I wasn't sure the best place to put this post, so I stuck it here. My apologies if it is the wrong place.

We tried to get a local company to do it, but they just didn't seem to be in line with our ideas, and I guess we just weren't putting enough money into the project for them to seem to want to spend the time working on it with us. Unfortunately, the market in our area is small, and it's not a HUGE project (least for companies that do this stuff), so can't really get anyone out of town to come in to look at it.

SO... I'm now in charge of setting up a full A/V system for the new training room we are building. Oh, and I'm not a big Audio/Video kinda guy, I'm just the computer guy who got unlucky.

We want to make this look as clean and professional as humanly possible, while still being DIY.

The room is Rectangular, 47' long x 23' wide. It will have 18 desks (each 5' wide, 2 desks together) with a single 3' center isle. We plan to put an instructor's desk at the front; setup with a permanent computer; as well as a 2ndary location to be used for a laptop for presentations. The room will have wireless internet capabilities.

Currently Considered Components:
Projector: Infocus IN42 3000 ANSI for lights on projection capability
Receiver: Unknown
DVD/VCR: Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK
Remote: Philips Pronto TSU960 w/ RFX9600 advanced serial extender.
Speakers: Unknown

Currently my plan is to run a single HDMI connection out of the PC, split to a local monitor, and off to an A/V receiver. There would also be VGA & a 1/8" audio cable to the receiver for the laptop connection. The VGA would go directly to the projector, while the audio would go back to the receiver.

All A/V Components would reside in a rack in a room behind the training room, due to this I need an RF based remote control, or some form of IR extender, to this extent I am looking at the Philips Pronto TSU960 w/ the advanced serial extender to give RF based remote control access to all the devices. I have yet to decide what receiver to use; and I will be also adding both DVD & VHS players to the mix as well. I have recently seen a combo player that can display both thru HDMI, into the receiver.

I will be sending the audio signal to 6 overhead in the ceiling speakers. Beyond that, I have no clue on what to use. Finally, we are also considering adding a microphone system, which could hopefully have it's audio signal put on top of whatever other audio (either from a computer or video).

Anyone have some ideas for speakers, an AVR, or other devices I may need?

Having been a frequent trainer/presenter something to consider.

Listener fatigue: ever go to a meeting and the speaker gets up and says I think everybody can hear me. Then speaks loudly and says "can you hear me in the back?" and everyone nods their head yes. So the speaker doesn't bother to use a microphone. Well as time goes on their voice fatigues and you need to concentrate really hard to hear and pay attention. In fact often after 15 minutes 50% of the audience attention starts to wander.

For training you want it "in your face" theater loud. Get a wireless microphone system that clips to your belt and a lapel clip-on microphone.

The presenter then can speak at normal levels (saving their voice)
These are readily available and are used a lot at health clubs for group exercise. You will also find mixers that will mix the microphone feed with other audio signals.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/293707.jpg

As for speakers and receivers think about an array of in ceiling speakers with a speaker over every desk pair.

You need to think about Commercial speaker systems where they operate at a constant voltage 70v and allow you to connect as many speakers to the amp as you need without worrying about creating too low of an impedance which would happen if you used regular consumer speakers. YOU need to be aware that you need a special amp, not just the household variety.

Read:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant_voltage_speaker_system


The folks at Parts express would be one go to source for some free phone advice as they carry a whole line of 70v commercial sound products:

http://www.partsexpress.com/commercial-sound.cfm

Thanks, definitely going to call parts express tomorrow, and see what they say. They also have some other things I was looking for or was worried about, like an HDMI wall jack and such.