Home Theatre (Audio) advice

[Osiris]

Hi Team,

In the next 1-2 months I'll be going large on an LCD Panel. 46" to be exact.

The selection of this is done and I now lie in wait for the inevitable price drop(s) early next year. The timing works and the choice is made so let's get onto what it is I'm wanting.

Budget
If I were to apply a budget to this 'project' I'd say my maximum spend on these 2 key items (AV unit + Speakers) would be $1200 leaving me the $300 to spend on a Blu-Ray player/PS3.

Criteria


A home audio setup that is not made by the TV manufacturers is a must.

My research so far has shown that I need to spend well on a decent AV box and equally well on speakers (within the budget I have).


What I've done
Store Visits
So I got the go ahead from the Mrs yesterday to wander about the shops so without any further prompting I sped down to the following stores: (In order of visit)

Harvey Norman (Stacks of TV Manufacturer packages and some VERY expensive AV units / Speakers with nothing in the mid-range price bracket I think I fall into)
At the time (with very little research under my belt) I felt that one of the 'all-in-one' packages would suit my needs (A Samsung wireless rear speaker setup) for $800.
Video Pro: High End gear only. No TV 'all-in-one' packs. I noted the brands of the good stuff (Denon, Klipsch, Marantz <-- lolWTF expensive) and skulked my way back out of there. The cheapest AV unit in there theatre room was $1200.00. :<
JB HiFi: Waste of my time. Nothing worth considering AT ALL for an AV unit and their speaker selection was non-existent


Online Research
I have bookmarked the following sites and continue to look for more and of course advice from yourselves.

CNET AV Receivers (http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-receivers/?tag=bc)
SmartHouse Home Cinema (http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Cinema) section


My early preferences
Denon AVR-1910 (http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/denon-avr-1910-black/4505-6466_7-33650441.html?tag=mncol;lst) AV Unit RRP: $1,399 + speakers unknown
*NEW* 7.1 channel surround sound receiver VSX1018AH (http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Archive/Home%20Entertainment/Amplifiers%20and%20Receivers/VSX1018AHK.aspx) RRP: $1399

Finally
Do I buy this gear direct from the US? To use that AV unit as an example. The AUDprice from audioproducts.com.au (http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7124/avr1910.png) (Image link) is $1,399. With the USD price from Amazon being $549 I am seriously considering getting it direct.

PS: Anyone use or know of a US Shipping agent that would send the package on to an Australian address? Amazon won't send the gear direct to an Aussie address (I just tried).

[Delamarrr]

My advice would be..... buy the best av receiver you can, this is the most important part. You need 3-4 HDMI ports, multiroom, 7.1 with the latest decoders. Onkyo have a nice unit, but its about $1000, im pretty sure spawnie has one of these. Another good advice guy would be pistol. He works with these products i think.

The way i did it, was to buy a nice AV unit, then get 3 front speakers so that you can start to use it, then add a sub, then sides, then rears. If you buy a cheaper AV receiver you will run out of ports and want to upgrade too soon.

Careful buying from US.... what if its not 120v - 240 switchable? What about warranty?

[Osiris]

Ah true re: US ^^ Completely forgot about that. FUCK. Thanks for the tips too. Will chat to pistola over the break me thinks.

[Peng Di]

Hi Team,
PS: Anyone use or know of a US Shipping agent that would send the package on to an Australian address? Amazon won't send the gear direct to an Aussie address (I just tried).

I've been buying a lot of shit from the US recently, via priceusa.com.au

Has return insurance if something fucks up (covers warranty).

Another popular service is ship.to

Audio gear is much cheaper O/S ... bhaudioandvideo will do direct to Australia without needing a third party too.

Voltage situation can be fixed with either an adapter (or making sure it will work in both countries)

[Thrasher]

Depends on if you are looking to upgrade this stuff later, add to it, or just buy now and enjoy until next big purchase.

If you were to get a PS3 as your Blu Ray player, it will decode the HD audio tracks on Blu Rays and output it via PCM, negating the need for a AV reciever capable of decoding HD audio (since you are looking at $700+ for that). Having said that, to get one with enough inputs/outputs, it'll probably have that feature anyway.

So maybe look at around $500-700 for a AV receiver, leaving you with $1-1.2k for speakers?

You'd already know the decent brands for AV receivers, if you don't mind Pioneer, they have a clearance centre on their website with some good specials sometimes. (one there for $500 atm, 2 HMDI ins though)

JB Hifi stock two sets of Jamo 5.1 speaker systems usually, they tend to get good reviews. Otherwise they sell some nice Dali speakers. Maybe start small and add to it like Delmarr said.

