Something amazing - what would you buy


I am putting in a home theater that I want to use for a music listening room too.  The goal is putting together something amazing.  I joined the forum because I've been looking for a good source of information whose livelihood doesn't depend on me buying what he/she sells. 

The list below (suggested by a local retailer and leading candidate to sell it to me) is just the equipment for the room and I'm looking for the Forum's insight on how they would amend it.  Only the first two items have been purchased.  Everything else is open to revision.  If you're looking for a number, the current budget is $150,000 for the equipment only.  Installation and setup costs are on top.  The only things I'm keeping from the current setup is an Apple 4k TV and the air in the room.  Everything else goes.  I have a 1Gb internet speed connection in the room if that is helpful.  

Rather than get into room configuration and its important role in the choice, assume that the list below is appropriate for the room.

Projector + Screen
• Sony VPLVW915ES Laser Projector mounted to a pre-wired position (back-ordered).
o https://www.sony.com/electronics/projector/vpl-vw915es/buy/vplvw915es
• Panamorph DCR-S2 Cinema Format Projector Conversion Lens (on hand)
o https://www.panamorph.com/
• Screen Innovations 130” Fixed Screen On Wall 2.35 widescreen format.
o https://www.screeninnovations.com/screen/zero-edge-pro/

B&W Speakers
• 800D3 Front Towers Qty 2
o https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/800-d3
• HTM1 Center Channel w/stand
o https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/htm1-d3
• CWM7.3S2 In Wall Surround Channels Qty 4
o https://www.bowerswilkins.com/custom-installation/in-wall-speakers
• CCM7.3S2 In-Ceiling Atmos Channels Qty 4
o https://www.bowerswilkins.com/custom-installation/in-ceiling-speakers
• DB2 Subwoofer Qty 2
o https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/subwoofers

Audio Equipment – McIntosh
• MX170 Processor
o https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/home-theater-processors/MX170
• MC462 Front Channel Amps
o https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/amplifiers/MC462
• MC257 Center + Surrounds
o https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/amplifiers/MC257
• MI254 Atmos Channels
o https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/amplifiers/MI254
• MPC1500 Power Center
o https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/specialty-products/MPC1500

Universal Controller Savant + Video Source Kaleidescape 4k Player
https://www.savant.com/host
https://www.kaleidescape.com/wp-content/uploads/KaleidescapeStratoS_SpecSheet_2020.pdf

Thanks for your help,
txhometheater
Ag insider logo xs@2xtxhometheater
Wow, nice budget and the potential is incredible.  I just completed my third theater room in 12 years.  My current room is 15' D x 20'W and seats six.  This is the smallest of all of the TR's that I built.  The  difference is that mine is a dedicated theater room, as I have a separate two channel listening room.  

Well, you hit a home run with the Projector choice.  I was going to buy that one also until I unfortunately became functionally blind a couple of months ago.  Therefore, I thought why spend that money if I can't see the detail and brightness of the picture.  Sp I opted for a way less Sony 695 version.  It is OK.  My screen is a 130" Severtson thin bezel bright white.  They are used in many movie theaters.

It is just my opinion but you lost me when you said B&W speakers.  I considered them in my second house but found the sound to be dull and uninspiring.  Even for two channel listening, I am not a fan of B&W...Again my personal preference.  I think you can do much better.  In my latest house I decided to give Tekton a try.  Eric, custom built me a 5.2.2 in wall system of Double Impact speakers including Atmos.  Having these giant speakers built into the wall works great for my situation and the subwoofers are humongous.  

Are you going to do In wall speakers?  If so, you may want to look at Focal, Legacy Silhouette, Wisdom or even a custom built Tekton. However, if you are going to do floor-standers, then you really need to broaden your search.  A friend of mine had an all Wilson Audio / McIntosh system and it was really good and high end.  He also had the high end Sony projector and the picture was close to OLED levels.  

I don't ever think you can go wrong with Mac equipment.  Solid equipment, good quality and decent resale.  It is especially good for a HT.  I think it is overpriced for a two channel system and it would not be my first, second or third choice.  

My system includes Control 4, same as my last theater room.  it controls the whole house including the garage and outdoor patio and pool speakers.  I had an OPPO 105D in my prior house that I never used so I opted to totally stream in this house.  

Are you leaning toward more two channel listening or movies and sports?  Have you thought about a combination of in wall and floor-standers?  That way you can get better front speakers for two channel listening.  You need a good power conditioner.  i have an Inakustic 3500 P.  Are you getting a DAC?  Music Server?

