New Entertainment Options

nikolas812

A pretty bad accident happened the other day, involving my TV I just bought a couple years ago. Its the only thing I've paid retail for and bought brand new. I bought a Panasonic S64 65" Plasma from Sam's club 2 years ago. I paid $1400 for it and that's a huge purchase for me given my current income. Well. I was watching a movie the other night and as I was laying there, the TV stand gave out and I watched my TV fall face first to it's death. I couldn't believe my eyes. To say I was upset is an understatement...

So now I'm thinking about going to a PJ and 80" screen in the living room. I'm looking at the Optoma HD20 at the moment.

But my main question is. What Should I do for a source? I'm looking at the Oppo Blu Ray Players or a PS4.

I'm not really hardcore into HT or 2CH thing anymore. Hence the reason I haven't been here for a few years. I'm just want something practical.

So what would you do? Will I be losing much as far as picture quality using the PS4 for blu ray? I also assume I could access netflix and such with the PS4. Plus the added benefit of gaming on occasion. So I'm thinking the PS4 might be the more practical option of the two.

What would you do in my situation?

I'm thinking maybe just an old receiver and 2 speakers. Maybe 2.1 at the most for sound. Any suggestions on that as well if you have any. I already have a couple speakers..

I'm trying to do all of this $1000 or less.. $400 for the PJ. $100 for the screen and HDMI cable. this leaves $500 for a source and receiver..

Any suggestions or opinions?

If anyone has something I could use for sale to help me out. Let me know.


Nik

nikolas812

Even thinking maybe a Polk Surround Bar 5500 might be the way to go for sound?

Polkie2009

Nik, welcome back to the forum, it has been a couple of years,lol. Man, sorry to hear your Panny died so soon. I don't think you can go wrong with an Oppo blu ray machine,I have the 103 and it's solid. You might look at the 103D , might be just what you need. If I recall, you also enjoyed video games(?) so a PS4 would also be nice to own. I have zero experience with projectors , but it sounds like you have one already picked out? I remember you used to post often, don't be a stranger!

nikolas812

Yeah. I think I have it figured out.

Optoma HD20
80" Screen
Polk Audio Surround bar *000. (whatever I can Find a deal On.)
PS4.

I think That would make a nice little package to replace my TV. And shouldn't break the bank.

Just seeing what others think.

And thanks for the welcome back!

Nik

PSOVLSK

Sorry to hear about the TV. I can easily understand that upset would be a major understatement.

What you've listed seems to make a lot of sense based on your wants/needs.

rpf65

Budget and you have speakers. What about this
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marsr6005/marantz-sr6005-110w-x-7ch-3-d-home-theater-surround-receiver/1.html

nikolas812

I hate to say it. But I didn't really want to get into receivers if I didn't have to. I just need dialog. lol

I ended up going with.

Optoma HD141X 3D 1080P PJ
93" Screen
PS4 Arkam City Edition Console.
Polk Audio IHT 5000.

Everything was bought new or refurbished except the Polk IHT surround bar.

Everything came to $915.38 after my Amazon $80 gift card was applied.

Not bad. About $500 less than I paid for my TV that just died. Really looking forward to getting all this set up.

Nik

Polkie2009

Congrats Nik, can't wait to hear what you think of that Arkham City limited edition console!

nikolas812

Whoops. That should have said "bundle" Instead of "edition". And I spelled Arkham wrong. Guess I should slow down a little. Still excited to be getting it though. Lol

And thanks. I miss my TV. This should be a nice upgrade though. Looking forward to it. I'm stuck with my lap top until it all gets here.

Nik

nikolas812

Yeah. It should make up for it in other areas though. I'm not too critical anymore. I was using the old TV for 90% netflix/internet, 5% movies and 5% games. With the factory tv speakers. And I was happy. If that tells you anything.

I've been consumed with my race car for the last year or so and it gets all the money attention these days.


Nik

Mikey081057

Did the stand you had the tv on fail or did the stand that attaches to the tv fail... If the latter I would contact the manuf . and demand they reconcile.

nikolas812

The stand I had the TV on failed. It just gave out and dumped the TV on the floor. It was a nice Metal and glass stand. Not cheap. It was about 7 years old though... I thought about it. I called my insurance company to see if it was covered. It wasn't and that's about as far as I went with it. Didn't want to deal with it anymore.

