Help Me Splurge
#1
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Help Me Splurge
OK ... before you get any funny ideas:
Now, with that out of the way, here's what I currently have in my setup (nothing particularly fancy):
Obvious Holes:
So I'm looking to buy something "else" - something that may not be entirely necessary but would be cool to have. For example, I have no real need for a 100 CD player, but it would be damn cool to have. I've heard that the DV-444 isn't that great in terms of Progressive Scan, so it would be nice to have something of better quality, but I don't really know how much a difference that will make or what I'm really missing.
Anyway, I know this is a pretty open-ended question, but you guys are the experts ... any suggestions for a new toy(s) would be appreciated. I have no particular price range; though I'm not looking to buy anything obscenely expensive ... e.g. I don't need a $2000 receiver. Just got a phat Xmas bonus, and to be honest, I deserve a new toy.
Thanks!
das
splurge (splûrj)
v. splurged, splurg·ing, splurg·es
v. intr.
v. splurged, splurg·ing, splurg·es
v. intr.
- To indulge in an extravagant expense or luxury.
- To be showy or ostentatious.
- Mitsubishi WS-65819 65" RPTV
- Onkyo SKS-HT500 5.1 Speakers 100W
- Onkyo TX-SR600 6.1 Receiver 80W
- Pioneer DV-444
- Panasonic TU-HDS20 DirecTV/HDTV Receivier
- Sony SAT-T60 DirecTiVo
- PS2 and more generic VCRs/DirecTV Receivers than you could imagine
- Kickass Beanbag Chair
- Kickass Recliner
Obvious Holes:
- Back Channel Speaker
- Speaker Stands
- Popcorn Maker
- Obscenely large capacity CD/DVD player
- Universal Learning Remote that will make you cry
- HQ DVD Player
- Region Free DVD Player
- Multimedia rack/display stand (everything just sits atop my TV)
- Other?
So I'm looking to buy something "else" - something that may not be entirely necessary but would be cool to have. For example, I have no real need for a 100 CD player, but it would be damn cool to have. I've heard that the DV-444 isn't that great in terms of Progressive Scan, so it would be nice to have something of better quality, but I don't really know how much a difference that will make or what I'm really missing.
Anyway, I know this is a pretty open-ended question, but you guys are the experts ... any suggestions for a new toy(s) would be appreciated. I have no particular price range; though I'm not looking to buy anything obscenely expensive ... e.g. I don't need a $2000 receiver. Just got a phat Xmas bonus, and to be honest, I deserve a new toy.
Thanks!
das
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Re: Help Me Splurge
Originally posted by das Monkey
- Universal Learning Remote that will make you cry
#5
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• Quoth gotapex •<HR SIZE=1>How about a subwoofer that'll make your neighbors cry? <HR SIZE=1>
Nah ... I like my neighbors. The sub with my Onkyo works for now.
das
#6
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Re: Re: Help Me Splurge
• Quoth Icculus •<HR SIZE=1>Whatever you decide to get try to set aside an extra $100 for a Pronto (a refurb TS-1000 can be found for $100). I bought one a few weeks ago and it's definitely one of the cooler toys I've bought in a while. <HR SIZE=1>
I'll go check that out right now ... thanks for the suggestion.
I know most of you have at least one cool toy in your setup, so I'm mainly looking for something that's not exactly essential ... but "cool" to have.
das
#9
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• Quoth X •<HR SIZE=1>Standalone DVD recorder to replace your VCRs and permanently archive thousands of hours of your most precious TV memories. <HR SIZE=1>
Now you're on to something. For whatever reason, I'm skeptical of this. Guess it's time to start doing some research. With the proliferation of DVD releases of TV shows and so many digital captures hitting the newsgroups for moments that won't hit DVD, it's tough to know how to approach that. Good suggestion though ... off to do some research.
das
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How about a Panasonic CP72 5 DVD changer? or maybe an Xbox? Then you can get a back channel too, because of the relatively low cost?
As far as popcorn makers go, you can grab one of those stovetop ones with the crank handle for like $20 at target, and they are the bomb.
As far as popcorn makers go, you can grab one of those stovetop ones with the crank handle for like $20 at target, and they are the bomb.
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I'd say upgrade your speakers. The I've looked at the SKS-HT500 and the fronts are exactly the same as the Kenwood speakers (except for the grills) that I got in my first surround sound speaker package 4 years ago (5.1 in a box). The sub is different, though. I can only imagine the center and surrounds are the same too (same size and all). They are not too bad, but the Infinity speakers in my main theater setup blow them away. I think you would be best served in an upgrade there.
