Ghetto Bat Cave

DanLW · 10-10-06, 12:58 AM

Hi, I'm one of the uncouth vagrants from the <$2500 front projector area. I thought I'd share how I turned my living room into a bat cave without paint, and for under $50.

I was going to settle for a DC2 front projector since my white walls wouldn't allow a DC3 unit to really shine. But with a little work, now I have a room that will let any DC3 projector really show off!

Basically, I went to Wally World and picked up 14 twin size flat black sheets. It's much less expensive square inch for square inch to buy the twin size rather than the queen size. Also, I invested in some thumb tacks.

It's amazing how much these sheets suck the light out of the room. It's now easier to watch with some ambient light in the room. Also, there was an unexpected benefit to doing this. The sheets also dramatically reduce the echo in the room. So now it sounds much more theater like when watching a movie.

Here is a picture of the Ghetto Bat Cave:

The seating isn't Berkline, it's Ozark Trail from Wal Mart. The screen isn't Draper, it's showerboard from Home Depot. The speakers aren't Klipsch, they're Logitech 5.1 surround. (But hey, they're THX certified!) The projector, however, I paid $5,000 for. Back in 2000. It's easily outclassed by anything today, but that will change soon.

The Ghetto Bat Cave will be getting some upgrades. We will be getting a 92" GrayWolf II, and will be mounting it to a fixed wood frame. We will also be getting a DC3 projector, hopefully. After that, all that's left is to get a good AV reciever, and some halfway decent speakers. Ultimately I'd like to have a Denon 3805, and Klipsch floorstanding speakers. But that's a bit much for an apartment...

All you high enders may now attempt to stop hyperventalating. Sit down, drink a glass of water, and remember that not everybody can afford to spend $30,000 for a home theater.

baltizar · 10-10-06, 02:29 AM

I like it, It looks cozy.

spatel23 · 10-11-06, 09:14 PM

gotta do what you gotta do!!
As long as you enjoy the movie, thats all that matters right?
Happy viewing

PamW · 10-11-06, 09:30 PM

Personally, I love it! I have used those "soccer" chairs in my theater to get more people in the room (Hey, they have built in cupholders

)

Enjoy!

Favelle · 10-12-06, 02:36 AM

I like the camping chairs with the dual cupholders....heh heh....beer in one holder, hard liquor in the other!

Cool setup bro! Gotta do what ya gotta do!

Dodo Bird · 10-12-06, 05:03 AM

Just put lighted cupholders and you can pretend the chairs are Berklines. LOL

price3 · 10-12-06, 08:39 AM

Rooms all look the same in the dark, however don't invite the fire marshal over!

Brad Horstkotte · 10-30-06, 05:49 PM

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and speculate that you are not married

rboster · 10-30-06, 08:09 PM

I showed my wife and she took it a step further...if this is the apartment, then she's guessing he doesn't have any long term GF's either (at least none that stay over).

Tarheel72 · 11-01-06, 10:13 AM

where's the cooler?

And, just a tip I have picked up watching HGTV...put the red chair in the middle of the other two. The room will flow better and the break up in color will give it a more open feeling!

atagert · 11-04-06, 12:03 PM

Thats so awesome.

You're picture is like a render of my design. Except my chairs are black and blue. I even have a computer chair that has migrated into the room. I've been using target curtians. I just can't seem to finish as I keep buying equipment instead of stuff for the room.

Adam

lmunz22 · 11-05-06, 03:44 PM

That is so ghetto, but so awesome!

szsori · 11-07-06, 12:31 AM

Are those original NES carts on the small bookshelf? If so, very impressive setup.

My wife wouldn't let me do something like this, otherwise my setup would be exactly the same.

RobZ · 01-23-07, 11:30 PM

How about an update. First, hopefully it hasn't went up in flames since you last posted? Second, have any dates chimed in on the decor yet? I had a ghetto setup before. It was a Panasonic AE100 hanging from the ceiling, screen hanging on chains from the ceiling....... etc. I was always showing off my setup.

LugNutX · 01-24-07, 11:44 AM

This thread has actually given me an idea...has anyone else tried the fabric on the walls and ceiling instead of paint? Like the OP mentions, I think it would slightly help reduce some strange reflections in my square room. In addition, I have a blown ceiling, so painting isn't really an option for that (at least not with the time I want to put into it). Any experience? I would also think that it would help hide wires, etc. for those that don't have wire running through the walls.

bqmeister · 01-24-07, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rboster

I showed my wife and she took it a step further...if this is the apartment, then she's guessing he doesn't have any long term GF's either (at least none that stay over).

I was thinking he's probably not married!

KenLerch · 01-24-07, 01:20 PM

I love it. This puts the "true bat cave" in the other post to shame!

KlingonScum · 01-25-07, 07:01 PM

Wow...I just had the most vivid mental picture of kicking back in one of those chairs in a camp shirt and cargo shorts, popping open a warm Miller Light and watching a "My Name is Earl" marathon...

