OTHER TECH

The receiver for my new system had to have multiple HDMI inputs, the ability to decode the latest surround formats, and dual HDMI outputs to handle the two displays. I contemplated going with a mega-receiver but ultimately went the separates route because it provided an easier upgrade path down the road. Again, I was impressed with Marantz's demo at CEDIA, so I chose the new AV8003/MM8003 combo. I liked that the AV8003 processor was THX Ultra2 certified, and its use of Anchor Bay's video-scaling engine meant I only needed to run a single HDMI cable to each display. Since the components both offered balanced connections, I used seven Audio-Technica XLR cables for the best sound.

My surround speakers were already as properly set up as my room allowed, which means the PSB back surround speakers are sitting on top of kitchen cabinets behind the primary listening area. Since everything was already wired, installing the new Definitive Technology speakers required little effort. Beyond sounding great and getting rave reviews, Def Tech's Mythos ST tower also had a sleek look that I liked. And even though I already owned a suitable 15-inch Def Tech subwoofer, my story on how the company's speakers were used in New York City's Trinity Church ("A Higher Power," November 2007, also available on our Web site) convinced me that I needed a Trinity Signature sub in my system.

Because Myrtle Beach, where my house is, gets regular lightning storms, I wanted to make sure my new toys were protected. Our power also sporadically clicks off for 1 or 2 seconds before coming back on. That's exactly the sort of thing that has you replacing bulbs in your projector or hard drives in your server, so I wanted an uninterruptible power supply to keep the juice flowing during these little hiccups. Belkin's Pure AV provides surge protection and battery backup for 12 of my components. The battery works like a champ and has already prevented one ungraceful power-down when I tripped over the cord and unplugged it from the wall for about 2 minutes! A second surge protector from PS Audio provides clean power and protects another 10 devices. It's also Internet-accessible, which means I can remotely log in, check status, and reset my cable box or Wi-Fi if need be.

Shortly after our daughter was born, I bought a Salamander equipment rack with doors. This provides enough storage for all the gear, and its removable back panels make it easy for me to work on the components.

Because the system is so complex, not just any remote would provide the level of control I needed. I went with the Universal Remote Control MX-980 and MSC-400 combo that I recently reviewed (December, also available online). After hours of programming, I've come up with an interface that makes the remote easy enough for my wife to use.

To christen the system, S&V's Michael Gaughn broke out a pre-release DVD copy of Wall•E. While the picture was stunning, the sound wasn't all that it could be. I kept thinking, "Things are crashing and smashing. Where's that Trinity?" A check behind the rack revealed that in my haste, I had connected the subwoofer to the surround back left channel and also connected the front right speaker out of phase. Of course, I would have caught these little faux pas had I gone through the speaker setup routine before we started the movie, but it's a good lesson to always check your connections.

After correcting these problems and running the Marantz preamp's Audyssey room-correction program, the next two movies we screened -- Blu-ray Discs of Iron Man and Transformers -- were amazing and everything I knew the system should be. With bass that's equal parts massive, deep, and tight, the Trinity has had a huge impact on my movie viewing. And thanks to the lossless surround formats, the dynamics of the processor and amplifier, and the speaker system's detail, I can easily pick out delicate sounds in the surround channels and the dialogue is more intelligible.

As a reviewer, I needed a reference system that would let me accurately judge the components that come my way. As a home theater enthusiast, I wanted a system that would go to the next level and let me fully enjoy all of the technologies currently available. And as a father and husband, I wanted something that would make our family movie time and having friends over really special. This system scores an A+ on all counts.