Cyno01

I dont know where this belongs in the forum really, maybe it can get moved to the projects section sometime down the road, but yeah, since i dont post on any AV forums and dont feel like joining another forum, i guess ill chronicle it here...

So in just under 6 weeks i'm moving into my first apartment with my fiance. Yeah, were just college kids, and my parents keep insisting we sleep on a futon and have milk crate furniture, but its a nice appartment and we'll both be working this summer, so i want to have a nice place. Its a 2bdrm, one of which will be the computer room, and we have a huge living room. I've got a layout somewhere, i could post that... My plans for the living room include a small bar, which will just be an expansion of the one in my dorm room now, but the centerpiece of the room will of course be the home theater system. Yeah i have a nice computer and a 20" widescreen monitor with a TV tuner and surround sound, and thats perfect for a dorm room, but it doesnt cut it for a medium sized living room. Especially if i wanna do stuff on the computer and she wants to watch tv or something. So i've got some plans for the cabinet, which i can scan and post, and i've got some hardware picked out, but im wondering if anybody has any suggestions for better hardware than i've picked, any advice on stuff i may not have thought of, and just anything else.

So my planned budget around $1k (flexible) for an HDTV, 5.1 surround with reciever (home theater in a box), and a networked DVD player. Yeah i'll be spending a bit more on miscelaneous cables (i'll upggrade everything to decent monster cables), and the materials for the cabinet, but we are college students and we dont wanna spend a ton.

My requirements for everything have been pretty much, at least a 30" 1080i TV, with HDMI, technology doesnt matter, but the cheaper the better unless theres a serious lack of quality. Decent 5.1 surround, with a reciever with digital ins and outs. And a progressive scan dvd player preferably with an upscaler and network connectivity (i think i've found a real gem, but ill see if anybody knows of anything better). I do not want a HTPC, mostly because i dont need one, all my media is in my main rig, which can be networked, and charter has a DVR. Plus its more than i want to spend.

So here are my picks...

TV~
Samsung TX-P3064W


Samsung TXP3064 30" Digital HDTV Monitor features a 16:9 Wide Screen Aspect Ratio, Neo Side-Sound Design, Native Resolution 1080i/480p, Anti-Glare Flat Picture Tube/ 3-Line Digital Comb Filter, 20-Watt Side Speaker Audio System and a Universal Remote Control.
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I've read some favorable reviews of this model, and you can find it just about anywhere for less than $500, and i've seen it as low as $400.

Speakers~
Yamaha YHT-160

5 piece surround sound speaker package and a powered subwoofer
5.1 channel A/V Home Theater receiver with built in Dolby Digital650 Watts total system power
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Its an apartment, and although we dont have neighbors on the living room side, we dont need a ton of wattage. This is a nice system right around my price point i can find it for around $350, and its one of the few theater in a box systems i've seen that DOESNT come with a DVD player.

DVD Player~
AVeL Linkplayer2

I-O DATA's brand-new LinkPlayer allows you to playback various formatted files connect from any PC and/or Mac on the home network to a Big screen TV with a remote control. Moreover digital camera and USB memory can be connected directly through a USB 2.0/1.1 port to display files on a Big screen TV.

AVeL LinkPlayer is compatible with Windows Media Video® Video (WMV9), DivX® HD, and MPEG2-TS (HD 720p). HD mode allows you to enjoy pictures and movies in High-Definition (Video Up to 1080i / Photo Up to 2048x1532).
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This seems like exactly what i want. It plays DVDs and makes them look as good as possible on an HDTV, and it can play any file on my network. I've found this for $250.
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So thats what i plan to buy unless anybody has better suggestions. The cabinet i'm gonna build is gonna hold all our DVDs, as well as the front speakers and all the AV gear, so its not worth it to spend more on a flat panel of any kind, but if anybody has any better suggestions for a TV i'm open. Same with the speakers, i really just want a couple hundred watts, 5.1 surround, and a reciever with enough inputs, and i dont wanna have to pay for a DVD player im not gonna use.

