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My (almost) $2K Home Theater (1 Viewer)

J

jon_mx

Footballguy
Been over 10 years since I set up my last home theater with projector, but I moved and had an opportunity to do a new one.  I have not finished the room yet, but I do have all my main components and absolutely love the sound and picture quality of my setup.  Wanted to stay around a $2K budget (w/taxes and delivered) for the video/audio components and this is what I ended up with for $2300:

Projector:  Epson 2040 ($700).  1080p, bright, excellent colors.

Screen:  Silver Ticket STR-169120 ($249).  120" of glorious image

AV Receiver:  Marantz NR1607 ($463, refurbished).  Great clean sounding 7.2 receiver, very easy to setup.  Loaded with features including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

Speakers: Pioneer SP-PK52FS ($470 for 5.1 setup, I made it 7.2 setup for $674).  Crisp and very detailed, goes very well with the Marantz.  I really don't think you can touch these speakers for this price.   

Blu-Ray/Media Player:  Xbox One ($227, black Friday). 

Last time I did Denon and Klipsch and spent quite a bit more (around $4K on speakers and AVR alone) and am actually much happier with the sound of this one.  Not overly powerful, but still capable of outputting much more sound than I will ever use.  Projector quality has improved immensely over the last 10 years. 

 
Sabertooth said:
Nice man.  Seems like the cost of quality components has really come down.  
Click to expand...
Projector's for sure have come a long ways.  It will still be a few years before an affordable 4K projector hits the market.  AVR's have advanced with improved video outputs, audio formats, and advanced setup features.  Speakers quality is very similar, but those Pioneer's are really sweet sounding speakers for their price tag.  Even if my budget was twice as large, I would stay with them.  Need to improve my system control.  Right now sitting with 3 remotes and an X-Box controller, which makes things not so user friendly except to maybe the person who knows the setup. 

 
Porn should really look and sound great on that setup.. it'll be like you were right in the room they filmed in!

 
jon_mx said:
Been over 10 years since I set up my last home theater with projector, but I moved and had an opportunity to do a new one.  I have not finished the room yet, but I do have all my main components and absolutely love the sound and picture quality of my setup.  Wanted to stay around a $2K budget (w/taxes and delivered) for the video/audio components and this is what I ended up with for $2300:

Projector:  Epson 2040 ($700).  1080p, bright, excellent colors.

Screen:  Silver Ticket STR-169120 ($249).  120" of glorious image

AV Receiver:  Marantz NR1607 ($463, refurbished).  Great clean sounding 7.2 receiver, very easy to setup.  Loaded with features including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

Speakers: Pioneer SP-PK52FS ($470 for 5.1 setup, I made it 7.2 setup for $674).  Crisp and very detailed, goes very well with the Marantz.  I really don't think you can touch these speakers for this price.   

Blu-Ray/Media Player:  Xbox One ($227, black Friday). 

Last time I did Denon and Klipsch and spent quite a bit more (around $4K on speakers and AVR alone) and am actually much happier with the sound of this one.  Not overly powerful, but still capable of outputting much more sound than I will ever use.  Projector quality has improved immensely over the last 10 years. 
Click to expand...
Only concern I would have is the dynamic range at volume from that Marantz at only 50w. The size of the AVR looks like it may be digital amps, accurate? Those Pioneer speakers are such an underrated speaker and are a crazy good value. Nice little setup there :thumbup:

 
Andy Dufresne said:
Why the Epson 2040 over the 8350? Brightness?
Click to expand...
8350 is out of production.  I wish I had the lens shift that the 8350 has, as is I have to mount the 2040 slightly lower than I would have like (about 6'2" off floor).  The 8350 was a bit more expensive in its day, but the specs are similar.  The newer projector has things like 3D and MHL support (Roku, chromecast, etc.).  The bulb life is very good in this model and very reasonably priced.  Even though Epson's may rate the brightness lower than many of the competitors, the Epson tests out quite a bit brighter. 

 
Dentist said:
Porn should really look and sound great on that setup.. it'll be like you were right in the room they filmed in!
Click to expand...
lol...that reminds me of one of my old buddies from high school. He had his own house very young. He blew out 2 bedrooms for his 'TV Room' and put a projector in. This was back in early 90's, so back then a projector for a TV was not a common thing. He would broadcast on the far wall and of course it would always turn to porn at some point. I remember us being so drunk and being amazed at 8 ft tall va-jin-as. (sorry, filter type) 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Also, just got an Echo - My understanding is this hooks up to the Companion hub and everything can be controlled with verbal commands:

"Alexa, put on ESPN"

 
jon_mx said:
Been over 10 years since I set up my last home theater with projector, but I moved and had an opportunity to do a new one.  I have not finished the room yet, but I do have all my main components and absolutely love the sound and picture quality of my setup.  Wanted to stay around a $2K budget (w/taxes and delivered) for the video/audio components and this is what I ended up with for $2300:

Projector:  Epson 2040 ($700).  1080p, bright, excellent colors.

