[Chrisx510]

My home theater is finally done!! Im 23 and this is my first home theater. Its small but I had to work with what I have. Anyways I fell in love with home theaters about 7 years ago when I was 16. My uncle had just built a home theater and I thought it was the coolest thing. Ever since then I always said one day I was going to build me one. This past January I was looking to buy a Pioneer plasma and someone had told me if your going to spend $6k on a Pioneer plasma why don't you spend $6k on a projector setup with a 100" screen. I had never looked into projectors so didn't know how affordable they were now a days. Once I got the idea to try and go with a projector setup there was no turning back! So I went to a home theater store to check some out. Well they pretty much killed my dream and told me that any projector under $14,000 wasn't going to look good and wasn't a real home theater projector they were all high end business projectors. They also told me my room size was to small for a projector setup.They were really rude!! I left there kind of giving up on building a home theater. I decided I was going to research online and finally I found the AVS Forums! Thank God! The forums really educated me and made it possible for me to build my home theater. Many of you guys were really helpful and gave me great advice. I was really interested in the Pioneer FPJ1 and a few members helped me out on where to get it for the blowout price! I got it just in time from Sound Advice..I got the last one in stock! Once the projector arrived I feel in love with it! Every time I turn it on I just say to myself "money well spent". definitely beats a 60" plasma tv!



So here's my theater build. I built it in a extra room in my condo. Its not a full dedicated theater and I don't have the best equipment but I plan on upgrading through the years. Hopefully when I move down to LA I will have a bigger room and be able to build a full dedicated theater of my dreams.

Room Dimensions

14' long by 11' wide and 8' ceilings


A/V Equipment

Pioneer FPJ1 Projector (JVC RS2 Clone)

Denon AVR 488 Reciever

Boston Acoustic 5.1 MCS 100 Package (R.I.P.)

Comcast Cable Box

Monster HDP 2400 Power Conditioner

PS3

126" DIY Screen with Black Out Cloth (Will Upgrade To Carada's Criterion BW)

Basic Couch for seating for now..I Will be getting a couple of recliners at the end of summer.

The Speaker Company- LCR3 Front Speakers.

Boston Acoustic Subwoofer

Logitech 890 Remote

Logitech RF Extender

Logitech PS3 Adapter


Movie Server Equipment

PopCorn Hour A-110

Yet Another Movie Jukebox

HP MediaSmart Server EX470

Western Digital 1.5tb Drive

Seagate 1.5tb Drive

AnyDVD HD



Materials/Accessories

Monoprice Cables (HDMI,Speaker,Wall plates, Etc..)

Powerbridge- Powerbridge Solution

Track Lighting From Ikea

Cabinet From Ikea

Black Velvet From Joanns Fabrics

Blackout Home Theater Curtains From Walmart

2x2's To Build The Frame For The Screen

24 Green Glue Tubes

11 Silenseal Tubes

Whisper Clips

7 Hat Channels 25 Gauge

3 Pieces Of Plywood

R-13 Insulation

13 Sheets Of 5/8 Drywall

Paints From Kelly Moore

Chief RPAU Mount



I plan on upgrading and adding to my theater through the years.

Future Upgrades/Additions
Popcorn Hour A-110 (Purchased)

HP MediaSmart Server (Purchased)

Logitech Harmony 1100 or 890 Remote (Purchased)

Carada Criterion BW 1.78 126" Screen (Maybe Even A Masking System)

Pioneer Elite Reciever (Not Sure What Model Yet)

5.1 Speakers (Thinkin About TSC,SVS,Aperion,Usher) (Purchased TSC-LCR3 Speakers)


AVS Members:
Ted White

John Hile

Neil Schneider

Radchad3

Jason Turk

CDLehner

Joerod


Thanks for all your help guys! You guys really educated me on the home theater game!

 

[Chrisx510]

Since I live in a condo and I don't my neighbor (Complex Manager) complaining while Im watching a movies I deciding to do a little soundproofing to the wall that we share and the ceiling. Ted White and John Hile were extremely helpful with this. I used R-13 insulation,Green Glue,Whisper Clips,Hat Channels,3 Pieces of 5/8 plywood, 6 pieces of 5/8 Drywall for the wall. John Hile recommended I use 5/8 plywood so it would be stronger then drywall to hang a large projection screen. Great idea! I used whisper clips and hat channels to decouple the wall and 3 layers of mess. 1 layer plywood 2 layers drywall with green glue. The ceiling is 1 layer of drywall with green glue. I haven't gotten a complaint yet so it must be working!

Thanks again Ted and John!

Testing Out The Projector On Unfinished Drywall

 

[Chrisx510]

Here's some pics of the completed theater. Built the screen with Blackout cloth and some 2x2's..Came out pretty good! Thinking of using it for awhile. I would like to find some material better then Blackout cloth and that has a gain of 1.0-1.3. My grandmother use to work for a drapery company so she made me some black velvet drapes to go around my screen. Got the velvet material from Joanns Fabrics. Ran all cables and wires in the walls and ceilings then into the A/V Cabinet.



The paint colors are actually way darker then they look in the pics. The flash made the walls look like white. The red is really a dark red and the walls are a tan color. All paint is Flat paint.