Something like the Concept 1's as fronts to start off ($333), with the Concept Centre ($365) and eventually add in the Concept Sub, reduce the 1's to rears and replace the fronts with the Concept 6's.

Speakers are going to come down to availability, you NEED to listen to them before buying, which reduces your selection quite a bit. But its a start :)

[Thrasher]

ALso if you are going to be using step down transformers for the US gear, factor in the price. They aren't just a $10 plug adapter

[Osiris]

Ta lads. I guess the budget is flexible and the purchase itself kind of a 'buy now and buy nothing else for the next 5-7 years' kind of thing so going over is not a problem.

Have added a Pioneer AV unit (http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Archive/Home%20Entertainment/Amplifiers%20and%20Receivers/VSX1018AHK.aspx) into the mix as well. :) Ah the joys of researching.

As to purchasing from the US, it is always an option I suppose but the hassles of the voltage differences & the lack of warranty I'd get by doing that is a bit of a turn off (as I need this to work solidly for the next 5-7 remember.

Might come over your way next year Thrasher and you can walk me through the showrooms on that side of town. :)

[Murton]

Yes, switch mode PSU's will come into effect if you choose to buy from the US. I just did a report on why it is cheaper to professional audio produts from the US than it is here in Australia including a purely Australian made microphone.

My advice: Forget about surround sound if you do not have a room you can properlly setup for it.

This means a lounge or two recliners in the sweet spot in the third quarter of the room.

I picked up a decent Yamaha 5.1 and seperate Yamaha AV box for around $1200 last year and it does the job nicely. The speakers are top notch but the AV unit was pretty meh. No HDMI ftl. But I use component and optical audio anyway which is pretty much better quality than HDMI.

But yeah, always think of the room setup as it will have the greatest effect on the sound and what the speakers sound like in the shop will not sound anywhere near as what they will sound like in a home theatre setup at home.

I could go into treating the room with things like curtains on the backwall to reduce reflections and bass traps in the rear corners but I don't think you are that hectic.

[Osiris]

Good point about the room but you're right. My ears and those of my kids wouldn't need the special theatre quality sound reproduction that you're talking about.

I figure my price point is set about right (with the option of extending :> )in terms of my own audio preferences and room setup and what is available on the market.

This is all really good stuff - glad to have you lads on board keeping in mind I nearly bought a Samsung Blu-Ray + Speaker package last night with very little research :D

[Thrasher]

Haha, not many showrooms in Brisbane fullstop!

My friend has a nice little setup though.

Went to Todds on the Northside and got their homebrand speakers, Auditone i think they are called.

EDIT: These suckas as his fronts http://www.todds.com.au/Products/Speakers%20%26%20Subwoofers/Auditone%20502T%20Main%20Speakers/

5 speakers of those plus a Yamaha sub set him back $1800 or so, and they are quite a decent package for the price. I took a few blu ray rips around and put them on his HTPC, set up his AV Reciever properly, he wasnt getting 5.1, and played em. Blew him away! Now he refuses to watch them, so much better than watching his AVI's.

Bass traps n the like i'd say are a bit of a far stretch Murton :P

$1500 gets your 2x Concept 1's for fronts, Concept Centre and the Concept Sub. Add in a reasonable AV reciever, you'd be at about $2k with a tidy setup. Im sure a bit of hunting you'd find a decent speaker package somewhere.

www.theloudspeakerkit.com are a good site. If you're a bit crafty and don't mind glueing together the cabinets and finishin them yourself, they stuff tends to be good bang for buck.

i.e. http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/categories/DIY-Speaker-Kit-Packages/

www.adelaidespeakers.com are also highly regarded. Its just one guy who personally builds everything and ships them to you, or you can get the plans and build yourself.

i.e. http://www.adelaidespeakers.com/home-theatre.html

My guess is that his stuff would blow you away, something like the Summoner floorstanding or maybe more sutiable the Firesprite bookshelfs.

EDIT 2: Yes, i'd personally go with a 2.0/2.1/3.0/3.1 type setup. This probably suits the area better, and ensure you're spending enough on speakers to get decent quality.

ALSO NOTE: 60%+ of dialogue will come through the Centre speaker, so if you want to be able to hear dialogue nice and clear, the centre is very important.

[Murton]

I hate centre speakers. Some of the 5.1 mixing jsut destroys dialogue in my opinion. Just putting it through the centre and having it extremely unbalanced to the front L and R.

