Flatnate's Theater Build

[Flatnate]

Hey everyone.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun posting here but my offer was accepted on our first home. We were pre-approved and if all goes to plan with the inspection, and the bank, we should be in by the end of March. I looked for a house that had a basement that worked well for a front projection set up. It isn't a completely separate dedicated room but that is ok for me. I actually wish it was unfinished, but with some effort should work well. The listing shows the room as 14 x 32 but I'll take some exact measurements later this week. Hopefully, running cabling isn't a nightmare.







There is enough space at the front of the room to build a small stage, and a acoustically transparent screen wall two feet out from the main wall and then hide my speakers and sub. I would really love to do that with a 2.35:1 scope dimension acoustically transparent screen. I would also like to build a riser for a second row of seating. Ideally any riser and/or stage would all be the same carpet. Problem is I'm on a major budget now and the existing carpet in the room... isn't bad. Tough to justify tearing it up right away for that kind of upgrade. I could still build the screen wall without a stage.

"Plan B" for the near term would be something like a low to the floor Ikea Besta series cabinet in which my Mackie HR824's can sit on and remain below almost any fixed frame screen (hopefully I can make it work with a 120 inch model). If I don't go with a constant image height acoustically transparent screen, I was thinking of possibly the Monoprice "multi-format" constant image width masking screen with a traditional material.

Eager to hear any thoughts, ideas, experience working with existing finished rooms. I really don't want to pull it completely apart right away. Pretty stoked though, it is a long time coming.

[rpatt]

Congratulations on the new house. Looking forward to your progress. How is the room setup for electrical outlets?

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by rpatt

Congratulations on the new house. Looking forward to your progress. How is the room setup for electrical outlets?

Looking pretty good so far. The Mackies are self powered and each one needs an AC outlet. No problem left, center, right as of now. However I have two 624's for the rears... they may be more of a challenge to power. That said, I do need to figure out how many outlets are on what size breaker(s) for the room. I may install some larger dedicated circuits at some point. I need to run AC to my projector installation in the ceiling as well, along with HDMI from wherever I make a rack location. I'd like to cut and install the rack under the stairway (that could be tougher to wire and I'm unsure of the clearances inside the closet), otherwise the rear right corner.

[Mr.Twinks]

Congrats on the home and I will be looking forward to seeing what you do with that space!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

Congrats on the home and I will be looking forward to seeing what you do with that space!

Me too. Keep us informed please?

[BluBrown]

Looks like a nice space man, congrats!

My room was finished when I bought the house as well. It was a bit of a process but I was able to fish all my wiring inside the walls, although I did put a few small holes in the drywall to gain access along the way but they're all patched up now.

[Flatnate]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely post some updates as I learn more. I really have enough depth to two to rows of seating eventually. I just need to figure out my riser situation. Maybe I should just budget what a redo on the carpet would be with a riser and stage built in the next few months. I could settle with one row for now and do that later. If I did that then I'd be tempted to just buy a 2.35:1 scope Monoprice fixed frame screen for the next year or two while I save and draw up more serious plans.

That said, once a screen is up... and some of the seating is in... my ambition to redo carpet and rework that all in with a riser and stage will probably plummet. I have to be honest with myself.

[roar]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

Thanks guys. I'll definitely post some updates as I learn more. I really have enough depth to two to rows of seating eventually. I just need to figure out my riser situation. Maybe I should just budget what a redo on the carpet would be with a riser and stage built in the next few months. I could settle with one row for now and do that later. If I did that then I'd be tempted to just buy a 2.35:1 scope Monoprice fixed frame screen for the next year or two while I save and draw up more serious plans.

That said, once a screen is up... and some of the seating is in... my ambition to redo carpet and rework that all in with a riser and stage will probably plummet. I have to be honest with myself.

That is a great space! All the depth in the world. Looking forward to updates.

[Badas]

Congrates Flatnate. Looks like a great room.

Change the colour tho.

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by roar

That is a great space! All the depth in the world. Looking forward to updates.

Thanks, it's always good to hear someone else thinks it is a good space. Sometimes I think I get "homebuyers beer goggles". Not to mention this whole process and commitment is scary as hell the first time, so I'll take any validation I can get right now.

Originally Posted by Badas

Congrates Flatnate. Looks like a great room.

Change the colour tho.

Yeah I have been thinking a lot about colors over the past few days. We decided to go with (remember I'm on a serious budget now). Ikea Kivik sofa/sectional in Dansbo red (we bought just the discontinued color of interchangeable covers on clearance). I want to put the sectional and ottoman as the first row right away. Then, eventually as a second row I will put two of the loveseats together using one armrest in the middle to link them in to kind of a four cushion, double "loveseat-sofa" in back.





Seating in mind, I think going with a red shade for a wall color in addition to the red sofas is just too much red for me. I was thinking of maybe a blue-grey, or grey color wall. I definitely want to paint the wall behind the screen black. I'm not sure I'm ready to leap off the deep end and paint the ceiling black as well. If I do, I will do it when (or if) the existing carpet comes out.

