Need a new entertainment system

Gas Man · 10-25-2008, 08:06 PM

Ok so I'm planning my black friday purchasing for a new living room setup.

On a slight budget cause I'm trying to do about $25k worth of improvements to the house with $18k. On the budget for this piece is $3.5K but if I could slide in under that more money to say the kitchen.

The pieces I need...

LCD 50"-60"
Audio system

Here's what I was thinking on audio. I want to go Bose. I think many imitate and some come close but bose is bose. Like Stihl to 2 strokes and Honda to generators. Others will do the job but not with their finesse. I also want small and understated but good sound.

I went to the Bose factory store Friday. I was AMAZED at the 3:2:1 GS Serious III system. Just 2 up front speakers and a powered sub. The sound was very filling and far more crisp than the lower Lifestyle V systems. The sound was also in the range of your periphial vision. No rear behind your head sound cause nothing back there. Comes with the 3 speakers, and the tuner which has AM/FM/CD/DVD with HDMI outs. And retail is only $999

To get the same crisp sound in the lifestyle V series the price jumps to $3k for the V35 system. So I am thinking of cutting the corner on this. Using the money elsewhere. MAYBE unless somebody screams bloody murder no.

Anybody?

On the TV/monitor...

Any suggestions? I know 1080p ( i think that is right). I want to stay mainstream brands. Love the Samsung electric powered mount that you control thru the tv remote.

I figure maybe I can snag these for a good deal on black friday. I'm pretty sure that will be possible for the tv...

What ya think?

jeeps84 · 10-25-2008, 08:10 PM

Get a 41 tv. save a grand

VatorMan · 10-25-2008, 08:14 PM

I was able to get a 65 in. DLP Samsung at Costco for $1700 and that included a TV stand. You should have plenty left over or your BOSE system.

Porkchop · 10-25-2008, 10:14 PM

I have a complete Polk Audio professional system for sale.... basically brand new...

Its the larger speakers... which I'm guessing you dont want if you are going BOSE. But I basically have like 2 grand in audio equiptment sitting in my bedroom that I have no use for now that i moved home. That is my first bike right there... if i can get rid of it by spring though!

Damn, i get excited everytime i think about that. But then i think about how hard it is going to be to get decent money for it. (i.e- not at a flea market)

Gas Man · 10-26-2008, 12:57 AM

Yeah nothing big...

But I need at least a 50", being that's what I have now and I designed the center wall unit for this purpose

Quick281 · 10-26-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Yeah nothing big...

But I need at least a 50", being that's what I have now and I designed the center wall unit for this purpose

Even without the bad ass system in place, your living room is already bad ass! The piece you designed is also very nice.

Mr Lefty · 10-26-2008, 07:50 AM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1206141605017

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1122654018549

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099395911231

Add another $200 or so for speaker cable, HDMI cables, Subwoofer cable, mounting brackets for speakers... and your at $2869 not including shipping. that's from bestbuy.com

if your bestbuy has a Magnolia store in it... go in and talk to them. I don't know what they're ability is anymore... but when I sold stuff for Magnolia before bestbuy bought them out.... I could adjust the price quite a bit. if you said you had a HARD budget of 3000... I'd give ya a $100 off for spending $2500... or $300-400 off for going up to $3000... and once in a great while I'd pull a $500 if you'd blow your budget and go $3500. this was a common practice... but usually required a "insurance" plan.

OneSickPsycho · 10-26-2008, 09:31 AM

I've heard the same shit about Bose... Over-priced and not very good...

I'll post up your shit on my Ridgeline forum... there's a bunch of guys who custom make their own home audio stuff on there and know way more than you can even imagine on the shit...

marko138 · 10-26-2008, 10:25 AM

I've got a 42" Panasonic Plasma 1080P. It looks great. I love it. I've also got a pretty nice surround sound system. Polk speakers all around and a Pioneer reciever. The reciever isn't great...but it gets the job done.

Next is a blu-ray player.

