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    Moderated By: claudio
    Agoraquest Forum Index » » Home Theater Gallery
      
    It's finally done! (for now) Dashboard
    Replies: 17 | Views: 7,749
    Last Reply: March 31, 2006, 8:58 pm

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    Maxxwire | jttar | jehill | DocVijay | Maggiefan | lemoncadillac |
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    Author It's finally done! (for now)
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-28 00:02

    So my AV furniture finally arrived, and my brother spent all day helping me set it all up. I'm very pleased with the results, looks great. Unfortunately it was night by the time we finished, so I couldn't take any nice pictures. Tomorrow I will, and I'll post then here!



    THe only visible piece of the whole system is the TV, and it's behind a custom frame, so all you see is the screen. I'm using a Niles IR repeater setup to relay commands to all the hidden gear. Here is a list of components I'm currently using:



    Denon AVR-3805 receiver

    Samsung HLP-5063WX DLP television

    Sony DVP-CX985 for my CD's

    Sony DVP-CX995 for my DVD's

    HD cable w/ DVR

    a/d/s M12 monitors

    Klipsch center, sats, and sub

    Philips ProntoPro NG remote

    Sony PS2

    Microsoft Xbox

    Nintendo Gamecube

    Linksys 5 port hub

    Niles IR repeater system.

    Monster HTS-2600 Power Center for AV components

    Monster HTS-1000 Power Center for gaming and other accessories

    Monster cables and speaker wire

    Glass toslinks

    ...and a partridge in a pear tree.



    Now all I have to do is load ALL my CD's and DVD's into the players...

    [ This message was edited by: DocVijay on 2005-09-28 13:34 ]


       


    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-28 12:15

    OK, here are the photos!

    First is the big picture (2 actually). Let me just say that this has the ultimate in WAF. Not a single complaint. Well except from me. My wife already tried to cover up the center channel with a big clock! Here it is:




    Here is the custom framed TV, and right above it is the sensor for the IR repeater system from Niles. Works very well.


    Close-up of the IR sensor and hte Klipsch center channel speaker.


    Her is one of the a/d/s M12 speakers. Oldie but a goodie.


    Here are the Klipsch surrounds. As you can see, this room is very difficult to get sounding right. Open spaces, high ceilings, and reflective surfaces. That's why I got the Denon 3805 w/ the auto EQ feature. It really works pretty well.




    Here is the Klipsch KSW-12 sub. It's hidden inside the cabinet just to the left of hte main components. Contributes greatly to the WAF.


    And here are the components themselves. There may be a heat issue, as the receiver and cable box get quite warm. May have to install some fans as I said in another thread.


    All important gaming systems. 5-port hub links them to the main house network. All are online capable. Also, Xbox 360 on pre order...


    Finally the remotes. Another thing that helped the WAF quite a bit is going from this:

    To this:

    Worth every penny!!!


    Also, here are a few shots of hte outdoor system I'm setting up. Here is the future home of my old 27" TV from my apartment days. Wired for cable. Also, I installed a set of Polk Atrium 45 outdoor speakers. They are powered by the #6 & #7 channels of my Denon as Zone 2.






    Finally, here is the kids set-up upstairs in their playroom. Also with Sony components, of course. Sony 997 and Sony 5.1 speakers.










       
    jttar
    Moderator
    Premium Member

    Rank: Sony Master


    Joined: Feb 28, 2003
    Posts: 9156
    From: Chicago,IL, USA

      Posted: 2005-09-28 21:42

     DocVijay,

    Gorgeous setup and a gorgeous home. I can see why it took you and your brother all day to set it all up but the effort shows and was worth it. You beat me to the punch in regards to heat build up concern for your receiver. You might consider leaving the front doors open when the system is in use. Removing or perforating the rear panels could help release some of the heat if  by doing so doesn't compromise the support of the A/V unit. I can certainly understand the high WAF as you really did a nice clean install and the unit fits the wall perfect.

    You have some lucky children, having their own 5.1 system.  My son was in his 20's before he had his own Sony receiver (STR-DA555) .

    Those Polk Atrium outdoor speakers looks like they will cover the back room nicely. Considering your location, I guess this would be a Florida room literally.

    Thanks you so much for taking the time to take the pictures, even more time hosting and posting them for us and mostly for sharing your fantastic full house setup with us. Nice job.

    Joe


         
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-28 21:51

    Thanks! Yes, for now I am leaving the doors open to relieve the heat issue. I was pretty sure it would be a problem, but I wanted to check and see just how hot. Well, it's pretty hot, so... I'm going to install a set of 12 cm computer fans. They spin slowly enough so as to be pretty quiet. The power supply will be plugged into a switched outlet on the Moster 2600, so they will come on automatically. I've also thought about using a heat probe to monitor the temps, and then have the fans some on automatically using a PC fan controller. I have a feeling that they would likely be on all the time, though, so I may just use the on/off route.

    I didn't intend on spoiling my kids, but when I upgraded my receiver, I had a perfectly good Sony 997, so might as well use it! Unfortunately, I don't think they appreciate it quite yet (my daughter just turned one).

    The Polks are indeed in the Florida room, although technically so is all my gear! I installed it primarily for football season, but my electrician has been dragging his feet to install the power socket for the TV. At least I can get the TV sound through the speakers.


