Home Theater Setup

[TOTEM]

Just got a Yamaha RX-A800 model from Amazon. It is amazing how much better the sound quality is now, especially when watching BD movies.

[George Frankly]

Originally Posted by erosewater

Right now I just have a 2 speaker setup, using these:

http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/4311b.pdf

they are meant to be studio monitors, but they sound great.

Looking to do 5.1, but I'll probably get center, sub, rears at different times. Do I need to worry much about getting the right center to pair with these?

Also, my living room is about 50 ft long, maybe 15 ft wide, with the entertainment system setup the short way in the middle of the room. The TV is in a cutout in the wall, a 6x6x4 hole, so 4 feet deep. Would it be a bad idea to put the sub in there behind the TV?

Don't throw those JBLs out, those are great. Super-efficient, so you don't need much power and the dynamics can't be beat. You might be able to buy some similar or identical speakers on Craigslist, they do pop up on the market.

Other than that, get a large center speaker that's efficient and it should sound fine. Maybe something from Klipsch... just get older US-made Klipsch, it's better than the stuff they sell now.

Why do you want to go 5.1? Just curious. I actually had 5.1 and went back to stereo, it's not for everyone.

[George Frankly]

Oh, audiogon.com is your friend for finding good used audio gear.

[erosewater]

Originally Posted by George Frankly

Don't throw those JBLs out, those are great. Super-efficient, so you don't need much power and the dynamics can't be beat. You might be able to buy some similar or identical speakers on Craigslist, they do pop up on the market.

Other than that, get a large center speaker that's efficient and it should sound fine. Maybe something from Klipsch... just get older US-made Klipsch, it's better than the stuff they sell now.

Oh I'm keeping the JBLs for sure, they are great speakers. Especially with music, when I push them a little they sound fantastic.

[tangent] I got them when my band in college shared a practice space with another band. Those guys were late on rent for a month or two, and when I called them about it they just cleared out their gear. They weren't able to get everything in their cars, and had a few things lying around they were coming back for, including those JBLs, so I took it all home with me and changed the lock. I planned to keep that stuff until I got rent money, but never heard from them. After researching the speakers a bit I realized they were worth more than those guys owed me for rent, and I'm still using them 10 years later[/tangent]

Why do you want to go 5.1? Just curious. I actually had 5.1 and went back to stereo, it's not for everyone.

Wanted to try it out for movies mainly. Some movies have great 5.1 soundtracks, and having a center channel helps boost the dialog. I may do 2.1 and just get a sub.

[George Frankly]

Originally Posted by erosewater

Oh I'm keeping the JBLs for sure, they are great speakers. Especially with music, when I push them a little they sound fantastic.

[tangent] I got them when my band in college shared a practice space with another band. Those guys were late on rent for a month or two, and when I called them about it they just cleared out their gear. They weren't able to get everything in their cars, and had a few things lying around they were coming back for, including those JBLs, so I took it all home with me and changed the lock. I planned to keep that stuff until I got rent money, but never heard from them. After researching the speakers a bit I realized they were worth more than those guys owed me for rent, and I'm still using them 10 years later[/tangent]



Wanted to try it out for movies mainly. Some movies have great 5.1 soundtracks, and having a center channel helps boost the dialog. I may do 2.1 and just get a sub.

If you sit directly in front of the TV (in the 'sweet spot') you should be able to get very good stereo imaging from two speakers, including a perfectly placed center image. Center channels are good if you sit off to the side.

I found that I don't watch many movies with great sound effects, and my efforts were better spent building a nice 2-channel rig. With a given budget, you can get nicer equipment with a stereo setup vs a home theater. If you watch lots of movies with great audio effects, it would definitely make sense.

For everyone's reference, the JBL stuff they sell at Best Buy or whatever is garbage. Erose's speakers, and other JBL pro stuff, is orders of magnitude better.

[Wannabe Actuary]

Ok, looking for some recommendations...

Finally need to get a tv for the second bedroom. It'll be a flat screen of course, but it is going inside a cabinet that closes so size is limited to 32" max. There is no way a 37" would fit.

Wants: 32"
1080p (yeah, I know it's small to worry about 1080p, but a BR will get hooked up to it and the tv will be almost right next to the computer desk, so viewing may be close at times)
Do NOT want 3D
built in Wi-Fi is a plus, but not required
Will NOT buy a "no-name" brand

Any recommendations? There aren't a lot of choices that fit the criteria, but was wondering if you had any feedback on anything in particular

TIA

[Wannabe Actuary]

Any thoughts on the Samsung UN32EH5300?

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Actuary

Any thoughts on the Samsung UN32EH5300?

I ended up picking up the Samsung UN32EH5000

It has less inputs than the 5300 and lacks wi-fi, but it was on sale making it about 100 less than the 5300 and was available at best buy (got double reward zone points this past weekend).

I ordered a 5x1 hdmi switch so that solves the fewer input problem and I had already intended to put an apple tv in that room anyway, so that gets me wireless Netflix plus other great features.

Switch and hdmi cables will be here by the end of the week, already picked up an HD cable box. I'll start keeping an eye out for a BR player too.

[llcooljabe]

not mine...saw on reddit. very cool

[Wannabe Actuary]

Very cool...gives me some ideas for when we're out of our condo and in a house
That has to be one massive switch system though if they're all hooked up at once