Starting from Scratch -- My New Home Theater Thread - Blu-ray Forum

Race Bannon · 11-09-2014, 05:08 PM

All right, we moved in August. Been focusing on some other aspects. But I want to hit the ground running in 2015.

Starting over. There's a HUGE room available that is the perfect location for a home theater (20' by 30').

I enjoy choosing components, but I want to choose a self-consistent set of elements that works well together -- i.e, nothing is really "too much" quality held back by a bottleneck elsewhere in the system.

These are the paramenters:

Budget: Lower end of high quality, the value zone. Think Polk floor speakers that cost $500 a piece. Projection TV that costs $700 for the projector. So all in, the budget is probably less than $5,000.

I'd like to go separates on the amplification, with perhaps a value-priced professional post amp like a Crown.

Any specific model recommendations for:

1. Pre-processor
2. Amp
3. Projector
4. Screen
5. All speakers.

Race Bannon · 11-09-2014, 05:08 PM

Any suggestions appreciated. I started this thread to share each time I make a selection and order something.

x melio x · 11-09-2014, 05:36 PM

You can't go wrong with Polk. I believe I have the TSI300 series and they got a lot of bang for the buck. If your budget is $500 each then I'm sure you could make out good.

Race Bannon · 11-09-2014, 07:17 PM

Leaning towards a BenQ projector, maybe W1070.

Starkscream · 11-09-2014, 11:40 PM

Are you going to look into getting any used equipment?

bigshot · 11-10-2014, 12:33 AM

My mains are custom made studio monitors from the 70s... not easy to find today. But I am happy with my Klipsch center and rears and my Sunfire sub. Not cheap though.

Race Bannon · 11-10-2014, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkscream

Are you going to look into getting any used equipment?

No. If I had to say what I'm leaning towards, it would be Denon Pre-pro, Crown Post, Polk speakers (except for subwoofer), and SVS subwoofers, and that BenQ projector.

So that's the general plan. I just get paralyzed with where to start.

roar · 11-10-2014, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

No. If I had to say what I'm leaning towards, it would be Denon Pre-pro, Crown Post, Polk speakers (except for subwoofer), and SVS subwoofers, and that BenQ projector.

So that's the general plan. I just get paralyzed with where to start.

Start with the room, not the equipment would be my suggestion. Otherwise the equipment may just end up sitting around in boxes while you work on the room. If it is an unfinished room you could have months of work ahead of you and with the changing of technology being so rapid in this hobby I'd hold out as long as you can to make equipment purchases.

Mr.Poindexter · 11-15-2014, 01:11 AM

Absolutely start with the room. It is very easy to upgrade equipment later, but difficult to upgrade the room.

Sometimes you can get a hell of a deal with used gear. I would not ignore that segment of the market - especially for items that can maintain their life through several upgrade cycles, like speakers, subs and amps. You may not see something that is what you are looking for, but you can still browse the classifieds.

Race Bannon · 11-15-2014, 02:31 PM

The room is finished. This is a 40 year-old house.

Race Bannon · 11-23-2014, 06:54 PM

All right, I got tired of price shopping, comparing, looking for things that would be compatible with this or that.

I just pulled the trigger on a new Polk speaker set -- RTiA7's for fronts, RTiA3's for rear, CSi6 for center channel.

Will get these in and go from there.

Race Bannon · 11-27-2014, 12:41 PM

Ordered a Crown XLS1500 and an Emotiva UXM 200. Some cables and speaker wire (from Monoprice).

Race Bannon · 11-28-2014, 12:57 PM

Used a "Polk Friends and Family" coupon to order a PSW125 sub for half off.

It's coming together.

Billy13 · 11-28-2014, 02:37 PM

Congrats on the Polk set!

I really like Polk.

Can't wait to see the system all together, I'm sure you'll post some pics when it's time.

Race Bannon · 11-29-2014, 06:40 PM

Still waiting on some components, but the Crown came today.

My noob is coming out. Can someone point me to a most basic wiring diagram for a 5.1 to this Crown? I thought it would seem plain to me, but now I'm not understanding how the Center will still be the center, the left will be the left, etc.

It's got the Channel 1 and Channel two, but that's about some low pass, high pass thing. How will the 5.1 signals stay separate from one another? (I'm starting to think I have to buy another amp or two -- one for center, one for front, one for rear?).

bguzman · 11-29-2014, 08:17 PM

Yes, you are going to need three more amps for a total of eight channels unless you get one mono amp.

Race Bannon · 11-29-2014, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bguzman

Yes, you are going to need three more amps for a total of eight channels unless you get one mono amp.

Three more, or total of three for a 5.1?

Powered sub -- can it go directly off the pre-amp signal?

bguzman · 11-30-2014, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

Three more, or total of three for a 5.1?

Powered sub -- can it go directly off the pre-amp signal?

Sorry when you mentioned rears I thought you meant Surround Backs. You will only need two more amps.
1st Amp - Front - L & R
2nd Amp - Surround - L & R
3rd Amp - Center

Race Bannon · 12-01-2014, 11:14 AM

I think I've decided to get two more Crowns instead of the 3 channel Emotiva. Not only will it match, but I've got other rooms where I may install a "lesser" system using older equipment. The crowns are more flexible, could be used to fire the mains in any system.

Race Bannon · 12-07-2014, 02:58 AM

I hooked everything up today for a function check and it sounded great. The wires are just running across the floor, and there's cardboard boxes everywhere. But the sound is really crisp and clear -- lots of body without really sounding loud.

I do think there's a bit of hum at low volume. Those Crowns probably. I'll play around with gains and hookups later.

11-09-2014, 05:08 PM	#1
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	Starting from Scratch -- My New Home Theater Thread All right, we moved in August. Been focusing on some other aspects. But I want to hit the ground running in 2015. Starting over. There's a HUGE room available that is the perfect location for a home theater (20' by 30'). I enjoy choosing components, but I want to choose a self-consistent set of elements that works well together -- i.e, nothing is really "too much" quality held back by a bottleneck elsewhere in the system. These are the paramenters: Budget: Lower end of high quality, the value zone. Think Polk floor speakers that cost $500 a piece. Projection TV that costs $700 for the projector. So all in, the budget is probably less than $5,000. I'd like to go separates on the amplification, with perhaps a value-priced professional post amp like a Crown. Any specific model recommendations for: 1. Pre-processor 2. Amp 3. Projector 4. Screen 5. All speakers.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-09-2014, 05:36 PM	#3
x melio x Active Member Member since:Apr 2011 Location:Chambersburg, PA Blu-ray collection:666 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:59	You can't go wrong with Polk. I believe I have the TSI300 series and they got a lot of bang for the buck. If your budget is $500 each then I'm sure you could make out good.

11-09-2014, 07:17 PM	#4
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	Leaning towards a BenQ projector, maybe W1070.

11-09-2014, 11:40 PM	#5
Starkscream Active Member Member since:Nov 2011 Location:Georgia 4K collection:75 Blu-ray collection:316	Are you going to look into getting any used equipment?

11-10-2014, 12:33 AM	#6
bigshot Blu-ray Knight Member since:Aug 2010 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:82 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:3	My mains are custom made studio monitors from the 70s... not easy to find today. But I am happy with my Klipsch center and rears and my Sunfire sub. Not cheap though.

11-15-2014, 01:11 AM	#9
Mr.Poindexter Senior Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2010 Home Theater Gallery:29 Trading Score:1	Absolutely start with the room. It is very easy to upgrade equipment later, but difficult to upgrade the room. Sometimes you can get a hell of a deal with used gear. I would not ignore that segment of the market - especially for items that can maintain their life through several upgrade cycles, like speakers, subs and amps. You may not see something that is what you are looking for, but you can still browse the classifieds.

11-15-2014, 02:31 PM	#10
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	The room is finished. This is a 40 year-old house.

11-23-2014, 06:54 PM	#11
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	All right, I got tired of price shopping, comparing, looking for things that would be compatible with this or that. I just pulled the trigger on a new Polk speaker set -- RTiA7's for fronts, RTiA3's for rear, CSi6 for center channel. Will get these in and go from there.

11-27-2014, 12:41 PM	#12
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	Ordered a Crown XLS1500 and an Emotiva UXM 200. Some cables and speaker wire (from Monoprice).

11-28-2014, 12:57 PM	#13
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	Used a "Polk Friends and Family" coupon to order a PSW125 sub for half off. It's coming together.

11-28-2014, 02:37 PM	#14
Billy13 Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Mar 2013 Location:Somewhere Between Heaven ↑ & Hell ↓ ...... Home Theater Gallery:436 Blu-ray collection:115 DVD collection:63	Congrats on the Polk set! I really like Polk. Can't wait to see the system all together, I'm sure you'll post some pics when it's time.

11-29-2014, 06:40 PM	#15
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	Still waiting on some components, but the Crown came today. My noob is coming out. Can someone point me to a most basic wiring diagram for a 5.1 to this Crown? I thought it would seem plain to me, but now I'm not understanding how the Center will still be the center, the left will be the left, etc. It's got the Channel 1 and Channel two, but that's about some low pass, high pass thing. How will the 5.1 signals stay separate from one another? (I'm starting to think I have to buy another amp or two -- one for center, one for front, one for rear?).

11-29-2014, 08:17 PM	#16
bguzman Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jul 2011 Location:No Cal Home Theater Gallery:124 4K collection:41 Blu-ray collection:344 Trading Score:1	Yes, you are going to need three more amps for a total of eight channels unless you get one mono amp.

12-01-2014, 11:14 AM	#19
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	I think I've decided to get two more Crowns instead of the 3 channel Emotiva. Not only will it match, but I've got other rooms where I may install a "lesser" system using older equipment. The crowns are more flexible, could be used to fire the mains in any system.

12-07-2014, 02:58 AM	#20
Race Bannon Special Member Member since:Mar 2013 4K collection:108 Blu-ray collection:1057 DVD collection:242 Digital collection:1	I hooked everything up today for a function check and it sounded great. The wires are just running across the floor, and there's cardboard boxes everywhere. But the sound is really crisp and clear -- lots of body without really sounding loud. I do think there's a bit of hum at low volume. Those Crowns probably. I'll play around with gains and hookups later.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals