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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Jul 2013, 14:31 
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Very nice. Not just the actual equipment but the workmanship on the component rack/cabinet is wonderful. With all those components, and issue with heat and ventilation?

May I ask where you bought the cabinet, it's very nice and may consider something like that myself in the future?
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Jul 2013, 18:49 
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It's made by salamander designs. Model is Corsica. Heat is the issue. It has ventilation grill on the bottom and some of the shelves. I used selves with ventilation grills on components that need more air. I used a standard shelf(no vent) on the above shelf to force hot air in the back. There were panels for the back with some ventilation holes. I kept the panels off so more air can vent out. This also allowed me to fit all cables. You can imagine back side is a mess. Multiple wires coming from each component and they are all low gauge upgraded cables. Salamander designs offer dual 12mm fan kit for back panels, they are temperature controlled. But I needed the panels of for cable management. So far no trouble.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 21:54 
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Attachment:
File comment: Front cabinet
Front resized.jpg
Front resized.jpg [ 206.66 KiB | Viewed 9271 times ]


I posted pictures of my rear cabinet earlier. This is the front cabinet with speakers and the monitor.

Martin Logan Descent i - with 3x10" subs(250w RMS amp for each) on each side.
Martin Logan Theos - left and right towers with 44" tall electrostatic panel and 8" passive driver.
Martin Logan Stage x - center at 30" wide with 2x6.5" passive drivers and electrostatic mid-range panel.

Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-141FD plasma monitor(no tuner, no speakers, no pedestal) on BDI designs pedestal

Pro-Ject audio - RPM 9.2 Evolution turntable with Sumiko Blue point evolution cartridge.

inside Salamander design Corsica 237 triple cabinet:
Right cabinet from top to bottom:

Integra DHS-8.8 HD-DVD player (Toshiba HD-XA2 clone, only few hundred made)
McIntosh MX-121 A/V control center
Panamax M5300-PM Surge surpressor

Middle cabinet from top to bottom:

Oppo BDP-105 Universal Disc player(BD/DVD/CD/SACD/DVD-A) with ESS sabre 32 dacs.
McIntosh MC207 power amp 7x200w(min) at 8ohm

Left cabinet from top to bottom:

Sony PS3 60GB Fat(1st gen with full backward comp and SACD playback)
VUDU BX100(original VUDU box, only way to watch HDX with 24fps)
WDTV Live Hub with 1TB storage. For online streaming services and few lossless audio files I have
URC MSC-400 Master Controller. RS-232, IR, Relay/Triggers, USB Keyboard emulator(for WDTV) to control all devices
Panamax M5300-PM Surge surpressor
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 21:56 
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Pro-Ject audio - RPM 9.2 Evolution with Sumiko Blue Point Evolution cartridge. Audioquest Columbia interconnects.

and I love Daft Punk
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 21:57 
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McIntosh MC207 power amp. nearly 100lbs beast.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 21:59 
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McIntosh MC207 from top.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 22:02 
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This is the rear cabinet pic. Mighty HLD-X0 sits on upper right side feed into Crystalio II video processor.
Notice empty space below JVC VCR on Left side. I am awaiting Sony MSC-4000 muse decoder from Japan.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2013, 23:22 
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The MUSE looks nice and nice rack. :thumbup:
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2013, 00:09 
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I replaced the TiVo premiere XL4 cable DVR(4tunes w/2TB) with the new TiVo Roamio Pro (6tuner w/3TB) cable DVR. I can call this DVR the best DVR ever made. Premiere XL4 was very good but it wasn't responsive enough on streaming services like Netflix, YouTube etc.. The new Roamio DVR is super fast. all apps takes 1-2 seconds to start. GUI is extremely responsive/snappy.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2013, 04:25 
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wow, i'm amazed, substance. mine is laughable.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2013, 15:21 
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Here is my humble A/V setup:

Audio Video receiver (AVR):

Sony STR-DE935.

