New Theater In Planning Stages (1 Viewer)

[Thomas:B]

Hey, I’m new to this website. I am just wondering if there is any information anywhere on the web about real movie theaters. Like size of room or size of screen? I am building a new house and would like to put the most realistic movie theater possible! I mean I want the biggest possible screen and best sound possible. I went on the JBL website and they have a few theater setups on there but the smallest one is for like a 200 seat theater. It has 6 8330a JBL surrounds with 3 JBL 4622n for screen channels and 2 JBL 4641 for subs. It also has 4 Crown XLS 602 (dual) for power. I know this is for a small theater with 200 seats but would it be too much for a home theater even a big one? How big of a screen is a small real movie theater? I’m in the planning stages of my new house and would like to incorporate this into the house. Since size does of the room doesn’t really matter cause it’s not going into an already constructed room what would be the biggest screen that would be good for a small real theater. I know Runco has some of the most powerful projectors out. Now I’m not talking like an IMax but I want a professional size screen along with professional sound!! Also are most real theaters concrete floors? I only want about 3 or 4 levels and I know that the bigger the screen the farther back the seating needs to be and that since its going to be a taller screen the seating needs to be taller! So since most theaters have like a bar with popcorn and stuff was thinking about putting the bar down in front of the seating and make the seating like 3 or 4 feet about the ground and also maybe put the rack down in front like that. I don’t know I’m mostly wanting size and stuff I know this is kind of a big do it your self project. Go to JBLs Website to check out the different setups! I would love the medium setup in my theater but I think it might be a little much! Anyways I hope some one can help me out if not take a look and maybe someone else can at least contribute with some ideas! Thanks a lot and hope to hear from some one soon!!

 

[Brad E]

How big is your room going to be?

 

[David Noll]

"Real movie theater", "most realistic theater", "small home theater"... I think you really have to decide what you really want. I personally feel that duplicating a real theater would sacrifice the advantages of a true "home theater". Most real theaters don't offer anything exceptional. Video and sound in a good home theater can be so much better than a "real movie theater".

Check out my link below, I think I have something so much better than a "real movie theater".

David

 

[Thomas:B]

Ok sorry like I said I’m new to this website stuff. I want to sit around 32 people. I’m really thinking 4 levels with 2 couches with a love seat in between on each level. 3 people on each couch and 2 people on each love seat would be 32 people. 150K is about what I can spend but depending on how big we are talking 200k might not be bad. If I could get real theater quality Size and sound It might be worth it. Is Runco the best out there? I saw they now have a 250k projector but thats pushing it. I don’t think they are 50k? Also where are speakers that run 50k? I know I want real theater sound but I don’t want over kill.I can pretty much go as big as I need with out over killing it. With the 2 couches and 1 love seat with a walk way on each side id say about 30 feet wide and hell 50 foot deep maybe and 20 feet tall. I didn’t know you cant give websites out in this forum so I guess I wont be getting any websites to find this at but Maybe you could give some brands that sell the equipment that cost 50k. Thanks again for all your help!! I really appreciate it!!

 

[David Noll]

Thomas,

Did you see my gallery? Here is a description:

Construction of this 13'3" X 32', 16 seat theater began in April 2004 and was completed in February 2005. The theater features a 96" X 54" widescreen image projected on a Stewart Firehawk screen by a Runco VX1000ci DLP projector & DHD controller. The 7.1 sound system includes a Denon 3805 A/v processor and Definitive Technology BP7001SC main speakers, a C/L/R 2500 center speaker and four BP2X surround speakers. A Denon DVD-2200 audio-video/super audio CD player and a High-definition TV cable converter supply the sources. A Panamax MAX 5300 surge/line conditioning system protects the entire theater system. Remote control is via an iPronto tsi6400 which controls everything in the theater including the 10-zone Lutron lighting system. A High-definition game port is available for use with X-Box and Playstation game consoles.

My theater is three levels 8 1/2" difference between. My bar area is on the same level as my theater although it is like a fourth level because the bar stools are high.

