Home Theater Systems Buying Guide
A 25-Year-Old TV Setup Gets a 5.1 Home Theater System Makeover
If I could summarize this latest project in one sentence, it would be, “Out with the old, and in with the incredible new.”
When I first met my clients in the Philly suburbs, they expressed how nervous they were to upgrade their family room TV. While most are brimming with excitement, I quickly came to understand why they were hesitant: They had their TV for 25 years. And with the changes in technology, software, audio — the list goes on — it all seemed so complicated.
After talking to them about their options and getting a sense for the kind of experience they wanted, we upgraded them to a 65” QLED TV from Samsung and custom-built Leon speaker and Salamander cabinet. Once everything was installed and programmed to their liking, they were thrilled. Change can be a great thing, and this setup was perfect for their needs. Best of all, we walked them through the process and showed them how easy it was to use and enjoy.
Trading in (the TV) for a younger model.
Since our clients’ family room was the main gathering area in the home, they wanted a TV that could handle it all: watching football with friends, family movie nights, and catching up on favorite shows.
The room had a couple of windows that let in a good amount of ambient light, so we chose a Samsung QN65Q9FNA 65” QLED TV. These TVs can get crazy bright, which is exactly what you want in this type of environment. Our guys set up the TV on the cabinet, and carefully tucked the wires behind the TV's legs for a clean, polished look.
While this Smart TV has almost every streaming service under the sun, our clients didn't want their hefty collection of Blu-rays to go to waste. So we connected a Sony UBP-X1000ES Blu-ray player and tucked it away in the new media cabinet.
Building the Leon soundbar into the Salamander cabinet.
We often say that half the magic of any movie or TV show is in the audio — and after so many years, our clients were ready to go big.
To really bump up the dialogue and sound, our friends at Salamander and Leon worked together to build a custom solution exclusively for the clients. A 3-channel Leon soundbar was built into a Salamander Chameleon Triple 339 Elba Cabinet, which also housed all of the equipment.
Taking this setup to the next 5.1-channel level, we hooked up a Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 600 Series 10” Subwoofer and a pair of Bowers & Wilkins M-1 Satellite Speakers for the rear surrounds. To complete this home theater system, we added an Integra DRX-2.1 7.2-Channel AV Receiver.
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 600 Series 10" Subwoofer
The brains behind the system: Integra DRX-2.1 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with Sonos CONNECT, Sony Blu-ray player, and Panamax power line conditioner
Adding a new turntable to the mix.
Not only were our clients big-time movie buffs, they were also avid vinyl collectors. We upgraded them to a brand new Denon DP-300F automatic turntable and made it super easy for them to access. Now when they’re ready to turn off the TV and listen to their records, all they have to do is open the cabinet, slide out the shelf, and spin on from there.
And with that, our clients were ready to rock.
A system built for another 25 years...
Once everything was installed and programmed, our clients were thrilled. We provided them with a simple home theater system that went above and beyond their expectations.
Interested in upgrading your home audio system? Learn more about our installation services here and contact us today!
Products Used
Integra DRX-2.1 7.2-Channel Receiver
Denon DP-300F Fully Automatic Turntable
Salamander Chameleon Triple 339 Elba Cabinet
Salamander Integrated Leon Soundbar (SDSPK3C)
Meet the System Designer
Chad Snedaker
Sales & System Designer
Montgomeryville Showroom
215-368-8343, ext. 209
csnedaker@wwstereo.com
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