Everyones Home Theater.com is owned by Vic Barry. I have been a big fan of movies and home cinema / theater since I was 10 years old. A relative bought a big screen TV and a Nicam video. I was sold, then he added a Dolby Pro Logic Amp and 4 speakers. Never any good at saving money (some things never change) I eventually managed a 21" TV with a Pro Logic Amp, Nicam Video and a journey of buying VHS tapes. Soon, I made it to a 28" TV....then a PC with DVD ROM, then a Projector, then a Dolby Digital Amp, then changed my Projector, then changed it again and so on.

I have been buying DVDs off the internet since 1997 where my first ever purchase was Smokey and the Bandit 2 (from Reel.com) on VHS. But my first DVD if I recall was Metro, then I took the plunge and bought Blade online. I havent looked back since. 400 DVDs later, Im about to move into my first home with my ever so understanding partner. A room (smallish) has my name on it for my theater. We should be getting the keys next week (8 July 2004) and I am counting down the seconds to start working on the ol cinema room, even though my missus keeps reminding me that there are far more important things to do. Like getting our kitchen tiled and so on...I think!

Besides enjoying movies and my current HT, I love looking at pics of Home Theaters. So why not get all of them in one place...like here. Thats why I made Everyones Home Theater.com

So enjoy your stay and submit your pics....

 

Follow the pics below, to see my first day with my brand new Sony VPL HS20

 

20/1/04

Today i finally took the plunge. My Hitachi CPS220 said "Vic..I feel im not doing you proud". So i ordered, well attempted to order the Sony VPL-HS20 from PriceJapan. Upon paying i discovered that a payment i had made last friday to my credit card has yet to clear. DOH! Hopefully tomorrow will be more eventful.

It doesnt look like ill be moving into my new house until this side of Easter, but i couldnt wait no more. So the HS20 will be moving into my current TV/Theater room. To be honest this room is a bit cluttered. I have convinced the wife to be that i can take one of the bedrooms in the new place. Its 10x8, not huge i know...but there is an ensuite at the rear which will be used to hold all the gear and DVDs etc.etc. Currenty i have 3 joined IMAX seats and i am contemplating whether or not to get another 3 or just get 2 LA-Z-BOY Recliners. I am very tempted to go for the recliners, not sure though how they would look with 3 imax seats. Argos have them and offer that money back gurantee. I might go for one and see how it is come Easter.

21/01/04

Success. Finally the payment i have been waiting on has cleared. Just ordered the HS20 from Pricejapan. They should be shipping it within 24 hours. Very unlikely ill have it for Friday, probably Monday though. The seeds are now planted lol. Just need to get into the new house now. I will post pics on here as it all goes down. So keep an eye out.

23/01/04

I do believe the HS20 is in the air at this moment. Hopefully Monday or at the latest Tuesday. Heres a screenshot from my current setup. Its ok, but nothing amazing. It has served me well for a while. I will put a side by side comparison with the Sony up here when it arrives.

26/01/04

Well, its arrived in Cork. Just rang DHL. We'll get it through customs now and have it with you tomorrow. I said i would pick it up at the airport. So off i drove to discover it is still in customs. Its now 10:45am and it can took up to 2pm to get it through. Arggghhhhhh.......hurry up...please. I must admit im not as excited as i was originally. Hopefully this will change when i switch it on. Do expect loads of photos.......

Finally got it to its new home.Got a call at 12pm. Heres a few pics for starters. More coming soon...

The Box

The first layer of the now opened box. Excitement building

The beast itself

Unwrapped

I sat there for 5 minutes with my mouth open.

Compare this to the Hitachi screen shot up the page

SDE..or lack of it.

Underworld. Good test for the darkscenes

T3

Arnie

Council workers having a bad day

Endoskeleton

So far all of the above pics are from a Sony 725 DVD Player using the PJ Multi interface cable. Using the Cinema mode with very few mods to it. Must purchase AVIA or DVE along the way. Looking at even the S-Video quality and especially the component i dont know is it worth my while upgrading the DVD player to a full progessive scan one or one with a HDMI interface. Can the picture get much better, i ask myself. As far as mounting goes, the projector is upside down on a shelf about a foot below the top of the screen. It is mounted at a slight angle on a book. A proper bracket is a must purchase. But id imagine i will be holding off until i get into my new house with dedicated theater.

27/01/04

Heres even more screen shots

Sky Digital connected via composite

Sky News

E!

WWE Smackdown on the PS2 connected via composite

Im a wrestler get me outta here

Surely these catwalks arent that long. Is this Milan?

So its like that is it

An AOL Time Warner Company

Animatrix

Just finished watching Lost in Translation last night. What a grainy transfer, maybe its keeping in tone with the indy feel about it. Anytime i seem to watch something on the HS20 it has a very cinematic feel. Happy am I with my purchase. One of the best purchases I have made in a long, long time. Viewing my Sky Digital Box via composite is fine. Nothing amazing, just the usual bad things about composite. SKY + for the new house with S-Video at least. The PJ multi cable is the best thing yet. Very handy indeed. Have been fiddling with the memory stick slot as well. Really cool. Great idea for showing off the photos, providing you have a Sony memory stick compatible camera.