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Current photo 9/14/2016.
Two years ago I started with a 70 inch Sharp TV and a Sony 2.1 Sound bar, but I wanted bigger because going to the theater was becoming less and less enjoyable with people using cell phones and having conversations during the movie. Movie nights with the family became a common occurrence in my basement, but I wanted bigger. I was hoping the 80 inch TV prices would fall to around $2500, but they didn't.
So last September I purchased a Viewsonic PJD5134 and a Logitech THX 2.1 200 watt speaker set. Set it up by projecting it on to a plain off white wall . To my surprise, we stopped watching the Sharp TV and every weekend the entire family would watch a movie or play a game using the Viewsonic. I mounted it on the celling to get it out of the way.
After about 2 months, the screen door effect of a 800X600 projector got to me and I actually dreamed one night in "screen door". So I wanted a true 1080p projector that I could use 4 hours a day and not go broke buying replacement lamps. I went with an Epson HC2000 and wound up moving the ceiling mount 3 times to get the image just right. It is now about a 169 inch image.
The next thing was to paint the wall and add blackout curtains to make the room darker for morning and afternoon viewing. I am not the best painter, but I am mostly pleased with the result...for now. I added a surround sound system (Yamaha 375 and Energy Take 1 classic speakers and another sub-woofer-BIC f12).
I am winding down at work and will be eligible to retire in January, so I don't want to do a retirement "quality-home theater" until I decide the "where" I want to retire. By he way, I am not that old yet and am only 51, so I might decide to work a little longer before retiring to some place warm with a lake.
Here are a few pictures of my three systems which we still use. (Of course.... they are in reverse order.) I included photos of the winter we have had and what it looks like today since I am torn between sitting on the porch or watching a movie today.