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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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 Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject: Home Theater |
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Next year I'm moving, and I plan to buy a PDP TV (a colleague of mine read in the paper that prices are going to drop drastically some time next year). I also plan on getting a 5-channel home theater set up, only problem being that I have no clue which brands are decent (though I'll probably buy domestic).
Anyone know what's a good choice, place to buy, etc.? Extra kudos for prices.
Sparkles*_* |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 12:25 am Post subject: |
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No details but I do know Yamaha and Denon are the kings of medium-priced home theater.
I see a lot of Onkyo home theater stuff around. It might be the best 'bang-for-your-buck' brand.
You shouldn't buy too big an amp and speakers for an average Korean sitting room. Buy very powerful stuff and the sound will bounce around the room and seem too bassy all the time.
My Sony set-up at home was 110 watts per channel (thats 550 total!). I was never able to jack it above 3!!
I think 70watts per channel is perfect for most living rooms. |
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Gollum
Joined: 04 Sep 2003
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 7:04 am Post subject: |
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You want to make a nice system and not spend a lot of money?
I've got a pair of Paradigm mini-monitors and a Paradigm 12" PDR-12 amped subwoofer along with an Onkyo receiver. I figured I'd just buy some cheap rear speakers, so I got a pair of Inkel SP-898's for about $100 out at Youngsan. Let me tell you, they sound pretty darned good! A whole lot better than that pre-packaged slimline Samsung/LG home theater crap they sell for a million won! And what got me is that Tinkel has some newer models with better tweeters (looked like titanium or some kind of metal) that sound fabulous... saw them at E-mart paired with a 2-speaker stereo system. I'm almost sure you can buy those separately too at other places like Youngsan. Mine are only rated at 60w max, but Wattage is a big gimmick. When crossed over with fine sub that cuts out the lows, they're plenty for any neighbor-everywhere apartment you'll have here.
If you buy 4 of those for probably less than $250 total, and pair them with a nice tight sub (my Paradigm cost over $300 back in the states -- can't find Paradigms that big here, but other good brands are), you'll have a great-sounding speaker set-up.
You really don't need a lot of power if your sub is amped (not in Korea... unless you really want to piss off the neighbors).
It's a shame I can't open 'er up.
If you want to find prices of different stuff, go to www.enuri.com and hit pull-down menu #3 at the top row. Find the one which has HI-FI in English. You can use the other pull-down menus that appear in the middle to search between different brands, etc. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiberious aka Sparkles wrote: |
What kind of remote you got working there? And any recommendations on an amp?
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I just use the remote that came with the receiver.
As for recommending an amp... Are you sure you're really going to need one? My AV receiver (70 watts/channel) does have pre-amp outputs, but I don't use them. Right now the receiver & speakers aren't in the largest room of the house, but even if I were to move them there (I'm guessing it's about 17-19 pyong) I still couldn't justify the need for more or "cleaner" power that an external amplifier would give me. If I had a lot fewer watts (say, under 50/channel, as with most home-theatres-in-a-box), I suppose a separate amp would make sense. But even then, I'd probably buy a more powerful system to begin with, just to avoid going the "separates" route.
I prefer to base my home theatre on an AV receiver for a number of reasons, some less rational than others. First, it's generally cheaper, quicker to set up, less fussy, and neater than the "pre-amp & processor" approach. Those are the rational reasons. Here are some quirky ones. There's something about stacks of audio-video gear in gleaming display cases, the pricier and more bells & whistles the better, that just screams geekazoid to me.
I know I'm the oddball in this respect, but I've never been a fan of the "AV equipment as modern furniture" school of interior design. Rather than have my living room looking like the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise, I'd rather it were all invisible or completely hidden from view. And manufacturers spend so much time and money trying to make every model sleeker & sexier than last year's, and we're all paying for it as customers.  |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:56 am Post subject: |
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make sure you get THX / dolby surround sound amp..
get some good speakers.. and you are away! |
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Walter Mitty
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Tokyo! ^.^
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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PDP? Why limit yourself with a large set that's a pain to move (if you're not staying put for a long time) and that you've got to arrange a room around?
