$2500 ish 5.1 Setup

[Gary Cook]

On an audio forum with $5k to spend on a 4K projector based Atmos HT and wanting to split it 50/50 between audio and video, that was never going to happen
If you want a counter opinion try a video forum and ask the same question, it'll be $4,999 on the projector and $1 on the sound system


IMHO, no matter how you split it it's going to be mediocre somewhere in either the video or the audio, with the alternative being that the whole system is very average. My suggestion is to pick the gear that is likely to be replaced first and spend the least on that. Possible a toss up between the projector and the AVR, they go out of date technically much faster than speakers or a screen.

Merry Xmas
Gary

[creimes]

Dec 18, 2019 17:31:46 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

On an audio forum with $5k to spend on a 4K projector based Atmos HT and wanting to split it 50/50 between audio and video, that was never going to happen
If you want a counter opinion try a video forum and ask the same question, it'll be $4,999 on the projector and $1 on the sound system


IMHO, no matter how you split it it's going to be mediocre somewhere in either the video or the audio, with the alternative being that the whole system is very average. My suggestion is to pick the gear that is likely to be replaced first and spend the least on that. Possible a toss up between the projector and the AVR, they go out of date technically much faster than speakers or a screen.

Merry Xmas
Gary

A high percentage of us even just here on the lounge have both so I think it's a good place to ask but yes even $5000 is gonna be hard especially to do the latest 4K and Atmos setups using a projector, I don't think a Optoma UHD60 would be much if any of a compromise, unless you go Best Buy special of the week speakers and receiver $5000 will be a harder target to hit but it can be done.

Have you found any AV7702MKII for sale used ?? Most of my system is used gear, only new stuff are my TT, Shield and projector, the rest was all purchased used.

[jdmusante]

I'm an audio guy so I personally would concentrate on audio quality. Have you thought about a Tekton theater set up? I find the Emotiva speakers terribly ugly and could never put them in my house.

www.tektondesign.com/mini-lore-theater.html

As Gary said, at this price point you are going to have to make a sacrifice somewhere. I'd focus on speaker quality for 5.1 and set yourself up to grow into Atmos. Accessories 4 Less has 5 receivers that are at least 9.2 and are under $650. I'd live with an Emotiva sub at the price point they have because you can hide it.

Cheers. Fun to spend other people's money 

[Deleted]

Serious question
Why do folks still use, like projectors?
The price & quality of a 65-80 LCD display is very attractive for HT.
Unless one has the room to use 110" or bigger screen, I see a monitor a more attractive option.
Negatives of projectors is room lighting, cost (when I investigated) additional screen cost and projection lamp. Then there is the installation headaches.
The question is not intended to be a criticism, just curious.

I put a higher value on the audio

[creimes]

Dec 19, 2019 15:06:06 GMT -5 @texzick said:

Serious question
Why do folks still use, like projectors?
The price & quality of a 65-80 LCD display is very attractive for HT.
Unless one has the room to use 110" or bigger screen, I see a monitor a more attractive option.
Negatives of projectors is room lighting, cost (when I investigated) additional screen cost and projection lamp. Then there is the installation headaches.
The question is not intended to be a criticism, just curious.

I put a higher value on the audio

For me 3 years ago I went 100" spandex screen which I built myself and my Epson HC3500 cost me $1300 CAD, to go to even a 85" TV up here in Canada now in the present I would be looking at $3000 and up but back 3 years ago was prob around the $5000 mark, I love my 100" screen and even at 1080p I find the picture really good, of course not QLED good but the size is what makes it awesome as well.

[emofrmcgy]

Dec 19, 2019 15:06:06 GMT -5 @texzick said:

Serious question
Why do folks still use, like projectors?
The price & quality of a 65-80 LCD display is very attractive for HT.
Unless one has the room to use 110" or bigger screen, I see a monitor a more attractive option.
Negatives of projectors is room lighting, cost (when I investigated) additional screen cost and projection lamp. Then there is the installation headaches.
The question is not intended to be a criticism, just curious.

I put a higher value on the audio

I sold my 60" Panasonic plasma for nearly what I paid 2 years later... It funded the purchase of my Epson 5030 pj. I built my own 138" screen from two layers of spandex from fabricland here in Canada after Ryan Bouma (tuxedocivic from AVS) did some extensive testing on the effects of it over top of your speakers.
I have no windows in my room so light management is non-existent.
I simply mounted a shelf on the back wall of my room, for the most part I don't notice it bouncing or moving during bass heavy scenes.
My Epson also came with a second replacement bulb. I have about 1300hrs on the first one, and I use my room A LOT.. LoL


If I didn't build my room and speakers for the purpose I did, I'd still be rocking plasma for sure.. my dad bought a 75" Samsung couple years back and I can't watch it.. looks fake, the soap opera effect kills the experience for Me.

