The $25K Home Theater

Over the last few posts, I've talked about what you can get in a home theater for $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000. This week, I'm going to step up a bit and talk about what you can get with a larger budget, in this case, $25,000. I realize that's a pretty big step, and there's a lot of room between $10,000 and $25,000. Just remember, we can tailor any package to your specific budget, so call us to design your perfect home theater on your perfect budget!

Think of this more as a home cinema than a home theater. Everything is upgraded. You get better video, better audio, and better control. Quality installation remains the same, but since you'll have a somewhat more complex system, installation time may rise a bit. We also assume this system is going into a dedicated cinema room or a media room where the light levels and outside sound infiltration can be controlled.

Video

The most visible part of a home cinema is, of course, the video. In this package, we use JVC’s Reference Series 3-chip projector. This option eliminates color separation and “rainbow” effects, and provides one of the best 1080p pictures available at this price point. We couple that with a Draper 106” fixed-mount screen that has a “hi-def grey” finish. The grey finish actually helps a projector deliver more accurate pictures in both lighter and darker areas of the picture. And in a room where light levels are controlled, you don’t need the higher reflectivity (or gain) of a bright white screen like you would in a room with lots of light. Just like a movie theater, the room will be dark when you’re watching a movie, both to reduce distractions and to provide better contrast in the projected picture.

And of course we included a Blu-Ray player that has interactive capabilities, Netflix streaming, and a few other bells and whistles.

Audio

In the $10,000 system we had stepped up to a more powerful receiver that could handle multi-zone and a few other things. Here, we step it up again to get even more power, and more importantly, to handle the 7.2 speaker system.

We’ve coupled that receiver with 7 satellite speakers and two subwoofers. The 7 satellites provide a more even sound field at all seating locations, and help with locating sounds that are coming from the sides and behind. The multiple subwoofers even out the bass frequencies and can help compensate for room modes (peaks and valleys in the bass range due to the way those sounds are reflected around the room).

And furthermore, we’ve chosen speakers that are THX Select certified. So you know that when the system is calibrated for your room, you will be getting the sounds that the director intended. After all, sound is at least 50% of a movie!

Control

Controlling all of this equipment is one of the most interesting parts of putting together a home cinema system. You want a single control device that anyone can pick up and use, and that provides a level of “wow factor” that will have your guests talking about your system. We chose a Universal Remote Control MX6000 touchscreen tablet for this level. This remote is a tablet-style remote with a color touchscreen interface that we can tailor just for you. We can even put on a sports theme or movie theme for you!

And the remote has 2-way capability with Internet connectivity, so you can get real-time sports scores, news, weather, and stocks, and you can see album cover art, artist lists, or song lists right on the remote.

Of course, we’ll program it to turn your system on with a single button that’s labeled according to what you want to do. For example, the buttons might be, “Watch Blu-Ray”, “Watch TV”, “Play Video Game”, “Listen to CD”, etc. And we’ll even program the remote to turn the lights up or down according to what you’re doing. Just imagine pressing “Play” and having the lights slowly dim to off or almost off. Then pressing “Pause” and having the lights come up part way so you can find your way to the fridge or bathroom!

Accessories

Naturally, there are a lot of other things you need to make your home cinema system work – cables, mounting brackets, a rack to hold the equipment, wall plates to connect the speakers to, equipment to provide clean power, and much more. All of this is included at the $25K price point.

Labor

Since we offer both equipment sales and installation services, you know that you not only get the best equipment for your budget, but that it’s also properly installed, configured, and calibrated for your room so you get the most out of your investment. After all, why spend $25,000 on anything, just to get only some of the performance that it’s capable of? Our professional installation services are included in this and every package. We will install the system quickly and cleanly, and will make sure everything is working for you. And with our 90-day labor warranty, you can be confident the system will work perfectly for you!

Above $25K

For someone with a larger budget, the equipment listed here could easily be considered “mid-range”. Of course, if your budget is well below $25,000, this is considered “high-end”. We cater to all ends of the market, so we have plenty of options at all price points.
For example, we could step up to better speakers. The THX Select Certified speakers listed here aren’t THX Ultra certified. And while they’re from an excellent brand (Atlantic Technologies), they’re not Martin Logan’s or another very high-end brand.

