[technix]

Hi people

Been reading this site for the past week and its given me alot of inspiration for my new house, some of the installs you guys have done are amazing.

Im looking to create a home cinema with a projector / screen setup and then also run a TV seperate for the majority of viewing to save the bulb life.

Im pretty new to all this and i already have the following stuff which may or may not be usefull (its my first house so cost is important here)

Panasonic SA-MT1 Surround Sound DVD Player
Technics Stack ( SL EH760 CD / RS EH760 Cas / SH EH760 Proc / SA EH760 Tuner) - With the speaker setup that came with (5)

Budget for projector sub 500 and screen i really need advice on.

Also trying to think of the best way to connect this all together, because of the TV position i may just keep the tv standalone running freeview.

[davepuma]

Your best bet is to post a specific question in the projectors forum as I very much doubt the projector experts frequent this part of the forum a lot. I would imagine that the Optoma range will be recommended. If I remember rightly, my mate has an HD65 DLP model which is a cracking little projector for the money.

As for your other question re. the two surround sound systems. I presume you're hoping to incorporate one of them into the new setup. Unfortunately they sound like old models (I found very little on google or here). Do either have them have digital audio inputs and DD5.1/DTS decoding? One result said that the Technics system only has prologic decoding, which I'm afraid isn't up to modern standards. It's surround sound of sorts taken by mixing a 2.0 stereo signal and 'guessing' where the effects should go. What else do you have to connect? Posting pics of the connections and links to online manuals or simply listing the available connections might help. What are your expectations and wants from the system? Are you going to go bluray? Sorry to ask so many questions but without more information, it's hard to answer but I suspect that your system will require some investment.

[technix]

Sorry i will ask about the projector in there..

I realise the systems are old the Technics is the below..

heres the manual - http://dl.owneriq.net/3/36065f9f-7a3...c499eb53b7.pdf

this maybe the best method for my sound but would need a dvd seperate - as with blue ray etc i would like to eventually however im understanding i need to start somewhere.

[davepuma]

It looks like the Technics lacks decoders but if you hook up a Bluray player (or DVD player) with onboard decoding and 5.1 analogue audio multi-channel outputs, you will get the audio this way. See page 39. Basically the player will decode, process and convert the digital signal to analogue and output each discrete channel over a RCA phono cable to the inputs on the Technics system. If you choose the right player with full HD audio decoding, you will get the latest audio formats e.g. Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio.

I use such a setup with my HD-DVD player to my older non HDMI receiver.

[technix]

Thanks Dave thats a start - what dvd player do you use?

[davepuma]

It's an HD-DVD player, the Toshiba EP35. Whilst it's a great machine and a good upscaling DVD player, I would not recommend going with HD-DVD. They lost the war. Bluray is the way to go. I still use mine but tend to use my PS3 and bluray more. Unfortunately players with multi-channel analogues are more expensive. Where in the world are you? Panasonic and Sony both make players with multi-channel analogue outputs at the budget price point have recently revamped their ranges so you could pick an outgoing model e.g. S550 cheaper.

[technix]

Thanks DAve

The sony seems reasonable, £195 from John Lewis.. i live in the uk near manchester.

[davepuma]

I bought my folks the cheaper S350 model (HDMI) only and it's a cracker. The S550 should offer the same video performance and arguably better audio performance. At that price, it's a steal and should be quite good with CD too. I often buy from JL if I can as their customer service is second to none.

[technix]

So it begins...

Sony S550
Technics SP EH760

this is the basics for my sound - now ive always heard wiring is important and you shouldnt scrimp on this part? would you recommend upgrading the standard speaker wires which came with the technics?

[davepuma]

Upgrading speaker cable is a very emotive issue! I have good quality cable but nothing too extravagent. If you can accomodate good quality 2.5mm copper there is no need for anything thicker. I can recommend the Van Damme Blue or Hifi cables. You can buy the VD Blue in the cables powerbuy and the Hifi stuff from VDC Trading. I use the 1.5mm blue in my bedroom setup and the 2.5mm Hifi stuff for my rears in my main setup. I use Clearer Audio cable up front which are more expensive but well made and terminated with plugs etc. The Van Damme is good enough and widely used on here by people with some pretty exotic equipment so just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it's inferior to Chord, QED etc. Copper is copper after all.

[technix]

On Page 22 of the technics it mentions connecting an external sub?

