Hey everyone,
Just thought I'd spark some discussion by throwing out the question of what people's home theatre setups were like.

I pieced together a decent system for a university student a few years ago, and although some of it is still fine (mainly the speakers) I've been starting to drool over newer items, which I'm holding off on. I haven't even gone HD yet, since I hate how SD cable looks on an LCD screen and I also don't want to have to start shelling out more for HD cable, which doesn't even offer most of the channels I like in HD. At least we're starting to see some channels that *aren't* sports networks offered in HD because it was pretty depressing there for a while.

So I'm currently waiting for one hell of a deal because when I do make the switch I'll have to upgrade my TV/Receiver/DVD Player (haven't decided if I'd go BluRay or not but at this point I'm leaning towards not bothering) and TV Stand... and I'm quite picky about how that stand looks in my house so that might be more of a process than it sounds.

Ok, so here's the list of what I'm running now (photos to follow if I get the chance before going on vacation):

TV: Panasonic Tau 32" (Flatscreen CRT)
When I got it I found the picture quality to be on par with the lower-end Sony Wega's, which isn't amazing for a CRT but definitely decent and a lot cheaper than the $2000+ XRB Wega's that are much better (my parents had one so I was spoiled by it a bit). The sound seems to be a bit flaky on it due to all the plugging in and unplugging of cables to the front input connector I do when hooking my laptop up to it so I'm starting to look at a media device for my future displays that will always stay plugged in. Not an HTPC per say but one of those small media boxes you can get. Other than that I really like the look of it as well. It's "box-ier" than most TV's, which is great because I have a huge center channel speaker on top of it that isn't perched there precariously.

Receiver: Kenwood 5.1 Dolby Digital / DTS
The two Kenwood pieces I bought were my main regret with this home theatre. The receiver sounds ok, but definitely not great. I would almost compare it to my Dad's old Sony 5.1 receiver and I'm not a fan of Sony for audio really. On top of that it seems to be developing an issue where it sends too much of a signal to my subwoofer and every once in a while (about an hour or so) it discharges it all at once... it sounds like someone is knocked on the door. I thought it was my old subwoofer before this one causing it but apparently not, because it's doing it with the new one as well.

DVD Player: Kenwood 5 Disc Changer
Why oh why did I get a changer? Oh right, because I was in university and the prospects of loading it with music discs and letting it go all night for a party sounded good... and it was, but for movie's it's a pain. It takes forever to load and unload discs to it and my Eastlink remote, which can operate it, can't switch the discs, so I have to get up to change discs anyways. It's also not the greatest at playing DVD-R/RW's.

Speakers: Athena Audition Series and 10" Paradigm Subwoofer
I love my speakers. They sound great with music and movies and it just kills me they aren't hooked up to a $1000 receiver, which they deserve to be. A friend of mine liked the speakers so much that he ran out and bought the same ones, except the bigger models (damn him for not going to university and getting a job instead *shakes his fist*), and he has recently upgraded his receiver to a Marantz and they sound great.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing what other people have... it's a slow day here at work.

BluRay's are nice (video and sound-wise) but too expensive right now for me as well. The discs cost a lot to manufacture so I don't think we'll be seeing them at DVD's price level for a while... and I don't mean the price levels when movies first come out because those are expensive for both BluRay and DVD really. I can't honestly remember the last time I bought a movie for more than $9 and most have been under $5 and $6.

A good video processor up-converting a DVD with DTS audio is ok with me for the moment.



I paid the $4.95 a month for the digital box but I hated it - almost, but not quite as much, as not having an interactive TV menu on-screen which is basically why I got it. I also like being able to set reminders because I'm always jumping between channels and certain shows I don't want to miss when they start.

I totally agree with you on the channel packs though and one of the Sony Store guys I was talking with the other day said that he heard it will be changing with digital/HD where soon you'll only be paying for the channels you want and they'll be doing away with the "packs" but I'll believe it when I see it. It makes too much logical sense to do it that way and that's why I don't believe it.

I just priced it out. $70 more a month for what I'd want from digital cable. That would take my bill to about $215 a month.

Samsung 42' LCD 1080p
Kenwood 600Watt 5.1 amp
Kenwood center and rears
Klipsch fronts
Pioneer sub.

I wanna do blu ray. Eastlink digicable sucks. Be nice to get a decent picture at least for something.

Get starchoice, a lot more HD for a lot less price.

I do believe I've found some suitable audio that won't cost more than the TV did.

http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=HT- ... ystems&p=i

http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/hd-home-theater/

Any set of those would destroy anything else for build quality, sound quality especially and jaw dropping bass. Have a look and read independent reviews.

My father has a Set of floor model Klipsch from the early 80's. The only thing I have heard that compares in audio quality...is another set of Klipsch.

The 1010 watt Klipsch system I have ( 4 my pc ) is nothing short of phenomenal. If the mp3 being played is of good quality, hairs will stand up on your arms and you will shiver - even at very low levels - it sounds that good.

Check out some at Whacky Weatley's, or even future shop. you will get a good impression - even with ambient noise at those places usually being high.

Heh Klipshïtz!

I'm not big on sound systems (funny, coming from a retired music producer), I own a 250 watt JVC home theatre but have never hooked it up. I have a 1080p 32 inch JVC LCD HDTV for my viewing. I don't pay for cable, I am an avid usenet subscriber and can download any movie/show I want in minutes. I clone/extend my desktop from my PC to the TV, to avoid having to burn off movies or making a home media server. I do however, use a set of altec lansing 2.1 speakers which sound immaculate with any media. They are smart switched out with the rest of my setup so whatever is being displayed on TV is also being played thru the speakers.

I also use Tversity to stream media from my PC to my Xbox360, and it works great, especially if I'm doing something on the PC and can't afford the desktop real estate to share the screen with my roommate on the TV.

I'm considering purchasing a wall mount for my TV, but the damn things are so friggin expensive.

2 by 4's and screws are expensive?

Cerwin Vega make much anymore?

I donno since I had my CV HP 215's



ROCK DA HOUSE!

I've seen them around but they're more party speakers than they are hom theatres. The Klipsch Reference Series are nice but they were out of my price range when I was buying. Maybe some day though.

I was in to Glubes and Futureshop this weekend and I'm starting to get into "research mode"... this isn't going to be good for my bank account.

yes well Klipsch brand new are pricey yes - also out of my range. I managed to pick up a couple off of kijiji tho. There are some on there now reduced in price and would make nothing short of amazing for the two fronts. ( Ad ID: 150682740 ) You would keep these for the better part of lifetime.

The subs they put out are the best I have ever heard by a landslide. You will not be able to max out the sub without breaking things at your place - its that powerful and that clean.