I usually always try and push centre image between LCR so dialogue spreads out from the centre channel into the L and R a little bit so it's no so obviously mono. Remember L and R give you direction, C reinforces gaps and more direction giving massive centre image.

Splurge on a decent LCR and sub and AV box and you should be set. In a few years time get some epic L and R speakers and move the old L and R to reaers. Forget about side bullshit.

Also 5.1 mixing is in extreme decline. Whilst movies are getting it, music surround has pretty much disappeared.

[Osiris]

Okay lads so here is what I'm almost set on. Critque / Ripping apart of this setup (with alternatives) would be much appreciated. The Todds shop here in Brisbane would be


Front set($480)
[ Yamaha Dual Woofer Tower Speakers (http://www.todds.com.au/Products/Speakers%20%26%20Subwoofers/Yamaha%20Dual%20Woofer%20Tower%20Speakers/) ] (Price appears too good to be true so am hopefully heading in tomorrow to listen to them).

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2048/displayimagey.jpg


Centre($399)
[ Yamaha 325 Series Centre Speaker (http://www.todds.com.au/Products/Speakers%20%26%20Subwoofers/Yamaha%20325%20Series%20Centre%20Speaker/) ]

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9707/centers.jpg


Sub($399)
[ Yamaha 10" Active Subwoofer - 100watt (http://www.todds.com.au/Products/Speakers%20%26%20Subwoofers/Yamaha%2010%26quot%3B%20Active%20Subwoofer%20-%20100watt/) ]

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2614/subwj.jpg


AV Unit($699)
[ Yamaha 5.1 x 105W AV Receiver (http://www.todds.com.au/Products/Home%20Theatre%20Receivers/Yamaha%205.1%20x%20105W%20AV%20Receiver/) ]

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9894/86934571.jpg

Total Price: $1,977

In terms of the price I'll be taking the buy now and explain later option with the wife. :D

I'm hanging for a LCD price drop on both Samsung and Sony in the New Year. It should make the total theatre cost just shy of $4,000 (without a Blu-Ray/PS3) :<

[Peng Di]

Yamaha?

http://www.marantz.com/

http://www.mordauntshort.com/default.php?TID=36

tbh

[Thrasher]

Yamaha make solid bang for buck amps, no problems there i dont reckon

Their speakers are hit and miss though, listen to them and if they sound good to YOU, then why not

[Peng Di]

bleough, headphones are my domain anyway

but marantz and ms are still the shiz

[Murton]

<3 my $320 studio monitoring headphones.

Still has nothing on my Studio Monitors.

[Thrasher]

<3 my $350 musical headphones

[Osiris]

I will have you know Bourne that I have a budget and that budget is MAXXED OOOOUUUTTTTT. Go take a look at how much Marantz costs and find me all that gear above for 2K. Go on! :P

[Thrasher]

Budget Smudget Osiris

Gonna get you a Harmon Kardon AV Receiver and some Krix speakers. Yeah, that'll do.

[Osiris]

So i went to the Marantz Oceania site and what do you know, they have a Marantz Jamo package for $1,695. If it had 4 HDMIs and I was able to listen to them (I can't) I'd consider it.

[Osiris]

Reasearch continues.

Jamo - A320HCS6 Home Theatre Speaker Pack [ Link (http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/home-theatre/speakers/jamo-a320hcs6-home-theatre-speaker-pack/283081) ] for $899
ONKYO - TXSR507B 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theatre Receiver [ Link (http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/hi-fi-home-audio/amps-receivers/onkyo-txsr507b-5-1-channel-a-v-home-theatre-receiver/452235) ] for $695

Total: $1,594

Better quality (say the audiogeeks) and the features on the AV unit are very similar between the Yamaha and Onkyo so rather than a toin coss old mate Thrasher went and posted up on OCAU (http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=836080) to see what some others might think.

[Osiris]

I hate Boxing Day.

Anyway. Bought the:
Jamo - A102HCS.5BLK Home Theatre Speaker Pack (white) [ Link (http://www.jamo.com/eu-en/products/a-102-hcs-5-description/) ] for $650; AND
Yamaha RX-V465 Home Theatre Receiver [ Link (http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V465.asp) ] for $675

Total: $1,325

Side note: They had 30% off Pioneer today making the previously very much out of reach VSX-1019AH [ link (http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Home%20Entertainment/Amplifiers%20and%20Receivers/VSX1019AH.aspx) ] almost within range at ~$855 (RRP - $1,299). If the Mrs wasn't there I'd have come home with that instead. :>

[Juggz]

heheh nice one ossi :)

hows it all sound

[Osiris]

Not hooked up yet mate. All my spare power boards are in the bedroom where the kiddies are - A no go zone after dark.

