My Batcave - MA rack, Rives designed room

Last updated:  5/18/13


* LINK to HT thread Pics overview of basement and HT (10/17/09) *


Index
(Indexing idea from oman321's thread)
(...a work in progress...)


- "My HT system(s)" - post #1
- HT pics - post #2, post #3, Emotiva XPA-3, XPA-3 in rack, CC stand, basement (bar, gym setup) & HT pics various angles (10/17/09), HT bookshelves and Rives Audio
- HT construction - partial wall, rear surround ceiling mounts, ISCOIIIL+ CineSlide, drywall & paint, ISCOIIIL + CineSlide, ISCOIIL+CS (touched up by GG), CC pics,
- Screen & screen material pics - sample pic, sample pics, Carada screen, Sleeping Beauty, Mama Mia
- Bar/TV area - before, after, after /w TV (iPhone)
- Ethernet Distribution - home and rack - rack mount switch,
- HT seating - Private Collection Ovation 3033 HT seating, Berkline pics,
- Outdoor audio - Emotiva UPA-2, deck pic, links,
- Computer audio & DACs - TCA DAC-MAN & Scott Nixon USB-Tube DAC, Music Streamer and Music Streamer+, Emotiva XDC-1 DAC, DAC questions, Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 sound card, Squeezebox, HRT MS & MS+, Emotiva XDC-1 DAC (rendering)
- Middle Atlantic rack gear - Oppo BDP83 faceplate (I asked Oppo to send a box to MA), XPA-3 in rack, pics, rack out, MA rack plate for adapters for RS232 (etc), rack pics, RS232,
- Remotes and automation - URC, GetGray URC screen shots, thoughts, Logitech Harmony 900
- Audio/subwoofer calibration attempts - sub, Audyssey, Audyssey calib, Audyssey MultEQ Pro kit, Audyssey MultEQ Pro cal #1, Audyssey cal#3, Audyssey Pro kit info,
- Video calibration - RS20 FW v1.1, pre/post calibration measures, CIE charts,
- av123 RSC200 "Bigfoot" Center Channel Stand Summary PDF - updated PDF, link,
RSC200 dimensions and screen height, Sound Anchors CC stands, CC pics, CC fill info, CC stand
- XBOX360 - faceplate, 360 in rack,
- Office setup - ELT525M, UPA-2/WAF-1 w/APC10,
- TCA WAF-1 vs. av123 ELT525M Mini-monitor Comparison
- Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) links
- Family room TV cabinet pic - link

Coloring scheme:
- green = FW updates
- blue = internet links or highlights
- red = highlights or something that might change


