JJ's Year 12: First Year of the New HT in a New House

[JJ]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Good work. Do you have any plans on covering the accoustical treatments with fabric or something, so they look less egg cratey? My wife wouldn't let me add anything that looked like that.

Accoustical treatments are probably the toughest thing to integrate into a room. I appreciate its function and form though, and I bet those wall treatments and bass traps help clean things up noticeably. I've got to figure out a way to use accoustical treatments that pass the spouse test.

Actually, everyone seems to love that arrangement, and so do I! Friend and roommates alike have commented on how tastefully I placed them. Being an architect major, the way I set them up is so they resemble one of these (more or less, lol)



Fluted Doric columns! Base, shaft, and capital. Very crude imitation, sure, but I love them how they are! I have about 7 of these more or less symmetrically arranged around the living room right now (bottom horizontal, middle two vertical, top horizontal). If anything I want to frame them with some stained wood, but that's another story. Ah, the wife test! Good thing I still have a few years to go before that pops up in my life, And good thing I've been single for a few months, would've been hard to justify 4k of "speakers" to the 'wifey' (pardon my minority lingo, ).

[111111]

JJ,

I gotta say mang, I'm impressed! I'm moving soon...Once I get my HT setup, I'll post some pics here.

Your HT is just SWEET!

Congrats!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

This pic from early yesterday shows some added ones. I still have a left wall to cover up. The back wall (all 6 feet of it) is already covered up. I don't want to do the ceiling - and I'm still toying with the idea of placing them above the TV and above the current ones. All that open space of tile has got to go too, but I can't just throw any ol' rug down there, it's got to look tasteful! So that's another quest of finding a nice 2'x3' carpet or so to lay down in 3-4 select places in the living room, behind the couch, and around the coffee table (heck that coffee table is a reflective nightmare too). You can also see what I mean by a lack of full rear wall to mount surrounds on (it should be where I took this pic from). Making this a 6 or 7 speaker setup would mean more Polk Monitor 50s!

All in all, acoustical treatments in a living room are a matter of balancing taste, sanity, decor, effectiveness, and style - I could easily go in many directions from here. Sure, I could make paste all the walls and ceiling in the stuff, but then it wouldn't look like a living room. It would look like Moria. (Ha, LOTR reference)

What you don't see here though, are the 2x2x4 bass traps in each corner of that wall. I've also been thinking of other places to put more, but it's more the bounce of mid-range sound I'm looking to control, not LFEs.

Argh. It's madness, I tell you. I'm about to get on my AutoCAD program and diagram up my LR so I can show you guys what I'm talking about, Perfection is fleeting!

JJ,

I'm currently finishing my basement, but have it wired in wall for 7.1 ... That said, I'm def. going to be hitting you up for info on recv, speakers etc. Love the pics, keep em coming!

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

JJ,

I'm currently finishing my basement, but have it wired in wall for 7.1 ... That said, I'm def. going to be hitting you up for info on recv, speakers etc. Love the pics, keep em coming!

I would've loved to do in-wall! But I'm renting this house (will probably be living here at least another 2 1/2 years). And by all means, go ahead! I like to think I'm know more-or-less well learned in the low-mid end of the audio spectrum, Dang whole summer of research.

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I forgot to say I'm finally running it through its paces - starting off with my DD-EX and DTS-ES DVDs, though - podracing in Ep.I, the Death Star attack on Ep. IV, the T-Rex scene in Jurassic Park, the opening attack from War of the Worlds (ohhhh those LFEs...ohhh man), the Battle of Pelennor Fields from LOTR:RTK, the Colosseum scene in Gladiator...and now the Battle of the Heroes scene in Ep. III.

I know some find Philips' Ambilight feature nothing but a gimmick, but I've found I can't live without it (I can live with the gray bars! ) - I don't see myself upgrading my TV anytime soon (next video upgrade is a projector) - and if you can imagine this scene with the bursting red lava, blue lightsabers flashing, John Williams' powerful score filling the room and each lightsaber swoosh eminating from the subwoofer...I mean, I'm in heaven right now. It's so clear and distinct. I'm shedding a tear here.



I can't wait to get started on the Blu-rays.

My god....dude, I bet the pod racing scene sounds absolutely SICK!

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

My god....dude, I bet the pod racing scene sounds absolutely SICK!

