Make me Jealous/Inspire me! Let's see the killer setups

[k12g3]

Heres what I got. I live by myself and I consider this up to my standards (which are pretty high)

55" LG LED Cinema 3D TV w/ Smart TV
Vizio HD Sound Bar w/ Subwoofer
Apple TV
PlayStation 3 for Blu-Ray/3D movies and video games.
DirecTV HD DVR for TV/3D programming and sports.
Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
iMac running iTunes HomeSharing w/ 2TB storage

All streaming is running wirelessly to the PS3 and TV, everything linked up and running thru the sound bar w/ HDMI.

Pretty cheap setup and I love it! :]

 

[vrDrew]

I've been thinking about getting one of those Logitech Harmony remotes as well. Glad to read a positive plug about the device.

I've been very pleased with the Harmony Link. Several people had recommended various Logitech universal remotes to me, but the Link seemed the best option for me. (It always struck me as ironic that the way to deal with too many remote control handsets was to buy another remote control handset....)

While the Harmony Link is very good, there are a couple of caveats:

Its not an Apple product, and by this I mean the instructions that come with the unit are a bit sparse. Which is fine if everything works as expected. But as you can imagine, when you are dealing with innumerable combinations of components from hundreds of dfferent manufacturers, this is rarely going to be the case.

I got the "basic" system running in less than an hour. Fill out a little worksheet listing the make and model of the components, and which inputs they use. Go to a Logitech website, enter the data for each Device, and for each Activity. Plug the Link puck into a USB port. Download the iPod and iPad Apps. Sync all the devices.

I did run into a couple of problems: The worst of which is that the Harmony preset for "AppleTV" doesn't work properly. Pressing the "center" button on the virtual remote simply turned the device off - instead of selecting a desired option. The "fix" for this was to actually use a preset for a Mac Mini computer. An ugly work-around, but it works great.

The other issue is that if you power-on your setup with an activity that uses a different TV input than you were using the last time you powered-off the system - the TV gives a message that it is not getting any data. The Link doesn't have the capacity to set a delay - so that in the second or so that your TV is powering up, it is unable to accept the command specifying a different input. You can fix this manually, choosing the correct TV input (HDMI 1, Component Video, etc.) - or simply remember which activity you last used.

The Link has been in stores only a couple of weeks, so there is not a tremendous amount of knowledge or support available yet. But its a fantastic product, and perfect for us iPhone/iPad owners.

 

[Hammie]

Added the Harmony Link to my setup. Not bad, but can't wait until they hopefully add more customization.

I also agree with what Drew says. Here are my thoughts:

Harmony Link Remote Product Page

My initial thoughts are:

PROS:
- Easy to get up and running on my wi-fi network
- Easy to set up devices
- Easy to set up Activities
- Great looking GUI on the iPad
- basic, but easy GUI on iPhone
- Turn on and off all devices in and out of my cabinet
- Quick response and no noticeable delays when "buttons" are selected
- Syncs multiple iDevices nicely and quickly

CONS:
- TV channel guide is on the screen for EVERY activity
- No customization of buttons
- No customization of device delays, order of devices to be turned on (haven't personally seen any issues, though)
- Cannot re-order the Activity list. As you enter them is how they are listed.
- Cannot add custom activity icons
- Cannot configure static IP address, only DHCP

Overall, I love it. I will probably be the only one who uses it, though.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Looks really interesting. I have several apps that control most of my stuff, but it would be nice to have one app that does the same. I have never heard of this before, but I will be doing some investigating.

 

[Che Castro]

Heres what I got. I live by myself and I consider this up to my standards (which are pretty high)

55" LG LED Cinema 3D TV w/ Smart TV
Vizio HD Sound Bar w/ Subwoofer
Apple TV
PlayStation 3 for Blu-Ray/3D movies and video games.
DirecTV HD DVR for TV/3D programming and sports.
Blu-Ray/DVD Collection
iMac running iTunes HomeSharing w/ 2TB storage

All streaming is running wirelessly to the PS3 and TV, everything linked up and running thru the sound bar w/ HDMI.