And the projector is still “only” 1080p – we could step up to a 4K projector, go to a brighter projector, at a motorized drop-down screen, incorporate a better Blu-Ray player, add an anamorphic lens, and make many other changes to fit your lifestyle and desires in your perfect home cinema.

Another item to consider is that this doesn’t include any construction costs, seating, sound isolation, decorative items, etc.

Remember, there are more choices in electronics than you can imagine. Each choice opens up a range of options in other areas - if you spend more on the projector, you may be more limited in your seating choices. Your budget and what's most important to you are the main determining factors of what makes your perfect home cinema!

At Inspired Electronics, Inc., we can help you cut through all of the options to figure out how to maximize your home theater experience within your budget and constraints. Call us today to get started on your project!

For more information on how Inspired Electronics, Inc. can put in your dream home theater, visit our web site at http://www.inspired-electronics.com/ or call us at 847.471.4420 for a consultation or an appointment to meet us at our showroom!

Thanks -
Rob

A $10K Home Theater

In the last few weeks, I've covered $2500 and $5000 home theaters. But what if you have a bit more of a budget? Perhaps you’ve received a big tax refund, or have been saving for this.

Well, I have to say, $10,000 opens up a whole world of possibilities in home theater. You now have options for a good projector or a large panel display, some really good sound (speakers, receivers), a better control option, and a few other surprises thrown in – keep reading to find out what they are!

I'll talk about two possibilities here: The large panel and the projector. First, we'll talk about everything except the display, and then talk about display choices last.

Audio Gear
At this level, we'll move up to a more powerful A/V receiver, and upgrade the speakers from a package to a matched set. We'll stick with on-wall speakers at this price point. Although we could easily put in-wall or in-ceiling speakers in to get the equipment out of the room, we might have to make compromises in other parts of the system to get the same audio quality.

In addition to more power, the receiver also gains some interesting features at this point. In particular, we add video scaling using a Faroudja processor. This processor can take your standard-definition sources like a VCR, standard DVD, video camera, or other older sources and scale them up to take advantage of the increased screen resolution. While it won’t match true 1080p source material, a reasonably good scaler will definitely improve the watchability of your existing material.

Control
For the control system, we move up to a sleeker color-screen remote that can handle more complex controls. For example, you can now have the remote remember if your DVD is on or off, and send commands only if they are needed. In our $5,000 system, the remote had to use "brute-force" control methods - force the receiver to always turn on, for example. This "smart-force" approach will reduce the time required to turn on the system, and especially reduce the time required to switch from one mode to another.

We also add in an RF control module so that you don’t have to point the remote at the equipment to control it. This allows more freedom to place your equipment in a cabinet or closet, or at the back of the room, giving a cleaner look and helping to ensure that the equipment doesn’t distract from your viewing experience.

Sources
In the $5,000 home theater system, we had introduced a Blu-Ray player. This player is a fantastic entry-level player, but we wanted to add more in the $10,000 package. By stepping up to the next model, you now can get native Profile 2.0 support for interactive content over the Internet (you no longer need to add a memory card to get this functionality).

You also now get online movie streaming through Netflix. This means you can browse the Netflix selection of movies, select what you want to watch, and start watching immediately. This is very much like the on-demand feature that most cable companies offer, but with a wider selection of movies. And it’s already included in your Netflix subscription. The player also includes a streaming music feature, using Pandora’s personalized music stations. So you can select whatever type of music you’re in the mood for. And you never have to put up with songs you don’t like!

Finally, in this package I've included a fantastic iPod dock from DLO. We've put this dock in a number of installations, and our clients rave about it, especially for systems with a second zone of audio.



Other items of interest
At this level, some people choose to stick with a smaller screen and entry-level sound in order to add home theater seating. Depending on the trade-offs you're willing to make (leather vs. vinyl, size of TV, etc.), you could get 4, 6, or even 8-person seating at this price point.

