My extremely budgeted living room setup

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Great pics, didn't see the other ones but these are fantastic. Beautiful HT Room, nicely designed, Clean setup.

On your remote: "Harmony 650. Occasionally glitchy and it eats batteries" - Have you tried Rechargeable batteries? One of the Best decisions I've made.

Thanks Aero, I apprciate the comments. I have not tried rechargeables, but it wouldn't be a bad idea I guess. Is there a brand of batteries or charger that you recommend? I looked into rechargeable batteries some time ago, and decided that I didn't have enough components at the time to warrant needing a constant influx of fresh batteries. I'll have t re-visit that.

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Yea, that room would be perfect for a pull-down when you can.

What's in your future plans to upgrade/change anything? Your Sub, larger TV, better __________ ?

I always have a list in my head of things I'd like to upgrade, some more immediate than others. The next thing I'd like is to add a Bic America F-12 Subwoofer. I've been researching for sometime, and the F-12 seems to be the best bang for your buck. I'd like to add that to the front where the Sony 2500 is now, and move the 2500 to the back corner behind the couch. That way the weaker sub will be closer and more efficient. Next I'd like to upgrade the AVR, but I haven't figured out what to get yet. I like the specs of the Denon E400 and X1000, and my dad loves his E300, so it looks like I'll wait for one of those to go on sale.

[arc trooper]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

New pics are up! Better quality and more comprehensive.



We got it at Furniture Row. I'm all about function over form, my wife is all about form over function. I thought that was a perfect compromise.

hmm ill have to dig around for something like that... looks great!

[Aerodude73]

I use the 4-slot Energizer one. It holds AA & AAA batteries, which should do the trick.

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thanks Aero, I apprciate the comments. I have not tried rechargeables, but it wouldn't be a bad idea I guess. Is there a brand of batteries or charger that you recommend? I looked into rechargeable batteries some time ago, and decided that I didn't have enough components at the time to warrant needing a constant influx of fresh batteries. I'll have to re-visit that.


I always have a list in my head of things I'd like to upgrade, some more immediate than others. The next thing I'd like is to add a Bic America F-12 Subwoofer. I've been rAVEarching for sometime, and the F-12 seems to be the best bang for your buck. I'd like to add that to the front where the Sony 2500 is now, and move the 2500 to the back corner behind the couch. That way the weaker sub will be closer and more efficient. Next I'd like to upgrade the AVR, but I haven't figured out what to get yet. I like the specs of the Denon E400 and X1000, and my dad loves his E300, so it looks like I'll wait for one of those to go on sale.

Yea I need a new AVR also. My Onkyo died recently

But I Just started a new job so that'll have to wait a bit.

[Johan1981]

Very nice setup you have there! Nice to see another thread has emerged since I haven't been active on these forums.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Good morning Russ.

Thanks, I really like the recessed wall of the living room. Still lots of options for upgrades in the future. I'd like to perhaps add a pull down projector screen down the line, or maybe built-in shelves that could serve as a media rack of sorts. It must be budget friendly though, of course

You definitely have the space to accommodate a projection screen. By the way, your HT looks marvelous, and your home is immaculate as well.

[Cole 46]

My goodness, you have a wonderful set up there... nothing "budget" looking about it.
Love the nice clean look.... and I bet the JBL's sound great !

One suggestion, rather than having the fan laying on top of the AVR,
If you could find a way to place the fan on it's side, and drive out the hot air from being trapped inside the cabinet.
You don't have to drill a hole in the back of the cabinet, just experiment with a way to move the air out. JMO.

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

I use the 4-slot Energizer one. It holds AA & AAA batteries, which should do the trick.


Yea I need a new AVR also. My Onkyo died recently

But I Just started a new job so that'll have to wait a bit.

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into those rechargeables.

Originally Posted by slimdude

You definitely have the space to accommodate a projection screen. By the way, your HT looks marvelous, and your home is immaculate as well.