       
    Maxxwire
    Moderator
    Premium Member

    Rank: Sony Adept


    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 25732
    From: Portland, Oregon - USA

      Posted: 2005-09-29 15:37

    Your ADS M-12 speakers were well worth keeping. Their dual 8" design must fill the room with plenty of high quality sound showcasing the craftsmanship of these $2,000 speakers.

    ~Maxx~

    -----------------
    A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!



    The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930


         
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-29 18:10

    These are GREAT speakers. The sound quality is exceptional. They are not exactly timbre matched to the center and surrounds, but that is the only down side. The Denon Auto EQ does a pretty fair job of equalizing the sound from all the channels.

    Also, eBay is awesome. The grills on my speakers were dented and warped (they're metal) from a decade of abuse. But on eBay I was able to find a brand new set of factory grills! Now they look brand new.


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-29 23:44

    I think I've found a solution to the overheating problem. This company, Active Thermal Management, makes cooling supplies specifically for HT gear. I liket he fact that they have thermal probes to increase and decrease the fan speeds as necessary.

    www.activethermal.com/




    or maybe something like this mounted in the cabinet door:



    I'm going to contact them tomorrow.


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-30 15:17

    Well, I just called Actie Thermal Management, and WOW are they expensive. The kit that includes 4 fans and two thermal sensors/black boxes runs for $360. AS far as I can see, this is just a some 12cm PC type fans and a few circuits to turn on the fans.

    They are very nice in that they are off by default, turn on low at 90 degrees, and then high at 110 degrees, but still.

    I think I'll just get my own bits and build it myself. I'l just have them come on with the switched sockets and just run continuously.

    The only thing that I would buy from them is their wooden vents. I think I'll install a pair on the front doors as intake vents.


       
    Maggiefan

    Rank: Sony Fanatic


    Joined: Dec 07, 2003
    Posts: 365
    From: Lansing, MI

      Posted: 2005-09-30 15:33

    You might be able to find wooden vents in the heating section of Lowe's or Home Depot with the heating/cooling floor and wall grills for ducts.

    -----------------
    Larry


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2005-09-30 15:46


    • Member Quote

    On 2005-09-30 15:33, Maggiefan wrote:
    You might be able to find wooden vents in the heating section of Lowe's or Home Depot with the heating/cooling floor and wall grills for ducts.


    Yes, I was going to try that first. The only issue I might have is the wood grain/texture not matching the wall unit. If they weren't going to be on such a prominent area, any vent would do. At least this place (ATM) has the exact type of wood I would need. ANyway I'll just try Lowe's/Home Depot and see what they have, and then return it if it doesn't match.


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2006-03-30 15:26

    Well, here it is much later, and I finally installed the ventilation fans. They work phenomenally. The front of the receiver is actually cool to the touch. PLus the fans have a thermistor, so the speed is dependent on the temperature. The louder it is, the hotter it runs, and the faster the fans spin. Noise is not really an issue, as the more noise the fans make, the louder the system is usually playing. I'll post some pics later.





    EDIT: And I'm also in the process of upgrading from the Denon 3805 to a Denon 4306.

    [ This message was edited by: DocVijay on 2006-03-30 15:30 ]


       
    jehill
    Premium Member

    Rank: Sony Senior Advisor


    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13795
    From: Sewell, NJ

      Posted: 2006-03-30 16:22

    How similar is your fan control system to this installation?  It sounds like yours is a whole lot simpler.

    -----------------
    -John

    Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2006-03-31 09:03


    • Member Quote

    On 2006-03-30 16:22, jehill wrote:
    How similar is your fan control system to this installation? It sounds like yours is a whole lot simpler.


    It'smuch simpler than that setup. I bought a 12V power supply from Radio Shack which I plug into a timed outlet in my Monster power unit. Turns on the fans slightly after the other gear, and more importantly turns them off a bit after everything else.

    I connected the fans to the power supply using old 4 pin molex PC power connectors that I had left over. The fans have a termistor that controls the speed of the fans relative to the temperature of the air flowing over it.

    These fans move more air than the ones the other gu used so they can be noisy. However, lower volumes generally mean lower temps, and thus lower fan speeds. When the volume gets cranked, then the temps increase and so does the fan noise. But since the general volume is up anyway, you really can't tell.

    I thought of using a fan speed controller like he did, but I wanted automatic control, and pretty much all the ones I saw that were truly automatic needed a PC, as ther was some software that controlled the fan speed based on temperature sensor readings. I have no HTPC yet, so that was not an option.

    I also differed in my setup in that air flows from the front to the back. His setup circulates tha air from behind. I installed two wooden vents I stained to match into the doors. Looks like they belong there. It works exceptionally well, and all my gear is now nice and frosty.

    Anyway here are some pics. First is the fan I used. Next is the two installed for receiver. Close up of fan showinf blue thermistor. Nest are the vents. Finally a close up of the vent.












       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2006-03-31 09:10

    Side note: I ended up getting the vents from Active Thermanl Management. I couldn't find comperable wooden vents anywhere else. Plus these are the same type of wood as the wall unit, so they match quite well.

    THey wanted around $300 for the ir proprietary fan control unit and fans, so I figured I'd just build my own. Ended up spending under $100!


       
    DocVijay

    Rank: Sony Addict


    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 184
    From: Tampa, FL

      Posted: 2006-03-31 09:12

    Stupid brain keeps forgetting stuff.

    I also ditched Brighthouse and their crappy customer service and got DirecTV. I got the HD DVR box downstairs and a standard sat box for hte kids.

    The DirecTV HD DVR (Tivo) box doesn't run as hot as the cable box did.


       
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