killat0n builds a new Home Theater!

[killat0n]

UPDATED PICS of new 1080p Projector and 100" screen + Major room changes on page 2


OK so here it goes:

Around this time last year was when I got my TV and knew I had to get Blu-ray,(I actually wasn't aware of the format war and just thought Blu-ray was better, guess I got lucky) so I picked up a PS3 and started buying movies like crazy. I instantly fell in love. But needed some sound so the naive person I was I bought a Bose Lifestyle 38 system from my now future father-in-law for pretty damn cheap compared to what he payed for it. I loved it, it sounded great to me since I had never heard anything else. I mean, I used to like movies but in this last year I have really started to see how enjoyable all movies can be under the proper circumstances(i.e. picture AND sound). I'd been lurking around this site for some time but never really read into any of the home theater stuff until this summer and finally got off my butt and went to a Magnolia room and a J&R's to hear some real speakers. Since then I've hated my Bose and planned on dumping it as soon as I could. Well my friends that time has come. With some major assistance from Driver King and big inspiration/help from JJ, my new components have finally arrived. I would have posted this yesterday but once I got everything setup and took pics I basically only left the room to use the bathroom and make more popcorn!

My Onkyo, sub woofer, Monitor 50 surrounds and my Monoprice speaker wire and banana plugs have been here for a week so I've had everything all wired up for quite a while now. I just been waiting for my front sound stage to arrive to finish the deal. It's been really hard waiting for week with everything ready to rock. It was actually kind of sad, I waited by the door for the UPS guy yesterday for about 20 minutes and when I heard the truck pull up I went outside and met him while he was gathering the boxes(even though it's -20°F air temp here in MN). I said, "you gonna be able to get all of this in one trip?" He laughed and said, "you waiting for this stuff or what?" I say, "hell yeah I am, hurry up!" Anyways ok ok now for the pics.

Note: I apologize for the low light pictures here. I'll definitely be taking more today with a much better camera and a tripod.

Cardboard has never looked so good

I went with the RTi A5's instead of the A7's because the A5's have 2 mid range drivers versus the A7 only has 1 but 2 woofers. Since I have an amazing sub woofer I felt less would mean more in this situation, and after hearing them I'm completely happy!

I guess you could say I skimped on the center channel choosing the CSi A4 over the A6 but I put that money into the bigger Onkyo and awesome Martin Logan sub woofer. But the A4 is no slouch imho and sounds absolutely fantastic.

Wow I suck with a camera

Had no choice with the cherry finish on the Monitor 50's, although I actually wanted cherry finish for everything but I came across a deal for the fronts in black that I could not pass up. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be upgrading again soon aha!

Very happy with this, even though it's silver But for $50 less than the black model, I'm not complaining.


I would have never thought a sub woofer that is this small could do so much. It's so clean sounding and tight and fast and ahhhhh you just need to hear one for yourself. JJ isn't kidding when he says this sub is amazing, because it is in every way.

The room is only 11 x 16 with 8" ceilings and let me tell you this setup sounds ridiculous in this small area.

Right front Polk RTi A5

Left front and shot of Blu-ray collection. Those "Friends" DVDs belong to my fiancé.



I have already elevated the surrounds about 2 feet and re-ran Audyssey and wow what a difference. I'm gonna go to IKEA today and try to find something more tasteful than the temporary plastic containers I put them on.

Martin Logan Dynamo in the back. I've been going crazy all week trying to find the best placement for it. It sure does make it easy though when it's the only thing you have hooked up


I'm sure some of you will go crazy over this wire management. What can I say, I like things clean and neat.

Took the rest of these pics earlier in the day while I was waiting for the UPS guy.





Next on the list of things to get is a Power Conditioner, which I'm getting next week.

Thanks for coming and I hope you enjoyed my build thread. If it wasn't for Blu-ray.com I would have never ditched my Bose and seen the light(which is blinding me at the moment, still in shock I own all of this). Check back for some way better pictures that don't look like they were taken with a camera phone, which these were not. I'm seriously sorry, these pictures look like absolute s**t!

UPDATE: Higher quality pics a few posts down.