Theater Help - Blu-ray Forum

aust10n · 06-10-2008, 11:41 PM

My family is in the process of turning the attic into a Theater room.
Since I heard this news, I've set out to look at designs and prices.
A lot of what I've seen looks amazing.
I've determined that I like the more simple clean approach.

I've never ventured from the TV, and DVD player realm. I've never even messed with audio.

Where should I begin?
What all should I expect to purchase?
I would like to have the surround sound, and projector.

It all feels a little over whelming.
I'd appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

Colglizity · 06-10-2008, 11:57 PM

This magazine, month after month, has had great advice for people building a home theater... here is a link to the site, but if you can, try to check Jan-June issues, as they've featured monthly advice from experts on people doing exactly what you are doing.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/

mdabb · 06-10-2008, 11:58 PM

This depends on your expectations. What do you want to accomplish? There are a lot of things to consider starting with the avaliable space and budget. Are we talking entry level, mid-priced, or top of the line. It can seem fairly complicated and the fact that you are new to this is a sign to be careful. You need to take it slow and do some research yourself to learn about the basics and learn about equipment.

mdabb · 06-11-2008, 12:01 AM

I should also say ask away as their are many knowledgable people here willing to help out.

moviefan · 06-11-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdabb

This depends on your expectations. What do you want to accomplish? There are a lot of things to consider starting with the avaliable space and budget. Are we talking entry level, mid-priced, or top of the line. It can seem fairly complicated and the fact that you are new to this is a sign to be careful. You need to take it slow and do some research yourself to learn about the basics and learn about equipment.

Excellent advice here!
I always tell first time home theater builder to start with a budget ... and expect to spend double that!
I remember buying my first home theater setup at Best Buy and thinking I had everything I needed ... until the salesman asked how I was going to connect everything. $500 later, I had the interconnect cables and speaker wire!

Start with the room dimensions and budget, and you can get a lot of help here.
Good luck!

Beta Man · 06-11-2008, 12:07 AM

How much light will enter the room? You'll need darkness for a projector (THICK curtains for instance)

What are the dimensions of the attic?

For strictly "theater only" what kind of budget, including the seating, etc.... will you shoot for? How far away, once set up, do you expect to sit from the screen??

Depending on the size of the room, will narrow your search down a lot.

We just purchased a new home with a LARGE finished attic, that will be a dedicated theater, so I've looked into a lot of this already.... it's a "journey" !

aust10n · 06-11-2008, 01:41 AM

I appreciate all the responses and links.
I'll be doing a lot of homework for sure, before any purchases are made.
The dimensions, I'm not entirely sure (as of right now). I believe we plan on keeping a portion of it aside for light storage.
No light at all will be entering this area.
I was looking at the calibration page on this site and saw this guys setup. [LINK] (scroll to the bottom).

It has a simple, clean look to it. This is what I'm aiming for.
Budget. I was hoping not to spend more than $6,000. From how you guys are talking I assume I can kiss this budget good bye, or expect to spend more.

crackinhedz · 06-11-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

I was hoping not to spend more than $6,000.

monoprice.com

save yourself a few bucks.

Colglizity · 06-11-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

It has a simple, clean look to it. This is what I'm aiming for. Budget. I was hoping not to spend more than $6,000. From how you guys are talking I assume I can kiss this budget good bye, or expect to spend more.

IMO, you can build a pretty darn respectable home theater for $6000. I would start with the receiver and build around that... Denon, Yamaha, etc. Then over time, you can add all the little extra goodies like wall mounted dampening panels, theater seating, projector... I wish I was in your shoes right now I would be a very happy guy.

Marine Mike · 06-11-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

I appreciate all the responses and links.
I'll be doing a lot of homework for sure, before any purchases are made.
The dimensions, I'm not entirely sure (as of right now). I believe we plan on keeping a portion of it aside for light storage.
No light at all will be entering this area.
I was looking at the calibration page on this site and saw this guys setup. [LINK] (scroll to the bottom).