Feeding A/V into the AVR:

DirecTV receiver
Sony MDP-600 LD player
Sony SB-V55A A/V switch
Sony DVP-CX850D CD/DVD player (200 disc changer)
Sony SDP-E800 DSP
Lafayette SQ-L 4 channel audio decoder
ElectroVoice EVX-4 stereo-4 audio decoder

Feeding the Sony SB-V55A A/V switch:

RCA Home Theater VHS VCR
2-Sears 934.....150 CED players
RCA SJT-200 CED player

Feeding the SDP-E800DSP:

Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD player
Sony SDP-5300 Blue-Ray player
Pioneer CLD-D406 LD player

Monitor: Sony 27" Wega SDTV (a good TV; but, only displays 480i and 480p)

Future upgrades:

Replace the Wega SDTV with a Vizio 39" HDTV (or equivalent)
Insert an Hitachi AVC080 Audio Video Center between the AVR and the HDTV. The Hitachi will digitize and upscale the video signal to 1080i or p. The Sony BR and the Toshiba HD-DVD players will feed their HDMI signals into the Hitachi center.

The, the, the, that's all folks.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2013, 15:43 
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Good day dumbchemist,

Thank you for sharing with us your pride and joy, the results of your hard earned labors.

All things take time and never forget that it's a hobby......meaning the journey never ends, and that it's the enjoying the fruits along the way.

Kind Regards

:wave: :D

P.S. The, the, the, that's all folks.. . . . . I like it :)
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 10 Dec 2013, 14:39 
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I changed the main speakers in my setup from Martin Logan Vantages to Magnepan 20.1's. These are some of the most transparent speakers I have ever listened to in my entire life. They are heavily modified and have a custom base that makes them rock solid. All together the shipping weight was around 500 lbs! Here is my new equipment listing and some pictures:

Speakers:
Magnepan MG 20.1 Cherrywood and Black. Custom stands are very thick steel with cement and epoxy filling and coated with rubber. Crossover capacitors (35) replaced with Z capacitor (eliminating all 35 connections with point to point Jenna labs wire with cardas silver solder in the entire circuit). Fuses directly bypassed. Speaker stands on custom speaker feet marble stands.

Signal Cable Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
Custom interconnect cables w/ locking RCA plugs and Belden LC-1 cable

Polk Audio RT600's (x4)
Polk Audio RT450's (x2)
Polk Audio LSiC Center Speaker
Hsu Research VTF-15H with rosenut veneer Subwoofer

Pre/Amp/Receiver/Processor:
Conrad Johnson Evollution 2000 Amplifier (Mods: Universal power cable connect added)
Conrad Johnson PV-12 Preamplifier
Conrad Johnson D/A-2b Vacuum-Tube Digital Processor (Tice Power Cord upgrade and optional ST fiber connector)
Jolida JD9 phono preamp (Mods: JJ Tesla 12AX7 matched tubes, Obbligato Premium Film 1.0uF 630V caps, OPA637AP opamps, Sound Damping Sheet applied to interior)
Onkyo TX-SR875 Receiver
SONY SDP-E800 (used as AC-3 RF Demodulator for Laserdisc player)

Players:
Rega Planar 3 Turntable (Rega RB300 Tonearm. Dynavector 10X5 cartridge. Monster RCA connector upgrades.)
Oppo Digital DV-980H SACD/DVD player
Oppo Digital DV-970H SACD/DVD player
Sony Playstation 3
Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player
Pioneer Elite CLD-97 Laser Disc Player (with AC3 output mod and DNR Auto-off mod)
Pioneer Elite CLD-97 Laserdisc Player (with AC3 output mod), backup player
Pioneer CLD-D504 Laserdisc Player, 2nd backup player
Panasonic PV-9450 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR
Aiwa XC-30m 5 disc CD Player
Sony cdp-215 Cd Player
Sony TC-WE305 Dual Cassette Deck

Projection:
Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8700UB Projector
Elite Screens - Home Cinema - 150" Diag. Projector Screen

Power:
AVS Voltage Regulator
APC H15BLK AV 1.5kVA H Type Power Conditioner
Shunyata Research Inc. Powersnakes (x2), Venon PowerCable replacement powercords.

