Don't you just hate it when you have a nice, well thought out post, then you accidently hit the back button and lose it all?
That just happened to me so I hope I can recapture the magic here.
I just bought a new house, and the basement looks like it was a nice home theater room at one point. Here's the view from when you first walk in... https://kt9pkg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p3UVp18G5MPwImDQdH9PUTGkZID4snKVuQ0MrBI0DdjQesxjg0x75vF56q M1e8QcSr4LdRhr1CUyQqfLp4-fMgg/IMG_5973.jpg
Here's the view from the other side looking back...
https://kt9pkg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1peLC-ANdYCWviB2Xv8w7jT6GzhtOlR1jFNsWOHHhNoPFoA5GGKrtgkOzNibtcqNh0 1-pqqy75togQ1iPBETcusw/IMG_5975.jpg
I have about $2,000 to spend, and plan on mainly watching Blu-Ray discs and playing games. Maybe the occasional episode of Battlestar Galactica in HD. and I'm thinking I want a fixed screen on that wall next to the closet. Probably around 10 feet (120") diagonal. The projector I'm looking at is the Sanyo 1080p HD. I could easily get that projector, a ceiling mount, and a 120" screen for under that price. Can you even install a ceiling mount with a drop ceiling?

Now, if you had that money with that room, what would you do? Keep in mind I already have the audio equipment I'm happy with, (Bose 6.1 speakers and sub which aren't ideal but my wife loves them, with a Sony STR-DG720 as my A/V Receiver.)
Any help here would be great. I am really excited to get this done :D

Can you even install a ceiling mount with a drop ceiling?

Yes, you'll just need a ceiling plate and an extension column (or lift) to drop the projector down.

2k is a tight budget for all of that stuff. To save money your cheapest bet is the DIY route for the screen. Check out the DIY screen section. I personally have the WilsonArt laminate. I made my screen 125" (about the biggest you can go with the laminate, but you can always make it smaller) in 16:9. The material cost $110 plus tax and then I bought some wood trim and framed it out so all in all roughly $200 or a little over plus tax for a screen. If you are good with painting there are also good options to do that as well.

You should be able to ceiling mount a pj if you want to, but you are going to need something strong for it to mount to. You may need to put some wood or something up there for it to screw in to. If that Sanyo is the one I'm thinking about I would possibly spend the extra money and get something better, if I'm not mistaken it is the cheapest 1080p pj out there, but for a little bit more money you can get something significantly better.

Good luck.

You should be able to ceiling mount a pj if you want to, but you are going to need something strong for it to mount to. You may need to put some wood or something up there for it to screw in to. If that Sanyo is the one I'm thinking about I would possibly spend the extra money and get something better, if I'm not mistaken it is the cheapest 1080p pj out there, but for a little bit more money you can get something significantly better.

Good luck.


The Sanyo is definitely the cheapest one I've seen but I've seen pretty good reviews. What would you recommend as a good alternative? Really, I can go as high as $2300 for all this stuff, but keeping it closer to $2000 would be ideal. And I probably won't be buying everything 'till the middle of next month so who knows, something new could come out around that time.

To mount, I screwed a length of 2x6 to three joists and then mounted to that. The pole and cables go through a hole in the ceiling tile.

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt182/jerrym303/Projectormount.jpg

Alot of people like the BenQ5000 which can be had reasonably cheap refurbished. I personally have an Epson 6100 and love it. There are a ton of options and it's difficult to choose which one would be best for you.

The Epson 6100 is great for me as I use it in my living room during the day as well and it has 1800 lumens in brightest mode so I can still watch it. It also is rated at 4k hours on the bulb so for me using it sometimes 12 hours or more on some days it will keep cost of ownership down compared to some that are only rated to 2k hours.

Alot of people like the BenQ5000 which can be had reasonably cheap refurbished. I personally have an Epson 6100 and love it. There are a ton of options and it's difficult to choose which one would be best for you.

The Epson 6100 is great for me as I use it in my living room during the day as well and it has 1800 lumens in brightest mode so I can still watch it. It also is rated at 4k hours on the bulb so for me using it sometimes 12 hours or more on some days it will keep cost of ownership down compared to some that are only rated to 2k hours.

