Home theater setup in North Texas - Page 3

I didn't get a chance to measure the distance (I will tonight), but I would say about four feet. I feel that the imaging is good (Modern Warfare: 2 is my litmus test, and I can definitely hear the direction someone is coming from).

Hey all,

So, I've gone back and forth over the last few months, wondering if I should attempt a projector and fixed screen. We planned on getting a larger TV (a 55" or above LCD), but the thought of a PJ has always interested me.

Here are the issues with a projector setup:

1. The components--all of the components would remain where they are currently. We have the media closet in the back, which houses all of our media, which *could* house the components; however we did spend nearly $600 on the media stand last year. I would need to route a long HDMI cable and a long component cable to the PJ. That would be difficult, as the wall where the TV is currently located is an exterior wall, so there are fire blocks and such inside. I could conceivably run cable concealer along the baseboards to the PJ in the back, but I don't know if I would want to see that.

2. Let's say the component issue is solved--there are two large windows in the room. Furthermore, the room isn't enclosed (it's a loft-style, large bonus room). Any issue with this?

Thanks for any and all input!

P.S.- In the true spirit of "naming" my theater, it shall now and forever be known as "Hangar 18." Kudos to all who understand/appreciate the reference.

Really? Nothing at all? Hmmm.

Recent upgrades:

Got U2 360 Live From the Rose Bowl on Blu-ray. It's great! I also bought three sweet framed Lord of the Rings movie posters off of craigslist...for $20! It was a killer deal! Doing things on a budget is definitely possible.

I do have it! It's great. There's a new Blu-ray coming out in September of the Big Four Tour...it looks superb.

Thanks for the props! I had the towers, upgraded to Polk TSi 300s, but returned them. I got the TSi 200s for half their MSRP, and I LOVE the sound they produce! They are actually quite big, too.

My bad...it's "Rust in Peace Live," not the Big Four. Either way...I am so getting it.

I'm a huge fan of live concert DVDs. I have all of Rage Against the Machines, several Chili Peppers shows, and am about to complete the U2 series (eBay rocks so much).

I've updated the media room in the last 1.5 months. I'll post pictures soon (tonight, possibly). Changes include framed movie posters, addition of coffee table and end table (from living room downstairs), and new speaker stands for the front speakers.

Major upgrade today! I purchased a 40G PS3 after trading in some six year old equipment (e.g., old PC CPU, old digital cameras) for $50 out of pocket! That's a killer deal! The budget home theater continues to grow!

I got it from this local electronics repair shop. I love that after doing a lot of research, trading in old stuff that was collecting dust, and some old school negotiating,I walked out with a great find!

Ok, so I may be getting my hands on a free 60" Pioneer Elite (not sure if it's a Kuro) that needs repair. A rental house that my father owns was just vacated by a guy who was a home theater installer. My dad said there are some things he left behind (speakers, TV). I'm going to go take a look at the TV tomorrow. What are some of the common issues with a TV like this that could cause it to go bad? Is it something that's worth investing to repair, or should I just sell it for parts?

Ok...sounds good.

The plasma panel is toast. It'll cost about $3k to fix, so someone's supposed to buy it this morning for $100.

Sold for $200!

So my Rocketfish wireless transmitter for the rear speakers is dead. More specifically, the sender is dead. Apparently it's only a $15 replacement.

So the $15 replacement wasn't true; the service agent at Rocketfish misspoke. Anyway, I lucked out big time. There was an overstock business about 25 minutes away from me that had a brand new unit for $55, but they sold it to me for $45. I was then able to sell my old unit (with the bad sender) on eBay for $30 (I listed the item as-is and pointed out that the sender wouldn't power on, so I didn't deceive the buyer ).

Overall, I'm very happy that I was able to resolve the situation quickly and cheaply!

Hi, and thanks for the comment!

I actually did move the center channel back up to the top of the entertainment center. The speaker has an angled corner, so when I had it lower in the previous setup, it was angled close to our listening position. However, I liked it better at ear-level for sound and aesthetic reasons. Also, I've moved the receiver to the left "open section" where the PS3 (or the Wii as the pictures show) used to be. I'll try to get some updated pictures soon.

The PS3 is now located in the enclosed compartment below the Xbox 360, and yes, I am going to address the heat issue. I have the gateway for our U-verse internet in that compartment as well, and they both generate quite a bit of heat when on. For now, I've been keeping the door open while the PS3 is in use. After a while, the PS3's internal fan will kick on, and that sucker is LOUD. I'm planning on installing one or two PC cooling fans in the back of the compartment to pull out all of the heat that's generated.

On a side note, I've been considering selling the PS3 and replacing it with a new Slim model. If I could sell my 40G for $200+, then I think it would be a good investment. Storage capacity isn't an issue, but the extra space would be nice (yes, I know I can easily upgrade the HDD fairly inexpensively). The main reasons to upgrade would be the manufacturer's warranty, increased power efficiency, and larger HDD. Also, I've started to like the look of the Slims more (but aesthetics aren't a solid reason for me to upgrade).

Success! I sold my 40gb PS3 for $215 today; I then walked into Wal-Mart two minutes later and purchased a new 160gb bundle with Uncharted 2 and Medal of Honor for $299.99 ($326 after tax). So, considering I paid $50 for the 40gb unit a few months ago, I essentially spent $176 for a brand new PS3 with two hit games included. Love it! Wheelin' and dealin' is fun

Happy birthday to me