Any other color thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

[BluBrown]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

I'm not sure I'm ready to leap off the deep end and paint the ceiling black as well. If I do, I will do it when (or if) the existing carpet comes out.

Any other color thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

I built a 10' x 6' frame that I stretched a black velvet fabric over it and hung it on the ceiling above my screen. I now get zero reflecting light off the ceiling within my viewing area, and the best part is that it cost maybe $20.

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by BluBrown

I built a 10' x 6' frame that I stretched a black velvet fabric over it and hung it on the ceiling above my screen. I now get zero reflecting light off the ceiling within my viewing area, and the best part is that it cost maybe $20.

I like this idea! I had also thought about putting black acoustical panel type treatments on the ceiling just in front of the screen. Then suspending them a few inches low and maybe putting LED lights on top to reflect back down. Only issue with both of those ideas is I think it may cover two of the recessed cans closest to that wall. If I disconnected them safely, that could still be okay though.

[kurtis21]

Congrats Flatnate!!! Looks like a great space for a Home Theater! My only "suggestion" would be to take you time...and don't forget to post some pics!

[BluBrown]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

I like this idea! I had also thought about putting black acoustical panel type treatments on the ceiling just in front of the screen. Then suspending them a few inches low and maybe putting LED lights on top to reflect back down. Only issue with both of those ideas is I think it may cover two of the recessed cans closest to that wall. If I disconnected them safely, that could still be okay though.

This is actually what I did. I insulated the 10 x 6 panel and it's suspended about an inch from the ceiling with some rope light for nice ambient light when wanted.

Great minds think alike!

[igotcabada]

Congrats, its got a lot a potential... Looking forward to updates

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by kurtis21

Congrats Flatnate!!! Looks like a great space for a Home Theater! My only "suggestion" would be to take you time...and don't forget to post some pics!

Thanks!

So question... did you go with the acoustically transparent Elite Lunette? Or is yours just a non-acoustic standard material? I know I see your two bookshelf speakers left and right, but the center has me wondering.

I ask because new local A/V store opened near me last week (actually it is kinda one that was in town back in the 90's early 2000's, and that was sold off, closed, and now came back) actually has one. I finally stop in today and they have a 138 inch Lunette with the AcousticPro4k material. Wow. I had seen the Draper AT1200 material and it isn't even in the same ball park. I was leaning this route before, but now that I have seen it... I really want to do the acoustically transparent screen wall thing here. I have enough depth to make it work. That material is amazing, no visible texture unless you were right on top of the thing and it was still bright enough to have some serious pop with the Epson that they had it paired with in the showroom. Very impressed with the Acousticpro4k material and the Lunette, although I'd probably even settle for that material on the flat Peregrine series Elite screen as well.

I'm really leery of buying even a cheaper fixed frame screen if I'm going to go for the Elite Lunette or Peregrine HD screen with that material later on. I'm not sure if I would get much money for a used scope dimension screen when I get upgrade fever. I am sold on that AcousticPro4k hands down. Just not sure if now is the time.

You're right I do need to take my time. I get leery of some of the short term compromises becoming long term decisions. I need to figure a cost estimate of that false screen wall on top of the cost of the screen. I could just hang the screen on the wall in the near term. Save the remainder of the build for later. Despite being a good value compared to the competition, that screen will push my yearly wife allowance/budget to the limit.

[bulldog_426]

Would love to see this room decked out Great room for a HT!

[Aerodude73]

Great sized room - look forward to your build/progress.






* love your screen name also - pretty sure I know what that refers to *

[Mr.Twinks]

Is that new acoustic screen fabric woven type or the perforated type?


Love the sectional color too!

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by bulldog_426

Would love to see this room decked out Great room for a HT!

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Great sized room - look forward to your build/progress.

* love your screen name also - pretty sure I know what that refers to *

Thanks guys, I'm pretty stoked to give you some updates but my enthusiasm is often tempered by "Flatwife" who wants to get some of the major urgent projects out of the way after move in first. Namely some exterior paint and trim work, locks, grounded outlets (yeah the upstairs still has some of those three outlet un-grounded ones, and our one plasma has to go in that room). The home was actually built in 1960, and the upstairs isn't nearly as clean as the basement.

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

Is that new acoustic screen fabric woven type or the perforated type?


Love the sectional color too!

Thanks! I hoped the red fabric gave a bit of a bold theater vibe.

That AcousticPro4k is a woven type fabric like SMX and SeymourAV Centerstage XD but the weave is outstanding. It is probably comparable to Seymour Screen Excellence Enlightor 4k material to be honest. I'd love to get the two side by side but I guarantee the Seymour probably costs more... much more.

Unfortunately, I still think it may be out of my budget for a while. I really don't want to buy an "interim" screen; but its hard not to when you can get an Elite fixed frame non-acoustically transparent screen of the same size for $480 bucks new on eBay.