Pretty cheap setup and I love it! :]

How much was that subwoofer

I need a sub for my Vizio soundbar

 

[k12g3]

How much was that subwoofer

I need a sub for my Vizio soundbar

I actually took it from another surround sound system I already had. On Amazon, most new ones run less than $150.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Made some changes to the office setup since my post on the first page of this thread.

 

[TehFalcon]

I'll post when I Finish mine!

 

[mellofello]

Show pictures of your apple tv setup!

I am in the process of installing my home theater. I'm debating how I will incorporate the apple tv. right now I'm considering mounting it behind the tv and only using iOS for controls.

I just wanted to see if anyone had come up with any clever ways to mount it, and give you guys an excuse to show off your tv setups.

So post them up!

 

[hafr]

I am in the process of installing my home theater. I'm debating how I will incorporate the apple tv. right now I'm considering mounting it behind the tv and only using iOS for controls.

I just wanted to see if anyone had come up with any clever ways to mount it, and give you guys an excuse to show off your tv setups.

So post them up!

You can mount it behind the TV and still use the remote. I have no idea why or how it works, but that's the way it is. It's like the remote sends a signal that "bounces better" off of pretty much anything than regular remotes...

It's a rather common solution, I've seen loads of pictures on the XBMC forum where people have used adhesive with velcro on the back of the TV so it's hidden away, but still easy to remove for trips and such.

 

[mellofello]

Does it work when totally enclosed? I'm thinking about running hdmi extensions to my closet for ps3, and 360, it would be cleaner if I could stash the atv3 as well. I will have a multiport switch in there for serving Internet to my devices, so that would mean one less wire ran through the wall.

I will also have a shelf above the tv for kinect so i could just put it up there. Hmm decisions.

One other thing. has anyone tried the atv with a logitech harmony?

 

[NorCalLights]

Does it work when totally enclosed?

No, it won't work if it's in a closet or something. But it will work mounted to the back of the TV, especially if the TV is mounted to a white wall. The IR light will bounce around the room enough to be detected.

AppleTV works just fine with Harmony.

 

[jamesvdm]

We already have a big post your set-ups thread. Mine is behind some frosty glass under the tv.

 

[x-evil-x]

cant really see them. In the bedroom picture its over on top of my kennel for my dogs with my marantz receiver. i also use my ipad as the control its attached on the bed frame in the top right.
in the living room its right next to the directv box everything i have is black so it blends it nicely. also i love my new panasonic tv reminds me of a huge iphone.

 

[steve-p]

Here is my setup in my basement media room:

Equipment includes:

Panasonic TH-50PZ850u
Onkyo Pro PR-SC5508P
Emotiva XPA-1 (x2)
Oppo BDP-83
Pioneer PL-670 Turntable
DirecTV HR23-700 HD-DVR
Sony Playstation 3
Nintendo Wii
Apple TV (160GB), Mac Mini (iTunes Server) w/ 2TB HDD for media, iPad
B&W 804S, HTM3S, CWM DS8
SVS PB12-NSD
Denon AH-D2000 Headphones
Tripp Lite HT1210ISOCTR Power Conditioner, SMART1000LCD UPS System

I also use a pair of B&W MM-1's in my office and a B&W Zeppelin in the bathroom/second floor to stream music there.

That cabinet is BDI right? Looks the same as mine. I don't have quite as much stuff to go with it though

 

[student_trap]

Currently using...

PS3 + PlayTV + Nintendo Wii > Epson TW3200 Projector for 170" Image and Harman Kardon Soundsticks

Also have Xbox 360 connected to a 32" Panasonic LCD.

But have been looking for a good slimline AV Receiver to push all of the content to the Projector. Any recomendations?

 

[x-evil-x]

Currently using...

PS3 + PlayTV + Nintendo Wii > Epson TW3200 Projector for 170" Image and Harman Kardon Soundsticks

Also have Xbox 360 connected to a 32" Panasonic LCD.

