Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Jan 06, 2010 10:45 am I personally don't think so, but everyone has their own priorities, and certain things they are passionate about (no points for guessing mine ). Here's one way of looking at it: Whenever someone says to me (eg.) "Wow, I could never justify spending $10,000 on a sound system", I reply with the following: For me, instead of paying $30,000 for a car I would get one (a different one) for $22,000 and then I am completely OK with spending $10,000 on a sound system instead of the initial $2,000 I might have only had 'left' if I'd bought the $30,000 car. For me it's not as necessary to have the better (perhaps newer) car, vs really enjoying my passion for a really good sounding audio system. I'd probably spend more time hearing the audio system than I would be in the car anyway... And just for some perspective from another angle, Josh is a long time friend of mine and Matt's (he actually works for a very reputable custom AV installer that does really big and expensive jobs in the 'big end of town'...). He has a modestly sized room (approx. 4.5m x 5m), but managed to really indulge his passion for Home Cinema, well into the 6 figure zone... Check it out: http://www.caryaudio.com/articles/SOTM_01_10.html Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 2Jan 06, 2010 11:17 am That is soooo nice. I agree with you, it's whatever your priorities are. My DH's is motorbikes atm, he has a Harley and just bought a 1951 Norton.....I shake my head *shake* what the hell is a Norton I ask! Whatever your passion is Rodda is where you should outlay the cash Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 3Jan 06, 2010 12:27 pm I dont think $10,000 is a lot if it includes the whole HT set-up? Projector/TV, sound equipment, Receiver etc? Hubby bought his HT speakers quite a few years ago, but paid quite a bit of money for it. When the house is ready he wants to upgrade his receiver (I dont understand this stuff, but he assures me the other one is no longer good lol) and the projector we're looking at will be around $5k. Our room wont look as spesh as the room you posted, but we'll be damn happy with it I like my cars too though... new Caprice or Grange would go down very nicely But I wouldnt have a house let alone a HT room! Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 4Jan 06, 2010 12:50 pm As long as you can afford to spend this much on equipment and its not going to break the bank or break a happy relationship then I would say no its not too much, but for $10,000 you should get top end equipment both sonically and visually. Personally I always have an eye out for xdemo stock with full warranty and good used second hand equipment. Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 5Jan 06, 2010 5:08 pm du73 but for $10,000 you should get top end equipment both sonically and visually. Hi du73. All cool except I have to disagree with the above point - our views of what 'top end' is when it comes to this type of gear is a bit different. You are suggesting that $5000 - $6000 will get a top end sound system (ie. leaving $4000 for a 'top end' projector and screen) and I say it gets you an excellent quality 'known quality brand' system that won't be obviously lacking and give great perfomance in all key areas, and if you are truly serious about getting a sound system that delivers this then $5000 is an excellent starting budget... However, even for serious beginner audiophiles $5000 would be lucky to cover their AV Receiver and front pair of speakers (and a decent serious subwoofer will easily cost over $1000...). Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 6Jan 06, 2010 5:16 pm I say, take the $30K, spend $20 on a car, spend abouy $6K on a home theatre and go mad with the other $4K in the January sales! YEAH! We went over to Len Wallis Audio and had a listen to some kick-butt speakers with a relatively expensive Amp. . . then we went to Clive Peeters and listened to Jamo speakers with an Onkyo amp. . . we could kinda tell the difference, but only just. We're much more likely to use the system for movies instead of music anyway, so the extra thousands of dollars on the price tag for the Len Wallis stuff just wasn't justifiable to us (and we don't have the money). With building the house, we just have SO MANY other things that we need to / want to buy for it, and soooo little money. . . so the Jamo and Onk were just fine for us. Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 7Jan 06, 2010 5:30 pm I know nothing about monetary values of audio equipment but I think this question really depends on where your priorities lie - this is the same as some of the 'time' and 'space' debates on this forum at other times. At the risk of re-hashing my previous posts, I liken this to previous debates where posters have said they dont have a garden as they dont have time for one - I personally have a relatively large garden but no home theatre as I dont have time to watch movies You need to put your money,time, space to where you will get the most value from it Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 8Jan 06, 2010 5:33 pm I wouldn't have a problem with it If you can afford to spend that amount of money on a home theatre system, and its what YOU wwant to do, then go for it!! I'd love to be able to do that myself, unfortunately I don't have the money viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22766 - my build thread! Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris. Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 9Jan 06, 2010 5:38 pm $10,000 on a home theatre setup? I don't find that at all too much, in fact that will be our budget when we start saving for our own. We're both technologically minded so we want the proper gear - now if only we were rich too! I think if you're planning on spending less for your equipment then you're either unaware of what needs to be bought (screen, amps, speakers, subwoofer(s), lighting, blockout window coverings etc.), doing it with entry-level components, or not making a proper home theatre (a $3500 television and a couch in a room does not a 'home theatre' make ). Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 10Jan 06, 2010 5:59 pm Quote: (a $3500 television and a couch in a room does not a 'home theatre' make ). Ah, but for some of us who dont watch much TV anyway, that is plenty for us Anyway, I guess I better leave this debate to the genuine TV and Home Theatrists now Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 11Jan 06, 2010 6:20 pm A $10,000 home theatre just to watch telly is blasphemy hehehe! The people who are really enthusiastic about a good home theatre setup are movie lovers. Telly isn't being broadcast at the same audiovisual quality as cinema releases, so a TV and a couch are more than adequate for watching the news And I fall under the category of 'gardenophobe', somewhat unsurprisingly Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 14Jan 06, 2010 6:56 pm Seriously...I think $10K is fine. There is a top-end audio-visual store in Sydney's northern suburbs that has been awarded for its work on jobs over $300K!! Have a look at this link and see what some people are spending: http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/electronic- ... 809-1.html (The company that won the Best Integrated Home System is doing ours I found this out by complete chance the other day when I was checking out the above site.) Pix (post edited to make sense!!) Built a (highly) modified Allcastle Maxworth 38.7 in Sydney. Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 15Jan 06, 2010 7:17 pm $10,000 is really only just above entry level for Home Theatre enthusiasts. Its like Rodda said though, if its your passion why not. At the end of the day it depends on your budget, taste and most importantly your visual and audio senses. Some people cant tell the difference between a $1000 paid or speakers and a $10,000 pair of speakers. Thats fine then don't spend the extra $9000 is my first piece of advice. Same goes for the visual side of things. Whether its a TV or a projector buy what you like the look of, not one someone tells you to buy. Furthermore so many factors influence a good set up. The room, placement, cables, your gear etc etc everyhting is a link in the chain My one piece of advise though to anyone out there that is interested in their HT is audio is the key to any good system. For every extra cent you spend on audio you should notice the difference. The same cant be said for the visual side of things. As a rough guide if you had 10k your breakdown you are already limited in what you can do. However my 10k would go something as follows (basis 5.1) 25% - Visual (whether that be TV/Projector) Depending on room and what you watch as to whether you go projector, plasma, LCD/LED 25% - Power (AVR / amp etc) At this price point a good Audio Visual Reciever would be the go. I doubt you could afford to get a good 'seperate system' for this much. 40% speakers The holy grail of any real system. Good speakers should last you about 10yrs so spend the money and buy wisely. On that night you need good power to run good speakers. So make sure your AVR is up to the task. 10% cables We can argue cables until the cows come home, but you dont buy a Ferrari and put ethanol blend fuel into it. Same should go for cables, buy decent stuff (but not the crap where you pay for marketing that is outrageously priced) Even with the above set up its basic. You still need components eg. Blu ray player, cd player etc etc (and same applies the better the component the better link in the chain) Me personally well its never ending... Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 16Jan 07, 2010 9:12 am Rodda du73 but for $10,000 you should get top end equipment both sonically and visually. Hi du73. All cool except I have to disagree with the above point - our views of what 'top end' is when it comes to this type of gear is a bit different. You are suggesting that $5000 - $6000 will get a top end sound system (ie. leaving $4000 for a 'top end' projector and screen) and I say it gets you an excellent quality 'known quality brand' system that won't be obviously lacking and give great perfomance in all key areas, and if you are truly serious about getting a sound system that delivers this then $5000 is an excellent starting budget... However, even for serious beginner audiophiles $5000 would be lucky to cover their AV Receiver and front pair of speakers (and a decent serious subwoofer will easily cost over $1000...). Firstly - I agree with you – absolutely agree - if someone went into a specialised Home Theatre store buying everything brand new including projection, including pre/pro and install and want high end gear then yes they need to be prepared to spend $10000+++ Sub - a good brand new sub you would be very lucky to find one under AUD$1000 My initial post was not to cause a debate or anything like that it is just to make people aware that there are deals to be had if one is prepared to