Dec 17 Podcast #457: Home Theater "In a Box"
Podcast Tags: Buying guide, HTiB 
Typically the HT Guys are not big fans of Home Theater in a Box (HTIB) systems but for today's show we are making an exception. But these are not your typical HTIB systems. We decided to create two "Special" (Air Quotes required) HTIB systems. Actually, these systems come in many boxes and the components don't even come from the same manufacturer.
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Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Roku Update Deployed, 1080p for XR
- Kaleidescape Introduces Industry's First Blu-ray Movie Server
- Who Owns the TV Screen During a Commercial Break?
- DirecTV survey hints at NFL Sunday Ticket on Apple TV, Boxee and Roku players?
Other:
- For those in the Adelaide, Australia area, Tony O'Brien is the guys to see for all your video calibration needs. He is ISF certified. www.claritycalibration.com.au
Home Theater "In a Box"
Typically the HT Guys are not big fans of Home Theater in a Box (HTIB) systems but for today's show we are making an exception. But these are not your typical HTIB systems. We decided to create two "Special" (Air Quotes required) HTIB systems. Actually, these systems come in many boxes and the components don't even come from the same manufacturer.
System One Less than $5,000
From our recent HDTV Buyers guide we are including the Samsung LN46C650 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV. You keep all the great features that put the set on our list last year: fantastic picture, Red Touch of Color, 120Hz, DLNA and HDMI-CEC. But this model also adds Internet widgets for access to BLOCKBUSTER, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Amazon Video On Demand and more. And the price has come down to $999.
Also from a recent buyers guide we are recommending the Yamaha RX-V867BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Street Price $800) Priced in the mid-range but the 867 has a feature set that’s comparable to many high end units. The 867 not ony has 6 HDMI inputs but it also has two (simultaneous) HDMI outputs. So if you want to have multiple TVs connected to the receiver you can create a sports bar environment in your own home. The Yamaha RX-V867 supports 3D, Audio Return Channel next generation audio and a slew of other great features. The 867 is a great option for those with a slightly bigger budget.
For the Blu Ray player we are going with the OPPO BDP-93. Priced high ($499) for a Blu Ray by today’s standards but its one of the best Blu Ray players on the market today. This player is not yet released but will be soon. Features include, Ethernet/wireless networking, DVD audio and video are supported, and it'll play Super Audio CD (SACD) in stereo or multi-channel, USB/eSATA connectivity with support for DVD, audio CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, AVCHD, MP4, DivX, MKV, FLAC, WAV and other audio/video/picture files on recorded discs. Finally, there is support for Netflix and Blockbuster on demand.
For the speakers we are recommending the Intimus 5B Harmony SD ($1750). Its a 5.1 system that includes the 5B bookshelf speakers combined with the 5C vertical array center to provide the all-encompassing sound, and together with the massive rumble of the Bravus 8D subwoofer. Ara has Aperion speakers in his media room and he is a big advocate of the line.
Total cost for the components is $4050. Incidentally Ara and Braden’s first HDTVs, which are still in use today, were purchased for roughly the same price!
System Two Less than $10,000
Panasonic TC-P65VT25 65-inch 3D Ready 1080p VIERA Plasma HDTV. It’s 3D ready, so you’re all set for the future. When you consider that the Panasonic 65” plasmas cost around $18,000 when they first came out a few years ago, $4500 is a steal.
Denon AVR-3311CI 7.2 Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Street Price $1200)
We are big fans of Denon products and the 3311CI is a real powerhouse that we highly recommend! The 3311CI supports Audyssey DSX surround processing, Audessey MultEQ automatic room acoustic measuring and correction system. Support for next generation audio, 3D and Anchor Bay ABT-2015 upconversion and deinterlacing are included. At 125 watts per channel the 3311 will fill almost any room with high quality audio!
For the Blu Ray player we are going with the same model as our less than $5000 system the OPPO BDP-93.
For this system we are pairing the receiver with the Klipsch Icon WF-35 Home Theater System. This is a 5.1 system but we are adding two more surrounds to make it a 7.1 system. The speakers go for for $4 less than the TV ($4496) but its well worth it. We are fans of Klipsch technology. We both have them in our homes. Throw in a furniture-grade design that your spouse would be happy showing off, the Icon W Series is worthy of finding a place in our top of the line HTIB system.