Media Server (Computer, approx 15,500 audio tracks):
ASUS Xonar D2/PM Sound Card
Winamp media player w/ iZotope Ozone - DSP

Room/Furniture:
Walker Edison Everest Multilevel Component Stand (x2)
The room is approximately 24 x 23 feet with vaulted ceilings and approximately 150 12"x12" sound proofing panels and additional corner base traps to minimize perpendicular surfaces and distortion.
Acrylic speaker cable risers.
Custom marble dampening coasters.


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Image

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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 26 Dec 2013, 15:39 
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dumbchemist wrote:
Here is my humble A/V setup:

Audio Video receiver (AVR):

Sony STR-DE935.

Feeding A/V into the AVR:

DirecTV receiver
Sony MDP-600 LD player
Sony SB-V55A A/V switch
Sony DVP-CX850D CD/DVD player (200 disc changer)
Sony SDP-E800 DSP
Lafayette SQ-L 4 channel audio decoder
ElectroVoice EVX-4 stereo-4 audio decoder

Feeding the Sony SB-V55A A/V switch:

RCA Home Theater VHS VCR
2-Sears 934.....150 CED players
RCA SJT-200 CED player

Feeding the SDP-E800DSP:

Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD player
Sony SDP-5300 Blue-Ray player
Pioneer CLD-D406 LD player

Monitor: Sony 27" Wega SDTV (a good TV; but, only displays 480i and 480p)

Future upgrades:

Replace the Wega SDTV with a Vizio 39" HDTV (or equivalent)
Insert an Hitachi AVC080 Audio Video Center between the AVR and the HDTV. The Hitachi will digitize and upscale the video signal to 1080i or p. The Sony BR and the Toshiba HD-DVD players will feed their HDMI signals into the Hitachi center.

The, the, the, that's all folks.


Update:

A few weeks ago, I got a used receiver, a Sony STR-DA2ES. I bought it off E-bay to replace my STR-DE935. The DA2ES has a number of features that my DE935 lacks: 2 multichannel inputs (one 5.1 and the other 6.1), all main speaker terminals are banana plugs, 3 assignable digital audio inputs, 2 component inputs with switching to 1 component output, 6.1 preamp outputs (I am not sure what they are used for), an on screen display, and a much better remote control. One feature the DA2ES has, which I find interesting, is the volume control. Its display shows the volume in decibells (dBs), Normal listening level seems to be from --55 to -45 dBs.

I chose the DA2ES instead of a newer receiver as I need the controi-s jacks it has. Right now, I have a Sony 200 DVD changer in a closet in my living room. The control-s cabling goes from my current amp to the changer which is a distance of about 20 feet. I can aim the changer's remote control at the DE935 and control the changer with the closet door closed. (There is no need for an IR repeater). I am going to add a Sony VCR with the control-s jacks so the VCR can be placed in the closet too.

Does anyone else have a STR-DA2ES and what do you think of it?

As of this writing, I am testing the video and audio inputs and outputs of the DS2ES to ensure that they all work. (It would not be very good if I installed the new AVR and I found out that a particular function is not working.)
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 30 Dec 2013, 00:36 
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I'm in awe of some of the setups I've seen here. Mine is a LOT more modest; I live in a smallish flat and the walls and floor are less soundproof than I would like, so it's a pretty simple surround sound arrangement.

Image

Image

Originally I had the TV and some of the equipment standing diagonally in the corner of the room, taking up a big chunk of floor space - the new setup has let me put it all against the wall and under shelves, which has freed most of that space. I put off doing this for nearly 10 years because I thought I might want to use the fireplace, which wouldn't be good for the TV, but I've finally decided it's probably never going to happen - central heating works well enough for me. At the same time the fireplace is early Victorian and one of the nicest features of the flat, I didn't want to cover it by putting the TV in front of it.

