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How to Build Your Own Home Theater - Part 1 of 4

27K views 101 replies 55 participants last post by  lespurgeon 
#1 ·
How to Build Your Own Home Theater - Part 1 of 4
Author - Len Calderone




This is the first of a 4 part series that will walk you through the process designing and building a home theater.


Many people buy a LCD television, such as a 55 or 65 flat screen, add a $200.00 theater in a box from Wal-Mart, and call it a home theater. Of course, the couch or lazy Boy is the seating. This is as basic as it gets.


Let's step this up a notch and see how to have a large projection screen (70 or better) and a projector, as the basis for a true home theater. We will look at what's available to make a comfortable home theater that you will be proud to show off.

Read the complete article at HomeToys.com
 
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#3 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by hakstone /forum/post/20870489


Comes across a bit arrogant, no.

Not all of us have thousands to spend or rooms that are 25 x 25.

Not arrogant, factual. If you can't afford to build a true theater, that's completely fine, build what fits in your budget and suits your needs and space.

...but don't make the arrogant leap yourself by calling the system you have built with a television display in a living room a "theater"
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sound dropouts /forum/post/20870639


FTA:


What is that supposed to mean? What is an "HDTV" movie? Many (most?) new movies are still in 2.35:1 aspect ratio....

Many of us prefer OAR ..
 
#6 ·
"Some people paint their wall a bright white to be used as a screen rather than buy a screen. This is not a good idea, and you will not be satisfied with the projected images, unless you buy the paint from Goo Systems, Inc., which manufactures a special blend just for projection. "


I'd guess most of the folks in the DIY area might take exception to this statement ...
 
#8 ·
Rather poor article... If I need aspect ratios explained to me, I probably fall into the camp of "Big TV is sufficient" or "Better hire a professional".
 
#9 ·
Yeah, Here is my home theater:


Optoma HD20, Polk 60s in the front with a Polk CS1 for a center, a JBL Venue Series SUB12 12-Inch 500-Watt Subwoofer, two generic 3 way indoor/Outdoor speakers for rear surrounds being pushed by a Sony STR-DG510 5.1 receiver. All this shinning a 131" screen on my bare living room wall. Not a bad setup for $1300 total.
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by hakstone /forum/post/20870489


Comes across a bit arrogant, no.

Not all of us have thousands to spend or rooms that are 25 x 25.

I agree.


As for the article. I'm sorry but my 7.2 surround with a 65inch plasma set. Comfortable furniture is plenty "theater" like for me. My room isn't a huge 25x25 area so 65 is HUGE in my set. Area can be blacked out by a simple push of a button. The article was crap.
 
#11 ·
It was a poor article as it felt like it tried to cover too much topic with each paragraph. A reader would learn little about theaters let alone how to plan one. Also, I don't necessarily like the idea of configuring the screen for the last row of seats and prefer the method of using an ideal seating position for every performance measurement. (throw, screen size, speak placement...)


The paint comment is flat out wrong and there's a dozen threads or more on this site indicating why. All in all, not impressed with the article.
 
#12 ·
wow, a lot of hostility for this article, and yet it's Friday when most folks tend to be a little bit more cheery...



I think it's quite evident that this article if written for the person who has little to no home theater experience and is getting a fairly basic introduction into the topic. I was in this same boat just 10 months ago and can appreciate most of what the author is trying to convey. With my theater being about a month away from completion, I didn't find a lot of "new" information, but it was reassuring that most of the decisions I made in my own theater were echoed in this article. Makes me feel better to know that it's less likely that I didn't do something that purists would view as "wrong".


Enjoy the weekend!
 
#13 ·
I also sensed a bit of hostility. I seemed to go more out of its way to define what a home theater is that actually anything else.


To a home theater is what works for you. If you want to use couches instead of theater seating, more power two you. I was actually at a theater while in bar harbor (after going to the Criterion) that used couches as seating and served pizza while you watch. Nothing wrong with comfort or non traditional seating. If a person when easter style and had a mat on the floor you would sit on, would this not be considered a home theater.


