Show us your System

tomes · 03-10-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super XP

Nice setup Tomes. I am doing some reno's in my reck room, so after I am complete I will take some pics O.K. Right now everything is convered with sheets to protect from dust. Can't wait until I am done.

Thanks, Looking forward to seeing your room when finished!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiramAbiff

Don't get rid of your set tomes! Nothing wrong with a well-calibrated CRT set. As film-like as it gets (except for film of course).

For you guys feeling inadequate, just remember size by itself doesn't matter.

Good viewing is a function between screen size AND viewing distance. When the lights are down and I'm sitting in my video rocker in front of my 42" set watching an HD DVD, I forget I'm watching video and think I'm in a theater watching projected film.

It's funny you should say that - I am extremely happy with the picture of my tv - as you say, it is really filmlike. Unfortunately it is starting to have some peculiar behavior - like going into standby on it's own, once in a while. I'm not sure whether it is worth getting someone to investigate and fix that vs getting a projector. Also, sitting on the first row is great, you are close enough that it feels like a theater, but the second row is a bit too far back for that size screen - so it would be nice to go up in size. Lastly, I'd like to make the room look a lot cleaner, and the beast of a tv that I currently have doesn't really allow for that. I'll miss it when it's gone though, probably one of the best purchases I ever made (albeit expensive at the time..) It really is too bad that it is so hard to find CRT (rear and front) projection unit's these days though. Do you like your Wii by the way? They look like a lot of fun

Quote:

Originally Posted by oleviarules

tomes, you forgot to include "Lightsaber" in your list of gear.

You're right - I should have, as you can see, I'm a total dork

I want to get some more movie memorabilia eventually too, and working on the fullsize popcorn maker

tomes · 03-10-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farout777

Well, now that the War is over and things have calmed down around here, lets' see some of your rigs!
The easiest way to post picks is to open up a Photobucket account and upload pix to it, then use the image code under the photo.
I'll start with my primary system where I view 90% of my movies.

141" of pure 2.37AR bliss

I'll post more pix of my system when I'm home and can upload pix of inside of the rack, PJ and Speaker system.
This was my first time taking pix of a projected image, they turned out OK, but they still don't do justice to the image clarity to you eye in the first person.

Come on, bring on the pix!!!!!!!!!

Spectacular setup, Farout!

I'm intrigued by the whole CIH notion, but do you think an anamorphic lense would be required/make sense for a 1080p projector? I'm guessing I could achieve a similar result by zooming in and out on the projector, depending on the aspect ratio? I'm planning on having the entire wall except the screen itself, black non-reflective, and with some kind of masking system to make the screen "narrower" in width for 16:9 movies (vs 2.40/2.35 etc). I'm guessing you chose 2.37:1 since it is between 2.40:1 and 2.35:1, right?

Stew4HD · 03-10-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

Spectacular setup, Farout!

I'm intrigued by the whole CIH notion, but do you think an anamorphic lense would be required/make sense for a 1080p projector? I'm guessing I could achieve a similar result by zooming in and out on the projector, depending on the aspect ratio? I'm planning on having the entire wall except the screen itself, black non-reflective, and with some kind of masking system to make the screen "narrower" in width for 16:9 movies (vs 2.40/2.35 etc). I'm guessing you chose 2.37:1 since it is between 2.40:1 and 2.35:1, right?

I would like to go CIH with my set up but my projector cannot do vertical scaling which is a must for CIH and anamorphic lenses. Panny makes a nice PJ and lens combo that I am tossing around.. but just can't pull the trigger on.. just yet. I could go as wide as 140".

tomes · 03-10-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

I would like to go CIH with my set up but my projector cannot do vertical scaling which is a must for CIH and anamorphic lenses. Panny makes a nice PJ and lens combo that I am tossing around.. but just can't pull the trigger on.. just yet. I could go as wide as 140".

Stew, you have a very nice system too!

That would be the correct approach, but my idea is to simply zoom in and out depending on aspect ratio, so that the Height remains constant. I would have to have a masking system for the sides, and also very important, the material used above and below the screen need to be non-reflective as well. There are three drawbacks to my idea:
1. loss of resolution: I will only get the actual #of lines used in the material for the wider movies. so some waste that way - but with 1080P pixels as starting point, I don't think this is too critical.

