The Official Home Theater Setup Thread

[Russell Nash]

Let's just say this the AVS Forum thread for hypesters!

My setup:

Panasonic TH-65PF20U 65'' Professional Series HD Plasma Display
B & W (Bowers & Wilkins) Speakers, 800 Series Diamond (7.1 Setup)
B & W (Bowers & Wilkins) DB1 Subwoofer
Anthem AVM 50v Preamp Processor
Anthem PVA 8 (8 channels, RCA inputs 125 watts per channel)
Modified Oppo BDP-83 Region Free Blu-ray disc player
PS3
XBOX 360
Wii

The best way to calibrate your equipment is to use the Digital Video Essentials Disc, DO NOT fall for those Best Buy scams where they do it for you. It's not worth it, remember, they keep their displays on torch mode.

 

[Ponyboy]

The best way to calibrate your equipment is to use the Digital Video Essentials Disc, DO NOT fall for those Best Buy scams where they do it for you. It's not worth it, remember, they keep their displays on torch mode.

Wrong. "Value" on money spent is subjective. It's worth it to you if you want a proper picture; especially in your black/white levels and proper colour grading. Admittedly places like Best Buy don't do everything to perfection (it is a big box company) as they do run Hi def TVs in torch mode like you said. It's partly to compensate for the lighting in such stores, and it's also because the general viewing public is attracted to bright, vivid televisions. Like moths to a flame.

However, the calibrations are done using ISF equipment. ISF certified techs are a dime a dozen... You don't have to get it done from best buy. I would recommend it, as you cannot adjust these settings yourself using a DVD, or through the basic menus. But, if you wanted, you could get service menu codes for your TV and do the same thing the "pro" guys do... if you know what you're doing.

 

[Russell Nash]

Wrong. "Value" on money spent is subjective. It's worth it to you if you want a proper picture; especially in your black/white levels and proper colour grading. Admittedly places like Best Buy don't do everything to perfection (it is a big box company) as they do run Hi def TVs in torch mode like you said. It's partly to compensate for the lighting in such stores, and it's also because the general viewing public is attracted to bright, vivid televisions. Like moths to a flame.

However, the calibrations are done using ISF equipment. ISF certified techs are a dime a dozen... You don't have to get it done from best buy. I would recommend it, as you cannot adjust these settings yourself using a DVD, or through the basic menus. But, if you wanted, you could get service menu codes for your TV and do the same thing the "pro" guys do... if you know what you're doing.

As you said, value is subjective. I for one wouldn't let those blue-shirt dunces anywhere near my display, seeing how they don't even sell it, or most of my AV equipment. The service menu is actually pretty easy to navigate through, but the Best Buy employees are more than incompetent. I'm actually ISF certified and work for a custom home theater installation company. I'm also a THX certified professional Home Theater trainer. I can say without hesitation, that 90% of the time you can calibrate your TV yourself. It's yet another scam Best Buy uses to dupe costumers, same thing with upgrading to HDMI monster cables. An HDMI cable is an HDMI cable. The signal is either on or it isn't.

Blue Jean is a good website to buy cables from...

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/

DVE is a fantastic resource produced by industry legend Joe Kane, with whom I've had the pleasure of meeting multiple times. Joe Kane is THE industry standard of excellence and his name is synonymous with video quality.

 

[Russell Nash]

Just for fun, what's your setup Ponyboy?

 

[KALEL114]

My home theater setup:
Samsung HL-S5087W
Onkyo TX-SR805B
Infinity Beta c360 Center Channel
4X Infinity Beta 10 Surrounds
2X Infinity Beta 40 Fronts
Sony SA-WM500 Sub
PS3 60GB and XBOX 360

Kids Room:
Panasonic TC-L42U22
PS3 Slim 320GB

Still saving up for better Sub. Lol.

 

[Russell Nash]

My home theater setup:
Samsung HL-S5087W
Onkyo TX-SR805B
Infinity Beta c360 Center Channel
4X Infinity Beta 10 Surrounds
2X Infinity Beta 40 Fronts
Sony SA-WM500 Sub
PS3 60GB and XBOX 360

Kids Room:
Panasonic TC-L42U22
PS3 Slim 320GB

Still saving up for better Sub. Lol.

The Sammy HL-S5087W is a DLP rear projection TV if I'm not mistaken. Have you noticed any problems with color banding and red levels? I stayed away from DLP's because the red levels always appeared pinkish to me. If you don't mind the DLP, you should upgrade to a Mitsubishi diamond series. They make an 82'' for pretty cheap.

Is there a reason why you went with an LCD Panny in the kids room instead of a plasma?

