Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Video Showing the Tech in the space
Some new pics
Mac mini 2010 in the setup
NHTs back in the living room
Well, with my Monitor Audio RS6 moving back in the house with my girlfriend. I put the speakers in the bedroom, which allowed me to move the NHT SB2s to my living room vintage setup and move the Pinnacle PN5+ out to the sunroom. Very happy with how these sound with my Marantz. Of course, I have liked the NHTs since I had them in my main system for several years. They are sitting on top of some Auralex foam. I am sure it helps with the sound since these sit on top of an Expedit from iKea.
They connect to the Yamaha WXC-50, which means I can use them with Bluetooth, Airplay. and DLNA (Audirvana) among other things....
They connect to the Yamaha WXC-50, which means I can use them with Bluetooth, Airplay. and DLNA (Audirvana) among other things....
HomePod Update - 9/16/18
As you can see, from the pic below with the Red Chair, the eat in area of the kitchen connects to the Den. The HomePod sits on a ledge between the two rooms. As you can see, the small footprint of the HomePod is idea for the space since I have these wooden spindles between the two spaces.
With Airplay 2, I can now control audio playing in either or both spaces with the HomePod or buy using the HomePod to vocally control what is playing in the living room thanks to Airplay 2 and the Apple TV4.
With Airplay 2, I can now control audio playing in either or both spaces with the HomePod or buy using the HomePod to vocally control what is playing in the living room thanks to Airplay 2 and the Apple TV4.
Update - 9/10/18
Got a ridiculous deal on some new B&W 684 speakers, so I updated the Monitor Audio's:
A note for Reddit visitors (9/16/17)
The pic that someone posted on Reddit is several years old. I don't have a current pic of the space, but the pic below is more current than the photo posted on Reddit and has a couple of the updates.
1. Rug - we already had that rug when we bought most of the stuff in the space. It was replaced a couple years ago after the pups wore it out.
2. The door - It was an entry to the kitchen we never used. It stayed closed even when we didn't have furniture in front of it. We ended up getting rid of the door after that pic was taken. In other words, there is a wall there now. The hallway no longer exists because we used the space to make a bigger closet and to add deeper pantry cabinets in the kitchen.
3. Speaker placement - there aren't really good options for speaker placement. If we move the TV to the right and move the speaker, the sound quality from one side of the sectional isn't between the speakers. Don't worry though, I have a receiver (see below) with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 which helps tremendously with "room correction".
4. The lamps - Really? Some of you guys are hilarious. It makes me want to visit the site more often. They have arms at the top so the light can be easily placed where we want it. They are slightly harder to reach than table lamps which wouldn't make any sense in the space, but I have Hue bulbs for turning them on and off by voice (Siri and Alexa) and dimming them if anyone is really worried.
5. Someone mentioned that the placement of the Stressless chair was not ideal for listening to the speakers. It isn't used for that. I have a great headphone setup I use for music in the space. When I listen to music from the speakers, I sit on the couch. The books have already been read, for the most part. These days, I use the iPad or a Kindle when reading books. Since my last photo, I also put in speakers for the Marantz, an iKea lamp, a couple lava lamps we use for night lights and one of them has a place you can heat up oil that you can use for fragrances like vanilla, spearmint, etc. I have the lamps and the Marantz plugged into plugs (iDevice, iHome, and Wemo) that can be controlled by voice or I can run them off of a schedule.
While not a whole pic of the room, I had the picture below in my photo archives. You can see the wall that was put in and the corner of the current rug (though, we have a puppy now, so this one will need to be replaced at some point).
As a side note, thanks for the reminder that I need to update this page. The blog and the "Mac Attack" page get most of the views on this site, so this page has been neglected. I will update it when I have time. A lot of the AV equipment pictured is no longer in the room (even if most of the furniture remains).
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
1. Rug - we already had that rug when we bought most of the stuff in the space. It was replaced a couple years ago after the pups wore it out.
