This page covers the hardware and Software that Jim uses in his Home Theater.  It is periodically updated as the list of components or software changes.

We invite you to check out the Mind of Men Episodes 11, 19, 21, 93, 96, 97, and 98 where we covered some of these topics in detail.

This page was last updated on 12/23/2009

Audio

Software

Ripping CDs – iTunes is what I have used in the past to make Apple Lossless encoded tracks, but I plan to re-rip my CD collection using the Open Source lossless FLAC format.  Still working on the specifics for how I plan to do this.  I do use iTunes to rip 256 bit AAC copies of my CDs for playback on my iPod.

Hardware

Just about every device I own can play back Audio files, but my main choice is the Sonos Music System.  I have four of the players and two of the remotes which allow me to play back audio in several different zones of the house.  We also use the free PC and Mac Sonos control software on the computers and my wife has the Sonos iPhone application installed on her iPod touch which turns it into a remote as well.

In addition to my personal audio collection, I also have an annual subscription to Rhapsody which works with the Sonos and lets me play just about any song that was ever recorded.

Video

Television

The first task of a video media center is to record television programs.  For this, I use both Microsoft’s Media Center that comes built into Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate Editions.  The Media Center PC is a home-built one.  Most of the components don’t matter – there are various guides to building your own Media Center PC on the Internet – just Google it.  However, I do want to call out three components:

ASUS XONAR HDAV 1.3 Slim Audio Card – This is the first audio card that will play the full High Def Audio that is encoded on BlueRay movies.  So, if you are dropping a BlueRay player in your Media Center, you are going to need one of these to get the full high def audio.

Hauppauge WINTV-PVR-500 This is a dual analog tuner PCI card that I use to receive television.  Since this card is analog only, it will work only as long as my cable company continues to offer channels in analog mode.  The transition is happening slowly, so this card still has some life left in it, but analog tuner cards are a technological dead end.

Hauppauge WINTV-HVR-2250 This is a dual analog/digital tuner that can receive both over the air Digital TV as well as decode clear QAM digital signals sent over the cable.  It will not decode anything that is scrambled by the cable company, but will tune those digital channels sent in the clear.

In addition to my media center PC, I also use a Tivo HD Box with a Cable-Company supplied CableCard.  This lets me receive and record all of the digital channels offered by my cable provider.  Tivo also provides a free piece of software that lets me transfer recorded shows off of the Tivo and on to my Media Center PC, so I can watch them in any room.

Movies

Software

MyMovies – A program that is designed to rip full DVDs to the hard drive including all menus, etc.  It also pulls in cover art and stores it with the movie.

Handbrake – Open Source program for ripping DVDs to compressed H.264 Video files

My choice of which program  I use boils down to what I plan to do with the movie.  If I think I’ll only watch it once and don’t care about surround sound, then I use Handbrake as it produces a relatively small file.  On the other hand, if I want to keep the movie in my archive and/or want to see it with full audio, then I use MyMovies to capture a perfect copy of the entire DVD to hard drive.

In either case, you will also need AnyDVD by SlySoft to handle the CSS descrambling necessary for either of the above programs to rip copy protected DVDs.

Hardware

Movie files are stored on my HP Windows Home Server that sports 3.5 TB of storage space.  It is configured so that the guest account can be used by any of the media streaming devices in my house, which eliminates the need to log on in order to play movie files.

In my main media room, I use the home built Windows Media Center system to watch either the ripped DVDs or the compressed H.264 videos.

Downstairs, I use a SageTV HD Theater streamer box.  This system can browse the full DVD rips by cover art and also allows me to play the compressed H.264 files.