YMMV.

[davidl81]

Dec 19, 2019 15:06:06 GMT -5 @texzick said:

Serious question
Why do folks still use, like projectors?
The price & quality of a 65-80 LCD display is very attractive for HT.
Unless one has the room to use 110" or bigger screen, I see a monitor a more attractive option.
Negatives of projectors is room lighting, cost (when I investigated) additional screen cost and projection lamp. Then there is the installation headaches.
The question is not intended to be a criticism, just curious.

I put a higher value on the audio

I think if you have a light controlled room (no windows) a projector still represents a great value/size ratio. Now your point has merit as you can buy a pretty decent 85” LED TV in the $3000 range now. But if you want an experience closer to a movie theater nothing can really replace the size of a 100-110” screen. And 4K projectors have come down a ton. My screen is one I bought from eBay for $150. I think some of those $3000 Steward screens are just ridiculously overrated things that you do not need in a light controlled room.

[davidl81]

So I figured I would update this thread with info on what we actually did buy. We did up the budget to about $6500 which helped a ton, and also got some really good deals on products (including getting Nebraska Furniture Mart to match an internet price on a sony projector for $1300 off). So here is what we bought

Sony VPL-VW295ES 4K HRD Projector
Marantz SR7011 AVR (Bought form Accessories 4 Less)
Klipsch R-820F L/R and Klipsch R-34C (Bought on craigslist for $350 with a retail value of $1350)
Klipsch RP-502S
Klipsch R-1650C In Celiing (x4)
Klipsch SPL150 15" Sub

All of the hardware put us at 6k and we will still have to buy some HDMI cables, AppleTV4k, and a stand for the equipment. Overall for HT use I think we have a fairly solid system. While I would have preferred to buy "better" level speakers since these are the Klipsch entry level on the LCR at the price point he got them for they will work perfectly fine. We will do the install next weekend so I'll take some pictures and give another update.

[creimes]

Feb 12, 2020 10:42:13 GMT -5 davidl81 said:

So I figured I would update this thread with info on what we actually did buy. We did up the budget to about $6500 which helped a ton, and also got some really good deals on products (including getting Nebraska Furniture Mart to match an internet price on a sony projector for $1300 off). So here is what we bought

Sony VPL-VW295ES 4K HRD Projector
Marantz SR7011 AVR (Bought form Accessories 4 Less)
Klipsch R-820F L/R and Klipsch R-34C (Bought on craigslist for $350 with a retail value of $1350)
Klipsch RP-502S
Klipsch R-1650C In Celiing (x4)
Klipsch SPL150 15" Sub

All of the hardware put us at 6k and we will still have to buy some HDMI cables, AppleTV4k, and a stand for the equipment. Overall for HT use I think we have a fairly solid system. While I would have preferred to buy "better" level speakers since these are the Klipsch entry level on the LCR at the price point he got them for they will work perfectly fine. We will do the install next weekend so I'll take some pictures and give another update.

Nice to hear you got a system put together.

Chad

[davidl81]

Had a real busy Saturday doing the install.  First thing we did was to build a 6” riser for the rear seats then carpet it.  After that we cut andinstalled the in ceiling speakers.  Then mounted the projector and pulled hdmi and in ceiling speakers through the conduit that ran to the screens location.  I cut a slit in the conduit after to grab the in ceiling in the attic.  Played in fiber glass and got them wired in.  Then mounted the screen and hooked up the Marantz.  Overall the system sounds pretty damn good in HT use.  That Klipsch 15” sub hits.  And the LCR speakers seemed to do well.  The Marantz pushed the 9 channels pretty easily.  Overall I think it all came out pretty well.  We just have to patch a little bit of drywall next to the rear speakers where we had to cut to pull the builder installed speaker wire.

[Deleted]

Davidl81, Very nice theater!   

[cawgijoe]

I like the idea of Emotiva speakers and a quality receiver in the Denon, Yamaha, Marantz category at a discount. Look at Crutchfield for the receiver.

You can always add amp(s) later on if they are not in your budget. A good quality sub is gonna cost some money, unfortunately. Look carefully at Rythmik. You can purchase one of their entry level subs for around $399.
Highly recommend the Rythmiks.

Sorry....early morning....popped in too late!! Need coffee!