Help...8-10K to spend on a HT system

[woodman]

First off, thanks...I appreciate the help experts like you guys (especially woodman) can provide me motivated beginners like myself.

Thanks for the appreciation and "vote of confidence"

I am moving into a new loft within the next 6-8 months. I want a worthwhile HT system. I am willing to spend 8-10K.

--For TVs, it seems like the way to go is LCD if you have the cash? Should I shoot for the biggest LCD I can get? And whats the deal with LCD projection? And its difference (if any?) to DLP? Is it better to save the money on a LCD projection or DLP TV and be able to go bigger than I could with a sharper, but smaller and more expensive LCD?

Whats the advice here...which technology do I go with? And whats that settled, what specific models do I can look into?

An LCD front projector is what I recommend - not a direct-view LCD panel (they're far too expensive for what you get). I assume that your "loft" will have adequate control over ambient light will it not? A front projector will give you every bit as sharp a picture as a smaller direct-view LCD display. The projector will give you a MUCH larger image - as large as you (and the dimensions of your room and your viewing distance) will allow for. A DLP projector is another alternative, although some people are bothered by what is known as "rainbow" artifacts that are the result of the spinning color wheel that is used with DLP displays. LCD displays do not use such a thing, so unless you know for a fact that you're not bothered by the "rainbow" effect, an LCD projector is a safer bet. As for a particular model - the new Sanyo Z2 will give you the best value ... the best combination of performance vs. price. It can be had for less than $2K. A good screen can be had for a few hundred (or less). This will give you a major part of your home theater for little more than $2K - leaving you with a lot of breathing room for the audio portion of your theater.

--Now I jump into "everything else." I know this is where you laugh cause I get so broad...but what would YOU do? Keep in mind I want high end. What is involved here? What are the best brands to go with? I've heard from a friend good things about ROTEL? I got to worry about a receiver, speakers, amps? pre amps? processor? wiring? installation, subs, and what else? I also want to get some turntables and a great mixer later on (not included in budget) so I have to keep that in mind when I choose what speakers I'm getting?

So basically, yeah, I got 8-10K to spend on home entertainment to make my new place nice. HELP?

I'm not laughing ... at least not until I read some inane comments, suggestions, etc. from some of my erstwhile colleagues here.

My recommend: budget around $1K for a good receiver, such as the Yamaha RX-V2400, or if you want to go even higher-end, the RX-Z1 for around $2K. That is all you'll need in the way of electronics to produce the sound for your theater. No other amplifiers, processors, etc. I recommend Yamaha over Rotel for reliability and "support" - without giving up anything in sound quality - no matter what some others say on the matter. You'll no doubt get "advice" from others saying that Brand X or Brand Z "sounds" waaaaay better than Yamaha ... these people simply don't know anything about audio. They're merely repeating misdirected opinions that they've "heard" somewhere and that have no basis in fact. I'm a musician as well as an electronic engineer/tech, so if Yamaha was actually lacking in "musicality", I would sure as hell be one to notice it. They don't lack a thing! So far, you've now spent only $3K to perhaps $4K with only the speakers and a DVD player yet to go. Good DVD players are now available for "peanuts" - even with SACD and DVD-Audio capabilities, so this is not a significant budgetary consideration. As to the speakers, that is a very subjective matter indeed. You'll just have to go and listen (to a lot of them) and make your own choice, bearing in mind that your ATTITUDE (how much stock you place in what others have to say about speakers) plays a huge part in the decision process! Just be aware that the "point of diminishing returns" takes place in loudspeakers just the same as it does in all other electronic products, and you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on them in order to have "good sound" as some people will try to get you to believe!

Hope this is the help that you were looking for