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I am building a new home and it will have a dedicated theater room. I've thought about a projector but the room size has me conserned. The room is 14'X 15' we will be sitting on the long end. I am now considering a Mitsubishi Dimond 73907 73" Bigscreen HDTV Ready. Any thoughts on that model. BTW I am trying to keep in the $13,000 range for the HTS. This will cost around $8,000-$9000.Now for the hard part. A/V receiver, Speakers, and DVD player. There are Too many options and such a WIDE price range. I've looked at them all including home theater packages such as Bose Life Style 50. I need help.
I know I can get a decent DVD for $800 and an A/V for about $1,200. The speakers are the real kickers. I have approx $2000 for speakers. I've looked at M&K 750THX and was told I needed a Denon 4800 to drive those speaker $2000. This is drive me over my budget by $850.00. I've also looked at Paradigm (splelling?) middle of the line speakers.
One more thing that needs to be considered. I will probably be putting flush wall mount speakers in the family, master bed, upstairs hall, and outside at some point and time. I know Bose has good option for this application (single remote anywhere in the home.
Help, Clarence
Follow Ups:
Perhaps if you spent some time on the 'net you can have your cake and eat it too... Paul
they are amazing for home theater...instead of the 4800, go with the 3801...for under 900. I ran the system with a 2800, despite the fact that they are 4 ohm speakers. The 3801 will add all the surround modes you need, and you don't have to pay for THX licensing. If you need a dealer, I have a great connection who will ship.Other systme I recommend is ACI....5 emeralds and a Titan II. check it out at www.audioc.com...they are a tremendous value for the high performance.
Email me!
I can't comment on the Video side of you posed question but have a few comments on the audio stuff.Definitely stick with the Denon for it's great for HT receiver and pretty acceptable for music also. (my opinion) I'm currently using the AVR-5700& love it. If you can swing the M&K's, DO IT for they ARE amazing!
Being that this is not to be dedicated audio system, I'd secondly recommend something like the Klipsch SP-1's, or similar type setup for front speakers. They retail @ $1100.00 for the set but I'm sure could be found for less, shop around. You'll have to pick the rears and center for yourself when you do the final seating arrangement. IE: Do you want "direct" or "bi-pole" type setup?
The SP1's each have a 225watt "auto-on/off" amp in them, so you may not need to purchase a stand-alone sub out of the gate.
Personally, I think that for the money and the 30-day guarantee, I'd try the Swans Diva series that I've recently been reading about in here. For 30 day's guarantee, what do you have to lose?
I think that there are many very good DVD players out there for less than $800.00 ... unless you want to go progressive scan that is. If that's the case than look @ the Toshiba SD-9200, I've been reading nothing but great stuff about it, and forget the $1995.00 retail, below is a link to it for just over $1000.00.
If I'm way-off, sorry to bother you, but I hope that this helps.
Good Luck,
Fish
Yes,I've looked at projectors as opposed to RPTV, Sony, Marantz, Sanyo and I agree the WOW factor is definitely there. I would love to get one but I have 2 concerns Price and size of the room. I will be sitting 12'-12.5' away from the screen. The HTS i've been to voice some of the same conserns. No one said they couldn't do it though.
Some of the one's I've seen, granted they were not the latest models I didn't like the brighness, and black levels (bot LCD & DLP). I've heard they've improved but haven't seen one in action. Plus the labor to set one up is EXPENSIVE Average of ($2500-$3000). The project and screen are the same price as the Mistu but the labor cost kills my budget. I'm afraid to set one up myself and I have a B.S. Degree in EET. Maybe I'm making too much out of it. I think I can do the TV myself.
The Picture on the Mitsubishi was Awsome, I think better than the LCD and DLP projectors. It does not have the true cinima look and feel like a projector, hence less of the WOW factor. I would prefer having a projector if it wasn't for the installion costs and the distance issue. If I don't set some sort of budget I'll find myself spending $20,000 -$30,000. I was seriously considering a $20,000 package. Any guidance will be helpful.
Yes, I also was conserding a Grayhawk Screen. If I felt confident with doing it myself I'd go for it.
You are way way way over estimating the costs for set-up involved with a projector. The "HTS" you talked to is making a HUGE profit on you if this is what they charge. I set up my projector myself and I only have a Film Degree (analysis no less!).To get a very good, but not perfect image - turn on the projector- Done. These things look great out of the box, and actually require LESS calibration than most TV's. I have been watching mine for two weeks now without having time to calibrate and you would not know it. Plus they do not suffer from "burn in" like RPTV's, which is a nice plus if the kids like video games.
CAlibration with AVia is the same as with a TV.
Using the Quadscan image scaler is pretty idiot proof too. Connect you cables, play with settings for 15 minutes- done.Projector positioning is the hardest part.
Rule of thumb- the lens should be lined up as close to the center line of your screen as possible. More important- the lens should be aligned at either the top of bottom of the diplay area.In addition, the specific one I am recommending just came out, and is a quantum leap compared to the projectors I saw before it. The one I saw at first (very popular model called infocus 350 with 1300 lumens) hasd the big screen "feel", but suffered for the reasons you saw too.
