Show us your home electronics!

techy101 · #1 10-01-2007, 10:49 PM

I'll start this one off. This system in my basement has been a kind of long term project. I used to work in tech theatre, but it wasn't paying the bills. So I've switched to installing high-end residential low voltage systems. Since that switch I've gained lots of insight into changes I can make to my system, so there'll be periodic changes happening as I can afford them (ugh. Why so many expensive addictions.....eer hobbies)

It's overkill. I know it. But hey, what are hobbies for

The system is a native 7.1 system with support for uncompressed audio. Everything is home-run through the walls to a closet where all the gear is located. The closet is ventilated by a 70 cfm bath fan venting out the top of the room. Door is sealed with weather stripping and a sweeper on the bottom. I've cut a hole at the bottom of the closet into the main room. Vent plates installed on both sides to make it look like a cold air return. Also a filter installed in between to help keep dust out.

I'm hoping to remodel the basement and make two rooms. If that happens, all the surround speakers will become in-wall's.

The reciever is a Denon 2307CI. Hopefully I'll be upgrading it to a 3808 in the not to distant future since I've got the 2307 totally maxed out. I've got a 4x1 HDMI switch to enable use of everything. TV is fed by both a component run and a 50' HDMI run.

The sub and my 4 rear channels are from my old Sony Speaker-in-a-box system. Again, they'll all be replaced, but it's real low on the list. I barely use the sub since I'm in a townhouse.

Front 3 speakers are Paradigm Monitor series.

The system is setup with a Wii, PS3 (also for bluray) and the latest addition an Xbox 360 (also for HD-DVD).

Also there's a PC that's setup as a hard-drive based media/dvd server. All the music, video, and every DVD I own is stored in it. The DVD's are full ISO rips, so they're exact images of the DVD. no compression, etc...

The PC is built like a so-so gaming rig. Nvidia 680i SLI motherboard, intel core 2 duo E4300 (1.8 GHz overclocked to 2.96GHz) 2 gigs OZC RAM, 1.2TB of hard drive space (mostly all full), dual EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked video cards in SLI. It's running Vista Home Premium ONLY for DirectX 10 and HDCP. Otherwise I'd much rather be back on XP.

You scroll through images of the box covers on the TV via the remote. Select one and it pulls up all the info on the movie (like from IMDB). Hit play, and it fires right up. Eventually I'll have little terminals at every TV in the place, so you'll be able to pull up any movie on demand from anywhere.

TV is DirecTV. Wired up for dual-feed dvr service to every TV location in the house, along with a gigibit ethernet connection for future implementation of VOD.

And finally, there's a record player included in the whole thing. I couldn't imagine not having it.

For a remote, at the moment is a Harmony 890 RF. I'm about ready to chuck it at the wall. The programming is really pissing me off. Since it won't let you really delve into the programming, but instead you are limited very heavily by the software. I'll be moving on to an RTI remote. We sell them, and because of that have access to the programming software, etc... Since RTI remotes are a dealer installed only item, they're highly overpriced IMHO, but are phenomenal when programmed well. I'll be upgrading to the RTI T3 when the time comes:

The TV will also be upgraded eventually. Going to get one that fills up the entire space.

Ok, time for the pictures:

There's a second interconnect panel that cant' be seen. Has the HDMI run as well as the sat runs and ethernet connections

Here's the small head-end I put in. I'd like to move the telephones to a punchblock on the board as well, but probably won't actually do it. The system there also ties a VOIP unit into the main telephone system of the house.

On another note, here's a small head-end I did for work.

YourConfused · #2 10-01-2007, 11:07 PM

Umm, what's the word I am looking for here...
It starts with a B...
It's ...It's ...
Crap, what the hell is it?
Oh-yeah it ends with an ... assturd!
B-assturd!
i am jealous of the potential, butt I am sure the SQ isn't there yet. Get with the hop-ups bro!
Like the furniture and set-up though.

techy101 · #3 10-01-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YourConfused

Umm, what's the word I am looking for her...
butt I am sure the SQ isn't there yet. Get with the hop-ups bro!

The SQ rivals $20,000 home theatres we've done (altho, the TV doesn't hold a finger)

what are hop-ups?

Proper time correction, EQ'ing, and xover settings really make the system. All of which were done by hand with the assistance of an old friend from the live audio world. SMAART

The furniture is all my old stuff that I can't afford to replace. I'd love to get rid of it. But furnishing the rest of the new place took up all the $$.

