[avphile newbie]

Hey all, my family is lucky to be moving to a new home soon and I just had some questions about a future set up. We got a good deal on finishing the basement, which will cover carpets, full bath, paint and lights. Take a look at the area which I think will be good for a potential media room/theater.


Now some problems I see is that there's a walk out in that niche we'll be using (in blue). Will it be okay if we have a vertical bling treatment? Also we're planning it on leaving it open.. Does that make for a bad movie watching experience?


As you can imagine, costs are adding up like crazy right now, but for the time being we're going to use some older equipment: 65" mitsu HDTV, onkyo 5.1 and some sectional sofas. Now I don't think we'll ever do a full dedicated theater since we would want a more versatile area. Would you guys recommend a projector or a DLP. The area will be used for movies, tv, sports, and minimal video gaming. Also, we want to keep it more on the simple side.


Thanks for all the help

 

[avphile newbie]

Here's the layout. We'll also have a pool/ping pong table and a bar in the area as well.

 

[localnet]

I would not put the ht in that "blue" room/area, keep it out there for all to view, thinking football, and go with a PJ. It is more fun that way, out in the open. Use that area where the walkout is more as an entry/exit area to the yard, keep it open. Just my .02 And if you can shoot some pics of the actual room and walkout area/back yard that would help. And is the drawing you posted to scale?


Mike

 

[localnet]



Quote:
Originally Posted by avphile newbie /forum/post/16881899


Here's the layout. We'll also have a pool/ping pong table and a bar in the area as well.

Where is the bar area going? And I would place the pj screen to the right of that little circle in the left hand corner. But that may change depending on where you plan on putting the bar. Or, you may want to put the bar area in the walkout area, and the pj screen to the left of the circle on the west wall from looking at your drawing and hang an inexpensive plasma in the walkout/bar area.


Assuming the walkout is on the North side of the house.


God I wish I had a basement like that! The possibilities are endless!


Mike

 

[avphile newbie]



Quote:
Originally Posted by localnet /forum/post/16882016


Where is the bar area going? And I would place the pj screen to the right of that little circle in the left hand corner. But that may change depending on where you plan on putting the bar. Or, you may want to put the bar area in the walkout area, and the pj screen to the left of the circle on the west wall from looking at your drawing and hang an inexpensive plasma in the walkout/bar area.


Assuming the walkout is on the North side of the house.


God I wish I had a basement like that! The possibilities are endless!


Mike

Thanks for the insight! My original thinking was to put a small bar at the "southwest corner" of the blue room and the TV/PJ against the "east wall". I don't have any pictures at the moment. The other parts of the basement will be dedicated for excerscise, sitting area, and a (future) bedroom. Thanks and keep it coming!

 

[localnet]



Quote:
Originally Posted by avphile newbie /forum/post/16882296


Thanks for the insight! My original thinking was to put a small bar at the "southwest corner" of the blue room and the TV/PJ against the "east wall". I don't have any pictures at the moment. The other parts of the basement will be dedicated for excerscise, sitting area, and a (future) bedroom. Thanks and keep it coming!

Excercise? Does the equipment come with dust? Oh, you mean 12 oz curls, right? If you are going to "excercise" I would still do it in the blue room, with a plasma and a view of the back yard.

PJ in the big room with lots of comfy sofa...


And a bedroom? Man, you are really screwing up this project.

Squeeze the bedroom into the mechanical room.


Mike

 

[jpdeuce]



Quote:
Originally Posted by avphile newbie /forum/post/16881896


Will it be okay if we have a vertical bling treatment?

I prefer bling around my neck, not as a room divider.

 

[jpdeuce]



Quote:
Originally Posted by localnet /forum/post/16881965


I would not put the ht in that "blue" room/area, keep it out there for all to view, thinking football, and go with a PJ. It is more fun that way, out in the open. Use that area where the walkout is more as an entry/exit area to the yard, keep it open. Just my .02 And if you can shoot some pics of the actual room and walkout area/back yard that would help. And is the drawing you posted to scale?


Mike

I'm with Mike here. I would keep it out in the open, like on the north wall of the big room. When you have the budget, I would incorporate a drop down screen in front of the 65" mitsu for a better movie experience, when you can drop the lights down some.


Honestly, the biggest problem I see here is them finishing the basement for you. Drywall and paint is the cheap part. Unless you are thinking long term, you will probably end up redoing, or wishing you could redo, a lot of it. Right now I would be thinking about putting different sets of lights on different controls and what not, so you have the options down the road. Think about the things that would be a REAL pain to change, and make sure you are doing those correctly now.


Before they close up the walls, do you want to have speakers in the ceiling? Wires coming from the ceiling? Wires running to certain points on the wall? Power/signal wire to a projector somewhere? Etc... These are questions you need to ask yourself and figure out before they close up the walls.

 

[avphile newbie]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jpdeuce /forum/post/16882519


I'm with Mike here. I would keep it out in the open, like on the north wall of the big room. When you have the budget, I would incorporate a drop down screen in front of the 65" mitsu for a better movie experience, when you can drop the lights down some.


Honestly, the biggest problem I see here is them finishing the basement for you. Drywall and paint is the cheap part. Unless you are thinking long term, you will probably end up redoing, or wishing you could redo, a lot of it. Right now I would be thinking about putting different sets of lights on different controls and what not, so you have the options down the road. Think about the things that would be a REAL pain to change, and make sure you are doing those correctly now.


Before they close up the walls, do you want to have speakers in the ceiling? Wires coming from the ceiling? Wires running to certain points on the wall? Power/signal wire to a projector somewhere? Etc... These are questions you need to ask yourself and figure out before they close up the walls.

JP, great ideas. Those were actually my next questions. Since most people are pro-projector (as am I) I was thinking about getting the projector/speaker prewire anyway...once we figured out where things would go. Due to code regulations and junk, I havent been able to see the the progress (still early). Once things materialize, I will have a better idea of how the basement will pan out. I'm also not a fan of the in wall/ceiling speakers, but prewire is a definite.


I know there are a lot of variables involved in this, but for the PJ, how far should it be from the screen (as an approx)? Also, what size screen would you all recommend? I was thinking ~100-120in. Too big, too small?

 

[Craig Peer]



Quote:
I know there are a lot of variables involved in this, but for the PJ, how far should it be from the screen (as an approx)? Also, what size screen would you all recommend? I was thinking ~100-120in. Too big, too small?

A 92" wide screen is a good size - I wouldn't want a smaller screen. And 16 feet from screen to lens is a pretty average distance for mounting many popular projectors.