[robertw]

I figured I'd start a thread after checking out the hi-fi thread, really liked what I saw there. Hopefully there are others on here who are as into the whole home theater / gaming setups as I am.

Post your setups, questions, or simply discuss anything relating to home audio/video.

I'll start, here's my current setup.
Components:
TV: 50" Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-1021k
PS3 slim
Xbox 360 w/HD DVD add on

Some HD cable box

Speakers 7.1:
Polk Monitor 60 (L/R)
Polk CS1 Series II (Center)
Sony SS-MSP69R/L (Surround L/R)
Sony SS-MSP69S (surround Rears)
Sony sub SA-WMSP69 (10")

 

[Tora]

Haa...perfect timing. I have a 52inch wall mounted Sharp Aquos. I had a Bose sound system with two speakers (front mount) and bass box. It's not bad at all but I would like to get a true surround sound with better sound. Budget would be under $600...but willing to stretch it if really worth it. Any recommendations.

Additional info, I live in a 900sq foot loft with concrete walls and some drywall walls. There is a second floor that covers half the upper floor and ceilings are about 18'. Seating is about 8' - 10' from where the TV is mounted. Ideally I'd like as small and few pieces as possible.

Thx for any recommendations.

 

[Elucid]

pioneer kuro elite.....drool.

 

[j-radvw]

my setup in my bed room is a 32'' visio tv

receiver pioneer vsx 604s

pioneer pd f100 100 disk cd changer

kenwood dv 605 5 disk dvd player

7.4 surround sound systems

7 kenwood speakers

1 Center

2 midds

4 Surround

4 polk audio 12'' subwoofers.

and a few bad pics.

 

[robertw]

Haa...perfect timing. I have a 52inch wall mounted Sharp Aquos. I had a Bose sound system with two speakers (front mount) and bass box. It's not bad at all but I would like to get a true surround sound with better sound. Budget would be under $600...but willing to stretch it if really worth it. Any recommendations.

Additional info, I live in a 900sq foot loft with concrete walls and some drywall walls. There is a second floor that covers half the upper floor and ceilings are about 18'. Seating is about 8' - 10' from where the TV is mounted. Ideally I'd like as small and few pieces as possible.

Thx for any recommendations.

If you're fine with a 5.1 setup, the pioneer 521 is a decent receiver, handles all the new audio formats, dts hd, dolby true hd.
Here's a quick list of stuff to consider if you're on a budget and want some bang for your buck, not saying get it but it will be better than most htib setups. The polks are fairly efficient, so the 521 shouldn't have any issue powering them.

Receiver
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117398&Tpk=pioneer 521
Fronts, price is each:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290204
Center:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290210
Rears:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290200
Sub
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290034

More or less, around $600-700, depending on promo codes. For the money not a terrible setup, also check out some onkyo receivers, occasionally you can pick up a certified w/warranty refurb directly from onkyo for a fair price. I had the 606 for some time, that was a great receiver. Anyways, best of luck.

 

[robertw]

pioneer kuro elite.....drool.

I was very excited upgrading from my 8g kuro to this 9g :mrgreen:.

Bored last night, so I dicked around with ControlCAL on my netbook and got a bit more comfortable using it so I hooked it up to my tv's serial port to unlock the ISFccc day/night modes. I was able to significantly improve the tv's pq in the unlocked modes.

 

[Tora]

RobertW, thanks for the info!

 

[robertw]

Ordered the BIC America F-12 sub, should be an upgrade over my crummy 10" Sony.

 

[Tekel]

Anyone running in home automation setups? Such as whole house audio and surveillance?

 

[robertw]

New sub, larger than expected

 

[Atzigan]

New sub, larger than expected

Your Xbox is crying for a more open space. That will bring you back memories of the RROD hillyb:

 

[robertw]

Perfect, I'd have a reason to actually buy the new 360 "slim" lol.

 

[freshbuzz]

Budget would be under $600...

You can get the Pioneer Andrew Jones SP 5.0 speaker set up at best buy for $285. It's an extremely well reviewed speaker line. Word of warning, you can listen to them at best buy, but they probably won't 'sound' as well as the polks and klipschs they have due to different efficiencies and drivers used between the speakers. The Polks and Klipsches are a more efficient speaker, 8ohm speaker, meaning it will take less power to drive them and have a brighter sound (which will be easier to hear in a noisy best buy)- you will have to turn up the amp to get the same level of output from the 6ohm, less efficient Pios.

That being said, at that price point, I prefer the Pios - can't stand Klipsch (way too bright) and think the Pios simply sound better than my polk r50s (more neutral, easy on the ears).

If you buy anything Bose, you will be mocked.

Buy all of your av wire and cables from monoprice or bluejeanscable

My current budget set up is:
Philips 42" 1080p lcd
Pioneer vsx-921k
Pioneer SP-fs51 fronts
Pioneer sp-c21 center
Pioneer sp-bs21 rear
xbox 360
technics sl-?? direct drive turntable

I have a technics sa-300 stereo and some polk bookshelf speakers in my bedroom

The current wish list:
oppo blue ray player
hsu research or outlaw sub

 

[brontosaurus]

(old picture from college apartment)

M-Audio Delta 66>M-Audio Breakout Box>Event 20/20 15" Subwoofer/Event TR8 Studio Monitors

 

[bigx5murf]

46" Sony I've had since college (long ass time ago lol)
verizon fios hd tv service
pioneer vsx-d711
ps3 original release fat one (hardwired gigabit router)
xbox 360 elite (hardwired gigabit router)
wii original release (wireless N)
midi based ktv machine
2 shure mics

Speakers
Energy Take5.2 in white
Energy es10, 10" sealed sub
AR master series for all wires

 

[robertw]

Nice looking space, is that a basement man cave?

 

[bigx5murf]

it is, but there are windows

 

[robertw]

Nice, looks like a great space to entertain and be entertained.

 

[bigx5murf]

It is, but I'm planning on moving to the other coast within the next few months. Will have to work on building a new one, not sure what I'm going to salvage from this one yet. Most likely will upgrade to a new LED tv, even though this sony has been such a trooper, when I got it, people used to bitch about how the back light was only rated for 200 hours of service, I must've put over 5x on it, man I wished TVs were still made in Japan. Receiver will probably need an upgrade too, I need way more optical inputs.

 

[robertw]

Have you ever considered a plasma? The new Panasonic VT50's should be out within a few months. I feel that with a plasma you can get a larger screen with better picture quality for less $$$ than any lcd. But if you do have your heart set on an led lit lcd, check out the Sony 929, supposed to be one of the top contenders for lcds.