Hi-Def and Home Theater Thread 2

[VF-19]

Wandered into my local value village, and I found a pair of Technics sb-a15's for $10 each. They looked good, and took a chance on them. Grabbed a used stero amp, and put it all together, and you know what? They blow away my TV speakers. And freak out my cat.

A nice way to spend $100 ($20 for the speakers, $60 for the amp, and $20 for some speaker wire).

[MacrossMan]

I'm looking to buy my first HD TV 1080p and I was wondering which platform is best overall. The LCD or the Plasma? Any particular brand, make or model?

You're the expert so you know who you are! lol

Yo Q, I used to sell home audio and video some years back so I have a little expertise in this field. I've read some of your posts and noticed that you said the new place has a lot of natural light. 50" should serve you just fine, but I would go with plasma. If you're money will buy Pioneer Elite go for a 50" plasma Elite. I won't go into all the technicals, but it is hands down the best money can buy. I paid $4500 for a regular 43" Pioneer plasma in 2005 and it's just as beautiful today as it the day I got it. Pair it with Direct TV HD Satellite? You won't find a more superb picture.

Pioneer has actually gotten out the plasma TV business, but Panasonic has picked up some of their patents which explains why their newer plasmas quality can compare to Pioneer's. Don't quote me on this, but I think they used the same glass that went into the Pioneer sets. Super deep blacks and rich warm skin tones. Let all the light you want into a room and promise you the picture won't wash out. It's almost comparable to CRT without the black levels.

I have an LCD in my son's room because it's more "robust" if you will. He'll be playing games on it and watching a little TV. He's notorious for pausing TV or video games and leaving the TV on overnight and I don't have to worry about burn-in. I've actually done this on my Pioneer set and I forget the name of the technology it has that prevents the burn-in. LCD's are easily washed out with light so I would avoid them at all costs since you will have a lot of natural light.

WmCheng mentioned mounting above the fireplace and he is right that electronics and heat do not mix. Unless of course like he stated, the fire place is a sealed unit. The heat generated through walls can affect the performance of the TV. Plasmas kick out enough heat as it is.

Edited January 24, 2010 by MacrossMan

[Agent-GHQ]

I will look into the Pioneer you mentioned. While we are at it, what does everyone think about the LED?

The fireplace is sealed but I don't like the idea of drilling holes into the walls. Plus all that cord coming from the side just looks tacky! I dont want to spend moer than $1500- as there are much Macross toys to buy for this yr too.

Thanks MacrossMan!

[Gaijin]

I will look into the Pioneer you mentioned. While we are at it, what does everyone think about the LED?

The fireplace is sealed but I don't like the idea of drilling holes into the walls. Plus all that cord coming from the side just looks tacky! I dont want to spend moer than $1500- as there are much Macross toys to buy for this yr too.

Thanks MacrossMan!

LED is nice, but like fluorescent LCD's and Plasmas, have their own drawbacks as well. Off angle viewing with Edge Lit LED LCD's being one. Not all LED backlit LCD's are the same; there are edge lit, local dimming, white LED backlit....it goes on and on.

Sony and Samsung have a whole new lineup debuting soon. If you aren't in a rush, you may want to check them out when they arrive. Some are 3D capable even, if you want to future proof your purchase now.

Find a TV that looks best to you picture on or off, at the price you want. Check some reviews of that model(make sure it's not a lemon model or has chronic issues...all manufacturers have at least one bad egg) , and go from there. That's the best advice really, since picture quality is very opinion based.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Gaijin

[Agent-GHQ]

Glad you brought that up GaiJin! Thanks!!

[MacrossMan]

I will look into the Pioneer you mentioned. While we are at it, what does everyone think about the LED?

The fireplace is sealed but I don't like the idea of drilling holes into the walls. Plus all that cord coming from the side just looks tacky! I dont want to spend moer than $1500- as there are much Macross toys to buy for this yr too.

Thanks MacrossMan!

Mount that baby above the fireplace then! Pioneer makes a flushmount for their plasmas that actually makes the TV looks like it is "glued" to the wall. The guy that built my house has a contractor he uses for home theater type stuff and was blown away by the flush mount for the Pioneer sets. Since the fireplace is sealed you can't go wrong. I have a 50" Samsumg hung over a sealed fireplace since December 2006. Not single problem other than its picture can't touch my older Pioneer with a 10 foot pole.

[Agent-GHQ]

If its not too much of a trouble, can you post up a few pics of your entertainment system around your fire place? I need that visual idea.

[VF-19]

Just an update: Put everything in their final positions, and popped in Transformers. I do like the results!

Now, I need to get together some funds (ok, well, a lot of funds) to refurb my basement, and put a proper home theater in it. I've got an ideal room for it too. Nice and rectangular, with a drop ceiling. I'm thinking a projector, and a big screen.

[MacrossMan]

If its not too much of a trouble, can you post up a few pics of your entertainment system around your fire place? I need that visual idea.

