Project: Home Cinema Theatre...

[Aaron]

That's some serious money!

I tried to buy a Denon 1920 down TCR last week. I could only find one shop that had one in stock and the guy knew it, so I couldn't haggle him down.

I wouldn't mind one of those Harmony remotes either. I've been using my Sony Ericsson P910i as a universal remote recently, but the software can't control much beyond the basic functionality.

[bsodmike]

Damn this expensive hobby

Harmony remote: Is it funky? I just use the one that came with my AVR-3805 as it *is* funky and has the auto-learning feature as well. Only problem is that the spot for #2/CD takes some effort to work so Superfi will replace it for me when I go to collect the DVD-3901...

How much did he want for the 1920? I think Superfi wanted £225ish for it, before discount...

--Mike

[Aaron]

He wanted £250. I tried to talk him down to £220, but he wouldn't even budge to £240.

In the end I ordered online for £230. I doubt I'll get until the New Year, but I don't mind waiting.

Cheers for making the thread. I always find it interesting seeing how other people "in the real world" have set-up their home cinema kit.

[bsodmike]

Yea, the delays can't be avoided - but at least it'll be on the way. The main reason I went with the 3910 is cause of the Denon Link - it needs a firmware flash that Superfi is performing to be compatible with my 3805. I *could* have lived with DVD-A/SACD playback over 6x RCAs but I thought I should go for something that'll justify my setup and amp, rather than leave it as a future upgrade.

No worries, I also enjoy trawling through checking how other people have their HT setups - you can learn a lot and they tend to make enjoyable reading

Of course, my work is far from over. Once I bring the DM601s back in Easter (which are @Uni as my bags were too heavy) I need to get my room sorted - junk wise! Today I went to a furniture shop and saw some nice cabinets in 100% mahogany with glass shelves and a glass door to house my DVD collection (that has easily crept past 150-200...) and books. Sadly they didn't have one that's perfectly suited for my needs and it'll take 1 - 1.5 months to make a new one :-o

Sometime after the 'Christmas rush', I will check around a few other shops and see what they have to offer, as most of these come with shelves with huge gaps not intended to house DVDs and books but larger items.

I also need to pick up a set of wallmounts for the 601s as it wouldn't work too well having them on floor stands.

Got alot more planning to do....

--Mike

[bsodmike]

Today I dropped by home and was shocked to hear that a package had arrived via FedEx :-o

I pretty much rushed to pick it up and there it was the amplifier from Hong Kong!!! I've got it fitted back in and it has been running for over 5hrs now...SCHWEEEEET. Gonna let it break in during the night...

Also went today to a furniture shop that's MUCH more elegant than all the others I've been to. It's called "Mahogany Masterpieces" and they have a sofa, coffee table (glass top) and display cabinet (which will be customised) for around £1000. Their designer will be visting me on Tuesday, should be fun sorting it out.

I've permanently fitted the omni-directional mic I got with my Denon receiver to one of my older tripods (which happens to be too light for my EOS20D + EF 24 - 70 lens). Gonna use this to calibrate the setup.

Now I have a question. I have the ceiling fan running 24/7 (more or less) but this makes a fair amount of noise. If it is very hot, on comes the AC which has a slight hum. Should I perform the tests with all these disturbances or just the AC? It would make sense to kill the noisy fan for *proper* listenting...

--Mike

[bsodmike]

Quick update:

I've had the sub running for well over 12hrs and it is working very nicely. I'm slowly sorting out the wiring of the HT setup, which I will properly sort out again in Easter. I want to use some 'cabling' loops stuck @ the back of the rack to manage all the cabling and route everything properly.

My sub is well powerful and if I drive it *really* hard at times it feels like it is ready to jump right off the floor, has anyone had this lol...This is one hell of an impressive sub, and this is on EQ A! (Setting B is harder and gives tighter bass).

--Mike

[bsodmike]

Massive Update

Over the New Year, I've been going over various aspects of the setup and what I plan to do at some point is CAD up a fully detailed 'wiring' diagram of my setup.

But that's not what this post is about. My order @ Superfi has expanded to contain:

Denon DVD3910 (with Multiregion and Denon 3rd link firmware upgrade)
Rotel RB1080 (200Wrms per chan power amp)
Rotel RB1050 (150Wrms, two mono blocks for HF and LF of the LCR600 - true bi-amping)
Qunex Silver Ref. S-Video 3m
Qunex SR-CV Component 4m
Qunex 4S Phono 3m

--> £2093.71

Can any one say "Ouch!"?

So what is this all about I hear you scream - I have decided to shift the DM602 S3s to the surround position and the DM601 S3s to the rear surround (7.1) spot...and get a set of DM604 S3s for the main fronts :-o

I'm also bi-amping the centre to its full potential of 150W, along with fully bi-amped fronts. Also grabbing another 4S Phono (2m) for the amp pre-out of center to the RB1050, and a Qunex Y-SW.

As far as the cabling goes I've got my heart set on the following:

• Centre: 1m x QED Silver Anniversary Bi-wire + 8x Airlocs (4x Red/4x Black)
• Front L: 5m x QED Silver Anniversary Bi-wire + 6x Airlocs (3x Red/3x Black)
• Front R: 3m x QED Silver Anniversary Bi-wire + 6x Airlocs (3x Red/3x Black)

Some images of the room in a very messy state - this ain't changing till Easter until I shift all the junk downstairs to the visitors room (now that they have left) and I'll be fully re-wiring the setup...



