Diy System Dvr
I need home A/V installation tips to pull off a quality DIY home entertainment system setup? THANKS?
I am running Toshiba A3 HD DVD Player, a Playstation 3 as my Blu-Ray player, HDTV/DVR Cable Box, Sonos Digital Music System and a Wii through my Denon 3808ci A/V receiver into my Samsung T5265F 52" LCD HDTV controlled by Harmony 890 Remote. Infinity TSS500 surround sound audio and 2 Klipsch bookshelf speakers for audio only zone 2. I understand that room dimensions and even a blueprint are needed to give exact instruction, but based on the components and your knowledge of setting up multiple source system what are some tips, tricks and other things you can offer to a first time DIY installer.... I will have some help, from an electrician and a contractor/Handyman friend. We are mounting on Omnimount Cantilever. I will not live in this property long enough to justify tearing into walls. What do you think?? Thank you...
I assume you don't have things prewired in the walls, so I would suggest plan to hide wiring in plastic wiring channels (available in various types at Home Depot). They will allow you to run the wiring along the baseboards (assuming they are white).
Wire speakers with 12 or 14 awg wire. Ensure you observe proper phasing (red to red, black to black).
For best video make sure you have light control (e.g. good blinds or curtains on windows), and paint the walls a medium colour to cut light reflection.
Ensure a fair bit of soft material in the room to cut audio reflections. Don't plan everything symmetrical if you can avoid it. Put a carpet or area rug on the floor, particularly in front of the main speakers. If the room is too reverberant you will need to consider acoustic panels / bass traps. Google it.
Do a google search ("speaker+placement") and follow suggestions for speaker placement, including height). Look for specific suggestions for sub-woofer placement and follow them.
Mount the HDTV screen so that a point 1/3 of the screen height is at about eye level in your normal seating position. From a distance perspective, a 52" 1080p HDTV should be viewed from about 7 ft (9 ft if 720p). See link.
Make sure you calibrate the TV and the audio. Use Avia or similar for the picture (for brightness, contrast, colour, etc.) and run the auto equalization on the receiver (to set sound levels, delay, etc).
Mount the components on a rack or in some way you can access the rear for wiring adjustments, etc.
Use a UPS/surge protector for all equipment.
If you want to hide the components use IR Blaster type IR repeaters to allow putting componenets behind doors. Use an IR extender to allow the AVR to be controlled in the second room (unless the 890 is an RF remote and the Denon can be RF controlled).
Use HDMI to wire for HD. Use Monoprice or BlueJean cables rather than Monster if you want good but not expensive.
I'm probably missing somethings, but there's a good start.
Have fun.
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