The Projector: JVC DLA-HD100

MSRP: $7,999 info

JVC's latest high-end LCOS projector sports an unprecedented (claimed) native contrast ratio of 30,000:1, an industry first and a number they say is achieved without the use of a dynamic iris.LCoS is represents a technology that I wish was more prevalent than it is - because I really like it each time I am exposed to it. The unit has dual HDMI 1.3 inputs with Deep Color support, 1080/24p support, and even a motorized Fujinon 2x zoom lens. Gennum’s VXP deinterlacing and scaling technology is used for handing all video processing as well as noise reduction. You'll need to make sure you have light control in the room as the projector isn't exceptionally bright.
3-chip DLP is also a competitor and certainly there are superior external scalers that accompany some other models available on the market, but the picture quality of this model cannot be overlooked.

Alternates: InFocus ScreenPlay 777 ($14,500) info; Yamaha DPX-1300 ($12,495) info

Projector Screen: Carada Criterion Series w/Brilliant White Screen

Price: $789 (106" HDTV screen) info

When choosing a screen for your new cinema, it is important to keep a few things in mind.

• The size of the screen you can accommodate for your viewing position.
• The amount of throw distance the LPX-510 needs to fill the screen (the distance the projector needs to be mounted from the screen).

With the DPX-1300, we recommend a minimum viewing distance of at least a 1.5-2x the screen width. To get behind the projector (preferable) you'll want to be about 2x the screen width back. This means if you choose an HDTV projector screen that is 106" diagonal your viewing position should be about 14.5' back - which is about the maximum tele (zoom out) throw distance.

The projector needs a throw distance of between 9.86 and 14.8 feet to fill a 100" screen. Use the 1.5x the screen width minimum when selecting your screen. I would not exceed 106" diagonal for the screen unless your viewing distance is such that you need to do so to maintain a 2x ratio. Another thing you will need to select is the screen material. If you have good light control, you may want to consider the Brilliant White screen which delivers excellent color reproduction and brightness uniformity. It will also give you large viewing angles up to 45%. If you don't have a lot of light control, then I would recommend the use of the High Contrast Grey (though we really do not recommend using this projector ina room that cannot control ambient light).

Alternates: Stewart Luxus Deluxe StudioTek 130 ($2395) info; Da-Lite Cinema Contour High Contrast Cinema Vision ($1400)

The Receiver: Denon AVR-5805CI

Retail Price: $7,200 info
In a system that is going for broke and not stopping to take heed of the budget along the way (except to perhaps avoid esoteric nonsense in lieu of products that perform well), we decided to look no further than Denon's flagship receiver. The Denon AVR-5805CI has - bar none - more features than any other receiver or separates solution on the market as of this write up, including HDMI switching up to 1080P (and analogue upconversion to HDMI) with audio support, dual component video outputs, Audyssey Pro room correction with editor software and upgraded mic / calibration kit , IEEE 1394, and plenty of power. It is also capable of serving as the exclusive front end to our four-zone whole-house system.

DVD-Audio/Video/SACD Player: Denon DVD-3930CI

Price: $1,499 info | Review

In my opinion, Denon keeps shooting itself in the proverbial foot. Last time they released the DVD-3910, which all but obsoleted the DVD-5900 flagship player. This year, they've released an incredibly feature-laden DVD-3930CI which all but obsoletes their current flagship DVD-5910CI player (unless you are VERY particular). On-board HQV Realta processing and full 1080p upconversion make this player a stand-up-and-pay-attention performer. It's our top pick if you're looking for the ultimate universal DVD-A/V/SACD player

Blu-ray Player: Sony PlayStation 3 | Info

Price: $399 (and up) | Info

At this budget, it makes almost no sense to select a standard definition DVD player that upconverts to HDMI when you can get a PlayStation 3 that allows you to get all the 1080p glory from your new display (not to mention the ability to play cool games thrown in for free) Because of this, we recommend nabbing a PS3 and waiting for the Blu-ray crew to get its act together and standardize all players to Profile 2.0 (unlike most players, the PS3 has enough horsepower to handle Profile 2.0 with a simple firmware update). If you absolutely have to have SACD and DVD-Audio support, look to add one of the alternates below.

Useful Features

Alternates: Denon DVD-1940CI ($369) info; Oppo DV-981HD ($229) info

The Speakers: RBH Sound CinemaSITE

Retail Price (system): $11,771 (Speakers) + $13,499 (CinemaSITE) = $25,270 [Locate a Dealer] info | Review

We know speakers are subjective, but we have found RBH Sound to consistently make products that challenge what we know about "high end" speakers time and time again. Many speakers costing much more have graced our Reference Systems, and just as quickly departed. With an incredible, almost unbelievably detailed mid-range and crystal clear, undistortable highs, the RBH Sound Signature Series dives to the top of our loudspeaker recommendation list.

