Partio A/V Center

[housetech]

Goal: My project was to build a partio A/V center to hide electronics & other stuff.

Parameters: CHEAP as possible & use what I already have available.

Size: 80" x 48" x 20" made in two pieces- upper & lower.

Equipment: Denon receiver, I.R. sensor, Roku unit, Vizio 40" smart tv to control everything and my DIY 2-way speakers & Energy 8" sub. Have an outside zone 2 terminal plate available. The equipment will be hidden and plan to use a plexiglass panel to keep the bugs out, protect tv- too cheap & lazy to make bi-fold doors- maybe in the future when I have time to do some inlays. I'm officially RETIRED as of Sept & lovin it. I'll never stop flipping real estate deals though.



Foxworth-Galbraith was closed so went to Home Depot. Their lumber sux, it's terrible quality and over priced. I ended up buying 2 sheets of their "sandi" 4x8x1/2 plywood because they had no Maple or Birch that wasn't crap & two 1x6x8 white pine. The pine boards were so bad after ripping to size, I tossed it. Went to Foxworth next day but had to get 16' boards- 8' out of stock. There is a lumber shortage and what they do have is outrageously expensive. I had to make big sacrifices, wasn't happy, caused me more work.

Ripped all the lumber to size, marked it, then started the assembly. I salvaged some wood from disassembling our Pioneer rear projection tv and used a nice gloss black piece for the table top. I had 6 sheets of OSB & used it for hidden backs of cabinet, not pretty but available and no additional cost. The doors & drawer fronts are rabbet cut pine over plywood to add 1/4" for the hidden hinges which give the 3D look.

Far from finished, the 'fun part' will be begin when I finish sanding, then stain it- but what color? Wife said gray stain, hmmm.

Installed a dedicated, isolated 15 amp GFCI circuit to the eve above for power, found a nice 6 outlet with usb power and 1750 joules protection CHEAP. I haven't decided on a theme, maybe something music centric.

Hoping to finish it in the next 4-5 days, but there will be a party on the Partio this weekend. Drinkin, grillin & chillin watching football.


BTW- I built the Partio with true 6x1.75 rough cedar we milled in E. TX. acid stained concrete & a metal roof: 33ft x 12ft. Also made the bar & bar stools. The bar is topped with high $ exotic wood floor panels 5.5" that my Bro gave me from a $Million apartment he remodeled (Jerry Jones downstairs neighbor) Go Cowboys.
The DIY cooler wood is the same as the bar top. Wife wants me to replace it with stone, I agreed, but crystal- doesn't stain.

[housetech]

Some more pix

Attachments:

[housetech]

Attachments:

[housetech]

Attachments:

[housetech]

Attachments:

[housetech]

I'm 'reimagining' replacing the Denon receiver with an A2/A300 and maybe a pre-owned Emotiva stereo preamp. But for now it will suffice.
The problem I have is depth of the lower unit limits my options, as it is now every plug will need to be a 90 degree to the rear connectors. May need to remove the volume knob, no big deal. Does anyone make shallow depth receiver? 14"?
Brainfart, I screwed up and should have gone an inch deeper on the bottom cabinet.

Anyone with a stain color idea, I'm open to suggestions (no all-in-one stain & sealer, I prefer a stain only and seal later)

[housetech]

The project is finished. (no pun intended)
Not built exactly as I imagined, but it works and the Mrs likes it a lot. The flat black paint behind the monitor was a "must", the stained wood was distracting. Used Early American stain & 2 coats of Polycrylic sealer.
The Cambridge CXA81 sounds very good and will be re-installed next spring- but for the winter a Denon receiver will suffice.
My intension was to use the Vizio as the hub, but the internal DAC is pretty poor for music. So I got a $20 Prozor 192KHz DAC that is an improvement- again just temporary. Used some good quality RCA & Toslink cables had on hand. On the left side, installed RCA, HDMI inputs & speaker & sub outputs. HTPC connects easily. The 6 plug /surge protector with three 5v USB came in very handy.
I hope that I can keep the wasp, mosquitos & bugs from hiding in and behind it- we'll see if my ideas work.

On to my next project- an inside 65" monitor stand to hide the subwoofer(s), wiring and get the Center speaker higher off the floor and below the screen. I have an idea, but will it work out? Wife wants it to match the end tables- oh joy.

[housetech]

BTW- I asked in another thread if a digital source before the DAC makes any difference and never got a consensus.
I still don't know, but the Roku to TV is doing a good enough job send digital information to a DAC, that I don't hear a difference.
Other than convenience, is a network streamer worth the money? For the purpose of partying on the patio, this system works.
(glad I had the volume turned up when the Boys lost the the Chiefs, some nasties were said; was not happy with that disaster)

[KeithL]

I'm afraid you're not likely to get a complete consensus there...

(And it depends on what you include as part of "the digital source".)

Assuming that you're using the same high quality source, and the digital data is going DIRECTLY to the DAC (through a wire), then it is possible for the source to make a slight difference.

However, whether this happens at all will depend on the DAC, with some DACs being totally immune to such differences.

For example, a high quality CD player, which has lower output jitter, may sound better than a player with more jitter - or it may not, depending on the DAC model you have.)

Now, if you're talking abut a streaming device, connected to a streaming SERVICE, there are more factors involved.

Even if you're using the same streaming SERVICE, different apps on different devices may support different options, which may affect sound quality.

For example Amazon Music on a computer offers different options than Amazon Music on a Bluenode box or on an iPhone.)

Many devices like the Roku don't support many of the higher quality audio options... but, depending on what your streaming provider is giving you, that may not matter.

