Any home audio geeks out there?

[Tobert]

BTW, just to get the geek factor going strong.... we are having a custom 16 FOOT digital widescreen put in at work. Along with a 160 person theater seating for it. Isnt supposed to be ready until Xmas-next year, but man, if that isnt incentive to WANT to stay and work late nights, heh.

I had a lot of fun helping design and install a 3x2 Clarity DLP wall at my current employer's campus for the IT command center. They got screwed on the video controller and ended up going with a PC with 3 Nvidia Quattro's instead. It would be great for video nights but they got weird about the idea and wouldn't let me set all the gear up. Oh well. Maybe I'll finish designing my controller idea anyways

There's some cool technology in that space if you're willing to deal with the bezels. It's only really useful in a commercial setting though.

[Locomigo]

I had a lot of fun helping design and install a 3x2 Clarity DLP wall at my current employer's campus for the IT command center. They got screwed on the video controller and ended up going with a PC with 3 Nvidia Quattro's instead. It would be great for video nights but they got weird about the idea and wouldn't let me set all the gear up. Oh well. Maybe I'll finish designing my controller idea anyways

There's some cool technology in that space if you're willing to deal with the bezels. It's only really useful in a commercial setting though.

What controller were they trying to use?
While the solution you ended up with isnt bad, it just has some limitations that a standard controller would not.

Did a 4x8 matrix wall a while back and that was pretty cool, albeit a lot of work 50" cubes, Yeah a full image was insane!

But anyway, we are getting off track, where IS Bill anyway?

[Tobert]

What controller were they trying to use?

It was a Jupiter 950 somebody got off the back of a truck, as far as I can tell. We even bought a warranty and had it to Jupiter and back and it STILL didn't work. Junk. I hear their more modern stuff is better, but I wouldn't buy another product from them.

While the solution you ended up with isnt bad, it just has some limitations that a standard controller would not.

Yeah, I know. I wanted to build something much more sophisticated (could handle full-screen video and arbitrary partitioning/positioning), but it would have taken me a couple months to build from scratch. Still, it would be MUCH cheaper to build than even the low-end controllers on the market cost.

Did a 4x8 matrix wall a while back and that was pretty cool, albeit a lot of work 50" cubes, Yeah a full image was insane!

I'm envious. This is just a medium-size company that was already over budget on the system. It'd be fun to work with a fully tricked out system.

But anyway, we are getting off track, where IS Bill anyway?

[Locomigo]

It was a Jupiter 950 somebody got off the back of a truck, as far as I can tell. We even bought a warranty and had it to Jupiter and back and it STILL didn't work. Junk. I hear their more modern stuff is better, but I wouldn't buy another product from them.

The Jupiters are the controller of choice for us, although Christie isnt a bad choice.

For the Jupiter, we have only had one out of 150+ that we've put in flake on us.
I am pretty happy with them and their support they provide.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, waiting for Bill to reply to some of the questions. etc I through out there.

I dont claim to be the be all end all to this stuff, but between car, residential and commercial, I have been in A/V for a long time and seen a lot of different things. Happy to help anyone.

[biju]

Hey fam:

Just haven't had the time today at the salt mine to respond. I'm crazy busy today... I'll be on tonight tho. Sounds like a good opportunity to use the chat room?!!!

-biju.

[Locomigo]

nope.. wont be around....

[biju]

Arcam offerings looks excellent, but extremely expensive!! If I went that route, I'd have to nix the surround speakers all together just to afford one of their receivers. I don't wanna do that...

Remember, I'm going for 'dabbling' in higher end (yet affordable) components.

All in all I have/had 4k to purchase a receiver, cd player, front stage (monitors & center), subwoofer, surrounds, accessories. The Arcam receiver that offered HDMI output is being offered at $2999. Way too much for my situation.

After seeing that, I went ahead and purchased the Yamaha RX-V2600 just last night. Got a good deal on it ($950 which includes an extended 3yr warranty). After the monitor/sub set up I picked up (roughly $1400), I'm left with roughly $1,650 to purchase the surrounds, CD player, and accessories... (I already have a solid Samsung DVD player w/ HDMI upconversion, etc.)

Can it be done?

-biju.