Hey guys/gals,

I have a friend that has a large insulated metal out building on the property. They currently use it for large gatherings, parties, graduations, etc. It has a smaller (still huge) side, and then a much larger room that has large bay doors for a camper, etc.

He wants to make the smaller side into a movie room for the kids and family to enjoy, and the larger room more for sports parties and large gatherings. The smaller room would be 5.1 or 7.1 with a decent projector ($1500 or less) and the larger room he is not as picky on the projector, maybe a used one with a longer throw distance for the big games.

He is not particular about "the best" sound quality, and I mentioned to him that the room was going to be very reflective as is. He said they have had bands play and felt it was fine. He also does not want to spend a fortune on expensive speakers but wants good sound.

He was originally looking at the Klipsch Quintet 5.0 system that Best Buy is pushing to him. I said you don't want anything that small in a huge room like this...so he is open for suggestions, BUT he wants everything mounted on the wall, so if we go with Axioms, M3s or M22s across the front is what I'm considering with Qs8's for sure on the sides, and not sure about the back wall.

For a projector in the smaller room he is eyeing the Epson 8350 which is a 1080p under $1299 with great reviews. We would most likely have to mount it hanging down from a long extension about 16ft or so back. Unless we can find a longer throw projector in the same $ range that could sit on top of the bathroom roof (see pics).

It is a large room, but I think with a decent sub, the M3's or M22's would work. Again, he is not into concert level requirments in SPL, just something the kids would be like WoW dad, this is cool.

Subs are another question, I have a fondness for Axiom. But, for the price, he could get a killer Elemental Designs sub with a much bigger amp, same price as the 350. Thoughts on subs would be appreciated. Also, he was thinking about putting the sub up in the back corner on top of the restroom area. Might produce some good bass up there...

Best Buy was telling him there is a way to send HDMI signal wirelessly to the projectors, without cables. I'm a little uneasy about doing this, and not versed in these options. I would prefer running HDMI cables, sending HD over wireless seems like a bad road to take?

He is thinking about putting the receiver, dvd, etc. in the back corner by the large fridge. I'm trying to figure out how to hook up two projectors and have everthing controlled from one receiver from that back location. Will the remote work, wouldn't you have to point it backwards. What if your in the big room and want to adjust the volume? Do harmony's need line of site view?

Also, I assume the big room would only have 2 speakers, would they be zone 2, and could someone be watching a movie in the one room at the same time as music in the other?

Any advice would be appreciated on my install. I'm sure I will have more questions coming...

Pictures below of both rooms...oh yeah, the screen will be mounted above where the tool box is in the smaller room, and above/right of the big door in the huge room

Run the HDMI cable. The cost to set up wireless HDMI will be more expensive and not necessarily guaranteed to work. The tech works at 60 GHz and there's very few vendors out there w/ working boxes. Too new.

Man, that is one reflective 'box'. But I'm VERY jealous of that garage/man cave. And those 2 pinball machines don't hurt.

I agree, and thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention I am need advice on a receiver as well. I don't want one that is going to be to complicated for them to understand, so Denon might be out. I'm only familiar with the Denons, but I may not be available all the time. So what other brands should I consider guys?

I can only offer one tidbit:
That's going to be a very reflective, bright space. He can't say that it'll be good now because it was good when a band played there....because they were probably doing some EQing for the room.

Of course, that's not to say that he can't do the same and that he might not have somewhat low standards.

But I wanted to make the point that because one audio source sounded good, that doesn't mean others will too.

Hey Randy,

The only help I can really give is regarding your Harmony remote question.

They don't require line-of-sight if you get their extender . The extender needs to be within range of the components to be able to pass on an IR signal that it received from the RF Harmony remote.

I used to have mine set up this way, but now that my components are in my in-wall cabinet, I put the Harmony wireless extender in the cabinet, and it's connected to each component with stereo patch cables in this manner , or via IR emitters if the player etc. doesn't have a 3.5mm jack.

