The most exotic system I saw was at a dealer in NYC - it had Wilson MAXX (don't know the exact model, but I think they were the better part of $100K) up front driven by the top-of-the line Mark Levinson monos (the 33's - gawd those things are huge). Appropriate center and surrounds driven by appropriate amplification. 100" screen with a nice front projector. I'm sure the total cost was a quarter mil. They had an episode of Speed Racer playing on it, seriously. I didn't buy it. My HT / audio system: Lexicon MC-12 Krell FPB-200c for fronts Krell KAV-500 for center / surrounds Muse Model 9 Signature for DVD / CD playback Dynaudio Contour 3.0 for L/R Dynaudio Contour Center Dynaudio Audience 50's for surrounds. Pioneer Elite RPTV (51") This system is in a 14x18 room, and it suits me perfectly. At some point, we'll remodel the basement, and when we do I'll be able to design the space for the theater to whatever I want (except I'll be stuck with 7.5' ceilings). When I do that, I'll upgrade the TV, and quite possibly go with a front-projector system. Movies are really captivating on my system, but there's no question that even an updated, and somewhat larger, RPTV would enhance them, and a 80-100" front projection system would REALLY enhance them. I really love the HT experience (puts me in a bit of a minority in these parts), but I share some of quackymacky's viewpoints on audio vs. HT performance - I've never been tempted to upgrade my surrounds. You read about people have Dunlavy SC-V's driven by expensive amps for the rears and I scratch my head. For me, anyway, you hit the knee of the curve earlier for HT, so I don't find it particularly impressive to have $100K worth of speakers up front or $25K worth of speakers in the rear. $50K in a front projection setup - well, that's probably another story :-) Kirk
What about the ultimate home theater????
There was a similiar question to this posted about "ultimate audio" systems maybe a couple of years ago. And I have read that thread entirely. I have even written a post right onto that thread. And so forth. Now, I want to know what was the best home theater that you have saw??? And if so, what did it do to excite you??? What you felt it did which makes this system head and shoulders above anything that you either own, or has experienced before??? How close did this system come to emulating what you experience at a local cineplex??? And if possible, what components did this system contain, and what size and type of room was it located in??? Oh, I forgot. What movie was playing at the time you experienced this "ultimate" home theater system??
Okay, I'll start.
The "BEST" home theater system I have experienced so far consisted of the following components:
Speaker System: Revel Salon (Fronts) + Revel Voice (Center) + Revel Embrace (Sides and Rears) + Revel Sub-15 Subwoofers (x2).
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No. 436 (Front) + Mark Levinson No. 434 (x3) (Center, Sides, and Rears).
Pre/Pro Control Center: Mark Levinson No. 40 Media Console.
DVD Player: Pioneer DV-AX10 Universal Player (For Video).
SACD Player: Sony SCD-XA777ES Super Audio Compact Disc Player (For Audio Playback).
Front Projector: Yamaha DPX-1 Digital Cinema Projector.
Projector Screen: Stewart GrayHawk.
Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference.
Power Conditioning: PS Audio P600 Power Plant (For Sources. Amplifiers were plugged directly into the wall sockets).
And if I could recall, the movie that was playing at the time was "The Mummy" starring Brendon Frazier.
The system was installed into a moderately sized room at a local "high-end" saloon. It even had the leather theater style seats with cup holders on each right. And let me tell you, the experience was BREATHTAKING. To see all of that action moving on the screen the way that it did was almost beyond realistic. That was as close as I got to experiencing the whole cinema experience without going to a cineplex. The action in which Brendon Frazier was a part of when he was trying to defeat his enemies was captivating as was the soundtrack of this DVD that the store was demonstrating. There was plenty of involvement as far as the soundtrack was concerned. The movie kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time during the experience. To me, it was beyond believability. I can only imagine if someone who is lucky and wealthy enough to own this system will be in for some kind of treat. All you need after you install this system onto your premises is a concession stand. To me, it didn't get any better than this. If I were to guess how much this system costs, then I would have to say that it is in the ballpark of $40,000.00 to $50,000.00. More perhaps. But that was the most "ultimate" home theater that I have experienced.
Buy now, if I had the money and I wanted to copy and emulate this system, and make a more "inexpensive (which is still prohibitly expensive to me)" version of it, then I would do it with the following. But I either have to come across a big inheritance or win the lottery first before I would attempt such an undertaking. But anyway, it would contain:
Speaker System: Totem Mani-2 (Fronts) + Totem Model-1 Center (Center) + Totem Model-1 (Rears) + REL Storm III (x2) (Subwoofers). In my room, there won't be any need for any side speakers. So my version won't have any.
Power Amplifier: Anthem PVA-5.
