Topic: Tonedeaf's HT/audio set up

[tonedeaf]

I. Brief History

First set-up (no pics though):

I got started on HT in 2002, when I set out to buy a dvd player. I chanced upon pinoydvd, met SGT (the late Sonny Tuazon of Home Theater), and ended up with a Philips 25" flat CRT TV, a pioneer dvd player, the mission speakers and Onkyo 494 receiver described below.

Here's what I wrote in my blog about it:

It started with Diana Krall and the Bee Gees.

January, 2002.

I decided to buy a DVD player. After checking with the helpful folks at pinoydvd, I was introduced to a world where watching a movie at home was not just about turning on your tv, playing a disc and plopping down on your sofa with chips and soda within easy reach. It was all about experiencing the movie - seeing the images in the manner which the filmmakers envisioned, and being enveloped by the sound of it.

I scoured the metro for shops selling home theater systems and learned about speakers and amplifiers and wires. I also met a kind shopowner who loved Diana Krall's version of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" , and played it over and over, using different speakers and amps, just to demonstrate the nuances of each equipment. I'd never heard of Diana Krall before, and after one or two sessions with him, I went to a music store, got the album and played it on my cd player. It wasn't the same. I went back to his shop, and this time, he asked me to watch the dvd of the Bee Gees - One Night Only. I sat on his sofa, dreading the thought of listening to Night Fever and Tragedy, and found, to my chagrin, that I was tapping my feet in rhythm.

I ended up getting a bigger TV, an amplifier and front and center speakers (Mission M73 and the M7C1). On my wish list: a subwoofer and two rear speakers for 5.1 effect, and maybe a turntable.

Second set up:

September 2007: Got a Panasonic Viera 42pv70h from Theatre Works and got a new TV stand (Sabre Luna), but still had a 3 speaker set-up (Mission M73 as fronts, M7C1 as center). As I lived in a studio-type unit then, there wasn't a lot of space. Here's a pic:




Upgrades over the years:

October 2007: Got the Mission M30i as surrounds

November 2007: Got a Toshiba HD-DVD player. However, by the time it arrived in the Philippines, bluray had won the format wars 

September 2008: I finally got my subwoofer (Velodyne CHT-10R). Finally 5.1!

March 2009: After 6 months of procrastination, a WD TV HD Media player!

December 2009: The condo unit I purchased was finally turned over to me. Since the floor area, while bigger than my rented unit, is still limited, I just tried to ensure that my set-up would look a bit better. Good thing my contractor shared my interest in HT, and gave some suggestions.



March 2010: This is how it looked like, after all the work was done.  The Mission M73s are hidden in the cabinets, so is the sub (lower left hand corner).
Gears as of this time - Panasonic Viera 42PV70, Onkyo 494, Mission M73, M7C1, M30i, Pioneer DVD-266, Bada Line Conditioner



December 2010: I got an upscaling DVD player (Pioneer DV-420) to replace my oldie Pioneer DV-266.

January 2011: I got a PS3.
Also, I realized that if I upgrade my receiver in the future, it might not fit my shelves. So I had it redone a bit:



with the gears:



February 2014: After 12 years, I got Denon 1713 to replace my Onkyo 494

My only criteria for choosing this particular model, was that it was being sold at just about 50% off, and specs-wise, is already an upgrade over my Onkyo 494 because it has HDMI Many thanks to Paul of Sound and Vision for the deal.

Humabol sa February 2014: Samsung 51F5000, to replace my trusty 7-year old Panasonic 42PV70. This one, from Abenson, and it's never ending Friday-Sunday promo of this model.

March 2014: I decided it was time to change my fronts/centers as well. After a few days of reading up on the brands/models which would fit my budget, and auditioning said models in various HT shops, I decided to get the Psb Image B6 + C5, thanks to Rex of Watts Hi Fi.

Also on March 2014: Some minor tweaks. Got a subwoofer riser and custom made center speaker stand.

And on the last day of March 2014, I got a NAD516BEE  after doing a home audition:

April 2014: Pioneer BDP-3220K (originally, Pioneer BDP-3120)

August 2014: Yaden 2000VA automatic voltage regulator, and for office set up: Fiio E18 Kunlun, audio technica ATH M50 headphone

September 2014: NAD DAC 1 Wireless USB

December 2014: Got a Chromecast as a Xmas gift 

February 2015: Rega RP3 + Rega Fono Mini A2D

II. Set up as of February 18, 2015

HT

Samsung 51F5000 (previously, Philips 25" CRT TV and Panasonic Viera 42PV70)
Denon 1713 (from Onkyo 494)
Pioneer BDP-3220K (from Pioneer DV 420)
PS3 slim
WD TV media player
Fronts - PSB Image B6 (previously, Mission M73)
Center - PSB Image C5 (previously, Mission M7C1)
Surround - Mission M30i
Subwoofer - Velodyne CHT 10R


Audio-home use

Rega RP3 + Rega Fono Mini A2D
NAD C516BEE
NAD DAC 1 Wireless USB DAC
NAD Viso HP 50