#16
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• Quoth mdX •<HR SIZE=1>definitely replace the dvd player with something that doesn't redefine 'suck' (assuming your TV accepts a 480p signal - the 444 is fine in interlaced mode) <HR SIZE=1>
As I said, I've never had anything to compare it against ... am I really missing out by that much? I bought it before I had my 65" Mits and mainly got it for the wide variety of oddball formats it would play (particularly in the (X)(S)VCD arena). I read a review of it once that said if you put a tin can lid in the tray, it would probably be able to play it ... pretty accurate too. At the time it was irrelevant that the "progressive" output really wasn't.
So I guess the question then becomes, will I really notice a difference upgrading players ... and if so, can I kill a few birds with one stone ... i.e. can I get a multi-disc or region-free player (or both) that also gives me a significant upgrade in quality?
Thanks.
das
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Someone mentioned that you get a projector.
Get a Stewart permanent mount screen if you really want to splurge or get a Dalite permanent mount screen to save some bucks.
Also, get (8) $400 theater seats and $2000 worth of DVDs.
Get a Stewart permanent mount screen if you really want to splurge or get a Dalite permanent mount screen to save some bucks.
Also, get (8) $400 theater seats and $2000 worth of DVDs.
#18
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Re: Help Me Splurge
I'm no hardware expert by any means, but I'm thinkin' an ICEE maker. How could home generated Diet Code Red icee's NOT enhance your entertainment pleasure!?!?!
You got a big phat Xmas bonus!?!?!?
*looks outside for the flying pigs and the rain of flaming toads*
Originally posted by das Monkey
... e.g. I don't need a $2000 receiver. Just got a phat Xmas bonus, and to be honest, I deserve a new toy.
das
... e.g. I don't need a $2000 receiver. Just got a phat Xmas bonus, and to be honest, I deserve a new toy.
das
*looks outside for the flying pigs and the rain of flaming toads*
#19
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For a remote I would have to say go with the MX-500. I had the Pronto well really the upgraded Marantz RC-5000 and it was a pain in the A$$. Everytime you need to push a button you need to look down at the remote. The MX-500 has hard buttons and you don't need to look down.
#20
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Originally posted by TheKobra
For a remote I would have to say go with the MX-500. I had the Pronto well really the upgraded Marantz RC-5000 and it was a pain in the A$$. Everytime you need to push a button you need to look down at the remote. The MX-500 has hard buttons and you don't need to look down.
For a remote I would have to say go with the MX-500. I had the Pronto well really the upgraded Marantz RC-5000 and it was a pain in the A$$. Everytime you need to push a button you need to look down at the remote. The MX-500 has hard buttons and you don't need to look down.
The Home Theater Master MX-500 is incredible and I prefer it over any touchscreen model. This review from Remote Central has more info than you could ever want:
http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/index.html
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Originally posted by das Monkey
Why 2?
das
• Quoth karnblack •<HR SIZE=1>Get 2 rear center channel speakers. <HR SIZE=1>
Why 2?
das
Center Channel . . . in the Rear?
#24
Originally posted by skar
The Home Theater Master MX-500 is incredible and I prefer it over any touchscreen model. This review from Remote Central has more info than you could ever want:
http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/index.html
The Home Theater Master MX-500 is incredible and I prefer it over any touchscreen model. This review from Remote Central has more info than you could ever want:
http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/index.html
That said, I wouldn't recommend the MX-500 by itself. It's what I've got right now, and it works wonderfully for me, because I still have my Pronto. The catch is that the MX-500 can't be programmed with discrete codes (which is really where good remotes shine)... it has to learn them from another remote. I can program discrete codes into my Pronto, and then have the MX-500 learn them.
There's a newer model called the MX-700, and it's basically the MX-500 with a port so you can hook it up to your computer (like a Pronto). From there, you can program discrete codes without the need for a second controller. And the MX-700 comes with a smaller controller as well that the wife/girlfriend is likely to appreciate and understand. If I didn't have the Pronto already, I would've bought it.
Here's a link to the MX-700: http://www.remotecentral.com/mx700/i...700/index.html
#25
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Re: Help Me Splurge
Originally posted by das Monkey
So I'm looking to buy something "else" - something that may not be entirely necessary but would be cool to have.
So I'm looking to buy something "else" - something that may not be entirely necessary but would be cool to have.