My Living Room / Infrared 'Splicer'
 

Ok, so we just got our living room all set up today with a 5-speaker surround system. I know the fantasy stereo buffs will jab at the speakers, receiver and positioning, but this system was put together quickly to appease the unpolished tastes of a woman in her mid 50's. If it were MY system, it would have been Klipsch all around, but my dad wouldn't spend $300 per speaker. Party pooper.

The real gem of this setup is the infrared main unit. It's basicly a system of modules that attach to the infrared detectors on each unit that are connected to a main infrared receiver. This allows you to hide your receiver/DVD/VHS/cable box from view, and have one target to aim your remote at.

Some more explanation after the pics:

Frontal view. Front speakers at the sides, center speaker above the TV. Sorry, my living room is just as tilted as I am.
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr01.jpg

Rear left.
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr02.jpg

Rear right and subwoofer.
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr03.jpg

View from the kitchen.
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr04.jpg

Receiver and DVD/CD player
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr05.jpg

It wasn't my idea to keep this.
http://www.tba-ownz.org/img/livingroom/lr06.jpg

About the subwoofer... I would have liked a better tactical spot to put it, such as directly behind the big couch, but to some people, visual is more important than audio. Pfft!

Right now, we don't have an HDTV/cable box for that TV, but when it gets here, it'll go on top of the VCR.

You may notice the infrared nodes on both the receiver and the VHS units (from the little wires hanging from the front). Why is there not one on the DVD player? Well, the signal actually reflects off the inside of the cupboard door from the receiver's node into the DVD player's infrared detector. This way, we won't have to attach one to the HDTV/cable box when it gets here.

The infrared main unit system is about $400, I think. I can post more details if you're interested.

Those are huge fuckin' chess pieces.

That sub placement is pretty horrible, but it's better than nothin.

Wish I had somethin like that.

Not a bad setup really.

And, when you do get your setup Hal, check out mordaunt short. Amazing stuff, its what I have

That's the cutest little teensie-weensie subwoofer-ette I've ever seen.

One of the most important factors in audio sales is the WAF, Wife Appreciation Factor. In your case, I imagine it's the MAF, but that's not the point. So many big systems are crippled by poor speaker placement, or are returned simply because they must please the wife. Now this isn't saying women don't know what's up, but rather that men with wives often let the women decorate the house. Thus, since their word is law, when the man brings home a hulking piece of solid wood that completely clashes with the rest of their perfectly arranged living room, it's the wife who has the final say. Thus audio installers will try to do whatever they can to accomodate both parties wishes, some companies will even custom dye speaker grills to match upholstery patterns.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, nice little setup.

Hey enjoy whatcha got... Looks great.

Ya got the TV, the reciever and speakers.... now, do you have a DVD where they blow stuff up?

:lol:




( You can buy speakers under $300/piece? : )