Now just have to convince the wife

Thanks for the compliment. We're both minimalists when it comes to decorating, and my wife is very, uh, diligent when it comes to cleaning. I got pretty fortunate in that regard because I love a neat home, but hate cleaning I've enlisted a local artist (my mom) to paint us something that's about 24"x60" for the wall behind the couch. She does oil and acrylic paintings as a hobby since she's retired. You can see in one of my pics the yellow one she did for us that's in our kitchen. It's definitely a conversation piece!

Originally Posted by Cole 46

My goodness, you have a wonderful set up there... nothing "budget" looking about it.
Love the nice clean look.... and I bet the JBL's sound great !

One suggestion, rather than having the fan laying on top of the AVR,
If you could find a way to place the fan on it's side, and drive out the hot air from being trapped inside the cabinet.
You don't have to drill a hole in the back of the cabinet, just experiment with a way to move the air out. JMO.

Thank you for the kind words, and for the suggestion! I know the fan on top of the AVR is pretty ghetto, but I wanted something effective. It's facing so it pulls air (and dust) out of the AVR. Maybe I should buy a better fan with some more power to cool the whole cabinet, but I also feel like that might be overkill for just one budget receiver. I'll try to fiddle with it so it's behind the receiver though, instead of on top.

How do you like your APC? Can you tell a difference with it?

[Cole 46]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thank you for the kind words, and for the suggestion! I know the fan on top of the AVR is pretty ghetto, but I wanted something effective. It's facing so it pulls air (and dust) out of the AVR. Maybe I should buy a better fan with some more power to cool the whole cabinet, but I also feel like that might be overkill for just one budget receiver. I'll try to fiddle with it so it's behind the receiver though, instead of on top.

How do you like your APC? Can you tell a difference with it?

I never feel "protection" for your gear is overkill, no matter what you have for AV stuff, budget or not.

My Fan is just like yours and I can't but think it is helpful to move the hot air out.
I have mine placed behind my Yamaha, blowing the air out the front.
Dust and Heat are big enemies of AVR's.
I keep the top vents of my Yamaha "covered" when not in use.

As for my APC, I know one time it shut everything "off" during a storm.
If I didn't have it, who knows what would have happened to all my AV gear.
I can't say Picturewise, I notice any difference... but with it regulating the Voltage, I believe it is better for the life of my equipment.

I would never be without some sort of protection (APC), ...too much to gamble for me.

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by Cole 46

I never feel "protection" for your gear is overkill, no matter what you have for AV stuff, budget or not.

My Fan is just like yours and I can't but think it is helpful to move the hot air out.
I have mine placed behind my Yamaha, blowing the air out the front.
Dust and Heat are big enemies of AVR's.
I keep the top vents of my Yamaha "covered" when not in use.

As for my APC, I know one time it shut everything "off" during a storm.
If I didn't have it, who knows what would have happened to all my AV gear.
I can't say Picturewise, I notice any difference... but with it regulating the Voltage, I believe it is better for the life of my equipment.

I would never be without some sort of protection (APC), ...too much to gamble for me.

Thanks for the honest assessment of the APC. It sounds like something I'd like to do down the line. I'm in Austin though, and we have decent electricity and seldom have lightning strikes, so I don't see it as too pressing. My current project is a set of DIY Speaker Cables for the L/C/R to make them look a little nicer. Supplies should be arriving early next week, so I'll be sure to post up the new pics.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thanks for the honest assessment of the APC. It sounds like something I'd like to do down the line. I'm in Austin though, and we have decent electricity and seldom have lightning strikes, so I don't see it as too pressing. My current project is a set of DIY Speaker Cables for the L/C/R to make them look a little nicer. Supplies should be arriving early next week, so I'll be sure to post up the new pics.

I’m just passing thru, and checking on the site and came across what you just mentioned about not being too worried about the APC.
At the moment, I can’t get too deep into the conversation, but I was like you and thinking it could wait.

I lucked up and bought me a couple of monster protections, and I feel they may have saved my equipment a few times.

Don’t let the idea of getting some type of protection as wasting money on equipment, when it’s not.

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thanks for the honest assessment of the APC. It sounds like something I'd like to do down the line. I'm in Austin though, and we have decent electricity and seldom have lightning strikes, so I don't see it as too pressing. My current project is a set of DIY Speaker Cables for the L/C/R to make them look a little nicer. Supplies should be arriving early next week, so I'll be sure to post up the new pics.

