$1 million home theater install is heavy on the McIntosh

by Darren Murph posted May 20th 2008 at 9:56AM

Though not nearly as extravagant as the $6 million Kipnis Studio Standard, Ivan Messer's AV lair is quite impressive -- particularly for fans of McIntosh. This installation tallied up to a cool million when all was said and done, and a staggering 100 McIntosh components were used in the build. Aside from that, you'll also find a heavy reliance on wooden cabinetry and a real touch of class overall, but we won't spoil it for you. Head on down to the read link to take a look at what seven figures can net you.

Filed under: DIY, Misc, Speakers

Tags: diy, expensive, home theater, HomeTheater, luxury, McIntosh

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

Achilles @ May 20th 2008 10:47AM

Wow, this looks really TACKY! What a waste of money.

Neutral

looseinthedeuce @ May 20th 2008 10:53AM

How can you spend that much money and not have a bigger screen?

Neutral

Doc @ May 20th 2008 11:09AM

I'm a fan of any technology, but I have to agree with everyone here that it's a rather unimpressive looking setup. I may be wrong, but it seems a case of more money than common sense IMO.

Neutral

teslasnp @ May 20th 2008 12:37PM

the small tv is the menu for the music system...rtfa

Neutral

AzaMcWazza @ May 20th 2008 10:56AM

I'm with loosinthedeuce; what a tiny screen for a million. Also, I bet whoever owns that can't tell the difference between what they see and hear compared to a 15-20K setup.

Neutral

edpowers @ May 20th 2008 11:07AM

No kidding ... what is with the TV? Pioneer Elite Pro-700HD Rear-Projection TV ??? At least throw in a Pioneer Elite PRO-150HD 60 inch Plasma.

Neutral

Doc @ May 20th 2008 11:11AM

I feel you, but I did read in there that he has a 120" projection screen and not sure what brand projector though. I don't know ,but is it the wood look that makes it seem so lame? I'd rather have a closet arrangement with A.C. to get that god ugly entertainment center out of there!

Neutral

Mr. E @ May 20th 2008 11:23AM

What the...? What a waste of $1 million. What are 100 McIntosh components going to give you beyond what about 10 would? There, I just saved this guy about a half mil. Now he can use the savings to rebuild the system with the components tastefully hidden in a closet and center it around front projector with a 2.35:1 anamorphic setup. Now that would be a home theater worthy of envy!

Neutral

rachel @ May 20th 2008 11:32AM

Hi guys: I wrote the story... The photo is deceiving, but he does have a 120-inch screen. The RPTV is only used as a menu for his music server.

Neutral

kcjones @ May 20th 2008 12:00PM

First, this guy is a McIntosh and Richard Grey's Dealer, so he didn't pay 1 million dollars. Secondly, I could put together and have heard systems for 250K (Price of a Ferrari) that would trounce this system. Quite a few audio relates stories recently. keep it up!!!

BTW, that Pioneer RPTV will kill any flat panel HDTV made today in picture quality, unfortunately its just bulky. People either forget or aren't aware that Flat panel displays ushered in an era of poor image quality under the guise of High Definition. Only recently have flat panels started to give good HD images. The popularity and influx of flat panel displays had nothing to do with picture quality and everything to do with aesthetics (Remember the Philips ceilling mounted plasma commercial?).

Neutral

Jody @ May 20th 2008 11:52AM

The scale of this setup is totally missed in the pictures and article. The guy has 24 McIntosh MC-1.2KW and 4 MC-2KW Amplifiers . That's 36800 watts of power and at 147 pounds each, over 2 tons of mono amplifiers alone. Not sure what he's trying to accomplish with almost 40,000 watts of power this clean (0.005%THD), maybe he's trying to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Neutral

edpowers @ May 20th 2008 12:11PM

In reply to KCJones ... dude, give me a break. If he is using that as a menu for his music server, you can't possibly tell me that a CRT RPTV is the best option. That PRO-700HD RPTV might be great IN THE DARK, but not with the lights on. a PRO-150HD will knock its socks off in nearly every quality category.

In fact, if that's only used as a monitor for his music server, he really should be using some sort of LCD display.

Neutral

daaper @ May 20th 2008 12:46PM

Please tell me all those components can be dimmed. Who could watch a movie with that blinding, teal glow in front of you?

Neutral

Hehaw @ May 20th 2008 5:17PM

Well if you're watching pr0n a lot of blinking lights might add to the entertainment and make is seem more realistic.

:oP

Highly Ranked

rip @ May 20th 2008 2:53PM

hmm, so what's the carbon footprint?

His house should be reclassified as an electric substation.

Neutral

Aaron Smith @ May 20th 2008 3:13PM

The projector he has is a Sony G90, arguably the best CRT projector ever and arguably better than any current projector as far as color accuracy and black levels (not very bright though).

He can shut off the lights on most of that equipment so it doesn't bother him at night.

Here is a link showing the screen and projector http://blog.audiovideointeriors.com/traditional/207mc/

Neutral

Mr. E @ May 20th 2008 4:54PM

I have no problem with the projector itself--the G90 is excellent--but a drop-down projector screen in a dedicated home theater is just silly. In addition it's not a 2.35:1 constant height setup, which would be an absolute requirement for me if I were able to afford a home theater costing even 1/20th what this one apparently did.

I guess I just don't understand the thinking behind this at all. In my ultimate "mind's eye" theater, I'd walk into the room and sid down facing nothing but some nice curtains at the front of the room. I'd pick up the Crestron remote and activate the setting to dim the lights and open the curtains, revealing a 2.35:1 screen with motorized side masking for 1.77:1 and 1.33:1 aspect ratios. You'd also possibly see three speakers, I haven't decided if I'd want to use a perforated screen to hide the speakers or not, since there's a trade-off involved there. In any case, the important thing is there would be nothing up front to distract from the movie. Certainly not a bunch of highly polished wood and glass behind a drop-down screen, reflecting bounced light back into my eyes.

To me a home theater should be about enjoying the movie, not showing off technology. Both of the "millionaire" home theaters I've seen posted here on Engadget really seem to emphasize the flash over the movie.

Neutral

Video Master @ May 20th 2008 4:11PM

"you'll also find a heavy reliance on wooden cabinetry and a real touch of class overall,"

This makes me laugh. This has got to be the ugliest home theater I have ever seen. What is the point of putting modern technology inside of hideous old fashioned cabinetry? I'd rather have a HTIB than that monstrosity.

"Real touch of class" LOL

Neutral

Aaron Smith @ May 20th 2008 5:01PM

Mr E I totally agree with you, although this guy has said before he's more of an audiophile than a videophile, and I suppose that's why the screen (and entire setup, for that matter) doesn't bother him too much.

Neutral

hothotdisco @ May 21st 2008 8:25PM

What a bonehead; he wasted 1 mil on McIntosh which sucks by the way and is not worth a single penny. If you ask me, he should have just stuck with a Denon reciever, a Atlantic Technology speaker system or perhaps a KEF one. Video Master is right too; this setup is the most hideous thing I have ever seen. The futuristic McIntosh components don't even match the wood cabinetry!! What was the company who designed this, thinking?!!!

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