I really like the idea of 4k hours on the bulb. I might look into the Epson. There really are so many options that it's hard to choose. One thing that's nice about this room is there's only the one light in the center When that light is off (Which it will be most of the time) the room is extremely dark. I might even get rid of that big fluorescent light and replace it with a couple of smaller lamps.

What size is the room? I am guessing about 12' wide by 17' long. Here is what I would do. I would tear out the closet. Build a screen wall going across the room a couple of feet out from the end wall. Paint area behind the screen black and place front speakers and sub behind this wall. Place a 120" fixed frame screen on false wall. Purchase refurb Benq W5000 (wait for availability) and a mount for the projector. Purchase cables from Monoprice. Purchase shelf brackets and lumber for shelving and place equipment at the back of the room. Paint room a dark color. You should be able to do this all for around $2,000.

Projector $1,350
Screen 135" fixed frame around $500 www.eastporters.com/usa/cart.php?page=index
Mount $50 to $75
Cables $50 from Monoprice
Acoustical fabric $100
Lumber $40
Paint $50

Little over your budget, but not much. You can always hang the screen from the ceiling two feet out from the end wall and place speakers so that they are flush with the face of the screen. paint area behind the screen black. Then you are in budget.

What size is the room? I am guessing about 12' wide by 17' long. Here is what I would do. I would tear out the closet. Build a screen wall going across the room a couple of feet out from the end wall. Paint area behind the screen black and place front speakers and sub behind this wall. Place a 120" fixed frame screen on false wall. Purchase refurb Benq W5000 (wait for availability) and a mount for the projector. Purchase cables from Monoprice. Purchase shelf brackets and lumber for shelving and place equipment at the back of the room. Paint room a dark color. You should be able to do this all for around $2,000.

Projector $1,350
Screen 135" fixed frame around $500 www.eastporters.com/usa/cart.php?page=index
Mount $50 to $75
Cables $50 from Monoprice
Acoustical fabric $100
Lumber $40
Paint $50

Little over your budget, but not much. You can always hang the screen from the ceiling two feet out from the end wall and place speakers so that they are flush with the face of the screen. paint area behind the screen black. Then you are in budget.

I really like the idea, except for one problem..
https://kt9pkg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pjaXKg0r5BvhxYNHjKNCKrYJZuY7KH0OxQGOdlnXvY4HblnRBLy3WcDVVz 6R0PVTW3h6lDKapxVs/IMG_5974.jpg
That closet hides the pipe that lets the water into the house, and I'll need to be able to access that. I suppose I could put the screen on the other side of the room (The side facing the entrance in the really dark picture)

Either way, I'm heading over to the house tonight and I'll be sure to post the measurements as soon as I get home.I know I measured that space next to the closet and it seemed a 10' diagonal screen would EASILY fit in there. Though now that you've mentioned 135" it does sound nice :D

The pipes would still be hidden behind the screen wall and you can build the wall so that it has a door giving you access to the pipes. Make the door from a wood frame that is covered with black fabric. As a temporary set up, you could remove the door to the closet and place the right front speaker in the door opening sticking out into the room a couple of inches. Line center and left front speaker along the same plane. Hang the screen so that it is in line with the speakers. Paint everything behind the screen black. When the room is dark you will not see that the closet is open. Later when you have more money, tear out closet, build false wall with door to closet.

The pipes would still be hidden behind the screen wall and you can build the wall so that it has a door giving you access to the pipes. Make the door from a wood frame that is covered with black fabric. As a temporary set up, you could remove the door to the closet and place the right front speaker in the door opening sticking out into the room a couple of inches. Line center and left front speaker along the same plane. Hang the screen so that it is in line with the speakers. Paint everything behind the screen black. When the room is dark you will not see that the closet is open. Later when you have more money, tear out closet, build false wall with door to closet.

It sounds great honestly. I have no idea where I'd start when it comes to building a false wall.
The Acoustical fabric that you mentioned in your first post... Where would that go? Is that the fabric you were talking about for covering the doorway?

Thank you all for helping me out here. I'm really excited to get this project started.

