Hot Tub Forum
General => General info Somewhat hot tub related => Topic started by: Brewman on March 09, 2005, 10:51:54 pm
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Ok, So now that the spa's been paid for for a while, and I just got done with a 2 year long project of finishing my basement, I decided to pop in a home theater setup.
I am going with a front projection system which will give me a screen size of about 96" diagonal. It's amazing the screen size and quality you can get for the money.
My components should all arrive by Friday, so I'll have a lot to do this weekend setting things up. In addition to installing the projector and all of the other components, I'm making my own screen.
Hope to get in a little tubbing as well.
Anyone else out there have a projection setup, or any other home theater rig, for that matter?
Brewman
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Funny but a few years ago.....It was a business I thought about getting into....I used to work in Home Audio as well as Mobile DJ and Club equipment the gentleman I worked with started his own line of DJ equipment and is now the largest Manufacture of DJ/Club equipment in the US....me with my great wisdom and for sight got into the Record business instead of staying with him....anyway....I was wondering....How are you making your own screen.....
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Still working out the details, but my plan so far is to construct a frame out of square aluminum tubing, using flat corner braces to connect the sides. Then I will use blackout cloth or some other material for the screen surface. There are several web sites that describe diy screen making. It's one area where a substantial amount of money can be saved. Ready made screens are suprisingly expensive.
Brewman
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One of my favorite websites for parts - http://www.av-cables.net Though the owner of the site is a Masterspa owner. ;D
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A few years back I had a housemate that bought a projection set up. We had no TV services it was soley for DVD/Video use. We projected it directly onto the off-white wall and plugged it into the surround stereo system. We also used if for event parties; I produced related movies and continually projected them in the dance room. It was a fantastic experience, one that continues to be talked about. In my contemplation of Home Theater upgrading I've been considering the same.
His name was Bob and we called it... Bobvision
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Take a look at www.avsforum.com they have a good group of people and info. I finished my home theater about 2 years ago and love it.
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I have a cheap home theater setup - A Yamaha 6.1 receiver with BIC 32 speakers and an Audiosource Sub-woofer. Not the best but it sounds OK. I do have a graphic equalizer with a pink noise generator to compensate somewhat whatever the speakers were lacking for music but my Yamaha can't accommodate it. As I grew older I got out of my "audiophile" stage.
The television is a Zenith (back when it was made in the USA) 27 inch television with I believe 700 lines of resolution. MY family room isn't too big so the 27 inch is OK probably 36 inch max would be fine. I have never been much of a videophile (although I do own an LCD television for the bedroom).
I originally wanted to use my older Polk speakers as the front R & L with newer Polks all around but didn't want to mount a "larger" speaker where it could fall and hurt a child.
Buy yourself some DVD music even if your DVD player doesn't support DVD audio (I believe it was a flash in the pan era). I have Fleetwood Mac "Rumors" in DVD and it's like your in the middle of the band! The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" Video is great too!
Use some good speaker wire - I used Monster cable (you never know if and when that audiophile bug hits again) and it's a pleasure to work with.
As far as the screen - I just saw a home show on TV that painted on the screen to the wall. It is specialized paint made for this purpose and you can make the screen any size. Sorry, I don't remember the paint manufacturers name.
Anyway have fun and enjoy.
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Thanks for the advice. I have been very busy poking around in avsforum.com- there is a wealth of info there, including the various paint techniques for screens.
I've never grown out of the toy phase, and I don't see myself doing so for now.
Tomorrow is the day most of the components are to be delivered. Should make for a really busy (but fun) weekend.
Brewman
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We just converted our (24x24') garage into a home theatre. Unfortunately, I'm about to come to the decision point of moving my folks into that same space....
"Hey Dad! Can you and Mom get outta bed for a couple of hours? We want to watch a movie...."
So the room is ready, even prewired for power, Internet, phone and speakers - but we may not get to use it.
:-[
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Chas,
As much fun as the Home Theater would be... it sure does not beat having your folks around....it is a kind and generous thing to do and something that not all would do....enjoy the time with them.....