Main HT System:
HT Room:
-- Dedicated HT room - designed by Rives Audio (Level 1+) with some modfications (eg front partial wall added after design)
–- Room dimensions - 22' 4" x 17' 6" x 7'7” height (ceiling diffusers hang down 3”) -- Room volume: ~2900 ft^3
-- Screen height (middle): 56"
-- Seating for 8 = 4 in front, 4 in back on a ~6” riser
-- Approximate screen-to-seat distance:
---- Front row: ~10 ft
---- Back row: ~17 ft
-- Acoustic Room Treatments
---- QuietRock drywall on interior wall and ceiling -- with HVAC holes through it so not perfect
---- Bass traps (floor to ceiling, 703 fiberglass wrapped) in 4 corners
---- Ceiling diffusers (703 on top, wood on bottom)
---- Soffit traps
---- Wall diffusers
-- Room wall and ceiling color: Sherwin-Williams “Warm Stone”
-- partial false front wall - ~144" across (allows access to electric cabinet behind)
-- Partial front wall color: Shewin-Williams "Tricorn Black" (flat)
-- there is a central pillar ~18.5 ft from front wall
Rack: Middle Atlantic WR-37-32 (pulls out and swivels to allow access to back of rack -- although too heavy now with gear in it! )
Rack lights: Middle Atlantic PDLT-815RV-RN
Power: dedicated 20A lines, house electric, ethernet, & coaxial cable (Intermatic) surge protection
-- Electronics: Surge-X SEQ
-- Projector: Furman M1500-UPS-PFP
-- Mains/sub: Panamax M2A20
Projector: JVC RS20 1080p
-- FW: v1.1 updated 5/9/09
-- Calibrated by Craig Rounds (w/ Lumagen RadianceXE on 5/16/09) and _____ (update)
-- on 8/29/10 @ JVC RS20 937 hours - bumped up lamp to "high" mode and turned apeture from 0 to -3.
-- HDMI -> Enhanced, 4:2:2 (see video processor settings below)
Video processor: Lumagen RadianceXE
-- FW (XE update link): (Updated: 05-18-13) - Production 040613 (prior was 04-xx-11)
-- Settings:
--- HDMI: enhanced, 4:2:2 - Notes on HDMI: recommended enhanced-- nathan_h rec - link - "...set the projector to enhanced (computer) levels (not AUTO) -- and adjust the brightness control on the projector to the point where the pluge pattern on your calibration patterns looks correct. I find this more reliable than choosing "normal" video HDMI in the RS20 menus, and more predictable than using AUTO, and is the way gregr recommends setting up the unit in the WSR review. Other people prefer to set the HDMI level to 'normal' on the projector, too -- but since that clips blacker-than-black levels, setting the right brightness is tougher -- and the end result, for me, was not only less accurate but also less pleasing."
--- Gamma: 2.28 -- (Note, in "The Rogers Report" on the JVC RS20 in Widescreen Review Jul/Aug 2009, Issue 141, p. 21 -- He used a 2.4 gamma.)
--- Cable "Input 1A" set to "Video" -- See Dave G Recs (link & explanation) -- Deinterlacing: Menu -> Input x -> Video Setup -> (choose resolution) -> Control -> Deint -> Mode (Video)
-- Other XE/RS20 measurements -- see link & subsequent post

Ceiling mount: Chief RPMA Elite
Screen: 2.40:1 Carada Brilliant White (BW) Criterion 128" (diagonal) screen
Anamorphic Lens: ISCO IIIL + CineSlide™ CSII Anamorphic Lens Transport
-- (special thanks to Wayne/funlvr1965, Scott/GetGray, and Jim R. for their help)
Cable: DirectTV with Genie whole house DVR and C31/700 receiver in HT room
DVR Storage: Western Digitial (WD) 1TB MyDVR Expander via eSATA
Receiver: Denon 5308CI
-- FW updated 8-6-09
-- MultEQ(xt) optimization:
---- Room EQ: "Audyssey Flat" (due to acoustical room treatments - so not Audyssey reference) -> actually changed to Pro kit version (see subsequent posts around 11-06-09)
---- Dynamic EQ: ON
---- Dynamic Volume: OFF
Power amplifier: Emotiva XPA-3 (200 W/ch @ 8 ohm for L/C/R)
DVD (and/SACD/DVD-A): Oppo DV-980H
Blu Ray/SACD/DVD-A: Oppo BDP-103
-- BDP-103 Settings:
---- Source Direct

Game: Xbox Pro "Jasper" (12.1A/150W PS) 60 GB HD w/ "carbon fiber" faceplate - Link
Mains: av123 Rocket RS1000 Signature
-- toed in toward center, front seats
-- powered woofers pointing: "IN"
Center: av123 Rocket RSC200 Signature
-- Center channel stand: Sound Anchors Studio CC stand
Side surrounds: av123 Rocket RSS300 dipole
Rear surrounds: av123 Rocket RS250 MkII

-- Ceiling Mounts: Yamaha BWS50-260

Subwoofer: SVS PB12-Ultra/2 (rosewood) (SVS link)
--- 1 plug = Tuned to 20 Hz -- I'd consider changing this to 16 Hz given that I have enough headroom at 20 Hz
Ethernet Switch: D-Link DES-1024D 24-Port 10/100 Rack Mount Switch (consider increasing this to 1000 if I stream much)
Universal remote/lighting/HVAC control: None ?? (? Control 4 or AMX or ??? for HVAC and lighting)
HT Seating: Berkline 45088 (Front: 1-2-1, Back: 2 & 2) (from Roman/rsh @AVS)
Other gear:
- Sony tripod
- CA183 light meter
- Radio Shack digital SPL meter
- Galaxy Audio CM140 SPL meter
- MS7701B Euro Boom Mic stand & CM-01 adapter for Audyssey microphone
- for Audyssey calibation - 6581 Black Microphone Gooseneck (19") - link
- temperature (IR) meter


