WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR GEAR??

In NY The selection of AV stores and the prices are second to none. However Only the big chains are out here CC BB Costco WAL/SAMS. So I have to do most of my shopping from my PC. But you just cant beat the experience of a world class AV store, typically you must hear and test all of your componets. So online is a bit of a gamble (stick to brands you know, read as many reviews as you can, make sure the return policy is rock solid)

Costco wins this one. John

1. for you "concerns on returns" most companies I deal with have a hassle free return policy (B&H photo is one of the highest ranked online retailors of any industry). Als your credit card gives you double coverage. split that with the shippers policy and you should feel pretty safe.
2. configuration, is something that youve stumped me on..in my defense I was talking about speakers.
3.upgrading, is something Im not privy to in my town so enjoy it, though some websites offer these types of deals

...from the trunk of a car. Best prices!

Actually, I had purchased a lot of my better gear from local shops (no longer around) where, if I had a problem, I could bring my piece of gear in and physically check it with their help. Once they went bye-bye, I bought some stuff at Costco, BB, CC or online. I feel a little like I'm on my own now, in a row boat with one oar, in the middle of the ocean. I miss the local speciality shops and the security I had with them.

Hi, techfiend.

The importance & difficulty of proper configuration / setup varies with the type of equipment you're installing. I think speakers probably fall somewhere in the middle. Stuff like cabling requires pretty much no expertise (unless you're talking in-wall runs or something), and some equipment like DVD players are probably simple enough for tech-savvy people to navigate the menus and get the right settings. On the other extreme, front projection systems can require a TON of fiddling to get everything perfect, including getting a matching a screen with the right reflectivity, precise & sturdy mounting, and even stuff like measuring color temperature and tweaking "service menu" settings to get everything just right.

For speakers, one of the first considerations is placement. Standing towers or bookshelf speakers placed too close to walls or other surfaces may distort the sound, and the speaker angle may affect sound imaging (how realistically 2D or 3D the sound seems to be). If you're using a subwoofer, getting the right crossover point to smooth out your bass can be tricky, too. Then there are room issues--any resonant frequencies, etc.? Qualified installers will know ho to check for all of these things.

I got myself a sound-pressure level meter from Radio Shack for < $50 and used that to measure for bad frequency responses & set my sub crossover. I basically SWAG'ed my speaker placement with a tape measure & recommendations from the manufacturer. I might not have an optimal setup, but it's plenty good for now. Some day I'll be ading a front projector to my theater, and for that I'll be seeking some professional help, probably from a CEDIA installer. I'll get them to look into my speaker placement / setup, too, to see if I've missed anything or done something dumb.

Cheers!
Speleo.

This is the first time I have put together an entire full size speaker system. I use the JBL northridge line for my Front Towers and the center channel. I bascially went with the instructions as well. However when it came to the center speaker, I own a microdisplay which has a great flat screen, but it slopes steeply behind and can not support my speaker. So I custom built a shelf to support it. I went to home depot and bought some non-industrial looking brackets painted a shelf flat black and aimed towards the couch. Im still feeling it out, but am overall satisfied.

It might be interesting to see a thread on speaker placement from someone with installing experience like sirroundsound. I think I'll start one....

My center channel has its own custom stand, which will be highly convenient once I replace my TV with a projector, but for now the center channel sits in front of my TV stand (and sorta blocks IR signals to my DVD player).

The shelf sounds like a pretty good idea, provided it's sturdy & the center channel doesn't transfer vibrations to the shelf. I've also seen center channels placed below displays on TV stands, for example. The center channel's most important job is dialogue, so as long as it doesn't sound like voices are coming from the sky I think you're in good shape.

Cheers!
Speleo.

I had my Atlantic Technology center channel speaker on top of my old 65 3 tube Sony lots of room Well I just bought a new 72HM195 Toshiba d.l.p t.v. and had to put it uder the screen on the glass shelf It seems to work out well the sound from the center seems to balance great with the two main speakers sound like you have a great set up have a nice weekend stewart

This is like trying to describe a painting. My setup does work quiet well. but If someone cant hear it they should at least be able to see it. I elevated the back of the center on a shelf above the TV. Their is no vibration and I used rubber gromets for the elevation, so no movement either. The center weighs 22lbs so I dont even know if I even needed the pre-emptive work. I personally felt I had better aim from above than below. What do you guys think

As Ive stated earlier get as many reviews of a store as you can. Call the store; are they well read? do they know their merchandise.
If you are not sure of an online retailor try an amazon scan for their reviews. They are at times blistering life savers from a bad retailor, they also give the retailor a chance to address the quelms. The only bad online experience Ive had was outside of this field and from ebay.