Queen's Future HT - Page 14

GC came through big time and showed up at my front door around 1 p.m. He and his helper are adding the 1/4" strips as I type. So giddy with excitement that I can't help but post the progress!

Cotton Batting


Cotton Batting Close-Up


Linacoustic and Batting


Linacoustic Close-Up



1/4" Add-Ons


1/4" Close-Up


Empty Rack


Empty Boxes


Full Rack

Another quick question for everyone. For those with baseboard heating, how do you hide the stapled fabric on top. My GC suggested some kind of trim which at first thought sounds quite odd to me. The LG will also need some kind of trim. Any other ideas for the baseboard?

Some additional challenges for the HT guy since the GC did not put up the furring strips exactly to his specifications (and they appear to be glued!). He may have to use a couple quarter rounds (wrapped) for the back corners. Otherwise, here are some additional pics.

Back of the Rack-I will take another close-up later that really highlights how cleanly all the wires have been set up.


Blue Plum GOM






My not exactly matching outlet cover.


Flash altered the color somewhat on the top portion (it's violet but photographed more gray).

Another setback. The GC left too much space in-between the slots for the columns so that once they're slotted in place there's air. HT guy is mulling over how to fix that. There's not too much love going on between these two crews. GC has to come by later today to put up the sconces too since they will be programmed via remote.

Thanks. I'll suggest that.

Yet another setback. I mistakenly thought that the Marantz pre-pro could drive the two ceiling speakers for the playroom. The B&K amp is only 7.1 ch., just enough for the HT. So now I'm running around trying to find a good price locally for a 2 or 5 ch. receiver. Only need 2 but it's like $20 more for 5 which I think is better for future flexibility. Is this build ever going to go right?

Day 55: A day full of surprises. Columns ended up being too twisted in order to be wrapped and slotted in properly (BIG, I told the GC to go with MDF from the get-go like you suggested but he went with the 2x6s). So the GC will have to redo them. Cable line was run from the LCD to the playroom but GC forgot to connect to the main line. Sconce wiring is dead. Ran out real quick and picked up a 2 ch. receiver to drive my playroom speakers. HT guy overlooked that.

But will all the setbacks I have to say the room is starting to look pretty awesome. Fortunately, the HT crew will be in the vicinity in a couple of weeks so they can come back and finish up the columns, calibrate the JVC (after I put some bulb time in) and put on the faceplates (on the MA rack) that were inadvertently left behind.

Front False Wall Build












SMX Screen Build - Absolutely NO regrets going scope








Surrounds Install









Leonardos



JVC







HT crew will be back for a half-day tomorrow to try and run the cable feed and get the LCD with ceiling speakers up, get the speakers and JVC fired up so I can get some bulb time in. Then it will be a VERY long two-week wait .

You know, it didn't even occur to me at the time that it might compromise the sound field. He mentioned that he built them that way just in case I decided to switch back to 16x9, which I highly doubt at this point. I will inquire further. Thanks for the feedback.

On his next visit out, he has agreed to move the studs in order to facilitate ideal placement of the L and R speakers. But then they will sit completely behind the GOM, which I'm guessing is ok?

Some new pics. First movie was Wall-E with the kids. Tonight's show will be Dark Knight.

Test Drive

Paul Scarpelli (aka Triad dude) has recommended an angle of no more than five degrees, given that it can still sit behind the screen without touching. He cautioned any angle greater than that since it would otherwise have trouble firing through the AT screen.

Pretty amazing. The trim still has me worried a bit though. Plus the corners aren't exactly how I wanted since the HT guy had problems with the way the GC did the furring strips. Long story short a small quarter molding wrapped in fabric will have to be glued to the back corners in-between the base/chair/crown.

That's the wii sensor bar. It's actually black but I turned it around because the blue sensor light stays on for an hour after use. Ok, FINALLY got the kids to bed (we hope!) so it's SHOWTIME .

Dark Knight was phenomenal, in terms of a great movie to test drive the HT. Not knocking Heath Ledger's outstanding performance though. There were some strange 'green' scenes but remember the projector is only running on THX mode and has not yet been calibrated. I also wasn't sure whether they were just trying to make Gotham look grim. I plan to go back and shoot a couple still shots pre-calibration in order to compare with post-calibration.

When I say I have absolutely NO regrets about going scope that is an understatement. On the 16x9 screen I would not have been very happy at all viewing 2.35 movies. And having the sound come from behind the screen is priceless (well, technically not exactly in this case but you know what I mean). Making those two last minute changes have definitely brought the HT to another level, from both a satisfaction and performance perspective.

Thanks Adam. It's been a long time in planning so it certainly is very gratifying.

Yes, I did love those prosceniums. But not as much as going scope .

Day 55: New columns made out of MDF. Also had the GC round the corners at BIG's suggestion to avoid potential future rips. Sconce wiring fixed and Lutron dimmers (that will be controlled via the URC) installed.

As promised, another look at the wiring (couldn't get back far enough to get it in one shot).









New Columns



While the SMX screen is totally blowing me away, I'm reserving final judgement on the JVC until post calibration. This is my first experience with D-ILA. All of my prior viewings were DLPs. I still can't forget the image that a SIM2 D80E threw onto a Stewart ST130. The image was incredibly crisp and had a lot of pop. However, it's worth noting that I've got ambient light still spilling into the room via the doorways which I'm sure is also degrading the quality. Don't get me wrong. The image looks great, but I want awesome. Time will tell.

On a separate note, HT guy suggested wrapping the base trim throughout the entire room, including up the stairs and around the stage area (like in BIG's last sketch). GC says given the very tall base trim that I chose, wrapping around the riser stair lip and by the stage would look strange (particularly on the lip sides of the stage step parts not the flat part of the stage). I actually like the look of the stage area without the trim but then I would be able to see the staples. Perhaps just do the top part of the riser and stage but leave the step part alone? Any thoughts?

They are 3/4". They are secured via blocking up by the crown and base with drywall screws. Attached is a photo showing them attached to the walls. I nearly freaked out when I saw them attached, not knowing that the GC only secured them with two screws each in order to ensure that they could sit flush. HT guy will simply need to remove the screws and then wrap and reattach.