To Do List/Pending/Researching:
- AVS "What I'd do differently next time thread" - link
- iPod dock/MA rack connected ????
- temperature probe/readout - eg link
- Carada CIH Masquerade -- for a masking solution
- remote/integration for HT and HVAC and lighting
=== remotecentral.com

---- currently using DirectTV and Oppo iPhone/iPad apps
--- need to read up on RS-232 controls - options
--- (eg, need component control - screen masking (pending), CineSlide, vertical stretch, Lumagen RadianceXE modes (pending))
--- (? can you trigger 2.35:1 button on Lumagen to activate CineSlide - yes, but how do you not activate it when you switch back and forth from 2.35/16:9 modes in Lumagen to look at menus on the bottom of screen)
Options:
--- AMX
----- AMX MVP-8400 (http://www.amx.com/products/MVP-8400I.asp)
----- AMX NI-3100 with ICS (http://www.amx.com/products/NI-3100.asp)
--- Control4
--- Crestron
--- iPhone / iPad solutions
--- RTI
--- Universal Remote Control (URC) - link -

- outdoor water/snow proof speakers for deck (connected to UPA-2 and whole house Russound system)
--- Seaton outdoor subs - ???
- figuring out how to get Denon 5308CI to "read" desktop HD -- got it working with XBOX360 and Windows Media Center
- ?? Wii


Family Room
TV: Sony KDL-60EX700
      ( Died (~7/20/10): Mits WD52628 DLP )
Cable box: DirectTV Genie
DVR Expander:  --
BR: Samsung BD-P2550
DVD: Oppo DV-980H
CD changer: Sony CDP-C350Z
Tape: Onkyo TA-W450
Surge: Brick Wall PW2RAUD2 & APC AV H10 (Silver)
House Amps (2): Russound CAM6.6 & 6.6T amps, speakers
-- amp cooler - link
House speakers: Russound in wall, in ceiling, and outdoor speakers
Powered Blinds: Hunter Douglas - remote UXURC4U
Remote: DirectTV remote  

Ethernet: (wired & router = ???)

Other

Office #1:
--- Surge: APC AV H10 (Silver, $79 at CC online)
--- Digital Source: laptop USB out to HRT Music Streamer (MS) DAC ->
--- CD: Emotiva ERC-1 CD player
--- Pre-amp: Emotiva USP-1 pre-amp
--- Amp: Emotiva UPA-2 amp
--- Speakers: CHT/TCA WAF-1 mini-monitors w/ Ninja Elite + No-Rez mod
--- Subwoofer: Emotiva Ultra Sub 10 (got on sale @ $349.00 + no S/H)
--- Music: Pandora One v2.0 @ 192kbps (per this FAQ)

Office #2 setup:
--- Source: desktop computer with headphone RCA splitter out to CHT/TCA Gizmo
--- Amp: CHT/TCA Gizmo v1.0 (orig) integrated amp
--- Speakers: CHT/TCA TCA WAF-1

Gym:
--- Power: Surge-X Flat Pak 82, APC AV H15
--- AVR: Insignia 5010HD AVR
--- Speakers: CHT/TCA WAF-1 mini-monitors (on stands)
--- TV: Toshiba 42XV545U SRT 1080p LCD
--- Cable: DirectTV C31/700 receiver with genie whole house DVR
--- BR: Oppo BDP-83
--- Headphones: Sennheiser RS130 wireless headphones (x2)


Home Bar:
--- Power: Surge-X Flat Pak 82
--- TV: Toshiba 42XV540U 1080p LCD
--- Cable: DirectTV C31/700 receiver with genie whole house DVR

