***HTPC/Lounge Room GALLERY THREAD***

[Johnny87au]

Time to show off some of your htpc builds guys,Please explain which software and hardware is involved into the HTPC as this would be a great deal of information for beginners... remember to keep images reasonable in size.. I'll be posting mine up tomorrow as I'm not at home tonight

[Donnie27]

Time to show off some of your htpc builds guys,Please explain which software and hardware is involved into the HTPC as this would be a great deal of information for beginners... remember to keep images reasonable in size.. I'll be posting mine up tomorrow as I'm not at home tonight

I need to finish touching up the Speakers and update my Photo/s.

[[DANGERDAN]]

im too lazy rofl, il see what i can do.

[Nanometer]

An htpc really isnt any different than a normal computer. Typically though people choose slim style cases to match other rack mount style component sizes such as DVD players amps, receivers, and other home theater products. The few things that make it a real HTPC are the easy to use wireless keyboard/mouse and perhaps some functional multimedia software such as a good media player, ac3+, powerdvd, etc. Like I said, an htpc is still a pc, it just happens to do more multimedia than normal computing tasks.

[Johnny87au]

An htpc really isnt any different than a normal computer. Typically though people choose slim style cases to match other rack mount style component sizes such as DVD players amps, receivers, and other home theater products. The few things that make it a real HTPC are the easy to use wireless keyboard/mouse and perhaps some functional multimedia software such as a good media player, ac3+, powerdvd, etc. Like I said, an htpc is still a pc, it just happens to do more multimedia than normal computing tasks.

People with a nice htpc with a nice skin setup to showcase is all i want here and the listed hardware which has been used, not too much to ask for

[Donnie27]

People with a nice htpc with a nice skin setup to showcase is all i want here and the listed hardware which has been used, not too much to ask for

While I'm waiting to finish the speakers I can give you the specs.
The PC is a;
Generic I Desktop full ATX Case, same size as my Receiver, looking at others.
Antec True Power 550 Watt PSU
Gigabyte P45 mobo (? exact model?)
2GB of GSkill RAM might up this to 4 since a I have another 12GB laying around unsed.
Liteon 4X BD Player only
Liteon 24X DL DVD-RW with Light Scribe.
750GB WD Black and 1TB external Not many movies stored so no biggie.
Intel E8400 at its stock 3GHz with a Zalman 7000 cooler set to low speed.
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude with Zero Driver problems LOL!
61 in 1 Card reader

LG 370 Blue Ray Player wired networking
TV pic for outside Antenna

Sound;
Pioneer or Technics Turn Tables
Optimus Cassette Deck Hahaha!
Old JVC RX Receiver Strictly for the Turn Table (give the model number later)
Pioneer VSX 819H 7.1 HDMI 1.3a Receiver
200 Watt Sony Center Channel
JVC powers Fishers for stereo music for now.
Pioneer for 5.1
Ole School Sealed Fisher XP 9V 15" Woofer two tweeters, two Mid-Range Cones.
Ole School Sealed Radio Shack Optimus Mach 1 15 woofer,
Vented DIYer with SP-1500 Crossover, 15" Pioneer Woofer , Dayton Planar & Optimus Horn Tweeters, Two Cone Mid Range speakers Cerwin Vega and ESS.

I will more than likely now move the Fishers upstairs and bring the more efficient DIYers down for rears. The "Sweet 10's" as I call them will come down stairs as rears to replace the Optimus Mach 1's that's kind of wasted there. The OM1's will then become my main Stereo Music speakers replacing the fishers and switchable with the new DIYers. The fishers being power by the Harmon Kardon 730 twin amp is a thing of Beauty but hell almost anything connected to it ROCKS!

[Johnny87au]

Dam donnie i thought 1 receiver was enough for full surround 7.1... Mind upping a link on youtube of your setup, i wanna hear the might boost from that setup

[Donnie27]

This is one of four Desktops for just plain Windows.

That JCV Receiver is a RX 709V.

It is meant purely for Stereo and Music Playback. During football Games I will run it but only with the EQ set to Voice while the Pioneer does 5.1 and sounds like you're in stadium Except for how the Turret looks I'm very happy with these speakers and being only 8 feet from the system anything larger than 50" (what I wanted but couldn't get at the time) looked strange (too close) and was not Optimal for my vision.

After a year there's no burn in.

Oh crap the Fishers up in the computer room sound lovely on the Harmon Kardon 730. Folks trying to bad mouth old school equipment are totally missing out and don't know what they're talking about.

As I type this I'm listening to Rare Earth's "Get Ready". I made this recording when the Needle in my Turn Table was new, 180 grain album from original Tapes and I was using a borrowed 1212 EMU Sound card LOL!