Below is a breakdown of our recommendations for putting together a stellar home theater package. Substitutions can certainly be made for surrounds and to down-size the front speakers, but if you can afford it this loudspeaker system is going to be hard to beat.

Note: For rooms 3000 ft^3 or larger, we recommend adding two more SI-1010/P in-wall/in-ceiling subwoofers for more bass impact and better distribution throughout the room ($999 each). If you opt for additional subs you can run them in series and still use just the two SA-400 amplifiers.

Acoustic Consultant: Rives Acoustics Level1 Consultation

Price: $1,050 info

Level 1 is Rives entry level acoustical engineering service, and may be the steal of the century. For less than a modest upgrade, you can have either an existing room designed or choose their level 1 plus for new construction. The value they provide is second to none and can be the difference between your equipment sounding average and sounding excellent. They can save you $$$ by recommending the right treatment for the job. Highly recommended!

Note: We recommend considering Rives Level 2 calibration. It's $2,250 and includes acoustical measurement and verification by a Rives dealer.

Acoustics Treatments: Auralex Acoustics

Price: $4,000 info
Auralex Elite has a wide diversity of acoustical products that will improve the sound of your room without hampering the aesthetics. The SonoSeude system is a great start. Sonofiber and Metrofusor are great supplements when more aggressive room treatments are required. Consulting with the experts at Auralex couldn't be easier. Fax them your room plans and they will come up with some recommended treatments and locations to fit within your budget. Its always good to have more than one set of eyes looking at your room to recommend the best type of treatments. Properly treating your room will ensure you get the most out of your A/V system.

Note: If you find money left over in your budget, we recommend spending an extra $1-2k here assuming your room is in need of additional treatment. We also recommend contacting a professional Acoustic Consultant like Rives Acoustics.

Power: APC Power S15 Conditioner | Info

Price: $1,499/ea (we recommend two) | Buy It Now

APC is the leader in power protection and battery backup products. Moving into the home theater market was a welcome event. The APC S15 features an output capacity of 1500VA (900W) with battery backup and adjustable voltage sensitivity. The batteries are tool-less, hot-swapable and the unit has resettable circuit breakers. It is UL approved and the VFD display and LED status and display indicators gives all necessary information to ensure that the system is running at optimal settings. Additional features include pure sinewave backup, sequential turn on/off, USB connectivity, isolated filter banks and dataline surge protection. Additional batteries can be added to extend backup time. We recommend using one S15 to power the Denon AVR-5805, DVD/CD players and the other S15 to power the Emotiva MPS-1 and RBH subwoofer amps.

Note: The installer is advised to run two dedicated 120V 20A amp outlets to power all of the equipment while also running a dedicated line for the Yamaha DLP Projector.

Power: Furman AC-215 Compact Power Conditioner

Price: $249/ea info

Your probably thinking why another power conditioner when your all set with the two APC S-15's. Well, at only 1.75"H x 5"W x 8.5"D, and weighing in at only 3 lbs., the AC-215's compact, low-profile design makes it ideal for mounting on the ceiling right next to the Yamaha DLP front projector. You definitely don't want to skimp on protecting your most valued piece of equipment in the system (not to mention extending the life of your bulb) and Furman handsomely delivers the goods in the neat little package

The Seats: Berkline 090

Price: $2500 (for 3 chairs) info

These chairs by Berkline are very popular due to price and size (about 40" wide each including a left and right armrest) so you can usually fit 3-4 of them into a decent size home theater room. We chose to include a basic triple configuration of these chairs in black for this system. The convenient cupholders and the ability they have to recline without needing much clearance from the back wall makes them extremely versatile. You can upgrade these chairs to include TouchMotion motorized reclining and you can even add a Buttkicker system should you want a more tactile theater experience.

Another important thing to note is the height of the back of the theater chair. You want something that is going to allow the sound from the Surround Back channels to freely reach your ears without hitting the back of the chair. At 41.5" tall, these chairs are perfect for 7.1 surround rooms.

Alternatives: For more custom and upscale solutions with the utmost quality, we recommend checking out seating solutions from Continental Seating. A seating package starts at around $5k for 3 chairs, but the sky is the limit with respect to configurability and choices in materials, colors, etc. Considering you spend most of your time sitting while being entertained by your home theater system, this is money well spent.

The Remote Control: RTI Corp T3 Universal Controller

Price: $1,199 info

The T3 is RTI's ultimate handheld universal controller. With a full color TFT LCD display, powerful 32-bit MCU, 32MB of memory, and Wi-Fi communication option, the T3 takes remote control to a new level.

The amazing T3 Universal System Controller combines the power and flexibility of a graphic LCD touchscreen with an ergonomic design that permits effortless one-handed operation. The T3 is one of the most user-friendly universal remote controls on the market and certainly one of the most diversified for programmability and configurability. Combined with the other TheaterTouch products, the T3 becomes a robust commercial-quality control system.

Alternates: Universal Remote Control Inc MX-950 Aurora w/MSC-400 ($1449)