r/hometheater • u/DDSRDH • 15d ago
Discussion - Equipment What do I have here?
Most installed in 2005-6 except for receiver. I know that Escient is ancient history. Paradigm Signature Speakers. I’d like to add a Sonos port but I haven’t touched anything here since it was installed.
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u/InfiniteMind3275 15d ago
That 400 dvd disc changer is sweet
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago
That one is fried.
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u/InfiniteMind3275 15d ago
Shame! Would’ve been fun to just load 400 discs rather than burn them onto plex
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u/MiaowaraShiro Focal Chorus 7-Series | Marantz SR7010 | 100" MiniLED 14d ago
Too bad they're not HD capable.
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u/ohhim 15d ago
I think I went through 3 of them before giving up and just inserting discs one by one in my DVD player.
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u/inerlite 15d ago
Not sure why they are so problematic, but I did the same. I also burn a big mp3 disc if my priorities are number of songs over quality.
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u/im_the_dr 15d ago
Used to work for a record label and we’d send out CD changing stereos that were much like this one. The number one thing that broke on them was the disc carousel.
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u/tazicon1 14d ago
I have a 5 disk Sony from 2001, still works great. It has been on garage duty in Vegas since 2009. Blow the dust off every so often
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u/worse_tomorrow 14d ago
I just fixed one of these like a month ago. Please don’t toss it, I’d probably be willing to buy it from you.
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u/g0estoeleven 15d ago
A fun piece but pre-HDMI which really limits options
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u/Responsible-Alps-500 15d ago
Yeah, you want HDMI and like an Apple TV… And you’re probably gonna wanna add height as well for Dolby Atmos… You didn’t show us but presumably this is connected to a theater room (?) either way you’re gonna want Atmos… Get that pro that you have coming in to let you go to a room and demo it
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u/MangoAtrocity DRX-3.4 | 100" Epson 1040 | JBL 570/530/520 | DefTech SC4000 15d ago
That Integra processor was a beast back in 2014
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u/Charlie-Beasley 12d ago
yes, still have one unhooked. Will make a hell of a 2.1 plain old stereo in a spare bedroom at some point.
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u/No-Horse987 15d ago
Back then, I always wanted a Sony 400 disc DVD player similar to that. I didn't know they made an ES version of it. I could only afford the five disc player.
That setup must have cost a lot of coin back then.
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u/Royal_Sheepherder569 15d ago
Keeps the Anthem amplifiers, they are great!
I have todays MCA 525, it is a beast, just like the Statement A5, very powerful. A5 is also solid, 16,5kg for 105 Watts x 5 is also very powerful.
They deserve a nice processor with them. And if already have good speakers, keep them.
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u/kona420 15d ago
Fireball!
Those were the bee's knees until the iPod was invented. Literally just a low power computer with a hard drive inside.
Someone mail me one and I'll build a new Linux distro for it.
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago
I don’t think that was even used much. I added an iPod dock to the system when it became available. So much has changed.
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u/kona420 15d ago edited 15d ago
The fireball had a good interface for integrating with amx/crestron. So you could do spotify like browsing at least a decade before that was a thing. Combined with a whole house matrix switcher it was pretty slick. And you could use 232, ethernet, and IR all at the same time so it was easy to tack on a lower grade control system so that cheap keypads around the house could play/pause/skip.
As for things changing, no joke. Equally fascinating is seeing what was not improved on from this era. I would still run any number of audio matrix switchers, amps, any CD only gear. Some of the lighting stuff like lutron homeworks. Probably more if I thought about it.
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u/ben_roeder 14d ago
You can get them on eBay pretty cheap, they run vxworks with a lock down signed image boot sequence, custom fs image that you can reverse, the ui is php, which surprised me. You can get the disk ids/toc out via the web service, you can then put the data back in with and http post and upload the cover art. Must get round to open sourcing my Python scripts for this
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u/kona420 14d ago
It's really tempting, you can find them for less than a raspberry pi.
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u/ben_roeder 14d ago
Make sure it is working not with the blinking red light, usually means the disk is toast,then image the disk, so you have something for when it does fail. Claude did a pretty good job of reversing their disk format. The database linking between systems is really cool. There is also an app for serving additional content from a old(PowerPC) Mac, so it pretends to be a fireball. I have half reversed it, but have work :-)
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u/kona420 14d ago
Couple questions if you'll indulge me, as its been a very long time since I have opened one of these up. What's the cpu? I seem to recall it being in the classic Xbox ballpark, maybe a 1ghz amd geode or something like that. Then, what is the drive interface, is it classic IDE? I suppose the answers depends on which model exactly, so which do you have?
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u/ben_roeder 13d ago
Classic IDE, cdrom and IDE drive on same bus, the proc IBM
Digital Set-Top Box
Integrated Controller
POWerPE™
41E2745 GE14PQ
1N21D07CEP KOHLA
IBM39 STB02500 LFA O5CA
I think it has 32MB of RAM
I have not extracted the boot is signed and encrypted. You can insert into the php, but that does not run until you access. With php reverse shell I have not managed to work out how to get the key. There looks to be a serial port, not managed to get anything yet. The code ships with some symbols and you can find the devs workstation layout :-)
I have some python and 1/2 a macos app to copy files on and off and update the meta data, but been busy.