Ibiza 955 · 01-29-07, 04:12 AM

I just found these Bat Cave images at the Elite HTS site in their "Gallery" section.
Does anyone know if they do theme rooms now or just seating??
www.elitehts.com

10-10-06, 12:58 AM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
DanLW Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 938	Ghetto Bat Cave Hi, I'm one of the uncouth vagrants from the <$2500 front projector area. I thought I'd share how I turned my living room into a bat cave without paint, and for under $50. I was going to settle for a DC2 front projector since my white walls wouldn't allow a DC3 unit to really shine. But with a little work, now I have a room that will let any DC3 projector really show off! Basically, I went to Wally World and picked up 14 twin size flat black sheets. It's much less expensive square inch for square inch to buy the twin size rather than the queen size. Also, I invested in some thumb tacks. It's amazing how much these sheets suck the light out of the room. It's now easier to watch with some ambient light in the room. Also, there was an unexpected benefit to doing this. The sheets also dramatically reduce the echo in the room. So now it sounds much more theater like when watching a movie. Here is a picture of the Ghetto Bat Cave: The seating isn't Berkline, it's Ozark Trail from Wal Mart. The screen isn't Draper, it's showerboard from Home Depot. The speakers aren't Klipsch, they're Logitech 5.1 surround. (But hey, they're THX certified!) The projector, however, I paid $5,000 for. Back in 2000. It's easily outclassed by anything today, but that will change soon. The Ghetto Bat Cave will be getting some upgrades. We will be getting a 92" GrayWolf II, and will be mounting it to a fixed wood frame. We will also be getting a DC3 projector, hopefully. After that, all that's left is to get a good AV reciever, and some halfway decent speakers. Ultimately I'd like to have a Denon 3805, and Klipsch floorstanding speakers. But that's a bit much for an apartment... All you high enders may now attempt to stop hyperventalating. Sit down, drink a glass of water, and remember that not everybody can afford to spend $30,000 for a home theater. __________________ My 2¢ (MSRP) -Dan Join the AVS Forum Folding@Home team! Team# 55280 Team AVS Folding@Home Thread

10-11-06, 09:14 PM	#3 \| Link
spatel23 HowBoutCha? Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Douglasville, GA Posts: 76	gotta do what you gotta do!! As long as you enjoy the movie, thats all that matters right? Happy viewing __________________ Shone

10-11-06, 09:30 PM	#4 \| Link
PamW AVS Special Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 2,504	Personally, I love it! I have used those "soccer" chairs in my theater to get more people in the room (Hey, they have built in cupholders ) Enjoy! __________________ Pam

10-12-06, 02:36 AM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Favelle AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,871	I like the camping chairs with the dual cupholders....heh heh....beer in one holder, hard liquor in the other! Cool setup bro! Gotta do what ya gotta do! __________________ In terms of LFE, size does matter!

10-30-06, 05:49 PM	#8 \| Link
Brad Horstkotte Dismember Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 641	I'm going to go out on a limb here, and speculate that you are not married __________________ Brad's Home Theater thread

10-10-06, 02:29 AM	#2 \| Link
baltizar Formally Molach Join Date: May 2005 Location: CENTRAL ILLINOIS Posts: 104	I like it, It looks cozy.

10-12-06, 05:03 AM	#6 \| Link
Dodo Bird Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 88	Just put lighted cupholders and you can pretend the chairs are Berklines. LOL

10-12-06, 08:39 AM	#7 \| Link
price3 heh.. he said member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 1,062 Classified Rating: 100% (1)	Rooms all look the same in the dark, however don't invite the fire marshal over!

10-30-06, 08:09 PM	#9 \| Link
rboster AVS Moderator AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 11,868 Classified Rating: 100% (9)	I showed my wife and she took it a step further...if this is the apartment, then she's guessing he doesn't have any long term GF's either (at least none that stay over).

11-01-06, 10:13 AM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Tarheel72 AVS Special Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,174	where's the cooler? And, just a tip I have picked up watching HGTV...put the red chair in the middle of the other two. The room will flow better and the break up in color will give it a more open feeling!

11-04-06, 12:03 PM	#11 \| Link
atagert Advanced Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 541	Thats so awesome. You're picture is like a render of my design. Except my chairs are black and blue. I even have a computer chair that has migrated into the room. I've been using target curtians. I just can't seem to finish as I keep buying equipment instead of stuff for the room. Adam __________________ Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Wine?" Descartes says, "I think not," and disappears.

11-05-06, 03:44 PM	#12 \| Link
lmunz22 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 121	That is so ghetto, but so awesome!

11-07-06, 12:31 AM	#13 \| Link
szsori Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 74	Are those original NES carts on the small bookshelf? If so, very impressive setup. My wife wouldn't let me do something like this, otherwise my setup would be exactly the same.

01-23-07, 11:30 PM	#14 \| Link
RobZ AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,205 Classified Rating: 96% (22)	How about an update. First, hopefully it hasn't went up in flames since you last posted? Second, have any dates chimed in on the decor yet? I had a ghetto setup before. It was a Panasonic AE100 hanging from the ceiling, screen hanging on chains from the ceiling....... etc. I was always showing off my setup. __________________ My "Who Says You Need A Dedicated Room?" HT Thread Pioneer Elite PRO-FPJ1(RS2),9ft Wide HP,Panasonic Plasma,Klipsch THX Ultra II,SVS PB13 Ultra, Hsu MBM-12

01-24-07, 11:44 AM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
LugNutX Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 99	This thread has actually given me an idea...has anyone else tried the fabric on the walls and ceiling instead of paint? Like the OP mentions, I think it would slightly help reduce some strange reflections in my square room. In addition, I have a blown ceiling, so painting isn't really an option for that (at least not with the time I want to put into it). Any experience? I would also think that it would help hide wires, etc. for those that don't have wire running through the walls.

01-24-07, 01:20 PM	#17 \| Link
KenLerch Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 409	Bat Cave I love it. This puts the "true bat cave" in the other post to shame! __________________ Ken Lerch StargateCinema.com

01-25-07, 07:01 PM	#18 \| Link
KlingonScum Money Waster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 504	Wow...I just had the most vivid mental picture of kicking back in one of those chairs in a camp shirt and cargo shorts, popping open a warm Miller Light and watching a "My Name is Earl" marathon... __________________ --KS