2. light spill above and below the screen when watching 2:40 movies. That's why it is important to have nonreflective material there. Probably not a major problem either

3. Loss of light output since some is wasted projecting the black bars. This means I need a more powerful projector and/or extremely well light controlled room (which I have)

The upsides are:
1. Lower cost - no need to buy special anamorphic lense
2. More choices when it comes to projector/display source, as I don't have to worry about it doing stretching in one direction.

Mase · 03-10-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

Ok, here's my current setup, a few pictures below.

Tv: 58" Pioneer RPTV (1080i, CRT) - Still wonderful picture quality!
Receiver: Yamaha RXV-1400
Speakers: 7 Ascend Acoustics, Center is CMT340, Front is 170s, rear and surrounds are HTM200s.
Subwoofer: HSU Research VTF3-MK2
Signal Sources are currently PS3 for Blu-Ray and Toshiba A3 for HDDVD.
Media Collection: Approx 600 dvd's, 90+ HDM discs (with a few more Blu-Ray's than HDDVDs)

Future upgrade plans are (probably late 2008 or early 2009):
1080P Front projector, screen probably around 110-120"
HDMI capable 7.1 Receiver (alternatively get a player that has 7.1 analog out and decodes all formats...)

Tomes could you tell me what you think of that HSU subwoofer? That is at the top of my list for affordable subs, and would love to hear what a fellow HDF member has to say..

Sick setup btw

tomes · 03-10-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilmase1153

Tomes could you tell me what you think of that HSU subwoofer? That is at the top of my list for affordable subs, and would love to hear what a fellow HDF member has to say..

Sick setup btw

Thanks!

I think the HSU is absolutely fantastic, and everyone who's watched a movie at my place are blown away. Depends somewhat on the size of your room though. You may want to go bigger if you have vaulted ceilings for instance.

Combined with the Ascends (which I'm also very happy with - Internet Direct brands rule!), it makes for engaging movie experiences

I damn near had a heart attack in one of the war scenes of Master and Commander. I thought I was going to get hit by cannon-balls

PS: The HSU and Ascend guys are really great to work with. You can email them questions about positioning etc (anything really), and they'll promptly help you out.

I hear alot of good stuff about the SVS subs as well.

How do you like your Onkyo 805 by the way? I'm thinking of possibly upgrading and this is one of the receivers I'm looking at!

Mase · 03-10-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

Thanks!

I think the HSU is absolutely fantastic, and everyone who's watched a movie at my place are blown away. Depends somewhat on the size of your room though. You may want to go bigger if you have vaulted ceilings for instance.

Combined with the Ascends (which I'm also very happy with - Internet Direct brands rule!), it makes for engaging movie experiences

I damn near had a heart attack in one of the war scenes of Master and Commander. I thought I was going to get hit by cannon-balls

PS: The HSU and Ascend guys are really great to work with. You can email them questions about positioning etc (anything really), and they'll promptly help you out.

I hear alot of good stuff about the SVS subs as well.

How do you like your Onkyo 805 by the way? I'm thinking of possibly upgrading and this is one of the receivers I'm looking at!

This is the same thing I hear from all of the HSU owners, I think HSU has won me over

I like 805, it does everything I ask it to do very well and at the price I got it for I can not complain ($640 BNIB)

I went from a Low level Yamaha reciever from a HTIB so this was quite the upgrade. I just had to hear what all the buzz was about with HD audio, that and all the connections this thing has made it an easy choice..

tomes · 03-10-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilmase1153

This is the same thing I hear from all of the HSU owners, I think HSU has won me over

I like 805, it does everything I ask it to do very well and at the price I got it for I can not complain ($640 BNIB)

I went from a Low level Yamaha reciever from a HTIB so this was quite the upgrade. I just had to hear what all the buzz was about with HD audio, that and all the connections this thing has made it an easy choice..

You won't be disappointed

Yeah the 805 looks great, so I may go for that one. How do you like the microphone calibration? I was pretty happy with how my current Yamaha did, so I hope it is equal or better

Cintoman · 03-10-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oleviarules

that's weird; my family always called it either tin foil or aluminum foil. i wonder if it's a geographic thing? (i'm in SoCal)

Nope, I'm in RI, and I still say Tin Foil. People look at me weird and have no idea what it is. And I'm "only" 34 yrs old.

