Cost of your home theater setup

No brag here, I'm a real bargain hunter now that I'm retired, work part time and both kids are in college/grad school. Here's the complete rundown on my current "bargain basement" set up....all prices shipped including tax where applicable:

Onkyo HT-RC180 (new)...................................$549
SVS 5.0 SCS fronts/SBS wides (used)................$430
Cambridge Bipole/Dipole surrounds.....................$ 55
DIY Shiva-X sub w/O-Audio amp (new&used)......$395
Pany PX-80 plasma (new) ...............................$780
Pany DMP-BD30 BR player (open box).................$155
Harmony 520 remote (refurb)............................$ 30
Monoprice tilt/swivel/pivot wall mount.................$ 90
monoprice speaker wire, sub cable, HDMI cables, ..$ 60
RS SPL meter..................................................$ 55
TOTAL....................................................... .$2599
Experience from trying out receivers (4) speaker set ups (3) subs (3) and getting it all to sound sooo good = PRICELESS

EDIT...Should have also added....lurking around these forums learning from all the great experience pooled here = BEYOND PRICELESS

Planar PD-7130 projector
106" DIY horizontally masking acoustically transparent screen
JTR T8 mains and center
JBL 8340 surrounds
Maelstrom-X 18" sub
TC Sounds 12" sub
TC Sounds 12" sub
Shiva-X 12" sub
HK AVR254 (used as processor only)
Behringer EPX2000 amp (power mains)
Nady XA-1100 amp (power center and Shiva-X)
Nady XA-1100 amp (power Maelstrom-X)
Nady XA-2100 amp (power both TC Sounds subs)
Behringer MIC2200 (high pass filter & PEQ)
Denon 3300 (amp for jbl 8340 surrounds)
Bass traps in all four corners
12 sound panels
DIY equipment rack in another room on another floor
Harmony RF remote control
Monoprice for accessories

Subs, screen, bass traps, sound panels and rack are DIY. Have about $6,300 in the system. Dedicated room, but I have not included any room costs. I saved a lot of money by careful shopping and DIY. Projector, $605 delivered. It was a Woot close out deal for new projectors with full 2r factor warranty. Woot sold all 450 projectors in less than 12 hrs. JTR T8 speakers sell for $1,000 each plus shipping and I paid $425 delivered for used speakers. My processor I picked up (new) for $162.50 delivered). Close out deal on new TC Sounds drivers, $328 delivered for the pair. I have about $700 in my screen. You can't buy an AT screen with a mechanical horizontal masking system (multiple ratio) for less than $5,000. Between deals like these and DIY I ended up with a theater that would have cost most people $17,000 or more.

Still enjoying my set up from five years ago (or about twenty five in HT years):

Panasonic PT AE700U pj - $1500
Panasonic upscaling dvd - $200
Yamaha receiver - $550
Paradigm CT 110 5.0 - $650
SVS PCI 25-31 - $650
Paradigm PDR 12 - $400
Acoustic panels and corner traps - $900
WA homemade screen - $120

Total -$4970

Enjoyment over five years - priceless.

Work in progress (like everyone else here!):

Samsung 58inch plasma 1080p= $2200
Energy RC-10 x2= $350
Energy RC Mini CC = $199
Energy CR-10 x2= $350 (not purchased YET)
BIC F12 Sub = $184
Harman Kardon AVR140= $220 (4 yrs old)
PS3 = $400
XBox360= $300
Wii+Fit= ~$300

Total = $4,503

Of course when I buy a house in the next couple years a lot of these will be upgraded, haha, it never ends does it?

Well, then mine is ancient by comparison (Circa 2001/2002). And until my basement H/T flooded out a little more than a year ago, I was still enjoying it daily....

DENON AVR-3802 (used as a pre-pro and to power side and rear surrounds)
DENON DVD 3800 (DVD player)
DENON 1650 AR (CD Player)
NAKAMICHI RX-505 (Auto reverse casette player)
ADCOM GFA-5503 Amp (front three channels)
ADCOM 315 Power center
DENON - POA 2200 2 channel amp to power passive subs (2)

Second time around with this room, soon to be redone again!

Pro8100 PJ - $1250
Onkyo 805 - $500
XPA-5 - $600
Sony 350 BRD - $300
Samsung HDDVD - $200
Emotiva 8.3, 6.3, ERD-1s - $2500
Twin LFM -EX subs - $1200
Twin CSW P-1000 subs - $1000
SMS-1 - $500
Twin Aura Bass Shakers, P.E. 240 watt amp - $175
Carada 96" Precision screen - $600
GIK sound panels - $500

Total $9325, not including furniture or drapes.