I will have the DVD3910 in the left slot (where you can currently see a pile of DVDs) and the two power amps @ the top on either side of the centre speaker. The dwarven king, and japanese cat will have to go somewhere else hah.

..and the sub:

[Howard]

Again... What do you do for money.?

[Tobeman]

I've put this question to him several times, I'm not sure its legal, he just "has it"

[bsodmike]

I'm gonna have to go with 'naturally' well off, i.e. inheritance etc... Oh and a huge credit limit on my CC helps... lol Toby...

[Howard]

Yeah it's best we don't ask I think. Lol.

[nvening]

LOL, i was quite alarmed when you said you use your ps2 for dvds with all your equipment, and was even more alarmed when you said how much your dvd player cost!

[bsodmike]

nvening, the initial idea was to use the PS2, but yea who am I kidding... crappy playback heh DVD players can play and then 'play'...there is actually decoding going on and from the many reviews of the 3910, it is superb at that price!

I've decided to go the whole hog and make my own power cables + IEC plugs - thinking of going with AWG10 or 14 for each conductor (there are 3 for live, neutral and earth) and it should be able to handle a max of 15A @ 240vrms. This is only 'essential' for the sub but I rather have a fuse blow than melted cabling!

Was chatting to a few people and I'm tempted to get the following:

• Econo Catch 3/4 x 2 inch Wallstrap 20 Pack: http://www.lanshack.com/Econo-Catch-...k--P172C0.aspx
• 75 Foot Roll Rip-Tie Lite Wrap Strap 3/4 inch Cable Tie: http://www.lanshack.com/75-Foot-Roll...ie-P158C0.aspx
• Techflex Inc, 2in VELCRO SLV (x100ft to start): http://www.westlake-electronic.com/c...m_no=TE-FWPT9X

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Update:
Not sure when I'll order these tho Just ordered these today - will make tidying it up helluva lot easier. I've finished pulling out most of the cabling and have got it all measured up for the new set of cabling and all the new bits n' pieces! Will post shots of the finished wiring once I get there. I'm also collecting the 25m of cabling, which has 30 strands of 0.25mm wire per conductor (i.e. x3) and is good upto 15A @ 240vrms + 8 IEC plugs = £15ish, or Rs.3000 in local currency...
------------

I have 2x 2.45m lengths of QED Qudos Original, and 2x 5m lengths of QED Qudos Original + Airlocs on one end of each cable (other bare) for sale. I doubt that Superfi will take these back. They will *probably* take back interconnects - I'm gonna call 'em up today and see if I can return a spare 3m composite QED lead, 1m Qunex OT (optical - too short). Will be upgrading the DBS to S-Video and AV receiver -> Plasma to S-Video as well.

--Mike

[Nemeliza]

Well i can honestly say that my jealousy at this moment knows no bounds!

Have you given that sub a good testing in both movies and music? if so how does it hold up in both?

Also with all this equipment....how large is this room of yours? (dimensions)

Oh and why not a projector?

[bsodmike]

Hello Nemeliza!

Sub: As for tests performed on this, I had it playing the 'Ultimate Subwoofer Test.mp3' continously for 2 days (after I got the replacement amp from B&W). This really made the driver shift some, and is a delight to watch in 'action'..heh

Note:The system was calibrated to 75dBs via a digital SPL meter and 85dBs for the sub, for that extra kick.

Music:
Source: Power Mac G5, Dual 2.7Ghz via M-Audio Revolution 7.1 (latest drivers for OS X 10.4.3) connected to 'COAX2' of AVR-3805 via QED QXDAV1-FLX Professional AV Custom coax cable.

• Massive Attack - Angel: Probably the most bass stressful track I've personally come across, that happens to be a 'real' song. Handles it amazingly.
• Jay Z - Numb/Encore: This is also fairly bass heavy, plays it beautifully.
• Linkin Park - My December: Mmm, I enjoyed this quite a lot, never heard it like this before.
• YUI - LIFE (ending of BLEACH the anime): This may not be the most bass heavy but when it did kick in, the response was great.
• Samurai Champloo OST - Shiki no Uta (anime): This track was really bass heavy, playing in the really low 20's. Didn't miss a beat and at times it tried to jump off the floor.

Movies on DVD:
Source: Mac mini, 7.1 output via M-Audio Sonica Theatre USB (latest drivers for OS X 10.4.3) connected to 'COAX1' of AVR-3805 via QED SR-75 coax cable.

• Gladiator: Watched the fiight scene with the barbarians vs them guys in the charriots - the room was shaking, no bs.
• Rush Hour 1/2: This isn't the most 'explosive' film but in the instances C4 went off (aww pooor clive...) you really felt it
• Kung Fu Hustle: OMG, this is probably the most action packed comedy I've seen in ages. The sub was being fairly worked over and I was hitting 90dB+
• Bad Boys: Again, like 'Rush Hour', when it kicked in...it really shook the room!

My current room is fairly small - I'd say approx. 3m x 6m. This is only a temporary setup. It will be shifted into the master bed room which is about 5 times larger than this. Both rooms are ~5m tall, designed to keep the house cool without ACing...

Projector: Might consider it later on...

--Mike

[5lab]

just a thought.. shouldnt all the speaker cables be the same length to enhance the distancing (or something)..

i'd highly reccomend getting a copy of digital video essentials - it will help you get all your kit callibrated to the highest level, and when you've spent that much so far it really makes sence..