General question for those of you who are building and have built dedicated theaters:

Do you know what equipment you want first? Or does how the room progresses map oout what equipmetn you want to buy?

I have a dream theater in mind for myself and I know what equipment will go in it. (Or at least if it were to be built now.) Do you guys and gals build your theaters around equipment? Or add equipment around your theater?

How often does progress change equipment?

Discuss!

Richard

I would say, at least in my case, the room comes first. I made the decision to spend the extra money and time on the room and the equipment would come later. The only exception was the speakers. I bought a full set of (3) M&K S-150 and (4) SS-150's just so I could accomodate the speakers within my theater. I will have a totally hidden speaker setup, so the columns and proscenium walls were designed to accomodate my speakers. I also took into account the dimensions of the future Ultra tube from SVS that will sit (hidden) behind the proscenium walls.

Other than that. I havent purchased any other equipment.


Oh I forgot about prewiring for an art light for my archival framed "Revenge of The Jedi" poster. This is the only one that will physically in the theater so I wanted to light it. :)



Scott

Theater first.

Had to know the distances to figure out what projector (throw).

Had to know exactly where the speakers were going to go before finalizing that decision.

Had to know dimensions before determining sub(s).

Had to know room size before determining seating choice.

Receiver, DVD player and such didn't matter in my case.

Build your room first. You will be amazed at how much technology improves and prices go down as you progress on your build. I am about 16 months into my build and just now started getting equipment. The projectors alone are now 2x better and 1/2 the price they were when I started.

Just my .02

Ronnie

In that light, my build is under way. I know what speakers I'm using. I have an Onkyo 5.1 amp that will work for awhile. I have a beam hanging down about 16' from the screen wall. I have room on the screen wall for a 120" diag screen.

What would you do at this point? Would you hang the PJ in front of the beam and zoom it? Would you hang it in front of the beam and project at 1.0 and figure the screen size? Would you try to hang it under the beam or behind the beam? The beam is right over the step down from the riser. The ceiling is 9', the riser is 14" and the beam is 14".

Thanks.

Room comes first - as has been said equipment choices change as room evolves, new stuff comes out and budget changes. I started of with budget allocation thought of 50/50 and ended up more 75/25 as room took more than I thought - always upgrade equipment later.

Cheers,
Mark

Room first. Just delay the projector as long as possible. As previously stated, technology improves and prices drop. You will need to decide on a projector sometime in the middle. The rest of the equipment can be purchased after the room is done.

I agree with most here that the room comes first, but I think mostly based off the projector and screen you use!

As for me, I had to make design considerations for the speaker system I was using so I had to know what I was going to use while framing was going up. I wanted everything to look like it had it's place, that it was built for it. So basically, I designed the room with the speakers in mind, but the projector, screen and other equipment left out of the equation for now.

Bimmeup,
Matt

Visit The Raptor Room Theatre
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=711580

It's somewhat of a catch-22. I went equipment first and that allowed me to try things out and design my room accordingly. From a speaker, receiver, DVD player, etc. perspective, they don't change that much price or technology wise in such a short time frame, unless you are dealing with a 2 year or so project.

Projector is a different matter. I decided on a projector but had no real way to know how it would work out until actually getting it. So being able to play with it for a while projecting on the wall allowed us to figure out what size screen we wanted and where the projector would need to be installed. However, prices do drop and new models come out. I used my system in an open basement environment (was already finished) for about a year. Then hired a contractor to close in one area and then I built the stage, columns, inwall rack, etc., which took about 4 months. AS a result, I went without using my system for 4 months.

So you are weighing knowledge gained from actual use against cost reduction and technology gain by waiting to the last moment. Both have merits. In my case the integration of equipment was a piece of cake and the results were already known which worked for me.. However, if I had gone with out using my setup in a test mode for a year and purchased the projector at install time I would have probably ended up with a Sharp 12K instead of a Sharp 10K for the same money.

Ok, I'll be different... well sort of :)

I'm getting equipment at the same time as my construction; a new piece every so often. I think doing this lets me build the theater properly for the equipment. In other words, I know the size of the speakers so I can design and build the columns to enclose them. I know the throw range of my pj so I can size the room accordingly. Then I know the screen size so I can design the screen wall properly. I know what size sub so I know how far in to build the false wall to hide it behind. As smithb said, it's kind of a catch-22 but I find doing it this way works for me. I also figure that when the room is complete I can get right to setting up the equipment. That way I won't be bummed sitting in a nice but gearless room.

Another benefit is I get to buy a new toy every once in a while - kinda like a reward for all the hard work :p

The only thing I might've done differently, and as was mentioned earlier, was wait a little longer to get the projector. Don't get me wrong though. I'm happy with the AE900 and the deal I got when I bought it but had I waited I would've gotten one of their newer model with a few more lumens and about the same throw. ;)

Andy

Generally you need to know the screen size gain etc to determine seating. There are many more choices than a couple of years ago but knowing that you would need to determine a few projector choices for throw to know what your flexibility would be with placement of that projector. The big mistake ,considering the incredible rate of projection device changes ,is to get your choice and let it sit while you build.

Art

I have been buying a few pieces as I did research. Mostly budget purchases as I have a tendancy to hunt for deals. That said, my intention was to get basic equipment and leave more $$ for the build.

Pre-build I bought:

Ascend HTM-200's (B-stock). I will go 5.1 for the first year, then upgrade the fronts and go 7.1 in year 2. May build the fronts like Swithey did.

HSU STF-2 (also B-stock), being used in the den for now

4 yards SMX - bought in the first group purchase at cost

NEC 6PG+ in good condition (bang for buck CRT delivers a lot)

Still need to buy a receiver. Debating what to purchase there, and when.

Thanks for the replies, it's just something I've wondered since we've supplied people equipment throughout all phases of their theater builds and it got me thinking.

I remember when I got mine set up, though not dedicated room, the first time I turned it on, everything worked! I was amazed of course, seeing as I had done all the wiring, layout and closet hookups.

What was it like the first time you knew everything worked? Did you keep everyone else out for a final reveal?

Richard

dc_pilgrim, I used to have an NEC 6PG+ as well. And I ran it in an apartment of all places. Haha. Had a 7 foot wide screen. It's sitting about 6 feet from me. She's a load, but when she ran, it was a gorgeous picture.

Richard

Room first, then equipment.

If you do purchase the equipment first, don't hook it up until the room is done. For many, once the equipment is installed, they lose the sense of urgency to complete the room - and the completion date gets bumped out indefinitely.

Given rough room constraints, select equipment, and deterrmine specs needed for room construction.

Construct room, allowing flexability for subsequent wuipment upgrades (i.e. run conduits to more than one location, add bracing for multiple PJ mounintg locations, etc...).

Purchase equipment with more capability for less $$$ given the time that elapsed since you started.

Enjoy!