Toss in the reclining loveseat, PJ mount, center channel stand, and equipment rack and it tops out at around $10,500. Holy crap, this stuff adds up fast! Still, it's all worth it in the end, right? And to think, this is just a modest setup, I can't imagine the pricetag on some of the big bucks theaters I've seen.

If I had paid retail? You don't wanna know...

I have three setups (selling one)

Main Home Theater:

TV: Panasonic 56" LiFi RPTV = 1200
Reciever: Integra DTR 5.9 = 799 (got ripped off, dont rub it in )
Fronts: Polk T90e (3 way version of the Monitor 60's) = 112 each = 224
Center: Polk CS2 = 190
Surrounds: Polk Monitor 40's = 249 pair
Sub: PSW125 = 349

Total = 3011

Office Theater:

TV: 25" HP2509m Monitor = 240
Reciever: Denon 1610 = 245
Fronts: Infinity Studio Monitor 185's = Free from a buddy
Center: None
Surrounds: Infinity Primus 162's = 75 each = 150
Sub: None

Office Total: 635

Bedroom rig (selling speakers, keeping TV)

TV: 32" Samsung LCD = Free (Fiancees )
Reciever: Sony STR-K7000 (from HTIAB setup) = 550 (includes unused speakers and sub)
Fronts: Polk R50
Center: CS1
Surrounds: None
Center: None

My main theater room setup

Panasonic HC4900 Projector $1500
Carada 114" Screen $750
Polk RTI8 s $350
Polk CSI5 $150
Polk RTI6 $250
Toshiba HD-A35 $250
PS 3 $300
Onkyo 805 $600
Emotiva XPA 5 $825
APC H15 $200
Harmony One $200
Cables $150
Maelstrom DIY 18" $550
EP4000 $300
5 Buttshakers $200
ED Amp $100
Total= $6625

Living Room
Samsung 50" Plasma $2100
Polk RTI12 s $800
Polk CSI5 $150
Polk FXI3 $150
ED A5-350 $600
Onkyo 605 $400
Cables $50

Total= $4200

Overall = $10,825

I hope my wife never reads this post.

The understanding my fiancee and I have come to is for every 1k I spend on that kinda stuff I need to spend 200 on her..using that equasion sounds like you need to go to Jared ....

onkyo 805
rotel rmb-1095 (5 channel amp)
mcintosh mc-252 (2 channel amp)
panny blu-ray
toshiba hd-dvd
audio request server
oppo sacd/dvd-audio
jvc turntable
sony cd burner
def tech,; 7001's
c/l/r 3000
bpvx
bp20
subs; epic phoenix
svs 32-31pci
svs pb12 plus/2
earthquake supernova mkIV-12
optoma hd-65 pj
x-box 360
106" diy screen
power conditioner
misc cables, universal remote etc.

A large amount was purchased used otherwise the grand total would have been much higher.
Aprox 15k give or take

amen to the wifes not seeing this

A couple of years ago I added up everything I had spent on 10 years worth of radio controlled model planes, lesson learned was not to add up everything that I have spent on stuff.

Well...now I do.

Onkyo TX-NR1000 Receiver $700

55" Olevia LCD $1,500

Sony Blu-ray Player $150

Cerwin Vega CLS-215 Mains $800

Cerwin Vega CLS-215 Rears $800

Cerwin Vega VE-15F Surrounds $500

Cerwin Vega HT-210C passive sub/center channel $350

Bagend Infrasub-18 Music Sub $340

DCM TB1515 subwoofer HT Sub $220

Future 9.1 system

Bic Realta Speakers Wides $250

Future Bedroom system

Insignia 5.1 receiver $250

Bic EV-1530 Fronts $350

Bic EV-1530 Rears $350

Polk psw505 subwoofer $250 or two bic V-1220 subwoofers $360

Also looking for a new HT sub with at least a 500 watt amp and a 15" or 18" driver. My budget is $500-$900. I just sold my beloved DCM TB1515 tonight.

Klipsch LaScala's $1000 5 yrs ago
Klipsch Heresy's $630 30 yrs ago
Klipsch KG1.2 $400 15 yrs ago
Klipsch KV 2 $250 15 yrs ago
Klipsch SW8 $450 15 yrs ago
Onkyo TX-DS989 $800 10 yrs ago
Sony PS3 $299 6 mos. ago
Thorens TD145 mk2 $200 32 yrs ago
Sony 40" Bravia $2499 3 yrs ago
Home made sub $350 2 mos ago
Grommes tube amp free
Grommes monorual tuner free
Phase Linear 400 $200 1 yr ago
Weinguard antenna free

Mitsubishi HC1500 projector w/cables........................$1100
120" DIY screen...................................................... .250
Berkline Powered theater seating 13174.....................$2400