Not a problem man. Here's a before and after. Our builder built a house next door to us with a theater. My wife was hell bent on two living areas so we chose this house and the second living area became my space. The builder and his contractor stopped by once I got the room completed. I popped in Iron Man and jumped to the scene of Tony Stark coming out the cave and causing mass destruction. The look on their faces; you could have bought'em for a nickel! The couldn't believe the sounds and wanted to know who dialed in the sound. I just smiled. The theater next door has stadium style seating with hollow floors to create more resonance that gives you that heart pounding bass from soundtracks. My room sits on a concreate slab in an open area off the kitchen where sound goes everywhere, yet as Tony is coming out the cave it feels and sounds like something big and heavy is moving in the house. The sound is phenomenal.

When guys are over they say they hear stuff they don't hear at home on their set-ups. All soundtracks have the same information, but it is a matter of having the right equipment to unlock it all along with good speakers that can reproduce the sounds that the engineers have laid down. Many have complained about the first Transformers soundtrack being weak; specifically Blackout's attack in the opening scene but I don't have that problem. I'm only pushing 55 watts of high current power to each speaker. My two fronts have powered subs built into them that I have set to turn off when 5.1 surrournd. I let my sub handle all the LFE. A good sub will have a good crossover that you can dial in to where there is muddied sound coming from it. For example, the high frequency of thunder will be heard from certain speakers while your sub will step and grab all the rumble. Good subs love to just hang out in the background and wait to pick up low frequency effects. A sound system is only as strong as its weakest link. Keep that in mind while building your set-up.

[MacrossMan]

If its not too much of a trouble, can you post up a few pics of your entertainment system around your fire place? I need that visual idea.

As a matter of fact I'll turn it on later today with the TV on to give you a better visusal. Me and this misses have spent many nights with it fired up watching a movie. It's not wood burning. You flip the light switch or hit the remote controll to turn it on. There are fake logs with some mash looking stuff that glows like hot ashes when the fire is turned on. It's is a sealed vented system with the vent running along the backside of the house. We turn the ceiling fan on to keep the warm from rising and the room stays nice and toasty. It doesn't affect the performance of the TV, but then again the system is not engineered like a traditional fireplace. Here's a picture to give you an idea. There's no chimney; just a small vent coming out the roof for the fireplace.

EDIT: for added pic with fireplace burning

Edited January 24, 2010 by MacrossMan

[MacrossMan]

...but I don't like the idea of drilling holes into the walls. Plus all that cord coming from the side just looks tacky! I dont want to spend moer than $1500- as there are much Macross toys to buy for this yr too.

I was afraid of drilling holes too until I found out how much it would cost to have someone come out and fish all the cables I needed to my specs. Instead I took a week off from work and went drill bit shopping. I had no idea they made bits 6 feet long. My wife cried when she came home and saw the disaster the first day. I had to cut a hole in the wall then force the drill bit through insulation then ran into a fireblock. Then my friend who was in the attic would have to take over and drill down from the attic hoping he hit the same spot in the fireblock I would. Apparently code requires this on a wall that has a fireplace. Once we got past that it was pretty simple and cleaning everything up with nice faceplates was easy. Here are some pictures of my week of mayhem. In the end it turned out good and I saved myself a few thousand dollars in the process

Edited January 24, 2010 by MacrossMan

[Uxi]

Nice and clean. Way too high for my preference, though (standard is to put the center of the screen at eye level from the viewing position).

[shiroikaze]

Man, my dad and I don't have the guts to attempt that... I bow to you.

[David Hingtgen]

Yeah, I was wondering about the height too---do you have to constantly crane your neck up?

[MacrossMan]

Nice and clean. Way too high for my preference, though (standard is to put the center of the screen at eye level from the viewing position).

Yeah, I was wondering about the height too---do you have to constantly crane your neck up?

The height is somewhat deceptive. The main sofa sits far enough back that when you're watching TV it is perfectly at eye level. As you sink back into the sofa it sort of naturally tilts you back maybe 3-5 degrees. Perfect for those watching from the kitchen as well.

[Agent-GHQ]

Thanks for the pics MacrossMan!

Seems like alot of cutting, drilling, and patching up the holes. I have never done this before so I will need a dummy book. Anyways, after seeing your TV above the fire place, it just doesn't look appealing to me. No offense here!

Also, it appears as if the audience has to raise their chin up and keep it up just to watch. Therefore, I'm just gonna stick with a TV stand and store it where the impression of the wall is intended for the TV set to be. Viewing at eye-level seems more comfortable.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Agent-GHQ

[VF-19]

Thanks for the pics MacrossMan!

Seems like alot of cutting, drilling, and patching up the holes. I have never done this before so I will need a dummy book. Anyways, after seeing your TV above the fire place, it just doesn't look appealing to me. No offense here!

Also, it appears as if the audience has to raise their chin up and keep it up just to watch. Therefore, I'm just gonna stick with a TV stand and store it where the impression of the wall is intended for the TV set to be. Viewing at eye-level seems more comfortable.

My father and I did mount the wires behind the walls (and through the attic) for the rear speakers on the 5.1 system when we installed it. It's deceptively simple. Before you make a single cut in the wall, plan it out as much as you can. Make note of where electrical wires are (get the proper tool to sense them), make note of where the studs are, and then, only then, start cutting.

