[scubasteve2365]


Hello,


Long, Long, Long time lurker (seldom poster) here ready with my very own (finally) dedicated build thread.


My name is Steve, obviously, and I was given the nickname "Scuba" back in the day when I worked a the aforementioned A/V store at the release of Adam Sandlar's "Big Daddy" movie. I'm not a professional Scuba diver. I had never dove when I was given the nickname but I have since grown to love it and I may one day live up to my nickname.


I've been a theater junkie for many moons now, worked in a custom A/V shop in Indiana right out of high school that distracted me from my engineering degree for a few years, and have been into the stuff ever since. Since then I did eventually get back to school and now I'm an electrical engineer doing controls automation by day, DIY hobbyist and frequent mishap fabricator by night.

Epson 8700UB

Dalite 110" Da-Snap fixed frame screen with my DIY fabbed velvet wrapped frame

Yamaha RXV-667 7.1 AVR

Klispch RF-5 Main

Klipsch RC-7 Center

Klipsch RS-3 Side Surrounds

Klipsch RS-3 Rear Surrounds

PS3

Xbox360

Windows 8 Tower PC functioning as Home Server

Popcorn Hour C200 Media Player

3 Zones worth of Insteon Dimmers with Insteon IR module

FiCar Audio 18" IB3 Infinite Baffle Subwoofer (Currently 2, but manifold is built for 4)

Behringer EP1500 Amp powering the Subs

MiniDSP to EQ the Subamp

Dayton UMM-6 USB Microphone for taking REW measurements


The wife and I closed on our new home last month, the theater spot was one of the criteria for finding the perfect home. Even in this market (Louisville, Ky) it took us 3 months to find a house that met all of our needs. I didn't get to start from scratch, so there will be no DD+GG for me and I've had a fun time thus far fishing through the walls.


The room is a 14.75' Wide by 16.5' Deep room.


I have since purchased 4 Berkline 088s. I'm 5'10" and these puppies were on sale locally, I went in with the intention of just trying some seats out and ended up walking out the owner of 4 seats in a IOIOOIOI configuration. I've always wanted to have a theater with the impact of a riser and a "back row" of seating and I'm going to squeeze it into this build. My first through was worried about giving the rear row the minimum of 6' clearance to recline but as I venture into this project I'm thinking about not letting the rear row fully decline. I won't host 6 people often and when I do, the cheap seats can just deal with minimal recline. That and it allows the riser to be a tad shorter if need be.


One thing about this build is that for my sanity, and passion of my hobby, the room has to be semi-functional as I go along. My wife thoroughly enjoys the theater as much as I do and I have agreed to not have any other TV in the house, so it is our ONLY TV that we watch. She believes that no TV in the bedroom allows for better communication and a chance to bond each night before we go to bed, I've learned that she's right.

 

Current Status:



 

 

 

[scubasteve2365]

This is my model in SketchUp. I had a long flight to Europe for business and made a perfect opportunity to spend time.

 

[scubasteve2365]

Place Holder

 

[scubasteve2365]

I don't have any great shots of what I started with, but here is what I have:

This is a dedicated theater but I do get to live an amphibious (double life) in that I can open the theater up if need be. The home came with the now theater portion open to the rest of the basement by an approximate 8'-9' opening. We closed the walls in a tad and added two 3' interior doors. The leftmost door is fixed in place most of the time with a flushbolt. The right door will be the everyday general entrance to the theater. Under the occasion that I'm hosting something like a Superbowl party the door can easily be opened up giving the whole lower level the open floorplan approach. I realize this is NOT ideal for sound containment, which may one day be a concern but since I didn't start this room from scratch with DD+GG anyway there isn't really any loss. It's just me and my wife and we both usually in the room at the same time.

As you can see, I have one big hurdle on account of the one really big window. My plan is to make a window plug, then cover the plug with an acoustic panel wrapped in a yet to be decided GOM fabric, backed with OC703 (IIRC). You can see this area in my sketchup shots. I also plan to put a matching panel on the opposite wall.

 

[scubasteve2365]

Equipment Rack


For my equipment rack I wasn't remotely interested in shelling out for an MA rack or some other overpriced shelf. For our purpose I can't really see the benefit when something can easily be made yourself.


I basically took YW84U's approach:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post13046275


Which is basically a whole in the drywall, with shelving behind it and some trim up front to make it look good. While this is pretty easy, it can be a challenge to get the shelves at the correct height while your holding things making sure everything is level and trying to mark the screw spots.


This is a shot of the "hole" where the equipment shelf will end up. The shot needs to be rotated but I was lazy.

Here it is coming together. I did one shelf at a time starting from the bottom.

Finished Product, the back is still really messy with the connections, so I don't have any shots of it but can take some if someone is interested. I have a section about shoulder level when I plan to house random things like the movie cases for the movies I just rented from blockbuster.

