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