2. The door - It was an entry to the kitchen we never used. It stayed closed even when we didn't have furniture in front of it. We ended up getting rid of the door after that pic was taken. In other words, there is a wall there now. The hallway no longer exists because we used the space to make a bigger closet and to add deeper pantry cabinets in the kitchen.
3. Speaker placement - there aren't really good options for speaker placement. If we move the TV to the right and move the speaker, the sound quality from one side of the sectional isn't between the speakers. Don't worry though, I have a receiver (see below) with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 which helps tremendously with "room correction".
4. The lamps - Really? Some of you guys are hilarious. It makes me want to visit the site more often. They have arms at the top so the light can be easily placed where we want it. They are slightly harder to reach than table lamps which wouldn't make any sense in the space, but I have Hue bulbs for turning them on and off by voice (Siri and Alexa) and dimming them if anyone is really worried.
5. Someone mentioned that the placement of the Stressless chair was not ideal for listening to the speakers. It isn't used for that. I have a great headphone setup I use for music in the space. When I listen to music from the speakers, I sit on the couch. The books have already been read, for the most part. These days, I use the iPad or a Kindle when reading books. Since my last photo, I also put in speakers for the Marantz, an iKea lamp, a couple lava lamps we use for night lights and one of them has a place you can heat up oil that you can use for fragrances like vanilla, spearmint, etc. I have the lamps and the Marantz plugged into plugs (iDevice, iHome, and Wemo) that can be controlled by voice or I can run them off of a schedule.
While not a whole pic of the room, I had the picture below in my photo archives. You can see the wall that was put in and the corner of the current rug (though, we have a puppy now, so this one will need to be replaced at some point).
As a side note, thanks for the reminder that I need to update this page. The blog and the "Mac Attack" page get most of the views on this site, so this page has been neglected. I will update it when I have time. A lot of the AV equipment pictured is no longer in the room (even if most of the furniture remains).
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
The headphone setup
I am now using the Yamaha WXC-50 that I reviewed here. I am pairing it with a Little Dot amp and DAC. I typically use the area to work on my laptop or for reading an iPad. This unit gives feeds my Marantz a signal as well. It works great with just about every source I have for audio including Airplay, Bluetooth, access to my NAS, SiriusXM, and internet radio.
I shuffle in and out headphones in the space. In the picture below, I have the HiFiMan HE-350s (discussed here), but also also pair it with Shure SRH-940s, ATH M50s, Senn HD580s, etc. I listen to a lot of music via headphones when my girlfriend is watching TV or when I just want some isolation from other noise (washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, etc.).
I shuffle in and out headphones in the space. In the picture below, I have the HiFiMan HE-350s (discussed here), but also also pair it with Shure SRH-940s, ATH M50s, Senn HD580s, etc. I listen to a lot of music via headphones when my girlfriend is watching TV or when I just want some isolation from other noise (washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, etc.).
New Receiver
I also updated the Denon receiver to the AVR-X4200W and got a new projector. The receiver is great for the space due to its fantastic room correction software (MultEQ XT32) that helps with the location of the speakers. Its 3 HDMI outputs give me the ability to send a separate signal to my office (giving me access to all of my equipment in both rooms) that I can control via the SimpleControl App including voice control with Alexa. Another HDMI out feeds the TV and I use the other one when I have the projector setup. I was using the 4311CI in the space that also had the awesome room correction, but I wanted 4k and HDR, so I moved the 4311CI to the bedroom.
Both receivers have Airplay built in, so they work great with iOS and WatchOS via Siri control of Apple Music. As you can see buy the stickers that were on the unit, I have options down the road if I want to add more speakers.
Both receivers have Airplay built in, so they work great with iOS and WatchOS via Siri control of Apple Music. As you can see buy the stickers that were on the unit, I have options down the road if I want to add more speakers.
