Cheap A/V receiver for business conference room

[nickf77]

Designing our business's conference room right now, and can't quite find a receiver to suit the need...

Essentially, we're going to have a few types of connections built into the conference table (likely HDMI, VGA, and 3.5mm stereo audio), run those to a receiver in the front of the room, then have video output to a projector, and audio output to a cheap set of bookshelf speakers. Audio will rarely be used, so really all we need is a middle-man between the projector and inputs that will control volume and switch between video inputs.

Maybe I'm searching for the wrong thing, but it seems every receiver I come across is marketed towards surround sound home theater setups. Anybody have any experience with conference room setups?

 

[Kaido]

Easiest way I've found is like this:

1. HDMI & VGA straight to projector, with projector on auto-source detection
2. 3.5mm & HDMI-to-RCA adapter (so really, HDMI into pass-thru device, then into the projector) into amplifier
3. In-wall, in-ceiling, or mountable speakers (Monoprice or Dayton Audio via Parts Express both have surprisingly nice equipment options)

Monoprice has an HDMI to Stereo converter for $45: (haven't personally used it, but it fits the bill if you're looking for "simple")

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

RapidRun has a nice flying cable system: (just use a standard fishing system for easy in-wall wire running)

http://www.rapidrun.com/categories.asp?cat_id=8841001

I use a $30 Lepai amplifier for most of my projects: (it has 3.5mm & Stereo RCA input and has a kind of passive auto-switch in it, plus strong power for driving speakers despite the low wattage)

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=310-300

So if they plug into HDMI, it gets split through the converter to the amp, and the video gets run up to the projector, where it is auto-detected. With VGA, they also plug into the headphone jack on their laptop. Pretty simple. If you don't have a good location to mount the amplifier, you can run a remote volume knob in the table or on a wall:

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/in-wall-volume-controls/1956

I've set stuff like this up both in conference rooms tables & on in-wall systems with good results.

 

[nickf77]

Easiest way I've found is like this:

1. HDMI & VGA straight to projector, with projector on auto-source detection
2. 3.5mm & HDMI-to-RCA adapter (so really, HDMI into pass-thru device, then into the projector) into amplifier
3. In-wall, in-ceiling, or mountable speakers (Monoprice or Dayton Audio via Parts Express both have surprisingly nice equipment options)

Monoprice has an HDMI to Stereo converter for $45: (haven't personally used it, but it fits the bill if you're looking for "simple")

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...10114&cs_id=1011412&p_id=10251&seq=1&format=2

RapidRun has a nice flying cable system: (just use a standard fishing system for easy in-wall wire running)

http://www.rapidrun.com/categories.asp?cat_id=8841001

I use a $30 Lepai amplifier for most of my projects: (it has 3.5mm & Stereo RCA input and has a kind of passive auto-switch in it, plus strong power for driving speakers despite the low wattage)

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=310-300

So if they plug into HDMI, it gets split through the converter to the amp, and the video gets run up to the projector, where it is auto-detected. With VGA, they also plug into the headphone jack on their laptop. Pretty simple. If you don't have a good location to mount the amplifier, you can run a remote volume knob in the table or on a wall:

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/in-wall-volume-controls/1956

I've set stuff like this up both in conference rooms tables & on in-wall systems with good results.

Brilliant! I didn't even think of splitting it up into separate components, I kept looking for an all-in-one solution. I've actually been looking at the Lepai for my personal speaker setup, so I'm familiar with its versatility. I made this to organize my own thoughts after reading that - hopefully it'll help anyone else who reads this and doesn't quite visualize it.

Probably won't even go shopping for bookshelf speakers - might just look for hand-me-downs in a friend's basement... they'll only be used like twice a year on the rare occasion that we have a presentation with audio.


If we wanted to add a cable box in the future, what would be the best way to add that to the setup? Just duplicate the HDMI part, have the projector do the switching between the 3 inputs (HDMI from table, HDMI from cable box, VGA from table), and have both audio runs from the HDMI converter go into a splitter into the Lepai?

 

[gus6464]

You can get a dirt cheap HDMI receiver nowadays for less than $200.

 

[Kaido]

Brilliant! I didn't even think of splitting it up into separate components, I kept looking for an all-in-one solution. I've actually been looking at the Lepai for my personal speaker setup, so I'm familiar with its versatility. I made this to organize my own thoughts after reading that - hopefully it'll help anyone else who reads this and doesn't quite visualize it.

Probably won't even go shopping for bookshelf speakers - might just look for hand-me-downs in a friend's basement... they'll only be used like twice a year on the rare occasion that we have a presentation with audio.


If we wanted to add a cable box in the future, what would be the best way to add that to the setup? Just duplicate the HDMI part, have the projector do the switching between the 3 inputs (HDMI from table, HDMI from cable box, VGA from table), and have both audio runs from the HDMI converter go into a splitter into the Lepai?

Yup, your picture nailed it! The Lepai has both 3.5mm & Stereo RCA inputs, with kind of a built-in Y-cable, so it just plays whatever is coming through, so if you terminate one of the cables with a Y-adapter, you'll be all set!

Yeah, and some cable boxes have analog output, so you can run it straight into the amp, just buy an RCA or minijack splitter. Or if you're planning on that in the future, just buy a Y-splitter for the 3.5mm now and then run the RCA from the cable box in the future. Then just buy an HDMI splitter for the projector, unless your projector has dual HDMI inputs. Although that may be treading on receiver territory by then haha.