look and wait.. some people don’t want second hand equipment, then fine spend the extra bucks and be happy. I do agree with you BUT.. in your post I don’t believe it was mentioned that we are only talking about projection, how many of us have this, a very small percentage of home theatres have projection and audiofiles, real audiofiles could spend $10000 on one equipment if they thought $10,000 will give them that little bit extra, this bit extra could be a more smoother sound. Also Plasma, LCD and LED screens are all affordable now.. I agree there is high end stuff then there is high end stuff.. like some pre/pro’s out there could easily cost much more than $10000.. and this is just 2 units to deliver sound, no cables, no speakers, no source. BUT on the other hand lets say (and I don’t like using brand names and I don’t have this brand) you buy the Emotive XPA5 (5 channel power amp and the UMC1 (pre amp) then yes the budget is achievable. Yes Emotiva not easily available is Australia but I believe they do ship out. My Xdemo Rotel RMB1075 is a great unit and at a fraction of the cost re xdemo. And again as for speakers, again there is high end stuff and high end stuff, my sub is xdemo, my L & R and surrounds again xdemo. And my centre, my best speaker was an absolute bargain and in perfect condition and was used. This is all achievable but you need to be prepared to wait for the deals. There is no way my system cost more than $10000 and is hardly entry level and I would say I have a nice sounding system, is it the best,,, hardly,, not even close.. but nice.. in the end its not about having the best system, its about having a system that is within your budget and something that sounds good to you, not to you neighbour and not to your friends but what sounds good to you. I am only trying to help others here, nothing more… Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 17Jan 07, 2010 11:49 am Its very subjective this isnt it. If I won tattslotto then I would love to go crazy but I haven't so I agree with most, one must ascertain their requirements and budget. We wont have a dedicated room and we are bigger watchers of sport than movies so our system will be in the main family room and will be our every day entertainment tool. I also want a system to pump out some tunes when I want to listen to music so in my opinion the all in one stuff doesnt cut it. My budget is $5k and that includes the tv so I have settled on a 50" panasonic plasma, a pioneer receiver, wharfedale fronts, centre & sub with 4 jansen ceiling mounted speakers as the rear setup, chuck in a bluray player and foxtel iq2 and we are done. I have looked at most of the specialty audio stores and while I love the equipment on offer I simply cant afford it so its a "mid to high end" jb type setup is for me and I feel I can get all that I decribed above for $4500 to $5000 (with some bartering of course ). I would argue that most people would feel that is a pretty good setup, obviously those who are more into their home theater / sound will think its a basic entry level, maybe one day I can go crazy as I do like my toys Blog: http://funmore-residence.blogspot.com/ Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=21109 Construction Start - 19/09/09 Slab Poured - 21/10/09 Frame Completed - 25/11/09 Lockup - 22/12/09 Fixing - 22/02/10 Handover & Moved In 30/04/2010 Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 19Jan 07, 2010 12:44 pm scott_tanya $10,000 is really only just above entry level for Home Theatre enthusiasts. Its like Rodda said though, if its your passion why not. At the end of the day it depends on your budget, taste and most importantly your visual and audio senses. Some people cant tell the difference between a $1000 paid or speakers and a $10,000 pair of speakers. Thats fine then don't spend the extra $9000 is my first piece of advice. Same goes for the visual side of things. Whether its a TV or a projector buy what you like the look of, not one someone tells you to buy. Furthermore so many factors influence a good set up. The room, placement, cables, your gear etc etc everyhting is a link in the chain My one piece of advise though to anyone out there that is interested in their HT is audio is the key to any good system. For every extra cent you spend on audio you should notice the difference. The same cant be said for the visual side of things. As a rough guide if you had 10k your breakdown you are already limited in what you can do. However my 10k would go something as follows (basis 5.1) 25% - Visual (whether that be TV/Projector) Depending on room and what you watch as to whether you go projector, plasma, LCD/LED 25% - Power (AVR / amp etc) At this price point a good Audio Visual Reciever would be the go. I doubt you could afford to get a good 'seperate system' for this much. 40% speakers The holy grail of any real system. Good speakers should last you about 10yrs so spend the money and buy wisely. On that night you need good power to run good speakers. So make sure your AVR is up to the task. 10% cables We can argue cables until the cows come home, but you dont buy a Ferrari and put ethanol blend fuel into it. Same should go for cables, buy decent stuff (but not the crap where you pay for marketing that is outrageously priced) Even with the above set up its basic. You still need components eg. Blu ray player, cd player etc etc (and same applies the better the component the better link in the chain) Me personally well its never ending... some very good comments are made here.. with most I cant agree more.. nothing i really disagree thats for sure.. very good write up this should help many. totally love the cable section.. so much debate is on this Re: $10,000 too much to spend on Home Cinema equipment? 