When I first built my first home theater, I tried to make mine as much like a commercial theater as possible. I am going into a new house now and have learned what I actually want and do not want in my own home theater. Also learned what things I found to be a waste of time and effort.
 
#15 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by bjmarchini /forum/post/0


I also sensed a bit of hostility. I seemed to go more out of its way to define what a home theater is that actually anything else.


To a home theater is what works for you. If you want to use couches instead of theater seating, more power two you. I was actually at a theater while in bar harbor (after going to the Criterion) that used couches as seating and served pizza while you watch. Nothing wrong with comfort or non traditional seating. If a person when easter style and had a mat on the floor you would sit on, would this not be considered a home theater.


When I first built my first home theater, I tried to make mine as much like a commercial theater as possible. I am going into a new house now and have learned what I actually want and do not want in my own home theater. Also learned what things I found to be a waste of time and effort.

Exactly. It's what you make of it. That's why its a HOME theatre.
 
#16 ·
Theo Kalomirakis, the man credited widely as the father of modern home theater, says it is a space that recreates the experience of a commercial theater ..

That's not a multi function room, a lounge area, a living room or what not .. it is a dedicated Home Theater ..
 
#17 ·
You know when an article is titled "how to build" a home theater and the first thing they talk about is carpet. It $ucks.


If the title was furnishing and equipping a home theater I would cut some slack.


The first step in building a home theater is planning followed by all the myriad of tasks you must do prior to drywalling the space. For instance there are many considerations and decisions to be made about sound management to make the theater quiet and keeping the theater sounds from reaching the rest of the house. Those decisions affect framing methods, running HVAC duct work and wiring. Where is that in the article?


Most of the guys showing up in the Theater Building section of this forum have raw space in an unfinished basement, garage or new addition and want to build a theater.
 
#18 ·
A Ferrari is an automobile. A Volkswagon is an automobile. They are both automobiles, but what a difference in style and performance.


Bottom line, the guy with the HTIB setup and the LCD TV does have a home theater. Just a big difference in style and performance with the guy that spent $50,000 on equipment and room decor.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyinokc
A Ferrari is an automobile. A Volkswagon is an automobile. They are both automobiles, but what a difference in style and performance.


Bottom line, the guy with the HTIB setup and the LCD TV does have a home theater. Just a big difference in style and performance with the guy that spent $50,000 on equipment and room decor.
Very well said and very true.
 
#20 ·
I wouldn't go comparing a 4cyl to a 8-12 cyl either..


I agree to the sentiment of the article though he is somewhat flawed in specifications of original film stocks, not to mention the blurb on hd tv and so forth..


not to mention that material hddvd/brd/dvd can vary from 640x480-720x576-1080x2040, film aspect can be from 1:45.1-1:59.1-1:65.1-1:78.1-1:82.1-1:85:1-2.35:1-2.39:1-2.40:1..
 
#21 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeyinokc /forum/post/20872248


A Ferrari is an automobile. A Volkswagon is an automobile. They are both automobiles, but what a difference in style and performance.


Bottom line, the guy with the HTIB setup and the LCD TV does have a home theater. Just a big difference in style and performance with the guy that spent $50,000 on equipment and room decor.

I agree.
 
#23 ·
I was about to chime in and tell all you guys to chill, that the article isn't that bad - but then I read the article. Black walls are bad? Opt for a puny screen? Put the screen as close to the ceiling as possible? No mention of risers for multiple seating rows, and impact on screen mounting height?
 
#24 ·
HAHAHAHA this is one reason I love AVS...im not gonna even READ the article lol thanks guys... now what to do with the 5-7 minutes you have all saved me...
 
#26 ·
When I dim the lights and the screen casts a picture and the sound fills the air the enjoyment begins.

This article has the typical elitist attitude that personally ditracts from the true meaning of the home theater enjoyment,

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a fellow worker. He said he would NEVER drive a common folk car like a $20,000 minivan. 6 years, marriage and two kids later; he owns a Honda civic and a midline used Honda odysses. He is happier than ever.

He laughed at his arrogance and admitted he had more things to enjoy than just the one.

Whether it's a $600 home theater or a $600,000 hometheter, it's how much you enjoy something that matters.
 
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