As for the network dvd player, i havn't really shopped around much in this area, so i dont really know whats out there, if anybody can steer me towards something better/cheaper that'll do what i want i'd be much obliged.

As for everything else...

I'm going to custom build the cabinet, so it fits the TV perfectly, its going to hold the front 3 speakers, a couple hundred DVDs, and i'm thinking maybe 6 spaces for AV stuff. Does anybody know if theres a standard size for equiptment? The count for boxes includes, whatever DVR/digital cable box we get from Charter (anybody know much about their stuff? we have TW back home), the reciver, the dvd player, my xbox (i plan on getting an HD cable for it, does anyone know which to get, there are like 5 diff ones on amazon?), possibly my fiances Atari, and come fall, a nintendo revolution (anybody wanna camp out with me?).

Thats pretty much it for now untill i get some sketches of the cabinet, but im thinking about 5' tall, shelf for DVDs and the center speaker all the way along the top, the TV and front speakers below that, then the 6 or so shelfs for equptment, 2x3 arrangement, and then another shelf of DVDs all the way along the bottom.
Hmm, quick ascii art...



Ohh, one other thing, that will include some actual modding and probably PC modding parts... I wanna do backlighting to the cabinet, maybe just a white CCFL on either side, and have them turn on with the TV if possible. It would be really cool, if its even possible and not cost prohibitive, to have color changing backlighting like on phillips ambilight tvs.

I wouldnt even know where to start going about doing that though.

I guess thats pretty much it for now, any comments, suggestions and/or general home theatre advice would be greatly apreciated.

EDIT:It botched my ascii art , so i posted it as a jpg

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musclecars&computers

Sounds good.

If it was my money i'd get one them projectors to use as a TV.

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Cyno01

Quote: Originally Posted by musclecars&computers Sounds good. If it was my money i'd get one them projectors to use as a TV.

I would absolutly love too, especially with the revolution coming out. But we're renting so no mounting a projector and painting a screen on the wall. Plus HD projectors are hella expensive.

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godfoot

Here are a couple of alternatives for the DVD player. I don't know too much about them yet (but thanks for exposing me to them), but the KISS ones look real nice.

http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=products&v=users
http://store.yahoo.com/sports-imports/nedvdplwimp4.html

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67_GTO

you should look at prices on surround systems at walmart like this one:

Pioneer 5.1 1000W Dolby Digital for 150 bucks less than the one you are looking for!!!

I know you said you didnt need much wattage but damn... for that price you cant go wrong.

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godfoot

The specs on the Yamaha are much better, but you get what you pay for. I will do some more research on HT receiver/speaker combos for you tonight Cyno.

Edit: Yamaha YHT-360 for about the same price after shipping. It has some extra features that the one you chose doesn't as well as a larger subwoofer (which is always good if you have the need to annoy your neighbors)

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corruptjoker

Have you looked into Onkyo?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-t16GZdZ...0&I=580HTS680B

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Cyno01

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot The specs on the Yamaha are much better, but you get what you pay for. I will do some more research on HT receiver/speaker combos for you tonight Cyno. Edit: Yamaha YHT-360 for about the same price after shipping. It has some extra features that the one you chose doesn't as well as a larger subwoofer (which is always good if you have the need to annoy your neighbors)

Great, the one set that doesnt come in silver. Maybe i'll settle. Theres a new set out though, the YHT-270, so im looking at that now. I wish i could find pics of the back of these receivers so i can be sure there are enough ins. 3 HD of whatever type for the cable box, the dvd player and my xbox, and then whatever else for the revolution and atari.

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bigmoneyhvywght

I noticed in your first post that you said something about Monster Cables, just forget about that. First of all there are better cables than Monster that cost less money. In your situation the last thing I would worry about is upgrading the cables, esp. the audio interconnect and speaker cables. You won't have any difference w/ the in-one-box systems your looking at. Second, here is a link you might find useful:

http://www.audioholics.com/index.html

Start your research w/ this site but feel free to look at others(sorry I don't have more links).