My height is only 9'4" at the front. Maybe 20 feet might make your room too open.

I've noticed in the past that Runco doesn't get much respect at this forum. Tends to be treated as overpriced. I love mine! I always thought "you get what you pay for". My Runco VX1000ci DLP projector & DHD controller was in the $16,000 range. I'm not sure if it would work in a theater over twice the size as mine.

My Definitive Technology BP7001SC main speakers, a C/L/R 2500 center speaker and four BP2X surround speakers would be more than adequate for a theater twice the size as mine!
They are better than any "real theater" speaker systems I ever heard.

Good Luck!

David

 

[Thomas:B]

Thanx Alot david! wow ur theater is very nice!! I want my screen to be 300" X 168" I dont even know where to find a scree that big. I think the runco projector will work for a screen that big! Is there some sort of formula to find out how far back and how high the first level of seating needs to be? Thanx for all your help keep the comments coming!!

Bass

 

[chris_everett]

You may want to consider bringing in a pro for a project of this size, money and caliber. 200K will build you something better than any "real" theater

$25,000 will buy you a 3 chip DLP Panasonic pushing 6K lumens
and between 50-100K will get you a JBL Synthisis system, complete, installed, and tuned (Depends on the size of your space)

Most HT's seem to top out at a 200-250" wide screen, so you might need something really custom there.

More important than screen size is viewing angle, that is you want the screen to cover the same amount of your vision as a theater screen. Their is a site that has that information on it, seach for home theater calculater, or something like that.

 

[Thomas:B]

Hey chris thanx alot! R u saying that the panasonic is better than a runco thats the same price or a little higher? Whats the JBL synthisis system?? Ill try and find that calcutlator.

Bass

 

[chris_everett]

The specs on the panasonic look good to me, but the Runco is good too. I would look at them both. The JBL Synthisis is JBL's high end home theater system. they have several different levels of it, from one suited for up to 3,000 cubic feet all the way to one for 75,000 cubic feet, with 8000 watts of power. MSRP on that thing is $150K. They inlcude speakers, amps and processing. The best part about it is that they actually send a tech out to tune and EQ the system for you, with pro measurment tools like SIA-Smaart, stuff that home theater folks don't really have access to, and can make all the difference in the world. If I were you, I would work with someone from JBL to build the system, and call a specialist in HT accoustics to help you design the room.

 

[Thomas:B]

Thanx alot chris well I just might have to give jbl a call would I contact jbl them self or a dealer of jbl? Thanx alot man!!

Bass

 

[chris_everett]

They have a list of dealers for the Synthesis system on their website:

http://www.jblsynthesis.com/where_to...tallation.aspx

 

[SteveCallas]

Sounds like a great project, the only thing that worries me is the sound. With a room so large, you would need super efficient horns and very large woofers, basically just like at a theater. The problem with this is that the sound probably won't be as detailed or enveloping as what you would get from hifi speakers. Compare the sound you hear at the movies to what you hear in a quality home theater and you will know what I'm talking about. If you intend to listen to music in this theater, the difference would be even more exaggerated.

Also, with a room so big, the only possible way I can think of to get bass that would come anywhere close to rivaling what you would can get in a home theater would be an IB with at least 20 (probably many more) high quality 15" or 18" drivers connected to a very large room.

This is not to say the sound you are likely to get in such a large theater will be bad, I'm sure it will be pretty good, but I think a home theater would definitely surpass it.

 

[Adam Gregorich]

Look at JVCs 3 chip 1080P projector model DLA-HD2K. It is amazing and can handle a huge screen. It is a three chip LCOS 1080P model with an included separate video processor. It retails for $30K. Since you are going to be spending some serious $$, I would plan to spend a day or two at CEDIA in September to see some of these things in person. I would work with a theater designer like Dennis Erskine at http://www.designcinema.com/. He can provide a plan if you want to DIY, or he can do the whole thing start to finish. My wife and I are currently building our theater working off a design he did for us.