Home theater in the apartment

[Maineiak]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

...cinema 70 ct system, and Marantz NR1501 Slim Line Receiver...

I don't think you'll be disappointed with your choices. I have Paradigm speakers with a Marantz receiver as well...simply blows my mind. My setup:

Da-Lite Deluxe Model B HDTV Format Screen, 106” diagonal screen
Sanyo PLV-Z4 Wide Screen (16:9) Multimedia Projector, 3000:1 contrast ratio
Marantz SR7500 THX Select 7.1 Surround Receiver
Paradigm Cinema 90 CT Series 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
Sony Blu-ray Player, BDPS-301
Panamax Power Conditioner

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

alright... hopefully the last post... all the parts are due to arrive in the next two days. Of course I still don't have any wires yet. Are there any guides in regards to doing the wires up? I figure I'm going to need a couple of long lengths and I'm not really in the mood to spend $50+ per wire.

I've tried digging a bit... preparing the wires and getting a few banana clips seems to make the most sense. I don't think I have any wire cutters but i haven't checked my tool box.

Just looking for a little more information. I did go to radio shack today to check things out... I decided not to buy anything since I figured it was going to cost too much for testing wires but I didn't think it through in that i probably only need one wire to test them each individually

[rufus]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Ideally, they should, but it's not gonna be the end of the worl if they're not.

Either with the receiver, or the DVD player, they may have included a cheap set of RCA cables, but that would just connect the DVD player to the reciever. You'll still need cables to connect your satellite/cable box to the receiver, and from the receiver to the TV. Also, any cassette decks, cd players, or even *gasp* VCRs you connect will need cables.

And also speaker cable from receiver to all five speakers, and RCA cable from the sub output on the receiver to the sub.

Like I said, for now, you can just use the cheapest RCA cables from Rat Shack or Walmart. Then again, those cables from the monoprice site linked to earlier might even be cheaper than that. Later on, you'll want DVD and cable/satellite to the receiver and then out to the TV with HDMI cables, or at least component for the video and optical or coaxial digital for the audio. Likewise, cd players can connect with optical digital.

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Do you mean like speaker wire and RCA, component or digital optical cables for connecting the components? Then, no, you'll need to buy some.

If you're just looking to get it set up, and then decide where you'll be placing the pieces later, and figuring out how long the cables will need to be to get to those spots, then just head to Radio Shack and pick up the cheapest connection cables you'll need to get it up and running. Cheap speaker wire, RCA cables instead of coax, component, optical or HDMI.

Then at least you'll be able to use the system while you get the placement sorted out, and then buy higher quality connectors in the required length.

Good call on the Marantz, they sound wonderful. Warm and smooth, not harsh at all. Should be a good complement to the Paradigm Cinema speakers.

I just want to know if i have what i need out of the box to test the equipment to make sure it all works.

to be honest i have no idea what its all going to sound like. I think the next task is to figure out the wiring and how to get that all together... i know you guys have posted some links. I'll follow through on those... I've got some speaker stands i'm looking at... with the idea that I'm assuming wall screws are prohibited but nails are not.

Should major left/right speakers be at the same height?

[rufus]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Do you mean like speaker wire and RCA, component or digital optical cables for connecting the components? Then, no, you'll need to buy some.

If you're just looking to get it set up, and then decide where you'll be placing the pieces later, and figuring out how long the cables will need to be to get to those spots, then just head to Radio Shack and pick up the cheapest connection cables you'll need to get it up and running. Cheap speaker wire, RCA cables instead of coax, component, optical or HDMI.

Then at least you'll be able to use the system while you get the placement sorted out, and then buy higher quality connectors in the required length.

Good call on the Marantz, they sound wonderful. Warm and smooth, not harsh at all. Should be a good complement to the Paradigm Cinema speakers.

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Just bumping this up... I've purchased all the major components... Panasonic 54" TV, cinema 70 ct system, and Marantz NR1501 Slim Line Receiver. I think the rest of it is going to come down to wiring and/or hiding wires.

Just like to thank you guys in general. I think I'm probably not done but I'll have to wait until the components come in.

