Home Theater Boasts 73-inch HDTV, Apple TV, B&W Speakers

Unlike many recent rock bands, Papa Roach has staying power. Bucking the music trend of throwaway one-hit wonders, the group has been on a near decade run of top-selling albums.

Led by the talents of guitar player and songwriter Jerry Horton, the band has created a sound that fuses classic and modern rock.

When the band's current tour ends in September, Horton will go back to his family and his at-home activities, including his home theater.

Rocker of a Different Creed

Horton, a self-described A/V geek, says he spends his off time with his family, friends and his home theater, which provides him a multi-faceted entertainment outlet.

Horton built his first home theater shortly after the band's 2000 breakthrough release "Infest." "My first home theater setup didn't take long at all to choose," he recalls. "I went to my local electronics store and picked out the best Polk Audio speakers and the best Sony ES receiver they had and installed it myself in a couple of days. Since then it has been a constant project."

Horton's system includes a 73-inch Mitsubishi television, an HD DVR, an Apple TV and audio components from Rotel and Bowers & Wilkins (B&W).

"When I got enough money to really get a decent system I started with the brands I was familiar with, Sony and Polk Audio. This gave me a huge upgrade from what I had before," Horton says. "As I became more obsessed and did more research, I was attracted to B&W for the aesthetic quality of its speakers. When I was able to hear them I knew I wanted them for sure. I upgraded to the 600 Series [B&W] and was extremely happy.

"I got a hold of Lucette [Nicoll] of Nicoll Public Relations [the PR firm for B&W and Rotel] and she mentioned that B&W was putting together its ‘Society of Sound' and they wanted us to be a part of it. We obviously said ‘yes' and I was able to get an 800 Series setup with Rotel electronics. I didn't know Rotel before, but now that I have their components I really identify with their philosophy of building components with an emphasis on sound quality over frills."

Home Theater is a Family Favorite

Horton says, just like most men, he has to consider the wishes of his wife and daughter when he tinkers with his home theater.

Some of the things that he has done to accommodate his family's wishes include having his rear-surround in-ceiling speakers installed by an electronics professional, but he adds that he's done most of the setting up himself.

Additionally, when it comes to family entertainment activities involving the system they watch movies like "Horton Hears a Who" and listen to a lot of AC/DC records because that's his daughter's favorite band.

His personal preferences include movies like the "Matrix" series and a range of music that includes more than just rock. "I like jazz because there is usually so much space in those recordings and they image more easily than other types of music."

Horton does proudly point out that the recent addition of the Mitsubishi television has pleased his family with how it replicates a true theater-like experience in their living room. "Now when we watch movies on our new 73-inch [TV] my daughter says, ‘oh it looks like a movie theater in here," he boasts.

"My wife has always been cool with me having a home theater, but [she] wasn't into it until we got the new TV. It's amazing what an extra 18 inches will do for a home theater."

Home Theater Dreams

Eddie Van Halen once said that he's been chasing tone his whole life.

Horton can appreciate the chase for perfect tone and the perfect theater. In the case of his home theater, his aspirations include some familiar products from some well-known high-performance manufacturers.

"I would like someday to have a dedicated theater and a dedicated listening room," he says. "For the theater it would be a full complement of CT800 [B&W] speakers, Classe amplification and a Meridian 810 video system. For two-channel I already have the speakers I need.

I would also like Classe amplification for the two-channel. I would love to have one of those Clearaudio Statement [turntable] pieces, but I think it would be fun to build my own turntable."