Home Theatre Equipment Setup

NoviceBuilder · Nov 18, 2007 6:02 pm

Hi all,

I have started some preliminary investigation into the set up for the dedicated home theatre room in our new home.

I am looking to have a projector with surround sound speaker setup and a good av receiver. I am wanting the home theatre to also double as our main stereo system so the sound quality from a music perspective is also going to be very important.

The room dimensions are going to be 6 metres long x 4.5 metre wide.

The budget for the equipment is beween 10 and 15k.

At this stage I see the breakdown of the budget as being:

Projector: $3k
AV Receiver: $2.5K
Speakers:
Front: $3k
Centre: $1k
Surround:$1.5K
Sub: $2K
Screen: $1k
DVD player: $1k

Ideally I am looking for a 7.1 set up with the ability to mulitizone to our outdoor area and to also into the living area.

I am envisaging that the room will be used for around 60% movies and 40% music with the option of adding a PS3 for gaming and also doubling as a blu-ray player.

I would interested in any suggestions for equipment which I could start investigating.

Rodda · Nov 19, 2007 11:27 am

Hi NB. Great budget mate, after my own heart...

There area many options out there (especially for speakers) and the $ figures you've mentioned say you can look at lots of the good stuff.

I can tell you what we use, love and recommend (now, I cannot say that this is an unbiased opinion as we do sell this stuff. I will say that we don't like to deal in cheap 'supermarket' quality stuff, but rather we only deal in good, well-known industry-leading brands).

Projectors. If you can help it we recommend DLP over LCD, and with your room dimensions (good dimensions, by the way) you should have no drama, length-wise fitting one in (they are less flexible zoom-wise than most LCD projectors). We see it this way: If you can fit it in and you don't have a problem with the DLP 'rainbow effect' (these days very few people do) then you really should get a DLP - they still tend to have the edge in 'real world' contrast and saturation (in our opinion). If you do have a restriction in at least one of these areas then you have to get an LCD projector - still very, very good, just that DLP is still slightly better.

We have access to quite a few of the best brands out there like Epson and Mitsubishi, however our favourite for 'bang-for-buck' is easily BenQ.

As far as electronics (A/V Receivers, DVD Players) go, we love, love, love Marantz:
A/V Receiver:- try the SR-7001
DVD Player:- DV-6001 (also plays SACDs and DVD-A discs)

Speakers - Floorstanders, bookshelf and centre (cabinet speakers):
Boston Acoustics - VR series (VR1, VR2, VR3, etc.)
Mordaunt-Short - Avant 900i series
Jamo - C800 series

I reckon you should go for a pair of floorstanders for your front pair if you love music as you suggest, and then go for a matching centre. In-ceilings are as effective as surround speakers as any other type (and the most unobtrusive).

In-wall or In-ceiling speakers:
Paradigm - CS and AMS series
Mordaunt-Short - Avant Architect series
Jamo - Architectural and Kevlar series
Elan Home Systems - all speakers in their range

Subwoofers:
Jamo
Mordaunt-Short
Boston Acoustics

Screen (fixed?): We solely use and recommend Screen Technics - high quality screens (fixed, motorised, etc.) designed and manufactured in Sydney.

We can offer anyone excellent pricing on all of the brands/products mentioned above, so if you're interested in further info please PM either myself or Matt.

jayp · Dec 07, 2007 12:29 am

Personally I'd up the front budget to $5k for the general and 2ch performance and reduce it a bit elsewhere, especially on the surrounds (assuming only 2) and DVD player, and you could easily get away with at least $500 off the AV Receiver.

Also, maybe think about a dedicated 2ch set up for your living room which might also run the alfresco.

With regards to speakers, I'm keen on B&W, Focal JMLab, & Dali, with the emphasis on musicality whether it be due to precision and clarity, or producing a convincing live feel.

Then match the amp to the speakers (which is often a case of the opposite trait in one curtailing the opposite trait in the other). With this kind of budget there should still be plenty of bass left for the movies, but I wouldn't get caught up on what delivers the biggest whallop for movie performance with the most drivers. Most movies most of the time are mostly voice from the centre speaker with the front speakers providing most of the rest (particularly if the sub crossover is set at a natural, non overbearing level).