Audio-office

Macbook Air 2012
AKG Q701
Fiio E18 Kunlun


Updated group pic! (as of Jan. 31, 2015)





Not included in the group pic:

Velodyne CHT-10R with subwoofer riser from erwin allen



Mission M30is (rear speakers)



Group pic-office set up



Others:

Yaden 2000VA automatic voltage regulator
Bada line conditioner
Logitech Harmony 525 universal remote
Radioshack sound level meter
HDMI cable (CDR-King and Monowire)
Speaker wires (fronts and center): Rega Quattro (previously, Ixos 6003)
Sabre speaker stand (4 pillars)
Center speaker stand from turbokiller
Subwoofer riser from erwin allen

[blackie]

Hi Sir!

May i please ask for your feedback on the panasonic?

Cheers and Congrats!

[kt]

wow nice setup bro! nice tv as well hehe musta break in period mo?

[audiojunkie]

Congratz!...    and good start on your set-up, I foresee more upgrades coming on the way....   

Welcome to PDvd....

[tonedeaf]

Hi Sir!

May i please ask for your feedback on the panasonic?

Cheers and Congrats!

Hi!  so far, i have no complaints. PQ is good, even on a regular dvd player. for cable tv viewing, it depends on the channel (cnn and bbc, for example, have great PQ, the local channels less so). it's hot! (literally) the manual is not so helpful. changing channels takes about 2 seconds.

i haven't tried to use it as a pc monitor. nor have i tried to use with a ps3,xbox or any hd dvd player.

i suggest you get one of them surge protectors or AVR or a line conditioner (like what i have). nakakanerbyos pag nag brown out and biglang nag on ulit. hahaha!

finally, check out the panasonic 42pv70h thread. there are other users there who can better help you out.

[tonedeaf]

@audiojunkie,

thanks

@kt,

re break-in, i watch a lot of cable tv and just zoom. i just realized today (after 4 days)  that i only adjusted the settings for tv viewing. after watching bourne identity, i realized that the settings were dynamic, well above the mid-levels, contrary to the break-in instructions. hahaha!

[MAtZTER]

Stand:

Sabre Luna 

Nice setup! Used to own Mission M7's, used to own an Onkyo 494. the 2 are a great combo! Bagay na bagay!

[kt]

@audiojunkie,

thanks

@kt,

re break-in, i watch a lot of cable tv and just zoom. i just realized today (after 4 days)  that i only adjusted the settings for tv viewing. after watching bourne identity, i realized that the settings were dynamic, well above the mid-levels, contrary to the break-in instructions. hahaha!

hehe same here bro! i just set mine to less than half of everything. do u mind sharing your initial picture setting for catv n dvd thru hdmi? tnx

[Vhongbiker]

Wow! very impressive!
congrats atty.

[tonedeaf]

hehe same here bro! i just set mine to less than half of everything. do u mind sharing your initial picture setting for catv n dvd thru hdmi? tnx

hi! no hdmi yet. i just use component cables right now.

[Trig]

Nice set-up  skulmeyt ko yung mga lumanog brothers nung highschool ako hehe

Sa hdmi, cdr king lang katapat nyan, 200 pesos lang hehe

Question lang po, center speaker ba yung nasa taas ng dvd player? mas ok cguro kng sa iba mo nlng ipatong yng dvd player 

[blackie]

Thanks for the insights and help sir!

Much appreciated

[tonedeaf]

@ MAtZTER,

re Mission M7s and Onkyos, i agree. thanks.

Question lang po, center speaker ba yung nasa taas ng dvd player? mas ok cguro kng sa iba mo nlng ipatong yng dvd player 

yes, center speaker nga. i'm going to have some kind of a glass enclosure made to separate the two. else, will move the center speaker up, same shelf as the tv, to the space in front.

[tonedeaf]

with additional pics 

[barrister]

Congrats, madam tonedeaf!  Great gear choices!

after watching bourne identity, i realized that the settings were dynamic, well above the mid-levels, contrary to the break-in instructions. hahaha!

Dynamic kasi ang default setting out of the box.

Here's what I wrote in my blog about it:

xxx

more at: http://y2kb.blogspot.com/2005/10/music-to-my-ears.html

Thanks for the link.  I enjoyed reading you blog posts.  You write like a pro -- have you ever done it professionally?  (Pleadings and motions don't count )

yes, center speaker nga. i'm going to have some kind of a glass enclosure made to separate the two. else, will move the center speaker up, same shelf as the tv, to the space in front. 

Good idea.  The player might be getting too much vibration from the center speaker.

Additional suggestion:  Try moving the front speakers forward.  Clearing the space between the two front speakers will improve imaging.
 

[audiojunkie]

Just noticed that you got vast collections of Box Set DVD Movies- Very Impressive not only the set-up!
 

Read your blog and enjoy reading it, too. also if you won't mind - someone called you " madame ". Are we talking to a lady?   

