Setting up a nice home theater: do it all myself or go through theater store??

[ProfJohn]

My new house has a 22x18 upstairs family room that I am going to convert into a media room.

I am wondering if I should just do it all myself or if I should buy some stuff from the high end theater store and get their help and advice.

Through my local http://www.audioadvice.com/ store I am looking at doing the following:
Bowers & Wilkins Custom theater 7.5 speakers for my left, right and center channel at $600 a piece. Along with one or two subs and 4 surround speakers for a 7.1 or 7.2 system. About $4000 in speakers

To power the system we are looking at an integra 30.1 for $800.

Then I'll find my own projector and screen via the net and I am good to go.

Does anyone suggest that I just do the whole thing on my own via the net and skip the high end store??

I am going to instal it all myself and will just be buying the stuff from them and getting any advice they may have on set up. And I think they will come in and calibrate the whole thing once I am done.


If do it my own any suggestions on speakers and receiver?

I have heard the B&Ws powered by that amp and the sound is insane!!!
If I go my own I want to make sure that I can get the same kind of kick ass sound for less money, otherwise it makes no sense to do it on my own.

 

[sivart]

Depends on how "handy" you are (If you can't be handsome, at least be handy). I did all of mine by myself (smaller 12x15 room). The most difficult part was running new electrical for the sconces and outlet in the ceiling for the projector. (Have an uncle who is an electrician, so I did it up to code). Running all the other wires / cables in wall was pretty easy.

If you have easy access to the area above the room, go for it. Nothing like the satisfaction of doing something yourself.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[ProfJohn]

^ I plan to do all the installation myself and save some money. I already spoke to a guy who has the same house plan as mine and did a theater for himself and walked it and learned how he set it all up.


The big question is whether to buy my components from fancy store or off the net.

The B&W speakers I listed above sound awesome, I guess I just need suggestions on other speakers that I can buy direct that will sound as awesome

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

With receivers that have auto-calibration, you should be able to do a good job of setting it up yourself.

For what they'll charge for setting it up or the cost premium they'll charge for the equipment, you could get something with a better auto calibration system and do a better job yourself.

Integra and Onkyo are the same company.

The Integra 30.1 looks to be somewhere between the Onkyo 607 and 707, which are $500 - $700.
If you can follow this guide, you can get great results on your own.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14456895#post14456895
(The 707 has a superior version of Audyssey than the Integra you're looking at for example)

With what receiver can do now on their own, it's a lot easier now to set things up on your own.

If you're comfortable doing portions of this on your own and setting it up yourself, I don't know if involving the local guys is necessary. There is a wealth of information available on AVSforum along with people there and here who would be willing to work through things with you.

Are you set on in-wall speakers, or is that just what they suggested? Particularly for the subwoofers, I would highly recommend looking at what Internet Direct companies have to offer.

 

[ProfJohn]

I was not planning on doing in the wall speakers, but then thought that I may do it that way for a clean look since I am placing my receiver + dvds in the corner closet.

Give me some suggestions on internet speakers or a place where I can find info

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I was not planning on doing in the wall speakers, but then thought that I may do it that way for a clean look since I am placing my receiver + dvds in the corner closet.

Give me some suggestions on internet speakers or a place where I can find info

Oh ok. Looks like B&W has an in-wall "CWM7.5" model that I thought you meant, but there's the "CT7.5"... is that what you're looking at?

Did you listen to several options in the pricerange and decide you liked these?

For internet direction options...

Ascend Acoustics
Aperion Audio
SVS (speaker & sub)
HSU (speaker & sub)
Elemental Designs (subs)
Epik (subs)

For retail stuff, Paradigm is another strong option that would be right in your pricerange.

 

[ProfJohn]

Eh.... I need to listen to more options in my price range. Bad John.


It was the CT 7.5 speakers. Probably the best sounding speakers I have heard (in that budget)

Sounded better than the Martin Logans I heard at BestBuy, which also cost more.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Eh.... I need to listen to more options in my price range. Bad John.


It was the CT 7.5 speakers. Probably the best sounding speakers I have heard (in that budget)

Sounded better than the Martin Logans I heard at BestBuy, which also cost more.

shhhh!

spidey07 might hear you