Kids Playroom
Power/Surge: Adcom ACE-515
TV: Sony 27” CRT (connected via S-video)
Receiver: Sony STR-DE835 AVR (100W/ch - "Sony" watts that is)
DVD/BR Player: Oppo BDP-80
--- BDP-80 FW (link) updated on: 2-12-10
--- Release date: January 18, 2010.
--- Category: Latest Official Release
--- Main Version: BDP80-10-1230
--- Loader Version: BT0350
--- Sub Version: MCU80-05-0815
Mains: Infinity RS-4
Center: Infinity CC-2
Surrounds: (none)
Subwoofer: (none)

Computer (desktop, home)
- From: Cyberpower
- CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K at 3.50 GHz
- MOB: ASUS  
- Audio:  HRT Streamer
 
- Video: ATI Radeon HD 4870
- Monitor: Dell 2408WFP - 24" LCD
- Memory: 24 GB DDR3 PC1600 Kingston Hyper (upgraded from 6GB on 9/22/11; 12->24 3/2013)
- OS: Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
- Media Player: WinAmp  
- NAS: HP Mediasmart Server (MSS) EX490 - 1TB HD + 2TB WD Caviar Green ("EADS" not "EARS" series)

Computer "To Do" list:
- a Squeezebox Duet-like interface for selecting songs while roaming the house/yard
- iPhone control ???
 


Ethernet distribution
- Cable modem: DirectTV
- WiFi: NetGear RangeMax Premium Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500)
- Ethernet switch (House): Netgear GS108 ProSafe 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch 
- Ethernet switch (MA HT rack - mounted in back): D-Link DES-1024D 24-Port 10/100 Rack Mount Switch (may need to go Gigabit with BDP-103)
- NAS: HP Mediasmart Server (MSS) EX490 - 1TB HD + 2TB WD Caviar Green ("EADS" not "EARS" series)

Outdoor System
(a work in long progress -- likely until 2010 summer -- or later - still not done as of 12/2012)
House Amps (3): Russound CAM6.6 & 6.6T amps, Emotiva UPA-2 for future (additional) outdoor speakers (currently moved to office)
Speakers: Russound outdoor speakers - deck, garage
-- pending: both sides of deck stereo pairs (= 4 speakers total)

--- Will look at installing multiple smaller speakers outside vs. a few bigger ones -- ?Seaton outdoor?

"6 Awesome Outdoor A/V Products"
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1168830
http://www.cepro.com/slideshow/image/5222/


Car Audio
Head unit: Pioneer DEH-P7000BT
Amp: Alpine PDX-4.100
Speakers: Infinity
Subwoofer: none (thinking about a subwoofer that integrates over wheel well)
Wiring:
Bells 'n' whistles: none
Installed at: Best Buy
GPS:  


More "Other Stuff":
- Denon receiver setup - Batpig's "Denon-to-English Dictionary"
- A collection of info and links (at HTS) for subwoofer calibration, SPL meters, software, etc - link
- The All Channels Driven (ACD) Amplifier Test (Audioholics, by Gene DellaSala — last modified March 14, 2007) - link

Lumagen RadianceXE and JVC RS20 FW v1.1 Links:
- Lumagen RadianceXE for RS20 calibration (see craigr review in RS20 calibration [CMS v1.0] thread) - May 16 ?
---- Lumagen RadianceXD - manufacturer website
---- AVS thread of Radiance vs. RS20 alone "Would I benefit from a video processor (JVC RS20/Integra 9.9)" (by Zigrivers) - link
----------- Lawguy summary post on that thread - link
-------------- Radiance (vs RS20 v1.1 CMS) +: 1) "...Radiance still has better (easier to use) greyscale and gamma controls..." ; 2) "The Lumagen's scaling and image processing will be better than the RS20's. This would make the biggest difference with SD material. If you watch a lot of SD material, the Radiance is definitely worth it. If you mostly watch HD, the difference will be more modest or maybe not noticable."
-------------- Radiance (vs RS20 v1.1 CMS) -: 1)"The controls on the RS20 now work well. The CMS seems to really be as good as the Radiance's..." ; 2) any visible difference with v1.1 CMS vs . Radiance? ; 3) cost
-------------- Conclusion: So, to answer your question, "if you weren't concerned about budget" then get the Radiance.
---- AVS "Lumagen RadianceXD - Featuring Gennum VXP (!!)" thread - link
---- AVS "Unofficial RadianceXD FAQ" thread (by Dave G., a Badger) - link
- JVC RS20 firmware v1.1 upgrade for improved color management system (CMS) etc. -- see comments in this review and link here JVC MSIS (need to add "exe" extension to file to run) - JVC USA site for FW upgrade: link
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16467107#post16467107