It has a simple, clean look to it. This is what I'm aiming for.
Budget. I was hoping not to spend more than $6,000. From how you guys are talking I assume I can kiss this budget good bye, or expect to spend more.

I do not think that $6000 is unreasonable at all. I can't necessarily give you the best advice as to what you should get with a big budget like that, but there is always 1 thing to keep in mind.

1. Get what sounds/looks good to you.
2. Do not "settle" because someone else says its the way to go.
3. If you can, test out everything and compare before you purchase.

If you follow those three guidelines, then you will not be disappointed in any of your purchases.

mdabb · 06-11-2008, 02:06 AM

This site has a lot of useful info on it. http://www.avsforum.com/ Play around on here and at AVS you should be careful if you hire a Pro some will take you to the bank and back or try to unload equipment that they can't get rid of on unsuspecting people. I would suggest DIY and you can take pride in your new home theater. The resources are out there and besides it is a lot of fun. The money you save by DIY I would put that into room treatments, better equipment, acessories or in media.

http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp this site is good for all your cables. Don't waste your $$$ on overpriced cables. This is not the only one I would suggest as there are other reputable suppliers of cables out their. Monoprice guarantees their cables for life and has excellent customer service.

You can also save $$$ by purchasing equipment at a discount from factory authorized online retailers as some offer free shipping and no tax pending where you live.

Have fun and don't forget to show us the results.

Big Daddy · 06-11-2008, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

My family is in the process of turning the attic into a Theater room.
Since I heard this news, I've set out to look at designs and prices.
A lot of what I've seen looks amazing.
I've determined that I like the more simple clean approach.

I've never ventured from the TV, and DVD player realm. I've never even messed with audio.

Where should I begin?
What all should I expect to purchase?
I would like to have the surround sound, and projector.

It all feels a little over whelming.
I'd appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

Check the following links. They will help you understand what is involved in building a home theater.

http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projec...ter/thtr_1.htm
http://www.hoopeston.k12.il.us/users...%20Theatre.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-theater.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theatre

aust10n · 06-11-2008, 02:38 AM

Thanks for all the tips and advice.
I'll have myself busy tomorrow with reading from the links you all provided.

I would like to spend as little as possible.
I like the idea of grabbing one item at a time, and going from there. Sounds like a good reasonable plan to get things rolling.
I'll take a look at some receivers and various other equipment tomorrow and see what you all have to say.

hagar852 · 06-11-2008, 03:45 AM

I would start with speakers... and then build around them... Your theater will only sound as good as the speakers will allow. Depending on what speakers you get, that will determine the requirements of the receiver.

Beta Man · 06-11-2008, 12:17 PM

I'm looking at getting a Mitsubishi HC1500 @ $790 it's a cheap projector, for 720p, (Amazon) and I will be sitting 15-17 feet from the screen so I don't really "need" 1080p so 720p (1080i) will be fine at that viewing distance for a 90-150" screen or so..... I'll determine how large I want the screen when I get a better feel for the room.

Sound is a lot more important to me, but fortunately I've got that taken care of as I've said.....

There are three "good" 720p projectors available on Amazon for under $1,000 so add $200 for a screen, and you have a lot of room in your budget to get a decent audio system.... it won't be great by any means, but you can always start one with the remaining $4,800 and leave some of the rears etc. to be purchased in the future, or you could stretch the budget.... that's been known to happen!!!!!

IF you want to spend as little as possible, you can get a decent Audio system for $2,000 or so, and with the projector and screen, you'd be at $3,000 not bad for a completed theater, but add $200 or so for a projector mount/cables.

Not bad at all..... just a thought.

obiwopkenobi62 · 06-11-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

Thanks for all the tips and advice.
I'll have myself busy tomorrow with reading from the links you all provided.

I would like to spend as little as possible.
I like the idea of grabbing one item at a time, and going from there. Sounds like a good reasonable plan to get things rolling.
I'll take a look at some receivers and various other equipment tomorrow and see what you all have to say.