You may also choose to integrate some lighting control. If you do, you'll be able to really "wow!" your guests by automatically dimming lights when you start a movie, or brightening the room when you pause or stop!

Display
Now we come to the most visible feature of your home theater - the display.

At this price point, you will probably be going for BIG! I chose a 55” LCD for this package, simply because I prefer LCD to Plasma right now. But you could choose a 58” or even a 63” Plasma at the same price point. The LCD I chose also incorporates Internet connectivity, so that you can get news, weather, sports, YouTube, and many other web sites right on your TV. Imagine not having to go to your computer for many of the web-based tasks that you do today – and imagine doing it on a very large, very hi-resolution screen!



Or, for an even bigger size picture, consider a projector and screen. Depending on the room size, you are probably looking at an 84-106" fixed-mount or manual pull-down screen with a 1080p projector or a step-up 720p projector.

The 1080p projector would be entry-level (single chip, not as bright, less video processing capability). The 720p projector, on the other hand, would have lower resolution (but still hi-def), but would be brighter, and would have better video processing capabilities. The 720p may also have three separate display chips, which will result in better colors and contrast.



If you opt for the panel display (LCD or Plasma), this option includes a wall-mount with a tilt option (to reduce glare and neck strain). And the projector option includes a ceiling mount, as well.


Remember, we specialize in both equipment and in installation, so all of these packages include professional installation, programming, and calibration. Plus, this includes all required cabling, mounting, power protection (yes, it’s VERY important!) and instructions on how to use the system (not that you'll need much, given the simplicity of the remotes!).

There are a lot of choices in home theater. This is by no means the only option in this price range - the right home theater for you is really dependent on your tastes, your budget, and your room. Our goal is to work with you to uncover what's most important, so that we can put in a system that is perfect for your room, your tastes, and your budget!

For more information on how Inspired Electronics, Inc. can put in your dream home theater, visit our web site at http://www.inspired-electronics.com/ or call us at 847.471.4420 for a consultation!

Thanks -
Rob

The $5000 Home Theater

Continuing my series on what kind of home theater you can get at various budget levels, here's an option for a $5,000 home theater system.

When I discussed a $5000 home theater last year, I had proposed a step up from a 50” DLP to a 46” LCD. Today, a similar (actually better) 46” LCD is part of the $2500 package! So I’ve stepped up the TV in this package to a 52” LCD, with very similar specs to the $2500 system. I also moved from an HTIB all-in-one system to a component-based system. So you get a separate receiver, Blu-Ray player, and speaker package in this system. And as I did last year, I added in a one-touch remote control and a wall-mount option, as well as high-quality power surge protection for both the TV and the other components.

The Television

I’ve increased the size of the television from 46” to 52” in the $5,000 package. Unfortunately, at this price point, I couldn’t squeeze in a 120 Hz model without giving up something else significant, like the remote, the larger screen size, or the component-based audio system.

So the TV here is in the same model line as in the $2500 system, but it’s 6” larger. And it’s mounted on the wall, which really adds an elegance to the room that a table-mount simply can’t duplicate. The remaining components would be mounted in a cabinet under or near the TV.

The Receiver

With the expanded budget on this system, I decided to put in a Denon A/V receiver, plus a separate Blu-Ray player. More on the Blu-Ray in a minute.

The separate A/V receiver is a much better alternative than the HTIB because of the higher-quality amplifier and other components. Because of this, it sounds better than the HTIB, especially at high or low volume levels. Interestingly, almost any receiver can sound ok within a narrow volume band. But when you try to rock the house, many very low end amplifiers just can’t put out the volume cleanly, and you get distortion. And at low volumes, they lose way too much detail to be able to deliver the full range of tones that you expect, so you can't understand the dialogue.

The Blu-Ray Player

Pretty much everyone these days has a library of DVDs that you like to watch, or subscribes to a service like Blockbuster or Netflix. Even a regular DVD will look better on a high-def TV than on a regular TV, but if you really want to take advantage of all that video power, you need a Blu-Ray player. There’s simply no other video source that delivers the full potential of hi-def.

