[jaredean]

This is my first time in this forum - go easy on me...


I am a movie junky and a computer geek without a ton of knowledge, but a willingness to learn (did i mention long walks on the beach?)...here is the thing...


I have a good friend that just built a 7,000 sq. ft. house and he built a theater into it...he is asking me to find him a sweeeeet projector (his words), surround system and retractable screen (the rolls up using a switch or button)...he would also like to link it to a video security so when someone rings the doorbell he can view outside cameras (or view them whenever he wants)...also, view caller ID when the phone rings...


Those are the specs i know...i want to put together a sweet system for him and since i love the AVS forums (i'm regularly in the ReplayTV Forum) i knew this was the place to ask...


I'm sure you need more info from me...not sure if $ is a huge issue, but don't see him dropping $20,000 on a projector or anything like that...


is this enough to give me your opinions, or do you need more from me?


jared

 

[colinsm]

Well budget certainly is a consideration but here are some other tidbits that would help us help you:


1 - Size of room

2 - Sources and percentage use (DVD/Music/SDTV/HDTV) etc.

3 - Ability to control light in the room


Again, budget is important.


At first glance, an HTPC would be an obvious choice to help meet the callerid and security camera requirements fairly inexpensively.

 

[jaredean]

size of room: 15 X 20

- the projector will be 1/2 way to the screen in the ceiling...i can get you an exact measurment if you'd like


sources/percentage:

- DVD/SAT/HDTV for the most part...not a ton of music


ability to control light in the room

- unlimited...there are Sconces (sp?) as well as rope lighting around the moulding and on the ground...


There are also curtains...


he said he has $10,000 budget for everything...


does that help?


Also (i was just told this) he wants me to get everything in and going by the game on friday (Yank's / Sox)...he is a huge Sox fan...


not sure what HTPC is, but i will google it...


i'm in Provo, UT if anyone has a good idea on what to buy and someone around here that sells it...he said his friend got a great system for 6,000 - of course he wants to out do him...


jared

 

[rlj5242]

Quote:

Also (i was just told this) he wants me to get everything in and going by the game on friday (Yank's / Sox)...he is a huge Sox fan...

Not gonna happen. With a budget of that size and his requirements, we will still be discussing options on Friday.


-Robert

 

[jaredean]

sounds like you are a Yankee fan

 

[colinsm]

Friday...well that leaves out the online speaker brands that tend to be good bang for the buck and very popular on the speakers forum here (Swan, Axiom, Onix, HSU, SVS, etc.)


So you are doing this without much time to audition. Ouch!


An HTPC is a PC used as a DVD source (can also be a PVR etc. if you use WinXP Media Center) and since the PC can also handle a camera feed and a modem with caller id you're good to go. There is an HTPC forum here as well.


Ok,

here's a seat of the pants recommendation for you. These are items that mos would say are good value (Honda Accord / Toyota Camry type stuff) that is readily available in most urban areas. So if I had to spend the $10K and only had a couple of days to do it and no time to audition anything here's what I would do:


Projector ~$2000 - NEC LT240K

Also consider InFocus, Benq, Sharp, Panasonic
www.projectorcentral.com


Receiver ~$1000

Yamaha RX-V2400 for the YPAO $1000.00

I think this is a good value and the YPAO will help out big time

Also consider Denon, HK, Onkyo


Speakers ~$3500

B&W 705 x 3 across the front on stands

B&W 602 x 2 for surrounds on stands or on wall

Sub HSU VTF 3 MK11

(Consider Paradigm too, I find Klipsh fatiguing but that's me)

There are tons of other speakers to chose from but I tried to narrow it down and not mention online products. Most would agree that B&W are good sounding speakers at a reasonable price


Screen ~$2000

Draper Hi Def Grey 16:9 96"

This was a tough one. The prices on these things are all over the place.

Consider Da-Lite and Vutec as well


HTPC ~$1500

Build your own from the specs in the HTPC forum. If in a rush try the Denon 1910 - Upscaling DVD player for about $200

Consider the Momitsu or Zenith upscaling players too


Prices are all estimates and you can probably find most of this stuff cheaper if you shop around but you have a time constraint so you might end up paying retail.


I enjoyed spending your friend's money but it would have been more fun actually auditioning some of this stuff but time is limited so here we are.


Colin.

 

[bpape]

Don't forget the premium you're gonna have to pay someone to come out and install the PJ and motorized screen on such short notice, not to mention the carpentry that will be required before screen installation can start! What's that, maybe another $500-$1k?

 

[rboster]

Your friend is better off hiring someone locally to put togther a system. The fact that he wants to have all the equipment you mentioned, tie into security, retractable screen etc all in by Friday and only wants to send 10 grand. For that kind of money he needs to be a patient DIY person and that takes time and effort. His best bet is to hire a local installer and lower his expectations or up his budget.


Ron

 

[colinsm]

If he is reasonable I think he should be happy just to watch the game on Friday and get the rest integrated over the next little while.

 

[CptnRandy]

Go to a sports bar for Friday - don't rush on this. Or rent or borrow a projector, set it on a table, shoot against the wall.