Testing everything out with the surround sound

126" Screen

Officially Done

 

[Chrisx510]

Here's some screenshots I took.. My camera isn't the best. All movies are Blu-ray. Standard DVD's look great on this PJ also!!



"Seven Pounds"

"Transformers"

"Cars"

"10,000 B.C."

 

[Chrisx510]

Its been fun learning and building this theater. I really enjoyed it! Can't wait to do it again!


Thats My First Home Theater! Hope You Guys Enjoyed It!

 

[MrMovie]

Your theater looks great!


I just bought a house (closing next week) and I can't wait to get in there and start planning my home theater.

 

[Xylon]

The 1st home theater and the never ending "upgrade".


BTW you can go back to that store and show them what youve done. And the cost to make it. That should educate them.

 

[John Martin]

Not bad man, not bad. You would be a great neighbor to soundproof as best you can. Kudos on taking the time to do it. Looks great and I am sure it gets some use.


John


*edit* BTW, tell the store that the room was not too small as well. And get out the tripod, high F-stop, long exposure shots and take them to the store and say I told you so.

 

[mightywetfoot]

This looks great! I have a room with very similar dimensions and I did not think a projector was an option. I also have been going back and forth on the sound deadening. Thanks for the buildup.

 

[Chrisx510]

Hahaha Yea I should take some pics down there and show them what I built without them!

 

[santora]

Nicely done. I wish I had had a Condo when I was 23! Oh the trouble I would've gotten into... =-)


Mark

 

[cuzed2]

Chris a very well executed theater - glad those so called "pros" did NOT talk you out of the PJ route !!


Great choice on the JVC close out. One year ago I managed to get one of the very last RS1's from Jason - excellent value; even if i say so myself

Enjoy & Happy Upgrading

 

[Chrisx510]



Quote:
Originally Posted by santora /forum/post/16843270


Nicely done. I wish I had had a Condo when I was 23! Oh the trouble I would've gotten into... =-)


Mark

Oh we have had plenty of wild nights here! LOL

 

[Chrisx510]

I just got back from seeing "Public Enemies" at a Centurys Theater! I only went because some friends talked me into it! Movie was good but the picture was horrible! Blacks weren't even close to looking black! Picture kept flickering. Anyone know what thats caused from? Also there were black spots that would flash throughout the movie. Not sure what thats from either..


Anyways going to a theater like that just makes me feel like all the money I spent on my home theater was worth it! Before we went to the movies I had a lilttle demo of my Home theater for my friends they were amazed..After watching public enemies they all said your home theater has way better picture quality and sharpness lets watch movies at your house from now on!

 

[chirpie]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 /forum/post/16849579


I just got back from seeing "Public Enemies" at a Centurys Theater! I only went because some friends talked me into it! Movie was good but the picture was horrible! Blacks weren't even close to looking black! Picture kept flickering. Anyone know what thats caused from?

Guessing it was the projector's bulb needing a replacement...

 

[Chrisx510]

So been having my PJ room up and running for a lil bit now. Almost got 100hrs on the bulb. Picture looks good! Still using black out cloth. Hoping to get a screen with some gain soon. Would like a little brighter picture.


Does anyone have any tips for improving contrast in my setup? I know a black room would be best but I can't do that. So any other ideas anyone might have please share.

 

[Adidas4275]

looks great man, but why did you use those metal clips for the plywood and drywall and not just screw the plywood to the studs?


I was in a similar situation this summer, bought a house at 25 and the 2nd day i was in it i started cutting holes for my in-ceiling speakers and running my wiring....


i got "the look" from my wife acouple time.... in her head she was wondering ' do I really trust him???? "



congrats man..... hope you enjoy it.


Also you totally need to put a small stage and some risers, to complete it.....

 

[tony123]

Awesome room! I love seeing projects like this one. All of my friends that oooh and ahhhh over our room for some reason don't feel like they could ever afford it themselves. I try to convince them otherwise, but it is futile.


It's also an interesting phenomenon that most Home Theater specialty stores have an elitest attitude. I've seen it in nearly every store I've been in. Very similar to the world of golfing. I spent 10 years thoroughly enjoying a room that didn't have more than a few thousand dollars total in it. So not only can it be done at almost any budget, but it can be done well! Hats off to you for a great room!

 

[Dradius]

Looks good man. You might consider throwing up a couple pics of the rest of your room, seating, etc.


And Tony123, I totally agree with your comments. You can get a really nice theater experience for a couple of grand, especially if you don't mind getting dirty and doing some work yourself.

 

[Chrisx510]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Adidas4275 /forum/post/17071098


looks great man, but why did you use those metal clips for the plywood and drywall and not just screw the plywood to the studs?


I was in a similar situation this summer, bought a house at 25 and the 2nd day i was in it i started cutting holes for my in-ceiling speakers and running my wiring....


i got "the look" from my wife acouple time.... in her head she was wondering ' do I really trust him???? "



congrats man..... hope you enjoy it.


Also you totally need to put a small stage and some risers, to complete it.....

Because I soundproofed the wall.. One of the steps to soundproofing is to isolate the wall using hate channels. If you just screw the playwood/drywall to the studs it won't soundproof low frequencies.