[tonedeaf]

Thanks for the link.  I enjoyed reading you blog posts.  You write like a pro -- have you ever done it professionally?  (Pleadings and motions don't count )

Do IBP Journal articles and papers count? 

Anyway, thanks for the compliment. But no, I don't write professionally. I keep meaning to, but I don't think I write often enough. If you note from my blog, I write maybe 5 times a year. hehehe. our work doesn't allow for much free time.

One of these days, when I walk away from the profession, or at least take a step back to breathe again, I will.

[tonedeaf]

Just noticed that you got vast collections of Box Set DVD Movies- Very Impressive not only the set-up!
 

Read your blog and enjoy reading it, too. also if you won't mind - someone called you " madame ". Are we talking to a lady?   

I don't think I have as many boxsets as the folks here. hehehe. I like boxsets. I appreciate the time and effort spent by the makers of the film and the studio in releasing it. But all my collections are old. I haven't purchased a boxset in a while. Or dvds, for that matter.  I used to order a lot from Amazon, or had dvds shipped to friends who visit relatives in the states. and then i just stopped.

good thing i got that new tv. made me want to watch dvds again. now i want rear speakers and a turntable and all the dvds i missed out in buying.

and yes, i'm one of the female members of pdvd. i hesitate to say 'lady', as it conjures up images of corsets and uncomfortable clothes 

[Nemesis91]

Wow Meg, ganda collection mo ng dvd ah!

[kt]

ooops sori po mam pala kayo...hehe musta po break in sa tv?

[Assassin101]

nice setup madam and welcome to a never ending upgrades

[MAtZTER]

@ MAtZTER,

re Mission M7s and Onkyos, i agree. thanks.

yes, center speaker nga. i'm going to have some kind of a glass enclosure made to separate the two. else, will move the center speaker up, same shelf as the tv, to the space in front.

Ma'am (pala ), Perfect view has a simple wood enclosure to isolate your DVDp from your center speaker. Another nice looking option is to wall mount your plasma and center speaker.

[tonedeaf]

Ma'am (pala ), Perfect view has a simple wood enclosure to isolate your DVDp from your center speaker. Another nice looking option is to wall mount your plasma and center speaker.

who (or what) is perfect view? 

re wall mount, would love the option. kaso, i'm just renting my unit. my landlord forbids making holes in the walls. kaya no choice also on that matter.

[MAtZTER]

You can find Perfect view in Ace hardware & True value.

The wood enclosure I was referring to basically encloses your DVDp in a wood frame, giving you space to place your center speaker on top of the DVDp. This way the DVDp is less prone to speaker vibrations.

[streetsmart]

I like your DVD collection! Meron ka pang "Brazil" na Criterion collection. 

Pero siguro, fans ka ni Regine kasi kitang-kita ung "Dahil May Isang Ikaw" at "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw." 

Cheers!

[tonedeaf]

^ actually, fans ako ni bb. joyce bernal. di pa kita dyan ang aking mga juday-piolo vcds 

[streetsmart]

I like boxsets. I appreciate the time and effort spent by the makers of the film and the studio in releasing it. But all my collections are old. I haven't purchased a boxset in a while.

Your boxsets are supposed to be old. Yet, a lot of them are still naka-plastic. D ka yata madalas manood. 

Or baka naman binuksan mo sila tapos binalik mo ang plastic. Parang yung mga sofa o upuan ng kotse na iniiwan ang plastic para d marumihan. Malay ko nga ba.

Don't worry. Dami ko rin DVD na binili tapos months before napanood ko. 

Cheers! 

[audiojunkie]

^ actually, fans ako ni bb. joyce bernal. di pa kita dyan ang aking mga juday-piolo vcds 

Seems you're " kapamilya "....    

[tonedeaf]

Your boxsets are supposed to be old. Yet, a lot of them are still naka-plastic. D ka yata madalas manood. 

Or baka naman binuksan mo sila tapos binalik mo ang plastic. Parang yung mga sofa o upuan ng kotse na iniiwan ang plastic para d marumihan. Malay ko nga ba.

i've watched all of the boxsets i have.

i do try,  however,  to keep the plastic cover intact when i first open the dvds. i use a cutter and just make a hole on the side where the dvds come out and leave the rest as is. hehe. i figure that might prolong its shelf life a little longer.

 

[streetsmart]

i've watched all of the boxsets i have.

i do try,  however,  to keep the plastic cover intact when i first open the dvds. i use a cutter and just make a hole on the side where the dvds come out and leave the rest as is. hehe. i figure that might prolong its shelf life a little longer.

Oh wow! Akala ko pa naman that shelf life refers to pagkain lang ... 

Let me see ... hula lang ako sa ibang habit mo:
1) Upuan ng kotse mo ay may plastic pa rin
2) Ang ganda ng fabric ng sofa mo pero may plastic or some other kind of cover
3) You very carefully open gifts, so that you can re-use the gift wrapper
4) Cellphone mo may original pa na plastic sa screen nya
5) And finally ... christmas tree mo ay naka-display na may plastic

Tama ba?