 

[Ponyboy]

As you said, value is subjective. I for one wouldn't let those blue-shirt dunces anywhere near my display, seeing how they don't even sell it, or most of my AV equipment. The service menu is actually pretty easy to navigate through, but the Best Buy employees are more than incompetent. I'm actually ISF certified and work for a custom home theater installation company. I'm also a THX certified professional Home Theater trainer. I can say without hesitation, that 90% of the time you can calibrate your TV yourself. It's yet another scam Best Buy uses to dupe costumers, same thing with upgrading to HDMI monster cables. An HDMI cable is an HDMI cable. The signal is either on or it isn't.

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure they see themselves doing a service to the customer. I don't even think "Best buy guys" are the same as their ISF guys... I would think there would be a distinction between the lot of "in store dunces" (no offense to anyone in retail) and the techies. I dunno.

I have a Pioneer 42"plasma. I only use a pair of mk IV towers & a paradigm sub (from my dad) as my home setup hooked up to an old Denon DRA (stereo).

Believe it or not I find surround sound annoying in a residential environment. I can always pop down the road and watch a film if I want the theatre experience you know? I'm also more of an audiophile with music (being a musician) and working in the film industry it baffles many people that I "dislike" surround sound.

 

[KALEL114]

The Sammy HL-S5087W is a DLP rear projection TV if I'm not mistaken. Have you noticed any problems with color banding and red levels? I stayed away from DLP's because the red levels always appeared pinkish to me. If you don't mind the DLP, you should upgrade to a Mitsubishi diamond series. They make an 82'' for pretty cheap.

Is there a reason why you went with an LCD Panny in the kids room instead of a plasma?

The Sammy has been amazing ever since I bought it. No issues with banding. The Panny I won in a contest.t:

LED/LCD's have gotten a lot better over the years, so even if I had a choice, I would go LED over Plasma just for the bang for your buck.

 

[Russell Nash]

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure they see themselves doing a service to the customer. I don't even think "Best buy guys" are the same as their ISF guys... I would think there would be a distinction between the lot of "in store dunces" (no offense to anyone in retail) and the techies. I dunno.

I have a Pioneer 42"plasma. I only use a pair of mk IV towers & a paradigm sub (from my dad) as my home setup hooked up to an old Denon DRA (stereo).

Believe it or not I find surround sound annoying in a residential environment. I can always pop down the road and watch a film if I want the theatre experience you know? I'm also more of an audiophile with music (being a musician) and working in the film industry it baffles many people that I "dislike" surround sound.

The Pioneer Kuro is a fantastic set, is it an Elite? I replaced my Elite Kuro with the Panasonic Pro model a while back. We actually have a TH-103PD12U (103'' Plasma) at our store. It's a sight to see, it puts out a great deal of heat as well. t:

If you want to see some really expensive audio equipment, check out Goldmund Audio Equipment.

http://www.goldmund.com/

They sell a turntable for over $306,000!
There are no prices on their website, but if you have to ask, you can't afford it!

 

[Russell Nash]

The Sammy has been amazing ever since I bought it. No issues with banding. The Panny I won in a contest.t:

LED/LCD's have gotten a lot better over the years, so even if I had a choice, I would go LED over Plasma just for the bang for your buck.

Plasma's are actually going down in price. For accurate black levels, Plasma's the best bet. But a free TV is an excellent deal!

 

[Ponyboy]

They sell a turntable for over $306,000!

That, to me, is ridiculous. Even as an audio nut... It's not necessary.

 

[Ponyboy]

The Pioneer Kuro is a fantastic set, is it an Elite?

Sorry had to go check the model... PRO-950HD... and yeah, it's one hot ass (literally) TV. Helps during these cold welly winters.

 

[Russell Nash]

Sorry had to go check the model... PRO-950HD... and yeah, it's one hot ass (literally) TV. Helps during these cold welly winters.

The Kuro is a wonderful set, one of the best displays produced as far as I'm concerned. I'm still upset that Panasonic isn't incorporating the Kuro technology they procured when Pioneer discontinued plasmas. The Pro models from Panasonic have been comparable but are still too expensive for the consumer market.

I use a Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-151FD for my upstairs set up and love every minute of it.

 

[Ponyboy]

I really think the Pioneer is the best plasma out on the market. I heard about them giving up the ghost... what happened there?

 

[Russell Nash]

I really think the Pioneer is the best plasma out on the market. I heard about them giving up the ghost... what happened there?

Pioneer was facing some financial trouble and was forced to close the U.S. and U.K. plants in April and February of last year. Essentially it was too expensive for Pioneer to compete in a market flooded with cheap LCD TV's. You have to remember that with stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart, quality is sacrificed for profit.

Here's a good article on it:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article5715141.ece

On a positive note, Panasonic acquired Kuro's plasma technology and is actively using it for their premium models. It's dubbed as Panasonic "Infinite Black" and is comparable to the Kuro, but not the same thing just yet.