Projectors are the way to go!
(15" iMac DV/SE for size comparison)
I picked up a Sanyo LP-Z3 projector last week and am beyond happy with it. The screen in that image is 80" diagonal and 16:9 format. The projector is barely bigger than a VCR and sits on a table in front of the couch. I can roll up the screen and tuck it away when it's not in use.
Games and movies both look amazing on this setup. Everything (Gamecube, Xbox, PS2 & DVD) is running on component video, except for the VCR (also serving as a TV tuner), PSOne and Dreamcast. The LCD element is 1280x720, which means the unit can do 720p signals natively, with no messy interpolation.
If you're looking to spend big-screen money on a set, do yourself a favor and take a look at projectors too. They're very, very nice.  |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Walter Mitty, when I get done with the house stuff, you and I should swap notes & photos.
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| Projectors are the way to go! |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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I like projectors, but remember, you will have to replace the bulb at about $400 US and up (after a certain number of hours that varies).
I want to buy one back home, as they cost about 40% less than in Korea. Also, you can move it with you, rather than be stuck with trying to sell a TV in Korea. If you want to save a lot, have a friend help you buy off of the army base. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Gollum wrote: |
| Mine are only rated at 60w max, but Wattage is a big gimmick. |
Darn right it is. Any musician or audiophile will tell you that. If you have a 10inch speaker that's rated for 60 watts, it's not necessarily going to be better than two 12 inch speakers rated at 30 watts each. It's has a lot to do with how much air is displaced by the speaker. Even if your amp is pushing 60 watts, a tiny 8 inch speaker just won't do the trick. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 7:56 am Post subject: |
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Sparkles, have you moved house or made the plunge on a display yet? I'm guessing that you haven't, and that you're still waiting & watching for PDP prices to drop.
For Sparkles or anyone considering shelling out big-time for a home theatre, why not let some posters who've been there, done that, screwed it up, regretted buying X instead of Y, etc. -- why not let us share our knowledge, mistakes and experience. We could create some workable HT solutions that you might not have considered which best fit your budget, viewing needs/preferences, and space constraints.
AND, best of all, we'd be able to share up-to-date information on prices and product availability in Korea, where most of us live. (or then again, maybe Sparkles and I are the only ones on Dave's interested in this...  ) |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| then again, maybe Sparkles and I are the only ones on Dave's interested in this... ) |
Nope. I'm following this thread closely, I just don't have any input. Moving shortly and hope to set up le cinema du Bulsajo, but I know nothing about speakers etc.
Great thread. |
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Walter Mitty
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Tokyo! ^.^
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| AND, best of all, we'd be able to share up-to-date information on prices and product availability in Korea, where most of us live. |
I can share info on gear, but not on prices or where to shop as I'm living in Tokyo now. (But hey, if you wanna make a shopping excursion across the Sea of Japan  let me know and I'll point you in the right direction.)
Now, more on my gear:
1. iMac DV/SE - the download slave (Keeps the iBook G4 free for "real" computer use.)
2. PSTwo - Japanese model, not modded
3. Gamecube - US model with Korean Gameboy Player (not presently attached) (Action Replay for
playing non-US games)
4. Cyber Gadget System AV Selector Pro - Yes, it costs as much (or more than) a game system, but it's worth it. Man, is it worth it. 8 inputs, handles component video (RGB and D-Terminal), s-video, composite video, network, L/R and optical audio and even comes with its own remote.
If you've got a high end display (TV set or projector) you'll want to use component video from any device that can output it. And if you've got more than one such device, it's more than worth the money to invest in a switchbox like this. Give that $20 s-video one you got from Gamestop to your little brother. You'll never need it again.
(The model number for this is CY-SAVS-BK in case you wanted to search for it that way.)