Pre/Pro Control Center: Anthem AVM-2.
DVD Player: Arcam FMJ DV27 DVD Player (For Video).
SACD Player: Sony DVP-S9000ES DVD/CD/SACD Player (For Audio Playback (Especially for SACD Discs)).
Display Monitor: Runco PlasmaWall PL-50cx.
Cables: MITerminator 2/MIT V-Linq/MIT S-Linq/S-Video Connection System/MIT ISO-Linq.
Power Conditioning: Equi=Tech ET2Q ((x2) One for source components, the other for the plasma display).
Approximate Cost: $20,000.00 to $25,000.00 vs. $50,000.00 for the more expensive version.
The last system would be a smaller scale (and a MUCH less expensive version) of what I saw at my local "high-end" on that fateful day. And unlike the one at the store, this one would fit into my home, but it would only do about 95% of what the system at the store did.
Okay. Your Turn. What was the "ultimate" home system you have ever saw??
I am very interested in what you saw, and whether or not it got you involved into the performance of a movie that it was playing at the time you experienced it.
Thanks In Advance.
--Charles--
Okay, I'll start.
The "BEST" home theater system I have experienced so far consisted of the following components:
Speaker System: Revel Salon (Fronts) + Revel Voice (Center) + Revel Embrace (Sides and Rears) + Revel Sub-15 Subwoofers (x2).
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No. 436 (Front) + Mark Levinson No. 434 (x3) (Center, Sides, and Rears).
Pre/Pro Control Center: Mark Levinson No. 40 Media Console.
DVD Player: Pioneer DV-AX10 Universal Player (For Video).
SACD Player: Sony SCD-XA777ES Super Audio Compact Disc Player (For Audio Playback).
Front Projector: Yamaha DPX-1 Digital Cinema Projector.
Projector Screen: Stewart GrayHawk.
Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference.
Power Conditioning: PS Audio P600 Power Plant (For Sources. Amplifiers were plugged directly into the wall sockets).
And if I could recall, the movie that was playing at the time was "The Mummy" starring Brendon Frazier.
The system was installed into a moderately sized room at a local "high-end" saloon. It even had the leather theater style seats with cup holders on each right. And let me tell you, the experience was BREATHTAKING. To see all of that action moving on the screen the way that it did was almost beyond realistic. That was as close as I got to experiencing the whole cinema experience without going to a cineplex. The action in which Brendon Frazier was a part of when he was trying to defeat his enemies was captivating as was the soundtrack of this DVD that the store was demonstrating. There was plenty of involvement as far as the soundtrack was concerned. The movie kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time during the experience. To me, it was beyond believability. I can only imagine if someone who is lucky and wealthy enough to own this system will be in for some kind of treat. All you need after you install this system onto your premises is a concession stand. To me, it didn't get any better than this. If I were to guess how much this system costs, then I would have to say that it is in the ballpark of $40,000.00 to $50,000.00. More perhaps. But that was the most "ultimate" home theater that I have experienced.
Buy now, if I had the money and I wanted to copy and emulate this system, and make a more "inexpensive (which is still prohibitly expensive to me)" version of it, then I would do it with the following. But I either have to come across a big inheritance or win the lottery first before I would attempt such an undertaking. But anyway, it would contain:
Speaker System: Totem Mani-2 (Fronts) + Totem Model-1 Center (Center) + Totem Model-1 (Rears) + REL Storm III (x2) (Subwoofers). In my room, there won't be any need for any side speakers. So my version won't have any.
Power Amplifier: Anthem PVA-5.
Pre/Pro Control Center: Anthem AVM-2.
DVD Player: Arcam FMJ DV27 DVD Player (For Video).
SACD Player: Sony DVP-S9000ES DVD/CD/SACD Player (For Audio Playback (Especially for SACD Discs)).
Display Monitor: Runco PlasmaWall PL-50cx.
Cables: MITerminator 2/MIT V-Linq/MIT S-Linq/S-Video Connection System/MIT ISO-Linq.
Power Conditioning: Equi=Tech ET2Q ((x2) One for source components, the other for the plasma display).
Approximate Cost: $20,000.00 to $25,000.00 vs. $50,000.00 for the more expensive version.
The last system would be a smaller scale (and a MUCH less expensive version) of what I saw at my local "high-end" on that fateful day. And unlike the one at the store, this one would fit into my home, but it would only do about 95% of what the system at the store did.
Okay. Your Turn. What was the "ultimate" home system you have ever saw??
I am very interested in what you saw, and whether or not it got you involved into the performance of a movie that it was playing at the time you experienced it.
Thanks In Advance.
--Charles--
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- 9 posts total
- 9 posts total