Projectors
I got an Epson 2040 Projector (reviewed here) and a 100 inch Tripod Projection screen for "movie night" back in 2015. They were an excellent addition to the living room and something that could give us flexibility to use outside if we wanted to (haven't got around to it since I haven't really found an ideal spot for it. I will get photos if we watch a movie out there as the weather becomes more compliant.
Update (12/16) - The 2040 has been replaced by the 5040ub in the room. I am still trying to decide if I want to sell the 2040 or keep it around for outdoor movie nights. It is much easier to carry around than the 5040ub.
Update (12/16) - The 2040 has been replaced by the 5040ub in the room. I am still trying to decide if I want to sell the 2040 or keep it around for outdoor movie nights. It is much easier to carry around than the 5040ub.
The Living Room/Tiger Den (pic below predates the door being removed and other changes)
The "More Apple" page has a general description of most of the rooms in my house. However, since I went into a lot of detail about my office, I thought I would also provide more information about my living room setup.
While I love sites that discuss office setups, I also like to read sites like Apartment Therapy and Houzz that discuss other rooms and the thought process that went into them. While I have gotten some ideas from these tours, I noticed that most of these spaces rarely have a TV, much less 5.1 speakers and a lot of other equipment. Therefore, I thought I would discuss my space and how we went about implementing music, movies, and our other interests into one space.
Home Theater (Speakers, DirecTV, and receiver have changed)
As I mentioned above, music and movies are two of the things we like for entertainment, the room was setup with that it mind. (some of the equipment has changed since taking the photo above, but a complete list of current equipment is below)
Headphone Area
The area in the front of the room also has a separate area for headphones. When I want to work on the laptop, iPad, or I just want to listen to music without being bothered, I have an area to do that without leaving the living room.
Below is a photo of the Marantz in the room. I have a much better stereo and speakers in the space, but I use this a lot during basketball season to listen to local games via the tuner. Since adding an Echo Dot to the kitchen, I now have the Marantz hooked to the Yamaha WXC-50 and feed it a Bluetooth audio stream when I just want some casual background music while I am dusting, cleaning the floors, etc. It is convenient because I can turn it on and send it audio simply by telling Alexa a couple commands. It is convenient and I still like to listen to that warm Marantz sound on occasion. Also, I find it aesthetically pleasing, so I like it as functional artwork, as well.
Where we go to relax
This is the other side of the living room (Note: I had to use a wide angle lens, so there is some perspective distortion). We have had a couch in this space for years, but we decided a sectional would be a better use of the space. The sectional can seat 5 (or more) people and a few dogs without a problem. I am tall, so it is a necessity to have a deep couch that sits up higher than some of the modern couches that I also like, but don't find comfortable.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
I have changed out the dog bed in front of the fireplace and the rugs since taking the photo, so I need to get another photo when I get a chance. However, outside of those changes, it is basically the same. As I mentioned, we keep the projector and 3D glasses in the ottoman in the center of the room.
My Favorite Place
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The spot on the sectional at the back of the room, next to the table is my favorite spot in the house. I keep headphones, iPad and/or an iPhone on the table next to the couch or on the subwoofer that is hidden behind the brown chair.
I have updated the iPad and iPhone since taking the photos above. I also like to use the Dragonfly USB DAC with them when I sitting still and Beatsx when I know I will be moving around. Below is an example of how the Dragonfly works with the iPhone. I currently have an iPhone 7 Plus, but the concept is the same. With Apple's new connection kit, you can also supply power while playing music.
I have updated the iPad and iPhone since taking the photos above. I also like to use the Dragonfly USB DAC with them when I sitting still and Beatsx when I know I will be moving around. Below is an example of how the Dragonfly works with the iPhone. I currently have an iPhone 7 Plus, but the concept is the same. With Apple's new connection kit, you can also supply power while playing music.