Also, if your friend just built a 7,000 square foot house he really should spend some serious time planning on a suitable theater to match. Many of us here spent MONTHS investigating, asking questions, visiting other theaters, and working on plans.


In addition, I recommend working on the room first - do the room right and you'll have a much easier time with the equipment.


So, welcome to the madhouse - have fun!


Randy

 

[Morris Jones]

Besides the folly of rushing into a decision, most of the really good stuff can't be acquired on a few days' notice.


Mojo

 

[jaredean]

trust me, i completely realize the drawbacks of rushing into something like this...i know that he has the room designed before the system - which is a cart before horse scenario and I was hoping he would have me put together a system, but because as he was building it he never said anything so I thought he got someone else to do it...then he calls me yesterday asking me to put it together and hopefully have it done by friday...


I am going to relay everything (concerns about time, cost because of shortness of time, etc.) to him and I thank you for your help. I have been dreaming of my room for many years now and will design it well before the first shovel full of dirt is excavated...i will also be dumping probably twice the amount into my room - but that is why i'm still dreaming i'm sure...no cash!


thanks again - i'll kick out more questions as they arise...


one thing i did get was the distance to the screen: 13.5 feet


jared

 

[Morris Jones]

It's not at all cart-before-horse to design the room first. That's exactly the correct approach for a home theater.


Equipment will come and go. The room is harder to fix.


Mojo

 

[jaredean]

i just talked to him about waiting and he is cool with it...we are going to paste together a system from a projector here and a screen we have for conventions for fridays game...


So i have time to do this right...


one thing he does want to get now is a stereo system...is that asking too much before then?


jared

 

[CptnRandy]

Quote:

Originally posted by jaredean one thing he does want to get now is a stereo system...is that asking too much before then? jared

Well . . .


Does it have to be the final system for the room or would he be happy for one quick that will end up somewhere else in the house?


If so, you can get a "Home theater in a box" and have fun with the game. I have a feeling you'd have a hard time getting a decent receiver, speakers, and cabling in place by Friday.


Good luck,


Randy

 

[rboster]

Please don't take this wrong, but from your questions, it tells me that we have a little of the blind leading the blind. You guys are best served by getting someone locally to assist you in this project.


Think of this as the old parlor game where someone starts out with a sentence, then whispers in the next person's ear, then it repeated in the next person's ear until the last one repeats out loud the sentence. Usually it's incorrect.


Your friend needs to layout what he wants to accomplish/or use the room for (assuming it's not a totally dedicated screening room). Once you have the installers recommendations, you might want to lay them out here on the forum for others to comment....but I see him telling you, then you telling us, then giving you the feedback for you then to tell him. Since you are fairly new HT hobbyist, the role of consultant on this project is not fair to you or your friend (since he doesn't know what he really wants and seems a bit inpatient).


Ron

 

[jaredean]

i appreciate your input and i know exactly what you are saying...i did tech support a while back and the most frusterating calls were from someone with just enough knowledge of computers to get himself into trouble (and they usually thought they were "expert" computer users and couldn't figure out why their system wasn't online.) I know i am in pretty deep on this one and going to this forum was my first thought.


My next was to call a place that specializes in this equipment and run what you spoke of here past him. I spoke to a man that was very patient with me and has been in the buisiness for over 25 years. He echoed several things i was told here and gave me some of his insight. He felt it would be a good match to go with the Yamaha RX-V2400 coupled with some Paradigm Studio Reference Series speakers (he suggested model 20's or 40's with a CC47T center channel). The sub he said it depends on how much i wanted to spend, but a pf1200, pwseries (2200), seismic or studio 15 sub would be good subs to checkout in the price range i was confortable with. He did have the Yamaha amp for $879 which seemed like a good price.


I know that my friend is the type of person that will most likely settle for something simple until we can get it all together...i'm just frusterated i didn't have a lot of time to put it all together because i've really wanted to research and audition things for this room. I also found out that it isn't enclosed, but has 1/3 of the wall open into the basement...which bums me out...


So it is on his plate now as far as what he wants from me...he knows i've done a little research and am waiting on him to give me the "blank check" so to speak. This company has all the equipment in stock if he wants to go ahead tomorrow. The room is already wired and there is a built in shelves/closet for the components, so i might be "calling in sick" tomorrow to go over there - which wont matter since I work for his company...


jared

 

[rboster]

Jared:


Sounds like you are on the right track...my hat off to you. You've done a lot of reseach in the last couple of days.


Ron

 

[jaredean]

Thanks ron, i appreciate your kind words. I love the AVS Forums and the power it gives people like myself to find experts in so many fields. It is users like you, colin, randy, mojo, and bpape that make this even more true in my mind (i still think Robert is a yankee fan though...just kidding - thank you 2 robert...go sox)


jared

 

[rlj5242]

Quote:

Originally posted by jaredean (i still think Robert is a yankee fan though...just kidding - thank you 2 robert...go sox)

Actually, I'm not a baseball fan at all. I haven't watched a complete professional game in 10 years. If I do watch baseball, it's college and it's usually the Hogs .


-Robert