I suppose my not 100% researching this question... these should come with some sort of wire so that i can at least plug it all in before i get into the issue of working over distances, correct?

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Can you find studs in your wall? Can you convince one other person to help you lift up the TV? If the answer to both of those things is yes, you don't need to pay someone to install it.

Actually, your TV stand had the mount right? You don't even need a stud finder. They're not that heavy, unless you're going for something obscene like a 60" one. As long as you have one friend, you should be okay.

yeah, I don't know anybody in my building yet*... I'm going back and forth between 54" and 58" so I'll be in that territory. It'll be 100 pounds. Wall installation is against the lease... I actually think it'll be a snap... some things screw into the TV itself... then its a matter of sliding it onto the back support of the TV stand and locking the final screws into place to hold it in place.



*Not really true but its complicated.

[IronMonkee]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

argh! going through bits and parts... sorting out through televisions, speakers, and receivers I think I've gone nuts.

It looks like unless I get a lot of strength all of the sudden I'm going to have to get somebody to install the TV. I don't think its that complicated but rather it seems to be that heavy. Anybody have any advice or what i should be looking for in terms of services.

I'd really rather not pay the extra expense. All this audio crap is throwing me off enough. BLAH.

Can you find studs in your wall? Can you convince one other person to help you lift up the TV? If the answer to both of those things is yes, you don't need to pay someone to install it.

Actually, your TV stand had the mount right? You don't even need a stud finder. They're not that heavy, unless you're going for something obscene like a 60" one. As long as you have one friend, you should be okay.

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

argh! going through bits and parts... sorting out through televisions, speakers, and receivers I think I've gone nuts.

It looks like unless I get a lot of strength all of the sudden I'm going to have to get somebody to install the TV. I don't think its that complicated but rather it seems to be that heavy. Anybody have any advice or what i should be looking for in terms of services.

I'd really rather not pay the extra expense. All this audio crap is throwing me off enough. BLAH.

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Thats my point,I'd POed if I was hearing somebodies surrond sound all the time. Which leads me back to how much of a home theater can you have in an apartment. Doesn't seem like you need much of a system to **** off a neighbor

Well, I guess this leads me to say this:

I've got the Logitech Z-5500 5.1 surround system in my dorm room. A little over the top? Probably, but I've got **** good sound quality, and I also don't pump it all that often, especially this year since I've got a bunch of people I don't know near me, as opposed to last year where I was more or less secluded from the majority of people on my floor, and those around me didn't mind.

[rufus]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Thats my point,I'd POed if I was hearing somebodies surrond sound all the time. Which leads me back to how much of a home theater can you have in an apartment. Doesn't seem like you need much of a system to **** off a neighbor

You'd be surprised. It's not quite the same but the same principle, but....... Earlier this summer, I put a decent stereo system into the new car, only an 8" subwoofer, and tuned so it doesn't go "whooooooomp whooooooomp whooooooomp" like all the kids like(Yes, I'm old )

The amp for the subwoofer turns on a second or two after the amp for the main speakers, and I don't have the volume cranked to obscenely loud levels, especially early in the morning when I'm heading off to work, but you'd be surprised the difference in the sound it makes when that little subwoofer kicks in. Just a fuller, richer character to the sound.

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

Thats my point,I'd POed if I was hearing somebodies surrond sound all the time. Which leads me back to how much of a home theater can you have in an apartment. Doesn't seem like you need much of a system to **** off a neighbor

I'm just looking for a quality surround sound effort... I'm not going to try to scare the neighborhood when watching a bomb blast in a movie. I know I won't be able to crank the volume to 11 and its likely I'll probably either kill or severely mute the effects of the subwoofer so that there's no complaints.

[walrus]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

As much as you want as long as the neighbors don't complain.

Thats my point,I'd POed if I was hearing somebodies surrond sound all the time. Which leads me back to how much of a home theater can you have in an apartment. Doesn't seem like you need much of a system to **** off a neighbor

[Patman]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

As much as you want as long as the neighbors don't complain.

and the walls seem to be pretty good

[rufus]

Re: Home theater in the apartment

How much home theater can you have when you live in an apartment anyway?

As much as you want as long as the neighbors don't complain.