Does anyone know where I can get some of that thin rigid cardboard stuff that comes with the cheap Sauder (Walmart quality) assemble furniture. Its the peices that usually nail to the back of a bookshelf. I'd like to close off that "random stuff" shelf so that it doesn't appear open to anyone that gets close to the rack. I figured that stuff would be perfect.

 

[scubasteve2365]

INSTEON DIMMER/LIGHTING



In my previous dedicated tiny bedroom build I just had a single zone of lighting which was controlled by a Lutron Maestro IR dimmer.


For this theater I knew I wanted multiple zones with screen wash lights, riser lights, recessed main lights and perhaps some wall sconces, rope lighting in crown and perhaps a light shined upon the equipment rack (for when I make the wife get up to put the next Blu-ray in )


So far, I've installed 6 6" can lights, a single 4" Eyeball trim light and three 3" gimble trim lights for the screen wash. I had to cut a single approximate 6" hole in order to get my HDMI and power fished to the projector spot, so I chose a spot that I'd like a can to be located. This gave me my entry point to the ceiling joist to begin daisy chaining and fishing wires to other lights. The total job took about 2 days working in the afternoons after the day job to complete.

As you can see it was messy at one point. I pulled out the existing center globe. The holes in the ceiling in the upper right were from a plumbing fix. The home in relatively new (2007) and the original owners foreclosed after being in the home for less than a year. For some odd reason the bank sat on the house for over a year and they used a cheap company to winterize the home. They didn't do so well on winterizing the line that feeds the outside water spickets(sp) and when we turned the water during the inspection there was a leak. Plumbers have no remorse for ripping drywall out. I can't complain though because I got the house at a steal..


Here are what the screen lights look like

the eyeball on the equipment rack

and the 6 main cans

I loved the idea behind the Insteon product line. I can buy my lighting system in pieces and in zones as I need them and I can expand the system beyond the theater area. As a engineer that automates manufacturing equipment it's always been in the back of my mind to have a PLC controlling things in the home, unfortunately that's not practical for many reasons. One being the lack of signal and control cabling in a home that isn't new construction. The other being the resale/explanation of the PLC. With the insteon line I may get some of the features of automation, particularly if I buy one of the controllers without the resale and cabling issues.


For now, I started with 2 dimmers and an 8 button keypad along with the IR module. The theater room had a dedicated 15A feed to it and the unfinished storage section to the side of the room had a separate dedicated feed. I decided to branch of of the storage area [which only has 2 60W lights on it] to feed my theater lighting. This gave me a great access point.

Another hole in the existing drywall, by this point I feel that I could make 2d art in drywall with my keyhole saw

and the final installed result, right now it's a 3-gang/3-zone but can easily be changed to a 4-gang4-zone by opening up the hole a bit and adding another $50, so when I get around to adding riser lights, wall sconces or some rope lighting I'm prepared. I still need to take the plastic cover off the dim paddles.

My initial thought was grafik eye until I discovered the Insteon line. I'm sure the grafik eye is a fantastic product and probably easy to create scenes with, but the expandability and upfront investment made the Insteon approach a no-brainer to me.

 

[BIGmouthinDC]



Quote:
Originally Posted by scubasteve2365 /forum/post/16923405


Does anyone know where I can get some of that thin rigid cardboard stuff that comes with the cheap Sauder (Walmart quality) assemble furniture. Its the peices that usually nail to the back of a bookshelf.

I know exactly what you are talking about and I think you are going to have a really hard time finding it. As an alternative you could pick up a piece of black vinyl at a fabric store and glue to a piece of 1/4 inch plywood or Masonite.

 

[carboranadum]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BIGmouthinDC /forum/post/16924568


I know exactly what you are talking about and I think you are going to have a really hard time finding it. As an alternative you could pick up a piece of black vinyl at a fabric store and glue to a piece of 1/4 inch plywood or Masonite.

...or just paint the masonite black?


CJ

 

[scubasteve2365]

Long time no see, I've been busy with an out of town project that limited my "enjoy-as-I-go" theater. Here is where I stand:


I've painted the theater and I finally have a flat black ceiling. This overall had a very darkening effect on the room and it makes the projected image notably better. The screen now seems to just float with all the lights off.


I used Sherwin Williams Home Duration Matte paint. It is a touch more reflective than a flat paint but has real durability to it without burnishing. Having burnishing paint elsewhere in the house has proven to me that the value sacrifice of a smidgen more sheen is worthwhile for the durability. I recomend this paint to everyone here. I did my research and poured over the threads on the subject.

This shot makes the ceiling look very reflective, when the reality is that I have a Da-lite High Power Screen fabric. With it's retro-reflective nature it casts light back to the source and in this case, it's redirecting light back to the screen wash-out lights above the screen.

This is not me in the photo. My riser is a very simple one, with some seat bump on it since I am under a soffit. I made a main riser that is fit for a berkline 088 loveseat that will eventually make it's way to the back row, for now there is an extension piece that is used to accommodate the larger traditional love seat.

