Building the ultimate home theater...need help

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

Ok, I'm ready to step up a notch! Currently I have the following:

-Sharp 28in TV
-Sony 5.1 channel reciever (has 5.1 channel DTS decoding as well as Dolby 5.1 Digital)
-5 Sony home theater speakers (left, right, center, back right, back left) and 1 Sony 10 inch sub.
-Sony 5 disk DVD player

I want to step up to:
-Flatpanel LCD monitor (45inch or larger)
-Recever with 7.1 channel surround, maybe ethernet capibilities, and 3 component video inputs
-Some kind of speakers (guess that depends on recever)
-DirecTV box/TiVo box (either will do, don't really need TiVo, have it in living room)
-DVD player with Progressive Scan
-2 10inch subs (going to be in a 12.5 x 12.5 foot room)
-A good universal remote (I like the Sony remotes with the touch panel)

Anything else that I need (don't worry about wires, I have that covered)? Also, give me some good products to buy! Thanks for any help in advance.

[jwren00]

I've got a 120x66 inch screen in my theater

We have klipsch speakers. Look into them, they're very nice.

[Muzikman]

I personally have Marantz receiver (6.1 as the 7.1 was not out yet). I want Difinitive Technology speakers (right now I have JBL). Sony DVD/SACD and a Sony Wega tube.

I downright love my Marantz system and I would forgo the flat panel and go tube. The 38" Sony Wega flat screen is a great TV. If you really want to go LCD, I suggest a projection LCD.

[Steelrat]

Klipsch speakers are good for lower powered receivers, since they are usually high efficiency. Its due to the horn drivers. Make decent home theater speakers.

My thing is the audio end of it. The first step is figuring out a price range. It can go from sanyo home-theater-in-a-box to Mark Levinson, Krell, and Wilson. Remember, the biggest factor in the way your system sounds is the speaker. Most of your audio money should go there. The speaker's efficiency and impedance will determine which receiver, or preamp/amp, you should get.

Mid-range speaker brands I like:

NHT (so-so efficiency)
PSB (so-so efficiency)
Vandersteen (power-sucking low efficiency)
Definitive Technology (Good home theater POW BLAM sounds, good efficiency, so-so for straight audio listening)

[Wolfen]

Might I suggest either building or looking into a multimedia PC. Alienware has some really nice ones for sale now. I'm going to be building one soon, just something about playing my computer games on something larger than my 19" screen and 4.1 speakers Also, DVD recorders are better on a computer than on a deck. If you do end up building one yourself though, make sure you get a vid card with a Digital video output. With going so high end on the TV, it should have a digital input.

Also, if you plan on playing music on your system, look more at multimedia speakers and not just home theater speakers. I've read that some home theater speakers don't reproduce some of the higher notes as faithfully as multimedia speakers do. I have a Sony speaker system where you can switch between music and movie on the subwoofer.

Good choice on having the component inputs! But make sure it has optical audio inputs also. Get Monster Cables, they're expensive, but worth it!

Also, I agree with Muzikman. Go with the tube, your screen won't get burned in as easily, but of course that's a personal decision. There's too many things I've heard go wrong with projection tvs, but they are getting better.

I wish my income was still expendable

[Fred]

forget the flatpanel monitor... get a projector...

nothing is cooler than video games on a 10' diagonal screen on my basement wall... and widescreen movies are spectacular!

I've still got a 32" off to the side for when I don't feel like being in the movies, but a Sony 5.1 surround system and a theater-style couch round out my basement...

[jwren00]

yah, playing video games on my screen is VERY sweet. I can't even explain how fun multiplayer halo is. My projector does high definition, so the new 1080i xbox games on a 137" screen are SICK! But if there is one reason to upgrade to hdtv, it's for hockey. Get hdtv

[taylor492]

I personally have Marantz receiver (6.1 as the 7.1 was not out yet). I want Difinitive Technology speakers (right now I have JBL). Sony DVD/SACD and a Sony Wega tube.

I downright love my Marantz system and I would forgo the flat panel and go tube. The 38" Sony Wega flat screen is a great TV. If you really want to go LCD, I suggest a projection LCD.

We have the Difinitive Technology system at my house and its pretty sweet. Two tower speakers, a sub, not sure which size, reciever, and the surround sound. The first time i ever saw "signs" i couldve sworn the alien guys were on MY roof!

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

I can't get a projector, this is going in a pretty small room. The room size is also the reason I want a flat panel TV. I don't want to build a multimedia pc, I'm going to use this solely for gaming, movies, and satellite tv, and very seldomly music. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, and keep them coming!

[Muzikman]

You do know that what you are looking at if you buy even mid range quality stuff is going to be about $20K right?

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

damn, I was only looking to spend 5-6k . I can get a 50in LCD Flatscreen (panasonic) for 2249 + shipping. The audio is what has been worrying me, I pretty much have the tv covered. 7.1 channel recievers that I've been looking at have been anywhere from 800 all the way up to 4500. The ones I"m looking at are in the 1k range. Speakers, I dont even know where to begin. All I know is that I need 9 + a subwoofer (or two, can't decide).

[LudavicoSoldier]

If I were you, i'd forgo 7.1 in favor of a SICK 5.1/6.1 reciever and better speakers. The newest of the new is always overpriced. Also, you said that this system is going to be in a smallish room? 7.1 might be overkill. Speakers need to be placed a certain distance from one another, and you would probably be able to place 5 speakers (w/sub) alot easier than 9.

I personally like Klipsch speakers for home theater. The Reference line mind you, not the cheaper Synergy series. Any good reciever that puts out 150+ into 8ohms will drive most Klipsches rather well.

On another note, I ditched the big "home theater" idea until I own my own house. Just doesnt seem worth it. I instead went with a nice NAD component system and a pair of Canton Ergo 702DCs in cherry for purely music listening.

[Muzikman]

You will spend atleast $3K on speakers unless you go to Best Buy and just get a cheap set of Bose or something. And well, Bose suck

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

lol I never realized how much speakers cost! I may just have to go with 5.1 or 6.1 because honestly (and I was thinking about this last night) I don't have room for 9 speakers.

[LudavicoSoldier]

Additionally, you dont necessesarily need tower speakers for your front left and right. All your booty shaking bass can be delivered by the subwoofer(s). A pair of speaker stands, properly weighted with shot or sand that are properly matched to your speakers can do the trick quite nicely.