Equipment & Product Recommendations

Display: Epson Home Cinema 1080 LCD Projector | Review

Price: $2,499 | Buy It Now

We reviewed the Epson Home Cinema 1080 and it remains one of the best projectors this amount of money can buy. With the street price of $2,499 (from the original $2,999), this is a no-brainer for the quality and budget minded consumer alike. It has exceptional dark black levels for LCD and the lens shift means that you'll be able to install it just about anywhere. For an upgraded model try out the Home Cinema 1080UB.

Useful Features

Alternates: Optoma HD73 DLP projector ($1,999) info; Pioneer PDP-4270HD plasma ($2,800) info; Panasonic PT-AX200U ($1,299) review; Sanyo PLV-Z5 ($1,495) review

AV Receiver: Yamaha RX-A700

Price: $599 | Buy It Now

We were very impressed with the feature set on this receiver. It can handle up to 8-channel audio, and offers plenty of music (and video game) surround modes. The RX-A700 A/V Receiver supports 3D and Audio Return channel over 6 in/1 out HDMI, CINEMA DSP 3D, with or without Front Presence Speakers, and RS-232C interface for custom installation. The receiver decodes all the latest audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD) natively and offers more than enough audio and video connections. The highlight of the connectivity options are the 6 HDMI (version 1.4a) inputs which includes Audio Return Channel and standby bypass mode. It can provide upconversion up to 1080p for both analogue and digital sources, but it also includes component (2 inputs/1 output), and composite options for connecting a variety of video sources. All speaker connections are via 5-way binding posts and the amplifiers are assignable - meaning that you can choose to bi-amp the fronts, or send a couple of powered channels to Zone 2. It also includes dual subwoofer outputs. This is a great feature that we see creeping down product lines to appear in lower-priced models.

Useful Features

• 90 watts per channel x 7 channels
• Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoding
• DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS ES 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 decoding
• 6 HDMI v1.4a processing and switching (6 inputs, 1 output), supports 1080p, Deep Color, xvYCC, 3D, CEC functions
• HDMI Pass-Through (send HDMI from a source to the display without turning on the AV receiver)
  
• Video upconversion up to 1080p
• 7.1 preamp outputs (dual sub outs)
  
• Enhanced On Screen Display menu and screen saver

Alternates: Marantz NR1601 ($599); Yamaha RX-V667 ($549); Harman Kardon AVR 1600 ($499)

Speakers: Klipsch RB-51 5.1 Loudspeaker System | Review Pending

Built to the same exacting standards as the Reference Series floorstanding setups, the RB-51 home theater system represents an ideal combination of technology, performance and design. The speakers look beautiful and can be purchased in a variety of potential configurations. This setup is one of the best sound solutions on the market.  Consisting of a pair of RB-51 bookshelf loudspeakers, an RC-52 center channel, a pair of RS-42 surround speakers and an RPW-10 subwoofer, this recommended system will forever change the way you think about audio. You can add another pair of RS-42 surrounds or a RPW-10 subwoofer for a 7.1 or 5.2 system, or add both for a 7.2 system! 

Price: $1,605 (including free shipping) | Buy It Now

Alternates: Infinity TSS-1200 5.1 system ($1,299)

Subwoofer (Optional): Velodyne Impact-10 | Buy Now

Price: $299 | Buy Now

The Impact Series are stylish, affordable, high-output, low distortion subwoofers. They feature beautiful cabinets with black gloss lacquer trim that fit easily into your home, while their deep, defined bass brings your favorite movies and music to life - at very friendly prices. The Impact-10 and 12 feature a down firing port for high output and low distortion.

Useful Features

• MDP amplifiers with more dynamic headroom for high impact
• High quality, long throw drivers
• 2" copper-wound voice coils
• Down-firing ports for more output, less distortion
• Adjustable, high quality crossover system to match your subwoofer with your main speakers

($389)

Universal Blu-ray Player: Oppo BDP-83 | Buy Now

Price: $499 | Buy Now

We wanted to recommend a solid Blu-ray player that handles all formats with top-notch progressive scan performance as well. It's important to ensure that either your DVD player or display does adequate 2:3 pull-down conversion so that images are recreated accurately when they go from the DVD to your screen.  If you're a universal BD player fan and want the best audio and video quality available, then look no further than the $499 Oppo BDP-83 universal disc player that will handle Blu-ray, SACD, DVD, DVD-Audio and more...

Useful Features

• HDMI 1.3 output with scaling to 1080p
  
• DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD/DVD+-R/RW, DivX, XviD, HDCD
  
• Coaxial & optical digital output for Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM

• Analogue 5.1 outputs with basic bass management
• 16.5" W x 1.6" H x 10.6" D; 5.2 lbs.
• Warranty: 1 year parts & labor

Alternates: Oppo BDP-80 ($289); LG BD570 ($189)

Interconnects and Speaker Cables

With the system we put together you may need to make a long run to the projector -and that alone can run from $65 up to whatever length you need. For the rest, you won't need many cables, but for the subwoofer and connecting any additional peripheral devices you may have, we suggest at least:

• 5 meter HDMI cable from DVIGear $90 | Buy It Now
  
• 1 meter HDMI cable from DVIGear $25 | Buy It Now
  
• 12 foot Velocity subwoofer cable from Impact Acoustics $12.85 | Buy It Now
  
• Velocity RCA Y-cable from Impact Acoustics for subwoofer $14 | Buy It Now
  

• 100ft 12AWG Velocity Bulk Speaker Cable from Impact Acoustics $76.24 | Buy Now

For this system we are recommending HDMI High Resolution Copper cables from DVIGear and interconnects and speaker cables from Impact Acoustics.

Total System Price: $5,420 (including cables)

Any system recommendation at this price is going to have compromises and this system is no exception. However, with that said, this system will truly outperform its price point by a wide margin. This is a system that will get you set up nicely and leave you content - until the next upgrade! With a little time and effort by using the tools recommended, Avia or Digital Video Essentials, and the Radio Shack SPL meter, you will learn about your system and have a slick home theater that will work just as well for music as it does for movies.

Enjoy the home theater!!!