMR-BW850, BD (including recording) and Dual FreeView (certified) tuners.

For your Projector positioning, I'm using the AE4000 and my screen is well below the projector (ceiling mount). The AE4000 does not require as much keystone correction for this placement as my old AE900 used to need. I also have floor standing next to the screen and that is all good. As per my previous post, I would consider ceiling mount center speakers.

For your remote, I would seriously rethink the Harmony ($99 at Dick Smith), experience has taught me the for users (not the designer), dedicated tools are worth the effort, a touch maybe fine when it's working, but what is they have it on anther application and can't get back to the remote software? "Jack of all trades, master of none".

cgrew

860 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#363472 5-Aug-2010 09:12

99GTB:

In terms of visiting hifi stores I'm in christchurch by the way.

Go to Top Hi-Fi if you are in Christchurch - highly recommended

MrFlower

68 posts

Master Geek

#363499 5-Aug-2010 10:05

try Listeningpost at Riccarton if you get a chance, they have some deals going on at the mo. I sold them my Paradigm Studio speakers a few years back

or listeningpost.co.nz

Display: Panasonic P50V10Z
Receiver: Yamaha RXV3900
Source: CDX697, YPS11, PS3 250GB

Main Front: Wharfedale Evo 2 40
Centre: 2 x Wharfedale Evo 2-8
Rear surround: Wharfedale Evo 40
Subwoofer: YST-SW1500

Audioquest type 6 speaker cable
Antipodes Weka interconnect

trig42

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#363536 5-Aug-2010 10:56

I'd have to +1 the Harmony over the iPod as a remote.
The Harmony is a solid performer and for $99 for a 785 can't be beaten IMHO. I have one and my technophobe wife and flatmate have no problems with it. Have tried the Ipod stuff, and whilst it looks really cool, for people expecting a remote with the buttons in the same places as they are used to for every Activity, the Harmony wins.

If it were me, ditching the PS3 and iPod would leave enough for the Panny BD Recorder with twin Freeview tuners. Win.

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Masterpiece

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#363554 5-Aug-2010 11:24

Hi, I can help you in a few ways, some will be oversteping forum rules, I can talk too you in person about that since I am in CHCH. Contact me.

I have the AE4000E and can demo the features you are looking at as far as video, my sound system is crap(ohwell), however I have some musings about your choices with video selection. For sound, The listening post can help you, although if you are install all yourself your chain store may be better absolute deals. Course you buy service and experience from the listening post, both more value than you actually pay for, something to think about.

I see your reasoning about the PS3, a very capable BD player and can do several jobs from one box, however how sure are you about other users other than yourself about being able to use it?
Alot of people struggle with buried menu systems. Took me 2 years to train the wife to turn off the projector correctly.

Blueray players: The PS3, has history as being one of the first capable players for this task and still capable. However we mostly have mixed source material of standard definition requiring reasonable upscaling ability and HiDef on Blueray disk. The PS3, is third in the list relative to a Oppo and Panasonic Blueray player for video upscaling and source output setting.

For setup options, the Oppo is the most flexible, the Panasonic is second and the PS3 is third.
Hitpower for buck, The BD45 can be had for $280~$300, half of the Oppo and PS3.
Speed, the Oppo wins, Panasonic then PS3. Although most modest BD players are slow.

You have to think about whats the point of this, is it for gaming, movies or TV.
Watching TV on projectors is ok for one off things like sporting events or a movie, however tiresome for general TV duties, and a waste of the bulb life.
If high percentage is movies, then I would have no hesitation to state projector as choice, relative plasma for same size is 40k.

The AE4000E is a great projector, in a very competative projector market, and one of the key aspects, as with the panasonic PJ heritage is flexible installation. However dispite the flexibility you still have to be careful and plan ahead to avoid install, oh no's!.
Always remember that projection is a 2 piece gig, the screen selection can take as much thought as projector choice.

PLAN PLAN PLAN, download the mauals, check out , calculate and sketch the throw distances, projector placement and screen postion in plan and elevation. Start with optimum, then compromise to fit your environment. Unless you build the room around the projector system there is always a compromise.
This may seem alot of work, but it is worth it.

btw with screens, remember the casings of motorised and pull downs are wider than the screen, allow room! Fixed screens, are naturaly better because they are flat, unless you get a tensioned pull down they all ripple or wave at some point, but of course fixed screens take up wall space, WAF needs to be considered.

Anyway to save me dribbling on forever here, contact me I can help you.

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magu

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BitSignal

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#363566 5-Aug-2010 11:44

As great as the iPod Touch with a third-party remote app can be, I can assure you it's gonna be easier to setup and maintain a Logitech Harmony remote. Get an 1100i for the same price of all the accessories and the iPod Touch, and all you'll need is a PS3 adapter.

Definitely worth it.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

lyonrouge

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#363770 5-Aug-2010 17:20

magu: As great as the iPod Touch with a third-party remote app can be, I can assure you it's gonna be easier to setup and maintain a Logitech Harmony remote. Get an 1100i for the same price of all the accessories and the iPod Touch, and all you'll need is a PS3 adapter.

Definitely worth it.

Agreed, if you insist on going down the PS3 path, then get the adapter. The Harmony remote navigates through all the tedious menus nicely.

In regards to TV on the projector, now with FreeView HD there is quite a lot of TV content deserving of the projector.

Batman

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#363976 5-Aug-2010 23:33

while all the talk about the components: the most important is the speakers - this is what you hear. avsforum says 75% of movie sound is from center speaker. most speaker series produce extremely 'weakened' centers ... choose wisely (even some of the "good" ranges slack on their center speaker). good luck!

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