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 $2500 Home Theater

Last year, I did a series of blog entries on a home theater at various price points - $2500, $5000, $10,000, and $25,000. In the ever-changing world of consumer electronics, what was great last year is no longer even available. So, I thought it might be time to revisit that series.

Last year, when I talked about the $2500 theater, I had specified a 50” DLP, a stereo receiver and speakers, and a DVD player, plus installation and calibration.

This year, the DLP is pretty much not even available any more. I’ve replaced it with a solid mid-range 46” LCD panel, and I’ve replaced the stereo setup and DVD player with an all-in-one unit that we call an HTIB (Home Theater In a Box). The price includes proper installation on your existing table or TV stand, and connection of several existing components, such as a game console, cable or satellite box, and even that old VCR you keep around for the kids’ videos, subject to having the right input and output jacks available. I’ve kept calibration in the mix, but to keep the whole thing within the price point I had to limit the cal to audio-only. More on that later.

The Television

I specified a 46” Samsung LCD television for this project. It’s the latest series from Samsung, but doesn’t include all the bells and whistles. So, for example, this model is 1080p, but is not 120 Hz. And it doesn’t include some of the neat Internet-based features such as RSS feeds and LED backlighting. That said, this is a very solid workhorse TV that you will enjoy for many years. It’s perfect for a master bedroom suite or a living room, and may even be the only TV in the house for many people. After all, not everyone needs RSS feeds on the TV – many people just want to watch TV!

The Receiver

For this project, I chose a Home Theater in a Box (HTIB), which is an all-in-one system that includes the A/V receiver, DVD player, subwoofer, and 5 surround speakers. Last year, I had specified a stereo receiver and a pair of good-quality speakers. That's still an option, but given the prevalence of surround sound in movies and TV, I opted for the HTIB.

The main upgrade here is moving from stereo to 5.1 surround sound. As Keith discussed in an earlier article, surround sound adds a significant level of sound immersion when you’re watching a movie, or a sporting event or other show that’s broadcast in surround sound.

The second difference is that this system has pretty much everything you need built in already – the AM/FM tuner, amplifier, DVD and CD player, and the remote control. So you don’t have to worry about getting speakers to match the amplifier, or about adding extra cables from the DVD player to the receiver or TV. And setup is much simpler for us, too, so we’re in and out of your home that much quicker.

Of course, we consider this to be a relatively entry-level system, so there are some things missing from the package. For example, the system has a DVD player, not a Blu-Ray player, so you won’t be taking advantage of all of the resolution your TV can deliver when you play a DVD. You can still get that higher resolution when you view high-definition broadcast, cable, or satellite programming. Upgrades to Blu-Ray-based HTIB’s are available, and will generally cost $300-500 more.

There are many brands of HTIB out there, and we would choose one from Panasonic, Samsung, LG, or one of the other excellent brands that are available.

Installation

Many people feel they can install an HTIB system by themselves, especially if it’s mounted on a basic stand. And many people are right about that. But adding professional installation into the mix ensures that the connections are right, and protects you against some of the more common problems we see, such as using the wrong connections, especially with older existing equipment.

We often see people connecting high-quality DVD or Blu-Ray players using the worst possible composite video connections, which really reduces the quality of the overall system. By using the right connection, you can really maximize the performance you get from your investment.

Note that we would use your existing cables to connect your existing equipment. Adding new cables could potentially improve performance of the system, but would change the pricing a bit. We'll be sure to give you the option, though. All cables would be neatly dressed and tucked away, but not necessarily hidden in the wall. And, of course, this is a table-mount, and wall-mounting is an optional upgrade.

Installation is a very small percentage of this package, and since we need to be there anyway for the calibration, doesn't it just make sense to have the system professionally installed?

Calibration

Most of the time when people add an HTIB into their home theater, it’s for a living room, game room, or other multi-purpose room. There are major flaws in the room from an acoustical point of view, compared with a dedicated theater room. For example, modern home has a fairly open floor plan with one or even two walls missing from the room – where there could be a wall, there’s an opening to the kitchen, dining room, or foyer.

From an acoustical point of view, these types of flaws can really affect your enjoyment of the system. The bass is too boomy (or missing in some places), the dialogue is hard to understand, and the high pitches can seem too bright and overpowering.

So adding calibration will really enable you to take advantage of all of the benefits you are getting with your new home theater system. When you invest that much money, shouldn’t you get your money’s worth?

I’ve dropped video calibration from the mix this time, though. Not that it’s unimportant, and we always encourage it as an add-on, but with a budget that’s severely limited like this, we believe that simply choosing the right mode setting will give you 50-60% of the benefit of a video calibration. This isn’t true of audio calibration, so we chose to focus on where you get the most value.

A Final Word

Of course, $2500 is both a lot of money and not much at the same time. The system described here is really a pretty basic home theater, without a lot of frills.

You can make many trade-offs in quality and performance to hit this price point, and still come up with a pretty good system. We can also create a less expensive or more expensive system depending on your specific needs. Generally, we’ll have to trade off screen size and resolution, calibration and installation, and even the HTIB quality to get to a lower price point. And if a larger screen, better motion handling, or better sound quality is important to you, your alternatives will be priced accordingly.

We believe that your home theater should be a reflection of your style, your needs, and your budget. For an in-person consultation on what would work well in your situation, call us to schedule an appointment either in your home or in our showroom. Keith can be reached at keith@inspired-electronics.com or at 847.471.4420.

For more information about Inspired Electronics, Inc., visit us on the web at http://www.inspired-electronics.com/. We look forward to installing your home theater!

Rob

Introduction

Welcome to the Inspired Electronics Blog! Being that this is the inaugural post of Inspired Electronics, I feel that an introduction is in order.

A little about myself... My name is Keith and I work as an installer for a Home Electronics sales and installation company appropriately dubbed, Inspired Electronics, Inc. (Thus the name of the blog.)

In my past professional life I spent seven years working for a large hardware store, beginning in high school and then to put myself through college. One of those years, the last of which, I played the role of a department manager.

I learned an incredible amount about home improvement in those seven years, adding to an upbringing at the hands of two handymen, my Father and Grandfather, I've become very comfortable around the home improvement scene.

However, growing tired of the big-store retail life, I decided to jump head first into a profession which I truly have a passion for; Home Electronics!

Enter Inspired Electronics, Inc. The owner, Rob Schultz and I are building our dream company so to speak. We love Home Electronics, and quite frankly I can't imagine a more entertaining way to make a living.

So, we have our business... So why the blog you ask?

Well, the thing about having a passion for what you do is that you want to share it with everyone. I love to teach others about what I do for a living, and I love to learn from others. The Inspired Electronics Blog is, I think, a great way to do just that.

This board is for everyone. If you find yourself searching through the Sunday ads to see whats new in the electronics world... if you read so deep into the press releases that you hear about products far before they're on the shelves... if you stare at your Home Theater and wonder what changes you'll make next... if you just plain old love shiny, blinking, loud and cool new stuff...

This blog is for you. Welcome.

-Keith