Future/Next HT Room - What Would I do (differently)?
Room:
- Larger room
- Soundproofing - room within a room +/- QuietRock, etc.
- More attention to design, HVAC (eg intake above rack), lighting, colors (not light carpet), integration, and doors in the back not side
- Wiring for future proofing (eg balanced lines for powered speakers -- eg Seaton)
- Wired ethernet
- More power lines -- at 20A for capacity
- Acoustics - integrated into wall instead of attached extrinsicly.
- Carpet - darker (I like Gary's carpet from AVS HT Revealed)
Seating: front with couches/loungers and scattered traditional HT seating, more storage. ? Buttkickers or D-box (at least in a few seats)
Screen: acoustically transparent (AT) screen
Masking system: 4 way masking system -- Carada (no 4-way out yet) vs. other?
Projector: ???
--- (hopefully by then, LED based -- and good lumen output)
Pre: Denon pre vs. a top end AVR
Amps: Emotiva XPR-7/PMA-7350 (350 W/ch x7)   vs. ??? (may not be needed if using powered speakers)
http://blog.hometheater.com/cedia201...emotivational/
Sources: Oppo, Streaming Audio sources -- focus on ease of use
Subs:   Seaton vs. in wall/custom
Speakers: Seaton Catalysts or Sparks vs.  ???



AV Forum Links
Acoustic Elegance Forum (subwoofers)
AVS Forum
Audioholics Home Theater Forums
Emotiva Lounge
Full Compass (store in Madison, WI area)
Home Theater Shack
Home Theater Spot
Lumagen User ForumMonoprice
Skiing Ninja Forum
Stereo Mojo
Stereophile
Tweak City Audio
Widescreen Review


Quotes:

- Andretti, Mario
“If everything’s under control, you’re probably moving too slow.”

- Cage, John
“If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.”

- Drucker, Peter
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."

- Feynman, Richard, American Physicist
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts."

- Holt, J. Gordon
"The better the ad, the worse the product."

- Lang, Michael (about Woodstock)
"The time was right, the place was right, the spirit was right, and we were right.
What resulted was a celebration and confirmation of our humanity -- one of the few instances in history, to my knowledge, when joy became big news."

- Lenin
“The best and quickest way to undermine any society is through it’s music.”

- Mayo, Charles H.
1931 – “It took the world from the day of its creation to the time of the sixteenth century to raise a doubting thomas of sufficient mental strength and courage to state that questions were not answered by authority, but by experiment.”

- Moby
“I had an epiphany a few years ago where I was out at a celebrity party and it suddenly dawned on me that I had yet to meet a celebrity who is as smart and interesting as any of my friends.”

- Nietzsche, Friedrich
"A “scientific” interpretation of the world, as you understand it, might therefore be one of the most stupid of all possible interpretations of the world, meaning that it would be one of the poorest in meaning."
"Without music life would be a mistake."

- Pauling, Linus
"The first step in applying the scientific method consists in being curious about the world."

- von Recklinghausen, Daniel R.
"If it measures good and sounds bad, -- it is bad.
If it sounds good and measures bad, -- you've measured the wrong thing."

- Sharma, Chris
“In Zen they talk about keeping a beginner’s mind and experiencing each moment fresh and completely open without the hindrances of expectations and regret.

"The expert’s mind thinks it knows everything and therefore sets up extra standards that are not really necessary.”