If you want to simplify the closet situation, you could leave it there and hang an electric screen just in front of it. Again, the drop-in ceiling makes mounting easy.

It sounds great honestly. I have no idea where I'd start when it comes to building a false wall.
The Acoustical fabric that you mentioned in your first post... Where would that go? Is that the fabric you were talking about for covering the doorway?

Thank you all for helping me out here. I'm really excited to get this project started.

Do some research on here. There are lots of build threads showing the construction of false walls. A false wall is just a framed wall with fabric on it. You just cover the area not covered by the screen with fabric. You can buy fabric here: www.fabricmate.com/index.php

That wall is over 10' wide, there is plenty of room to have a big screen there, especially if the room is painted a much darker color, and/or black velvet lines the side walls.

Considering it's the first PJ, I think a painted screen wall with a PJ like a 6100 would equal pretty impressive results.
Then changes/$ can be spent after observing limitations.

Okay, so the room was just painted a MUCH darker color today and the back wall was painted black. I have SOME measurements but I don't have the actual room length (Because the basement smelled horrible from just painting water sealer in the next room and I had to get out of there.)
Anyway here's what I have...
82"h 150"w
118"w from the back wall to the closet.
I don't have the actual length of the room right now, like I said, I had to get out of there.
I was pretty much sold on the Refurb BenQ W5000, but it looks like it's sold out now (It wasn't when I looked on Wednesday.) Would the Mitsubishi HC5500 be a good alternative? The rebate w/extra bulb seems like a great deal.
Also, what are the advantages to having an fixed screen over an electric screen. It seems like the electric screens are cheaper, however I like the idea of a fixed screen. It just seems like it would look better.

muzz, you brought up an interesting idea with the pain on screen. Are there any big disadvantages to this when it comes to picture quality? If I decided to do it is there any specific paint I should get?

That wall is over 10' wide, there is plenty of room to have a big screen there, especially if the room is painted a much darker color, and/or black velvet lines the side walls.

Considering it's the first PJ, I think a painted screen wall with a PJ like a 6100 would equal pretty impressive results.
Then changes/$ can be spent after observing limitations.

He is talking about getting a 120" screen. Even if he gets a pull down screen with 2" borders we are talking about 9'-1". That only leaves 5-1/2" on either side of the screen for the speakers. Not near enough room. My suggestion is to buy what he can use when he upgrades his HT. You are probably going to up grade projectors at some point, but it gets expensive if you have to buy a new screen also. Buy the size and type of screen that you want to end up with. Hang the screen centered on the front wall and slightly in front of the closet. Remove door to closet. Paint everything behind the screen black. Buy a projector in your budget. Latter you can build the false wall. With this route you are only buying a projector, screen, wiring and paint. All well with in your budget.

Actually 5 1/2 inches on either side does leave enough room for the speakers on either side of the screen. They're Bose Accoustimass speakers so they're pretty small.

Oh no, he said the "B" word. :D

bguzman

LOL! I know!
They're not the best speakers and sub by any means, I wouldn't call them horrible though. At the time I got them my wife just wanted the smallest speakers we could get (Because we were living in a really small apartment and the giant 12 year old speakers I had were taking up a lot of space.)
Besides, with the years I spent doing restoration at Lowry Digital Images, I'm more concerned with video quality than audio quality.

Actually 5 1/2 inches on either side does leave enough room for the speakers on either side of the screen. They're Bose Accoustimass speakers so they're pretty small.

Not enough room for your speakers. You never want to place your speakers against a side wall no matter how small they are.

Not enough room for your speakers. You never want to place your speakers against a side wall no matter how small they are.
You make a very good point sir! I didn't even think about that.

You can easily put speakers in the ceiling. Oh the beauty of a drop-in ceiling.

You might even be able to hang your current speakers. In any case, in-ceiling speakers for Ht do no need to e expensive. See the Monoprice thread.

Not enough room for your speakers. You never want to place your speakers against a side wall no matter how small they are.

educate me, why not?

Total protonic reversal. Imagine every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

educate me, why not?

Because you will get a sound reflection that will arrive at your ears slightly behind the original sound. This will mess up the timing and location of the sound. It can also make your speakers sound boomy.