FRC Feature – FRC Towers
I thought it was high time that I shared with you all where I do most of my movie viewing these days, FRC Towers
OK so I do not actually live in a tower. It is a standard UK City suburb Semi-Detached just outside Brighton. But I do like to think it as my little castle where I spend a lot of my non-working time with the ones I love…. and my family!!
I JOKE!! But I do love my projector quite a bit and am constantly talking about it and how good the blacks are and the definition. I know my ever patient wife hates it, but she understands I have an addiction.
Here is the kit list…
Panasonic TX-P42G10 (Plasma Display) - This is a lovely Plasma, Full HD and provides rich colours and Inky blacks.
ONKYO TXSR605 (AV Receiver) - Onkyo receivers always lead the field in pound for pound spec lists. This one is getting long in the tooth now but it still handles 1080p HDMI pass through, HD Sound, and 7.1 Channels.
SKY HD (Satelitte) - Sky may cost an arm and a leg, but they certainly are throwing cash into the HD side of things now with more and more channels arriving on the scene almost weekly.
Celestion F1 & F1C (Front Sound Stage) - These guys were inhereted by us from a relative. He had never really used them and even though they are getting on a bit (like me) they still pack a crisp punch.
Paradigm PDR 10 (Sub woofer) - This bad boy handles the low-end. And oh my does it handle it. I have had to rein it in a bit as it can be a bit of a monster.
Tannoy SFX (Surround Speakers) - We opted for these rather than using the celestions as they go up higher in the Freq range giving everything a bit of space to play with. It seems to have worked and now all speaker sing beautifully
Epson EH-TW3200 (Projector) - This handles the film nights. Nothing quite like having the lights down and the big screen up. It is full 1080p and offers up some of the best blacks I have seen in a LCD projector to date! (I love her)
Sapphire 92″ (Screen) - We could only afford a manual screen at the time, but We have no complaints about this. Yes it would be nice to press a button and the projector comes on, screen comes down. But we cope.
WDTV LIVE SMP- This is the most used item under the TV. It handles iPlayer, Netflix and also plays all of my backed up DVDs and Blu-Rays of the NAS Drive! Very clever indeed and has never failed to play anything I throw at it. 1080p too
SONY BDPS480 with Multi-Region - This handles all the USA BD Disks I seem to buy!! It’s an addiction I tell ya!
NetGear Open Stora NAS (4TB) - All movies are backed up on here for easy access. Nothing better than being able to choose a film from your collection without even getting up from chair (I know, How Lazy?)
So that is the list and now for some images!!
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE
What is in your set up? Care to share? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
This is beautiful. BEAUTIFUL I tell ya! I want it all – especially the 92inch screen. Who needs Orange Wednesdays when you have Orange Everyday!
Is this something you’ve built up over a number of years Scott. I think it helps that you technically minded and obviously in the know when it comes to tech and set-up. I wouldn’t know where to start – my wires are everywhere!
Thanks Dan.
Yes it has been slowly evolving over a few years. Changin the odd piece upgrading another and so on. Luckily when we had the floor laid, I got the wires put underneath…
Nice work, Scott! I used to have a projector too, but I found the continual lighting issues and replacement globes (man, I watched it a LOT!) too costly to upkeep. So when I scored myself a 50″ plasma (I won it!), I got rid of my projector and haven’t had a worry since!
Oh, I’ve written an article regarding your earlier post about upgrading to 7.1….. it’ll come online on my site tomorrow. Just an FYI!
Nice one Rodney.
This is my second projector, and I do not think I will ever go back to film watching on the plasma. I keep that just for TV. It still gives me the wow factor everytime I settle down!!
I look forward to your article.
Scott can I come and live with you? I’m house trained and everything.
That’s a fantastic set up, how long did it take you to amass the whole set up and have you got a ball park figure for how much it cost you. Obviously you can tell me to keep my nose out of your business if you want to.
That’s another thing I’m jealous of you for now!
