Can I use a projector? *Possibly another HT construction thread*

Hey all! This is my first real post, but I've been lurking these forums for a while now.

Just recently my father has expressed some interest in converting our basement into a dedicated home theater. Unfortunately, when we finished our basement a few years ago, we didn't exactly have this in mind, so we're going to have to work with what we have.

We've been slowly moving stuff out of the room so I apologize if the room looks a little weird.

Edit: Sorry I can't attach the picture until I have made 5 posts


Ultimately, we plan on converting our basement in three steps:
1) Upgrade Sound System (HSU VTF 3.3 + Axiom Speakers are on the way!)
2) Build Riser, Recarpet/Repaint, and purchase new cinema seats
3) Get a projector and screen (we have a 65" Mitsubishi rear projection HDTV to use in the meanwhile)

The dimensions of the room are approximately: 31'x14'x7'. I know thee are quite a few home theaters in this forum that have as low or even lower ceiling than ours, but the problem is that on the left (see picture) there is about a 6" drop in the ceiling (this covers an air conditioning duct so theres nothing we can do about it)

Would it still be possible to mount a projector without this getting in the way of the picture? If this helps, the projector that we have our eyes on right now is the Mitsubishi hd1000u.

Hey guys thank you for the help!

Just wanted to share these pictures with you all since it wasn't until some of the responses on this thread until I finally decided to order the projector.

I ended up going with a Mitsu HD1000u and from there the gear buying just went out of control! The projector really motivated me to finally put together the home theater, which is a project that I have wanted to do for years (but at the time I did not have the know how to do so)

I definitely appreciate the wealth of knowledge in these forums so once again I'd just like to say THANK YOU!

The room is still a work in progress - I want to repaint with something less glossy, add some acoustic paneling, upgrade the bose surrounds to some nice di-poles - theres always room for upgrades, but for right now, I'm pretty dang satisfied!

Gonzo, thanks for the comments

I apologize for the blurry pics, but I don't have a stand and my hand isn't that steady

We finished the basement shortly after purchasing the house approximately 5 years ago, but we never really had the intention to turn it into a bonafide home theater. In hindsight I wish I had planned everything out more carefully before doing so, but in the end it worked out alright. The fact that it was already finished also made the transition a lot faster as well.

My first post is time stapped almost exactly a month ago, but to be honest it felt so much longer than that. As I said, the room is still a work in progress and perhaps that is why. I tried my best to hide all the empty boxes, old components, and wires just laying around the room (and the fact that my riser has yet to be carpetted) so it really looks more far along than it really is!

My setup is pretty modest compared to a lot of the other people here, but I'm very satisfied and my guests are impressed by it regardless!

So far, the total I have spent comes to about:

(Projector) Mitsubishi HD1000u w/ 3yr lamp warranty $950
(Screen) 5x10' Wilsonart DW + Lumber $175
(Receiver) Onkyo 605 $400
(Speakers) Used Axiom m22ti $340
(Subwoofer) HSU VTF 3.3 $700
(DVD Player) Toshiba D2 HD-DVD Player $250
(Remote) Logitech Harmony 880 $140
(Riser) Lumber $100?

Total $3055

For a little over 3 grand I could not be any happier. To think, my old TV and Bose setup cost almost as much as ALL of this stuff!

Eventually I would like to replace the Bose (which I am now using as surrounds) with some Axiom QS speakers and the JBL center channel (not timbre matching - I know) with the Axiom VP150, and get some Berkline cinema style seats but that will happen when I can get some good deals.

MrWrite: We are using a 5x10' WilsonArt laminate for the screen - I believe it comes to a little over 130" diagonally (though as you can see from the picture a 16x9 picture does not completely fill the screen). Do a quick forum search - there are quite a few threads that discuss in detail (with pictures) how to mount the screen. Unfortunately I deleted my bookmarks (otherwise I would post them here), but we basically copied one of those designs in order to build ours.

Rboster: I see what you're saying! Today I spent the whole day messing around with the speakers and the receiver in order to get the most out of my system. I find myself researching home audio stuff more and more since starting this project.

I'm still trying to find some resources on acoustic treatment since the room suffers from a bit of echo so any help with that would be greatly appreciated!

For the frame, we used approximately 3/4" thick wood with mitered corners. We then used L brackets to hold the corners together and T brackets for the supports in the middle.

We mounted the laminate by putting a wood screw every foot then nailed/screwed the entire thing onto the wall. We found some inch wide trimmings in Home Depot, painted it flat black, then nailed those on top of the laminate for a border.

In hindsight it probably would have been a lot easier to just glue the laminate to a wooden backing and used one of those cleats to hang it onto the wall.

Hey all! It's been a few months and things have been going kinda slow. Like many have said, once you set everything up you become a lot less motivated to finish the job.

We're still looking to repaint to a flat finish (as you can see the light reflects on the side walls). Any suggestions for a color?

Also looking to replace the Bose Redline cube surrounds to some Axiom QS's and the JBL EC to an Axiom VP150, but are still looking for a good deal on a pair of used ones.

Found a good deal for some home theater seats but then realized that a row of 3 won't fit on our riser - that was pretty heart breaking haha. Looks like were going to stick to the couches for now...or forever lmao.

Just a bunch of little things like trying to hide the speakers wires better, etc.

Anybody have a suggestion to keep the room smelling fresh? There's no windows down there so the room gets stale and gross. Putting in air fresheners seems to only mask the odor. Right now we have a bunch of fans going to circulate the air but are kinda worried when winter rolls around.

Final BUMP and final update!

I first came to AVSforum as a lurker in early May of '07 in order to try to find an affordable pair of speakers/subwoofer to replace the Bose satellites in our home theater.

After looking at some pictures of people's home theaters, AVS became an addiction to me. In May 25 this year, according to the time stamp on my first post, I asked if it was possible to place a front projector in my basement. I've always assumed that since my ceiling is so low that it simply wasn't possible. Thanks to the few who replied, my project began.

I literally spent the next months glued to AVS researching an affordable way to convert my basement into a dedicated home theater. After 7 months, it's finally done... at least for now!

To give you guys an idea of the process here are the pictures!

Here is the beginning. May 03' when we purchased a 65" Mitsubishi RPTV as a gift for my father's birthday.


I took this picture in early May of '07 (see a trend?) to ask the people of AVS if a projector would work in the basement.


Late May '07. We purchased a Mitsubishi HD1000u as a birthday gift for my father, and the project began! This is my father standing in front of a projected image of Troy onto a white blanket


Not entirely sure of the date, this is our DIY screen made with a WilsonArt laminate.


My dad, standing in front of the new WilsonArt screen with an HD telecast of Over the Hedge in the background.


We thought we were done here:

The theater as it stands today! Bought my dad the matching center channel for Christmas. The seats were purchased from a fellow forumite during an end of summer sale and we repainted the room shortly thereafter.




Hope you guys enjoy! Thank you and take care! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays