1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Home Theater update

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Zeratul, Aug 21, 2014.

  1. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Circling back to see who may still be active with planning their Home theater build or basement entertainment project. I am getting close to complete and have had some great lessons learned and success too.

    We just finished our basement build including what I call Media room. I have a 136" diagonal screen (10 feet wide), projector, stage and a 7.1 speaker arrangement. I also installed 2 more zones of audio, one to the bar area and one on the patio. I installed a Middle Atlantic rack with new AV receiver, and Home theater computer/media server.

    I probable have 2 miles worth of cables but I am close to being done. the kegerator is getting cold and I need an excuse for grand opening. So, for all of you that were part of the original discussion group...and for those who might find this helpful or interesting let me know. I want to get an evening on the calendar so we can get together and enjoy (literally) the fruits of our labor (Chad...you know who you are).

    I will post some pictures next...but let me know if you all have immediate questions and have an interest in getting together (probably late Sept).

    Dave
     
    blunoz likes this.
  2. BigJackie

    BigJackie New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2007
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    2
    While not part of the original discussion group, I can also give two thumbs up to "Chad...you know who you are". He was instrumental in guiding me through my home theater build. It turned out great IMO.

    Tom
     
  3. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Awesome... and here are a couple of photos of the theater area. Its not 100% but close. And I will offer up some dates soon.
     

    Attached Files:

    blunoz likes this.
  4. hometheaterguy

    hometheaterguy New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    4
    That's a huge screen!
     
  5. Steve D

    Steve D New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2014
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Looks great - working on my own basement theater but way behind you!
     
  6. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Yea I enjoyed doing most of this myself. I had some help cable pulling but I designed and picked all the stuff myself with some great advice from Chad along the way. At the end of the day, it was worth the effort and now the fun begins. Programming and setting up the wiring is now the fun or challenge depending how you look at it. Yea I really went with the biggest screen I thought I could fit. I think the room is about 18 feet deep. And the stage up front was filled with about 1200 pounds of play sand. My front speakers are Definitive Technology - and they both have a 500 watt sub in each so I wanted to minimize vibration and any echo effect.

    Watched Frozen of course - my 6 year old insisted that be the first movie, so I had to please the audience but it looked incredible. Then we watched Pacific Rim last night, my 10 year old wanted that. But with Football and Hockey seasons coming...dad gets to pick soon.

    And I hooked up my Openband box yesterday too and for now I am using an HDMI splitter so I can watch it on multiple TVs on 2 floors...and that works for now.
     
  7. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    54
    Wow!!! I'm amazed! Nice screen!!! You guys did a great and impressive job. Now can you do mine? heheheh. I like the blue lights to boot! Enjoy!!!!
     
  8. anirud1

    anirud1 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2013
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Do you have control4 and was it integrated?
    looks awesome, your hardwork and timespent are reflected
     
  9. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    The blue lights around the crown are about 50 feet of LED lights that are just plugged in and controlled by their own simple remote. They are programmable and can flash, fade or change to any color.

    I did not use control4... seemed like overkill for what I wanted and too expensive. I control a lot with a tablet and Onkyo has its own application for system control too. Another feature I like is since my televisions out in the bar area are Samsung like my tablet, I can share the screen and content from the tablet to the tv easily.

    I also use JRiver as my server software on my Media Server and this has a cool application too so I can control my music too all zones too. JRiver serves all my movies and music and I manage my entire library of around 600 movies and 30,000 songs with it. The next thing I am setting up the the IR repeaters so I can control Openband from separate rooms.
     
  10. anirud1

    anirud1 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2013
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    I agree c4 is lil expensive and I have already spent quite a bit on c4 already wanted to plan for theater in the basement to integrate, I also see extravegetables having good drivers these days
     
  11. Steve D

    Steve D New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2014
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Zeratul -

    Love the look of this. Can you tell me what your color pallette is (walls, ceiling, trim, etc.)? Also, who did the ceiling with the blue light?

    Also like the way you did the equipment storage in the corner - I'm only going with a rack for now but this looks good too.
     
  12. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Steve - all the paint colors were from Benjamin Moore and the screen wall as well as the ceiling are REALLY dark brown, almost an espresso. The trim is a neutral brown, think it was called Pismo Dunes and is semi gloss. I did the inside of the doors the same color as the trim in semi gloss too. And I went around and painted all the outlet and switch covers too....tried to make everything blend. I debated going with a super flat finish on the ceiling and screen wall but did Matte finish since I like the look and it can be cleaned.

    I can get you the exact pain names, just do not have them handy. So, around the tray ceiling is a piece of crown molding... and inside the crown is a set of LED rope lights, the kind that come in a roll like tape. They have adhesive on one side and you literally tape them to the inside of the crown. The switch on the wall can turn them on and there is a remote control too where you can change the colors and effects.... the whole think cost just under $100 from ebay. I have another set of these lights at the top of my bar where I am going to display some of my Beer Can collection.

    The equipment in the corner is mounted on a Middle Atlantic Slim 5 rack, the 39U-26. I cut out the drywall, used a door frame trim around it to look like a frame and slid it into the opening. The utility closet is behind so I can complete access to the back...which makes things SOOO much easier.

    if you want to stop by to get a closer look let me know, send me a PM and we can chat. I work from home most days too.

    Dave
     
  13. Mike-and-Kim

    Mike-and-Kim Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2009
    Messages:
    584
    Likes Received:
    19
    Jriver and the app Jremote are fantastic. I use it to send music over the network to various devices (Yamaha receiver, sonos, wd tv live). Love the degree of control it has, and the app is just astounding.
     
  14. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2002
    Messages:
    2,260
    Likes Received:
    34
    Looks nice, Dave! I love those strip LEDs... used them in closets and under and over kitchen cabs.. and cheap! What type of screen/material did you go with?
     
  15. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    I bought the screen from Carada. It is their Criterian collection, 2:35 - 1 brilliant white widescreen and 136" diagonal. I love the screen material and it was easy to assemble.

    The are even on sale now, just under $1,000 and it is a great deal. It was really easy to hang.
     
    boomertsfx likes this.
  16. merlinflex

    merlinflex New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2014
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Looks great Dave! I am actually closing on a new build at the end of the month and moving up there. Got a completely finished basement with media room. Would love to be able to pick you brain on setting it up!
     
  17. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    Just got back from vacation... but let me know merlin. Also, let me know, it might be easier to come over for a closer look and you can let me know what some of your thoughts are. I am sure some of my lessons learned will be helpful too.

    And FYI... to all interested, I am targeting mid October (Columbus holiday weekend) for a gathering.
     
  18. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2003
    Messages:
    207
    Likes Received:
    7
    Haha .. didn't see this thread until now. Both Dave and Tom's rooms turned out amazing ... but [to be honest] all I did was talk and sometimes drink. Those guys did all the work. Great work gentlemen!

    ... btw, if you are wondering where Dave is ... he's still terminating CAT5 .. haha

    -chad
     
  19. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    1,791
    Likes Received:
    136
    CAT6... and so far I am 0 for 3, but I will get it. The kegerator is getting a good testing though... and I am sure it will take a few more weeks to make sure it works.
     
  20. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2003
    Messages:
    207
    Likes Received:
    7
    The kegerator testing might explain the cable termination troubles ;)
     

Share This Page