Equipment in the space (updated this list on 9/17/17):
Denon AVR-X4200W - I moved the 4311CI to the bedroom. This receiver can handle 4k and HDR. It has three HDMI outputs, so I use it to feed the TV in the living room, the receiver in my home office, and I have an HDMI extender that I connect to when I have the projector out for movies.
Samsung UN65KS8000 - I moved the Samsung plasma to the bedroom. Still love that TV's picture, but I wanted 4k/HDR in the living room. This one does the job and I also like the apps built in. It is so convenient to be able to switch over to the Youtube without needing to turn on my entire stereo system.
Tivo Bolt (reviewed here) - I decided to discontinue using Directv after years and years of service. I currently subscribe to cable, but the Bolt can work with over the air, so if I decide to "cord cut", I am all set for using the Tivo functionality for local programing.
Epson Home Cinema 5040UB 1080p 3D 3LCD Home Theater Projector with 4K Enhancement, HDR and Wide Color Gamut (reviewed here) - We get this out when we want to watch a movie or special event. It is a bit cumbersome compared to the Epson 2040 I was using, but the pay off is a much better picture. We keep it in the ottoman in front of the couch, so it is always at hand.
ARKSEN 100" Tripod Projection Screen Projector Matte Home HD Movie, White, 16:9 - I keep this in the closet that we expanded next to the living room. It takes about 5 minutes to get it setup, but it is worth it. I have thought about putting in a more permanent solution, but it is hard to do without it becoming an eyesore in the space, so this was my solution. The screen is pretty cheap, so when wrinkles start to get too distracting, I replace it with a new screen.
Emotiva UPA-1 Monoblocks - Not sure if these are overkill, but they power the front stereo speakers. I was going to add an XPA-3 amp to power the rest of the speakers, but I have found that it isn't necessary. The Denon does a fine job at that task.
Monitor Audio Speakers - (2) Silver RS6, (1) RSLCR, (2) RSFX - I chose these speakers based on critic and user reviews. Unfortunately, no one in this area carried them, so I had to buy them over the internet without ever hearing them. Luckily, I love the detailed sound, especially after running the Audyssey program I mentioned above. I tried to find the best bang for the buck speakers I could find and these were what I came up with. One other thing that helped was finding reviews with measured performance graphs. This should tell you how close to neutral the speakers are before buying them.
Elemental Design A2-300 sub - We put this in the back of the room for a few reasons. The first is that it was easier to hide back there. I threw a colorful rug over it and it just looks like a table. Second, I can actually use it as another table top for gadgets.
Samsung UN65KS8000 - I moved the Samsung plasma to the bedroom. Still love that TV's picture, but I wanted 4k/HDR in the living room. This one does the job and I also like the apps built in. It is so convenient to be able to switch over to the Youtube without needing to turn on my entire stereo system.
Tivo Bolt (reviewed here) - I decided to discontinue using Directv after years and years of service. I currently subscribe to cable, but the Bolt can work with over the air, so if I decide to "cord cut", I am all set for using the Tivo functionality for local programing.
Epson Home Cinema 5040UB 1080p 3D 3LCD Home Theater Projector with 4K Enhancement, HDR and Wide Color Gamut (reviewed here) - We get this out when we want to watch a movie or special event. It is a bit cumbersome compared to the Epson 2040 I was using, but the pay off is a much better picture. We keep it in the ottoman in front of the couch, so it is always at hand.
ARKSEN 100" Tripod Projection Screen Projector Matte Home HD Movie, White, 16:9 - I keep this in the closet that we expanded next to the living room. It takes about 5 minutes to get it setup, but it is worth it. I have thought about putting in a more permanent solution, but it is hard to do without it becoming an eyesore in the space, so this was my solution. The screen is pretty cheap, so when wrinkles start to get too distracting, I replace it with a new screen.
Emotiva UPA-1 Monoblocks - Not sure if these are overkill, but they power the front stereo speakers. I was going to add an XPA-3 amp to power the rest of the speakers, but I have found that it isn't necessary. The Denon does a fine job at that task.
