Updated 11/18/2013:
The theater is pretty much done (as of November 2008). Here is an index to the most interesting parts and milestones of the thread. There are other interesting posts and pictures in between each step, but these are the ones that immediately jumped out as worthwhile to mention.
Thanks to everyone who helped in this 5+ month project!
Take the video tour! (24MB)
My theater was featured on Electronic House! (8/11/2009)
My theater was written up on HackedGadgets.com! (3/15/2009)
01/24/2007 - Started this thread. Posted first ideas and designs.
04/12/2008 - Permits pulled and design revised.
04/21/2008 - Lumber has arrived and the project starts for real.
06/16/2008 - Framing, conduit, HVAC, plumbing done.
06/25/2008 - Insulation, rough electrical done.
07/13/2008 - Drywall done.
07/20/2008 - Bathroom tile and paint.
08/11/2008 - Cabinets installed, picking out carpet and flooring.
08/17/2008 - Hardwood installed in Kitchenette.
08/25/2008 - Granite installed
08/31/2008 - Acoustic panels installed and the start of the screen wall. Put tint on sliding glass doors.
09/03/2008 - Kitchenette and bathroom complete. Starting to tackle basement stairs.
09/05/2008 - Carpet installed.
09/06/2008 - Speakers, screen and seats installed.
09/13/2008 - Stairs done.
09/25/2008 - Bass shakers installed.
10/30/2008 - Projector Installed
10/31/2008 - First screen shots.
11/02/2008 - More screen shots.
11/11/2008 - Movie posters framed and hung.
11/15/2008 - A few more finished pics.
12/02/2008 - Installed Littlites on the bar.
01/08/2009 - Popcorn machine and a finished rack!
03/14/2009 - Cleaned up the equipment closet a bit and my 1000th post!
04/05/2009 - Under cabinet lighting in the kitchenette.
04/24/2009 - Treated screen wall with acoustical cotton.
05/13/2009 - Built a new HTPC!
Final Equipment List:
Panasonic PT-AE3000 Projector
Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector (upgraded 12/2012)
129" wide SmX ProLine Screen - 2.37:1
Denon 3808ci Receiver (retired)
Pioneer SC-1522-K Receiver (upgraded 3/30/2013)
Playstation 3
Playstation 4 (new)
Sony BDP-N460 Bluray player + streaming media (netflix)
Sony BDP-S5100 Bluray player + streaming media (netflix) (upgraded 4/3/2013)
Monitor Audio RS6 left and right front speakers
Monitor Audio RSLCR center channel speaker
Monitor Audio RSFX surround speakers
Monitor Audio RSFX rear speakers
SVS PC-13 Ultra Subwoofer
6 Aura Pro Bass Shakers
300 watt BASH subwoofer amplifier
Berkline 13175 seating
Nintendo Wii (retired)
Comcast HD DVR
Verizon FiOS Multi-room DVR
Thecus N5200 NAS (1.5TB RAID5 network attached storage)
HTPC -
Harmony One universal remote
X10 Powermid IR repeater
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well... after a year and a half (almost), I've finally decided to start planning the basement theater. Not quite sure on when construction will begin especially since I have yet to finalize my plans. In fact, I'd love to hear feedback on my current sketches.
Some basics (updated 3/16/2009):
Update - 3/16/2009 - the information below is from the original post and contains some out of date information.
I'm not sure if I want a wet bar or not, but if I do it will have to be adjacent to the utility room for best access to the sewer pipe. I am also having a tough time deciding what do to in the rear of the theater (wall? wall with french doors? leave it open and just put heavy curtains over the sliding glass doors? Leave it open but continue the wall along the beam?).
I've also been playing with different sized utility rooms (from the entire corner to right up against the oil tank). My wife would like a good compromise of storage + usable space, though again, any sort of wet bar or plumbing should be adjacent to the utility room.
Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! See my attachments for the bare basement mock-up as well as a partially finished layout I've been playing with...
Thanks!
Chris (jamis)
Updated 11/18/2013:
The theater is pretty much done (as of November 2008). Here is an index to the most interesting parts and milestones of the thread. There are other interesting posts and pictures in between each step, but these are the ones that immediately jumped out as worthwhile to mention.
Thanks to everyone who helped in this 5+ month project!
Take the video tour! (24MB)
My theater was featured on Electronic House! (8/11/2009)
My theater was written up on HackedGadgets.com! (3/15/2009)
01/24/2007 - Started this thread. Posted first ideas and designs.