I did all the work in my Home theater myself and saved a lot of money. Like others have said, do your research first, plan it out on paper, ie, what you want the room to look like, wall colors and such. I do suggest that if you paint use flat colors instead of shiny or gloss. Glossy will reflect light and affect your picture.
With your budget of 6k I think you will have a very nice home theater. Shop around a lot before making your equipment purchases. There are many great deals out there.
Also is your attic finished or will you be doing that as well?
Good luck with the project.

aust10n · 06-12-2008, 02:58 AM

There has been a slight change of plans.
I'll be leaving for boot camp in September, and after all my training concludes it may be nearly a year before I'm back home. I'll be with the Marine Corps so I may be deployed

. Because of this my parents want to wait on the home theater until I'll be here to help build it and enjoy it.
For now, I'm just going to purchase surround sound (never had surround sound) to hold us over.
I was looking at this and I like it quite a bit.
Input is appreciated.

Most cost affective.
[LINK]
[LINK]

-=EDIT=-
I have ZERO experience with Audio setup.
I really like the auto calibration.

Beta Man · 06-12-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aust10n

Most cost affective.
[LINK]
[LINK]

-=EDIT=-
I have ZERO experience with Audio setup.
I really like the auto calibration.

I would put the $3-$4k in audio that you would have if you went with the "whole theater" deal.... it'll bring you years of enjoyment.... that system is just "noise" from different speakers in my opinion.

It's one of those "if you're gonna do it, do it right the first time" sort of things.

aust10n · 06-12-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I would put the $3-$4k in audio that you would have if you went with the "whole theater" deal.... it'll bring you years of enjoyment.... that system is just "noise" from different speakers in my opinion.

It's one of those "if you're gonna do it, do it right the first time" sort of things.

I want to purchase something that will last me a long time.
From the advice I've received I'll start with a receiver.

Would I be able to have good audio under one thousand?

From someone of these receivers I've looked that they are ranging from $200-500.

Beta Man · 06-12-2008, 06:17 PM

"good" is dependent on what's "Good" to you..... You can find a setup that will be considered good by most, for around $1,000

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ght=%241%2C000

Check that out to start.... and go from there.

06-10-2008, 11:41 PM	#1
aust10n Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:1	Theater Help My family is in the process of turning the attic into a Theater room. Since I heard this news, I've set out to look at designs and prices. A lot of what I've seen looks amazing. I've determined that I like the more simple clean approach. I've never ventured from the TV, and DVD player realm. I've never even messed with audio. Where should I begin? What all should I expect to purchase? I would like to have the surround sound, and projector. It all feels a little over whelming. I'd appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

06-11-2008, 12:01 AM	#4
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	I should also say ask away as their are many knowledgable people here willing to help out. Last edited by mdabb; 06-11-2008 at 12:09 AM. Reason: spelling

06-12-2008, 02:58 AM	#17
aust10n Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:1	There has been a slight change of plans. I'll be leaving for boot camp in September, and after all my training concludes it may be nearly a year before I'm back home. I'll be with the Marine Corps so I may be deployed . Because of this my parents want to wait on the home theater until I'll be here to help build it and enjoy it. For now, I'm just going to purchase surround sound (never had surround sound) to hold us over. I was looking at this and I like it quite a bit. Input is appreciated. Most cost affective. [LINK] [LINK] -=EDIT=- I have ZERO experience with Audio setup. I really like the auto calibration. Last edited by aust10n; 06-12-2008 at 03:01 AM.

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06-10-2008, 11:57 PM	#2
Colglizity Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Washington (360) Home Theater Gallery:40 Blu-ray collection:31 Blu-ray reviews:3	This magazine, month after month, has had great advice for people building a home theater... here is a link to the site, but if you can, try to check Jan-June issues, as they've featured monthly advice from experts on people doing exactly what you are doing. http://www.hometheatermag.com/

06-10-2008, 11:58 PM	#3
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	This depends on your expectations. What do you want to accomplish? There are a lot of things to consider starting with the avaliable space and budget. Are we talking entry level, mid-priced, or top of the line. It can seem fairly complicated and the fact that you are new to this is a sign to be careful. You need to take it slow and do some research yourself to learn about the basics and learn about equipment.

