CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

So there is the challenge. I think it'd be interesting to see what you crazy cats come up with.

The deal is simple. NOT including the projector. Build a home theater from scratch for 5k. It must have

1 HD and 1 SD source.
7.1 Surround sound. Receiver or separates.
5.1 speakers
Unified remote.
Cables and connectors.
Network friendly.

It must be a system that YOU could be happy with.

Can it be done?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Question # 1, Does it have to be Bran new stuff or used as well or a mix?

Athanasios

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

VideoGrabber · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Michigan

> It must have:
7.1 Surround sound. Receiver or separates.
5.1 speakers <

What's wrong with this picture?

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

Here's my first swing....

Blu Ray Denon DBP-2010CI Blu Ray Player 550.00
AV Denon AVR-3310CI A/V Receiver 1,499.00
Speakers B&W CM7 Floor standing Speakers 1,000.00
B&W CM7 Center Speakers 650.00
B&W CM 1 275.00
Sunfire HRS 8 Subwoofer 800.00
Sat/Box Dish Vip 722 HDTV -
Remote Apple WiFi Ipad Remote 450.00

Total $5,224.00

Links

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4972.asp
http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4965.asp
http://www.sunfire.com/productdetail.asp?id=17
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=816&sc=ht
http://www.iruleathome.com/

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6637

Oppo BDP 93 $500 (new)

Just bought a Krell home theater standard pre amp for $450 (used on e bay)

Found a Krell KAV 500 amp at a local pawn shop for $500 (used)

As for the speakers a pair of Definitive BP 2000 mains ,CLR2000 center and BPX surrounds for around $2,000 (used from a local pawn shop but in perfect condition)

Granted it is a 5.1 system but do you do you really need 7.1 ?

I guess my only point is buy used but good equipment. And know what you want before you buy it .

Patience being the key word here.... Wink

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject:

You didn't say whether we were talking about a system for a dedicated room, a multi-use room, a living room, etc. so I just assumed a dedicated room. Obviously, you could potentially get a lot more bang for the buck going used like Tom said, but if I were buying from scratch with that budget, my system would look something like this...

Onkyo TX-NR808 - $755 on Amazon

Oppo BDP-80 - $290 on Amazon

Aperion Intimus 6T-DB Hybrid XD w/o sub
Aperion 6T Towers (2) - $1390
Aperion 6C Center - $590
Aperion 5DB Dipole (2) - $690
5.1 Speakers Total - $2479

Elemental Designs A5-350 - <$800 shipped

iPad/iRule/gateway - $750

System Total - $5074 shipped

Add another couple hundy for interconnects, jacks, etc.

SC

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

I just don't know why i DO NOT like Onkyo.

Dont know...

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:06 pm Post subject:

That's fine - I'm not a big Denon fan, either. Wink

Just kidding. Substitute the 3310CI back in - Wan got his MUCH cheaper than the $1500 retail.

Holy crap, eCost has a refurb 3310ci for under $600!!!

http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=53205659

SC

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

Depending on room volume, wouldn't there be cases you could get away with the 3722 instead? About half the price for actual JBL product compared to the 3732.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5321

Tedd · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Ontario

Anyone here actually using the IPad as a remote? Is the 16G IPad enough?

My front end of choice would be a preowned Onkyo 805. Good DACS, stiff amps, and very good build quality. Add in a PS3 slim and a 2TB media storage drive to the computer. Used Oppo 980 for DVD-A/SACD and as SD source. $1100 worth of budget eaten up.

The AT screen suggestion is a good one. It could be leveraged to hide a pair of DIY subs. I'd eq the subs with a used ebay'ed QSC DSP-3/4 or DSP-30. Pro amp to drive them. Expand the AT screen to a front AT wall and hide a lot of av clutter and wiring too (scoring some WAF points!). A used 2 post computer rack could even be built into it. DIY'er faceplates like some guys on AVS are doing, and one could have a very nice racking option for $200.

Speakers would be sourced preowned. There are some serious bargains to be had on slightly used speakers.

Sparky015 · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject:

I think you guys are missing a big piece, and that's a VP. I'm not sure about speakers, but I would say something like this:

Denon AVR-3311CI - $817
Lumagen Radiance XS $1975 (assuming you have an old one to trade in)
Oppo BDP-80 - $290 on Amazon
Logitech Harmony ONE - $173 on Amazon

This would leave you $1745 for speakers cables and connectors.

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

Tedd · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Ontario

You can do a whole lot better on the Lumagen Radience XS and have another $800 towards speakers and cable...