Starting From Scratch

[goodtricks]

In the past few months I stumbled across this website and to say the least have been hooked! I love the home theatre threads and tracking everyones progress on their HT's.
Thought I might just throw my situation out there to see if I can get any ideas. I just recently graduated from college and all I have had the past 6 months is a PS3 and a 32 inch Sharp. Well my company is moving me to Boston this week coming up and when I get to my destination I'm looking to start my own little HT. I sold the 32 inch last night, so basically I'll be starting with only a PS3.

So how about some ideas? The only thing I have in mind right now is a Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100 for the TV.

What do you guys think? Not looking to break the bank here, just trying to get started. Thanks:

TV: Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100
TV Stand:
Blu Ray: PS3
Receiver:
Speakers:

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

In the past few months I stumbled across this website and to say the least have been hooked! I love the home theatre threads and tracking everyones progress on their HT's.
Thought I might just throw my situation out there to see if I can get any ideas. I just recently graduated from college and all I have had the past 6 months is a PS3 and a 32 inch Sharp. Well my company is moving me to Boston this week coming up and when I get to my destination I'm looking to start my own little HT. I sold the 32 inch last night, so basically I'll be starting with only a PS3.

So how about some ideas? The only thing I have in mind right now is a Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100 for the TV.

What do you guys think? Not looking to break the bank here, just trying to get started. Thanks:

TV: Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100
TV Stand:
Blu Ray: PS3
Receiver:
Speakers:

Three things that help:

- Your real budget
- How big a space you're putting it in
- How far away your neighbors are (we're talking lots of noise)

Budget is the key. There are lots of folks here who've made recent purchases, they can let you know where the best deals are on just about anything.

[Nick4Blu_81]

Check out my set-up under my sig. I love it! Except for the cable. I hate Charter, they suck so much when it comes to HD and Resolution.

[goodtricks]

Thanks for the response:

Budget: $5,000

Size of Space: Probably will be living in apartments/condos for the next couple years downtown Boston. So obviously not huge spaces.

[ht_skinny]

Originally Posted by Nick4u_81

Check out my set-up under my sig. I love it! Except for the cable. I hate Charter, they suck so much when it comes to HD and Resolution.

That is pretty much exactly what I've been looking into... any pics?

[ht_skinny]

Also welcome to Boston goodtricks... you should come to love it as much as we all do.

P.S. If anybody asks you... "THE YANKEES SUCK!!"

[goodtricks]

UPDATE: Just ordered receiver....

TV: Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100
TV Stand:
Blu Ray: PS3
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V663BL
Speakers:

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

UPDATE: Just ordered receiver....

TV: Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100
TV Stand:
Blu Ray: PS3
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V663BL
Speakers:

That's A real good start !! Now down the road you can add an amp to that receiver !!

[goodtricks]

Thanks Crazy! I'm just trying to get the ball rolling.

Just checked out your setup. Looking good.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

That's A real good start !! Now down the road you can add an amp to that receiver !!

Down the road?? He said 5,000 for his budget ... do it now !!!!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by prerich

Down the road?? He said 5,000 for his budget ... do it now !!!!

[goodtricks]

For sure.

Right now I'm surfing for center channel and front floor standers

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

UPDATE: Just ordered receiver....

TV: Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100
TV Stand:
Blu Ray: PS3
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V663BL
Speakers:

Good choice. I went Pioneer instead of Yamaha, but both have the beef to push serious speakers, and the Yamaha is less expensive.

I have my own opinions, but orthodoxy says, timbre match your speakers. You have about $4K left; this will definitely get you what works, but your biggest decision isn't sound (it will sound good, or the Yamaha will destroy them); it's looks.

Do you want to keep them small and tight? Do you have room? Do you like serious sub action? And do you want to go 5.1 or 7.1?

I'm a Definitive Mythos fan. Extremely clean sound in this price range. And, they are sleek, futuristic, and can handle gobs of power and sound clean. Unexcelled in this price range for home theater.

Definitive also makes the ProMonitor line, very similar but plastic instead of aircraft aluminum. Similar sound, they're great, in small packages.

There are huge fans here for Bowers & Wilkins; great stuff, slightly pricier, they'll eat into your subwoofer budget. They have an odd look (tweeter on top).