Rocket RS850s, RSC200............................................$1500
surrounds and rears....................................................500
butt kickers and amp...................................................500
IB sub (2- Fi IB 18's) with 1500w amp and EQ................$1000
Emotiva XPA-3........................................................... ..600
Yamaha HTR5860..................................................... ...$400
Samsung 1500 Bluray player............................................130
xbox 360......................................................... ............300
HTPC........................................................ ..................800


the room
A dozen 2'x5' DIY Acoustic panels.................................$200
6 column style bass traps.............................................250
staggered stud sound proof wall...................................$500
8" x 14'x18' floating floor.............................................$500
wall plates and cables.................................................$150
Fabric for columns and screen curtain............................$200

total $11,280

I have another simpler setup built around some Paradigms and another DIY sub in the living room....but it's not my fun room so I'm not counting it.

Panasonic TH-42PX80U - $800
Denon AVR590 - $300
Sony BDP-S360 - $170
Pioneer 410v - $90
Sony DVP-NC85H - $120
tSc - LCR3 - P - $150
Polk T15 - $100
BIC America V1020 - $130

Total - $1,860

Budget system, but the audio and video is pretty outstanding if I do say so myself.

Sony Bravia KDL-46Z4100 (46" LCD) - $850 (Vendor accomodation through Circuit City)
Cheetah tilt flat panel mount - $37 (Amazon.com)
Harman Kardon AVR-1600 - $280 (Harman store on Ebay)
Def Tech ProCinema 80 5.1 setup - $370 (off of Ebay)
Total: $1537

HTPC:
AMD Athlon II X4 630 processor (2.8Ghz. quad core), 4GB of ram, 4.3TB hard drive space (and room for more ), LG Blu-ray/HD-DVD player, XFX HD5830 graphics card for video games and bitstreamed audio, in a Silverstone GD-01B case. Also use Total Media Theater 3 Platinium for playback and AnyDVD HD for ripping (included in HTPC price).
HTPC total: $1157

Total Theater price: $2694

Edit: There's about $50 worth of Monoprice cabling and an APC Smart UPS 1500 that I paid $175 for off of Ebay and another $60 for new batteries for it.

I think I did pretty well hunting out:

Sharp LC-46LE700 46" LED - $1100
Pioneer VSX-9130 TXH-K - $500
LG BD270 - $89
Xbox 360 Elite - $300
Paradigm Cinema Phantom Towers - $200
Paradigm Cinema 330 LCR - $310
Paradigm Cinema ADP's - $300
Paradigm Cinema 90's - $218
Paradigm PDR-10 - $350
Techcraft TRK55B Stand - $310

Let's see:

Ada cinema reference: $8500 retail- used $500
Emotiva UMC-1: $700(returning soon but I liked it)
Meridian 568: $6000 retail and I bought this used $280(on its way)
Ada PTM-6150 6 channel amp: $4000 retail bought for $700
Ada PTM-1260 12 channel bridgable amp: $6000 retail bought for $800
Behringer EP-4000: $300
BBE DS26: $300
BBE DS48: $300
Cables: Who knows it varies but I use many of them.
JBL DIY cinema speakers: $800 each x 3
JBL 8340A's: $750/pair
2 Danley DTS-10 kits: $3000
Sanyo projector: $1800
DIY 128 inch AT Screen: $150
DIY room: $5000-$10000
7 Seats: $2000

I must be forgetting some stuff like the PS3, Xbox360, etc... but this will always be a work in progress.

I am guessing anywhere from $25000-$30000 including building a room.

My local dealer has a showroom that cost $250000 for his complete setup and it is not even close in audio and video. His room is better looking than mine but my room is about performance above all else.

Panasonic 50 inch PZ700u - $2200
Pioneer 1019 - $450
PS3 - $300
Custom built HTPC (Built this when Bing CB was at 35% on Ebay) AMD Phenom 2 quad core CPU, 4gb ram, discrete Radeon graphics w/ HDMI out, 1TB hard drive, Antec Silverstone HTPC case ~ $600
Energy C200 bookshelfs - $250
Energy C-C100 Center - $200
JBL satellites with stands - $100
Emotiva Ultra 12 - $359
Logitech Dinovo Mini - $120
Cables - $100

Total ~ $4700

Ouch I didn't realize that I had spent that much. Is it sad that all my camera gear costs about the same? I love my wife.

Lets see audio took me quite a while because I kept waiting for bargains. I did this piecemeal over a few years, cause lets face it I'm not rich but in the order bought
Yamaha v663 = 400
Infinity p362 x 2 = 200 (thank you frys)
Infinity p350 =150
Infinity p162 x 2 = 150
Epik Empire= 800
Antimode 8033 = 350
=2050 probably add another 180 for shipping costs on everything so
=2230

Video and games
Samsung pn50b550 = 900
ps3 = 300
xbox360 = 200
=1400
so
=3630 total,
Wow I had no idea it was that much, and to think I've really been considering upgrading my front 3 lately.....

