Danny's Home Theater!

Home Theater.  Ocean Beach SF Style!

  This is my little web page to show off some of the equipment I've purchased over the years.  The way I figure it, if I've spent so much damn money on this stuff, I might as well show it off.  Well, that and I finally have a use for my computer besides Quake3A.  I live in the outer Sunset district of San Francisco, about a block from the beach.  I share an apt with two other guys (one owns the TV).   It's a fairly big apt, we even have a seperate mini HT just for video games as well as DSL enabled ethernet everywhere.  Just to brag one last time: for the superbowl fiesta we had 5 tv's going, so no matter where you looked (including the bathroom) you were always watching the game.

    It all started '97... a fine year for Otter-pops and getting started in HT.  Dolby Digital (AC-3) was just peeking it's head into my sub-conscious and I started getting a steady pay check.  In hindsight it probably was a poor idea to get fixated on this stuff right out of college but I figure I needed to spend my money on something.  Who needs furniture.  Anyway, I went looking for a new system to replace my old POS Sony from High School so I went with my co-workers to some of the local AV shops.  I had heard of a few mid-fi level products such as Adcom and NAD but otherwise I just believed in the big chains like any Joe six pack.  This was all destined to change soon....

    We got to sneak in to a high-end HT shop (Christopher Hansen 2 in LA on Wilshire Blvd) and I fell in love.  They had the greatest sound I had ever heard.  The impact and realism was intense, I wouldn't be satisfied until I had something like that in my apt.  Unfortunately for my wallet, I happened to notice a pair of Martin Logans on my way in.  I thought they were some freaky antennae or something.  When I heard them I was sold for life.  Three years, 4 Apts., 2 jobs and a pair of cats later I've achieved my goal.  A complete Martin Logan home cinema.   booya!

Here are the pics!

This is a view of the HT form the kitchen/front door.   I left the windows open so you could see the striking effect of the ML Aerius i's in the front.  If you're observant, you'll see the lava lamp on the table near the halogen lamp, the ever present Pringles can and the MIGHTY UCLA BRUINS beating the snot out of Oregon St. on the big TV.  Take that Beavers!  The next goal is to get some remote controlled lights.....

This is a view from the front right speaker.  You can see Kramer over the fireplace and the Bud poster from the 1995 UCLA NCAA men's BB championship run (I had everyone on the team sign it).  The black vertical rectangular thing in the middle is one of my rear speakers.  Not the optimal position but what can I do?

This is the equipment rack.  Very nice Salamander system which I highly recommend (expensive though).  I have two cats, the little one on the left is Freya (Norse goddess of DSS) and the fat one up top is Loki (Norse god of cable eating).   Behind the rack is my video game room(PSX + N64) with it's own mini HT and massive couch.

A close-up of the leftside of the equipment.  Sony DSS on top (guarded by the cat), Sony 9000es preamp in the middle and a heavy Parasound 2200Mk2 on the bottom.  The amp drives the front speakers.

Right side.  JVC SVHS VCR on top, Sony 7000 DVD (no DTS yet) and an Acurus 200x3 for my surround speakers.

Table of remotes!  I have the Pr0nto that handles everything but I still like the dss remote for superquick channel surfing.  I figure that I'm always missing something exciting on, so I change every 5-10 sec or so.  I also have a wireless kybd/mouse for my PC connected to the HT.  DSL/MP3(24GB!!)/Q3A/UT all on tap at a moments notice.  If I see an ad that has a web page...bam!  I zoom over to check it out.  How's that for rampant consumerism?  It also is muy cool to play UT on a 60" monitor with a big sub.

The DVD rack (link goes to my dvdtracker site) 150 DVD's or so!

The upper half of the bookcase with the UCLA helmet signed by JJ Stokes!

Just a pic of the front left Martin Logan and the Rel sub.  While TV from the Home Theater Forum has educated me in the nuances of sub-wooferology (I love his posts), I still like this sub.  Though, I'll probably get a pair of HSU 1220's to feel some nasty big bass and ship this bad boy off to the market or my Dad.

Equipment list

That's it for right now.  I'll probably redo this thing every once and a while.  Especially after I get some new equipment (LaserDisc player coming soon).

Any feedback is appreciated!

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