2. home-theater
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Help a complete vidio idiot

I have a reasonable audio system I am fond of but have decided to get a home theater for the kids. I plan on a used crt projector (I have knowledgable friends who will help set it up. I am reasonabley computer literate and am leaning towards a pc rather than a dvd but would value opinions. I am also interested in thoughts of reciever vs separates and any brand suggestions. Finally speaker thoughts. I would like to keep the spend around 2-3000 on the reciever/separates and near the same on the speakers (including subwoofer(s)). This may be asking to much but you guys have always had great ideas before. Don't care if it is used or new. I by the way will not be moving to the darkside, just want to do something for the kids. Thanks as always

gary
gajgmusic
scottht
387 posts
 
Almost forgot. The most overlooked and possibly the most important. The room itself. You could easily spend several thousand dollars on equipment and if your room is not right, you might has well bought a Kenwood Home Theater in a box set up. Do your homework if you are serious. If you are just going to throw together a system for the kids in a exsisting living room or something like that, then don't worry about it too much.
newbie13
242 posts
 
Pick up some of the home theater mags and start reading. You'd be surprised at what is availible in a high-def ready big screens under $3000. The present issue of The Perfect Vision has their best buys in DVD players at each price/feature level. Finding quality separates and nice speakers under $4-6000 in total is quite possible these days. Such as an Outlaw(outlawaudio.com) pre/pro and amp and a set of Rockets by Onix is just one of many possibilities. Of course used here on audiogon greatly expands the choices.

There are also a number of websites devoteed to HT. avsforum.com and hometheaterforum.com are couple to start with. Also, some of the HT magazines have their own forums you can find from their homepage.
newbie13
242 posts
 
More thoughts...if this is really for the kids. I'd use the KISS principle and keep it simple depending on your kids ages. Get a rear projection big screen HDTV, about $3k, and a reciever. The Outlaw 1050($499) is frequently mentioned as user friendly reciever. Unless, you have a really large room I'd suggest Ascend Acoustics 170's or Totem Dreamcatchers, go to their sites and read the reviews, both sell around $1500 with a sub. Pick a progessive scan DVD player of your feature/price choice and you should have a quite nice, no fuss, kid friendly set up for under $6k.
gajgmusic OP
170 posts
 
dear newbie

thanks for the info. I am just starting to figure this out. I am trying to figure out if I should keep this as simple as possible or go slightly more high end. It really is for the kids but I may end up liking it too (hard to know). Outlaw seems to have very good reviews. I thought about the separtates to get some more power and options.

gary
newbie13
242 posts
 
Options are a good thing. Separates is my next upgrade. So, I can keep the amp and just replace the pre/pro when the next Pro Logic or whatever the next step is arrives.
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