04/12/2008 - Permits pulled and design revised.
04/21/2008 - Lumber has arrived and the project starts for real.
06/16/2008 - Framing, conduit, HVAC, plumbing done.
06/25/2008 - Insulation, rough electrical done.
07/13/2008 - Drywall done.
07/20/2008 - Bathroom tile and paint.
08/11/2008 - Cabinets installed, picking out carpet and flooring.
08/17/2008 - Hardwood installed in Kitchenette.
08/25/2008 - Granite installed
08/31/2008 - Acoustic panels installed and the start of the screen wall. Put tint on sliding glass doors.
09/03/2008 - Kitchenette and bathroom complete. Starting to tackle basement stairs.
09/05/2008 - Carpet installed.
09/06/2008 - Speakers, screen and seats installed.
09/13/2008 - Stairs done.
09/25/2008 - Bass shakers installed.
10/30/2008 - Projector Installed
10/31/2008 - First screen shots.
11/02/2008 - More screen shots.
11/11/2008 - Movie posters framed and hung.
11/15/2008 - A few more finished pics.
12/02/2008 - Installed Littlites on the bar.
01/08/2009 - Popcorn machine and a finished rack!
03/14/2009 - Cleaned up the equipment closet a bit and my 1000th post!
04/05/2009 - Under cabinet lighting in the kitchenette.
04/24/2009 - Treated screen wall with acoustical cotton.
05/13/2009 - Built a new HTPC!
Final Equipment List:
Panasonic PT-AE3000 Projector
Panasonic PT-AE8000 Projector (upgraded 12/2012)
129" wide SmX ProLine Screen - 2.37:1
Denon 3808ci Receiver (retired)
Pioneer SC-1522-K Receiver (upgraded 3/30/2013)
Playstation 3
Playstation 4 (new)
Sony BDP-N460 Bluray player + streaming media (netflix)
Sony BDP-S5100 Bluray player + streaming media (netflix) (upgraded 4/3/2013)
Monitor Audio RS6 left and right front speakers
Monitor Audio RSLCR center channel speaker
Monitor Audio RSFX surround speakers
Monitor Audio RSFX rear speakers
SVS PC-13 Ultra Subwoofer
6 Aura Pro Bass Shakers
300 watt BASH subwoofer amplifier
Berkline 13175 seating
Nintendo Wii (retired)
Comcast HD DVR
Verizon FiOS Multi-room DVR
Thecus N5200 NAS (1.5TB RAID5 network attached storage)
HTPC -
- 2.7GHz dual core Pentium
- 4GB RAM
- GIGABYTE GA-E7AUM-DS2H motherboard (geForce 9400 - HDMI)
- 500GB hard drive
- DVD +/-RW drive
- Silverstone LC17B case
- MS Entertainment Desktop 7000 keyboard/mouse
- Mythbuntu (Linux)
Harmony One universal remote
X10 Powermid IR repeater
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well... after a year and a half (almost), I've finally decided to start planning the basement theater. Not quite sure on when construction will begin especially since I have yet to finalize my plans. In fact, I'd love to hear feedback on my current sketches.
Some basics (updated 3/16/2009):
- Finished width of the theater is approximately 13'4"
- The final length of the theater comes out to around 32'
- 7.1 surround sound
- Acoustically transparent screen with 2.37:1 aspect ratio
- Ceiling was drywalled with 2x3's used as furring strips to clear some copper plumbing.
- Soffits/beam will be approximately 6'9" in height
- Blue rectangles on the open wall in the pictures are a window and sliding patio doors.
- Lighting will be primarily 4" can lights. There will be cove lighting (rope) around the soffits and as step lighting for the riser.
- Seating is comprised of Berkline 13175's (two rows of three) and four bar stools.
- Equipment rack would go under the stairs
- Moving the lolly columns is not an option.
Update - 3/16/2009 - the information below is from the original post and contains some out of date information.
I'm not sure if I want a wet bar or not, but if I do it will have to be adjacent to the utility room for best access to the sewer pipe. I am also having a tough time deciding what do to in the rear of the theater (wall? wall with french doors? leave it open and just put heavy curtains over the sliding glass doors? Leave it open but continue the wall along the beam?).
I've also been playing with different sized utility rooms (from the entire corner to right up against the oil tank). My wife would like a good compromise of storage + usable space, though again, any sort of wet bar or plumbing should be adjacent to the utility room.
Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! See my attachments for the bare basement mock-up as well as a partially finished layout I've been playing with...
Thanks!
Chris (jamis)