Nik

Polkie2009

A nice metal and glass stand shouldn't have broken on you. I'm trying to wrap this scenario around my head, how exactly something like this happened. Did a metal weld become fatigued and cracked in half? Was the tv on the top glass shelf and the glass itself broke in half dumping the tv on the floor?

vmaxer

Polkie2009 wrote: »

A nice metal and glass stand shouldn't have broken on you. I'm trying to wrap this scenario around my head, how exactly something like this happened. Did a metal weld become fatigued and cracked in half? Was the tv on the top glass shelf and the glass itself broke in half dumping the tv on the floor?

Agree, should not have happened.

nikolas812

Well. Its kind of hard to explain without pictures. The stand is made to have the TV mounted to the back of it. And then it had three shelf's made of glass below it. I'm not entirely sure the TV stand was even designed to have a TV sitting on the top shelf. But the top shelf had a brace glued to the glass and then the brace bolted to the frame. And the back of the glass was glued to the frame it's self. The glue or epoxy they used finally gave out on the back where it was epoxied to the frame. Allowing the TV and glass to pivot on the braces and fall forward.

This is a similar model. I can't find the exact one.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whalen-Brown-Cherry-3-Shelf-Tabletop-Console-for-TVs-up-to-70/26905821

I'm almost most positive the 65" plasma was beyond the rating of the model I bought whether it was mounted to the back or not. If I remember correctly. When I bought it. It was rated for a 55" TV up to a 100 pounds.

Nik

nikolas812

Ironically that stand in the link is the new model of my stand rated for more weight and a different design at a third of the price..

Nik

Polkie2009

Wow, I remember seeing this type of stand sold also at BB. The one in your link looks like the shelves aren't glass, they look like they're about 3/4" thick. I like the look of the thick glass shelves, but they are a lot more expensive,lol. Yea Nik, your TV probably was just too heavy for your rack and it gave way.

nikolas812

Yeah. Lesson Learned. Funny thing is. I noticed the 1/4" glass had a decent amount of bowing. I just figured if it was going to give out. It would have done it. So I just let it be. I'll never do that again. I'll make sure the stand is rated for the TV or mount it to the wall if I ever get another one for the bedroom or something.

Nik

txcoastal1

More than likely you won't have to worry about the weight any more
We ceiling hang about 50-55" TVs a year and are replacing older ones that are about going out in the stores. They are literally half the weight they used to be

nikolas812

Well that sucks. Amazon just emailed and said projector central no longer has the item and cancelled my order!! Dammit man. They said they had 2 refurb's in stock when I ordered.

Amazon had one with a blemish for $400. So I went ahead and got it. About $80 more than what the other one was. But still cheaper than anything else near its level..

The projector I just ordered was actually $15 cheaper than the first one. But I didn't have to pay sales tax on the first because it was from projector central. Oh well. I think I still got a deal on nice projector. And went ahead and paid the $10 for 2 day shipping so it's guaranteed to be here Friday..

Nik

nikolas812

Does anyone know if I can use one of Polk's better Wireless subs with the sound bar I just bought?

Like the DSW Pro 660wi ?


Nik

nikolas812

Everything is set up. I have to say I'm most impressed with the Polk Audio surround bar 6000. Did not expect it to sound as good as it does. Maybe not capable of reference levels. But its perfect for the kind of volume I need and sounds clean to boot. And very neat and tidy. Very happy with that purchase. $115 used in like new shape.

The projector is pretty nice as well. The first thing I noticed was it's not near as fast as my panny was. But fast enough to keep me content and happy. Actually I got used to it pretty quick and don't notice it as much as I did at first. Colors and skin tones are great. Black and shadows are okay. Very acceptable. Over all. For what I spent. I don;t think you could do much better.

Getting ready to check out the gaming aspect with the new batman game that came with the PS4.


Nik

Polkie2009

Glad to hear it's coming together Nik, get back to us later on the new PS4 and game!

nikolas812

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. I don't play games at all anymore. But I've logged about 16 hours on this game so far. Probably going to be game of the year if I had to guess. The game is gorgeous and fun to play. Addicting.

Glad I went with the PS4. Love everything about it so far.

Curious to check out the 3D but my RF emitter won't be here until next week.

Nik

Polkie2009

Nik, I've read earlier that the game had a few bugs in it, maybe the version you got has be fixed.

nikolas812

It had a ton of bugs when I started playing it. But after I signed into my PS4 account it downloaded a 3.5gb patch it seems to have eliminated most of them..

Nik

nikolas812

I also just tried out the 3D and it's pretty awesome. Way better than the theater. The 3D at the theater always gave me a headache and looked blurry. But not this. It's crystal clear and the 3D effect is amazing. Going to watch a couple 3D movies tonight.

Nik