Landshark · #4 10-01-2007, 11:12 PM

i have those same audio cabinets from Target.

that looks like a nice setup. my brother did six-figure audio/video installs for a lot of the local celebrities/athletes/big wigs around here. i am happy with my mid-range crap, though.

i'd have a 52" Sony XBR4 right now, but we're trying to find a new house, and i don't want another big TV to move.

techy101 · #5 10-01-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

i have those same audio cabinets from Target.

Darn skippy!

techy101 · #6 10-01-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

i have those same audio cabinets from Target.

that looks like a nice setup. my brother did six-figure audio/video installs for a lot of the local celebrities/athletes/big wigs around here. i am happy with my mid-range crap, though.

i'd have a 52" Sony XBR4 right now, but we're trying to find a new house, and i don't want another big TV to move.

Yeah, ours go up to about $250,000. We're not the largest in the area, but probably the second. My system is budget minded as far as these things go. Doing it all yourself and getting big discounts on equipment helps a lot.

I've got my eye on a a Samsung 61" LED DLP

Landshark · #7 10-01-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techy101

Yeah, ours go up to about $250,000. We're not the largest in the area, but probably the second. My system is budget minded as far as these things go. Doing it all yourself and getting big discounts on equipment helps a lot.

I've got my eye on a a Samsung 61" LED DLP

i remember one install he did where just the remote-controlled motorized blinds/window treatments/screens portion alone was over $100,000.

msvx95 · #8 10-02-2007, 05:36 AM

Alan, my house is for sale in Cleveland....I know your from Pitt though, but it's a 4 bed/2bath and very spacious

Techy, very nice clean work on your mounting boards and wiring.

Manarius · #9 10-02-2007, 07:08 AM

That's a very nice setup. I, being a college student, will not have that kind of money until I'm 45 and have paid off all my college debt.

My system is a Wal-Mart 5.1 setup hooked up to my TV and XBox in my dorm room. I'll shoot pics later.

Ownbot · #10 06-18-2009, 10:22 AM

Yes I still haz a VCR and yes that is a MD recorder

My speakers are JBL Northridge ND310 II's and I also have the N center and N rears as well.

I have a kick ass Yamaha receiver with a THD of .005% It's only 50 watts RMS x 5 but it produces very clean power.

The TV is an old Sony 51 inch hi-def projection. Can't believe I paid $2500 for it back in 2002.

Looking into getting a Plasma or LED DLP soon.

Landshark · #11 06-18-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ownbot

Yes I still haz a VCR and yes that is a MD recorder

The TV is an old Sony 51 inch hi-def projection. Can't believe I paid $2500 for it back in 2002.

i also has a MD recorder (retired to a storage closet), and the same TV (banished to the gameroom). i paid $2000 for it in 2002 (on sale + 15% Sears discount)! still works great, but the newer 1080p LCD puts it to shame, and is MUCH lighter!

Hondasucks · #12 06-23-2009, 12:53 AM

I wish I had a home style MD recorder! I've got a portable one...

techy101 · #13 06-23-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondasucks

I wish I had a home style MD recorder! I've got a portable one...

I used to have one, not sure what ever did happen to it. Besides the ATRAC Compression they were great little things. I find myself missing them now and then.

nsm484 · #14 07-03-2009, 02:37 AM

Wow, can't belive, being the geek that I am, I did not see this thread before now LOL

well... Here is my office... its not much... but its "home"

System Specs (Custom Built)

Windows 7 RC (I love this OS, been the first Windows that has impressed me since Win2k)
ASUS P5N-D Motherboard
Intel® Core™2 Quad (Q9300) 45nm
2gb Corsair DDR2 800 RAM
Harddives -
-Main: 36gb WD Raptor
-Storage 1: Maxtor 250gb Sata
-Storage 2: WD 500gb Sata
-Storage 3: Maxtor 250gb Sata
-Music: WD 80gb IDE
Video:
-Card1: XFX 8800 GT
-Card2: XFX 8800 GS
-(Video is not in SLi, but the 8800 GS is set as my Physics in the nVidia Driver)
Sound:
-Speakers: Optical Out into an RCA RT2870 5.1 Dolby DSP
-Headset: Plantronics .Audio 770
Monitor 1: Samsung SyncMaster 2232bw 22"
Monitor 2: Old Gateway 17" Dumpster Save

3rd Montior is an old BW Monitor, plugged into my router.
Router:
Intel Celeron 633mhz
128mb PC100 Ram
IBM DJNA-371350 13.27 GB
2x Intel Pro/100 Ethernet
Running pfsense Open Source Firewall Distro, FreeBSD 6.2-RELEASE-p11 (Features)