family room "theatre" setup - Blu-ray Forum

benny z · 06-25-2009, 04:16 PM

just uploaded some pics. more blurry than i'd have preferred, but i am in a hurry and no time for retakes. will update with better pics later.

thanks for looking!

- ben

Riff Magnum · 06-25-2009, 04:17 PM

That's pretty sweet. I like the decor/layout of your home.

rded · 06-25-2009, 04:35 PM

Finally!!!! Somebody with Focals!

There are only a handful of members here that have them

Focal is my other Favorite European speaker manufacturer

benny z · 06-25-2009, 05:11 PM

thanks for the compliments!

indeed, i listened to the dyns and went back and forth many times before finally landing on the focals. both great speakers. the other brand that i teetered on was vienna acoustics - really liked them for most of my music, but felt they would lack a certain dynamic that would be needed for home theatre.

i actually had a set of paradigms first - bought them blindly based on the reviews and popularity online. ended up hating them and sold them after i did some serious auditioning and found these. i am a musician, so music had to sound excellent - home theatre is a bonus.

cheers!
- ben

Graytwhyte · 06-25-2009, 06:14 PM

Count me in as a Focal lover! Nice setup.

benny z · 06-27-2009, 03:31 AM

added pic showing dioder lights. my wife loves them!

Hammie · 06-27-2009, 04:28 AM

Looks really nice, but you need to raise that great looking painting to above the center speaker.

Who is the artist? I almost bought some artwork like that before I got married. The name escapes me, but I think the last name started with a 'K.'

Johnny Vinyl · 06-27-2009, 08:21 AM

Nice indeed. I love the varying contrasts with that black fireplace, white shelving and man...those red kitchen cupboards! Really cool!

The Focals were almost in my sytem. It was like a toss-up between them and my Totems. The only reason I walked away from the Focals was the dealer. I just wasn't comfortable with his attitude. Although I'm glad I went with Totem, I know I would have been equally happy with the Focals.

John

detector19 · 06-27-2009, 12:31 PM

Very nice setup also love all the remotes....

benny z · 06-27-2009, 02:41 PM

thanks for the comments everyone!

lou - the painting is a kandinsky. there are a couple of related comments in the gallery. i intend to have it matted and framed before giving it a proper hanging, as the new tv simply dwarfs it as-is.

john - totems are one speaker i've read so much about that i've yet to hear. based on what i've read i am eager to give them an audition. i was hesitant to listen to the focals at all in the first place - they were actually the last speaker i auditioned - simply because they use metal tweeters. i have always preferred silk tweeters, but was shocked when i heard the chorus tweeters. not what i was expecting! focal's figured it out with the alum/mag combination - not harsh or overly bright at all! how would you compare the sound to your totems?

also, here's a better picture of the red kitchen cupboards. they were white when we bought the place and at some point i would like to put in taller cherry cabinets and knock out the sauffeting, while keeping the granite. figured we'd have some fun with the cabinets until then. i call it "hell's kitchen" - we love it!

Johnny Vinyl · 06-27-2009, 03:26 PM

Hi Benny,

I thought that the Focals were a little thin or just a tad brighter than the Totems, but other than that I thought they compared well. Now that I've lived with my Sttaf's for a few years I am very accustomed to their sound signature and I am still pleased as punch with my decision. I should add that I also like the aesthetically minimalist approach of their designs. In a few years, and as finances permit, I'd like to go higher up the foodchain so to speak, and the Focals will again be on my auditioning list.

Love, love, love that kitchen. I fancy myself a bit of a cook and being able to cook in a kitchen such as yours would be a great pleasure. Very, very nice indeed!

John

STARKILLER--1138 · 06-27-2009, 04:42 PM

Excellent color scheme benny in the HT and kitchen.

benny z · 07-14-2009, 04:31 PM

holy crap! focal JUST released a limited edition 30th anniversary finish on their chorus 824v tower speakers. these would be HOT in our red/black-themed family room!!!

http://www.focal-fr.com/catalogue-do...6/img/2255.jpg

Beta Man · 07-14-2009, 04:52 PM

I've heard of worse reasons for upgrading than that before

Go for it!

EDIT:

the raised water/food bowls leads me to believe you have a large dog.....

rded · 07-14-2009, 05:07 PM

LOL! So true Betaman! So when are you getting the limited edition focals Benny?

Hammie · 07-14-2009, 06:04 PM

Kandinsky is the artist I almost bought. I love his work. The wife... not so much.

benny z · 07-14-2009, 06:29 PM

it is tempting indeed! my wife might kill me if i do it! maybe a diamond upgrade is in order first?

06-25-2009, 04:16 PM	#1
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	family room "theatre" setup just uploaded some pics. more blurry than i'd have preferred, but i am in a hurry and no time for retakes. will update with better pics later. thanks for looking! - ben

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06-25-2009, 04:17 PM	#2
Riff Magnum Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Island Blu-ray collection:149	That's pretty sweet. I like the decor/layout of your home.