Monitor Audio Speakers - (2) Silver RS6, (1) RSLCR, (2) RSFX - I chose these speakers based on critic and user reviews. Unfortunately, no one in this area carried them, so I had to buy them over the internet without ever hearing them. Luckily, I love the detailed sound, especially after running the Audyssey program I mentioned above. I tried to find the best bang for the buck speakers I could find and these were what I came up with. One other thing that helped was finding reviews with measured performance graphs. This should tell you how close to neutral the speakers are before buying them.
Elemental Design A2-300 sub - We put this in the back of the room for a few reasons. The first is that it was easier to hide back there. I threw a colorful rug over it and it just looks like a table. Second, I can actually use it as another table top for gadgets.
Project Debut III Turntable/Speedbox and Bellari VP 129 phono preamp - This is a nice, entry level setup that sounds pretty good. I know it is possible to spend more and possibly get better sound, but I am happy with the value of this setup. Since I mainly listen to digital, it just doesn't make sense to spend a fortune in this area. I also have it sitting on a pair of rubber hockey pucks to help with vibration.
Security camera - nice for checking in on the pups.
Panasonic DMP-BDT100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player - We use this for playing Blu-ray. It was one of the more inexpensive models, but it does the job.
Roku 4 - Mainly for Amazon Prime and Vudu. It handles 4k, which is the reason I bought it.
AppleTV 4 - We use this for Apple Movies & TV (a safeguard for when our satellite can't pick up a signal in a bad storm), Netflix, Airplay, iTunes, Photos, Apple Music, and Video Podcasts like ArtofPhotography and Macbreak Weekly. I plan to update it soon with Apple TV 4k.
Nvidia Shield - This was my first 4k source. I used it in my office with my HP monitor until we updated the living room TV. It also works as a Plex server. It took them a long time to get support of Amazon Prime Movies and Vudu, which is why I bought the Roku.
Oppo DV-980H Universal player - I use this for playing SACDs, CDs, and DVD-As. I would love to get a newer Oppo that can also handle Blu-ray, but it just keeps getting put farther down on my wish list.
Wii - We played this quite a bit for the first 6 months we had it, but the novelty must have worn off. However, we have had a lot of fun with it. The Wii Fit addition was especially fun to mess around with.
I have a Mac Mini in the office that shares a common wall, so I also have it hooked up to the Denon. I use the Rowmote HD iPad app to control it.
Security camera - nice for checking in on the pups.
Panasonic DMP-BDT100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player - We use this for playing Blu-ray. It was one of the more inexpensive models, but it does the job.
Roku 4 - Mainly for Amazon Prime and Vudu. It handles 4k, which is the reason I bought it.
AppleTV 4 - We use this for Apple Movies & TV (a safeguard for when our satellite can't pick up a signal in a bad storm), Netflix, Airplay, iTunes, Photos, Apple Music, and Video Podcasts like ArtofPhotography and Macbreak Weekly. I plan to update it soon with Apple TV 4k.
Nvidia Shield - This was my first 4k source. I used it in my office with my HP monitor until we updated the living room TV. It also works as a Plex server. It took them a long time to get support of Amazon Prime Movies and Vudu, which is why I bought the Roku.
Oppo DV-980H Universal player - I use this for playing SACDs, CDs, and DVD-As. I would love to get a newer Oppo that can also handle Blu-ray, but it just keeps getting put farther down on my wish list.
Wii - We played this quite a bit for the first 6 months we had it, but the novelty must have worn off. However, we have had a lot of fun with it. The Wii Fit addition was especially fun to mess around with.
I have a Mac Mini in the office that shares a common wall, so I also have it hooked up to the Denon. I use the Rowmote HD iPad app to control it.
