2. home-theater
  3. 1066752107

It's No Fun Being a Guru Anymore

I would be curious to hear everyone's opinion on this -- somthing that probably happens to all of you as often as it happens to me.

Years ago, when systems seems more oriented towards MUSIC, it was flattering and fun to help friends choose equipment. Choose music, choose equipment, sit down, enjoy.

Today, however, it just seems like a nightmare and fraught with potential problems. Or is it just me?

Last night, I visited a friend of a friends new apartment in mid renovation -- a beautiful pre-war high ceilinged apartment near Park Avenue in New York where he has happily spent a zillion dollars on everything.

And here is the exciting news on the state of his audio/video plans:

He is requesting:

1)bookshelf speakers in a study/library, approx 8x12

2)unobtrusive speakers in living room, possibly near ceiling and possibly with subwoofer, approx 14x20

3)a second pair of bookshelf speakers in a kitchen/den area, approx 18x20

Here's is where it gets interesting: (NOT!)

He thinks he can use a 10ish year old YAMAHA AVR-75 receiver and a similarly low end SONY DVD/CD/Video CD player to drive EVERYTHING.

And the dealer who gave him a $10,000 proposal has encouraged him!

So the proposed solution is:

Keep the existing yamaha components and add:

1)Fujitsu HD plasma screen in kitchen/den area
2)$900 flattish speakers that hang off the plasma screen
3)An $800 Denon A/V receiver to drive these speakers and possibly the second pair of bookshelf speakers in the kitchen/den area

4) Hundreds of $$$ more on stuff I've never heard of, including programming his remote to receive Timewarner cable, and an ARTICULATING arm to swing the TV off the wall and over the kitchen table. Am I just getting too old or is this a JOKE?

I would say $10,000 or more later, this will sound like CRAP, in EVERY ROOM.

Despite the cheesey garden variety home theatre "solution" there has been no mention of surround sound or a subwoofer for the plasma system.

So my first thought would be to listen to TV and DVD through a decent pair of proper speakers in just stereo and junk the flat speakers that mount on the TV.

But I really dont even know where to begin.

He is actually a nice guy with a nice wife and I would like to help, so if anyone has any ideas or advice, please let me know ASAP.
cwlondon

Showing 1 response by dekay

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,348 posts
 
CW:

Not certain about DVD players, TV's/Screens (I use a cheap Mintek DVD-1600 in our bedroom).

However, for the sound part your friend should check out the Yamaha Pianocraft mini systems. I'm familar with the 40 watt version, but recently read of a 50 watt model (Terry Cain of Cain & Cain mentioned it over @ AA).

The 40 watter is a compact/attractive/remote controlled system that sounds very nice. It will work in the 14 x 20 with near/on the wall speaker placement, but a larger room would be stretching things a bit too much, IMO.

The older 40 watt version, a friend's daughter uses, has extra inputs (DVD) and if I recall correctly it also has a sub out feature.

Having experimented with Hi-fi in kitchens over the years I always ended up preferring the random/chaos of radio and the sound of mono. Vintage Art Deco radios are attractive, but they also have a tendency to drift. I used a KLH Model 21 for years in this application, which is one of the nicest sounding table top radio's ever produced (even if it is SS:-).
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