But have been looking for a good slimline AV Receiver to push all of the content to the Projector. Any recomendations?

marantz slimline

 

[student_trap]

marantz slimline

Thanks for the reply, do you have any experience with them?

 

[x-evil-x]

yea i had last years 1401. i love it. sounds much cleaner than yamaha and pioneer receivers ive had. looks good too

 

[JoeBlow74]

My set-up

This is my Apple set-up. I have a 5.2 system.

65inch Panasonic plasma
2x12inch Velodyne subwoofers
5 B&W sonically matching speakers including rear surrounds
Onkyo receiver
APC power regulator
PS3
LG Blu-ray player
400 disk Blu-ray mega-changer
300 disk CD mega-changer
Apple TV3

I am playing around with ripping all my DVD movies from the mega changer to the IMAC for streaming to the Apple TV. I need to get rid of some of this equipment.

 

[hafr]

This is my Apple set-up. I have a 5.2 system.

65inch Panasonic plasma
2x12inch Velodyne subwoofers
5 B&W sonically matching speakers including rear surrounds
Onkyo receiver
APC power regulator
PS3
LG Blu-ray player
400 disk Blu-ray mega-changer
300 disk CD mega-changer
Apple TV3

I am playing around with ripping all my DVD movies from the mega changer to the IMAC for streaming to the Apple TV. I need to get rid of some of this equipment.

I just have to ask you... How many DVDs/Blu Rays do you have?

 

[JoeBlow74]

I just have to ask you... How many DVDs/Blu Rays do you have?

I would say around 389 +/- a few. I just picked a few movies up at a garage sale for $1 each. I plan to just rip the DVD's and keep the Blu-ray's in the player for that Uncompressed DTS Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. For the DVD's, as long as I keep everything within the Apple ecosystem, It should work flawless. I already have my music, home video's, and home pictures loaded into the iMac. I eventually am going to play everything through the Apple TV.

 

[N8ROD]

I have a '11 mac mini as my HTPC w/surround in my living room with 3TB of music and movies on External HD's, ATv's in game room and bedroom, 2 iphones, 1 old iphone turned itouch for the kids to use as a remote, and an ipad. Everything is converted to work with the apple TV's. I tried Plex, but found iTunes was easier for the rest of the family. I cut the cord 2 years ago and ditched cable. We use tan EyeTV to record OTA shows (we get all the major networks) and convert them for iTunes as our DVR. Im getting ready to deploy and am getting a Macbook Air to take with me. Will add that to the mix when I return. We have 2 blutooth speakers, but I want to get some AirPlay for around the house/deck. Some of you have some awesome set-ups! With time and money I too will have one!

 

[tn9design]

Well my setup is far from Killer but it fits our lifestyle perfectly.

​

The 55" TV is sitting on 6 vintage card catalogs (original cards inside) that I hired a local woodworker to create a top and base for. Width wise it's a little over 100 inches. Connected to that is the standard Playstation, Xbox, Receiver (5.1 surround), and my old MacMini acting as resident media server.

Behind the center channel and tucked away is the house router and an external hard drive for additional media storage.

The Mini is set to run a program called Automatic which keeps track of TV shows and downloads the newest episodes for me as soon as they are available.

From there Transmission automatically detects the torrent file, beings downloading and places the leftover torrent source in the trash.

Once the download is complete Plex takes over, automatically detecting the video file, sorting it according by title and season and downloading the necessary artwork and episode summaries.

Throughout the house I have 2nd gen Apple TV's in each room, jailbroken with PLEX installed so I can pause a show from the living room, adjourn to the bedroom and resume where I left off from the comfort of bed.

All in all I am very happy with the end solution. I would love to upgrade my Mini to a newer model but the little guy won't die! As long as he is chugging along strong I am going to keep it around.

 

[sandyjmacdonald]

Beautiful and unique. Nothing beats a bit of old fashioned solid wood furniture. And your Plex setup sounds perfect. I tried Plex for a while, but ended up going back to iTunes and Apple TV because I found Plex a bit laggy. Maybe the latest version is better?