When I added this player in, though, I wanted to put in a little bit of a different spin. So the Blu-Ray player I selected was Samsung’s entry-level player, the BD-P1600. This player is interesting because it supports a couple of features that weren’t even available a year or two ago.

First, you get the capability to have Profile 2.0 supported (you have to add a 1 GB memory card and a network connection to do this). Profile 2.0 gives you the full capability of the Blu-Ray spec, including multiple camera views and Internet-based interactivity. So you could interact with the stars of the movie, play online games, or whatever other content the producers dream up. And you’re not limited to whatever was created at the time the disc was pressed.

Many people I talk with don’t really care about Profile 2.0, but they get very excited when I tell them about the next feature – online Netflix movie streaming. Imagine never having to wait for your movies to arrive in the mail, never having to send them back, and never worrying whether they’ll have the disc you want to watch. Simply connect to your Netflix queue, select the movie you want to watch, and press play.

Now, not all content from Netflix is available online, much less in hi-def, but the selection is large and growing. My wife and I recently caught up on older episodes of the TV show "Heroes" using the Netflix online option, and I have to say, it was very convenient. The video quality was a bit lower than ideal, due to the high bandwidth requirements, but the convenience couldn’t be beat.

The Speakers

Since we don’t have an HTIB in this package that already includes speakers, we needed to look for a speaker package that fit the overall system. We settled on a Polk Audio system that includes a center channel, left and right main speakers, and left and right surround speakers, plus a subwoofer. This is a great mid-level speaker package that balances well with the entire system.

The Remote

One of the great step-up features of this package is the addition of a one-touch universal remote control. Now, this isn’t like the universal remote that comes with many TVs, cable or satellite boxes, or other devices. We would set up this remote so that you can simply press one button, say, “Watch TV”, and the entire system is turned on and set to all of the right inputs – no remembering which input the satellite receiver is on for the TV, the receiver, etc. And more importantly, no trying to teach your babysitter or mother-in-law how to use your system!
I could (and will) spend an entire column on universal remotes, so I’ll just say this is a “must-have” part of any mid-range or better home theater system.

Power

Electronics today are sensitive pieces of computer equipment. And they are just as subject to power surges and brownouts as your desktop computer. So we always add in good-quality surge protection into any mid-range or higher package. And since we’re mounting your TV on the wall (where very few people have power outlets), we need to get power there to allow you to actually turn on the TV!

We use excellent products from Panamax, including both a very high-quality surge strip and an in-wall power extension kit that meets the electrical codes. So you’re doubly protected, and as a bonus you get that electrical outlet just where it’s needed for your TV.

Installation

We chose to do an on-wall installation at this price-point. We specified 6 hours of installation labor, which includes mounting the bracket, running the video and power cables through the wall, mounting the TV, setting up the speakers and receiver, and running the speaker wires inside the wall. Your situation may be unique, and may take more or less time, so get in touch with us for a quote.

Since we’ll use two technicians on a job like this, we’d be in and out of your home in about a half-day. That’s a lot less time than you’d spend to do it yourself, and we clean up, too! Plus, our work is guaranteed, so you know your TV and speakers won’t fall off the wall. Isn’t it worth it to spend just a little more for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your system was professionally installed?

Calibration

As before, this level only includes an audio calibration. We will set your TV to an appropriate standard setting for you, and this will offer some improvement from the factory setting. And of course, the audio calibrations are what will make your system really shine.

As with any package, you can always make trade-offs. If you want better sound, you could step up to a better receiver and speakers, while switching to a smaller TV. If you want a larger screen, you could go back to an HTIB. If you want an even better one-touch remote, you could consider table-mounting the TV. The options are endless, and the answer to the right system lies in your room, your style, and your budget.

Next time, I'll step up to the $10K level. There are a lot more options here, so stay tuned.

For more information on how Inspired Electronics, Inc. can put in your dream home theater, visit our web site at http://www.inspired-electronics.com/ or call us at 847.471.4420 for a consultation or demonstration in our showroom!

Rob