Furniture:
BDI Avion 8927 Triple Wide Enclosed Cabinet - Putting the equipment in an enclosed cabinet was the best way to streamline the overall look of the room. In the past, I used an open cabinet to give the components plenty of room to breath, but it was easy to see cables and every component on the shelves. I found some fans to put in the cabinet that come on automatically when the temperature goes above 87 and they solved the possible overheating issue.
Digicom Wall Mount - In addition to hiding the gear, we also mounted the TV on the wall. This gave us space on top of the cabinet for the turntable and PS3 (which gets too hot for inside the cabinet). Part of this process meant that we needed to added an outlet behind the TV for plugging it in. I do not recommend running the TV's electrical cord through the wall.
Stickley 200 Sectional - I mentioned this above. It gives us a cozy space for entertaining several people and our pups.
Ekorness Stressless (red) chair - I needed a chair that would be comfortable and handle my tall frame. The chair has optional risers, so it can set up even better for tall people. I also liked the "Personal Table" for working on the MBP. It can fold out of the way or easily be detached if you just want to use the chair.
iKea Expedit Bookshelf - I just love iKea shelves, so I have one in the office and one of the larger units in the living room. I wanted a place for records, books, headphone equipment, books, blu-ray discs, lighting, a vintage Marantz receiver and I found the answer. While these things may not be the best made furniture, it is impossible to argue with its function and looks.
Round and rectangular ottomans - The rectangular ottoman was once used as our coffee table and the dogs decided to also use it for lounging. When we got the sectional, we decided a round ottoman that had a flip top would be best for the space. One side has a table top and the other side has cushion, so it has multiple uses. I took the old rectangular ottoman and put it by a window and threw a fur rug over it for my pup to lay on while she looks out the window. They also double as extra storage. We did consider a typical coffee table, but this works best for us.
Art on walls - David Lynch (of Memphis) Art from Midtown Framers.
Digicom Wall Mount - In addition to hiding the gear, we also mounted the TV on the wall. This gave us space on top of the cabinet for the turntable and PS3 (which gets too hot for inside the cabinet). Part of this process meant that we needed to added an outlet behind the TV for plugging it in. I do not recommend running the TV's electrical cord through the wall.
Stickley 200 Sectional - I mentioned this above. It gives us a cozy space for entertaining several people and our pups.
Ekorness Stressless (red) chair - I needed a chair that would be comfortable and handle my tall frame. The chair has optional risers, so it can set up even better for tall people. I also liked the "Personal Table" for working on the MBP. It can fold out of the way or easily be detached if you just want to use the chair.
iKea Expedit Bookshelf - I just love iKea shelves, so I have one in the office and one of the larger units in the living room. I wanted a place for records, books, headphone equipment, books, blu-ray discs, lighting, a vintage Marantz receiver and I found the answer. While these things may not be the best made furniture, it is impossible to argue with its function and looks.
Round and rectangular ottomans - The rectangular ottoman was once used as our coffee table and the dogs decided to also use it for lounging. When we got the sectional, we decided a round ottoman that had a flip top would be best for the space. One side has a table top and the other side has cushion, so it has multiple uses. I took the old rectangular ottoman and put it by a window and threw a fur rug over it for my pup to lay on while she looks out the window. They also double as extra storage. We did consider a typical coffee table, but this works best for us.
Art on walls - David Lynch (of Memphis) Art from Midtown Framers.
So what do you want to add down the road?
The only thing I would like as far as entertainment is concerned is the AppleTV 4K. I was going to update the Oppo, but as seldom as I watch physical discs these days, it wasn't worth the money. I am also curious to see how the HomePod works with Airplay 2. I am not putting it on my wishlist, but I am curious about it.
For furniture, I would love to replace one of the brown chairs with an Eames Lounge Chair or something similar. Other than that, we are pretty happy with the space.
For furniture, I would love to replace one of the brown chairs with an Eames Lounge Chair or something similar. Other than that, we are pretty happy with the space.