The Polk line is good standard stuff - but they are power hogs, not that the Yamaha will care. Not the same level of aesthetics, but they sound nice. Several lines of gear, study them closely, no need to overbuy. I"m not a fan of their center speakers, but the floorstanders are great deals.

Klipsch makes very good stuff, but it's all huge! Probably not what you want in a tight space.

Monitor Audio has the most beautiful cabinet work I've seen in this price range, but the sound is thin until you buy the larger speakers. Don't do it, plus, they're all 6ohm - again, no problem for the Yamaha, but it will run hotter. Just avoid them.

For subs, check out the subwoofer section, and ask Big Daddy and some of the others for advice.

[goodtricks]

Blu-Dog, thanks for the post!

The $5,000 includes buying the tv (which I still need to do, probably wait till after the super bowl and look for deals)

I've really been looking at Polk and Klipsch......hmmmmmmmmm

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

For sure.

Right now I'm surfing for center channel and front floor standers

http://www.definitivetech.com/Produc...hosSeries.aspx

Mythos Eight, Nine, and Ten for centers; ST and STS for fronts. Pay no attention to the list price, you can get good numbers on these. The eights, nines, and tens are super easy to mount up, just about anywhere; most brackets for TV's are designed for them, and I wall-mounted three Tens with Vesa TV mounts.

With Threes for surrounds, you're set. Check out various reviews - these are very, very hot, and sound nice, without swallowing up your room.

The other models also sound terrific, and are much smaller - you've got to check it out.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

Blu-Dog, thanks for the post!

The $5,000 includes buying the tv (which I still need to do, probably wait till after the super bowl and look for deals)

I've really been looking at Polk and Klipsch......hmmmmmmmmm

I went out hunting, with a 5K audio budget (already had the TV).

Went:

-$1200 for Pioneer 84THXsi
-$1800 for pair of Mythos ST (floor models)
-$400 for a Mythos 3 center
-$900 for a pair of Mythos Ones (for surrounds)
-$800 for a pair of Klipsch SUB-12 subwoofers

Got in just over the wire.

You could do it with Mythos Ones for fronts, Mythos 3 center, and Mythos 5 surrounds - put a couple of tiny ones in the back for rear surround, and spend half as much. Or even get smaller fronts, I find the Mythos 3 shuts down most huge speakers.

Treat yourself, get the STS for fronts (not the ST, it's probably just overkill) and get the full range speaker from hell. Then get little guys for the surrounds and rears - they broadcast, trust me on this. That gives you money for a damn good sub, and a good Sony or Samsung set.

I can't knock Polk or Klipsch - I know their shortcomings, mostly size - but they are very nice. Until you get up there with cash, however, the cabinet work leaves something to be desired. Nothing wrong with the sound, however, even on the low end.

Klipsch is "bright" with those big-ass horns they put in everything, but controlling them is the job of the receiver - and you've already done the right thing there.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

That's A real good start !! Now down the road you can add an amp to that receiver !!

You sound like the kind of guy that hooks up a nitrous rig, to the supercharger on a Bentley.

I gots a stopwatch, let's see what that baby will do!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

You sound like the kind of guy that hooks up a nitrous rig, to the supercharger on a Bentley.

I gots a stopwatch, let's see what that baby will do!

You type faster then that bentley will go w/NOS .

[goodtricks]

What are your feelings on these for a starter. Best Buy has a sale on both this week.......

Klipsch Synergy Quintet III Home Theater Speaker System: 349.99
Klipsch Synergy SUB-10 Subwoofer Speaker: 279.99

???????

[SDBlu]

Originally Posted by goodtricks

Blu-Dog, thanks for the post!

The $5,000 includes buying the tv (which I still need to do, probably wait till after the super bowl and look for deals)

I've really been looking at Polk and Klipsch......hmmmmmmmmm

Yo Goodtricks, If you have a Circuit City close by, you might want to check them out for your TV...being that they are all shutting down, they are selling all of their inventory at a discount. I believe most of their displays were at 20-30% off. (just make sure you know exactly which one you want as all sales are final) I got myself a wireless wii sensor bar from there yesterday for $7.00.