[Thrasher]

DSE got the 8 port surge boards on special for $39, down from $100. They are alright, and if you dont plug any more powerboards into it, itll cove ryou up to $100,000 worth of shit. Get one ;)

[Thrasher]

Oh, and remember, for 5.1 surround sound, you will need either:

Digital Coax Cable (looks like RCA, but will be a orange or black coloured port)
Optical Cable
HDMI

:D

[Thrasher]

You did listen to the speakers didnt you Os?

How were they?

[Namus]

Try this place for cables:

http://www.jamellcables.com.au/

Thrush; it's called the edit button; don't need a new post every single time....

[Osiris]

Home and Contents covers 'Act of God' from memory but I'll check. Got a 7 plug HT surge thingo from Bunnings for $75 from memory (it's already open so it isn't going back)

I did listen to the speakers Thrasher and they were quite good. I also snuck a listen of the Denon bookshelf ones you mentioned as well - Very nice. All of that on Boxing Day. :)

This surround business you speak of and the cabling you mentioned. I have 16 gauge silicon coated copper/something silver wires and openings on the rears that only allow bare wires to be pushed in (and only this; nothing like and RCA will be going into the speakers). Likewise on the AV Receiver.

Despite my OP noting I'm decided on the TV things are always changing so stay tuned for the next thread on LCD selections in the 46" size range...

Hint: Will be either a Sony or Samsung

Stay Tuned.

[Thrasher]

The 5 speakers will connect to the AV receiver via bare wire.

The sub will most likely connect with bare wire, or a single RCA type connector, could even be a special plug since its a package.

Getting a 5.1 singal to the AV reciever from the set top box is what those cables i mentioned are for.

Only those 3 types of cable are capable of carrying proper 5.1 surround sound. So, the setup, for now will be how you currently have it set up, however instead of the sound going form the set top box to the TV (most liekly via the Red and White in the red/white/yellow cable), it will now go into the AV receiver.

Thus, from the set top box to the AV reciever, use one of the following:

Optical

Digital Coax (RCA type connector, orange or black on the back of the STB likely)

[Magmaros]

in a similar vein, can someone recommend me a decent 3.1 setup that could possibly be turned in a 5.1 setup in the future, i'm going to be getting myself a proper TV for my room in the next month or so and want to have some decent sound, i'm so over watching movies and having the dialogue almost unhearable but the sound effects being over powering.

[Murton]

I use HDMI from the Computer to the TV and Optical and Component from the TV to the AV reciever.

When I'm watching external sources like DVD player, it goes component and optical into the Av reciever so i can use switching via video on the TV.

I use the TV as a monitor, passing sound from the Computer, TV Tuner in the TV and external sources like DVD players etc through either the TV or straight into the Av reciever.

Pretty much, try and find out which unit has the best DA converter and use it's DA, in my case, I use the AV reciever, athough I proabaly use my Pro Audio Gear but I don't think my reciever has balanced audio inputs.

[Thrasher]

in a similar vein, can someone recommend me a decent 3.1 setup that could possibly be turned in a 5.1 setup in the future, i'm going to be getting myself a proper TV for my room in the next month or so and want to have some decent sound, i'm so over watching movies and having the dialogue almost unhearable but the sound effects being over powering.

Whats the budget Mag?

Size of room?

[Magmaros]

to start, standard bedroom size, by the end of the year small living room,

preferably not too much, about 500ish if possible

[Spawnie]

I hate Boxing Day.

Anyway. Bought the:
Jamo - A102HCS.5BLK Home Theatre Speaker Pack (white) [ Link (http://www.jamo.com/eu-en/products/a-102-hcs-5-description/) ] for $650; AND
Yamaha RX-V465 Home Theatre Receiver [ Link (http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V465.asp) ] for $675


Nice choice of speakers. I have the same ones, you won't be disappointed. As for the connectivity, use HDMI where ever you can. Don't worry about getting a huge grade of wire, i've run 12 gauge, just buy good quality.

Oh, and if you dont already, buy a logitech universal remote.