06-11-2008, 12:07 AM	#6
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	How much light will enter the room? You'll need darkness for a projector (THICK curtains for instance) What are the dimensions of the attic? For strictly "theater only" what kind of budget, including the seating, etc.... will you shoot for? How far away, once set up, do you expect to sit from the screen?? Depending on the size of the room, will narrow your search down a lot. We just purchased a new home with a LARGE finished attic, that will be a dedicated theater, so I've looked into a lot of this already.... it's a "journey" !

06-11-2008, 01:41 AM	#7
aust10n Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:1	I appreciate all the responses and links. I'll be doing a lot of homework for sure, before any purchases are made. The dimensions, I'm not entirely sure (as of right now). I believe we plan on keeping a portion of it aside for light storage. No light at all will be entering this area. I was looking at the calibration page on this site and saw this guys setup. [LINK] (scroll to the bottom). It has a simple, clean look to it. This is what I'm aiming for. Budget. I was hoping not to spend more than $6,000. From how you guys are talking I assume I can kiss this budget good bye, or expect to spend more.

06-11-2008, 02:06 AM	#11
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	This site has a lot of useful info on it. http://www.avsforum.com/ Play around on here and at AVS you should be careful if you hire a Pro some will take you to the bank and back or try to unload equipment that they can't get rid of on unsuspecting people. I would suggest DIY and you can take pride in your new home theater. The resources are out there and besides it is a lot of fun. The money you save by DIY I would put that into room treatments, better equipment, acessories or in media. http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp this site is good for all your cables. Don't waste your $$$ on overpriced cables. This is not the only one I would suggest as there are other reputable suppliers of cables out their. Monoprice guarantees their cables for life and has excellent customer service. You can also save $$$ by purchasing equipment at a discount from factory authorized online retailers as some offer free shipping and no tax pending where you live. Have fun and don't forget to show us the results.

06-11-2008, 02:38 AM	#13
aust10n Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:1	Thanks for all the tips and advice. I'll have myself busy tomorrow with reading from the links you all provided. I would like to spend as little as possible. I like the idea of grabbing one item at a time, and going from there. Sounds like a good reasonable plan to get things rolling. I'll take a look at some receivers and various other equipment tomorrow and see what you all have to say.

06-11-2008, 03:45 AM	#14
hagar852 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:107	I would start with speakers... and then build around them... Your theater will only sound as good as the speakers will allow. Depending on what speakers you get, that will determine the requirements of the receiver.

06-11-2008, 12:17 PM	#15
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	I'm looking at getting a Mitsubishi HC1500 @ $790 it's a cheap projector, for 720p, (Amazon) and I will be sitting 15-17 feet from the screen so I don't really "need" 1080p so 720p (1080i) will be fine at that viewing distance for a 90-150" screen or so..... I'll determine how large I want the screen when I get a better feel for the room. Sound is a lot more important to me, but fortunately I've got that taken care of as I've said..... There are three "good" 720p projectors available on Amazon for under $1,000 so add $200 for a screen, and you have a lot of room in your budget to get a decent audio system.... it won't be great by any means, but you can always start one with the remaining $4,800 and leave some of the rears etc. to be purchased in the future, or you could stretch the budget.... that's been known to happen!!!!! IF you want to spend as little as possible, you can get a decent Audio system for $2,000 or so, and with the projector and screen, you'd be at $3,000 not bad for a completed theater, but add $200 or so for a projector mount/cables. Not bad at all..... just a thought.

06-12-2008, 06:17 PM	#20
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	"good" is dependent on what's "Good" to you..... You can find a setup that will be considered good by most, for around $1,000 https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ght=%241%2C000 Check that out to start.... and go from there.

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