Region-free 3D HTIB with four towers?

[Visionist]

I need a 3D HTIB that can play bluray discs from any region, and I need it to have four freestanding towers for the fronts and surrounds because there's nowhere to mount them, as well as a HDMI out to get surround gaming from the console.

Is there any company that accommodates my needs? Cheers

[samlop10]

Region free players are hardly ever "official" from the company. Most go through a 3rd party seller who modifies them to be region free. The ones that are "official" from the companies are usually ones that are very easy to modify (usually with a code input from the remote control). So this greatly limits your choices, if there are any with the requirements you want.

Do you have a price range in mind? This might help in giving you choices, to get all those features, but not in HTiB form.

Also, how much of an audiophile are you (to consider audio quality from the system)?

Also, by towers do you mean that have mounts included or actual tower speakers (the large kind and usually very expensive ones)?

[Visionist]

Hi

That's interesting to know; because a new search has turned up a region-free HTIB from Panasonic, 5.1 3D with HDMI pass through for the games console's benefit. I'm not sure if it's been modified in some way to be region-free or if that's how it left the factory. Preferably the latter of course.

http://www.worldwidevoltage.com/pana...240-volts.html

This is pretty much what I need for the room I'm using, and these are what I meant by "towers"; nothing high-end, just a free standing affair with the speakers at head height. I've never actually heard a proper home system in action, only my previous Pioneer 5.1 HTIB which also included four of these "towers" and which stopped playing discs a while back. Perhaps it's best I don't know what I'm missing until I can soundproof the allocated screening room and crank a decent set of suckers up without the fear of prosecution

The price of this system is of course high for the quality it offers, not to mention I'm not sure if they ship to Europe. I'm guessing seperates are more cost effective...

[samlop10]

Yeah, you could get a better system (composed of separates); better sound quality and a better blu ray player for an equal or lesser total price. That one might work for you though, but you could get better bang for your buck buying separates (it would be more work setting up though, absolutely worth it at the end in my opinion). I have an Onkyo HTiB (7.1), it does not include a blu ray player but you can input pretty much any kind of sound to it. Mine has 4 HDMI inputs; the new models have a least 5 now I think. Mine costed around $400 and it has pretty good sound quality and features considering the low price. The speakers have wood casings, which helps them have better sound. You could even get the same quality in 5.1 for the same or lesser price. A standalone region free 3D blu ray player costs around $150. There are some being sold in Amazon with good ratings and reviews, and most ship internationally. Personally I would go with with separates. The speakers do not come with mounts but you could buy some for about $40 a pair (you would only need 2 pairs).

Most receivers now come with a "late night" mode or some sort of range compression so you can still hear all the sounds without them going way too loud. Mine has a feature called "dynamic volume" with three levels, the highest one makes everything sound pretty much at the same level so it does not disturb anyone when it's turned on.

Of course it is up to what you prefer, if you need more information though just ask I'll try my best.

[Visionist]

Thanks for all your information I think the time has come for separates. I won't be building a screening room for some time after all; I may as well build a decent system now and enjoy it for a number of years.

I may be able to go for seven channels although it would mean the side speakers would have to be moved into position every time they'd be used; large double-doors are present on both sides of the room- although one of these opens onto a balcony and the other isn't used continuously; two more single doors open into adjoining rooms and get most of the traffic. I'd want speakers that I can stand on the floor; drilling into the walls is a no-no as it's my grandmother's house (will a stout, thick carpet help absorb the sound and LFE? Her dining room is directly beneath the room I'd use I suppose a riser for the sub would help in this case. Not sure if I'd have to make one though- I suck at making things ).

What is the best, relatively affordable 3D region-free player on the market right now? My overall budget for everything will be around 1500 USD (just under 1000 GBP or 1100 Euros). The space isn't huge (although the ceiling is high- around 11 feet) so I'm sure the receiver could power everything nicely without power amps. It'll sound great

There's certainly a lot of speakers out there on the market. It's mind-boggling. Then there's the sub... What do you recommend

[samlop10]

What is the size of the speakers would you prefer? Small to save space or regular size?
Also, you could get a 5.1 speaker system with a 7.1 receiver and just buy another pair of speakers later on to complete the 7.1 if space is an issue (just to be prepared for the future). Or get the 7.1 now, whatever works best for you. Most receivers let you choose "no back surrounds" so it would work fine as a 5.1 in case that is best.

For a region free 3D blu ray player I would go with this one:

http://smile.amazon.com/Icom-BD780-M...blu+ray+player

It's not a known brand but based on the reviews for this particular product I would give it a try. Also at least one vendor offers international shipping. I saw other ones in Amazon UK but they are considerably more expensive.

As for the receiver I would recommend this one: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V675.../dp/B00B981F1U

or this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V575...s=7.1+receiver

the second one is cheaper because it has a bit less features and bit a less power output to each speaker. If you want to save money go with the second one, if you don't mind using more money to get more features go with the first one. For example, the first one has more positions to use during calibration to get better sound for more places in the room. If you decide to go for the first one you are also more "future proof" if you think you might move to a bigger place in the upcoming few years.

Both have the ability to connect to headphones from them in case you need it to be very quiet. Also, they give you the option to use one surround back speaker (to use as 6.1) instead of two. This might help you.

As for the Sub, it depends on how thick the carpet is to absorb the sound waves. If you think it is not thick enough you could just lower the power output in the settings for the sub alone. Or you could get a sound-absorbing panel and place it underneath the sub, like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-21...bsorbing+panel

you could put them on top of each other and that would help in reducing the sub's impact. Both receivers have 2 outputs for 2 subs each, but you can connect only one and it would work fine (If later on you get a bigger place you could always add another sub for more power if you want).