Amber Lamps · 10-26-2008, 01:01 PM

I have a 46" Sharp Aquos LCD and Rotel stereo components,Sony video components, Boston Acoustics speakers,a Boston Acoustics powered sub and a Polk Audio powered sub for the rear. Obviously,I subscribe to the "mix and match" theory of home entertainment system building. Also,I like using all separates in my system for sound quality reasons.

That being said,depending on your budget and musical tastes,a box system could easily satisfy your needs. My problem with the Bose 321 system is ,as Ebbs described,it's lack of highs and lows. Bose does an outstanding job using ports,chambers,and multi-directional drivers to simulate "big speaker" sound. Simulations rarely are as good as the real thing. Surround sound is supposed to require multiple speakers. When a helicopter comes in from the back and flies from right to left. It should hit both rears,slide to the right rear,go to mid right,to front right,to center,to left and away. Two or three speakers at the front of the room cannot reproduce that accurately,no matter how cleverly they are designed.

For the money,I like either the Onkyo box systems,the Yamaha or even the Samsung blue ray set-up. All three sell systems under a grand which are 7.1 surround (meaning they come with 7 speakers and a sub,just in case you're not familiar). The Samsung has a built in blu ray player and up converts regular dvds to 1080p. Of course,if you're feeling frisky and you have the room,I'd still rather see you get a 7.1 receiver,a "boxed" speaker set (boston Acoustics makes a great one)with a POWERED sub(important) and a blu ray player (I've seen them for $250). Get a blu ray,you'll thank me later!

Now as far as tvs go... I like the new Samsung lcds but the price is somewhat out of your budget,so I have to go the way I did go and suggest that you find a "last year's model" Sharp or Samsung. You'll get a hellava nice tv and not pay too much. I got my tv for $1200 with the 4 year warranty. Note;go check Office Depot. The people there don't know much about tvs but they had super cheap prices! Whatever you do,try and get a tv with 120hz if you can fit it in your price range,it makes a huge difference.

10-25-2008, 08:06 PM	#1
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	Need a new entertainment system Ok so I'm planning my black friday purchasing for a new living room setup. On a slight budget cause I'm trying to do about $25k worth of improvements to the house with $18k. On the budget for this piece is $3.5K but if I could slide in under that more money to say the kitchen. The pieces I need... LCD 50"-60" Audio system Here's what I was thinking on audio. I want to go Bose. I think many imitate and some come close but bose is bose. Like Stihl to 2 strokes and Honda to generators. Others will do the job but not with their finesse. I also want small and understated but good sound. I went to the Bose factory store Friday. I was AMAZED at the 3:2:1 GS Serious III system. Just 2 up front speakers and a powered sub. The sound was very filling and far more crisp than the lower Lifestyle V systems. The sound was also in the range of your periphial vision. No rear behind your head sound cause nothing back there. Comes with the 3 speakers, and the tuner which has AM/FM/CD/DVD with HDMI outs. And retail is only $999 To get the same crisp sound in the lifestyle V series the price jumps to $3k for the V35 system. So I am thinking of cutting the corner on this. Using the money elsewhere. MAYBE unless somebody screams bloody murder no. Anybody? On the TV/monitor... Any suggestions? I know 1080p ( i think that is right). I want to stay mainstream brands. Love the Samsung electric powered mount that you control thru the tv remote. I figure maybe I can snag these for a good deal on black friday. I'm pretty sure that will be possible for the tv... What ya think? __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

10-25-2008, 08:10 PM	#2
jeeps84 No longer MIA Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western NC (The Great Smoky Mountains) Moto: 1987 GSXR 50, 1996 Ducati M900, 07 GSXR 750, 07 Harley Davidson Night Train Posts: 984	Get a 41 tv. save a grand __________________ Lets ride!