At this point I just need to build a stage and get carpet in and I will be mostly done, except for cosmetic additions. Progress will continue to be slow as i have other projects going in parallel in addition to a baby being on the way.

 

[Adidas4275]

looks great. how did you build that in-wall rack? it looks great. is it very deep? a normal wall is just 3.5" thick or something like that....

 

[scubasteve2365]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Adidas4275 /forum/post/17816209


looks great. how did you build that in-wall rack? it looks great. is it very deep? a normal wall is just 3.5" thick or something like that....

One day, before I'm old and gray (which should be in the next 15 months before I turn 30) I'll clean up the wiring behind the wall and show how it was done.


In simple terms I just cut a hole in the drywall and screwed shelves to the joists on the other side. The area where the rack is goes underneath the stairs to the basement.

 

[yaj123]



My wife thoroughly enjoys the theater as much as I do and I have agreed to not have any other TV in the house, so it is our ONLY TV that we watch. She believes that no TV in the bedroom allows for better communication and a chance to bond each night before we go to bed, I've learned that she's right.

Dear ScubaSteve,


Do not, I repeat, do not ever mention this to my wife. The whole purpose of the TV in the bedroom is to REDUCE communication, and help me fall asleep to the white noise of dead Billy Mays trying to sell me a product I don't need!

PS. Room looks great!

 

[mikieson]



My wife thoroughly enjoys the theater as much as I do and I have agreed to not have any other TV in the house, so it is our ONLY TV that we watch. She believes that no TV in the bedroom allows for better communication and a chance to bond each night before we go to bed, I've learned that she's right.

Quote:
Dear ScubaSteve,


Do not, I repeat, do not ever mention this to my wife. The whole purpose of the TV in the bedroom is to REDUCE communication, and help me fall asleep to the white noise of dead Billy Mays trying to sell me a product I don't need!

PS. Room looks great!

I would hate to think that my wife was pushy enough to tell me what I need and dont need. If I wanted a 60" tv sitting right in front of my bed I would. Im sorry, but you either have "communication" or you dont..

Stick in some light porn and set the mood and practice whats being seen..Never hurts..

 

[In2Photos]

There are times when I wish we didn't have a TV in the bedroom. It interferes with "bonding" alright.

She'd rather watch TV and I'd rather, well do something else!

 

[scubasteve2365]

This weekend I finally got around to adding my stage, leaving my to-do list down to carpet and IB-sub arrangement. I contemplated whether or not to do a curved lip but then while playing around in CAD I decided that I liked this better. I didn't add in sand and probably will not as there will not be any subwoofers on it.


Here are some shots

 

[mjg100]

Nice to see another guy from Kentucky. I get up to Louisville fairly regularly since my in-laws live in Oldham County.

 

[mikieson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mjg100 /forum/post/18143123


Nice to see another guy from Kentucky. I get up to Louisville fairly regularly since my in-laws live in Oldham County.

Kentucky?? You guys are just around the corner "kind of" from me. Im a Tennessee guy. I live about 20min from Murray Kn.

 

[scubasteve2365]

Well I finally have the theater done, well as done as it could be from a hobbyist DIY perspective.


The last big item for the room was the carpet. I didn't have a huge budget for carpet and I had never purchased carpet before. Like many I underestimated what it'd take to carpet the room by a significant factor. With that in mind I couldn't afford the $5/sq ft carpet that many seem to use. I went with Lowes and purchased the Ruby Hill model. I used two colors, "Thunder Cloud" for the main floor and riser and "Ebony" for the stage. I wanted the stage to have a little bit of pop to it.


In these images the "Thunder Cloud" color is a little off. I tried to set the correct white balance but for someone reason it seems to add a touch of a purple color that isn't there. The color is more grey than anything. I'm thinking that this is a result of the lights combined with luminance reflecting from the blue walls. These images are also brighter than the room is in person, I used manual settings on my DSLR to bring in more light.

In this image you can see the "extension" for my small riser. I don't have it in my budget at the moment to purchase two more Berkline's for the back row. I have a baby coming next month. When I do get around to purchasing them, this extension piece will go into my storage room. This made a good compromise and allowed for me to finish the room before having 100% final seating.

 

[mikieson]

Very very nice. I like the colors of the walls "sides, front and ceiling"..Awesome man...You have any pics of equipment? Rear of theater ect??? Enjoy that space!!!!


I see some of the rear..but more of a straight on view please..

 

[scubasteve2365]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mikieson /forum/post/18340196


Very very nice. I like the colors of the walls "sides, front and ceiling"..Awesome man...You have any pics of equipment? Rear of theater ect??? Enjoy that space!!!!


I see some of the rear..but more of a straight on view please..

I have a recent, yet very poorly executed, panoramic stitched together photo from the front facing the rear. The distortion in the image gives it an incorrect depth perception.

I'll snap some additional shots soon that more accurately represents the rear of the room. It's hard with a DSLR and no wide lens. I have an 18-55mm lens but I don't have a full-frame SLR body, therefor It's closer I guess to about 27-30mm at my widest.