Also, if you're going to route wires in the attic, don't do it during the summer. Early spring or fall would be best, as it won't be brutally hot in there...

[MacrossMan]

Thanks for the pics MacrossMan!

Seems like alot of cutting, drilling, and patching up the holes. I have never done this before so I will need a dummy book. Anyways, after seeing your TV above the fire place, it just doesn't look appealing to me. No offense here!

Also, it appears as if the audience has to raise their chin up and keep it up just to watch. Therefore, I'm just gonna stick with a TV stand and store it where the impression of the wall is intended for the TV set to be. Viewing at eye-level seems more comfortable.

I'd be lying if I said that there was a lot of drilling involved, but no wall patching. My friend is a master electrician so he showed me how to use PVC junction boxes to get clean appearance. If I moved those audio piers from the wall you will see a clean panel for connections for all the audio and video connections. Although I had some professional help, it really is a simple process. It's just a matter of getting past the fear of messing up. Once I made that first hole I new there was no turning back so I had to finish the job.

TV placement is subjective. You'll hear many say that eye-level is ideal and most comfortable, but you also have to take into account the configuration of the room and the fact that panel TV's cannot stand up to the abuse of a convential CRT set. The shape of my room and the placement of the windows left me no real choice but to place the set above the fireplace. I have a huge family and when there 70+ people in the house at one time with a bunch of little children around the last thing is I want for them to put their little hands on the TV and damage it somehow. That in itself was enough reason for me to want to place it high. Trust me when I say the TV appears that you would have to tilt your head back. When lounging on the sofa the placement is not an issue.

That being said, if children being in my house was not an issue and I had the ideal room configuration I would certainly mount the TV at direct eye level on the wall. Having the TV on a stand takes away from the whole of idea of seeing these kind of TV's on Buck Rogers, Star Trek and Battlestar Gallactica as a kid 25-30 years ago come into fruition as an adult. I'd say definitely take the plunge and mount it on the wall. I swear you won't regret it. It's really simple. If you can hang a picutre on the wall you can hang the TV. Just find the studs, cut you a couple of holes for your wires and you're set. That's pretty much it.

My father and I did mount the wires behind the walls (and through the attic) for the rear speakers on the 5.1 system when we installed it. It's deceptively simple. Before you make a single cut in the wall, plan it out as much as you can. Make note of where electrical wires are (get the proper tool to sense them), make note of where the studs are, and then, only then, start cutting.

Also, if you're going to route wires in the attic, don't do it during the summer. Early spring or fall would be best, as it won't be brutally hot in there...

All good advice!

[Agent-GHQ]

Maybe, I should wait until HDTV becomes wireless!? lol

[David Hingtgen]

Personally, I think tons of cables everywhere all going to a TV is a beautiful thing.

[Max Jenius]

I only buy bluray when I care about the high quality picture. Special effects or cinematography that I feel justifies it.

[Agent-GHQ]

Personally, I think tons of cables everywhere all going to a TV is a beautiful thing.

Elaborate a bit here....

[David Hingtgen]

Don't hide your cables. Visible cables are a manly thing. A dozen or two black cables snaking across the wall to the back of a TV says "I don't care about feng-shui or some sense of wall-aesthetic, I care about image quality and direct connections". Heck, I have brightly-colored cables so I know where each one's going. (My PS3 cable is blue, X360 is green, etc)

[azrael]

I prefer the cheap way of making cables disappear without punching holes into the wall. Hide them behind cabinets, bookshelves or other furniture and tack them down against the wall near the baseboards where they do stand out to make it neat.

[shiroikaze]

I have a pair of old Onkyo Fusion AV S-71 speakers hooked up to an equally old Onkyo stereo system.

(Out of curiousity) I'm considering hooking the speakers up to my Onkyo HT-R330 receiver that was part of an HTiB. Am I going to run into any problems if I connect them? Or am I just worrying about nothing? Both sets of speakers are rated at 8 ohms by the way, the S-71's have a power handling of 150W whereas the bundled HTiB speakers are 120W.

Also I hear that too high of a bass and treble can hurt speakers. Does that apply to any volume?

Edited March 11, 2010 by shiroikaze

[Uxi]

Heh, well an audiophile doesn't want weird reflections caused by cables or things sticking out just like a videophile doesn't want those damned colored LED's messing with the black levels. Both tend to hide equipment away in an adjoining equipment room, if possible.

[GU-11]

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this, but there isn't a home theater thread here. And since I use my home theater setup mostly for video games, this is the only thread I can think of posting this in. (Thanks for putting this in the right thread, Azreal!)

Anyways, after at least 12 years of faithful service, my Altec Lansing ADA 890 speaker set is starting to act up, the subwoofer turning on and off on its own. Maybe it's trying to tell me it's ready to go to home-theater system heaven.

Anyways, I'd appreciate it if you guys can recommend a good home theater system that's similar to my ADA 890 set in terms of sound quality, size and price. It'll have to be a satellite speaker set, due to lack of space. My budget is around 330 USD, max.

Edited May 14, 2013 by GU-11
Moved. Search next time.