Don't be fooled ..........

The APC can be one of the most important pieces in you home theater setup. Here in the Boogie Down we have stellar electricity and the complex that I live in has it's own co-generation plant. Yet I was surprised when I saw the fluctuations in my household voltage. And the spikes dips and surges can be even worse ......... Having an APC is akin to having an alarm on your car .

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by HAMP

I’m just passing thru, and checking on the site and came across what you just mentioned about not being too worried about the APC.
At the moment, I can’t get too deep into the conversation, but I was like you and thinking it could wait.

I lucked up and bought me a couple of monster protections, and I feel they may have saved my equipment a few times.

Don’t let the idea of getting some type of protection as wasting money on equipment, when it’s not.

Thanks Hamp. I guess it's just harder to see the benefit when it's not tangible. Do you think the power conditioner is something I could buy used? Or would it be more recommended to buy new?

Also, in doing some basic research on the APC H10 vs H15 and the different models, I haven't been able to tell what the difference is in the higher end model. Better protection I'd assume?

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thanks Hamp. I guess it's just harder to see the benefit when it's not tangible. Do you think the power conditioner is something I could buy used? Or would it be more recommended to buy new?

Also, in doing some basic research on the APC H10 vs H15 and the different models, I haven't been able to tell what the difference is in the higher end model. Better protection I'd assume?

Honesty I wish I was more fluent in explaining how they work and what is the real difference between them all, but I can’t really. With mine, I can tell you how they have worked and possibly saved my equipment.

Once I was having a brown-out, and I didn’t know it, and the Monster I have would not turn on any equipment. I only found out about the brown-out, is when our local electric company came by to test the line, and found out something came loose at the pole. I don’t know if you know or not, but brown-outs are just as bad as spikes.

I had a couple of power lines go down, and monster shut all equipment down without any problems.

Once I had built up some static electricity, when I went to touch my AVR, SOMEHOW, the monster shut it down before I even felt the little electrical pop to my hand. So now I love them, and I tell people they should protect. I’m not someone who had a tragic loss from not having protection, I’m just someone who is pretty sure the equipment has saved me.

[DangeRuss]

Greetings my friend

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Thanks Hamp. I guess it's just harder to see the benefit when it's not tangible. Do you think the power conditioner is something I could buy used? Or would it be more recommended to buy new?

Also, in doing some basic research on the APC H10 vs H15 and the different models, I haven't been able to tell what the difference is in the higher end model. Better protection I'd assume?

In my opinion .......... a power conditioner is something you want to buy new. Mainly because you don't know if it already fried it's circuitry saving someone else's rig .... . Many of them only suppress major surges (read lightning strikes) once and then need to be replaced. Yet that's still cheaper than replacing your complete system

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Greetings my friend



In my opinion .......... a power conditioner is something you want to buy new. Mainly because you don't know if it already fried it's circuitry saving someone else's rig .... . Many of them only suppress major surges (read lightning strikes) once and then need to be replaced. Yet that's still cheaper than replacing your complete system

Very good point, thanks Russ!

[DangeRuss]

Greetings once more

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Very good point, thanks Russ!

And if you wanted further proof of the value of a good power center read these posts from another thread ........

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...3332&page=1094 From post 21880 all the way through to the end. It's very informative

[Derekstanggt]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Greetings once more



And if you wanted further proof of the value of a good power center read these posts from another thread ........

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...qL._SY300_.jpg From post 21880 all the way through to the end. It's very informative

Good afternoon, Russ. Thanks for the info! I've got some reading to do


Also, I just posted some updated pics in my gallery of some DIY speaker cables I did. They turned out pretty good!

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by Derekstanggt

Good afternoon, Russ. Thanks for the info! I've got some reading to do


Also, I just posted some updated pics in my gallery of some DIY speaker cables I did. They turned out pretty good!

Cables look great Derek!

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by Billy13

Cables look great Derek!

They look better than that to me

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

They look better than that to me

Agreed! The braided look is phenominal!