i'm doing a budget for a complete home av system. although it's only going to start earliest late 1st quarter of next year, i am doing my budget for it from now onwards, as I will also do a total 100% home renovation the earliest late 4th quarter of this year.

the setup will include :

- plasma tv, preferably Panasonic [ since Pioneer bowed down from the plasma race ], size between 42" - 50"
- bluray + dvd + cd player [ budget around 2k +-, willing to spend up to 3k+- if the specs are worth it ]
- astro
- av surround component [ budget around 2k+-, willing to extend it close to 3k+-, again, if it's worth it lol ]
- 5.1 speaker setup
- all the other stuffs required to connect everything together and to give the best picture quality / brightness and sound / sound effect possible within the space + budget constrain, i.e living hall of the home.

budget - wise, is RM 4 - 5k good enough for a better - than - basic beginner 5.1 setup? i have learned " the hard way lol " that floorstanders is much better than satellite speakers, so i plan to have floorstanders in the 5.1 setup. i am open to any suggestions.

for the player and the av surround component, should i try and budget the most possible, as I plan to keep both longer than the speaker setup?

cable - wise, i am so confused about it. the only thing i understand is only for HDMI cables, and that is, if the length required is only around 1 metre, cheapo ones is enough oledi [ pls correct me if i'm wrong about this eh? ].

on the topic of plasma tv placement, should the tv be placed in a bright area, i.e right across the windows or be placed in a darker area?

since the home will be 100% renovated, should i place sound barriers / absorbent materials on the walls as well [ as the home is a terrace unit ]?

thanks fellas!

note : i am doing the budget as i am saving up from now, this is due to the costs involved with the home reno. also because all transactions will be paid in cash, so really gotta budget from now on lol!

This post has been edited by poyo: Apr 19 2010, 10:52 AM

"it's only going to start earliest late 1st quarter of next year, i am doing my budget for it from now onwards"

I recommend you to plan 3 months prior not as early as now as technological stuff especially electronics moreover entertainment hardware evolve rapidly all electronics giant are rat-racing and launching new specs new model every now and then.

2cents.

thanks for your insight. but i prefer to plan ahead.

I really wonder how you're going to plan ahead when the AV technology change so fast?
What you can plan is your room - sound proofing, wiring, lighting and other fixtures stuff.
Damonzero gives good advice on 3 months forward planning.

I think you guys don't really get the gist of my post. 1st of all, I know nuts about home AV. I placed a certain budget, so anyone who wants to recommend me what type of items to buy, can give me their thoughts on that item/s. I can then later check out the manufacturer's website for specs, reviews of the said item, and I can ask AV sifus here on what they think and their experience with the said item. This way, I can learn more on what to look out for, and whether the next update of the item, or any similar items, is that worthy enough for me to buy it, or I can save up by just buying the previous model [ the one that person recommended ] if I feel it is enough for me for the 1st few years.

I've stated this earlier, so I hope I don't have to repeat this again : this is my preference to budget 1st hand as early as possible, because I don't want to be caught short - handed when I want to buy the AV stuffs.

i think you did not get what we mean..

if we give you recommendation now...
the model might be obsolete in 1year time or newer and better model come out.. then what the point you budget it now?u surely will rebudget again in future...

Do your RM4-5K budget inclusive of display panel? If yes, then it is a very limited Your post is confusing. You mentioned that you had a budget of around RM2K for BDP + DVD + CDP and another RM2-3K for avr. No specific budget for 5.1 spkrs setup. A rough guess for your complete setup would be above RM10K.

Assuming it is RM5K, the FHD for 50" would probably still at around RM4K mark a year down the road. So, you have only RM1K at most. That would only be HTiB for you . If a 40", then you might have abt RM2.5k left. That also is too little for a separate HT component setup

Sound barriers and not diffusers / absorbtive panels is costly. You need to built stud wall. Btw, are you listening at loud volume? If you are talking about acoustic panels that I mentioned, then you need to DIY, which is less costly. Probably set up back by a few hundred ringgits if it is a few pieces. A thorough job will easily around few k.

You need to know what you want first and your budget

Would you be so kind to tell me which of the AV units in my list will change it's technology as fast as less than a year after launching it's predecessor? Other that what I've explained as the variables set for the AV setup anyway? It would be good if you can pinpoint which brand, which item, at what pricing bracket, so I can do my own research further.

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Added on April 19, 2010, 2:18 pmAlamak sifu. I've already posted the details in the 1st post lol.

Display - wise, it's either the V or the VT series lah, I suppose the cheapest will be RM 8k which I have already calculated earlier in my budget [ according to current prices for quality plasma panel prices, plus minus lah ], so that's why I only typed what brand the display will be.

For the 5.1 setup, I've already stated and asked in the 1st post, whether RM 4-5k is a good budget for a 5.1 with floorstanders lol.

The sound barrier / absorbent material, I was thinking more down the line of putting 'em in the walls, or sandwich 'em somehow, so it'll be there permanently. 'Cause it want the living hall to be a pleasant place to look at too eh.

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Added on April 19, 2010, 2:20 pmthank you!