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Don't forget to pick equipment that will show off the full glory of High Definition TV. It's here now and it's awesome! (And Hi-Def DVDs are not too far away)
AVS forum is great, also HT guide.com and the Home Theater Spot forums.
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The projector I purchased is configured for hdtv.
Right now I'm trying to decide what to do for HD programming. Our cable company seems to offer the best deal in the area for HD programming. I've looked at Dish and Direct TV, and going HD with them would be more expensive, and offer less programming.
Direct is supposed to launch a couple satelites this year and broadcast everything HD, so I'll check back later in the year and re-evaluate. But from what I've seen of HDTV so far, the difference is pretty remarkable.
Brewman
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I should say that we have a Sony STR DE-695 and a matching Sony NC665P 5- disc player. They can be operated off of ONE remote, and our older Sony VCR will also run off the same remote. That alone makes it a great system!! Sony has replaced the unit we have with the STR-DE997/B - more power and seven channels. Gimme a break!
This is a nice setup - we don't have all six speakers in the den yet, just four - but it can be set to run with that number of speakers and it's very good! Our neighbors seem to enoy it - they must, they call us all the time to ask us what on earth we are watching over there....
A hundred watts per channel, six channels total.
We have JBL speakers - the sub feeds off the sub out from the control unit.
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I'm running JBL speakers, also.
They seem like a good performing speaker for the money.
The reciever and the DVD/CD changer are Yamaha.
The projector is an InFocus SP5000.
I just built the screen last night. The last thing I need is a component video cable long enough to reach from the projector to the reciever. Can't get one locally, so I ordered it, and it should be here this Monday.
Then I can finally get this system up to 100%.
Brewman
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We use Cox cable for HD, but in my area, they have not signed on with all the digital local broadcasters. So I also have an over-the-air HD receiver and Channel Master 4228 antenna, to pick up the other locals.
If you go with a dish system, the receivers can be connected to an antenna as well as the dish needed, and the local channels will be added into the program schedule. I’ve read that Dish network has the best product right now, Direct TV is compressing their signal too much.
Best thing is to go to the "local HDTV info and reception" at AVS and find the thread to your local group. Our area broadcast engineers participant in our group, with lots of helpful info.
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Thanks, I'll give that a look.
Brewman
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Just wanted to echo something Johnvb posted
Home Theater Spot is a great place to get info and really research a purchase. A lot of great folks just like here.
A direct link to the forums
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/ubbthreads.php/Cat/Cat/C/7
It can be a little tough to get to the forums from the main page.
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WOW....thanks for the info....
My wife and I are putting in a Home Theater in our "game room" that is in our house being built....
They are starting the foundation today! Never realized just how awesome a 120" screen can look with a decent projector...I was absolutely in awe!!!
Brewman let us know how it works for you and perhaps we can share some tips and stuff from our setup!
Regards,
:)
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I'm about 90% complete. I just put the finishing touches on my screen, it's ready to hang up. I had to order a component video cable for the projector, since I couldn't get a long enough one locally, and I'm waiting on a drop tube for the projector's ceiling mount. The cable came in yesterday, and the tube is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. Hopefully we'll be watching movies by the weekend.
Brewman
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Brewman,
Are you running cable/satellite to the projector as well? I would like to run cable (hd programing and non HD programming) to it. How are you dealing with compression of non digital 16:9 programming? What type of projector are you using?
Thanks....this is a new realm for us as I havent purchased audio equipment in about 7 years!
Regards,
Mike :)
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I have the InFocus SP5000, which is in the bottom of the 3 tiers of HT projectors that Infocus markets.
The upscale projectors are way out of my price range.
(Their flagship PJ lists at $30K!)
The projector is an LCD style, with a native resolution capable of playing HD broadcasts. I think it's 1280X720.
I do intend to run cable to the projector, but I have not contacted our cable company yet to get this set up.
There are only a dozen or so HD channels available on our cable. But it's a start.
I'm not sure how the projector will handle the non HD cable stations. I'll have to play with the projector's settings to see what works best.
