Need some advice

k140db

Good afternoon everyone. I'm in the process of having my basement finished and i would like to install a home theatre. I've had HTIB's in the past but now its time to grow up. I'm working with a room thats 16ft by 13ft with one end of the room being open to the other rooms in the basement. I'm still trying to configure how i'm going to layout the room. I'm guessing using the 3 walls to support the TV and speakers leaving the open end of the room being the rear of the home theatre "room (minus the 4th wall)".

I plan on building a 5.1 system. I'm curious about the in wall RCi 85's as my front and rear speakers. Now i called polk tech support and they recommended using the RCi 85 as the center channel also. Has anyone heard the RCi85's before and how good do they sound? Would the RCi85 be sufficient for a center channel? What model polk PSW would work well with the RCi85's? I have read alot of negative comments about in wall PSW's so i'm really not sure. I dont want to sink thousands of dollars into equipment because I'm not Bill Gates and i have my first child on the way so i have to start thinking about that too.

Also with those speakers, what receiver would be a good match? Would the RCi85's be enough speaker to fill up the room with sound? I'm big into movies and HDTV with the occasional PS3 tossed in. So when i watch a movie i like to watch it in blu ray rather than DVD. Sorry for all the questions. I put alot of time into researching products before i buy so i get the most for my money.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kevin

Sherardp

If your in a basement, think big Kevin. I would suggest you think 92 inch screens in that room and front projection as that will just about destroy any TV you could buy. As for receiver I would suggest you get your ears on a Pioneer Elites, other Pio models, Denons or Onkyo and see which sound you prefer. I'm partial to the Pio Elite sound, but others will chime in and recommend the other brands to include HK. As for sub I would suggest you look at Epik or SVS subs. While your here look at the showcase for front projection setups, your room is ideal for that "bigger screen."

k140db

***bump***

TECHNOKID

-As far as the speakers, you may add 2 more and go for 7.1 ready. More speakers fills the room using lower power.

-Talking subwoofer, the PSW505 stand alone has a frendly and budget price tag of 249$. However, if you feel its too big you can go for 110, 111 (the smallest) or 125.

-Depending what you are after be a big TV room or a HT room (a HT with a TV is NOT a HT) I would agree with Sherardp that the best experience is with a PJ and screen. I understand the family priority but you can acquire a PJ and screen for roughly the same price as a TV (you can upgrade if you wish later on in life). Personnally, I use an optoma (720p) which includes the screen and costed less than 1K$ on sale. For HT use, I wouldn't go back to any TV, this is the great experience.

Cheers!
TK

TECHNOKID

Sorry, couldn't add to the above post and this is more complete...

-As far as the speakers, you may add 2 more and go for 7.1 ready. More speakers fills the room using lower power. The Rci 85 are decent in the bass area for music andf might not necessitate the use of a sub (subjective). The power is however limited (100 watts thus the suggestion for 2 more speakers). My only beef with in-walls and in-ceiling, you have to be carefull with proper placement since once done your stuck with it (no chance of tweaking).

-Talking subwoofer, the PSW505 stand alone has a frendly and budget price tag of 249$. However, if you feel its too big you can go for 110, 111 (the smallest) or 125. How about a wireles sub (PSWi 225) which allow for proper placement without the cable clutter.

Another option would be an array of Surround Bars (50) which would avoid the problem in-wall causes? However while a good simulation for HT surround, not as good for music and not thrue surround.

-As far as a good receiver well, I won't talk brands as it is very subjective but make sure you buy a brand that has proven effective for years. However, what is important to consider is 7.1 ready, make sure it has pre-outs for potentially adding amps in the future. How about zones, do you want to provide the sound into other rooms in the house??

-Depending what you are after be a big TV room or a HT room (a HT with a TV is NOT a HT) I would agree with Sherardp that the best experience is with a PJ and screen. I understand the family priority but you can acquire a PJ and screen for roughly the same price as a TV (you can upgrade if you wish later on in life). Personnally, I use an optoma (720p) which includes the screen and costed less than 1K$ on sale. For HT use, I wouldn't go back to any TV, this is the great experience.

Cheers!
TK

k140db

Wouldn't a 5.1 set-up in a room thats 16x13 feet with each speaker receiving 100 watts be sufficient? I'm not a big fan of listening to music at home, only while i'm cleaning. I perfer better audio quality in my vehicle. So this is only for ps3 games, HDTV and blue ray movies. Now i'm not saying i'll settle for a HTIB(in use that for my livingroom already) for my basement home theatre, but i'm not going to go over the top either. I want something that fills the room up with sound and is nice and clear that also provides a surround sound experience. Hope this better explains what i'm shooting for.

Thanks,
Kevin

k140db

Forgot to mention this before. I'm stuck between doing drywall ceiling or drop ceilings in my basement. Drop ceilings only because if theres a plumbing or electrical mishap, its easier to replace tiles compared to sheetrock. Would there be a sound difference between the two? Is one perferred over the other? Maybe someone could elaborate on this decision from past experience.

Thanks,
Kevin