Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Audio or Video First?

HEY! Getting angry is my schtick, you jerk! Now I'm outraged!

Audio. I did audio and waited 3 1/2 years before recently doing video as well. I lived with a 25" GE. TV/projector technology keeps getting better so better off waiting for that one. Audio doesn't change as fast.

I don't think we can answer that question for you. I have a lot of friends with big screens and crappy audio, and they are totally happy with their systems. I'm an "audio first" person myself, so I was running a full 5.1 system with a 27" TV and was still upgrading the audio. It was only the ribbing from my friends that convinced me to get a projector instead of another big-ass subwoofer

Why not both? What kind of money are you looking at spending right now?

You could do something like this; buy your projector used, buy an EP 500 and a set of bookshelves and build your own screen. When you get some more cash, use the bookshelves speakers for your center channel in parallel, and buy the remaining speakers you need for your 5.1.

Good, slightly used Panny 900’s and Z-4’s are always going on sale as the owners are upgrading to 1080P projectors. Many have been professionally calibrated too. And as long as you have a good sub, 2.1 can be quite enjoyable. Keep an eye on this board….
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=125

Or here. http://www.digitaltheater.com/

The reason I suggest buying a used projector is that 1080P projectors are starting to hit the streets and I’d wait a year before buying one after the dust settles from the rush to market competition. Plus, by then, the HD format war should be about over, maybe… In a year or so, all the 720P projectors will be selling for quite a bit less than they are now.

I vote for audio as well. I'm still on a tv that doesn't even do progressive scan! It's a 61" rear projection tv, so I'm able to enjoy a large screen, but horizontal lines are easily seen. I'm envious of all the new tv's, but I don't regret waiting at all. I can't imagine living without good audio though!

In fact, my brother and I were just discussing tv's the other day, and just 2 years ago, he bought a nice high def. rear projection and regrets it now. The price of tv's have come down considerably since then and the technology has gotten better. He wishes he'd waited until he could have afforded (which he can now) an LCD of the same size. Also, satellite tv (unless it's a high def. show) looks mushy on it. Anyway, that's my $.02.

I agree with the sound first. I am still waiting for the HD stuff to settle down and the higher resolutions are just starting to come on the newer Projetors and Plasma etc. Audio doesn't seem to be changing much other than more discrete channels but in a small room I think it wouldn't be noticed as much.

I never really considered buying a used projector but I guess there is no harm in doing so. Being in canada kinda sucks for buying projectors because in the case that I do buy one from the states used, the warranty (if there still is one left) will only apply for americans.

Its funny that you mentioned the EP500 because for the past month I have been pretty much ALL over the map with what kind of audio system I should get.

I was all over the M60s and a PB10 from SVS for awhile. Then I came to my senses and realized that I have a 14 x 16 room and the M22s and a PB10 would be MORE than enough. Then the more I read about the EP500 I need a good sub that will respond deep and also be articulate when it comes to music (especially because the M22s lack low end response)

So I have made a decision to go with the M22s and the EP500. It actually comes to 94 dollars more than the M60s and the PB10 and I am sure that the grandmaster 500 setup will be freaking awsome compared to the M60s and the PB10.

ANYWAYS, I will keep my eye out for those used projectors, thats very good advise!

Man, I saw some of those Panny 900U's go for $1000 on the AVS classifieds! I was budgeting 2K for a Z4.

-Hutz

>>So I have made a decision to go with the M22s and the EP500. It actually comes to 94 dollars more than the M60s and the PB10 and I am sure that the grandmaster 500 setup will be freaking awsome compared to the M60s and the PB10.

Yep. In a room that size I would take a great sub and smaller speakers over larger speakers and a lesser sub any day. Every so often I hook up my M2s as mains with a good sub and marvel at how good the sound is.

Why can't Bose do something like that ? They sure charge enough

Definetley audio first. I had my Axiom's a year before I got my 83" screen and Runco projector, I lived with my Sony 24" Wega TV (which I stlll have a soft spot for) and enjoyed myself immensely.

The picture is nice, but consider that most projectors don't have speakers so you'd have to hook it up to something anyways

Also the sound gives you some nice party toys to have while you wait for the big picture.

- D