1. Would any of you have a speaker system that
you would recommend that meets this criteria.
* <= $3000
* Exceptional Clarity w/out lack of bass
* The room size is 13X19 (TV on the 13' Wall)
* I am thinking of purchasing a Denon AVR5803
so, it would be nice if the setup was THX
Ultra or Ultra2

2. I found a product called SpitFire that allows you
to send IR signals via the pc and Visual Basic
using an external RS232 device using. I just
purchased a 15" LCD touch
screen and plan on developing my own system that to
me will be as good if not better than Crestron,AMX.
My question is both my receiver and HDTV have RS232
ports for external control and I was wondering if
there is a piece of hardware for the computer that
would hook up to both the pc and component and
allow me to have access to controlling/monitoring
the component via RS232? I are you confused yet?

3. If the ability to control via discrete codes was
number one priority what high end 7.1 THX receiver
would you recommend. It needs to have component
video switching and at least 120w per all 7
channels.

4. I know that Sony is pretty good about about
discrete codes, but just to make sure. Has anyone
programmed control of the new Sony DVP-CX875P
Progressive Scan DVD changer? If so, any problems?

Thanks In Advance

In my opinion, the most subjective part of any system is the speakers. What is clear to you might not be for me. That being said, I suggest that you give PSB speakers a listen. I do not sell them (yet). I think they give great bang for the buck. Clear but not overly sharp. Nicely priced as well.

With those dimentions, and guessing an 8' ceiling height, you would fall under THX Select specs. Try the Atlantic Technology 270THX speakers. It would be under $3000.00 for a 5.1 setup, and a little over for a 7.1 setup.

Check out Global Cache They make a box that has RS-232, IR, and Contact closures that sits on your network. VIP, CorAccess, and Xplore are all using this box in their systems.

Simply add a PCI card that has some serial ports. There are many manufacturers that make such cards. I don't know your level of programming ability, but I/O code is not that difficult, although not often utilized by the typical programmer... so many people don't know how to handle I/O. There are some good texts out there that address I/O specifically if you need to bone up.

e.g. "JAVA I/O" by Elliotte Rusty Harold if you are JAVA equipped.

I have a customer with PSB speakers.. They are very nice.. sound great, good clarity... They're installed in a bedroom with hardwood floors.

But... I prefer the sound of NHT speakers. I have a set installed in a living room with hardwood floors, and they're remarkable... I have them installed in a home office with berber carpet, and wooden walls... near perfect reproduction of the Sony SACD sampler

Now... having said that... Emdawgz said it best... What's clear to me might not be clear to you... If your speaker dealer is good, they will have you bring a disc of your type of music, and will have you listen to it through all the speakers they sell so you can find the speakers that work best for you.


(i really prefer the NHT speakers because not only are they high quality and have a smooth sound, my supplier sells them to me in 5.1 system packages for $xxx that I turn around and sell for $1300.... full disclosure, eh... heh)

It is almost impossible to give any kind of reliable information without actually getting a lot more info than you're providing. You'll get some opinions here but it would be nice to know about your room construction, height dimensions, furnishing, perhaps extensive pictures would help and in the end a site visit would be necessary. Any recommendations you're receiving would be based on assumptions and you know about those. Let us know when your operating control system is available that equals Crestron and AMX. I'll definately be interested. Good luck.

i agree with the what sounds good to one, will not sound so good to another.

Me personally, I tried the NHT's and a few others. The dealer I bought some of my gear from would let me bring the speakers home to try out in the actual room to see what worked the best.

For me, Paradigm sounded significantly better than the others. I prefer a speaker with a slightly more higher end. I know that this shouldn't be the case, but the type of music you listen to may also have an effect on what you buy (I'm assuming this isn't just for HT listening)

The active 40's, to me, coulpled with the Studio CC and your choice of rears are awesome.

Don't know what you are talking about with those other questions.

Mark W

Your power requirements are more in the Denon AVR4802/03, no good reason to go to the 5803 for your app. My vote goes to M&K speakers, with a juicy rcvr like the 4802 you will have a nice setup for that room size. Both rcvrs have great discrete code functionality. As far as your control system goes, you seem to be trying to go RS 232 for no reason, if you are initiating it via IR how are you planning on getting feedback (the main reason to use RS232)? If you are using an IR remote to start the sequence you are still stuck with the instability of IR (which is not bad). You could use a Xantech Marconizer and achieve just as reliable results as your IR/RS232 hybrid idea.

I was thinking I would use the RS232 connection for status monitoring. An example would be having access to the exact volume level in db's and being able to display a graphical representation like an increasing bar graph type thing.

I would use a Marantz 9300, sonance stereo amp (7.1), speakercraft AIM III for the rears and sides (all ceiling mount), Speakercraft LCRs for fronts (in cabinet), And a RC5200 for discrete control. It is also important to remember a DVD jukebox, don't handle your movies ...

But without seeing the room, there is so much left to chance, or customer(designer) choice.

Good Luck

Hate to disagree, but if musical fidelity is important. Do not use in ceiling speakers. Especially speakercraft. They are nice for some applications, but i feel, they are overpriced for the quality of sound you get.

If you really want killer control and feedback capabiltiy then you want to go with the B&K AVR-507. It is in a competing price bracket with the Denon 5803, but will blow it's doors off in the processing department, and in the control department. For speakers in that price range I would reccomend B&W CM series. You will not find a better combination for the money.
One thing, if you plan to tackle the B&K rs-232 you had better know what you are doing. It is very difficult, but very extensive in control options.

I'd rather see B&K or HK for the receiver with the edge going to B&K. Cleaner output than the Denon. Don't get hung up on the power too much. The difference between 100 and 130 watts is meaningless. You've got to double it for anything worth while. I'm not even going there on the speaker end of things. Just remember that your ears frequency response changes as the volume changes so often the choice in speakers is affected by how they sound at the volume you normally listen to.

Denon AVR-4802
Atlantic Technology 270 less the subwoofer
Eartquake MKIV-12 most sub you can get for the money...even the 10" will blow you away

Sony dicretes are fine except power in cd/dvd units....sometimes tey are power only