Total cost for the entire system is $10,696. So we went over budget. You can always just go for a 5.1 system.
Reader Comments (6)
Gwah? Klipsch Icon? Really? Man, those would NOT be my recommendation for speakers in that price range. The Icon line was born out of a partnership between Klipsch and Best Buy and they are NOT the traditional and respected Klipsch sound or design. Gone is the trademark horn-loaded tweeter, replaced with a reverberant dome (the marketing still calls it a horn, but it isn't) that simply lacks refinement to my ears. The Icon line is the epitome of style over substance, IMO.
If you want speakers that look just about the same, but sound about a million times better, why not check out the EMP Tek Impression series speakers (which also happen to cost a lot less)? I'd recommend going with their top-of-the-line towers with the center and two pairs of bookshelfs for the surrounds. Then I'd avoid the subwoofer (which isn't bad, but with room in the budget, why not improve things?) and grab a pair of the HSU ULS-15 subwoofers instead! Ara reviewed that sub - you know how good it is!
And don't forget a pair of Auralex SubDude risers to go under those subs ;)
So let's see:
Panasonic 65" 3D plasma - TC-P65VT25 = $4500
Denon 7.2 receiver - AVR-3311CI = $1200
Oppo 3D Blu-ray player - BDP-93 = $500
I've got zero problem with those picks! All top shelf!
2x HSU 15" subwoofer - ULS-15 DualDrive = $2480 (let's go for the fancy, real wood veneer. Price includes shipping)
2x Auralex SubDude - subwoofer isolation risers = $100
EMP Tek speakers - E5Ti towers, E5Ci center, 2 pairs E5Bi bookshelf surrounds = $1220 (go for the gorgeous Red Burl finish)
Total = $10,000 (BOOM! On the nose!)
I guarantee you: the EMP Tek Impression Series speakers with a pair of HSU ULS-15 subs? Compare that to the Klipsch Icon package? Not even a fair fight! The Klipsch Icon sound like Fisher Price compared to this!
About using the Roku box with an Australian HDTV:
All PAL HDTVs do support both 50 Hz and 60 Hz signals, so that will work.
I have some emp speakers. I love them, and they got great reviews before they were discontinued. I would most likely rather have the emp speakers over the Klipsch icon Ws as well.
However...
I don't care for the Icon Ws but I think it is a preference thing. I know the Icons look a LOT better than my emp speakers and from what I have read they would look better than the ones mentioned in previous post (I know appearance is subjective.)
I am not sure what was first the Icon v line or the icon w line but I know there is a huge difference in build quality and materials. The Icon v line is the best buy klipsch. I don't know for sure but I believe it wouldn't be fair to place both the Icon v and icon w lines in the same category. I have talked to a few people who love the icon w line. They feel its forward sound is ideal for home theater use.
I like that someone suggested something else and right on 10,000.
@Chad Coulter
Look into the EMP Tel Impression series. They are NOT the old, box-y RBH-type look that a lot of EMP speakers used to have. The Impression series is gorgeous and I would easily put them up against anything else that is out there - looks wise.
The Icon W series has the better cabinets (more internal bracing) and the better cross-overs. But they still have the crappy Icon tweeter - and that is the problem. Forward sounding? Try unrefined, shrill and distorted. Yes, there are (crazy) people out there who actually like it, but it's a poor example of the name Klipsch IMO. The traditional Klipsch horn tweeter might not be my particular cup of tea, but I can wholeheartedly respect it. It's a genuine method of extracting tremendous efficiency and dynamics out of a single tweeter. But the Icon tweeter is just a travesty. Honestly, just look at the physics of the design! You're firing a tweeter from the base of a dome, for Pete's sake. That's like trying to make a bass driver play treble by moving the dust cap.
I may be mistaken, but i think you could get a PSB imagine series 5.1(maybe 7.1) speaker system for under $4.4k. I would take that over Klipsch, but that's just me.
Echoing paul W's comment from a couple of eps back, it seems that Podcast Alley is not sending out confirmation emails