20Jan 10, 2010 7:57 pm Hi guys and yes this is a topic which will go on and on and on ..... and on! Oh word of warning, I don't post often as I tend to go on and on and........ on...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz OH sorry .. and on At the end of it all it becomes a personal choice as to which way you spend your money but as one of the previous posts pointed out, a good set of main speakers should last you at least 10yrs. Something else you should also keep in mind is the current LCD, LED & DLP research, what costs you $5000 now, be it projector,TV or whatever, will cost nearly half this in 12 to 18mths time for the same technology. Now then lets take a look at speakers for HT systems. When we say HT system do you mean I like my music more than movies, or movies and console games dominate the use of the room. If it's music then I would put even more emphases on the two main speakers, in fact I'd purchase these seperately to the whole system you are looking for (dont' forget we are playing with $10,000 here so you can be choosey). These speakers with a good AVR will give you a 3D soundstage you never even new existed. Then all you need to buy is a good set of quality bookshelf effects speakers for sides and rears. A subby which you should never ever be able to pick up where it's situated and center channel, oh and buy a damn good one too. If it's for HT etc you have some homework to do. When you listen to these systems (usually at some franchise store) in a purpose built HT room where it's easy to become overwhelmed by the boom boom of the subby. I strongly recommend you get them to turn it off (subby) and then listen, I mean really listen to the system without the subby on and see how hard they have to drive the system to achieve a good result before going deaf. The mark of a good system should be at lower volumes and how well it can reproduce bass sounds without the subby. Do you still feel as if you are there inside the movie and can you clearly hear speach from the center channel or is it getting lost in everything else. I've been very fortunate to be allowed to indulge in my HT room especially with the sound side of things which borders on the lower to mid range audiophile equipement and which does exceed the above budget. If you're reading Rodda I'm the guy with the Reference Monitor Osborn's, however there are some very good Australian design HT speaker systems out there for between the $2k - $3k mark which out perform a lot of the more recognised names like P or Y. I first started with an Accusound 7.1 system (still produced and stocked by HN) 6yrs ago and still use it in the living room where it sounds great. I bought it off them via ebay as damaged stock and paid $1200 delivered, not bad considering just one of the front speakers weighs 20kgs, for something which should have been $2500 at HN. Don't be persuaded by big brand names, as I said earlier, do your homework and get something you want, not what the sales people think you need. Should you go to the store with yellow bags (can't use their initials), be a pain and get them to spread the main speakers out so you can hear them seperately and away from the centre channel. When they stack them so close together, how do you know the mains aren't marsking a fault with the centre channel and when it's all said and done this is where all the speach is meant to be coming from. These are my thoughts and everyone has an opinion to speak, hence why we have Homeone but do remember, the more you spend the more you want, so above all stick to your budget. On a side note, if you purchase one of these super amps ( 150 watts plus per channel ) don't forget about soundproofing your room. Leave something in the budget for this, sound-batts in the walls, soundcheck-plaster at least 14mm thick ($700 to do a room 5 x 4 meters with 2.75 high ceilings without installation) and a double glazed window with roller shutter should you have to have a window because of building design. If you have a sub-woofer which is actually registered with the seismology department of Australia, then no amount of sound proofing is going to help. Sub level sound waves will penetrate anything so please be careful, esp with neighbours and grandparents with hearing disabilities, it may cause incontenance..lol. Think about an Inverter Air-Con unit for this room if you have Evap AC because in a sealed room the air pressure from Evap does build up and can become uncomfortable. So if you open a window or the door to release the pressure, you've lost the reason for having a HT room in the first place. I hope you have found something in here useful and if not then I'm cool with that as well. I've already got the system which suits me to a T so if you're happy with what you have then don't let anyone tell you any different. So be good, happy listening and great viewing folks. PD Hayman 34 H1 Thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=29460&start=0 Blog http://miazfolly.blogspot.com Tiles 25/3/09 Colors 6/4/09 Tender 7/5/09 Contract 28/5/09 Land 16/11/09 That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17775 As is per usual for many of the past failed RWH regulations, it is probably traceable to a bureaucrat who's ego overrode the need to seek the appropriate expert… 1 931 7 11937 |