1 - My "new" laserdisc player, a Pioneer CLD-950. Single sided play, but seems to be solidly built and plays PAL and NTSC so I'm reasonably happy. No analogue sound on PAL is the main disadvantage.
2 - Digital TV receiver and HD recorder.
3 - A cheapo upscaling DVD player connected to the HDMI input, and to the coaxial digital socket on the amp. Region hacked. I may eventually replace this with a blu-ray player if I can find one that can be region hacked for DVDs.
4 - DVD/HD recorder. The laserdisc player and video and digital receiver feed into this, with output to the TV. Connected to the optical digital socket on the amp. Region hacked.
5 - Android internet TV thing and media player - connects to BBC iplayer, YouTube etc, linked to TV via HDMI. If I eventually get a blu-ray player it will probably have this capability, and I'll move the android box to another room.
6 - HDMI switch (remote controlled)
7 - VCR / DVD combo. I don't actually own any videotapes at present, but occasionally it's useful to be able to play them. I bought this cheap, not really needing the DVD player, but at some point it may turn out to be useful. Region hacked, but for some reason shows NTSC in black and white - possibly just a cable problem.
8 - SCART switch - also called Euroconnector, this is a big clunky analogue RGB & sound connector, used by most of my older kit.
9 - Computer, a fairly basic Linux box that's mostly a backup PC and used occasionally for media files, now connected to the TV via HDMI
10 - Sony STR DEA475 amp; Surround sound, receiver, etc.

In the second picture:

11 - Speakers - A fairly ordinary home cinema setup, there are also surround speakers on the wall, not shown in the photo. The smaller speakers at the top to each side of the chimney aren't part of it, they're for my music setup - that's separate from the home cinema setup, with speakers in two rooms.
12 - The TV is a 40" Teco LCD - it's a bit old now, 1366 x 768 resolution, with a load of inputs for video, computer, HDMI etc., and can handle NTSC as well as PAL. Sooner or later I'll probably replace it with a modern LED design.

On the whole this is working well - the TV is a little higher off the floor than I would prefer, but not so badly I strain my neck - it just makes it difficult to do anything else while watching TV.

update 22/1/14 - I've just ordered a Sony BDP-S1100 blu-ray player which will hopefully replace the upscaling DVD player (which is getting a little noisy) and the network media player box. I've gone with this one because someone is selling them region free (for DVD) at a reasonable price on eBay UK.


Last edited by ffutures on 22 Jan 2014, 11:49, edited 1 time in total.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 30 Dec 2013, 18:17 
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Good afternoon ffutures,

I have just been reading and looking at the photo's of your system sir.

It's always interesting to read about each individuals AV journey, the changes that have taken a long time & many years.
What I have discerned from what you have written, is that you have enjoyed your journey along each step of the way.

We also have our lives to live, as well as the purchases that we make ect.

Your home is your home and by what you have written it is clear to me personally, that you love your home.

I for one am appreciative of what you have shared with us, and have drawn comfort and can equally relate to the love that I have for my home.

It was a genuine pleasure to read.

Thank you....

Kindest Regards to you

:wave: :D
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 30 Dec 2013, 20:07 
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No pictures sadly, because of renovation of my home...

But...


Media:

Laserdisc: Pioneer CLD-D925 (modified)
DVD: Sony DVP-NS900QS
HD-DVD: Toshiba HD-EP30
Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350 (modified)
SVHS: Panasonic NV-HS800 (modified)
Betamax: Sony SL-HF950ES
Internet: HT-PC (home-build)

Amps and Processing:

Sony TA-N55ES
Sony STR-DA2400ES (modified)
Harman Kardon ADP-303 (modified)

TV and speakers:

LG 42LH3300

Fronts: Bang & Olufsen Beovox M100 (refurbished and modified)
Center: Yamaha NS-C150 (modified)
Rears: Yamaha NX-E100 (modified)
Sub: Koda SW-800



And for listening music:

Amp: Pioneer A-717 MKII Reference
DAC: Denon DA-500 (modified > Tubes)
Tuner: Akai AT-K02 (modified > Tubes > New stereodecoder)
CD: Onkyo Integra DX-706 (modified)
CD: Toshiba XR-Z90
Cassette: Pioneer CT-939 MKII Reference
DAT: Sony DTC-55ES (modified)
Minidisc: Onkyo MD-2511
Open Reel: Teac X-1000M
Turntable: Pioneer PL-3F Elite (modified) + Benz Micro MC-Gold

And using the same Beovox speakers as in my 5.1 setup for stereo ;)
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 31 Dec 2013, 20:23 
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My HTs

My Equipment;
Main HT - Mitsubishi HC6500, Samsung 32" LCD, Oppo BDP83, Pioneer Elite BDP62, Marantz LV520, Yamaha APD-1, Panasonic LX1000U, Pioneer CLD-D703, Toshiba A35, DirecTV HR21-100, CElabs HDTV tuner, PS3, wii, Pioneer Elite VSX53, Def Tech SM 450, SM 350, CLR 2002, BP2X, Klipsch KSB1.1, Polk PWS125, Infinity PS12, Pro-Ject Debut III, XSight ARRX18G

Living Room - Mitsubishi HD4000 w/ 92" screen, Samsung 40" LCD, Panasonic DMP BDT310, DirecTV H21-100, Yamaha RX-V765, Polk CS1, RC80i, Klipsch Sub10, URC RFS200
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 24 Jan 2014, 15:38 
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Further to my setup description above:

I've just added a Sony BDP-S1100 blu-ray player, taking the place of an upscaling DVD player which was getting a bit noisy and a network box for iPlayer and other online video sources. Someone has them region-hacked (for DVD) on eBay UK for £44.99 ($74.75), which seemed a pretty good deal.

As usual the main problem with all of this was getting all the cables to work properly. Most of my older equipment uses SCART connections, which are an excellent idea in theory, bi-directional with stereo sound and RGB or composite graphics, but implemented by designers who somehow came up with the world's ugliest and least reliable connector, which comes out of its socket very easily. Since SCART sound can be a bit iffy I've got extra audio cables - digital or analogue sound - and that means there's always a tangled mess. It took more than two hours to pull everything I'm disconnecting, untangle the mains leads and cables, and get everything back in place and working. Then I finally tried the player.

I was a bit worried when the first thing it did was check for updates and insist on updating the firmware, but this didn't affect the region coding - I could still play UK and US DVDs without problems. It's possible that the next update will mess things up, of course!

So far my reaction is pretty favourable, not least because this let me eliminate several cables and an HDMI switch box. Video quality is very good with blu-ray (but I only own one disk so it's possible I've been lucky) and as good as I'd expect with upscaled DVD, and the media player part of it works very well, with nice clear menu options throughout. Sound is OK, but doesn't seem any better than the previous player. One oddity - it didn't seem to recognise DVDs with 4:3 format video and switch the TV to that format automatically, it's possible I need to tweak the settings.

One other change I made was the cabling for a PC I sometimes use on this screen. Originally I had it connected via an HDMI cable because I was getting a lot of ghosting with a long VGA cable. But I wanted to eliminate the HDMI switch if possible. It happens that a long time ago I wanted to use the TV in another room as a second screen for my main computer. Since that was a long cable run, about 25ft if I went around walls and kept things tidy, and VGA cables that long are horribly expensive if they're any good, I ended up buying a simple VGA over CAT6 cable setup - two plug adapters and a length of cable, costing about five pounds for the plugs and four for the cable. This never got used because Windows XP didn't let me set it up the way I wanted, but the cable worked very well indeed. So today I found the plugs and a suitable CAT6 cable, this time about 3 metres, and tried that. The results were perfect - no ghosting at all - and I can thoroughly recommend this as a better alternative to conventional VGA cables over 5ft or so, it's cheaper and a smaller lighter cable, and works really well.
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 Post subject: Re: Home Theater equipment list
PostPosted: 24 Jan 2014, 18:57 
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