cdifani

Guys: I need some help! I've written before to the forum, and received excellent advice (which I took!). And now I've got a new issue! What I've got is a 1400 sq foot loft in a 1920's post and beam barn that I've converted to living quarters... I've installed all speakers in the walls, and ceilings, and installed something like 4.9 miles of wires in the walls. I've run HDMI 1.3a CL2 cables, along with Cat 6 Ethernet, DVI, RGB, digital audio, RG8 coax, and every other kind of specialized conductor I could think of in my walls. My speakers are Polk "in wall" speakers that I've installed inside built-in enclosures, inside the walls and ceilings. Both of my HT areas are technically identical; same brand and model speakers used in the same places, connected by the same size and grade of wiring. Same speaker impedance, same everything. That's the background. Now for the details. Both HT areas are 5.2 audio (one has 7.2, but I'm only using the 5.2 speakers now). I've got two LG 1080P plasma panels, one 42 inch in the master bedroom, while the 55 inch plasma is in the great room viewing area. In my centrally located "equipment closet", I'm running an Onkyo HT-360 AV receiver (Fry's Electronics for $249 on sale), which has 5 HDMI inputs, and 1 HDMI output. For input's, I've got Rokyu, Blu-Ray, Patriot Memory Media Box, and HTPC sources connected via 1.4 HDMI cables. I'm controlling this system via a Harmony RF control, also everything is network connected with Internet connectivity. The question or rather the issue I want to solve is a way to switch the audio-visual outputs between my two home theater areas. Preferably with some kind of remote controlled speaker switching device. My goal is to be able to, by using my Harmony remote, switch (change) the speaker and HDMI output of my Onkyo receiver to either of my two HT areas (but not both at the same time). This seems to be simple, or at least simple in concept, but in reality, this seems to be a lot trickier to achieve! I've found HDMI splitters that are remote enabled, but I haven't found any kind of "switch" that meets my needs. The only "simple" solution I've been offered is to get a second AV receiver (next time they're on sale!), and use it to drive the second set of speakers. Then do a simple HDMI splitter kind of thing between my first AV receiver and the second, while keeping all the inputs (Blu-Ray, etc.,) connected to (and controlled by) my first AV receiver. This solution would solve the "speaker switches" thing... But it would add a level of complexity due to the second AV receiver... The other issue I'm dealing with is that my wife is not "remote friendly". ....which is why I'm using the Harmony remote, with it's "activities" capabilities. Anyway, if anyone's got a working solution to this condition, I will be very grateful for your experience, and recommendations! Thanks for your time, and thoughts, Chris Difani cdifani@comcast.net

Guys: Thank you all for your time, your advice, and your knowledge. I really appreciate all of your responses. From what information I've received already, I've ordered a Logitech Harmony remote. Maybe by the time I get a receiver, I'll have the remote figured out! There's been some requests for additional information so I'll add to what I've already said. I'm not doing 3D video. My preferred TVs (42 and 47) will be LG, or Samsung, or one of the other major brands. 120Hz, good contrast, and LCD are my requirements. My speakers are all Polk made, via Parts Express. They're rated at 50 to 100 watts depending on location or function. They're all wired with 12 gauge stranded copper with no parallel runs with the house AC power lines, or the network Cat 6 cables. I kept things as separated as possible, and where a cross was required, I kept things at 90° or 24 inch separation. The HDMI cabling is 1.3, 22AWG CL2 certified, rated at 350MHz. I've run HDMI throughout the entire loft, to all 8 possible TV locations, as well as the two main viewing areas. Each of the two main viewing areas have center channel dual speakers, a 12" subwoofer, and 8 inch 2 way rights and lefts for the front, middle, and rear areas. I also ran digital audio cabling, component video, and the basic PC VGA cables. Along with RG8 throughout the place. For my Ethernet, I ran Cat 6 everywhere... from my eBay 24 port switch, to every room and closet upstairs and down. I figured I just could not have too many cables! Each speaker is installed in it's own enclosure. While many of the "built in" speakers are simply hung off of the sheetrock, I constructed a MDF enclosure within the framing, or the rafters. I glued the enclosure, caulked the speaker wire passage, and filled the interior space with fiberglass. It's not perfect, but a lot better than hanging a speaker off sheetrock. I've installed my television mounts already, bought from Monoprice. The speaker wire also came from Monoprice. In fact I got a majority of my components from Monoprice. And every piece I bought from them has met, or exceeded my requirements. Excellent vendor, and wonderful prices. Only problem can be with limited stock on hand. Which means you need to plan ahead... On the recommendations for receivers that I've "received" so far, if you could, please give me a model number to go with the make. I'm so uneducated about the current state of electronic affairs, it's not funny. In fact the last time I dealt with this kind of thing, I was building my Heathkit receiver, and my ported bass reflex enclosures that I filled with JBL speakers! I suspect that dates me... really dates me! I hope this is enough additional information to help you give me your best recommendations on a receiver. As I've said before, a unit that's dependable, and funcitonal, that can provide 7.2 surround will be great. But "new", that's not a requirement! Something that is still reasonably technically current, that still has a good service life, that would be just what I'm looking for. Thanks again for all the advice, and recommendations! Chris Difani (cdifani@comcast.net)

Guys: I'm transforming my barn loft into living quarters. It's been a 3 year project, but the end is near! I've got everything I could possibly think of built in. As part of that, I've got almost 5 miles of wires in my walls. And this is a single master suite, one office, nice kitchen, and great room, 1800 sq ft creation. The roof is vaulted (as you would imagine a barn roof would be), and the rooms are not square boxes. In fact the word "square" isn't in my vocabulary. My barn is somewhere past 90 years old, so it's "settled". First of all, I have a AV equipment room (vented with it's own isolated filtered power service). And I've run IR repeater wires from the two serious television areas (7.2 and 5.1). There's a Breathe audio whole house sound system (4 zones) for radio/music. All my speakers (Polk) are in enclosures, which were built into the walls, or ceilings. That's the physical environment. In terms of myself, 30 years as a fireman, and I can no longer hear the high frequencies... Too many sirens, pump engines, aircraft, and all that other industrial noise. Which is why I went with "good" speakers. Now, for the point of my request. I need a decent receiver. I'd like a 2 zone receiver. In fact I'd love a 2 zone 7.1 and 5.1 receiver. But I also don't want to spend more than my car cost on it... Each television viewing area is connected to the equipment room with RG8, HDMI 1.3, digital audio, component video, and the usual PC connections. The speakers are all connected with 12 gauge stranded speaker wire. I would really appreciate some recommendations for a receiver. I don't have to have the "latest and greatest". In fact I don't want one of those. I'm also wondering if I only need a switch box of some sort that can switch the receiver outputs between the two television viewing areas rather than a 2 zone receiver. Since there's only two of us in my home, and I'm the only "remote control friendly" person, I want to keep things as simple as possible. I also don't have any problems with used equipment. As for inputs, I need 4 HDMI inputs (Blue Ray DVD, Patriot Media box, Roku, HTPC), ethernet RJ-45, and I think that's all. I also have XM radio, but that's routed thru the whole house audio system. If the 2 zone receiver isn't possible, than a two output HDMI switch would be a necessity.... I think. After reading what I've written, I also realize that I probably need a good remote control. Something that can handle 4 or 5 devices. So if anyone can suggest a reliable, but not incredibly complex, remote control, I will appreciate that also. My goal is a "good system", a receiver at $500 or less. More than that is a waste of money due to the wear and tear on me over my life. Based on what I've described, if anyone can suggest a solution for me, I'll be forever grateful... or until senior senility sets in... Thanks, Chris Difani, cdifani@comcast.net