[Thrasher]

to start, standard bedroom size, by the end of the year small living room,

preferably not too much, about 500ish if possible


Tricky budget to get somethign that you can upgrade. Getting a 3.0 system now and later upgrading to a 5.1 would infer that you'd get a 5.1/7.1 AV reciever. And those alone are $600+

Another option is a small 2 channel amp and some decent 2.0 speakers for now, keep the speakers for the upgade and add more + AV receiver.

Or just get a HTIB type setup. Maybe even some Z5500's, depending on pickyness to audio

[Murton]

There's a Yamaha HTIB setup for around $500 which isn't bad, more HT than the Z5500's.

I'd reccommend pushing the budget just a little and get the Yamaha RX-V365 and some 310 series front speakers and a centre 310 and maybe a sub.

The Good Guys usually have packages with the RX-V365 and some 310 speakers, so I'd try there.

[Thrasher]

Yeah, definately Murton.

The Z5500's are just versitile, and for most very awesome.

You could possibly look for a second hand AV reciever then add a pair of bookshelfs for now. Plenty of decent bookshelfs getting around.

Or bypass having an Amp for now and get some powered speakers. The AudioEnginer A5's for around $500 are meant to have a wicked sound.

[Osiris]

Don't worry about getting a huge grade of wire, i've run 12 gauge, just buy good quality.

Oh, and if you dont already, buy a logitech universal remote.

Have 14 gauge with chunky silicon sheathing.

On the remote side of things...Do the IR ports of all the various peripherals need to be "exposed" to the controller or is there some funky tech that the AV unit has to allow control of everything through its single IR port?

please please please let that be how it works..I don't particularly want to have all the other stuff visible.

Edit: Harmony is on the cards too.

[Spawnie]

You can get IR receivers for the harmonys, however they are pricey I believe. As for the cable, 14 guage is fine if you have it laying around, but if you have to buy some I would go smaller, you won't notice the difference

[Thrasher]

Exposed i beleive Osiris.

Definately grab a Harmony, itll replace all your remotes (bar the PS3's when you get it, though you can gget an IR adapter for it). Get a highish model harmony, the 525's etc are good, but for a proper HT i'd go up a few models.

[Magmaros]

yeah murton i was looking at some of those HTIB's, i don't need anything fancy just something that has decent balance between the channels.

do most HTIB's have the reciever or what cause from what i can see most of them look like they have a DVD player and i've never seen a A/V reciever with a dvd player built in :P

[Thrasher]

Most of the cheaper ones are just a DVD player, where the speakers connect to the back of it.

As you go up in price they'll tend to be more 5.1 setups, i.e. AV receiver plus speakers. Think the HTIB is the name typically given to the total setup, dvd/bluray player and speakers.

[Osiris]

I hate Boxing Day.

Anyway. Bought the:
Jamo - A102HCS.5BLK Home Theatre Speaker Pack (white) [ Link (http://www.jamo.com/eu-en/products/a-102-hcs-5-description/) ] for $650; AND
Yamaha RX-V465 Home Theatre Receiver [ Link (http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V465.asp) ] for $675

Total: $1,325

ROFL. Not more than 3 weeks later Todds has a Warehouse sale. RX-V465 selling (http://www.todds.com.au/whs/) for $595 this Saturday (It's the Yamaha 5.1 x 105W AV Receiver on that page). Almost worth buying the kent and taking it straight over to JB - unopened and asking for a refund.

Almost.

Semi-Update

Speaker install
Fronts are in and look fucken hot it has to be said. Centre will be sitting on the TV unit. No exposed wires visible for any of the front speakers at all. I drilled through to the other room which has a wardrobe so I was lucky.

Rears will come a little later. CBF figuring it out right now.

HTPC / Cabling
Purchased an Asrock 330 HTPC (http://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330) and will be running Ubuntu, XBMC^ & uTorrent (ROFL) and USENET gear. CBF getting the HT version this time (WiFi, RAID0, DTS decoding).

Am also cabling 3x Cat5e runs from a Cisco 8 port Gigabit Switch in Study to the TV wall (Yeah Yeah if anyone asks I have an ACMA license).
Note: CBF with Cat6 but I am installing it all in circular conduit for easy replacement if I ever need to. All runs will be under timber flooring - Crawl spaces FTW.

3 ports will be:

One for TV - it will have widgets lol;
One for HTPC (Remember uTorrent/USENET plus imdb scraping);
Plus one extra for shits and giggles - Maybe a future dedicated MythTV PVR that saves back to a yet to be bought NAS or Server).


