1. Buy your projector last. It will be cheaper then, or better if you decide to upgrade. Some people stop working midway through their theater construction if they get their PJ before they're done.
2. Unless you are investing 100K into your theater, there will be a series of trade offs. Fortunately, the returns are diminishing, so a $20K theater isn't 2X as good as a $10K theater.
3. Know yourself. When you're making your theater, know what is important to you and what isn't. If you know you aren't an audiophile, don't spend your limited resources making your room to audiophile standards. If you don't have a $5K audio system right now, don't spend more than $1K for an audio system in your theater. You won't get value out of it. Get a Home Theater in a Box instead. If you're not an audiophile, you'll be blown away.
4. As for insulation, you might need to consider the folks upstairs when you are in the basement (unless you live alone.) I would just play some loud music down there and see how it sounds both to you and to your neighbors. (Watch the bass closely) If you like the way it sounds, and they don't object, you're good to go. You may need to add some sound absorption to prevent echos.
5. Paint your walls and ceiling black or a dark color so light reflection doesn't wash your image out.
6. If I were in you're shoes, I would get the $3k seats and FP combo, a Dalite High power screen, an Onkyo HTIB, HD DVD players, Dish DVR, ceiling mount, universal remote, paint the walls, and add something to absorb wayward sound. That sounds like the limits of your budget. And that, my friend, would be a kickass little home theater.
2. Unless you are investing 100K into your theater, there will be a series of trade offs. Fortunately, the returns are diminishing, so a $20K theater isn't 2X as good as a $10K theater.
3. Know yourself. When you're making your theater, know what is important to you and what isn't. If you know you aren't an audiophile, don't spend your limited resources making your room to audiophile standards. If you don't have a $5K audio system right now, don't spend more than $1K for an audio system in your theater. You won't get value out of it. Get a Home Theater in a Box instead. If you're not an audiophile, you'll be blown away.
4. As for insulation, you might need to consider the folks upstairs when you are in the basement (unless you live alone.) I would just play some loud music down there and see how it sounds both to you and to your neighbors. (Watch the bass closely) If you like the way it sounds, and they don't object, you're good to go. You may need to add some sound absorption to prevent echos.
5. Paint your walls and ceiling black or a dark color so light reflection doesn't wash your image out.
6. If I were in you're shoes, I would get the $3k seats and FP combo, a Dalite High power screen, an Onkyo HTIB, HD DVD players, Dish DVR, ceiling mount, universal remote, paint the walls, and add something to absorb wayward sound. That sounds like the limits of your budget. And that, my friend, would be a kickass little home theater.
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