Paul
(Cintoman)

Cintoman · 03-10-2008, 11:05 AM

Here is my setup. Equipment is listed below.

Sorry about the horrible pic. This was taken before the amazing Gregg Loewen came by to ISF-calibrate it. He came by last Tuesday. The PQ looks phenomenal afterwards !!

Paul
(Cintoman)

Mase · 03-10-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

You won't be disappointed

Yeah the 805 looks great, so I may go for that one. How do you like the microphone calibration? I was pretty happy with how my current Yamaha did, so I hope it is equal or better

Simple to use and it did a good job, I did the maximum number of placements one can do which I think was 7..

HD Goofnut · 03-10-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintoman

Here is my setup. Equipment is listed below.

Sorry about the horrible pic. This was taken before the amazing Gregg Loewen came by to ISF-calibrate it. He came by last Tuesday. The PQ looks phenomenal afterwards !!

Paul
(Cintoman)

Hey nice hexagonal fish tank Paul. I have a 29G in my living room consisting of tropical semi-aggressive fish. In one of my bedrooms I also have a 55G goldfish community tank and a 75G with 37 land hermit crabs.

tomes · 03-10-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilmase1153

Simple to use and it did a good job, I did the maximum number of placements one can do which I think was 7..

cool, sounds much better than my Yamaha then - it could only do one position. (which it does really well, but it's nice that you can do 7 with the 805 - fit's my room perfectly.

Cintoman · 03-10-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Hey nice hexagonal fish tank Paul. I have a 29G in my living room consisting of tropical semi-aggressive fish. In one of my bedrooms I also have a 55G goldfish community tank and a 75G with 37 land hermit crabs.

Thanks !! I fell in love with the hex tanks when I helped a former college roommate of mine move from one apt to his new house. He had a 10G hex. Mine is a 20G hex. It's fun to watch and my kids love it.

My fish are just plain old swords, neon tetras, zebras, and an algae eater. Need to buy some more and maybe change out the rocks/ornaments. My wife is saying the hot pink is too 80's.

Paul
(Cintoman)

sufs · 03-10-2008, 03:17 PM

Man some sweet set ups Farout stew tomes awesome systems you got going

. I am in the planning phase of my first proper HT for later this year. I have been planning what I'm going to do for the last year and a half because I know once I put it all together I'm not going to be able to change much.

I hate loose wires and I want it to look professional as it is my present for my parents 25th anniversary from me. granted I want be paying for it but you guys know how much effort can go into a project like this, besides I'm graduating from University this year. Anyway long story short they love movies and they want something which is professional and future proof since they don't know anything about HT. The best part is I really don't have a budget which will make choices endless.

I'll post some pics of my set up later on today keep in mind I live in a small apartment. That said audio wise it delivers a little too well for the size of the room but I should be moving to a bigger space soon. I'm glad I enjoy HT as a hobby, makes it much more likely that by the time I retire I will have a mind bending set up.

03-10-2008, 03:17 PM	#120
sufs Generation HD Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lebanon Posts: 1,129	Man some sweet set ups Farout stew tomes awesome systems you got going . I am in the planning phase of my first proper HT for later this year. I have been planning what I'm going to do for the last year and a half because I know once I put it all together I'm not going to be able to change much. I hate loose wires and I want it to look professional as it is my present for my parents 25th anniversary from me. granted I want be paying for it but you guys know how much effort can go into a project like this, besides I'm graduating from University this year. Anyway long story short they love movies and they want something which is professional and future proof since they don't know anything about HT. The best part is I really don't have a budget which will make choices endless. I'll post some pics of my set up later on today keep in mind I live in a small apartment. That said audio wise it delivers a little too well for the size of the room but I should be moving to a bigger space soon. I'm glad I enjoy HT as a hobby, makes it much more likely that by the time I retire I will have a mind bending set up. __________________ Equipment: Samsung 40" R71B LCD Denon AVR 3808CI Toshiba XA-2 PS3/Wii/ 360 withHD DVD add on Harmony 880 UR Sony Vaio FW21E Speakers JBL Northridge series E 100 Floorstanding 3 Way dual 10" E 90 Floorstanding 3 Way dual 8" E C35 3 Way dual 5.25" E 250P 12" front Firing HD Movies: 350 PSN/Gamer card:Sufs

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