What do you think of this home theater system?

I will be living an apartment setting for the foreseeable future. At best, I will be able to use a second bedroom as a dedicated home theater room (so I guess dimensions would be around 15 ft. x 15 ft.?).

I only need a solidly designed HT processor which has a clean Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS output. By adding an outboard power amp (Outlaw 755 @ 200 wpc x 5) to the 1050, I have the potential for 6 channel surround, which is probably more than I need for the foreseeable future.

I would like rather full-range main speakers for L and R as the Outlaw 1050 has a 5.1 direct bypass switch that allows me to bypass the internal bass management and DSP processing. I would use this mode to listen to highly processed, studio rock recordings which sound horrendous on my dedicated 2 channel audio system.

I've never heard the PSB Image series speakers, but what I've read suggest that they would work very well for my needs (I also like their prodigious bass response and power handling, two things my Merlin VSM-SE speakers don't do as well).

Can I ask what specific criticisms of the PSB Image series (in particular, 5T, 9C, and 2B) you may have?

Also, have you listened to the Totem Dreamcatcher 5.1 satellite / subwoofer system?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Mshan:

Well then...... if that's the case, then the system that you have listed above is just fine the way it is. I live in an apartment as well, and as such, my home theater has to be on a small scale as well. I really like your home theater the way it is. If I ever move into a house, then what I am going to do then is upgrade my whole rig altogether rather than change the just a piece or two. And if I should ever do that, then I will be going from:

Panasonic CT-27SF37 Direct-View Television/Monitor
Toshiba SD-2700 DVD/CD Player (or the Pioneer Elite DV-37 Progressive Scan DVD/CD Player)
Harman/Kardon AVR-210 Audio/Video Receiver
Sennheiser HD-580 Headphones

To:

A table top rear projection HD television (45" to 50" range)
Continue to use my existing Pioneer Elite DV-37 as my DVD Player
And then upgrade to a Rotel RSP 1066 Pre/Pro and their matching RMB-1075 Multi Channel Amplifier

Have you considered a portable DLP projector like toe Plus Piano HE-3100? It is supposed to look quite good, even projected onto a plain white wall. I have a 32 Panasonic direct view TV and want to add this projector for DVD viewing at some time in the future.

Have you considered a portable DLP projector like the Plus Piano HE-3100? It is supposed to look quite good, even projected onto a plain white wall. I have a 32 Panasonic direct view TV and want to add this projector for DVD viewing at some time in the future.

Mshan:

First off, to finish my original post...... what I was saying was that if I were to move into a house anytime soon, then I was going to upgrade my home theater system as well, and upgrade to a much bigger one. I say this because, if I should get me a three or four bedroom house, or a three bedroom house with a basement, then I was going to turn one of those spare bedrooms into a home theater room, and maybe turn a room in the basement into an listening room (like you, I also prefer to have separate systems for music listening and for home theater..... and because the home theater is also going to double as an entertainment center as well so I can provide music for company if/when company should come over to visit, and that way, my expensive audio system (to me, anyway) won't be messed around with), or vice versa.

But what I'll be upgrading from is:

Panasonic CT-27SF37 Direct-View Television/Monitor (27")

Toshiba SD-2700 (my DVD Player at the moment, at least until I finally bring the Pioneer Elite back into the system...... it's connected to the audio system (which is located in a separate room) at the moment)

Harman/Kardon AVR-210 Audio/Video Receiver

Sennheiser HD-580 Headphones

To this (hopefully, not long after I purchase my house):

A table top rear projection HD television/monitor (45" to 50" range)

Continue to use my existing Pioneer Elite DV-37 as my DVD Player until the new HD-DVD Players hit the market in about two years or so, then I will upgrade to a second generation HD-DVD Player after that (I always wait until the second generation comes out when a new technology emerges. That way, they will have worked out most of the bugs that will probably plague the first generation models. And also, that way, I won't be stuck with an obsolete machine either)

And then upgrade the audio portion of my system from my existing Harman/Kardon Receiver to maybe a Rotel RSP-1066 Pre/Pro and their matching RMB-1075 Multi-Channel Power Amplifier or Outlaw's new $900.00 Pre/Pro and their matching Multi-Channel Power Amplifier (I will have all of the latest features and decoding capabilities and a boatload of power, for just around $2,000.00 or so) as well

And then get my first home theater speaker package. From the onset, I like the Snell K.5 MkII Speaker Package System right now. If a bigger budget should emerge, then I may look at a Totem package as well

That would be what I would upgrade to when I finally get me a house to put it in, or so.

Now........ enough about me.......

Secondly, about what you said about the possibility of using a DLP Projector. Well....... to be quite honest with you, that thought really hasn't crossed my mind. I might investigate the possibility of using a DLP Projector as well. Cost and maintainence will be major deciding factors if I should decide to look into using one instead of an HD-RPTV (which is the avenue I am likely to travel).

And third...... like I said, from the onset, I like your home theater system the way it is now. Personally speaking...... I wouldn't change a thing. I don't see anything wrong with PSB Speakers. In fact, I think very highly of them, as they provide a tremendous bang for the buck. If you like these speakers, then I say you should go ahead and go for it. That would be my call.

Well....... that's all the insight I have right now. Hope you let us know when you finally unveil your new system.

Later....... and Regards to you.........

--Charles--