[Donnie27]

Oh and about a video? I'd need a very expensive 20Hz to 20KHz Mic or the sound would be limited to the fidelity and frequency of the Mic, not the system. Even if I did it perfectly, the listener would be hearing his or her system, not mine. I really need to get off my Duff and get testing equipment.

[Johnny87au]

Oic, bit of a audiophile i see donnie, All jibberish to me tbh as i dont specialise in sound hehe.. Do you need a program made perhaps ?

[Kingcarcas]

Like Nanometer said, i have the PC networked in the same room and use TVersity, but for the most part i prefer to insert the discs into the Ps3 or just stream Netflix.

[Donnie27]

Oic, bit of a audiophile i see donnie, All jibberish to me tbh as i dont specialise in sound hehe.. Do you need a program made perhaps ?

No biggie, tbbh the last thing I'd call myself is an Audiophile. For me, Blue Ray video without True HD Audio or at least DTS 5.1 is like watching a Poor quality 19" CRT TV. I'm so messed up and hooked, hell I can't watch sports (Except Golf) without 5.1 enabled. Man the "Turn Up The Sound" part of NASCAR is fraggin AWESOME!

Oh and look up my "Snake Oil" thread and you'll see why I call many in the Audiophile community Audiophools.

[Donnie27]

Like Nanometer said, i have the PC networked in the same room and use TVersity, but for the most part i prefer to insert the discs into the Ps3 or just stream Netflix.

Yup, same here and I also have Hulu, Netflix, and a few others since I dumped Cable.

@Johnny87au

All I'm saying is that mine or anyone else's system will not be accurately heard when the end system plays back a recording or the sound from a video. You'll only be hearing your system.

The link from the guy whole sold the set of SP-1500 speakers shows some of the problem. His Mic couldn't record the Bass low frequency well enough so people hearing the Video made comments that the speakers didn't have enough Bass. The fact is most of the time they had to be tuned FLAT or they got Boomy(too much Bass)!

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/ima...ies/ttiwwp.gif

[KaptainBlaZzed]

Like Nanometer said, i have the PC networked in the same room and use TVersity, but for the most part i prefer to insert the discs into the Ps3 or just stream Netflix.

Same here, my server is in the other room and networked to my xbox via wireless.
I use TVersity to stream content to the xbox.

Works great, I canceled cable about 3 months ago and have not regretted it.

Only minor issue is I am not out of the loop on what is new or coming out because i do not see any commercials.

[Donnie27]

http://www.google.com/images?q=custo...w=1280&bih=860

This is what I wish I had money, the room and time to do. Honestly there aren't many I don't like, I love most of them in fact.

I don't like streaming anything because I like first source Video and Sound. When the technology can stream Blue Ray and True DTS or etc.... Lossless-ly I'll gladly join the streaming craze. Now, can I stream, yes, all the time. Is my first choice, hell no! Sometimes I just like great quality.

http://www.homedit.com/most-expensive-home-theaters/

Folks spent 1 to 6 million U.S. dollars

[chew*]

http://www.google.com/images?q=custo...w=1280&bih=860

This is what I wish I had money, the room and time to do. Honestly there aren't many I don't like, I love most of them in fact.

I don't like streaming anything because I like first source Video and Sound. When the technology can stream Blue Ray and True DTS or etc.... Lossless-ly I'll gladly join the streaming craze. Now, can I stream, yes, all the time. Is my first choice, hell no! Sometimes I just like great quality.

http://www.homedit.com/most-expensive-home-theaters/

Folks spent 1 to 6 million U.S. dollars

Heh, I delivered to a house that had one of these heavy hitter setups.

We were delivering some 60" TV and just 2 speakers that cost $30,000 total......apparently those were for the "bathroom" which was twice the size of my bedroom and the bath was preety much a giant jacuzzi.......

While there they showed us the theatre room, and basically like many of this pics it looked like a mini movie theatre but with all the trimmings and comfortable seats with drink holders and crap.

Crazy stuff, seems like you could spend money on better things but hey if you got it you can't take it with you i guess.

[Johnny87au]

Heh, I delivered to a house that had one of these heavy hitter setups.

We were delivering some 60" TV and just 2 speakers that cost $30,000 total......apparently those were for the "bathroom" which was twice the size of my bedroom and the bath was preety much a giant jacuzzi.......

While there they showed us the theatre room, and basically like many of this pics it looked like a mini movie theatre but with all the trimmings and comfortable seats with drink holders and crap.

Crazy stuff, seems like you could spend money on better things but hey if you got it you can't take it with you i guess.

Chew the courier driver ay :P , Nah seriously though, Thought all that money he would of atleast had 3 projectors ..