This post has been edited by poyo: Apr 19 2010, 02:20 PM

Okay Poyo

I think I know what you are really asking for, you want to know before hand how much to set aside, and not necessary specific models, right

Okay, you mention you are putting your Plasma TV in your sitting room (is my assumption right)

When you say sitting room, there would be window directly opposite or next to your TV, correct, which basically is the bane of Plasma, which is NOT as bright as a LCD TV. Another point to consider is would you consider investing in heavy curtains to block out the sunlight so that your Plasma TV can trully shine? Plasma panels tend to be more reflective then LCD.

Now, TV is a VERY sakit kepala item at this point in time. All major brands have announce 3D TV and there is not much content (eg. BD movies) are available for such TVs yet (Avatar is somewhat announce, and Monster Vs Aliens and Cloudy with a chance for Meatballs and that is about it) this could be a chicken and an egg situation. TV producers will not mass produce (lowering cost of TV) 3D TV if there is no content, and movies producers will not release 3D stuff if there is not much 3D TVs around... So adoption by the public is yet remain to be seen.

Another roundabout sakit kepala matter that is a spinoff from the above is, AVR now DON'T support HDMI version 1.4 (10.2 GB data transfer, version 1.3 support 6.(something) GB data transfer), which supports the 3D format. Onkyo is the only one that has announce the HDMI v1.4 amp, but nothing from other manufacturer. A light at the end of the tunnel for this matter is suggested by Panasonic. Their 3D Blu-Ray player has 2 HDMI out, one to the 3D TV (with the HDMI v 1.4) another to your amp (HDMI v1.3), and will other manufacturer follow suit??????

So I can understand why alot of SIFUs here are reluctant to throw in their two cents because, as they have stated, technology are evolving faster then most people can absorb, let alone keeping track of the pricing.

My two Sen

Yeah, would love to know how much I need to extend my budget [ or whether I can put a certain cap on the costs! ], models dun mind one as long as it'll work in harmony with the rest of the AV stuffs.

I can move the tv and rearrange everything as the other half of the living room will be dark [ although there will be smaller sized windows in this particular area looking out to the road as well ] because right outside the windows in the said area, will be a proper garage that can comfortably fit a car as large as an extended - wheelbase S Class, and high enough to fit an Elgrand comfortably, made with bricks, cement and the sides will be fitted with manual metal garage door, and the front with a remote / electrically operated metal garage door. Rearranging everything including living room redesign will not be an issue as I've stated earlier the home will go thru a 100% reno work. So if I kept all three garage doors open, this area would still be pretty dark due to me bricks + cement roofing in front of the windows! I don't see the point of buying a 3D plasma next year due to extreme lack of content, hence that is why I've also stated earlier I've already pinpointed to the upcoming Panny V and VT series [ the new VT series have both 2D and 3D viewing options if I'm not mistaken ]. Plus I don't think our local TV channels will not be bringing in 3D so soon, since B.Yond itself is still in it's infancy stages.

I thank you loads for explaining about the AVR issue! This is what, part from my questions, that I would want to learn more : what I should look out for, so that I refine my budget better! Thanks again! So for the BD player and the AVR, should I extend my budget further to be ready if the 3D tech goes to one way, or to the other way? I'll Google about the Panny 3d BD player! Thanks again!

It is indeed good to plan.. BUT at least get some knowledge/information/details on the things you think you want to plan for first.. THEREFORE suggest you start to visit some AV shop, read some AV material, maybe visit the coming KLIAV and as starter browse this forum all the way to "beginning"

Or... Let a AV shop do the setting up for you.. give them a budget and ask them to install and set up for you... but this won't be cheap...

You got more than 6 months.. so start by reading the forum, weekend go window shopping, July go KLIAV and every time magnum got draw then buy number.. if kena.. budget no issue already....

right now for my 5.1 speaker setup budget, i've based it off sifu htkaki's earlier recommendation for a satellite setup, which he helped me understand what type of speakers to look out for, and i've checked a few prices from some threads here and local reviews + local shop's online prices, hence the budget for 5.1 system between 4-5k +-, meaning that I am able to extend it a bit, maybe another 1k extra. i just don't know which brands to look for, how much power to look out for, the high - low mhz rating, which one fits the bill as speakers for TV and movies [ no music listening though ] etc.

then the other stuffs i'm not sure is what cabling to use that will let all the AV stuffs work together in unison with the best performance the cables [ that can afford ] will offer. the only thing about connection - wise that i understand is that for HDMI cables, length less then 1.5m, it's enough to use cap ayam brand lol.

i have also asked : for the player and the av surround component, should i try and budget the most possible, as I plan to keep both longer than the speaker setup? because i'm not sure whether I should extend the budget to the max cap i've placed for the speakers, or just cap it off at under 5k and use the remaining cash to buy better BD player + AVR units.

i am open to any suggestions based on my cash budget. but if there's none, it's ok.

it's very confusing because i have zero knowledge in HT AV system, hence I'm looking for suggestions of what to buy, what type, what brand at my budget for the particular item, but i'm open to suggestions tha may even cost a lot more, as long as the person who gave me the suggestion explains to me why i should extend my budget that much [ is the technology in the said item will satisfy my requirement for much longer time than my speaker choice etc etc ].