Here to learn while I prepare to build my home theater! (1 Viewer)

[rgrhorton]

Hello, home theater noob here near Pittsburgh. A couple years ago we finished half of the basement and made a couple storage rooms and a game room. Now we're getting ready to finish the other side, part of which we already decided was to be a media room. Well about a month ago a neighbor invited us over to watch a movie in his basement theater. It was pretty awesome and afterwards my wife said we should get a projector and do it. This is why I am here, hoping to learn from others experiences and mistakes. Hopefully I can get it right or pretty close to it the first time. Right now I am thinking about construction and wiring. I'll be doing all of the framing and electrical myself. Once I get to drywall, that's when I pay someone else to do the work. Anyways glad to be here and look forward to learning some stuff!

 

[JohnRice]

Plenty of people to help, but we need specs on the room, what your goals are, and what budget we can triple for you.

 

[rgrhorton]

Plenty of people to help, but we need specs on the room, what your goals are, and what budget we can triple for you.

I think(?) I have a realistic budget in mind.... I guess we'll see. I need to draw out the room but it's basically going to be about 14' wide x about 19-20' long with 8'6" ceilings. Goal is to have a pretty cool space for movie watching. Figure day to day tv will still be in the living room.

 

[John Dirk]

Welcome!

Well about a month ago a neighbor invited us over to watch a movie in his basement theater. It was pretty awesome and afterwards my wife said we should get a projector and do it.

I like your wife already! Mine thinks I'm completely crazy. Of course she's wrong as I'm only partially crazy.

This is why I am here, hoping to learn from others experiences and mistakes. Hopefully I can get it right or pretty close to it the first time.

"Thinks he can get it right the first time." There's no such thing as "right," only what works best for you and your specific circumstances.

As the esteemed Mr. Rice said though, some details will be needed to get the ball rolling.

 

[rgrhorton]

Welcome!


I like your wife already! Mine thinks I'm completely crazy. Of course she's wrong as I'm only partially crazy.

"Thinks he can get it right the first time." There's no such thing as "right," only what works best for you and your specific circumstances.

As the esteemed Mr. Rice said though, some details will be needed to get the ball rolling.

I'll get there. I figure first I need to get the outer walls done and get a good drawing posted up along with where my head is at on things. I came in here to introduce myself. I am thinking when I'm closer to getting the ball rolling I'll post up in the Home Theater area and start a thread for my build and go from there. With any luck I'll be watching my new screen next summer sometime.

Yes, I am feeling optimistic lol. =)

 

[JohnRice]

Outer walls, yes. Ideally you get wiring planned before the interior walls are finished, to make running wires a lot easier and cheaper.

 

[rgrhorton]

Outer walls, yes. Ideally you get wiring planned before the interior walls are finished, to make running wires a lot easier and cheaper.

Yeah I'm just taking outer walls for now. I'll get a drawing posted up soon.

 

[smithbrad]

I think(?) I have a realistic budget in mind.... I guess we'll see. I need to draw out the room but it's basically going to be about 14' wide x about 19-20' long with 8'6" ceilings. Goal is to have a pretty cool space for movie watching. Figure day to day tv will still be in the living room.

I recall when I researched before building my room back in 2004 that it is good to stay away from multiples in your room dimensions from an acoustic perspective. So, unless you have other priorities or constraints, you might consider 13' or 17' by 19'. Again, I would only concern myself with it if it doesn't inhibit other plans.

Also, it can be nice to keep the equipment out of view when watching so as to not be distracted. I put mine in the back and built a closet on the other side so the equipment could be flush to the wall in the HT and I could get to the wiring behind the equipment through the closet.

 

[rgrhorton]

I recall when I researched before building my room back in 2004 that it is good to stay away from multiples in your room dimensions from an acoustic perspective. So, unless you have other priorities or constraints, you might consider 13' or 17' by 19'. Again, I would only concern myself with it if it doesn't inhibit other plans.

Also, it can be nice to keep the equipment out of view when watching so as to not be distracted. I put mine in the back and built a closet on the other side so the equipment could be flush to the wall in the HT and I could get to the wiring behind the equipment through the closet.

Yeah I read the same when it comes to acoustics. That said I am not an audiophile and I have a hard believing I won't be super happy with a setup like this when we normally watch movies in our living room with a sound bar. It might not be the perfect set up but I'm not sure how much I think we'd be able to tell the difference with an untrained ear. I could be totally wrong on this too....

 

[rgrhorton]

I am very undecided on where to put the equipment.... so many different ideas...

 

[JohnRice]

Yeah I read the same when it comes to acoustics. That said I am not an audiophile and I have a hard believing I won't be super happy with a setup like this when we normally watch movies in our living room with a sound bar. It might not be the perfect set up but I'm not sure how much I think we'd be able to tell the difference with an untrained ear. I could be totally wrong on this too....

The dimensions of your room shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[rgrhorton]

I have started a build thread with a drawing and more information.

 

[joss]

I am making up my mind to build home theater for my room. Someone suggested me a site where Skar Audio subwoofer caught my attention. I want some suggestions before buying it. If some one has personally used it then do share his/her review with me.

5 Best Subwoofers Under $1000 With Loudest Soundbox 2024 Are you looking for subwoofers under $1000? If yes, you should look at our list of the best subwoofer under $1000 and learn about their features. audiospeaks.com

 

[smithbrad]

I am making up my mind to build home theater for my room. Someone suggested me a site where Skar Audio subwoofer caught my attention. I want some suggestions before buying it. If some one has personally used it then do share his/her review with me.

5 Best Subwoofers Under $1000 With Loudest Soundbox 2024 Are you looking for subwoofers under $1000? If yes, you should look at our list of the best subwoofer under $1000 and learn about their features. audiospeaks.com

Thos brands don't typically standout when I see people discussing best subwoofers at a price range. I would take a look at this best list myself.
https://www.audioholics.com/how-to-shop/best-1-000-subwoofer