Screen:  Silver Ticket STR-169120 ($249).  120" of glorious image

AV Receiver:  Marantz NR1607 ($463, refurbished).  Great clean sounding 7.2 receiver, very easy to setup.  Loaded with features including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

Speakers: Pioneer SP-PK52FS ($470 for 5.1 setup, I made it 7.2 setup for $674).  Crisp and very detailed, goes very well with the Marantz.  I really don't think you can touch these speakers for this price.   

Blu-Ray/Media Player:  Xbox One ($227, black Friday). 

Last time I did Denon and Klipsch and spent quite a bit more (around $4K on speakers and AVR alone) and am actually much happier with the sound of this one.  Not overly powerful, but still capable of outputting much more sound than I will ever use.  Projector quality has improved immensely over the last 10 years. 
Click to expand...
i love the Epson.  I got the 2030 which is just the older version of what you got.   Love it.    I went with a painted wall though, I found some article online that showed you could paint using a certain type of sherwin williams primer and white paint that would produce equivalent results to a screen, and it was true.    

I have the Denon reciever, and paradigm http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=tower/model=monitor-11/page=overview  towers with this center  http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=center/model=prestige-55c/page=overview  and these rears  http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=surround/model=surround-1/page=overview

only thing i don't have is the paradigm sub but honestly the towers put out so much low end I just don't need it.   

you did a great job for the money.    I bet you're totally geeked out

 
tommyboy said:
i love the Epson.  I got the 2030 which is just the older version of what you got.   Love it.    I went with a painted wall though, I found some article online that showed you could paint using a certain type of sherwin williams primer and white paint that would produce equivalent results to a screen, and it was true.    

I have the Denon reciever, and paradigm http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=tower/model=monitor-11/page=overview  towers with this center  http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=center/model=prestige-55c/page=overview  and these rears  http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/type=surround/model=surround-1/page=overview

only thing i don't have is the paradigm sub but honestly the towers put out so much low end I just don't need it.   

you did a great job for the money.    I bet you're totally geeked out
Click to expand...
I read that same article and thought about it, but I was a bit worried about my wall being flat (drywall has a couple spots in need of repair).  I was about ready to buy the screen for the $249, but I had the opportunity to buy a screen off of a guy from AVS Forum for shipping costs, so I did not actually pay the $249 price. Long story, but he got a refund and did not have to return it and bought another screen.    His wife was able to get all the wrinkles out with a hair dryer, so now it is good. So I am getting the screen for less than what it would cost to paint/repair wall. 

Yeah, I am excited to get the room done.  Still have to do flooring and some construction.

 
Finally biting the bullet and getting a new receiver myself - got an open box, full warranty on a Pioneer elite that's usually $700, for $400 from Best Buy.  Hate BB, but it's a sweet deal and my 20 year old NAD is dying a slow, albeit warm sounding, death.   Hope it's not too bright with my speakers as they are very revealing, but from what I've heard (literally, listened too), I don't think that will be a problem.

 
belljr said:
Serious question. Can you set up programs?

For example on my harmony remote

I press one button and it turns in my TV, audio receiver, tunes to the right input and starts the cable box.

So my kid can come down , hit play Xbox and all the inputs and stuff get set
Click to expand...
Yes.  And it's FAR more user friendly than any of the remotes, including the super fangled remote with the full on screen.

Basically, you get the complete set up / layout for each individual remote.  IIRC, it was also far easier to set up as compared with the physical remotes, but maybe that's changed for the better in general.

All I know is I have ever last bit of functionality and the user interface is miles better than guessing which buttons are which on a typical harmony remote.

 
Koya said:
Yes.  And it's FAR more user friendly than any of the remotes, including the super fangled remote with the full on screen.

Basically, you get the complete set up / layout for each individual remote.  IIRC, it was also far easier to set up as compared with the physical remotes, but maybe that's changed for the better in general.

All I know is I have ever last bit of functionality and the user interface is miles better than guessing which buttons are which on a typical harmony remote.
Click to expand...
So it has iR functionality?

 
Koya said:
Finally biting the bullet and getting a new receiver myself - got an open box, full warranty on a Pioneer elite that's usually $700, for $400 from Best Buy.  Hate BB, but it's a sweet deal and my 20 year old NAD is dying a slow, albeit warm sounding, death.   Hope it's not too bright with my speakers as they are very revealing, but from what I've heard (literally, listened too), I don't think that will be a problem.
Click to expand...
Bought one of those last year when my kids xbox wouldnt connect to my old Onkyo.

