Home Theater Mega Thread

[MickMcGeough]

Would anyone buy a used or "open box" plasma? I've been trying to find an ST60 and the only one I can find is a 55" open box for $1200. Assuming no burn-in, how many hours on is "too many"?

[J Diddy]

What is your budget?

Zt60 here for $3500 and unopened
http://www.shop.ca/c/panasonic-viera...ubId=PepperJam

[calgarygeologist]

Can anyone recommend a place to purchase speaker wire from in Calgary? I'm going to run wires for my home theatre and for a couple of outdoor speakers later this summer and I'm looking for a shop with a good price. I need about 250 feet of 12 gauge.

[DownhillGoat]

Not in Calgary, but you'll probably save some money ordering thru Monoprice.

[Diemenz]

^ monoprice if you can wait.

When I can't I go to London drugs.

[calgarygeologist]

Monoprice shipping kind of kills any sort of deal on the cables. $87 for 300ft but the cheapest shipping option is $54 UPS and I'm not sure if that would include duty/import costs.

500ft at Home Depot is $200 but that would leave me with a lot of excess cable.

[photon]

You might be able to sell the excess.

A few other places, no personal experience though:

http://www.justonecable.ca/index.php...oducts_id=1234

http://www.cablesonsale.ca/index.php...alecanada.html

http://www.123inkcartridges.ca/p-313...er-wire-cable-

[Komskies]

Princess Auto sells some speaker wire as well:

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/A...3A1B2071C.com1

[calgarygeologist]

Good call on Princess Auto. I forgot to check there. The website only shows 14 gauge which I can probably live with but I would prefer 12.

[Vulcan]

I bought my last speaker wire at a dollar store. It was cheap. Is there any difference in quality?

[Madman]

Another option:

http://www.infinitecables.com/bulk_speaker-wire.html

[Flash Walken]

So my Samsung DLP LED finally crapped out on me tonight.

Blue Tint of Death.

So now I am in the market for a new TV.

I don't have a budget in mind yet.

I'm looking at TVs in the 50"+ range.

What's the CP recommendation?

[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So my Samsung DLP LED finally crapped out on me tonight.

Blue Tint of Death.

So now I am in the market for a new TV.

I don't have a budget in mind yet.

I'm looking at TVs in the 50"+ range.

What's the CP recommendation?

Being a Home Theatre and Automation guy, (I do this for a living) here are some recommendations:

1 - Get an extended warranty, it doesn't seem to matter what brand I install, TV's are failing prematurely. Samsung, Pany doesn't seem to matter. I hate to sell a Tv and have it fail within 18-24 months (after 12 month warranty). I always recommend to my clients to get one. I don't do this for profit, but because I hate telling clients their TV is crap out and will likely be expensive to fix (I don't fix them). NOTE - This is about the only item I recommend an extended warranty for, usually extended warranties are big profit items for the box stores.

2 - Be conscience of viewing angles IPS based LED panels are brighter over a bigger viewing angle (note both in a horizontal and vertical). Plasma are great at this but have gone the way of the Dodo unfortunately.

3 - Smart TV's are clunky and dumb. Plan on using a AppleTV or Roku for Netflix etc. The GUI and speed of the smart TV's generally suck in comparison.

4 - Don't be an early adopter for 4K, wait a couple of years until there is more content available. (It is stunning when played with proper 4K content).

5 - 3D if you want it, make sure the screen is LARGE. The effect is lost if you aren't filling most of your viewing pane. (I move my seat in my own home theatre to about 8 feet on a 110' screen).

6 - Go with a Samsung or LG plasma, probably your best price/performance ratio, otherwise I usually recommend Panasonic LED's

[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Can anyone recommend a place to purchase speaker wire from in Calgary? I'm going to run wires for my home theatre and for a couple of outdoor speakers later this summer and I'm looking for a shop with a good price. I need about 250 feet of 12 gauge.

How long are your runs?

Don't waste your money on 12 gauge for your theater, 16 gauge is fine for under 50' and 14' should handle up to about 100' (and this is being conservative). You will not hear a difference. 16 gauge is usually less than half the price of 12. NOTE - You should be using in-wall rated FT4 cable (assuming you are burying the cable). This will do the trick:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/2c-1...er-wire/980975

Your outdoor speakers are probably 8 ohm and 16 will likely be fine unless you are getting way beyond 80', then I would go 14 gauge.

Save your money for other parts of your theatre. Room acoustics for example will give much better bang for your buck than 'upgrades' in speaker wire gauge.

[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I bought my last speaker wire at a dollar store. It was cheap. Is there any difference in quality?

Generally speaking - NOPE

[Flash Walken]

I am strongly considering a plasma for the first time.

What are some guidelines for plasma shopping?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

What are some guidelines for plasma shopping?

Find a store that still has the Panasonic VT/ZT left in stock.

[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Find a store that still has the Panasonic VT/ZT left in stock.

+1

Pany VT/ZT are not cheap but are the best panels you can buy (at least in the below $5000 range)

Otherwise the Samsung PN64F8500 is a nice 64" or go into the 5500 series from Samsung.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by cupofjoe

+1

Pany VT/ZT are not cheap but are the best panels you can buy (at least in the below $5000 range)

Otherwise the Samsung PN64F8500 is a nice 64" or go into the 5500 series from Samsung.

I am looking to spend max $2000, preferably less than $1500.

$5000? lololololol

[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I am looking to spend max $2000, preferably less than $1500.

$5000? lololololol

5500 series should float your boat...