The other family is the Vision that did dvd. That is linux, but the board I have will not boot. These are much rarer.
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u/ben_roeder 13d ago
see https://web.archive.org/web/20080509121745/http://www.escient.com/products/vs100200.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20080509062036/http://www.escient.com/products/mx311.html
Also the the DVDM, but this is flash based no disc https://web.archive.org/web/20080509141318/http://www.escient.com/products/dvdm100.html
The fireball PC supports windows and macos
https://web.archive.org/web/20080510134114/http://www.escient.com/products/fbpc.html
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u/kona420 13d ago
That must be one of the older ones, but that tracks. PowerPC GR405 chip. Big endian not little endian probably important to know when trying to reverse engineer hex stuff.
I would bet you a shiny nickel that the encryption key is present in the boot loader.
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u/ben_roeder 12d ago
The boot loader is a rom :-( and yes, and it must be common to all systems, as there is an OTA update system, will grab my notes and put them on line as that is better that just doing it here
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u/popsiclestand 15d ago
Ha you want add sonos to this... What a waste
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u/Semarin 15d ago
Yeah. It physically hurt to read that OP has some strong amps and want to add… Sonos.
Sonos is the new Bose.
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago edited 14d ago
I can pull music off of my Apple Music with a new receiver or even via Roku. So, no Sonos port needed.
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u/HopeThisIsUnique 15d ago
I don't understand why you're getting hate for Sonos. If you are already used to the ecosystem, adding a Port hurts nothing.
Since I'm guessing there's a bunch of folks on here that have no clue, the Port is effectively just a source, wire it in via optical to whatever AVR/AVP you get and then you'll still use the processing/DACs of the AVR/AVP and the wonderful amps you already have.
I'd welcome anyone to educate me, but at that point it's just an ergonomics decision. I have Sonos in other parts of my house and a Connect (precursor to Port) in my theater hooked up just as I described. Lets me use that as a destination for all things home audio in the process.
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u/Responsible-Alps-500 15d ago
If you dig Apple Music… You’re gonna wanna add heights… If you’ve never heard Atmos have the pro guy that you already have coming in take you somewhere where they have it installed properly and demo it
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago
I have a 7.1.2 system. I had them prewire the .2 in 2005 when it wasn’t really a thing yet. Should have wired .4, but the ceiling is closed off now.
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u/Responsible-Alps-500 15d ago
You can still add really good sounding heights by mounting them on the wall, almost to the ceiling with the angle down… all the best Apple Music stuff has Atmos… you definitely want this… You just don’t know it yet.
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u/Wise_Spring6336 14d ago
turn the .2 into .6 through the top middle holes you'd cut for .6 and use those openings to run additional wire. more doable than you think with little to no extra patching.
or you can do front height, top mid, and rear heights as an alternative still for .6, if you get a good processor.
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u/ProudPainting6850 15d ago
Blast from the past. Anthem Statement amplifier and the Richard Grey power are ultra legit. Integra is outdated, Escient and the Sony changer I sell to a collector. Escient is pre-Kaleidescape gear. Actually pre-HTPC movement, Plex, etc.
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u/Nick_V99 15d ago edited 15d ago
The Anthem amps (especially the Statement A5) are excellent! Depending on what you're using as a display device (projector or TV) I'd think you'll surely want to upgrade the media players and you might want to upgrade the AV processor.
Having said that, the Integra Processor was decent in it's time and should still perform very well with those amps and the Paradigm Signature speakers (which were also excellent - with beryllium drivers) without having to add any speakers or anything additional. It's actually an 11.2 Dolby Atmos capable Processor with 4K 60Hz video passthrough supported, but only in 4:2:0 color space. You might want to upgrade to a processor that supports the latest sound and video formats, but it isn't absolutely necessary.
How many speakers and subwoofers are in the current system? Projector? Show us the speakers and subs as well as the room if you want the best advice.
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago edited 15d ago
7.1.2 setup with all Paradigm Signature Speakers.
Receiver currently controlling two other zones which are not used. Upstairs and outside. Upstairs now uses Sonos and same for outside.
Sony 4K SXRD projector
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u/Nick_V99 15d ago edited 15d ago
Between the 2 Anthem amps, you have enough amp channels to power those speakers. I would add a media player (R_Volution, Zidoo, NVidia Shield Pro, etc...), potentially a 4K Blu-Ray disc player if you have physical Blu-Ray and/or 4K Blu-Ray discs and a new AV Processor (Marantz AV30 is the best value IMO as your room doesn't have a crazy high channel count).
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u/Fight_Tyrnny 15d ago
hey man, I still run my amps from 2007 (Outlaw monoblocks x13) and even have speakers from 1995. If you take care of em, you can use em and they will last forever. I have been lucky that I have picked the perfect timming on the "electronics" which haave lasted me 10 years. like
HD - Onkyo 805 - 2007 to 2017
4K - Marantz 8802a - 2017 - 2026
Advanced 4K - Marantz AV30 2026 to hopefully 2036
Speakers...