I am hoping that Direct TV launches their HD satelites as promised, which should force their competitors to start putting their collective HD rear's in gear.
Brewman
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Brew,
I hope DTV does get their act in line. I had DTV for 3+ years in Albuquerque. The problem I had with them was the constant delay of "we will have your local channels next month" to equipment problems on our DVR's...to some loss of programming at times. Overall we were satisfied with them but the final straw came when our DVR which we purchased through them just stopped working 1 year and 2 weeks after the initial purchase. After numerous calls and back and forth's with the manufacturer it was going to cost us more to have it fixed than it would be just to get another one.
So...since we moved here to San Antonio...the cable folks here have the local channels in HD and they have a very nice selection of HD programming. DTV does not carry local HD broadcasts.
With that being said we are going with the Cable folks who also dont charge any extra for an HD DVR as opposed to a regular DVR.
We are looking at several places in town for recommendations on how to set up the room for the theater. They range from millions of dollars to very reasonable.
Since we are at the building stage, our builder will either allow me to wire it before sheetrock, allow the "sound folks" to do it, or they will do it with me providing the cables etc and showing them where to put it.
I am leaning on providing them (the builder) with the cabling. Rationale...is that if they mess it up or a wire gets undone behind the sheetrock the builder will take care of this in the warranty. In addition it will cost us under $200 for them to do this all, provide the added vent in the equipment closet, and get it set the way we like.
Any ups or downs to what we are doing that you see???
Take care and will look at the In focus machines too!!!
Regards,
Mike
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That sounds like a good price for that kind of work.
I'd be tempted to pay the $200.
I'd carefully plan out how many speakers you want, what style (wall, ceiling, bookshelf, floor standing) and run all wires accordingly. Also consider how you will mount your projector. The cable for that can be roughed in also.
Don't forget a ceiling outlet by the projector, if you do a ceiling mount.
The component cable I just got is pretty big around, possibly an inch or so diameter.
Be sure that any wire you run in the walls for your speakers is listed for in wall use. Regular speaker wire isn't, and your building inspectors may not allow it. I pre wired our house a few years ago, and didn't get flagged for using the "wrong" speaker wire, but that was 6 years ago.
Have fun shopping for your AV components. Things have changed A LOT since I put in my humble pro logic reciever 6 years ago.
The sky is the limit as far as what you can spend.
I found the various HT bulletin boards very helpfu.
Still consult them a lot.
Brewman
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Brew,
what are the HT bulletin boards??? Link?
Also...what is the component cable that you used? What does it have in it...where did you get it from?
Thanks a billiion....
We are wiring for a 5.1 system although I will most likely drop for side speakers for a 7.1 system for future upgrades!!!
Speakers in the front will be wall mounted and the ones in the back will be wall mounted as well. The rear ceiling has a slope so still looking for rec's from the pro's as to where to put that at and where to build the supports.
Our builder is really great...working hand in hand with us on this one...maybe cuz there have been some delays in the foundation pouring..who knows but they are really helpful.
Did you do anything special with the walls such as acoustic treatments etc?
Regards,
Mike
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If the Building codes in the area allow it, get the builder to install conduit, instead of wires. That gives you the ability to upgrade later. I just upgraded my A/V cabling using Belden.
In a 5.1 system, you want to start out with side surrounds, 90 degrees from the listening position (either direct or dipoles). A 7.1 system would add the rears at around 130 degrees (check the Dolby digital web site for more info)
See my responce on page one with some links.
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The component cable is the one with the three seperate cables (RCA connectors, I think) in one bundle. It's a step above S-Video cable and several steps above the single "composite" (Yellow RCA plug) cable for signal quality.
I ordered the cable (as well as most of the whole system) from B&H Photo and Video.
Unlike many Manhattan or Brooklyn based electronics dealers, they are honest and put customer service first.
I have not done much with acoustics treatments, actually nothing at all. The room isn't a dedicated theater room, it also is a rec room, with a pool table.
And a rear walk out to the patio, which our spa sits near.
I find this group particularly useful:
www.avsforum.com
Brewman