I love your budget.  You can buy a lot of great components.  My theater room did not cost anywhere nears what yours is but if you add the two channel portion it compares.  I just happen to love music more than TV / Movies / Sports.  You can see mine on willgolf's virtual system.  Good Luck and have fun.  Take your time picking out your speakers.


I am putting in a home theater that I want to use for a music listening room too. The goal is putting together something amazing.
Cool, and welcome to the machine.  Some general questions:
  • What % importance is movies vs. music, and would music mainly be mainly 2-channel?
  • For a stereo music system, what sound and performance characteristics are most important to you?
  • Is this Magnolia you’re speaking to?  I worked for them and know they do a lot of B&W and McIntosh along with Savant. 
  • What other makes of speakers and electronics have you listened to and liked or not liked?
  • Is there flexibility to change the walls in the room for better sound (you said you’re only keeping the Apple TV and the air so seemed like fair game to ask)?
Sorry to be so nosy, but the more info we have the better and more meaningful the recommendations you’ll get here. 
Good questions.  You're not nosy at all.  My friends who play poker tell me if you can't spot the patsy when you sit down to a game, it's you.  I didn't have to spend much time reading threads on Audiogon to realize I am the patsy here.

80% movies, 20% 2 channel music, but I've heard if you get a good theater system you'll find yourself listening to more concert films.

Sound performance characteristics - I do love the accuracy that I've heard from Martin Logan and have no great love for over-mixed bass.  I also think I don't have enough experience to answer the question as well, nor as thoughtfully as I would like to.

Magnolia - yes.

Others - My background is as a retail box consumer who has only just become aware of different/better options.  So I've not listened to many.  The best sound I've ever heard was Nautilus speakers with Mcintosh amps at a local high-end store.  The descriptions I've read of Sonus Faber make me think I would like those.

Walls -  Yes, to the covering.  No to the location of the walls.  It's an existing room that I won't be able to change the shape or size.
Willgolf - I'm sorry to hear of the declining sight.  That must be very hard, especially for a home theater enthusiast.

I appreciate your comments on the B&W.  I think of them as the prettiest girl at my very small school of experience.  Certainly open to better (prettier) experiences now.

I am planning on in-wall speakers on the sides.  I was thinking the floor standing speakers will give a better performance than speakers in the wall for the front (but open to education).  No thought either way about in the back of the room.

I did feel like I was getting steered to Savant.  My experience with Control4 is limited to a Las Vegas hotel I like.  It seemed straightforward and that appeals to me.

I am thinking about a music server.  I know even less about those though.

I agree about the power conditioner.  They spec'd a Mcintosh one in what I have, but I have no idea on how to judge those, past knowing I need one.
I dunno, you are ready to spend serious money and you are dealing with what amounts to a box shop. It’s probably a stronger home theatre set up than a stereo rig, but that’s just my impression based on reading the list you provided.
I did a couple of different rooms over the years with large projection systems and racks full of pretty serious equipment, but always kept the two channel stereo system separate. There was one point in my life where the last thing I wanted to do when I got off a flight was come home and fiddle with a tonearm- I just wanted to press a remote control and see a movie. There came another point in my life where the home theatre system was literally collecting dust and when I moved, I gave away the 6 foot tall custom Mid-Atlantic racks to a friend who does pro-sound, along with most of the video equipment, which was dated.
Given the current plague, it isn’t easy to travel to see, hear and evaluate some other systems that high end dealers can offer. I think the trick, especially if this is somewhat new to you, is to visit those dealers in the US that purport to offer the best with your black card firmly locked away. And see what their systems designer can do-- since that is part of it too- the aesthetics of the gear in the room tend toward ugly in my estimation, unless you are a gearhead. (For example, it sounds silly, but if I were watching a movie, I wouldn’t be interested in the green glow of McI stuff in the room. Yeah, I know, you can turn off the displays altogether).
I’m not going to recommend equipment brands-- I will say this, though: home theatre sound is entirely different than two channel stereo. Given your priorities, maybe that’s OK.
This could be a hugely fun project and I don’t want to rob you of any of the joy of it; to the contrary, there are shops in the US that can really put things together and your budget might be strained, but you’ll get a sense of what is possible and work from there.
PS: I was a denizen of NYC and environs for decades, but starting living in Austin part-time around 2012 and relocated to Austin in 2017. I've found Texas, much as I love it, to be a virtual wasteland for high end audio. (Not so sure about video b/c I don't really focus on that anymore). There are some serious systems here, but depending on where you are, you may be forced to travel to see and hear some of this stuff.