JVC HD-ILA 70" RPTV $ 4500
Paradigm S-100's $ 2500
Paradigm CC-690 $ 1400
Paradigm ADP-590(4) $ 2000
SVS Ultra/2 $ 2400
SVS Plus/2 $ 1400
Outlaw 990 $ 1000
Outlaw M-200 (7) $ 2300
Sony BD-S1 $ 1000
Gik acoustic traps $ 1500

Sub total $ 20,000

Theater seats $ 2,400
Addition to house $ 24,000
Cables ect $ 1,000

GRAND TOTAL $ 47,400!


(AND THE BEST PART?? MY WIFE LOVE'S IT!!)

Optima HD-70 $359.00 Best Buy clearance (brand new)
DIY projector mount $8.00 Home Depot
Onkyo 608 $389.00 pre-sale from ABT
Boston Acoustics VR-12 center $250.00 (ebay) Best center Boston every put out.
Boston Acoustics VR-950 towers L & R front $400.00
Boston Acoustics HD-5 surrounds x 4 sr, sl, sbr, sbl $200.00 (ebay)
Bic F-12 sub $189.00
JBL PSW-1000 sub $199.00
PS3 bluray $350.00
124 DIY Dalite High Contrast Cinema Vision $375.00
Toshiba HD-DVD player A-35 $249.00
Cables from Monoprice around $100.00
Theater recliner chairs $1200.00
UPS power system $149.00
Harmony 550 remote $89.00

Wow, only $4506.00 Looking to go for a 1080p projector in the next two months. So this is a never ending project. By the way this is the second projector that has been installed in the room, and fourth receiver. Upgrade fever ever year or so.

Home Theater’s are hazardous to your wealth!

Custom DIY HT Room - $10K (including furniture, screen, mini split A/C DIY room treatments).
Custom DIY Main Speakers - EST. $7K (Drivers for 3 speakers cost $2100, Generally a retail build for that cost is 3 to 4times). Changing the mains soon to DIY waveguides that will cost much less.
Custom DIY Main subs - $4K ($600 in drivers/$600 in amps but Compared against 2 PB13s hence the $4K).
Surround speakers, recent change to Tannoy V8s $400 ($100 per speaker on ebay best purchase in a long time )
Panny AE900 projector $1600, almost time for an upgrade and I might go with a 75inch 3D flat pannel (Im at 92in Projection Im okay with the smaller screen).
Onkyo 885 $1500
DCX2496 $300 x 2
QSC DSP-30 $700
Behringer A-500 $190
4 MonoBlock Outlaw amps $1200
Panny SRX-55 $65
Panamax power $400
PS3 $300
XBOX360 $200

Total $28K....Sound system total 16K, Its all about the room/speakers and EQing

Man... I didn't want to think about it... but I thought about it and now I feel guilty, lol.

About $6,000 all told.

Here's my first set-up

Yamaha RX-V665 - $300
Infinity Reference 2000.4 - $60 (Used)
Infinity SM Video - $40 (Used)
Infinity RS2 - $30 (Used)
BIC F-12 - $200
Panasonic TC-P42X1 - $520

~$100 for cables and my homemade TV stand.

To quote the Bard: "I don't know. I don't want to know."

I wish you hadn't asked...

Panasonic TH-42PX60U - $1,070 (Retail price $2,500 back then)
Denon AVR-3808CI - $830 (Retail price $1,200 back then)
Blu-Ray LG BD370 - 80 (Retail price $160)
HD-DVD Toshiba XA-1 - $85 (Retail price $800 when released)
Power Conditioner APC H15 - $90 (List price $400)
Speaker Stands VTI DF - $110 (worst purchase value-wise; should have built my own)
Energy RC-10 - $300 (List price $600)
Energy RC-LCR - $230 (List price $650)
(2) Mirage Prestige S10 - $385 (Retail value $600 to $1000 for the pair)
AV123 MFW-15 250 (1st generation, about $800 when they came out)
(3) GIK-242 Acoustic Panels - Free (thrown in by MFW-15 seller)
Salamander Designs Synergy 237 - $500 (Retail value $1,300)
Custom Built HPTC - $600
HD Home Run Tuner - $130
5-Port Network Switch - $20
Behringer DSP1124 - $100

Close to $5,000, including cables. I had no idea until I tallied it up.

It's all this forum's fault...I used to be happy with my Energy Takes before I came here.