CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Curt Palme]

...There's a thread over in the >$20K forum at avs, talking about the best stereo/HT system, and people are throwing HUGE numbers around with massive amounts of esoteric gear.. which is to be expected of course.

So I got to thinking, since I don't know most of the equipment that they are talking about in that thread: If we here had an 'unlimited budget', what would you put together as an HT system?

Now, I think we here differ, in that many of us are DIYers, and saving money and doing things ourselves is part of who we are. SO I think the answers here would be a lot different than what people that are multimillionaires would buy.

I personally would never spend $100-$200K on a digital projector frankly. While the budget is unlimited, I still can't ever see spending that kind of $$ on something that is literally a disposable product.

So without too much thought, I'd do the following:

-Room design/treatment- I'd get an acoustic room engineer in a la Dennis Erskine, as that's one real weak spot that I have, I know my HT room sucks, but haven't read up on what to do with it. I think that proper room design is paramount to a good sounding room, probably more important than the actual equipment itself. I'd also hire a good carpenter to put the fit and finish on the room. Too bad wood can't be soldered, only then could I do it myself..

-Sources- not much different than what I have now: HD, HD DVD and BR player.
-Fury2 and HKMod HDMI switcher
-I'd probably keep the Lumagen scaler that I won at Cliff's place last year.

Projector- Two retubed 9500 Ultras and a blend rather than a stack. Reason: Far longer tube life, better resolution. I'd probably go with a 10' wide screen rather than the 8' wide that I have now. Calibration by Ken Whitcomb of course. (idea shamelessly stolen from Cliff..)

Audio- tough call. I'd most likely stay away from the esoteric stuff. From what I've seen, I'd go with a top of the line Denon unit, but disconnect all internal audio amps and go with high end Crown power amps with lots of clean AC power.

Speakers- really tough call. I've heard Martin Logan electrostatics that sounded wonderful, but part of me would want to buy all vintage JBL or EV pro speakers, and have the local speaker shop that I deal with design the cabinets, and go all custom.

[Curt Palme]

...There's a thread over in the >$20K forum at avs, talking about the best stereo/HT system, and people are throwing HUGE numbers around with massive amounts of esoteric gear.. which is to be expected of course.

So I got to thinking, since I don't know most of the equipment that they are talking about in that thread: If we here had an 'unlimited budget', what would you put together as an HT system?

Now, I think we here differ, in that many of us are DIYers, and saving money and doing things ourselves is part of who we are. SO I think the answers here would be a lot different than what people that are multimillionaires would buy.

I personally would never spend $100-$200K on a digital projector frankly. While the budget is unlimited, I still can't ever see spending that kind of $$ on something that is literally a disposable product.

So without too much thought, I'd do the following:

-Room design/treatment- I'd get an acoustic room engineer in a la Dennis Erskine, as that's one real weak spot that I have, I know my HT room sucks, but haven't read up on what to do with it. I think that proper room design is paramount to a good sounding room, probably more important than the actual equipment itself. I'd also hire a good carpenter to put the fit and finish on the room. Too bad wood can't be soldered, only then could I do it myself..

-Sources- not much different than what I have now: HD, HD DVD and BR player.
-Fury2 and HKMod HDMI switcher
-I'd probably keep the Lumagen scaler that I won at Cliff's place last year.

Projector- Two retubed 9500 Ultras and a blend rather than a stack. Reason: Far longer tube life, better resolution. I'd probably go with a 10' wide screen rather than the 8' wide that I have now. Calibration by Ken Whitcomb of course. (idea shamelessly stolen from Cliff..)

Audio- tough call. I'd most likely stay away from the esoteric stuff. From what I've seen, I'd go with a top of the line Denon unit, but disconnect all internal audio amps and go with high end Crown power amps with lots of clean AC power.

Speakers- really tough call. I've heard Martin Logan electrostatics that sounded wonderful, but part of me would want to buy all vintage JBL or EV pro speakers, and have the local speaker shop that I deal with design the cabinets, and go all custom.

[Nashou66]

Hmm Id go with two 9500LC ultras with MP mods and my own also, I have the blend units. I would only want to have either HFQ900 lens's or have new custom made lens.