[JamesXP]

my main computer gets used for music and movies it's not much good for anything else



A64 3200+
1.5GB RAM
8600GT
Happauge Nova-T PCI
Windows 7
LG 42" 1080p with S-IPS panel

Plays 1080p movies just fine.

sound consists of:

Yamaha DSP-A595
Monitor Audio Bronze BR1
Sennheiser HD201 (headphones)

[chew*]

Chew the courier driver ay :P , Nah seriously though, Thought all that money he would of atleast had 3 projectors ..

Tbh I think the actual theatre room was using projectors. They had some people that were dialing them in the day we were delivering.

The speakers we delivered were really weird never seen them before.

These weird conical towers with Like 8" or 10" subs facing up?

The brand escapes me, it was definitely not your mainstream household names. All I know is the waybill for shipping wasn't cheap and the bill for all 3 pieces said $30,000 when we were unpacking the boxes.

This house was just nuts, the theatre room and bathroom was just wow, when we walked in on the lower floor, there was what had to be at least a 500 gallon wrap around a corner fishtank being built into the walls.

Definitely the most lavish house I have ever set foot in.

[Donnie27]

Heh, I delivered to a house that had one of these heavy hitter setups.

We were delivering some 60" TV and just 2 speakers that cost $30,000 total......apparently those were for the "bathroom" which was twice the size of my bedroom and the bath was preety much a giant jacuzzi.......

While there they showed us the theatre room, and basically like many of this pics it looked like a mini movie theatre but with all the trimmings and comfortable seats with drink holders and crap.

Crazy stuff, seems like you could spend money on better things but hey if you got it you can't take it with you i guess.

Again, just like with LN overclocking, STEVil at a SPL shootout, NASCAR or etc....(all things I like BTW) to me it is just a spectator sport. The problem I have with a lot of this is that 97% of the systems used, far exceed the fidelity of 99% of the movies made. It's like hooking up a very nice set B&O, B&W and or Martin Logan Speakers to a Boom Box You can't make a 90 grain Album sound like a High Speed 200 Grain Album. You can't mass produced CD Audio at 16bit/44.1kHz so it'd sound like a (Stereo Mode) 24bit-192kHz DVD Audio Disk made from the Original Masters. Or have Movies sound like Super Audio CD. The technology is there but currently not even half-a$$ed used.

Don't get me wrong here, I know of at least one smart person who spent about $32,500 on their system and if I had that kind of budget for such things, I'd have spent too!

That said, I don't really think a value can be put on something of beauty that pleases someone. Sometimes IMHO, the more simple of these HT's are some of the best ones IMHO. You're right, you can't take it with ya'.

[wiretap]

Here's my setup:

First, the server that stores my 950+ HD movies, 40+ complete TV series (mostly HD), and 250GB+ of music.

AMD X2 4850e 45w
Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wi-Fi
4x1GB Corsair XMS2 Pro DDR2-800
Asus 8400GS 256MB [Fanless]
Sans Digital 8-bay eSATA Enclosure
2x 750GB SATA2
8x 1TB SATA2
2x 2TB SATA2
Rocketfish Case (Lian-Li rebrand) modded to hold 19 HDDs
Zalman 850w Heatpipe Silent/Modular PSU
Windows Home Server PP3
Cyberpower 1500VA Battery Backup



And the HTPC:

Asus M2A-VM 690g Motherboard
AMD Athlon X2 5000+ 65nm Brisbane
Scythe Ninja Mini [Fanless]
2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 CL4
Asus 8600GT HDCP [Fanless]
SoundBlaster X-fi XtremeMusic
Seagate 250GB SATA2 [OS Drive]
Seagate 750GB SATA2 [Storage Drive]
LG Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive
Antec NSK2400 with VL System L.I.S. MCE VFD Screen
Windows 7 Ultimate x86



And the theater setup:

Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080p
Custom 105'' 16:9 Ratio Fixed Screen
Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver
Yambeka Audio 7 Point Surround Sound
BIC Acoustech H100 Subwoofer
Belkin PureAV PF60
Custom Home Theater PC
DirecTV HD Satellite (Choice Xtra + HD Pack)
Logitech Harmony 720 Remote
6 Leather Recliners w/ Cupholders [Interior Express]

[Johnny87au]

wow nice displays dude, those 950 movies for the htpc along with the server though right ?

[Nanometer]

[wiretap]

wow nice displays dude, those 950 movies for the htpc along with the server though right ?

Yes, it streams over GigE to my HTPC and other computers.

[Anniemay]

WOW. Very impressive wiretap.

Beautiful setup. I had a 120" 720p projector setup with 7.1 surround a few years ago. Nothing better than kicking back to watch a movie in the comfort of your own home. I definitely need to do a ton more research on HTPC. Want to build one but don't know that much about them right now. Anyone have any suggestions on sites to go to or anything?