The Grove Theater and Basement Build - Page 30

Yes, that is an ethernet cable that I ran along with the redmere cable. The power cable is currently shown going down but it will go into the soffit as well once I get my outlet wiring complete in the equipment room. The outlet will run to a battery backup/surge protector once I find one that I like and doesn't break the bank. I brought down my 90 degree Monoprice adapter from the bedroom in case I needed it but found that the cable fit in just fine. The cable actually holds pretty well against the face of the soffit and puts more pressure into the projector than it does up or down on the connector. I think if I used the adapter that I would actually be putting more weight on the connector than it currently has.

Have you done much adjusting with your projector mount? I think I need to adjust mine some but haven't tried messing with it yet. Seems like it could be tough to make really fine adjustments. I'm not sure if my screen is a perfect rectangle (it is nice and level though) or not but I am having some issue getting the image to fit exactly inside my frame. It is really only noticeable when I am in the zoom/stretch menu but I do want to get it corrected.

I will do the same if I get around to messing with the mount.

I have saved two different settings (one for 16:9 and the other for 2.35:1). I have not found a way to zoom the image without using the green lines. Even using the zoom memory it stops displaying the image and shows the green lines as it goes from one setting to the next. I thought this was a little strange but haven't spent the time to read up on it. Just been enjoying the image it puts out. Here soon I need to pick up the WOW disc and see if I can't dial in the picture. Though I think I will be fine with the way things are for awhile.

It should be around 15'-9". That is what I have in my drawing. I haven't put a tape on the real thing yet.

Well, wouldn't you know it. I had several days off work without plans, perfect for getting some work done in the theater, and I spent them either in bed or on the couch sick. I didn't even venture downstairs to watch any movies. And now that we have flipped the reset button on the calendar I have several other commitments that will be pulling my attention away from moving the theater towards completion. There will still be progress just much, much slower than what I have been posting this past month or so. Man I hope this build doesn't go beyond year 2.

Thanks GWCR. Still not 100% but getting there slowly. Now that my room is at least useable I don't feel the pressure anymore to work non-stop on it. This hopefully will do wonders for my attitude. I was not a happy camper when I got pulled away to do other things. And now maybe the times that I do have to work will be a little more enjoyable instead of so much like a job. But don't worry everyone, year 2 will hold the end of this build (rest of basement included) as long as we can get the finances to cooperate.

Thanks RT. I am almost back to normal finally.

Yes, life's other responsibilities are starting to make themselves a priority so I will be splitting my time between them and the theater/basement now instead of it being all about the theater. I was also losing the enjoyment of the project so a little break may be just what I need to recharge the batteries. I may even have a few pics of work progress after tomorrow.

Thanks for the kind words arttu! I understand what you mean. When it starts to become too much like a job it's time to take a step back and recharge. I have tried to put everything I can into this room to make sure I do it to the best of my abilities because I was informed by the wife from the beginning that we are not moving unless it's to a nursing home so you'd better do what you want the first time because it most likely will be the only time. So I'm trying to also enjoy the process as it's allowing me quality time with my father with whom I probably would have never spent this much time in a room with. And I too would like to thank all those people who take the time to post their pictures and write about their experiences as they have provided inspiration and valuable information to me and my build. My room would not be where it is today without this forum and the great people who frequent it.

Man it has been a while since I have posted anything. Kinda been nice to step away and take a much needed break from things. Can't say that I have been enjoying the room too much as I have only watched a couple movies in there over the past three weeks or so. This past week I did start working down there again. Saturday I wrapped one more column and got it installed and also installed my first upper column piece. I think it looks pretty sharp. Sorry, no pics yet. I will have to sneak down there tonight and take a few and post them tomorrow. I have also started playing around with my lighting. I have houselinc set up for my Insteon devices and have created a few scenes just for practice. I still have to get all my lights in before I get too involved creating scenes. The next step will be trying to figure out how to control the lighting scenes using irule. Still have a lot of research to do on that front.

So here are a few pictures of the latest column additions. These first pics are of the column nearest the stage. There is about an inch and a half between the edge of the column and the lip on the stage.





As stated before, each column will have an outlet in it. The outlets in the first set of columns faces the screen. The middle set of columns have the outlets facing the rear of the room. The back set of columns have them facing the corners.



And now on to the one column that actually has a top section to it. The middle section that covers the speaker will most likely be the last thing that I construct and install. It will be rectangular and slide in between the two gray sections similar to Damelon's in the bacon race theater. You can see the small gray wires sticking out the sides of the top and bottom sections. These will eventually connect to some LED strips and light the backside of the overhangs on each column.









This top section is the first one that I wrapped so my technique wasn't the best. It only has a wrinkle or two but I think once the center section goes in it will be fine. Will be tough to see any issues when the room is dark and a movie is playing.



And finally a shot from the extreme back corner of the room. The screen just clears, success!



I need to sneak down here and do some more wiring in the column areas (I will try and remember to take a few pics) this week so that I can get a few more column sections installed this weekend. Also need to pick up a little more black batting that goes on the columns behind the gray fabric. That is if I can get the wife's project list done first.
Edited by vanice - 1/15/13 at 5:42am

Thanks GWCR! I am really pleased with how it turned out as well. Really looking forward to getting the middle section in. Going to be awhile for those as they require more cutting on the table saw and it is a little too cold outside right now for that.

The Emotiva surrounds are really nice. I still haven't done any calibrating yet so they are a little on the quiet side but I fully expect them to come alive once I get everything set up properly. Solid speaker and really simple to install. Down the road I hope to add a couple of Emotiva amps to free up my receiver and provide plenty of juice for all speakers.

Thanks Delta. The theater is currently useable but I don't have a cable run to it yet. That would require a trip to the attic and I'm not that motivated yet to do it. After my team (Colts) lost my interest in the playoffs has dropped considerably. I will still watch the game but probably won't go through the effort of getting the theater cable ready.

At this point I won't have the funds to purchase amps but would definitely like to in the future. I've had my eye on the XPA-3 for the front channels and maybe a UPA-500 for the surrounds. If money wasn't an issue I would probably get an XPA-5 for the surrounds.

That would be quite the drive. I could probably let the seat fee slide one time.

That was a good sale but they tend to have a couple of them throughout the year. Unless they are 75% off now is not the time for me to buy. Any of the XPA's would be great to have. Someday I'll have a couple of those Emotiva amps parked in my equipment rack.

The amp would definitely help with your receiver. Pulling the power duties should help it run cooler.

I wouldn't mind seeing Harbaugh bowl. Definitely not the Patriots...

I assume you mean the LEDs for the columns? The lights are broken into two sets. One set for the three columns on the left side of the room and one set for the columns on the right side of the room. Each set is fed from behind the front screen wall. The power supplies and controller will be stashed behind my front soffit which is open on the backside so that I will have access and I don't have to worry about heat buildup. The controller IR will either be placed behind the screen so the remote fires through the screen or I will bring it into the front part of the soffit so that it just sticks above the lip (same area that houses my can lights). Either way I will probably have to extend the IR wire which shouldn't be a big deal. I will use this same method for my LEDs that will go in the soffit around the top of the room.

It is plugged into a switched outlet on the front of the riser. The power supply and controller will hide behind the couch on the floor.