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.

[gearyt]

nothing like the feeling of the arrival of new toys !!

[brett_day]

looks great! loving those speakers! Not sure how safe the ps3 is though on top of the cable box, the amount opf heat coming from the cable box could eventually have an adverse effect on the ps3, but your setup looks awesome dude!

[Hammie]

I agree with everything that Brett said, especially te PS3 on that cable box.

Bet it sounds fantastic!

[swingle007]

looks great, lots of nice choices there!

[killat0n]

Thanks for the nice comments guys. Since I really have no other place to put the PS3 or the cable box do you think it would work if I put four 2" pegs under the PS3 to raise it up a bit? Or something along those lines. The cable box is barely warm to the touch, so I guess I wasn't really concerned with it but now you guys got me all worried.

[Kai Winters]

Beautiful system and love the neat wiring.

[Beta Man]

Enjoy that sub! I love that one.

[killat0n]

Originally Posted by Kai Winters

Beautiful system and love the neat wiring.

Thank you, I'm glad you like it!

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Enjoy that sub! I love that one.

Man, the sub, ugh. Every movie I watch it continues to surprise the hell out of me. And it states to not make any kind of judgment until after 50 hours of break in. I guess maybe it's just sounding better and better the more it gets broken in. Really glad I went this route.

Ok so here are the new pictures as promised:





Center channel is placed in it's optional upside down position to aim it up to ear level.

Upside down pic




Left surround + fiancé's make-up desk


All hail the great "Dynamo" ..........not really.

Better shot of my collection + the fiancé's DVD set of "Friends" which will be pushed off my shelf in no time flat. "Sorry honey there's just no more room."

[nickows]

fantastic setup mate - congrats!

[Driver_King]

Congratulations on the new setup! I really hope you enjoy it and I am so glad I could help.

[kramer733]

Boy.. your wife sure does love her "friends" >_> Seinfeld > FRIENDS

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Originally Posted by gearyt

nothing like the feeling of the arrival of new toys !!

Agree! Everything is clean and nice! Love it

[joegs300]

gotta love rachel =]

[Johk]

Nice setup!

However, it might be better to get the PS3 off the cable box for heat issues. Otherwise, enjoy your HT.

[GunZenBomZ]

Loving your tidy cabling. It's good to share pictures & see the posibilities.

[killat0n]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys!


UPDATE: Yesterday I put my TV and stand up on Craigslist just to see how it would go. I even inflated the price big time thinking that nobody would actually be interested. But to my complete surprise, within 2 hours I got an email from someone asking if I'll deliver it to him, he'll buy it. So just under 4 hours from the time I clicked submit on my Craigslist post, the TV and stand were sold, delivered and the money was in my account

So I just ordered up the Mitsubishi HC5500 1080P Projector and 100" Manual pull down screen. Also a 35ft HDMI cable from Monoprice and some Velvet Blackout curtains to replace the crappy and practically transparent IKEA curtains that are currently there to go behind the screen. For those of you who are now thinking, "well what are you going to use for normal TV viewing?" There's a 50" Samsung plasma + Samsung BD-P 1500 upstairs that I can use whenever I see fit

I'm so excited!

Obviously I'll be posting new pics when I get everything dialed in, so be sure to check back for updates. Now I have to go redo all that nice wiring I did. :P

Thanks again.

[jakool124]

That's a very nice setup you have there. I bet the sound is incredible in a small room with the tower spreakers. I didn't see a Sony PS3 remote that you can buy since you use your PS3 for movies. My son has a PS3 and find it rather difficult navigating with the game controller when he watches movies in his room. The remote makes it so much easier just like a stand alone player. I'm a BIG fan of cable ties and that's the first thing I notice when looking at home theater setups. I don't like seeing wire and yours looks tight!!! In California "tight" means "Awesome"

[Jbald87]

Thats an awsome home theater, I love how you keep all the wires nice and cleaned up. I think that is one of the most important parts.

[Santeria]

Originally Posted by killat0n

Thanks for the nice comments guys. Since I really have no other place to put the PS3 or the cable box do you think it would work if I put four 2" pegs under the PS3 to raise it up a bit? Or something along those lines. The cable box is barely warm to the touch, so I guess I wasn't really concerned with it but now you guys got me all worried.

wow that mustve been tons of fun setting up
yeah the ps3's bottom gets pretty farkin hot if u havent touched it before,
the cable box's top gets pretty hot, so the combo wouldnt be good for either device! otherwise wow great speakers and setup, everything looks clean and cozy!


GL on your projection setup!