So does the Duel of the Fates climax, the Battle on Geonosis,

Alright. So I'm within 5 seconds of pulling the plug on the APC H15 power conditioner and another Polk Monitor 50 (in Cherry this time, ) as a 6th, rear channel. Argh. The APC is what I really need. And I STILL haven't gotten DriverKing's rugs!!!

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

And I STILL haven't gotten DriverKing's rugs!!!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I would've loved to do in-wall! But I'm renting this house (will probably be living here at least another 2 1/2 years). And by all means, go ahead! I like to think I'm know more-or-less well learned in the low-mid end of the audio spectrum, Dang whole summer of research.

I hear ya! Looks great though, I bet it was fun opening all the boxes at once and setting it all up, I love setting up new systems, pcs or anything electronic. I hope you'll still be around at least till early next year, Jan/Feb, that's when I'll be picking up my 7.1 system.

Cheers!

[Tony Stark]

everyhing looks great but a question ... is tv leveled right? look like little off to me in that pic?

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by Tony Stark

everyhing looks great but a question ... is tv leveled right? look like little off to me in that pic?

BTW, Great System, JJ, it might be time to upgrade the TV now, since you have some very awesome Speakers, how's the Martin Logan sub working? But, anyway, very nice, impressive system, espicially with what you you were working with the Samsung HTIB, i remember your posts from the Home Theatre Pics thread with it on there originally, Congratz.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

I hear ya! Looks great though, I bet it was fun opening all the boxes at once and setting it all up, I love setting up new systems, pcs or anything electronic. I hope you'll still be around at least till early next year, Jan/Feb, that's when I'll be picking up my 7.1 system.

Cheers!

Meh, I've stuck with this forum for almost a year! I'm not leaving it. Where else would I get my news? You have any rough ideas as to what you want?

Originally Posted by Tony Stark

everyhing looks great but a question ... is tv leveled right? look like little off to me in that pic?

My camera-use and picture taking skills are lacking. Trust me, my architectural anal-ness means everything has been leveled...with a level. It's all perfectly horizontal and vertical.

And Driver, it's on my todo list for the weekend.

Thanks, 21 - but TV is fine, no more video upgrades until I can get a projector!!! Then it's on. And I'm trying to sell off that HTiB now to re-build up the bank account. Gotta eat! And the Dynamo is still the most stellar sub I've ever listened to. It's been my one consistent choice from Day 1 (until my budget dropped - then went back up again).


Side note:!

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And there's the Power Conditioner I've needed. Now all is secure when it comes in! Thank you, Slec
(via Johk) for that recommendation of the H15, at that price it was ludicrous to pass up!



And I've been meaning to put a pic of this up for the longest time...here's the excitement of the Marantz user interface.



Scary.

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Meh, I've stuck with this forum for almost a year! I'm not leaving it. Where else would I get my news? You have any rough ideas as to what you want?



My camera-use and picture taking skills are lacking. Trust me, my architectural anal-ness means everything has been leveled...with a level. It's all perfectly horizontal and vertical.

And Driver, it's on my todo list for the weekend.

Thanks, 21 - but TV is fine, no more video upgrades until I can get a projector!!! Then it's on. And I'm trying to sell off that HTiB now to re-build up the bank account. Gotta eat! And the Dynamo is still the most stellar sub I've ever listened to. It's been my one consistent choice from Day 1 (until my budget dropped - then went back up again).


Side note:!


And there's the Power Conditioner I've needed. Now all is secure when it comes in! Thank you, Slec
(via Johk) for that recommendation of the H15, at that price it was ludicrous to pass up!



And I've been meaning to put a pic of this up for the longest time...here's the excitement of the Marantz user interface.



Scary.

I'm not knocking it, But what is so exciting?.....ALL of the new next gen receivers have similar menus these days. My ONKYO 805 has a cool looking one......

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

I'm not knocking it, But what is so exciting?.....ALL of the new next gen receivers have similar menus these days. My ONKYO 805 has a cool looking one......

It was sarcasm - look at my comments right under the pic. It's horrid. It's atrocious. Frightening. I feel like at any moment, it'll say - "I can't let you do that, JJ."

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Meh, I've stuck with this forum for almost a year! I'm not leaving it. Where else would I get my news? You have any rough ideas as to what you want?

No idea just yet, I'm still on the fence about a projector as well, waiting for the reviews when the new line comes out this October.

The goal is to have everything setup by the superbowl, seems like a long time from now, but I still have some work to do downstairs.

