Hello folks, this is my first post. I would like to share some photos of my almost finished dedicated home theater room. We built a new home 2 years ago and I recently got the itch to build a theater room in the basement. Of course money was and is a big consideration and so I got the blessing from the wife so long as it could be done with limited funds of $2500.00
Well that’s was going to be tough as I only had a mid level Sony surround receiver and a nice paradigm sub. The rest had to be purchased including all of the building material, but I was determined and off to Ebay I went. Keep in mind all this stuff was bought on the cheap so if you expect an out of body experience in my theater it isn’t going to happen. Bought HD 8”right and left fronts, Pyle duel 6” center and Pyle 6” rears. Purchased a 16 X 9 106 inch motorized screen, Toshiba XD-E500 DVD player and an 8700 Benq projector. (Couple year old technology but still a great projector)
Had purchase all building materials which included studs, dry wall, mud, carpet for stairs, door, paint, molding, floating wood lamented floor…could not fund good carpeting for now. Drop ceiling, lights, electrical stuff and all the cabling to run to the projector. I am proud to say I came in well under budget!

Tell me what you think.

Thanks
dusty

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First off welcome to this forum. Once you lurk around here and begin to post on your own build thread you will be overcome by this maddening journey that is home theater.

There are several builds around here that were built "on the cheap" and turn out very respectable. If you can work with in your budget and actually come in under budget then you have some "mad money" to work with when it is time to upgrade your stuff.

Was this a completely unfinished basement or is it your goal just to finish off one room for a theater? I also assume that you did all DIY? If so that is where the big savings comes in. My drywall bill is going to be several hundred dollars more than your entire budget and one of the things I am going to hire out. I wish I had the skills to DIY drywall.

Congrats on your build, enjoy your room and if your happy with what you have done you have already pleased the right person.

One suggestion on your drop ceiling is to use the tiles that help with sound and get a darker color other than white. Just a suggestion.

Regards,

RTROSE

You did all that and bought new equipment for less than $2500? Great job :) Carpet, ceiling, & chairs coming soon?

[QUOTE=RTROSE;16306749]First off welcome to this forum. Once you lurk around here and begin to post on your own build thread you will be overcome by this maddening journey that is home theater
Was this a completely unfinished basement or is it your goal just to finish off one room for a theater? I also assume that you did all DIY? If so that is where the big savings comes in. My drywall bill is going to be several hundred dollars more than your entire budget and one of the things I am going to hire out. I wish I had the skills to DIY drywall.

This was a completely unfinished basement, I cutout a 13 X 13 section that starts right at the bottom of the stairs. One wall was studded in and this was the stairwell wall so I saved a few cents there. I'm not much of a carpenter but my brother has many unbelievable skills and he volunteered his time. Also all of this work was done in 7 Sundays, I think two more Sundays of brother help and I should be able to complete the rest myself. The carpet for the stairwell is being professionally installed than I have the floating floor to do, some insulation work and finish the electrical main panel tie in.


I think the room will sound ok and the picture should be pretty good, as for the looks of the room? It must be ok because the wife who is beyond particular is pleased. So I think the thing is I am must proud of is the fact it is all of this and I did it on a very tight budget.

THANKS!

dusty

You did all that and bought new equipment for less than $2500? Great job :) Carpet, ceiling, & chairs coming soon?


I am for now using a floating wood look floor...I know it won't do a thing for sound but is within my budget at this point. When funds become avalible I will put in some nice carpeting. I want some nice theater seating as well but will get by for now on a donated(but nice )sectional. I will buy the seating even before the carpeting as I can live with less than perfect flooring more than I can with sub standing seating( got to have a nice place for my butt:)

THANKS!
dusty

I HAVE to say I am impressed. Having said THAT, I need to say 'I hope you have planned for some acoustical treatments."

I have a HT in the basement, and anyone here will tell you that one of the biggest improvements and effective you can make is in the acoustics of the room.

Read here a bit, and think about getting some ideas and tips on how to improve the acoustics.

It will be time and maybe just a bit of money (?) well-spent.

Welcome to the Forum!
Chinaclipper

Yes, I know that in time I will do things to improve the sound quality, the acoustics are not great where I am right now and it is on the list. However I was wanting to get it done in a reasonable amount of time with the limit amount of money, get in and enjoy.

I should be complete in about 3 weeks or so and will post pictures of the finished product, I have seen some incredilble theaters here and was some what reluctant to post pictures my HT but thought it might inspire someone else on a budget.

THANKS
dusty

Updated photos for the EL Cheapo Home Theater.
Carpet guy will be here Monday to do the stairs, need to put second caot of paint on stairwell walls,finish floating floor(carpet to come later) molding, paint door and tie in electrics to the panel...than done:-) Better be done cause the outside honey do list is endless.

dusty
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El cheapo or not.....once it is all done...it will look more expensive than it really was. Only you know how much you have 'spent'. All that work you do by yourself is priceless. Great looking space so far with what limited funds you could afford to allocate! Enjoy!

El cheapo or not.....once it is all done...it will look more expensive than it really was. Only you know how much you have 'spent'. All that work you do by yourself is priceless. Great looking space so far with what limited funds you could afford to allocate! Enjoy!

Thank you! thank you! As stated early I am most proud that it is coming together pretty decent for the money spent.

dusty

Looks very good! I like the look of your "columns" gives the space a classy upper scale look to it.

Keep up the good work.

Regards,

RTROSE

Nice JOB! Looks like it will ROCK! Great to see the pics, stand proud you do good work!