Ask your Home Theatre questions here...

Rodda · Jan 12, 2010 8:26 am

Hi Waranraz.

In my experience a 120" screen in a room 4.1m deep is too big. I'd be suggesting something more like 100-110".

As far as projectors go, even with a 100" screen I think you'll have to rule out DLP as you will not be able to get the projector back far enough to fill the screen. Make sure you know how big a picture your chosen projector can throw at the distance it will be from the screen before you actually purchase that screen...

Rodda · Jan 12, 2010 8:51 am

Hey MikkyG.

HK were always known for their excellent quality electronics (amps, sources), and 10+ years ago were even considered better than the likes of Marantz and Denon, although really in the 2 channel arena. I think they've dropped a little as since that time they've tried to do what Marantz and Denon have both done and bring that quality to multi-channel/surround sound components, yet where Marantz and Denon have clearly succeeded it seems that the focus on features took HK's eye off their quality focus a little and now rather than being recognised as the 2-channel specialists they were they are now just another one of the pack and it sounds like they perhaps now compare with the likes of Pioneer and not quite the leaders like Marantz and Denon (doesn't mean they are no good, just not the leaders in quality they used to be).

Now, as for speakers go:- My motto has always been not to buy speakers made by companies known for their elctronics. I wouldn't buy speakers with the Marantz or Denon, or even Sony brand on them as speakers are not what they are good at - the best speakers are made by companies that only make speakers (or at least specialise in speakers and anything else they do is a distant second). This also goes for HK - I've no idea what their speakers are like as I only knew/know of their electronics.

In saying that (you asked what I/we knew about them), if they sound great to you (and you really should want them to sound great, not just good...) and the price is right then why not buy them?

hunts01 · Jan 14, 2010 9:05 pm

Might be a slight change of topic (and a plug) but......
made an enquiry through uglycable and was responded my matt, timely reply keen to help, didn't even mention the homeone forum. In the end went to Hallam, Matt was in a meeting spoke to another bloke, happy to look at the plans and assist in the purchase.

Summary - If you are looking at home theatre / audio take the time to speak to Selby Accoustics they seriously have some good stuff. I bought 100m of speaker wire, good stuff!!

Davefurnell · Jan 22, 2010 3:45 pm

Anyone help?

We included HDMI in our house build from mid wall to low level for connection of Home theater to TV (also have aerial connection at mid level). I was of the impression that the Home Theater system (Blue ray player included) would now play through TV with sound through theater speaks... and also TV sound would go through home theater speakers. Someone told me i now need an optical audio cable (digital) from TV to home Theater for TV sound through theater speakers? Is this correct.

Also have a PS3, which i will need another HDMI cable from low level to TV. Do i also need audio cable to Home Theater? or if i do install audio cable from TV to Home Theater this will work also for PS3 sound?.

Is there a better way of doing this?

71monaro · Jan 22, 2010 11:27 pm

Davefurnell

Anyone help?
We included HDMI in our house build from mid wall to low level for connection of Home theater to TV (also have aerial connection at mid level). I was of the impression that the Home Theater system (Blue ray player included) would now play through TV with sound through theater speaks... and also TV sound would go through home theater speakers. Someone told me i now need an optical audio cable (digital) from TV to home Theater for TV sound through theater speakers? Is this correct.
Also have a PS3, which i will need another HDMI cable from low level to TV. Do i also need audio cable to Home Theater? or if i do install audio cable from TV to Home Theater this will work also for PS3 sound?.
Is there a better way of doing this?

Davefurnell, your HDMI is a single direction signal (apart from some data), and only one (video & audio) signal. So the only way of getting all you want to happen without any extra cables up the wall is - (assuming you have a decent Audio Receiver with a number of HDMI inputs) -
connect the Blueray and PS3 to your receiver HDMI inputs, and the TV to the Receiver HDMI Output.
This will mean that you will have to have your receiver turned on to play Blueray or PS3.
This wont give you TV sound thru your amp, but what you can do is get a Sony PlayTV for your PS3, turning it into a PVR which is a good idea anyway as probaby cost the same as the cable (+wallplates) to be fitted.

If your receiver can't handle this (some cheaper ones do not strip the sound out of HDMI etc) then look at running sound back out of the TV (down the wall) as some TV's have a good optical audio out, and use that for your main source of audio to your amp.

CMET · Feb 06, 2010 11:12 pm

Hi Rod,

As we are coming towards the end of our build, we are now starting to look at our Home theatre set up.

In terms or receiver, we are down to the Pioneer VSX-1019AH. Do you have any particular opinions on this model? Are there any others that you think that we should consider within this price range?

For speakers, I think we have settled on Monitor Audio Radius HD Series. Again, do you have an opinion, or any others that you think we should consider?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Cheers,

CMET

Mia's Folly · Feb 07, 2010 8:14 pm

CMET

Hi Rod,

As we are coming towards the end of our build, we are now starting to look at our Home theatre set up.

In terms or receiver, we are down to the Pioneer VSX-1019AH. Do you have any particular opinions on this model? Are there any others that you think that we should consider within this price range?

For speakers, I think we have settled on Monitor Audio Radius HD Series. Again, do you have an opinion, or any others that you think we should consider?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Cheers,

CMET

Hi CMET,

Here is something else you should consider if you haven't already. Coming in around the $1400, it is just a little over the Pioneer in price but a superior quality amp by far. Its the Denon AVR 2310 with quite a lot of very good features. I used to be an avid Yamaha buyer but Denon and Onkyo are the current leaders in the AVR area. Like all things it depends on personal choice and the speakers they used to demo the Pioneer VSX on. Here is a link which will give you all the stats on the 2310

http://www.digitalcinema.com.au/product-p/avr-2310.htm

In regards to the Audio Radius speakers, I've heard the floor standing and subby in a 2.1 set-up. Their sound was crisp and seemed to be very well suited to a small to mid size room with a solid bass and mid-range whilst the top did seem a little sharp and clippy, especially when driven hard. Not knowning which center and rears you have in mind it's a little hard to crit. If you want to hear the Denon and possibly the Radius speakers together, I think you'll find the boys at Carlton Audio will be very accomodating as they stock both items. If you call them they may be able to show you them both together, but don't hold me to this.

As with any suggestions, the above recommondations are purely that, recommondations. It is not an advertisement for any of the companies mentioned and all recommondations should be compared and researched until you are satisfied with your decisions. Hope this has been of some help.

Rodda · Feb 15, 2010 4:07 pm

I'm going to lock this thread as it was meant to be an introduction and sort of banner to this new Home Theatre section of the forum (when introduced a few years ago), and not intended to have questions still piling up under this one heading some years down the track...