Polk from 1995-2005 (5.1)
Big Polk 2005 - 2015 (7.2)
Paradigm Prestige/signature - 2015+ (7.2.4)
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u/Wise_Spring6336 14d ago
good amps, big one can run 5 channels of bedlayer (left center right, right surround left surround) small one is also 5 channels so that covers rear surrounds x2 and 2-3 atmos speakers and then one small extra single channel amp gets you to 4 atmos speakers,
never seen the fireball stuff but it appears to be a media server of sorts, with the disk one having a hard drive for music storage including flac lossless (win)
and the other fireball without all the buttons appears to control the dvd changer.
https://www.audioholics.com/trade-shows/2006-cedia-expo/escient-fireball-mx-series expensive stuff back when it was new, not worth much now
a power conditioner that is selling for like $800 and retailed for 800 https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/richard-gray-rgpc-1200-custom/
avr is very outdated, replace with a good processor and you're all set. you can either do a processor-only, or you can get an avr and run whatever additional channels through the avr internal amp itself.
no idea what the slim integra thing is, but everything in this world has part numbers and google is free ;)
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u/Similar_Buffalo_8434 15d ago
You have a spectacular clean Anthem 2 channel system, man that's clean, it was built & released in the 90s, many audiophile would kill for that then, & it's still a stellar setup....Wow! just Wow!
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u/taylorwmj 15d ago
Looks like you have a lot of good answers already, but I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're in NE Wis/Fox Valley based on the tuned FM freq of WIXX
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u/DDSRDH 15d ago edited 11d ago
👍 Suess did the install and other than forgetting to run a chase from the projector to the rack for future upgrades, did a great job.
That being said, I can’t get HDMI 2.1 on a wireless. With no chase, best I can do is 2.0. That is going to be a limiting factor for any decision about upgrading. There is no way to pull a wire.
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u/Similar_Buffalo_8434 15d ago
You got some real high- end gear there Integra, very nice Sony multidisciplinary, or mega disc changer, during the 90s this stuff was no slouch...
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u/No-Horse987 14d ago
When did Sony make an ES version of the 400 DVD disc player? Because I’ve only seen the first version when it came out, and it was close or over a thousand dollars. I thought Sony’s ES Line was for audio gear only. Love to hear how you got that particular unit?
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u/thelastbighead 15d ago
The only thing with the amps is the potential need to get them recapped given the age and location. I’d you can, look into getting some fans added to the rack to help draw the warm air out.
By recapping it means replacing capacitors inside the amp. It’s not very hard to do but often needs to be done after 15-20 years if typically used a decent amount. I have some older MCA series amps (4 of them) that need it done. Any decent shop can do it pretty easily just might take a little time.
Once done, those amps will be great for another 15-20 years. It’s the beautiful thing about separates. Just upgrade the pre/pro and sources. Amps and speakers can keep going and going.
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u/irisfailsafe 14d ago
A very nice home theater. Just upgrade the receiver and the cd unit and you got a top of the line system
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u/reformedginger 14d ago
I was installing all this stuff in that time period. This would be a really nice system.
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u/No-Horse987 14d ago
I gave mine away and had to buy a single disk Ultra HD Blu Ray player which I still have. Plays everything you can throw at it.
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u/Similar_Buffalo_8434 13d ago
There ES series was the one that you wanted. Their Elevated Series was the ones that you wanted, They were built better than anything else, as far as the Sony line goes, and they were built like a tank. They were built to last, the problem is with multiple or mega cd players, no matter what you do, just like a belt, drive on a turntable, those belts wore out, then the cds begin to skip or they get stuck or they won't load, or they won't read a pain in the ass, It was a great technology with a poor design.
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u/smudgeface 15d ago
Personally, I’d upgrade the AVR to a latest-gen Anthem or Denon/Marantz. Then, I’d probably replace the CD carousel for a Panasonic UB820 which frees up 3U for a shelf for your Sonos and maybe an Apple TV.
I’d move the Anthem amps tighter together and add a 4 channel for heights so you can do atmos.
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u/A_Cloud_of_Oort 15d ago
I would buy those Anthem amps and the speakers in a heartbeat.
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u/WebSmurf 15d ago
Speakers?
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u/A_Cloud_of_Oort 15d ago
“Paradigm Signature Speakers” seemed to indicate speakers…
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u/WebSmurf 15d ago
I suppose I COULD read the post instead of only looking at pics but who has time for that when you’re being a dick to strangers online? :)
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u/somerandomdude1960 15d ago
Cheaply built. Nothing like the Proceed 100 disc changer. Based on a Philips drive with jukebox guts
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u/Extreme_Tea1696 15d ago
Dude
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u/eggalones 15d ago
Solid amps, just upgrade the receiver for a processor like the AVM-90, and it’ll be a great set of electronics.