10-25-2008, 10:14 PM	#4
Porkchop 125GP Champion Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Worthington, OH Moto: Empty Garage Posts: 3,418	I have a complete Polk Audio professional system for sale.... basically brand new... Its the larger speakers... which I'm guessing you dont want if you are going BOSE. But I basically have like 2 grand in audio equiptment sitting in my bedroom that I have no use for now that i moved home. That is my first bike right there... if i can get rid of it by spring though! Damn, i get excited everytime i think about that. But then i think about how hard it is going to be to get decent money for it. (i.e- not at a flea market) __________________ *Coming soon? 2010 Ducati Monster 696 - Sold 1984 Honda VF500F - Sold 1999 Yamaha R6 - Sold

10-26-2008, 12:57 AM	#5
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	Yeah nothing big... But I need at least a 50", being that's what I have now and I designed the center wall unit for this purpose __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

10-26-2008, 01:01 PM	#10
Amber Lamps Moto GP Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,556	I have a 46" Sharp Aquos LCD and Rotel stereo components,Sony video components, Boston Acoustics speakers,a Boston Acoustics powered sub and a Polk Audio powered sub for the rear. Obviously,I subscribe to the "mix and match" theory of home entertainment system building. Also,I like using all separates in my system for sound quality reasons. That being said,depending on your budget and musical tastes,a box system could easily satisfy your needs. My problem with the Bose 321 system is ,as Ebbs described,it's lack of highs and lows. Bose does an outstanding job using ports,chambers,and multi-directional drivers to simulate "big speaker" sound. Simulations rarely are as good as the real thing. Surround sound is supposed to require multiple speakers. When a helicopter comes in from the back and flies from right to left. It should hit both rears,slide to the right rear,go to mid right,to front right,to center,to left and away. Two or three speakers at the front of the room cannot reproduce that accurately,no matter how cleverly they are designed. For the money,I like either the Onkyo box systems,the Yamaha or even the Samsung blue ray set-up. All three sell systems under a grand which are 7.1 surround (meaning they come with 7 speakers and a sub,just in case you're not familiar). The Samsung has a built in blu ray player and up converts regular dvds to 1080p. Of course,if you're feeling frisky and you have the room,I'd still rather see you get a 7.1 receiver,a "boxed" speaker set (boston Acoustics makes a great one)with a POWERED sub(important) and a blu ray player (I've seen them for $250). Get a blu ray,you'll thank me later! Now as far as tvs go... I like the new Samsung lcds but the price is somewhat out of your budget,so I have to go the way I did go and suggest that you find a "last year's model" Sharp or Samsung. You'll get a hellava nice tv and not pay too much. I got my tv for $1200 with the 4 year warranty. Note;go check Office Depot. The people there don't know much about tvs but they had super cheap prices! Whatever you do,try and get a tv with 120hz if you can fit it in your price range,it makes a huge difference. Last edited by Amber Lamps; 10-26-2008 at 01:06 PM..

10-25-2008, 08:14 PM	#3
VatorMan Wrap Yo Ass in Fiberglass Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: Feet Posts: 1,605	I was able to get a 65 in. DLP Samsung at Costco for $1700 and that included a TV stand. You should have plenty left over or your BOSE system.

10-26-2008, 07:50 AM	#7
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1206141605017 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1122654018549 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099395911231 Add another $200 or so for speaker cable, HDMI cables, Subwoofer cable, mounting brackets for speakers... and your at $2869 not including shipping. that's from bestbuy.com if your bestbuy has a Magnolia store in it... go in and talk to them. I don't know what they're ability is anymore... but when I sold stuff for Magnolia before bestbuy bought them out.... I could adjust the price quite a bit. if you said you had a HARD budget of 3000... I'd give ya a $100 off for spending $2500... or $300-400 off for going up to $3000... and once in a great while I'd pull a $500 if you'd blow your budget and go $3500. this was a common practice... but usually required a "insurance" plan.

10-26-2008, 09:31 AM	#8
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	I've heard the same shit about Bose... Over-priced and not very good... I'll post up your shit on my Ridgeline forum... there's a bunch of guys who custom make their own home audio stuff on there and know way more than you can even imagine on the shit...