Home Theater Mega Thread

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Hey, anyone have any suggestions for where to get reasonably priced and decent component stands? So far Costco seems the best.

Shelving units or credenza style? Take a look at Bell'o. Some pretty reasonably priced stuff.

[Azure]

What are the drawbacks to buying a refurbished projector off of ebay?

I've been looking at the Optoma HD200x for a while now, and an official reseller of Optoma products has it on there for $699.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Optoma-HD200X...item27b80f5aae

Is it worth it?

[fundmark19]

His feedback is great and offers a warranty as well. Seems like a good deal.

[DownhillGoat]

I'd be somewhat concerned about remaining lamp life. No way to tell if it was used, ore replaced during the refurb. What's a bulb worth for that model? You're saving about $200 vs new. Might be worth crunching the numbers if you need to replace the bulb in half the life span.

[Azure]

He is advertising the full 4000 hours lamp life.

Still worth it though. Say I replace the bulb after a couple years, my cost is still around $900. That is still $400-$500 cheaper than buying a brand new one.

And I doubt I'll put on 4,000 hours of use in two years. Or even 2,000.

[DownhillGoat]

They're only $900 new at Costco, so it's not a $4-500 price dif, but I digress.
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....152&lang=en-CA

Not saying the refurb isn't a good deal, just suggesting that my biggest worry would be the bulb. Reading the ebay listing, he's giving the specs for that projector model, not that specific re-furb. May be worth asking if the bulb is fresh.

Keep in mind that '4000' hours life generally isn't under real world conditions. It'll probably translate to half of that.

Looking around the bulb is only $220. So you're only $20 out if you have to replace it anyways. Go for it.

[Azure]

Ah crap. I didn't even realize Costco was selling it for that cheap. Similar models were going for $1300 in the other places I looked.

For that price I might take it brand new.

[DownhillGoat]

^glad I could help.

Just because I'm exited (and I like this thread):

(large image of new toys very few people but me will care about)

Spoiler!

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by Azure

What are the drawbacks to buying a refurbished projector off of ebay?

I've been looking at the Optoma HD200x for a while now, and an official reseller of Optoma products has it on there for $699.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Optoma-HD200X...item27b80f5aae

Is it worth it?

Just to chime in, I own this exact model that I bought used off someone...love the projector what a gem

[toonmaster]

I’ve been looking around for a receiver and came across these network ready receivers:
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/denon-denon-630-watt-7-1-channel-3d-ready-hdmi-home-theatre-receiver-avr-1912-avr-1912/10170048.aspx?path=f9cfb963b7c0b5d6b8bfec51985f608 1en02
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/onkyo-onkyo-400-watt-5-1-channel-network-receiver-tx-nr509-tx-nr509/10167337.aspx
Anyone have experience with them? How is the interface to browse a shared music folder on the device? Any recommendation on a specific network ready receiver?
I’m not looking to spend a fortune here and the speakers I’d be running for the foreseeable future aren’t great. It’ll be nice to run cablebox/PS3/TV to and from the receiver but the majority of the use would be music.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[Vulcan]

I have the Onkyo 508 which is last years model. It doesn't have networking though but it is 7:1, the receiver has been great.

[afc wimbledon]

Denon had some major production issues a few years back, their lower end amps had a tendency to either intermittantly or permanantly lose channels due to poor IC choices, they would burn out I assume, this means you see alot 2nd hand on craigslist but steer clear.

Not sure if there are still problems with them or not, I should also add they have always shared production with Yamaha so often you can get an identical Yamaha amp for less than the equivalent Denon, although as Denon has dropped down the price range into direct compatition Yamaha they may have stopped working together.

Personally I would go with 2nd hand Rotel, probably a pre amp processor and multi channel power amp set up, gives you alot more future flexability.

[Ryan Coke]

The denon 1912 was the top rated mid range receiver on cnet, and I just bought the very similar 2112.

Having said that, I don't have it yet, but I hope it is as good as the review claimed.

here is the cnet article

[3 Justin 3]

Question about receivers:

Mine doesn't do 3D (I don't really care though), but say in the future I got a 3D tv that had some glasses and I wanted to just try it out; would I be able to use my receiver to watch the tv with 3d mode enabled? I would assume the tv would do all the 3d work and the receiver does the 3d audio only.

Am I right in my thinking or can someone explain it to me?

I'm thinking about buying a projector when the lamp in my tv blows out (DLP HDTV). Just something about playing Battlefield on a 20 foot screen entices me.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Question about receivers:

Mine doesn't do 3D (I don't really care though), but say in the future I got a 3D tv that had some glasses and I wanted to just try it out; would I be able to use my receiver to watch the tv with 3d mode enabled? I would assume the tv would do all the 3d work and the receiver does the 3d audio only.

Am I right in my thinking or can someone explain it to me?

I'm thinking about buying a projector when the lamp in my tv blows out (DLP HDTV). Just something about playing Battlefield on a 20 foot screen entices me.

3DTV specifically refers to the video, and no, you wouldn't be able to use your existing receiver unless you run HDMI direct to the TV and run the audio using TOSlink/digital coax to your receiver. In the case of Blu-ray, this means you won't get the best possible audio track included on disc.

You already have 3D audio - it's called surround sound.

[Vulcan]

There are 3D blu-ray players with 2 HDMI outs, so you could run an HDMI to the receiver and the other to the 3D TV, so you'd get the HD audio from your receiver.

[DownhillGoat]

Is anybody here running seperates (amp/prepro)? Or is the general consensus the AVR route?

[Buzzard]

^AVR for me....for now. I just bought the Denon 3312 which has pre outs at least for the future. At this point the room that its operating in is quite small so its more than enough for our set up. Would definitely like to try separates at some point though.

[boosterjuice]

Hey guys,

Here's my home theatre progress. I hope to have it completed early january.

Screen Wall :


DSC_0256

Entrance/wetbar:


DSC_0258

Entrance/Wetbar: drywall completed. We're going to slate all the columns and arches.


photo

Screen Wall: drywall completed.


photo

A few details:

-Plan to have Epson 3010 3D projector with 106" retractible screen.
-AV cabinet to be recessed/flush mount with wall. Placement will be just to the left of the screen.

[bubbsy]

just purchased a new hdtv (was using an old sony triniton for daily tv then my hd projector for movie watching).

i have a question for wiring things up.

i will simplify the set up to make the query clear. I have:
- hdtv
- hd cable box
- home theater in a box (receiver)
- All connections to be done using hdmi cables

i want to connect my cable box to my tv, such that i can CHOOSE if i want to use the audio from the tv itself, or my home theater in a box surround sound system.

my initial thought was to connect cable box to my receiver, to my tv. My only concerns with this are:
1) does that mean i have to listen to the audio thru the surround sound every time??

2) does that mean i have to turn my surround sound receiver everytime i want to watch tv??

Thanks in advance for the help.