Id get the best screen at 12 ft wide like i have now, with masking for a CIW, id have the PJ on a motorized track system so that i could keep a nice 12 foot wide 1.78 image with a blend and keep as much phosphor use for both, all done with a press of a button of course.

pay Antorsea to develop the program to do a better convergence and grey scale set up system for the whole set up. With auto focusing some how included into the custom lens's

Audio Id go with all mono block Pass amps and pre amp, and B & W 805 speakers.

Ken Whicotcomb or Craig Rounds for calibration, who ever is available for a week of course

And new seating, lobby and bar area to round it all off.

Athanasios

[outwest]

Anything that will show a picture and produce sound.........and Kal's brewing, bar, and tap set-up.......and him on permanent staff to keep it all running.

[stefuel]

I'd kick everyone out, burn down the house and start from scratch

[Nashou66]

[nettwerkjohn]

i'd keep the janszen z-30 and z-40 electrostatic hybrids that i already have, grab some theta digital gear (processor, amps, transport). projectors? a pair of vw200s, stacked. or a qualia 004, 12' screen. oh, and some of the jl audio gotam subs, say, 4.

[jask]

909 blend, B&K 70 pre/pro,Marantz amps,Paradigm speakers, IB subs. HTPC, PS3,Fury2/Kimcoder,automation and a armrest pop-up Elu touchscreen to "Make it so"

and since money is no object... A planitarium style well in the front floor area that would allow a custom gaming chair by Perisoft to pop-up at around .6/.8 screen widths and allow me to drive/ride/shoot

still trying to work out the logistics of a beer tap in the armrest.......

[lordcloud]

I'd have two MP modded 9500LC in a blend configuration.
12 foot wide AMX screen
Lumagen Radience
Whatever Blu Ray player I can get HD SDI from
Oppo 981 modded for SDI
Speaker...7 Maggie 20s, Pipedreams, or HUGE ATCs
Amps...Atmashphere MA3s.
Preamp....couldn't tell you, but I hear Anthem has a good one

[stefuel]

[mike calcott]

Mcintosh tri-amped audio

[lordcloud]

I'd get a Meridian reference system as well, including the Meridian 810.

[km987654]

Surprised by not so many 909 people. Are the 9500 Ultras that good!!

[winduptoy]

I'd get a house big enough so I wouldn't have to have my HT in the Living Room. The basement should be large enough to have an anteroom to do a rear projected over/under 909 stack. Enough current to run some serious power (Anthem 325 wpc) and drive something like Martin Logan hybrids.

[wkosmann]

[emdawgz1]

Display:2 Runco DTV 1200 on a 9 ft curved Screen

Video Processing: Blendzilla.

Audio:
Speakers:

Bowers and Wilkins (2)Nautilus 800D, Center channel and Nautilus Surround speakers.

Amplifiers: (2)Krell Evo1,( 1) Krell Theater Amp (5 channel)

Pre/Pro : McIntosh MX 136

Sources:

Blu Ray: Sony BDP S500es

Media: Big Dawg Custom HTPC 2TB’s of Video and audio storage and Playback.

Gaming: Sony PS3. Gotta have Gran Turismo!!!

Room: Couches, w recline. nice wine colored carpet. wall treatment. Sound proofing by Quietsound

[kal]

Most of my money would go towards very good room design (ie: hiring some expensive consultants) for the best acoustics possible.

Kal

[kal]

Most of my money would go towards very good room design (ie: hiring some expensive consultants) for the best acoustics possible.

Kal

[greg_mitch]

[Spanky Ham]

It is funny how only Curt and Kal talked about hiring room designers. This is probably the most important part for the audio side. Mediocre speakers in a great room will sound better than 20k speakers in a bad room. There are several good designers around plus maybe have Mark Seaton do the sound. I would finish off the sound with a rotary sub. For the video, I would go with a blend like Nash mentioned. That would be pretty neat although I am not sure how good it would be moving the pjs. Maybe the screen could move. I would also put in that dbox system or whatever it is called with the moving seats.

For those on a budget, I want to add that some of the designers have some inexpensive options for room design. For $5k, one could have a really great sounding audio side of a HT.

[michael k]

curt here is the speaker fore you



it has a little brother to
http://user.faktiskt.se/EA_73/Christer/25.jpg

[Heywood Jablome]