NEXT: Audio-Video Systems and Party Zones

The truth is, I'd throw a Superbowl party with a 32-inch TV and some popcorn, but it's nice to have the ability to leverage current review products from Audioholics and thrown an all-out AV equipment smorgasbord for all in attendance. We typically break this up by Zones, to let readers know what's driving what in each area.

Zone 1: The Entrance

When you walk into the living room, you are immediately greeted with audio and video from the game thanks to a corner-positioned Mitsubishi LCD television. Audio is provided by its integrated sound bar, which actually steers audio into a virtual surround environment. It's not discrete surround, but it's not bad. This television gets its audio and video from a secondary HDMI feed off the main theater room (noted later in this article).

Gear List for Zone 1

• Mitsubishi LT-46149 46" LCD Display review
• DVIGear Fiber Optic HDMI Cable info
• APC S15 power conditioner w/UPS info
  

Zone 2: The Dining Room "Theater"

Continuing into the home we hit the first ostentatious display that marks an Audioholics party. In the dining room we have a full 80-inch projection screen capable of displaying the game in 1080p (upconverted from its native 1080i). On the opposite wall we have a 24-inch LCD screen displaying the same game. Again, if you have to turn your head more than 15 degrees in any direction to see the game I've failed you. Audio is supplied by an Emotiva UPA-2 amplifier and is delivered by a pair of RBH Sound 61-SE/R bookshelf speakers.

Gear List for Zone 2

• Epson Pro Cinema 1080UB Projector review
• Elite Screens F80NWH Portable Projector Screen review
  
• Emotiva UPA-2 two-channel amplifier info
  
• RBH Sound Signature 61-SE/R bookshelf speakers review
• Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250HD Cable Box
• Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW 24" LCD Display
• DVIGear SHR HDMI/DVI-D Cables info
• Impact Acoustics analogue interconnects and speaker cables info

Fortunately for us, the Mitsubishi in Zone 1 will take in HDMI audio and then output analogue audio. In this way, we can feed it to the UPA-2 amplifier which drives the RBH speakers in this room.

Zone 3: The Food Den

You have to have a TV in the kitchen. People live there during parties. It's unavoidable - so just cater to it. Embrace it. This year, like last, we'll continue to place the 20" Niko in the center seat so that we don't miss the game when we're skimming the feeding trough.

Gear List for Zone 3

• Niko OTP-2011R 20” LCD Television info

Zone 4: No Kids Zone

This Reference System is the featured room for our Super Bowl XLIII party. Seating is limited in this room, so we typically see timidity, followed by aggressive seat-saving, finished off with an all-out rumble for a shot at a leather recliner. Let's face it, reclining and watching the big game with a drink and lots of food that's not good for you is a great way to spend a Sunday evening with friends. I think this year will see people staking out their seats early and pouting when they have to leave their seats to gather more food or take a restroom break.

Gear List for Zone 4

• Marantz VP-15S1 DLP Projector review
• Carada Masquerade Screen Masking System review
  
• RBH Sound CinemaSITE Loudspeaker System review
• Denon AVR-5308 A/V Receiver review
• RPG Diffusers Absorption Panels info
• Impact Acoustics analogue interconnects and speaker cables info
• DVIGear SHR HDMI Cables info
• Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD DVR
• Universal Remote Control MX-3000 & MSC-400 info
  

Not only is this room comfortable, but you get a truly big view of the game. Seeing an ~8 foot diagonal 1080p image (courtesy of Silicon Optix HQV-based video upconversion) from a mere 11 feet away is a sight to behold. For those who aren't accustomed to watching TV this large, the effect is intoxicating. To put it in perspective, there are lots of close-up angles and shots where the action on the screen is literally life-size. Try that on a 42-inch flat panel.

Audio in this room is well above-par. The RBH Sound CinemaSITE system is powered by the Denon AVR-5308CI AV receiver and a pair of 1010-SEP subwoofers rounds out the low-end crunches. Half time shows sound awesome as well and crowd noise gives a very realistic sound to this room - almost as if you were at the stadium. The whole system is controlled by an MX-3000 RF remote control and the Carada Masquerade masking screen, while unused in this event, makes quite an impression when we demo it to friends during commercial breaks.

Of course, we added a "hidden" zone this year in the bedroom. It was playing the game in high definition as well, but presented it via a 37-inch Panasonic TC-37LZ800 which allowed daring viewers to hang out on the Queen-sized bed and take in the game.

Zone 5: Backyard, Baby

We tried an outdoor zone last year and it went over very well. This year we ramped it up by adding more power to the outdoor audio system. A pair of PlanterSpeakers Terra Cotta 8.20 speakers mans the helm in this department. To make it even better, this year we'll be driving these speakers with our remaining two channels of amplification from the Denon AVR-5308CI AV receiver in our premier reference room. That will give us plenty of power to drive the outdoor audio to game-reference levels.

We also upped the lumen output of the projector to 3500 and opted for the brand new Panasonic PT-FW300U. We're one of the first people to use this new model which begins selling this month. This is a very capable projector and we'll be feeding it component video (via an HD15 input) from an HD source for the best possible picture quality. Normally, we worry about getting the perfect color balance, but for this evening we'll be focusing on pure light output and brightness - which this system has in abundance. Don't let the pic fool you, note that even with the flash illuminating the screen at night the picture is still quite visible. When the sun went down, this screen was incredibly bright.

Gear List for Zone 3

• Panasonic PT-FW300U more info
  
• PlanterSpeakers Terra Cotta 8.20 review
• Zone 2 Audio from Denon AVR-5308CI receiver review Denon AVR-5308CI AV Receiver Review

Conclusion

So that's our setup for this year. Lots of gear, lots of food and a whole lot of game-playing, eye-popping, ear-pleasing fun. It's likely that you won't be able to pull out this many stops when you plan your own party - but we'd certainly like to hear from our readers regardless. If you've got a Superbowl party story - let us know. We'd love to hear from you and see what our readers are doing and how (and if) they do anything different to prepare for the big game.

Remember to have fun, enjoy your friends and crank up that half-time show!