KRONE cabling + Clipsal wall plates and keystone termination. Almost time to upgrade to ADSL2. :S

XBMC
Holy Shit dudes [ download this (http://xbmc.org/download/) ] and install on your PCs. Doing just this and only this was enough for the Mrs to go, "Set it up" <-- Being the HTPC.

Anyway. XBMC will be Camelot Version (http://xbmc.org/team-xbmc/2009/12/24/xbmc-9-11-camelot/) with the XPerience Skin [ Watch This (http://vimeo.com/8155597) ] (They went a bit nuts with the Bass on that vid so turn it down.)

All of the imagery seen in that vid is downloaded automatically by the XBMC software itself (scrapers I think?) based on the filename and folder structure things that live in on your NAS/Server/PC.

Now I just need a sparky to put a 240V outlet high enough so that the I don't have to see cables running from behind the TV unit up to the TV itself. (Have to figure out if I can install a HDMI wall plate behind the TV unit that runs to another wall plate that will live behind the TV) Not sure how I'm going to achieve that. I think I'll have 1, maybe 2, noggins in my way. :< Spawnie you have access to a pro drill bit extender thingo that can do that?

[Delamarrr]

I bought a Harmony One quite a while ago. Probably the best thing i ever bought in regards to my theatre setup. Got mine for $200 on holidays in sydney.

[Osiris]

Yeah. Will be grabbing the same one - Currently cheapest price on SI is $217 so your pickup was a good one.

Getting it running with the IR receiver on Ubuntu will no doubt be a barrel of laughs. Apparently Concordance and Incongruity make the process easier but I am not looking forward to it.
With DVD, STB, TV, AV Receiver, Pioneer PVR (and now a HTPC) I am approaching very low Wife acceptance levels so its not far off.

TV purchase is almost a 'GO' too. The BRAVIA 46" 200Hz Full HD LCD TV (http://www.clivepeeters.com.au/products/home-entertainment/TVs/Sony-KDL46Z5500.aspx?cat2=TVs&brand=sony&cat1=home+entertainment) (KDL46Z5500) is at a ridiculous price at Clive Peeters at the moment so I'm massively tempted. Hanging out for a Samsung though :<.

[Thrasher]

200HZ is still somewhat in its infant stages, but the Sony's do process it the best, since they are kinda at their Gen 2 stage with it.

[Osiris]

Indeedly.

Also:

(Have to figure out if I can install a HDMI wall plate behind the TV unit that runs to another wall plate that will live behind the TV)

2 x these (http://www.selbyacoustics.com.au/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=74520&c=188204&i=248910254) + HDMI cable in wall = Win

[Murton]

looks like an epic setup so far man! Good idea making everything nice and clean with the cables and the HDMI face plates etc. That way it will be there for future upgrades :)

[Osiris]

I'm very lucky to have an internal wall with a wardrobe on the rear face. The pics (when I take them) will show the good (the TV side of the wall), the bad (the wardrobe side of the wall) and the ugly (Log's mum).

[Log1k]

I'm very lucky to have an internal wall with a wardrobe on the rear face. The pics (when I take them) will show the good (the TV side of the wall), the bad (the wardrobe side of the wall) and the ugly (Log's mum).

I like how I havent viewed a thread until now, and the first thing I read is a logs mum joke.

Thanks ossy. D:

[LukeN]

Ideally.

Minelabs Amps coupled with Krix loudspeakers - Keep it local and world-class.

Budget wise - personally I'd have looked at Denon for av receiver, *cough*AvantGarde*cough* for speakers..................

.... I need to sell my body to afford these things.

[Osiris]

HTPC / Cabling
Purchased an Asrock 330 HTPC (http://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330) and will be running Ubuntu, XBMC^ & uTorrent (ROFL) and USENET gear. CBF getting the HT version this time (WiFi, RAID0, DTS decoding).

Am also cabling 3x Cat5e runs from a Cisco 8 port Gigabit Switch in Study to the TV wall (Yeah Yeah if anyone asks I have an ACMA license).
Note: CBF with Cat6 but I am installing it all in circular conduit for easy replacement if I ever need to. All runs will be under timber flooring - Crawl spaces FTW.

3 ports will be:

One for TV - it will have widgets lol;
One for HTPC (Remember uTorrent/USENET plus imdb scraping);
Plus one extra for shits and giggles - Maybe a future dedicated MythTV PVR that saves back to a yet to be bought NAS or Server).


KRONE cabling + Clipsal wall plates and keystone termination. Almost time to upgrade to ADSL2. :S

Update: So I've bought the HTPC + Remote as described in [ this article (http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2810841) ] and everything went swimmingly......