Sorry for my limited assistance, but I hope that helps.

I will say they obviously don't use that building for working on vehicles/wood work etc, way too damn clean

A Denon is no more complicated than any other modern receiver, just lousy manuals but not a whole lot worse than much of the other manufacturers. Once thay get used to it, getting the avr to work is easy and if you are not around tell them to log in here, we can always help

I thnk you are in the right direction with M3 or M22 and eD, SVS etc. for a sub; those eD A2 and A3's keep getting rave reviews and they are inexpensive.

double post

Randy, all modern HT receivers are relatively complex, but some manuals are a bit clearer than others. An Onkyo receiver with similar overall features to a Denon that you might otherwise select would be a bit better bet.

Great help so far guys, I appreciate it greatly.

Cam, I will talk to them about going down the Harmony/extender route. Might work nice with two rooms in question and that he wants to equipment in the back of the room.

I am thinking 3 M22's mounted on the wall across the front below the screen. For surrounds, the back wall is a problem with the bathroom addition, and the ceilings are very high, so I'm thinking maybe 5.1 and place the side surrounds midway back.

They are not going to have theater seating, just have people pull up parade/lawn type chairs wherever they place them, so the whole dolby placement thing is not as important.

I know they want to do this as affordable as possible, but come on, the guy is a Dr. not like he doesn't have money.

John, I will have to research the receivers out there, Onkyo might be an option. I will be available for initial setup and calls/visits if they screw something up. They live about 45 min. away at 65mph.

Jason, that is what I'm seeing on subs. I need to pinpoint down what he wants to pay for everything. I was thinking for that large of a room, the A5-350 might be more in line with 15" driver, 500wts, and same price as ep350.

I really think they need to do something about the bright environment for best acoustics, but only time will tell. It is a huge room and very high, maybe it won't be as bad as a smaller room.

The size and height will help with the acoustics but it will still be 'bright' unless they get some room treatments happening, the usual area rug, possibly a grass/RV type of mat would be ideal for this type of environment and wall treatment of some sort should suffice.

Good ideas, maybe a sport type carpeting like you see outdoors, to help with the floor. I already told them it would be easy to take some 2 x 4 owens corning rigid fiberglass like I used in my panels, rap them in college/pro color fabric and even put team logos or whatever on them. Placed on the wall strategicaly that might really help.

I just know that he was originally looking at a Klipsh 5.1 small system for like $550 at bestbuy. Might be hard to sell even the m22's, might have to go with m3's.

I agree with johnk about the Onkyos. Refurbs are excellent values.

I'd treat the room...somehow. Hang some panels or something?

So what are your recommendations for online etails for receivers. I think I got my Denon from 6th Ave. If we go the refurb route as well?

If they don't want to go with Axiom speakers, are there any other brands you would recommend that will blow away the Klipsch Quantet's in a smaller bookshelf Axiom type sound?

thanks again.

shoponkyo.com and accessories4less.com usually have pretty deep discounts on Onkyo receivers.

The other thing that came to mind is mounting; if we have both a budget and drunk people, we're probably NOT going to want to put speakers on stands. Maybe look for something that is easily and cheaply mounted on-wall.

I like your idea about using the themed fiberglass panels.

I haven't heard these - and the enclosures are pretty freaking small - but I noticed that Newegg has a Martin Logan 5.1 system for $329 with free shipping through 6/29. They seem to have keyhole mounting on the back. Hard to beat that price, and I'll bet they sound better than most such systems.

yeah Tom, just was checking out Accessories4less, looks like we could get the 1008 Onkyo that has 9.2 for about $700 and change. That looks like a good option since they may be listening to a different source in the larger room while someone else is watching a movie in the theater side. I don't think a 7.1 will cut it for multitasking.

Would it be wrong if I said I got a boner looking at those (un)shop pictures?

you should see the old barn on their property, the entire upstairs reminds me of the movie Roadhouse.