[technix]

dave sorry to be a pain this is my dvd player currently - http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/SCMT1.PDF

[davepuma]

It will be for an external active (powered) subwoofer. Unfortunately separate subs are expensive but you might get a cheap Yamaha, Tannoy or Mordaunt Short on ebay or in the classifieds. Check the subwoofer forum for cheap suggestions.

Where are the outputs etc. ? It should be a standard RCA subwoofer output. You would need a subwoofer cable. That manual is utterly hopeless by the way!

Edit - Just saw your last post re. your DVD player. Which system do you plan on using? The sub you have won't work with the Technics system (in case you ask!). The DVD system you have has no inputs other than a stereo input so the best you would get would be dolby prologic from an external player e.g. bluray player.

[technix]

thanks dave, im thinking of keeping the technics system linked to the blue ray for the sound / dvd and using the panasonic in my bedroom for the time being - im also thinking of maybe a 42" lcd or plasma to begin with rather than jumping in at the deep end with a projector (i need to start somewhere!)

on the back of the technics is a subwoofer for dvd audio in - would this then just be run from the dvd player to an external sub rather than using the sub on the unit?

there is one for sale on the forum quite near me...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speak...subwoofer.html

[davepuma]

Technically you could run the sub from the player's sub analogue output. However, it would be easier to calibrate etc. if it's connected to the amp. I am not familiar with the system but it probably won't allow you to boost the analogue LFE (subwoofer) channel by +dB. Check the manual. I certainly didn't see any mention of it, when I briefly glanced at it last night. If not, you will need to lower the other channels to compensate but the bass might sound lacking.

How To Set up a Blu-ray Player Using Multi-Channel Analog Outputs... And Why: BigPictureBigSound

[technix]

Dave

whats the difference in the Sony BDP-S500 and the BDP-S550 - i can get my hands on the first for £125 second hand or the second brand new £195 presumably the 550 is the newer model?

[davepuma]

The S550 is the newer model and has full HD audio decoding etc. The S500 is pretty long in the tooth now.

[technix]

Ah im definately best going for the s550 then as it will be covered for a year if new not worth the hassel of saving myself 75 notes - thanks Dave.

Im still working on the house at the minute im going to post some pictures and get some ideas of best places to run the wires unfortunately the lounge is the best room and parts of it have been re plastered and i got started with all this long after it was underway, bugger!

[technix]

These are pictures of the Lounge/Dinning Room - ignore pretty much all the decor as the chinmey breast is now tile free (Strange choice?) and plastered with a log burner being installed on a black slate hearth.

Im having laminate flooring the best i can get to real looking wood so running surround wires will need to be a pre thought before. This is were im confused now as i need to figure out how to get signals were;

Picture 1 - The Lounge - Here i want a 42" LCD / Plasma (unsure yet) underneath the window with the Sony S550 dvd linked to the technics system for surround sound im also going to get freesat HD for the time being till i can get a deal on sky. the front surround speakers will be in either corner and centre channel on the shelf - also projector screen can be above here possibly recessed behind a false curtain boxing.

Picture 2 - Rear of the room, this will have the other two surround speakers in either corner and the projector mounted on the top of the recessed section dividing the rooms to help also hide when first entering the room - im also considering that corner to the right to hold the stack of dvd / surround sound freesat etc and maybe its easier to get wires to the tv from there?

[davepuma]

Where are you putting the TV? You can get the Sky+ HD box free these days.

[technix]

ideally under the window against the radiator or maybe in the top hand left corner, its just the sky subs at the minute first house and all not used to bills yet

[technix]

Better Idea of the Lounge

[technix]

im sorry for asking all the questions dave my forte lies in bathrooms so if you ever need advice on that im your man.. this is my ensuite before during and 1st fixed.

[davepuma]

Let me get this straight, the TV will be at floor level? It should ideally be at eye level, unless you're going to sit on the floor?! Sorry but that doesn't seem like a good idea, you'll have one screen down low, then the projector screen up high. I hope you have BUPA as I can see you visiting a chiropractor a lot!

[technix]

Lol sorry Dave it will be on either a TV Stand or if its in the left hand corner i may wall mount it on a bracket which can pivot as thats an external wall.

[technix]

Dave - thanks for your prior advise i finally bit the bullet and invested in a totally new system which has cost me around £1000 but im very pleased for that money i feel ive got good quality stuff -

It Begins!

[davepuma]

Good luck with it. I'm sure the hard work will all pay off in the end. Enjoy the setup once it's finished