5. VCR - I don't watch much stuff on tape, but it's useful as a TV tuner since my projector doesn't have a tuner of its own. Also handy for taping weird stuff off Japanese TV.
6. Xbox - Korean model, modded, 120GB hard drive. Used for downloaded movies and TV shows as well as the occasional game.
7. Philips DVP-320 DVD player - region free enabled. (Yes, I was the first to share the news of this little gem with everybody here.  )
8. PSOne - Korean model, modded.
9. Firewire hard drive 120GB and DVD (dual layer) burner - both connected to the iMac.
The Xbox and DVD player are connected to the switch with RGB component cables. The PSTwo and Gamecube are using D-Terminal cable. (D-terminal is a small plug for running component video. Tidier than RGB cables.) Thankfully, the switch knows it's all component and I only have to run one set of RGB cables to the projector to handle all the outputs. Why use RGB to the projector instead of D-Terminal? It's a lot cheaper. My 10-meter RGB cable was $40. A D-Terminal that long is well over $100.
The VCR and PSOne are using regular composite video. I could connect my PSOne (and Dreamcast when I take it out) through s-video, but that would mean running another cable to the projector. The image is good as it is now, but I may still do that for a future upgrade. (Though probably not unless I get a VCR that supports s-video, and that's not all that likely to happen.)
Audio is my weak link right now. I'm using a Logitech 2.1 setup. My apartment's really not suited to a 5.1 arrangment, and I get enough thumping on the ceiling from my upstairs neighbor the way things are now. Everything sounds great, so I don't really mind not having full-on surround just yet.
(Lastly, in case anybody's wondering why I post about this stuff on the Korea forum since I'm in Japan now, it's because nobody on the Tokyo board seems to be into stuff like this. Plus, they seem rather cliquey over there. ) |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Hey, walter... I recognize that Phillips DVD Player you talked about in another thread once. How's Japan treatin' ya? Do you still have my old Kodak digital camera?
Here's a pic of my current Entertainment rig. I have the computer wired into the stereo via Maya USB, which outputs to Optical. The speakers are Paradigm mini-monitors, and the sub is a 12" Paradigm PDR-12. Onkyo receiver with DTS, Hi-Fi VCR, Older Onkyo DVD region 1 (for sale cheap if anyone wants it) and cheapee Newconn DVD Player for local disks. Oh, and 29" Samsung Flat Tube TV.
Got 2 surround sound Inkel speakers that sound great and can be had for about $50 a piece in Youngsan (not pictured).
Everything electronic you see was used, except for the computer, which I built. Got the TV for like 340,000 a few years ago. Not a bad deal. |
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Walter Mitty
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Tokyo! ^.^
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| Derrek wrote: |
| Hey, walter... I recognize that Phillips DVD Player you talked about in another thread once. How's Japan treatin' ya? Do you still have my old Kodak digital camera? |
Yeah, your camera's in a bag at the bottom of my closet. Can't justify lugging it around when my phone has a better camera that it does. Besides, I've got a newer digital that's replaced the one I got from you. But your old one make a nice, harsh weather, "don't care if it gets messed up" camera for typhoons, snow and other fun things.
Yes, that's the same DVP-320 I got about a year ago at Carrefour. Still works like a charm and does great output through the component jacks.
Japan is sensational! No hagwon headaches, a nice apartment, a great salary, tons of stuff to do and no aggressive saving to get in the way of buying new toys. (I was always saving up for moving to Japan when I was in Korea. Well, when I wasn't buying motorcycles... ) Of course, I did totally luck out and land a great job barely two weeks after getting here, so that may have something to do with my rosy outlook on life here. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| haahah.. hey, I miss that camera for one thing... I used to be able to sneak pics of my gf with it due to the shutter lag. I could push the button, and it would take like 2 seconds to snap. She didn't think I was taking a pic, because I would hold it like I wasn't taking a photo, and the delay would cause the pic to snap. |
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