[ Page 1 (http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2810841) ] (Summary and Intro)
[ Page 2 (http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2810841?pageid=1) ] (Getting started with Linux)
[ Page 3 (http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2810841?pageid=2) ] (Installing the software)
[ Page 4 (http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2810841?pageid=3) ] (Using XBMC)


UNTIL

I went to install the [ Media Center Remote (http://www.eyo.com.au/prod_D-HMCEREMOTE_proddesc_Hauppauge_Windows_Media_Centre _Remote_Control_Kit._USB_Receiver..html) ]

On Page 3 (refer link above) the author notes this:

The next piece of software we need is a driver for your remote control. Search for "remote control" and double click the entry labelled "Infrared Remote Control". As you did earlier, scroll to the bottom and click "Install" on the page that appears.

Hopefully you bought the Hauppage remote listed earlier in the article, as due to the lack of standards remotes are tricky to configure correctly. After downloading the software, a window will appear in your taskbar (labelled "Debconf on asrock" for me) which prompts you to select your receiver and transmitter. If you have the Hauppage, select the "Windows Media Center Transceivers/Remotes (all)" for the receiver and leave the transmitter set to None, before clicking "Forward" to finish.

Basically THAT ^^ never happened and I was presented with this:

http://www.users.on.net/~systemtester/LIRC/gnome-irc-properties-main.png

Instead of what is shown in the article

http://www.ausgamers.com/images/features/0911-htpc/large/lirc-config.png

Basically, for those with any knowledge of Linux and or LIRC (OMFG its shit) if you have any thoughts on how I can get the remote to work (yet to test in W7) that would be great.

This post essentially sums up what I have completed and where I am up to in the troubleshooting of this god forsaken remote.

Hello all,

I am slowly driving myself insane trying to get this setup working. I have installed XBMC, and it's (now) working like a charm. However, I cannot seem to get the IR remote to recognize.
I've spent about 3 hours combing through various forums and Google trying to find a solution to my problems but I haven't had any luck.

This is where I stand: I did a sudo apt-get install lirc, and everything installed fine. The config popped up, I selected the incorrect remote, and things went downhill from there. After a ton of wrangling around, re-installing, etc...I finally figured out I could have simply done a dpkg-reconfigure lirc to re-select a remote. I went back and reconfigured lirc for the Windows MCE Remote (v2). After I selected the remote, it asked which transceiver I had. I don't have one (it's a receiver + remote) so I selected None.

After running various things like irrecord or irw (no idea what they do -- I was under the impression one of those would display your remote button presses in hex values so you can verify you are getting raw input) nothing shows up, at all in my terminal window.

The Receiver light is blinking red, and so is the remote. I thought I may have made a mistake by selecting no transceiver, so i went back and one at a time selected every option that had anything to do with usb and windows media center remote...no dice.

So, the long and short of it is lirc is installed, selected the correct remote, but it does not recognize at all in xbmc or in the terminal using the command irw or irrecord. This is where I am lost -- I know I am overlooking something or doing something wrong...please help!

[Osiris]

Reinstalled Ubuntu. Shit now works.

Yet to do (Worklog with pics will eventually be posted :> ).

Talk to Pistola Pete for awesome TV discounts
Purchase TV :<
Complete conduit runs under flooring
Start & Complete Cat5e cabling to Theatre Wall from Study switch (wall plates at each end)
Install Wall plate behind TV location (TV not yet purchased - refer above :<< )
Grab 90 degree HDMI (http://www.4cabling.com.au/products/HDMI-to-HDMI-Right-Angle-Coupler-Insert.html) fittings and complete TV Wall plate install


If, after all of that, I'm still motivated I'll look at sorting out the rear speakers.

[Im-postle-able]

Alrighty, thread necromancy time.

The speakers on my 42" LCD TV are rubbish for watching movies and I often get distortion if there is a loud / long bass sound (like the deep background bass you hear when they try to add gravity to a dramatic scene)

I'm not looking to spend ludicrous amounts of money and i'm not interested (at the moment) of doing anything with surround sound. So what i'm after is an affordable 2.1 speaker setup to take the job of providing my TVs sound (i'll disable the TV speakers). I guess i'll need an amp for that setup as well?