Yeah Tom for that large of a space I don't that will cut it, probably something more in line with M3's or M22's if there is anything out there. I think the small room is like 20 x 40 x 15.

Used Klipsch floor-standers.

he wants wall mounted, so if I go with m3's or m22's and Q's, I will have to either use Axiom bracket, or find another cheaper solution.

Randy, you've saved me the trouble of linking that 1008 from A4l, which should certainly do the job well.

Any input on wall mounting the m3's or m22's to a wall. I'm going to quote the Axiom bracket, but if he would like other options, are there any other bracket out there that will hold the weight and have the correct thread to work with Axioms?

Thanks

Another question for those familiar with using Zones. I have been reading up and want to make sure I've got this right.

It appears on 7.x receivers you have two options, using the receiver to power zone 2 you would have 5 channels in the main room, and 2 channels in your second room for stereo. Or, you can have 7 channels in the main room, and use the zone 2 preouts to an extra amp to drive 2 channels.

For 9.x receivers using the receiver to power zone 2 you get 7 channels in the main room and 2 in the second room. Or, using an extra amp and zone 2 pre outs, you can have 9 channels in the main and 2 in the other.

If I'm correct, I believe you could do this at the same time? Have a movie/tv source playing in one room, and another source in room 2 at the same time?

Or, can you only play music (stereo) source in zone 2, not pipe a movie/tv source to those 2 speakers.

For my metal barn install, there is a chance when they have larger parties, they might want to have some people watching a movie in the theater portion, and others watching a game on those 2 speakers (doesn't have to be surround decoding). Or maybe watch the game in both rooms on both projectors.

Sorry for all the questions guys. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, I wonder if you can run two projectors through one receiver. I know they have multiple HDMI inputs to HDMI out, buy maybe you can't have 2 HDMI outputs, same signal or different...hmmm

Regarding my last question, doesn't look like even the most expensive receivers, although they have 2HDMI outputs, will allow for different inputs at the same time. It appears you can output the same signal in some cases, if I read the manuals correctly.

Looks like one of These from monoprice might fit the bill!

Interesting you can't buy a $2000+ receiver that can do what this unit achieves with rave reviews.

Randy, I think the "gotcha" on Zone2 content is that AFAIK NO receiver will route a digital signal to the second zone. So, if you have a source that you will want to route to Zone2, you have to connect it via analog (you can also connect it via digital for use in the primary zone).

My experience (with Denon and Onkyo) is that it's no problem to have a movie in the primary zone and have a different source playing analog stereo in Zone2.

Thanks Tom for your input. For Zone2 they will have 2 speakers and a large screen for large gatherings and sports. So to make sure I understand, if they are watching a game on Direct TV in the Zone 2 room, they can still hear the audio, it just won't be digital? I just have never played with Zone 2 capabilities on receivers, so don't want to tell them something that won't work..

thanks, again

Yes - I haven't analyzed the capabilities of receivers you are looking at; make sure you can switch video in addition to audio to different zones (that's a more advanced feature than just switching the audio). You'd just hook up the DTV box via both HDMI and analog.

The problem with the digital audio is that there aren't two D/A decoder paths present in the receiver. Since you don't have to decode the video, passing it to another zone shouldn't be a problem.

But I think those kinds of questions represent the sort of nuance that you should confirm with specific receiver models.

Randy, I think that Tom has described it correctly. What you've said in your first four paragraphs can all be done, and as for the fifth paragraph, the determining factor is whether it's an analog input, because as Tom pointed out, there's no DAC for the zone outputs.

Yes, as far as I know, none of the receivers that have two HDMI outputs can output different content on them; they just split the same input in two for say a projector and a TV set.

thanks guys, you have been a big help, now put on my thinking cap.

I think that you are onto something with the college logo wall panels. That room is definitely going to need some kind of treatment.