Anyway, it keeps it pretty simple - the user turns on the projector, plugs in their laptop, and everything is basically auto-detected from there. If you set the amp at about half-volume, they can adjust the output volume from their digital software controls on their laptop. If you do an in-wall setup with a keystone jack type of setup, just make sure label everything and keep a backup baggie of plugs available. You can also wire some projectors to turn on via a wall switch. I have one in my lunchroom for employee meetings setup this way - it hangs out next to the fridges, then someone can hookup their laptop and do all the controls from the wall switches - electric screen drop, projector turn-on, VGA & minijack audio inputs, and volume control.

I'd also recommend keeping a USB remote control handy for doing Powerpoints and stuff, something with a laser pointer too like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-0...dp/B002GHBUTK/

As well as a basic little keyboard/trackpad combo like a Logitech K400, so they don't have to do extra program controls from their laptop inputs:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wirel.../dp/B005DKZTMG

On the conference room tables, I have a fancy Logitech keyboard & mouse. They can either hook it up to their laptop, or just use the built-in computer for doing presentations and video training and stuff. Since the in-room computer is far away, I use a USB Ethernet Extender. Basically you're capped at like 16 feet with USB, but with a USB Ethernet booster kit, you can go 100 or 200 feet away with any USB device, which is useful for having the receiver hide in the drop in the middle of the table, but still be close enough to the keyboard & mouse to not drop the signal. Here's one on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Etherne.../dp/B000O2X2OA

All kinds of fun toys If you want to get really fancy, check out my Intel NUC thread in Hot Deals - it's a tiny 4" x 4" computer with HDMI output that is perfect for hiding in a conference room for doing meetings & presentations from shared stuff like network drives. Or if you want to get creative, with a USB port in a keystone jack in the wall so they can hookup their own USB drive to load up Powerpoints to an in-room computer without needing to bring in their own laptop. I have some users with laptops and some users without, so we run a combo system, which can get a little confusing, but I got a splitter box with big pushbuttons and used a labelmaker to designate in-wall & laptop connections

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2289083

 

[nickf77]

I've had dreams about setups like that, I didn't know anyone ever actually executed those visions - props to you! :thumbsup:

I'm actually thinking that getting an input switcher device like this one from Amazon (hopefully the price stays that low for a little bit) might be worth it. It'll be an extra step to have to select the input every time, but that way we'll only have to run one HDMI to the projector and can expand the system from where it's accessible rather than getting messy with in-ceiling and in-wall runs later. Not to mention the projector doesn't need as many inputs - that should cut down the cost of it a little.

Any projector recommendations? Ideally sub-$500, but the budget's flexible. Absolutely DOESN'T need 1080p. Throw distance will be around 10 feet, with a target screen width of 5-6 feet (ish). I've never really dealt with budget projectors before so I'm not sure what brands to even start with.


Appreciate the help - much respect.

 

[Kaido]

I've had dreams about setups like that, I didn't know anyone ever actually executed those visions - props to you! :thumbsup:

I'm actually thinking that getting an input switcher device like this one from Amazon (hopefully the price stays that low for a little bit) might be worth it. It'll be an extra step to have to select the input every time, but that way we'll only have to run one HDMI to the projector and can expand the system from where it's accessible rather than getting messy with in-ceiling and in-wall runs later. Not to mention the projector doesn't need as many inputs - that should cut down the cost of it a little.

Any projector recommendations? Ideally sub-$500, but the budget's flexible. Absolutely DOESN'T need 1080p. Throw distance will be around 10 feet, with a target screen width of 5-6 feet (ish). I've never really dealt with budget projectors before so I'm not sure what brands to even start with.


Appreciate the help - much respect.

Yeah, I like to work at smaller companies where you get to do more fun hands-on projects like this :thumbsup:

For a conference room, you want a light canon. I don't recommend LED projectors right now because the lumens are too low. Look for something in the 3000-lumen range. You might also want to go with a 720p model instead of 1080p, in case someone has a laptop that doesn't support that high of a resolution. A quick Amazon search brought me to this 720p 2800-lumen Viewsonic projector for under $500:

http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-PJD5...dp/B00511ITEM/

I would also get a spare bulb and keep a step ladder handy in case the bulb goes out. They last several thousand hours, but it beats having to wait for one to arrive on order or having to scramble to find a ladder if it goes out in the middle of a meeting.

Good luck with your project!

 

[Howard]

Yeah, I like to work at smaller companies where you get to do more fun hands-on projects like this :thumbsup:

For a conference room, you want a light cannon. I don't recommend LED projectors right now because the lumens are too low. Look for something in the 3000-lumen range. You might also want to go with a 720p model instead of 1080p, in case someone has a laptop that doesn't support that high of a resolution. A quick Amazon search brought me to this 720p 2800-lumen Viewsonic projector for under $500:

Important fix.

 

[Kaido]

Important fix.

Funny, I originally typed cannon and then went back and edited it to canon because it didn't look right. Been spending too much time with my cameras apparently :biggrin:

 

[nickf77]

Having a second thought... what about getting ONLY this: AV source switcher thingy and get a projector that has its own cheap speakers - I don't think anyone will mind the bad sound quality, plus we can splice out the audio and send it to real speakers later if we decide to.

Can anyone confirm that we will be able to run everything to that device and send sound (from either RCA, stereo 3.5mm, or HDMI) through HDMI to the projector and have the projector play its tinny audio? The reviews seem to suggest that it's a decent device, but I'm skeptical because I would've expected it to cost more...