From what I've read, Onkyo seems to be a popular receiver here. I need one with MULTIPLE inputs b/c I have a PS3, Xbox 360, wii, DVD recorder, cable box, need a input for my HD camcorder, one for a PC connection, and would like a spare too...

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

No idea just yet, I'm still on the fence about a projector as well, waiting for the reviews when the new line comes out this October.

The goal is to have everything setup by the superbowl, seems like a long time from now, but I still have some work to do downstairs.

From what I've read, Onkyo seems to be a popular receiver here. I need one with MULTIPLE inputs b/c I have a PS3, Xbox 360, wii, DVD recorder, need a input for my HD camcorder, one for a PC connection, and would like a spare too...

You thinking 720 or 1080 projectors? I was considering a projector first and then audio for a bit - I was looking at the Panasonic PT-AX200U in 720p...the AE200U for 1080p is a solid choice. Panny projectors seem to be highly recommended from all, I would recommend investigating those first.

Superbowl? February? Nearly 5 months away! One last q, did you have a rough budget in mind for just the audio equipment?

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

You thinking 720 or 1080 projectors? I was considering a projector first and then audio for a bit - I was looking at the Panasonic PT-AX200U in 720p...the AE200U for 1080p is a solid choice. Panny projectors seem to be highly recommended from all, I would recommend investigating those first.

Superbowl? February? Nearly 5 months away! One last q, did you have a rough budget in mind for just the audio equipment?

Yep, I'm going 1080p, at least that's the plan. I've looked at the AE2000U and it fits my setup, so does the Sanyo and Epson. The new line of the Panasonic, Epson, Sanyo, and Mitsu were just announced, they should hit the street this October and pricing for the 1080p (Espon and Sanyo) are just below 2k..not bad.

yeah, I'm just about to finish sheetrocking my basement. 5 months will be here extremely quick....for me. I'm looking to spend at or under 1k. If that's even possible.

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

It was sarcasm - look at my comments right under the pic. It's horrid. It's atrocious. Frightening. I feel like at any moment, it'll say - "I can't let you do that, JJ."

HaHA!l LoL.......Someone somewhere on this site(can't remember where though), once said that ALL of the menus on the new AVR's looked like the old Commodore pc screens! Now that's a hoot.

P.S.: I wish they(all manufacturers) would have made these screens tolerable, but I guess what's the point right? They are there to serve a basic purpose......not to get lost in the menus. Without them, you can get really confused! (when I first got my "Oinker", I tried using the menu, without the on screen, and I was completely LOST-HaHa!. I'm just glad they made them...)

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

Yep, I'm going 1080p, at least that's the plan. I've looked at the AE2000U and it fits my setup, so does the Sanyo and Epson. The new line of the Panasonic, Epson, Sanyo, and Mitsu were just announced, they should hit the street this October and pricing for the 1080p (Espon and Sanyo) are just below 2k..not bad.

yeah, I'm just about to finish sheetrocking my basement. 5 months will be here extremely quick....for me. I'm looking to spend at or under 1k. If that's even possible.

$1,000 is very possible for a solid system! Onkyo and Polk would come highly recommended for you! But we'll get to that when we get to that,

And Mr. Hidef. Very true. I don't know what I was expecting out of my interface. Something like the PS3s XMB, maybe? I had my expectations too high.

And Amazon's dropped the price of the Cherry Monitor 50s by $30! I just ordered my 6th channel. Whooo! Now I'm done...until I get King's rugs.

I love this hobby. I tested Transformers yesterday and was BLOWN away!

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

$1,000 is very possible for a solid system! Onkyo and Polk would come highly recommended for you! But we'll get to that when we get to that,

And Mr. Hidef. Very true. I don't know what I was expecting out of my interface. Something like the PS3s XMB, maybe? I had my expectations too high.

And Amazon's dropped the price of the Cherry Monitor 50s by $30! I just ordered my 6th channel. Whooo! Now I'm done...until I get King's rugs.

I love this hobby. I tested Transformers yesterday and was BLOWN away!

Sounds good, in the meantime I'll be keeping an eye on your thread to view your progress! Keep the pics coming.

And as for the setup menu, looks real basic, but it gets the job done so no worries

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

And I've been meaning to put a pic of this up for the longest time...here's the excitement of the Marantz user interface.



Scary.

Here is the Sony STR-DG920s GUI. It is a bit better, but still feels antiquated. Don't get me wrong, it is very nice...