06-25-2009, 04:35 PM	#3
rded Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2008 Location:555 Naim Street Blu-ray collection:254 Trading Score:1	Finally!!!! Somebody with Focals! There are only a handful of members here that have them Focal is my other Favorite European speaker manufacturer

06-25-2009, 05:11 PM	#4
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	thanks for the compliments! indeed, i listened to the dyns and went back and forth many times before finally landing on the focals. both great speakers. the other brand that i teetered on was vienna acoustics - really liked them for most of my music, but felt they would lack a certain dynamic that would be needed for home theatre. i actually had a set of paradigms first - bought them blindly based on the reviews and popularity online. ended up hating them and sold them after i did some serious auditioning and found these. i am a musician, so music had to sound excellent - home theatre is a bonus. cheers! - ben

06-25-2009, 06:14 PM	#5
Graytwhyte Active Member Member since:Apr 2008 Location:IL 4K collection:169 Blu-ray collection:723 Trading Score:3	Count me in as a Focal lover! Nice setup.

06-27-2009, 03:31 AM	#6
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	added pic showing dioder lights. my wife loves them!

06-27-2009, 04:28 AM	#7
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	Looks really nice, but you need to raise that great looking painting to above the center speaker. Who is the artist? I almost bought some artwork like that before I got married. The name escapes me, but I think the last name started with a 'K.'

06-27-2009, 08:21 AM	#8
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	Nice indeed. I love the varying contrasts with that black fireplace, white shelving and man...those red kitchen cupboards! Really cool! The Focals were almost in my sytem. It was like a toss-up between them and my Totems. The only reason I walked away from the Focals was the dealer. I just wasn't comfortable with his attitude. Although I'm glad I went with Totem, I know I would have been equally happy with the Focals. John

06-27-2009, 12:31 PM	#9
detector19 Active Member Member since:May 2007 Location:New York 4K collection:97 Blu-ray collection:437	Very nice setup also love all the remotes....

06-27-2009, 02:41 PM	#10
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	thanks for the comments everyone! lou - the painting is a kandinsky. there are a couple of related comments in the gallery. i intend to have it matted and framed before giving it a proper hanging, as the new tv simply dwarfs it as-is. john - totems are one speaker i've read so much about that i've yet to hear. based on what i've read i am eager to give them an audition. i was hesitant to listen to the focals at all in the first place - they were actually the last speaker i auditioned - simply because they use metal tweeters. i have always preferred silk tweeters, but was shocked when i heard the chorus tweeters. not what i was expecting! focal's figured it out with the alum/mag combination - not harsh or overly bright at all! how would you compare the sound to your totems? also, here's a better picture of the red kitchen cupboards. they were white when we bought the place and at some point i would like to put in taller cherry cabinets and knock out the sauffeting, while keeping the granite. figured we'd have some fun with the cabinets until then. i call it "hell's kitchen" - we love it!

06-27-2009, 03:26 PM	#11
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	Hi Benny, I thought that the Focals were a little thin or just a tad brighter than the Totems, but other than that I thought they compared well. Now that I've lived with my Sttaf's for a few years I am very accustomed to their sound signature and I am still pleased as punch with my decision. I should add that I also like the aesthetically minimalist approach of their designs. In a few years, and as finances permit, I'd like to go higher up the foodchain so to speak, and the Focals will again be on my auditioning list. Love, love, love that kitchen. I fancy myself a bit of a cook and being able to cook in a kitchen such as yours would be a great pleasure. Very, very nice indeed! John

06-27-2009, 04:42 PM	#12
STARKILLER--1138 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jan 2008	Excellent color scheme benny in the HT and kitchen.

07-14-2009, 04:31 PM	#13
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	holy crap! focal JUST released a limited edition 30th anniversary finish on their chorus 824v tower speakers. these would be HOT in our red/black-themed family room!!! http://www.focal-fr.com/catalogue-do...6/img/2255.jpg

07-14-2009, 04:52 PM	#14
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	I've heard of worse reasons for upgrading than that before Go for it! EDIT: the raised water/food bowls leads me to believe you have a large dog.....

07-14-2009, 05:07 PM	#15
rded Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2008 Location:555 Naim Street Blu-ray collection:254 Trading Score:1	LOL! So true Betaman! So when are you getting the limited edition focals Benny?

07-14-2009, 06:04 PM	#16
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	Kandinsky is the artist I almost bought. I love his work. The wife... not so much.

07-14-2009, 06:29 PM	#17
benny z Member Member since:May 2009 Location:illinois Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:11 Trading Score:3	it is tempting indeed! my wife might kill me if i do it! maybe a diamond upgrade is in order first?

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