Likewise, regardless of what's in-between, and what device you use to receive the signal, Bluetooth limits the audio quality due to limitations in the options it offers.

It's also worth noting that the sound quality on many services is limited by what is available from the service itself...

For example Amazon Music offers lossless CD quality and HD content...

And some services offer higher quality content (although that may also depend on what your streaming client offers).

But, even with a paid subscription, the best you can get from Spotify is relatively high quality compressed content.

This sounds plenty good for casual listening - but will never match the quality of a CD or high quality lossless file.

And the sound quality from services like Pandora is poor at best.

Likewise, if you use some sort of DLNA server, with clients connected to it...

Different DLNA servers, and different DLNA clients, offer different options, some of which may significantly affect sound quality.

Also, in general, ANY sort of streaming device is going to be somewhat subject to potential dropouts due to momentary lapses in Internet connectivity.

Likewise, in general, ANY WiFi connected device is going to be more subject to dropouts and connectivity issues than an equivalent wired device.

Better, more expensive WiFi routers are more resistant to problems, but NONE is totally immune to them.)

And this sort of thing will also depend on how your network is set up.

However streaming is never going to be quite as reliable as a local playback, from a local disc or server, over a wire.

Your short answer is that the MAIN benefit is convenience...

This includes both being able to play whatever you want wherever you want and having access to a massive number of albums without buying them.

And, with luck, the audio sound quality can be identical to playing music locally, and you may never experience noticeable dropouts or glitches.

Beyond that it's going to depend on a lot of details...

Streaming will always be second best... but it can get pretty close... and it does offer a MAJOR benefit in terms of convenience.

And, for "music on the patio", the convenience is likely to _____ all the other considerations.

Nov 24, 2021 14:50:51 GMT -5 housetech said:

BTW- I asked in another thread if a digital source before the DAC makes any difference and never got a consensus.
I still don't know, but the Roku to TV is doing a good enough job send digital information to a DAC, that I don't hear a difference.
Other than convenience, is a network streamer worth the money? For the purpose of partying on the patio, this system works.
(glad I had the volume turned up when the Boys lost the the Chiefs, some nasties were said; was not happy with that disaster)

[housetech]

Thank you Keith- been waiting on your expertise to chime in.
Excellent clarification. Most of us understand bit-perfect localized stream vs over the net streaming, thus why Volumio & Vortexbox are good server software options. I do have two standards with two different applications- outside vs inside music listening. Amazon HD is what we use for a streaming service and really don't expect it to equal what we listen to via CD, DVD or Bluray.
Mostly what I was curious about was- does a dedicated network streamer justify the additional cost vs what most of us already have. What i see with a dedicated device is the extra I candy and artist information we get over other devices. (excluding DACs and preamping)
These are wonderful times we live.

What's Spotify? lol


Happy Thanksgiving.

[leonski]

Questions as you ask about 'what goes where'? MIGHT be an answer if you go to a professional installer of systems. They may have an answer based on many installs? Or No Opinion based on 'test' in your setup........

For ME and football? Picture rules. That's why I have an OLED setup. Sound outside? I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axle. Beer cold? Wings hot? Picture good? That's the important part. You will NEVER

do critical viewing or listening out there. Outside EATS bass, so a sub is not a bad idea. Back sup up against the house wall......that's gonna give you MORE bass which will still disappear into a larger yard......

Your Amazon service is probaly FLAC with a bit / resolution limit. Make sure your gear can handle that stream. If not? Your rewire idea might get you there.


Go Bears!

[leonski]

Oct 6, 2021 15:22:49 GMT -5 housetech said:

I'm 'reimagining' replacing the Denon receiver with an A2/A300 and maybe a pre-owned Emotiva stereo preamp. But for now it will suffice.
The problem I have is depth of the lower unit limits my options, as it is now every plug will need to be a 90 degree to the rear connectors. May need to remove the volume knob, no big deal. Does anyone make shallow depth receiver? 14"?
Brainfart, I screwed up and should have gone an inch deeper on the bottom cabinet.

Anyone with a stain color idea, I'm open to suggestions (no all-in-one stain & sealer, I prefer a stain only and seal later)

My Go-To is BLO.......Boiled Linseed Oil.
THAN you'll need a compatible sealer.    But no biggie....


www.popularwoodworking.com/editors-blog/linseed-oil-sealer-coat-wipe-off-the-excess-and-let-it-dry-completely/

Not 'fancy' but is works well.    PRETEST for color / tint / finish on some scrap before jumping IN.....

[housetech]

leonski, I still use Boiled Linseed Oil but for this project it has too much gloss. I found it's good on gunstocks, very durable in bad weather conditions..
I used Minwax Polycrylic satin. We've had very humid days and some pretty cold days and still looking good. This summer, I'll evaluate if a third coat is required.
I like Watco Danish Oil, but didn't have any on hand- good stuff.

[leonski]

It is difficult IN CALIFOENIA to get some oils or finishes.

I have BLO which I use AND also a small tin of the Danish......

But....and I hope I don't mess 'em uip......I went to school and took some woodworking.
A teacher would grab some of the petty cash from program fees and make a run to a nearby
state and bag-up on stuff you can't get HERE......Some of th finishes were very nice and used on
various student projects.

My only word? Be CAREFUL with some of that stuff. In addition to fumes, is Spontanious Combustion.
That's no joke. We did a demo in class with some rags dampened from 'finish' and they started smoking
in short order. I repeated that HERE at my house to the same result. The center of the pile gets HOT.
Back in the 70s, I worked at a company which had one building BURN DOWN which was later traced to
Janitors Rags. Same Deal.