I have mine hooked up to my old Bose Acoustamass, which are over 20 years old. Sounds great.

 
Koya said:
Works over wifi.  The hardware you get from logitech is a hub which enables you to have full control, over wifi, for all of your IR components.
Click to expand...
i need to read up on this as I'm not getting it.

Edit: After more research, I see the HUB has IR blaster built in and you can add another.  I may look into this after my remote dies.  Although using the phone may be a pain if I forget it up stairs :)

 
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Koya said:
Finally biting the bullet and getting a new receiver myself - got an open box, full warranty on a Pioneer elite that's usually $700, for $400 from Best Buy.  Hate BB, but it's a sweet deal and my 20 year old NAD is dying a slow, albeit warm sounding, death.   Hope it's not too bright with my speakers as they are very revealing, but from what I've heard (literally, listened too), I don't think that will be a problem.
Click to expand...
Open box receivers are a great way to buy. There's no moving parts and you get the warranty, so the likelihood of getting something that doesn't work is low.

I got a Pioneer Elite VSX-80 for $360 at Best Buy last year. It was a HUGE upgrade from the Denon that I had previously.

 
Koya said:
Yes.  And it's FAR more user friendly than any of the remotes, including the super fangled remote with the full on screen.

Basically, you get the complete set up / layout for each individual remote.  IIRC, it was also far easier to set up as compared with the physical remotes, but maybe that's changed for the better in general.

All I know is I have ever last bit of functionality and the user interface is miles better than guessing which buttons are which on a typical harmony remote.
Click to expand...
Is the user interface on your phone? Is it blue tooth or wifi connected to your phone if yes

 
Going to put a in the box surround system or a sound bar upstairs in the bonus room attached to a 60" LED TV, any suggestions?

 
Koya said:
Works over wifi.  The hardware you get from logitech is a hub which enables you to have full control, over wifi, for all of your IR components.
Click to expand...
Awesome deal.  So it seems there are three options:  

hub only for $49

hub with basic remote for $81

hub with ultimate remote for $150

i am leaning towards just the hub w/basic remote, unless someone can convince me the touch screen is worth it.  

 
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Went with the $80 option from Best Buy.  Figured if I want the touch screen, I'll use my phone.  Looks like the best price on these with the exception of Black Friday when they had them for $70.  

 
tommyboy said:
Going to put a in the box surround system or a sound bar upstairs in the bonus room attached to a 60" LED TV, any suggestions?
Click to expand...
What kind of speakers do you want? I think if you go the route jon_mx went with just 5.1 you'd have a good little system. For Soundbars I really like the Yamaha's, they are pricey but do a crazy good job of virtual surround, for value the Vizio's are a really good deal.

 
Hawks64 said:
tommyboy said:
Going to put a in the box surround system or a sound bar upstairs in the bonus room attached to a 60" LED TV, any suggestions?
Click to expand...
What kind of speakers do you want? I think if you go the route jon_mx went with just 5.1 you'd have a good little system. For Soundbars I really like the Yamaha's, they are pricey but do a crazy good job of virtual surround, for value the Vizio's are a really good deal.
Click to expand...
Was looking at the Vizio for my TV and saw these from LG had a better review. Sound is great.

 
Koya said:
Works over wifi.  The hardware you get from logitech is a hub which enables you to have full control, over wifi, for all of your IR components.
Click to expand...
How wide a range does the IR blaster have?  Trying to understand where I would be able to place it in order to control all my various components.  I don't really have a coffee table or anything convenient out in front of my entertainment center.

 
coyote5 said:
Koya said:
Works over wifi.  The hardware you get from logitech is a hub which enables you to have full control, over wifi, for all of your IR components.
Click to expand...
How wide a range does the IR blaster have?  Trying to understand where I would be able to place it in order to control all my various components.  I don't really have a coffee table or anything convenient out in front of my entertainment center.
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how much of delay is it from pressing the "button" on my phone and the actual command being issued.

 
jon_mx said:
Awesome deal.  So it seems there are three options:  

hub only for $49

hub with basic remote for $81

hub with ultimate remote for $150

i am leaning towards just the hub w/basic remote, unless someone can convince me the touch screen is worth it.  
Click to expand...
I don't use any remote, just my phone and wife has it on hers. That said if you have kids / guests a lot and don't want to hand around your phone probably best to get the basic at least 

 
Hawks64 said:
I'd like to know how much of delay is it from pressing the "button" on my phone and the actual command being issued.
Click to expand...
Very brief delay / no more noticeable than a typical remote.

Not sure the details on their IR.. I set it up like two years ago and haven't thought about it since other than a couple hard reboots

 
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