[Thrasher]

Depends how you wanna do it and how much money you got to spend

[Im-postle-able]

At the moment i'm thinking of getting the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K, (http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/pioneer-vsx-1019ah-k/4505-6466_7-33496205.html?tag=rnav) it's got rave reviews and seems to be in an affordable price range for me (under $1000 all up)

Speaker wise i'll probably be looking for a good couple of mid range speakers and sub. Probably the best form factor for the speakers would be towers as there is space on either side of the tv cabinet.

[Osiris]

Reinstalled Ubuntu. Shit now works.

Yet to do (Worklog with pics will eventually be posted :> ).

Talk to Pistola Pete for awesome TV discounts http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/963/tick16x16.png
Purchase TV :< - http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4923/16emcross16x16.png
Complete conduit runs under flooring - http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/963/tick16x16.png
Start & Complete Cat5e cabling to Theatre Wall from Study switch (wall plates at each end) - http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/963/tick16x16.png
Install Wall plate behind TV location (TV not yet purchased - refer above :<< ) - http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4923/16emcross16x16.png
Grab 90 degree HDMI (http://www.4cabling.com.au/products/HDMI-to-HDMI-Right-Angle-Coupler-Insert.html) fittings and complete TV Wall plate install - http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/963/tick16x16.png


If, after all of that, I'm still motivated I'll look at sorting out the rear speakers.

Mini update. Almost done and have dual Gigabit to the Theatre wall. :> With a third cable already in place if I need it.

Definitely a good choice Impy. Plenty of Tower speakers available. Do you have any HiFi stores nearby to be able to listen to any of them? I bought these (http://todds.com.au/products/Specials/Yamaha%20Dual%20Woofer%20Tower%20Speakers/) for my brother at Todds in BNE and have listened to them. VERY decent quality speakers despite what others say about Yamaha.

Other choices
ATS-3 (http://www.aaronhifi.com.au/product.php?prod_id=19)

Subwoofers for every budget
Here (http://www.audiotrends.com.au/subwoofers.htm#aaron)

[Im-postle-able]

Seriously considering getting this - http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/11/lg-soundbar-offers-4-1-audio-plus-blu-ray-for-1499/

On first impressions i scoffed and thought "bah what a gimicky piece of crap" but all the reviews have said it's a surprisingly great piece of hardware that does it's job very well!

[Osiris]

Did consider these but only fleetingly in my research. So for me they are the great unknown. Should you go down that path I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts Impy because its the kind I would consider placing in the kids TV/Playroom (a couple of years down the track that is :> )

[Thrasher]

Soundbars are gaining popularity thats for sure. Wouldn't mind having a listen to one.

If you're a bit crafty and hands on give LSK a run. Its just glue and clamp the premade sections then finish them how you want, but bang for buck they be hard to beat.

Be sure to keep and eye on the Pioneer Clearance Centre too. https://web1.pioneer.com.au/itf/phx/phoenix.nsf/Index

And it'd be worth grabbing a AV Receiver off ebay second hand, save a couple of hundred maybe.

[dR1ft_]

Alrighty, thread necromancy time.

The speakers on my 42" LCD TV are rubbish for watching movies and I often get distortion if there is a loud / long bass sound (like the deep background bass you hear when they try to add gravity to a dramatic scene)

I'm not looking to spend ludicrous amounts of money and i'm not interested (at the moment) of doing anything with surround sound. So what i'm after is an affordable 2.1 speaker setup to take the job of providing my TVs sound (i'll disable the TV speakers). I guess i'll need an amp for that setup as well?

If your after just enhancing your TV speakers I would suggest buying a sound bar. They now make Blu-ray units which I wouldn't bother but the choice is yours. Samsung made a great unit with a wireless sub and blutooth compatible which got great reviews. If you are wanting to buy and AMP just buy a 2 channels amp which is great for music! :)

[dR1ft_]

Just a tip a Home Theater setup is totally different to a Music setup. Speakers are the MOST important piece in the puzzle! :P Yes speakers are the most important piece!

[Osiris]

Yeah. Will be grabbing the same one - Currently cheapest price on SI is $217 so your pickup was a good one.

Grabbed a Harmony One Advanced for 190.00 delivered from APUS (http://www.apus.com.au/products.php?showProduct=2) just now (cheapest on Staticice (http://staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Logitech+Harmony+one&spos=3)). 55" LCD (http://www.sony.com.au/product/kdl-55ex500) and 80kg bracket (http://www.crazysales.com.au/plasma-lcd-tv-wall-bracket-mount-for-32-63-inch-screen-80kg-load-black_p5377.html) ($35 delivered) on route so yay for being almost finished.