HAHA You are welcome anytime Mr A.
it wasn’t that much actually between £2500 and £3000. But this was all done over time. So I didn’t pay that out at once.
I’d pay money- or bring beer- in exchange for watching movies in there.
Beer will do John, beer and nuts!!
This is wonderful and makes me want to own such a place of sanctuary myself =D
You have your bedroom Mike, you should be grateful for that!
Mmmmmm speakers. Love the sound of this Netgear Open Stora thing too. I can see the blogging community descending on FRC Towers as we speak.
HAHA You are welcome to come down for a screening matey!!
Sweet. I need to get a projector as I always hate having to give the review ones back.
Our screen is a floor standing one which is a pain.
How much did your screen cost and how much is the Netgear NAS thing as that would be handy
Yes, giving back tech is always very horrible indeed.
The NAS was pretty cheap, but then you buy the HDD’s to go inside. It has freed up the iMac from holding everything. I am very happy.
and where’s the box office for charging tickets?
HAHA It is a free to all Cinema Dezzy!
Niiiice, and snap on the amp and TV! I keep trying to justify upgrading to the NR609 (or the soon to arrive NR610), but the 605 is pretty darn good for now.
I’d love an electric screen, but all my stuff is hidden away, so the time it takes to open doors and fold down the projector shelf, would kind of make an auto screen a bit pointless.
I really must get some pics of my set up on to the blog, it’s always great to see what others have done.
Thanks Mark.
I must admit I keep looking at an upgrade for the 605, but even though it is long in the tooth, it just can’t see the point. It is working fine for the mo.
I would love to see some pic matey!! For real!
I’m going to get a gallery going on the website soon, so will post pics then. Hope you’ll add yours too!
Cool setup man, your next step is to upgrade your screen to a 2.35:1 or 2.20:1 ratio.
As you know I also have a front projector set up. I decided to go with a 2.20:1 ratio for my screen, Epson 2D projector, Onkyo THX certified receiver (older model from 2008 but still kick ass), bought a 3D Panasonic BD player last winter because it was cheap and it can convert 5.1 surround sound to 7.1. I still have my Toshiba HD-DVD player, I hardly uses it though. All of my speakers are Def Technology except for the subwoofer, which is a JBL. I’ll upgrade that to Martin Logan pretty soon.
I love my setup and many hours there watching films and football games.
HAHA it will be a while off for the wide 2.35 screen matey. When (IF) I get a dedicated room then I will most definitely sort it you!!
Yopu do indeed have a great cinema set up… super jealous!
Seems very cozy :0 I’m comfortable with good proper TV and good speaker, and some snacks. And I’m good to go! But you could take a group of people or something with that big screen projector
Cool setup!
I have a pair of Celestion F10′s for my surrounds, quality sound and they’ve lasted me a good while.
Have you had to replace the lamp in your projector yet?
It seems that you have enough room for that ONKYO TXSR605 to breathe. Mine caught fire recently so I updated to a Pioneer 1121-K. It has more HDMI ports, supports Apple’s Airplay, and 3D if I ever get a 3D set.
Great setup Scoot, very impressed with it. I’ve got JMLabs Sib and Cub speakers (the subwoofer is great, can’t set it to max), a Rotel receiver that has survived a hit by lightning but loses its settings if it doesn’t have power and a 42 inch Panasonic plasma. Then there is a Synology NAS, an Apple TV for streaming and for gaming I’ve got a Wii, PS2 and a 360 setup. And when I have to watch movies in silence I’ve got Sharkoon Xtatic surround headphones.
Ok, now I know where I will be stopping at when I visit the UK. Impressive stuff, Scott!
Panasonic plasmas are the way to go! I’ve got one too and it’s the perfect thing to watch films on.
Sky HD does cost far too much, but I couldn’t live without it. I’ve had a terrabyte box for about a year and I wouldn’t be able to live without that much space either!
Thanks for a look inside your abode Scott… Love the film projector. Also isn’t the flowery background behind the plasma a tad distracting?