Well...I pulled the trigger. Evaluate my purchase.
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New member Username: Goldenbear03Post Number: 5 Registered: Oct-09 | Thanks, first off, to everyone here who helped me better understand home theater components and the buying power I had. Coming in, I expected that unless I was willing to drop $3K+, I wouldn't be able to create a real theater environment. And maybe I haven't, but I am really impressed with what I heard yesterday and eventually ended up buying. I'm interested in your thoughts. I wanted to seriously look into the Paradigm Atom monitors, but just couldn't find anyone in my area selling them so that I could hear them. I went into a couple of stores in Austin, TX yesterday and eventually made my purchase at the Magnolia Home Theater inside of Best Buy. Honestly, I never saw myself buying at Best Buy because they just don't strike me as a "big boy" in the home theater business. I think of them as a HTiB kind of store. Magnolia is pretty nice though. First, I went with the Denon AVR-1910 for my receiver: http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4858.asp Magnolia carries lots and lots of high quality stuff (Vienna, Martin Logan, Mirage, etc), but I opted for the Definitive Technologies speakers. I picked out the Pro Center 1000 as my center channel: http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Center%20Channel%20Speakers&productid=ProCenter%201000 For the two front bookshelfs, I went with a pair of Studio Monitor 350's: http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Bookshelf%20Speakers&productid=StudioMonitor%20350 For my rear, surround speakers, I picked out the Pro Monitor 800's: http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Surround%20Speakers&productid=ProMonitor%20800 Lastly, I went with the Pro Sub 800 as my subwoofer: http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/products.aspx?path=Subwoofers&productid=ProSub%20800 In all, I purchased $1,951.91 worth of equipment (before tax). Thanks to some negotiating and a couple of sales, I was able to get out of there for $1,682 after tax. So, this begs the question: how did I do? None of the stuff I bought has been opened yet, so if I badly "fubared" something, I'll consider it a favor for you to let me know it. I'm interested to hear where deficiencies in my system exist, where I knocked it out of the park and where I could have gotten a better value. Thanks again to all of you who helped! |
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Gold Member Username: John_sColumbus, Ohio US Post Number: 2527 Registered: Feb-04 | A huge  from me. The big challenge is proper speaker placement and setup with the receiver, but that's all part of the fun! |
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Silver Member Username: MccambleyBREEZY POINT, NY USA Post Number: 704 Registered: Jun-05 | As I said in an earlier post, if you wind up with either the Paradigms or the Def techs you will come out a winner. The only improvement I might suggest would have to up grade the center to the Pro 200 because the driver match the 350"s better,but probably won't make a day night difference. Now you need to install the equipment properly not haphazardly to get the best sound. Don't jam your speakers in the corners use speaker stands if possible for the fronts buy the brackets from Def Tech that are made for the 800's and position them above the listeners head left and right of the seating area. If possible put the center channel below the TV to lock in the dialog. Good luck and I hope you enjoy some great movies like Master and Commander, Batman, Any Pixare,Star Wars, U-571, Transformers, Ironman, Private Ryan, ect... |
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New member Username: Goldenbear03Post Number: 6 Registered: Oct-09 | That's exactly what I'm focused on now, Casey...installing this package as best I can. I have a great system, I think, but I wouldn't call it absolute top of the line or anywhere near that. What I need to know is what speaker wire and HDMI cables are the best match for my system. I don't know much about that kind of thing, and I know you can spend what you want to spend, but I would like to keep the expenses in check as much as possible. What do you all recommend I buy? |
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Gold Member Username: John_sColumbus, Ohio US Post Number: 2530 Registered: Feb-04 | Chuck, you will not believe the quality/price ratio of monoprice.com for cables and connectors. Fast service and very good quality. |
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