Really if I was you I wouldn't buy anything yet. I understand your in college and don't have a lot of money(I'm in the same boat) but you could always just wait and keep saving your money. Buy the TV if you need it, but wait until you have about $1500-$2000 just for the audio system. That way you have a lot more options(handpick your speakers, receiver, sub, etc.). Just my opinion.

btw: I spent over $1500 for a receiver, a pair of tower speakers, and a DVD changer back in the summer of 2003. My system would still kick the ass of any in-one-box solution out today, even the ones that go for over a grand.

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Cyno01

Quote: Originally Posted by bigmoneyhvywght I noticed in your first post that you said something about Monster Cables, just forget about that. First of all there are better cables than Monster that cost less money. In your situation the last thing I would worry about is upgrading the cables, esp. the audio interconnect and speaker cables. You won't have any difference w/ the in-one-box systems your looking at. Second, here is a link you might find useful: http://www.audioholics.com/index.html Start your research w/ this site but feel free to look at others(sorry I don't have more links). Really if I was you I wouldn't buy anything yet. I understand your in college and don't have a lot of money(I'm in the same boat) but you could always just wait and keep saving your money. Buy the TV if you need it, but wait until you have about $1500-$2000 just for the audio system. That way you have a lot more options(handpick your speakers, receiver, sub, etc.). Just my opinion. btw: I spent over $1500 for a receiver, a pair of tower speakers, and a DVD changer back in the summer of 2003. My system would still kick the ass of any in-one-box solution out today, even the ones that go for over a grand.

Actually from what i've read, the cables that come with the yamaha systems, especially the speaker wiring, is pretty flaky and you get a big improvement with better cables. I dont think i could justify spending $2k on a speaker system. Considering what we'll be listening to on it will be 256kb/s mp3s from the server, digital cable, DVDs and DVD and HDTV rips, its just not worth it. Now if DVDA and SACD weren't dead and i owned any vinyl and a decent turntable, then maybe. Its just a small apartment and we couldnt shake the walls if we wanted to.

If you could point me to better/cheaper cables, that'd be great though, i wish i knew what all i needed cablewise at this point. But i have no idea what a Charter cable box comes with, i dont know what hookups are going to be avaliable for the Revolution, i dont know anything about HD cables for the Xbox and i dont know how the hell i'm gonna hookup the atari (RF demodulator). I dont even know what all hookups these receivers have.

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godfoot

I would normally make recommendations as bigmoney did, but I realize that not everyone is an audiophile like me.
My guess is that Cyno would rather spend that extra money elsewhere.

Yamaha's site should have PDF spec sheets

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Cyno01

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot I would normally make recommendations as bigmoney did, but I realize that not everyone is an audiophile like me. My guess is that Cyno would rather spend that extra money elsewhere. Yamaha's site should have PDF spec sheets

Yeah, me and the fiance both want full time jobs paying around $10 an hour this summer, so thats only about $12,000 total, and we need stuff for the apartment, and then cover our cable, electric, and food bills for 12 months (rents covered). Besides everything for the apartment and the home theater, i want to do a few computer upgrades (new 2nd monitor and a TB of HD space), and then we're starting to save for the wedding. If cost werent an issue, i'd be getting a phillips LCD with ambilight, and definitly not a HTIAB, but it is, so im limiting it to basic HD and surround sound.

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bigmoneyhvywght

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot I would normally make recommendations as bigmoney did, but I realize that not everyone is an audiophile like me. My guess is that Cyno would rather spend that extra money elsewhere.

Yeah well sorry it bothers you, guess I wasted my time... All I said was that in my opinion he should wait and buy something much better(for not much more money).


on topic: The link I posted has a lot of good general information about home theater(not just expensive stuff). You said you had questions about interconnects/cables; that site would offer you a wealth of information. Most likely any speaker wire you buy will be better than the stuff that comes in the box, but imo it won't offer any improvments in sound(hence not worth the cost).

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Cyno01

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot