[bluer101]

Well after a rough start to 2017 with family taking money for a house I never got it looks like my dream theater is now going to be happening in our new home. Moral of the lost money, always get things in writing family or not. The new house was purchased 4 months ago and have been doing a full renovation to the house inside. It's taken longer that expected due to more issues but move in date is coming soon. Plus doing all the work by yourself makes it more difficult but saves money and rewarding. Right now the room is a junk room filled with all tools and house materials. Pictures below are right after purchase. Did not touch the theater room at all in renovation.

Let's move onto the important stuff, like a theater build. The last place was going to be a 2 car garage conversion. I had a space that was going to give 20x13x8 high. But seeing that's out I have to deal with what we bought. The spare bedroom will become our family dedicated theater. The nice thing about the build is I already have all the equipment for now.

Projector Epson 5040ub
Screen Spandex white over black
Receiver Denon 4520ci
Bluray Oppo 103d
Ultra 4K Oppo 203
LCR Infinity RS5 Towers
Surrounds Infinity CC3’s in custom enclosure
Subwoofers 2 si18"
Sub amp inuke 3000dsp
2 12" infinity BU120 nearfield
Dayton SA230
3 ADX tactical transducers
Surge Belkin PF60
Battery Backup Belkin
AC infinity for rack and theater cooling
Row of 3 Octane Dream HR

Well let's get to it.

Here are some measurements of room.

14.7 L X 9 W X 8 H

12.2 is the length without closet but closet will be for false wall and speakers.

I know it's a small room but that's what I have to work with and it's going to be great. The benefits of this room is the long closet that will serve as the false wall front stage and AT screen. Plus just outside the room that shares part of the closet is a hall closet that will be my equipment rack outside the theater. That way it keeps extra heat and noise out of the room. Let me know what you think and ideas. Construction will start after getting settled in shortly. Pictures and rendering below.

Current state:

 

[Tedd]

I wonder if columns are going to work in 9' wide.

Pretty narrow and I'm speaking from a 9'5" wide perspective.

Are you going to shrink the depth of the av closet?

I like the design. Reminds me of JuanFlaco nice budget small room build. I uploaded the photos I have of it,
in the last post.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/15-ge...e-2-could-use-help-planning.html#post54990202

 

[Tedd]

As for seating, maybe something 'condo sized" and low backed?

I've also been in one condo based home theater, years ago that used a funky and curvy couch, with a wild pattern.
Pretty cool and very comfortable.

I also like the idea of three actual theater seats, as they would be in 60-66" wide, for my narrow space.



Looking forward to this build!

 

[farsider3000]

Well after a rough start to 2017 with family taking money for a house I never got it looks like my dream theater is now going to be happening in our new home. Moral of the lost money, always get things in writing family or not. The new house was purchased 4 months ago and have been doing a full renovation to the house inside. It's taken longer that expected due to more issues but move in date is coming soon. Plus doing all the work by yourself makes it more difficult but saves money and rewarding. Right now the room is a junk room filled with all tools and house materials. Pictures below are right after purchase. Did not touch the theater room at all in renovation.

Let's move onto the important stuff, like a theater build. The last place was going to be a 2 car garage conversion. I had a space that was going to give 20x13x8 high. But seeing that's out I have to deal with what we bought. The spare bedroom will become our family dedicated theater. The nice thing about the build is I already have all the equipment for now.

Projector Epson 5040ub
Screen going to do spandex
Receiver Denon 4520ci
Bluray Oppo 103d
LCR Infinity RS5 Towers
Surrounds Infinity beta ES 250
Subwoofers 2 si18" in Marty cubes
Sub amp inuke 3000dsp
Additional subs if needed 2 12" infinity
Surge Belkin PF60
Battery Backup Belkin
Seating ????

Well let's get to it.

Here are some measurements of room.

14.7 L X 9 W X 8 H

12.2 is the length without closet but closet will be for false wall and speakers.

I know it's a small room but that's what I have to work with and it's going to be great. The benefits of this room is the long closet that will serve as the fails wall front stage and AT screen. Plus just outside the room that shares part of the closet is a hall closet that will be my equipment rack outside the theater. That way it keeps extra heat and noise out of the room. Let me know what you think and ideas. Construction will start after getting settled in shortly. Pictures and rendering below.

Looks like it will be a cool space! Love those Marty's. Have you checked projector throw distance with your screen size? Assume you will go with 2.40:1 or will you go 16x9?

 

[bluer101]

I wonder if columns are going to work in 9' wide.

Pretty narrow and I'm speaking from a 9'5" wide perspective.

Are you going to shrink the depth of the av closet?

I like the design. Reminds me of JuanFlaco nice budget small room build. I uploaded the photos I have of it,
in the last post.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/15-ge...e-2-could-use-help-planning.html#post54990202

Yes, the AV closet is going to be not as deep and not as wide. I'm going to remove the room side walls so it gives me more front space. As for columns I have included in rendering. They might be just a board then come out at the top to house the speakers. In between the column is going to be fabric panels.

For seating I was going to squeeze 2 rows of 3 ikea poang chairs but fist row would be like 6-7 from screen. So seating is going to be something like this from costco. I know it will be basically wall to wall but I get the center seat. Plus seating will be moved about 2-3 feet from back wall too. Either way it will be cozy.

Looks like it will be a cool space! Love those Marty's. Have you checked projector throw distance with your screen size? Assume you will go with 2.40:1 or will you go 16x9?

I like the dual Marty's too. Just right now I have them in a big open livingroom. Once I get them in that small room I might not need my seat shakers, lol. Throw distance for the Epson should be fine. I was playing around with a white sheet and my other projector, Benq w1070. I was projecting a 110" 2:35 image.

One part of me wants to do CIH and the other wants CIW.

 

[fierce_gt]

my recommendation would be to decide if your room is narrow, or short.

if it's short, do CIH since you are limited by the height of the screen. personally, i find that my viewing comfort is based on image height, so if i get a 16:9 screen of the 'right' size, i can go wider at the same height and it just feels more immersive, not more overwhelming.

however, if your room is narrow, you don't want to sacrifice the size of the 16:9 content just to force a CIH set up. CIW is so much easier since all projectors are native 16:9 anyway

in a perfect world, i think CIH is the way to go. it allows me to watch both scope and 16:9 content in 'as big as is comfortable' sizes. but my room being only 12' wide, i opted for a 16:9 screen this time.

 

[Tedd]

My "people side" of the AT screen is 9'5" wide, by 13' deep. 54x96" is perfect screen-wise.

I do have horizontal masking embedded in the screen wall. While I often think the perfect situation is
scope about 8" wider, and maybe shrink 16x9 to 52x92", it isn't worth my effort.

I do like my 16x9 content bigger as I have a lot of concerts and tv shows. I do have a very large media collection and
I think the concerts and tv shows skew my library enough, that 16x9 is still outnumbers scope content.

(I too think a constant area screen with 4 way masking is the ultimate screen, not a scope setup.)

I've often wondered about a minimalist front end could be, and came up with an amp hung vertically, and a 4U htpc hung
Vertically too. That could also represent a very shallow av closet. And I do like the idea of a manual drop down magnetic mask
with a 16x9 screen. That's a nice feature that could be done very cheap.

I've probably have given way too much thought to what would be the ultimate small room home theater, and how to maximize any budget
in a such a space. I've even considered a external 4K drive, in a shallow depth closet, and hide the av gear behind the digital movie poster display.

 

[bluer101]

Got a lot moved to the new house. Here is a photo of the theater room in the new place. Still have to remove some of the left side closet to make more false wall room and stage. Plus that will be my av rack in the hall. It's going to be a lot of power in a small room.

 

[bluer101]

Not much of an update but we got all moved in 4 weeks ago. I'm finishing up the master bath and then moving onto the theater. I did order my spandex last night for my screen.

I'm still trying to figure out seating. On part would like the costco seats and another part of me wants 2 rows of real theater seats. Like row of 4 in back of room then row of 3 for front row.

I got my Epson setup to test throw and I'm getting at 108" 16x9 image.

 

[fierce_gt]

not to be rude, but are you really going to stuff 7 people in that room?
unless your answer to that is 'yes, all the time', i would suggest getting fewer, but nicer seats. the key to making small spaces work is being realistic

 

[bluer101]

not to be rude, but are you really going to stuff 7 people in that room?
unless your answer to that is 'yes, all the time', i would suggest getting fewer, but nicer seats. the key to making small spaces work is being realistic

I won't stuff people they can voluntary go watch a movie, lol. That's why I said I'm still trying to decide what to do. Maybe even 6 theater seats, but it will most likely end up with a row of 3 recliners.

 

[fierce_gt]

my parents basement(where i set up my first 'theater') was about 11 x 20 with 8ft ceilings. we had two rows of seating, two nice comfy chairs in the front, and a 'love seat' made from a couple cheaper chairs in the back. it was good for 4 people. i think ONCE i had about 7 people in the room(with some extra chairs brought it), and we lasted maybe an hour before it was time to get out.

imo, if you want the option to stuff some extra people in there occasionally, you want a sofa/sectional in there. that way you can still stretch out and be comfy when it's just you, or just a couple people. putting small, less comfortable chairs in the room just so you have the option of more people is a big compromise the rest of the time.

i think the row of 3 recliners is the better option(unless you feel you'll have more than 3ppl in there often, in which case i'd say the largest sofa/sectional you can fit). gives you a 'sweet spot' seat, and it'll be the most comfortable option. i'd only recommend a row of small theater seats if you could still have the nice comfy ones in the front row

 

[DavidK442]

I'm with fierce. Most theater builders have a "build it and they will come" mentality.
The reality is that the home theater experience is often a solitary one. If you are lucky your significant other will join in at times...and will not mind realistic volume levels...and will not want the lights on to do crafts...and will not multitask on their cell phone.
Pinning kids down for more than an hour at a time is almost impossible.
Pick the best seating option for yourself and drag in kitchen chairs once a year for Superbowl. Most people will be standing anyway.
I have a small room and a small budget so went with a cheap reclining sofa. Though it has often pulled double duty for sleep overs, no one lays on it to watch movies. Its replacement will likely be a couple high quality reclining seats.
Have fun with your build and enjoy the end result.

 

[bluer101]

Thanks guys. Looks like it will be reclining seating for 3. Plus it is only my wife and son in our family. If we have more over we will have to do some floor and blankets.

Well also ordered the spandex for the screen with a 20% off sale. Still have a few weeks to a month before I start construction but can't wait.

 

[bluer101]

Look what showed up today.

 

[LydMekk]

Multiple choices...I hate those! LOL

 

[DavidK442]

Thanks guys. Looks like it will be reclining seating for 3. Plus it is only my wife and son in our family. If we have more over we will have to do some floor and blankets.
Well also ordered the spandex for the screen with a 20% off sale. Still have a few weeks to a month before I start construction but can't wait.

Sounds like a good choice for seating.

Always like to see what people do with small rooms. Subscribed.

Did you decide on a 108" 16X9 screen? Like Tedd, I would give a plug for "Constant Area - 2.1 ratio" screens but I know that makes masking a challenge.
Going white over black with the spandex?
Do you plan on setting up both the BenQ and Epson? BenQ for less critical tv viewing and the Epson for moves, etc?
Have you ever compared the two projectors side by side? I understand that the Epson blows the BenQ away on contrast, but wondering about other elements of picture quality. I own the W1070 primarily due to limited throw distance but have been contemplating shrinking my screen (or punching out my outside wall for more distance) and going with an Epson or JVC.

 

[bluer101]

Well rest of house is done for now and the master bath got finished. So that means time to start the theater. So we started to clean out the room as it became a storage unit, lol. Got 3/4 of it cleaned out and had time to setup the Epson, Oppo 103d, and spandex white over black. I pinned the spandex up to see how it would look. I need to order more white as the first batch I did not get on a roll. Good think the material is cheap. Some screen shots below, I’m blown away with the picture quality. Also tried some 3D and that’s great too. So I hope to get the rest of the room cleaned out so I can demo the walls. Need to make some fabric choices too. I think we are going to settle on black and grey. Here are some photos below, what do you think?

 

[bluer101]

Ok need help deciding please. I have 2 full sets of Infinity speakers, full 1990’s Reference series and full Infinity Beta series. I have been going back and forth trying to decide which set to go with for this theater. Plus to make it even harder I have the wants for DIY soundgroup HTM-12 for LCR and HTM-6 for surrounds, plus build new 18” horizontal sub boxes for upfront behind screen.

Also if I choose either Infinity line I need to rebuild the 2 18”s also to make them taller and shallower to maximize my behind screen space.

To add another issue is how to mount the rear back and surrounds for the Beta line. Just above head mounted to flush columns in my design.

Of if I choose the reference line I can sink the bookshelves into the wall and build the fronts into the columns. Doing this I would also do for the DIY HTM-6 if going that route.

Plus next comes cost, both Infinity lines I own and no $$$ out of pocket. If I go DIY I have to purchase kits, flat packs, and crossovers for around $1800. I could sell off my infinity lines to help with cost.

Plus not pictured I have 2 12” Self powered infinity subs that are nearfield and a spare SI 18 d4 brand new in box. To many decisions to make, help me please.

 

[bluer101]

I made a decision today for now. I’m going with the Infinity RS5’s for LCR. I think for my room they are a tad smaller than the betas and the tweeter layout puts them more at ear level after stage is built. So I will be needing to rebuild my cubes to be around 16-18” deep but taller to gain space behind AT screen.

As for rear speakers I ordered 4 JBL inwall speakers to put into my flush columns. With my room being so small width this should work fine.

Also taped out the rough design on my walls to get a feel for what it will be in person. Pictures below.