The Sanyo is as bright as a tube television, even with room lighting on. Plus- no screen glare, wider viewing angle.Where are you located (geographically)?
If you goto www.projectorcentral.com you can read about the XP21n as a REcommended Proojector. Also look up the "throw distances" listed specific to the projector. This will help you figure out possible screen size. I throw a 96" 4:3 screen from about 12 ft.
I have people sitting as close as 6 feet from this screen and everyone loves it. I personally sit about 12-15ft and this is great.I figured buying the projector SAVED me money because I got to avoid the $500 calibration cost and the $500service plan for the TV;s. Projectors normally come with 3 year next day or overnight replacement programs (since they are mostly geared to business buyers) at no extra cost.
Personally I got a projector because the delivery men refused to carry in a RPTV for me! I think it is MORE versatile because it is much easier to move & set up. I look forward to some outdoor screenings this Summer. You would also be surprised how much bigger your living room looks & feels with a 3" deep projection screen that can be retracted as opposed to a TV the size of a cow.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions. I have several dealer friends and can find you good prices on this stuff if you want. I'll even fly to your home and do your installation for a ton less than $3k (if you pay the airfare).
dg
Before spending $8k on a TV I seriously advise you to consider front
projection. The newest LCD's have a great contrast ration, and high outputsthat make them look as good as or better than (IMO) any proejction TV.
Plus, a projector weighs 10 lbs, takes up less space than a dictionary, and can cast images MUCH larger than 73".I have a $6k Sanyo XP21n projector with a $1k video scaler and could not be happier. I would seriously doubt the Mitsu could match the experience from my 100" screen
dg
LCDs don't reproduce blacks well and their picture always looks a bit washed out, soft and 2-dimensional compared to the best CRT projectors (rear included). For someone who doesn't care about those differences, however, LCDs make an excellent choice.
Rich,
Have you see nthe Sanyo's I am talking about?
They sport a 700:1 contrast (amazingly high for a LCD). They look really really good.One person compares itfavorably or comparably with the JVD D-ILA machines:
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/005532.htmlAnother comments:
"The brightness is fantastic. With some ambient light in the room the image takes on a beautiful balance, as stated in the projectorcentral review. When there is no light in the room, I still wouldn't consider the image "too bright", but it's definitely brighter than film on my 90" DIY gray screen - the image "glows", almost like a tube-based CRT device - good if you like that kind of look, but some might not consider it "film like." What I did was pick up a neutral density filter (.6) for viewing with the lights off. With the filter, the image is noticeably darker, but is much more film-like in my opinion. The blacks become at least as good as the JVC D-ILA, and the whites still pack more than enough punch."
I am sure, despite its features that the black are inferior to your CRT, however I can see my image perfectly with all my room lights on- try that with your CRT and let me know how it goes - the Sanyo kills it if room lighting comes into consideration I bet.Plus- a big benefit I am extroling ofthe projector is size & weight.
A 150 lb CRT isnot as maneuverable.dg
Given your budget I would personally get the following
Sanyo XP21n projector $6200Quadscan video scaler $1000. This will de-interlace and upscale ALL of your video sources, not just your DVD. It is more versatile than buying a progressive DVD player.
Screens can vary from $150-up. My 100" was bout $150 and works great. See how much you have left in your budget at the end and ponder a Stewart Greyhawk (about $2k)
DVD player- since you have an upsampler, any $200 player would be fine (an look better than a progressive machine). Though, I sugget you hunt for a Panasonic RV80- which is about $300 and have really nice video DAC's.
For more info on projection TV;s, post at www.hometheaterforum.com
for info on projectors goto www.avsforum.com. Both get more HT traffic than here. We have now spent about $7500-$9500 depending on your screen option.Receiver- I dunno if you need to spend $1k, but maybe with your multi-zone requirements. Prices are always dropping with new technology, so try to get the "next to top of the line" or three month old model to avoid paying silly premiums. Also, DPL II format is being released soon- sothis may cause current non-DPLII receivers to drop. Certainly if you are paying $1k you would want all the newest goodies. I will reserve $1k to be safe, but I personally liketh Outlaw 1050 receiver for only $600.
Now spent- $8500 - 10,500 depensing on screen.
For speakers you should talk to your wife and make sure she likes how they look. Also- with projection screen (read: big) you want to keep an eye out for low profile speakers that can fit besinde your screen without complaining about being too close to your walls.
I own nOrh speakers and really like them.
For info cehck out www.norh.com
Their 4.0 HT set is only $850 and would work great (need a sub though)
If you do not like the non-tradition drum chape, check out the wood ifnished prism speakers.Another option are DefTech BP2006TL's. Really well reviewed, would be great for HT, and are very slim in profile for easier placement. $1k per pair street. You could get two pairs if you have room in the back, but I bet you might not and could choose the BPX surrounds for $500.
Personally I do not like center channels and would not use one.Whether you get the $850 norh 4.0 set, or the DefTechs for $1500-$2k, or ANYTHING else make sure you also get a deidcated HSU VTF-2 sub for your LFE out. This is critical for HT, even if you have main speakers with good bass response. Leave some money for decent speaker wire & cabling ($500).
I just wish I had your money to spend....
dg
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