I'm investing in a modern home theater. It is to fill what was once my multi-purpose media room. Can I get some Ideas for what a home theater should offer to guests. If you were visiting, what would you expect? what would you want to see?
Answer
Simple (at least in concept) -- the advantages of, but none of the disadvantages, of a movie theatre.
Maximize:
- BIG picture (preferably projector based), but an image providing a 30-36 degree subtended viewing angle (angle between the left and right edge of the screen when viewed from the seating position)
- great surround sound (and that includes the room acoustics, not just the HT sound system)
- great image quality (high contrast, great colour, high resolution)
- comfortable seating and good temperature/ventilation control
- good image and sound for ALL viewers
- attractive
- refreshments as appropriate
- willingness to allow biological breaks
Minimixe
- annoying neighbours
- distractions (e.g light, external noise)
- no sticky floors
- no high prices
- no long lineups
You should also consider how you choose program material. Some system that let's the guests choose is best.
Simple (at least in concept) -- the advantages of, but none of the disadvantages, of a movie theatre.
Maximize:
- BIG picture (preferably projector based), but an image providing a 30-36 degree subtended viewing angle (angle between the left and right edge of the screen when viewed from the seating position)
- great surround sound (and that includes the room acoustics, not just the HT sound system)
- great image quality (high contrast, great colour, high resolution)
- comfortable seating and good temperature/ventilation control
- good image and sound for ALL viewers
- attractive
- refreshments as appropriate
- willingness to allow biological breaks
Minimixe
- annoying neighbours
- distractions (e.g light, external noise)
- no sticky floors
- no high prices
- no long lineups
You should also consider how you choose program material. Some system that let's the guests choose is best.
Home Theater?
Eric James
I just bought a new home and it has an office in the basement that I would like to convert to a home theater of sorts. The size is 16'8 x 15'. First of all can I do it with a room this size? If so what are some good websites or dealers to look up? I'm clueless so I need all the help I can get!
Furniture is taken care of. I just need to ideas for projectors, screens and surround sound.
I don't have a defined budget but I know I don't want to spend more then $5K.
Answer
Here's some things I would look at when putting something like that together:
TV type and screen size -
Since you're putting this home theater together in a basement, I'll assume low lighting, even during the day. So, you can go with either a plasma or LCD (or DLP, for that matter). If it were a bright room that gets lots of ambient light, I would recommend against the plasma, because it has a glossy screen and would reflect too much glare.
As far as screen size, there's a formula for what's called optimum viewing angle. Basically, this means that there is an optimum viewing distance for a given widescreen TV size and, conversely, an optimum TV screen size for a given viewing distance. The rule of thumb is this: For a 40-inch screen, you should watch it from about 10 feet. For a 50-inch screen, you should watch it from about 20 feet. So, depending on how far back your furniture is from the TV, you're looking at about a 42- to 46-inch screen. And, a projector would probably be overkill in a room that small.
Surround sound -
Do you want 5.1 sound, 6.1, or 7.1? The ".1" is the subwoofer in all of these formats. For 5.1, you have left and right front speakers, a front center speaker, and left and right rear speakers. For 6.1, add a rear center channel. For 7.1, you have L/R front, front center, L/R side, and L/R rear.
Personally, I think 6.1 and 7.1 are overkill. I have 5.1 and it sounds great. 6.1 and 7.1 alxo will incur more cost for the speakers (the receivers are more expensive, too. Plus, I have enough issues with running the rear speaker wires for one pair of surround speakers with the 5.1.
Speakers -
I always recommend Klipsch speakers. There are a couple of sites on eBay that are authorized Klipsch dealers. They offer the Klipsch Quintet plus powered subwoofer (SW-10 or SW-12) for about $500 and $600, respectively (plus shipping, no tax). I have the Quintets and the SW-12 running off a basic Yamaha 5.1 surround sound receiver. They sound great and would really fill up the room in your home theater. The subwoofer has a variable output adjustment, a variable cutoff frequency (60 Hz to 140 Hz), and an output phase control (0 to 180 degrees). So, it can be tuned to match your exact speaker setup and room accoustics.
Also, consider that you have to run speaker wire to the rear surrounds. Since you're building the theater, I'm assuming you can do a bit of remodeling. If possible, run the speaker wires for the rear speakers through the ceiling and down to a jack where the speakers will be placed. Use thick, stranded speaker wire (12 gauge).
Lighting -
I recommend recessed or track lighting on a dimmer (think of how movie theaters look). Track lighting is nice, because you can get individual spots and point them at the wall for an indirect lighting effect. You might also consider cove lighting, where you build about an 8-inch cove in the ceiling and hide lights inside it, firing upward at the ceiling. You could combine the halogen spot track lights with fluorescent cove lighting for a great effect.
Also, paint the walls a relatively dark color. This minimizes the amount of reflection and glare you'll get while watching the TV.
There are many more considerations for a home theater. But, that should get you started.
Here's some things I would look at when putting something like that together:
TV type and screen size -
Since you're putting this home theater together in a basement, I'll assume low lighting, even during the day. So, you can go with either a plasma or LCD (or DLP, for that matter). If it were a bright room that gets lots of ambient light, I would recommend against the plasma, because it has a glossy screen and would reflect too much glare.
As far as screen size, there's a formula for what's called optimum viewing angle. Basically, this means that there is an optimum viewing distance for a given widescreen TV size and, conversely, an optimum TV screen size for a given viewing distance. The rule of thumb is this: For a 40-inch screen, you should watch it from about 10 feet. For a 50-inch screen, you should watch it from about 20 feet. So, depending on how far back your furniture is from the TV, you're looking at about a 42- to 46-inch screen. And, a projector would probably be overkill in a room that small.
Surround sound -
Do you want 5.1 sound, 6.1, or 7.1? The ".1" is the subwoofer in all of these formats. For 5.1, you have left and right front speakers, a front center speaker, and left and right rear speakers. For 6.1, add a rear center channel. For 7.1, you have L/R front, front center, L/R side, and L/R rear.
Personally, I think 6.1 and 7.1 are overkill. I have 5.1 and it sounds great. 6.1 and 7.1 alxo will incur more cost for the speakers (the receivers are more expensive, too. Plus, I have enough issues with running the rear speaker wires for one pair of surround speakers with the 5.1.
Speakers -
I always recommend Klipsch speakers. There are a couple of sites on eBay that are authorized Klipsch dealers. They offer the Klipsch Quintet plus powered subwoofer (SW-10 or SW-12) for about $500 and $600, respectively (plus shipping, no tax). I have the Quintets and the SW-12 running off a basic Yamaha 5.1 surround sound receiver. They sound great and would really fill up the room in your home theater. The subwoofer has a variable output adjustment, a variable cutoff frequency (60 Hz to 140 Hz), and an output phase control (0 to 180 degrees). So, it can be tuned to match your exact speaker setup and room accoustics.
Also, consider that you have to run speaker wire to the rear surrounds. Since you're building the theater, I'm assuming you can do a bit of remodeling. If possible, run the speaker wires for the rear speakers through the ceiling and down to a jack where the speakers will be placed. Use thick, stranded speaker wire (12 gauge).
Lighting -
I recommend recessed or track lighting on a dimmer (think of how movie theaters look). Track lighting is nice, because you can get individual spots and point them at the wall for an indirect lighting effect. You might also consider cove lighting, where you build about an 8-inch cove in the ceiling and hide lights inside it, firing upward at the ceiling. You could combine the halogen spot track lights with fluorescent cove lighting for a great effect.
Also, paint the walls a relatively dark color. This minimizes the amount of reflection and glare you'll get while watching the TV.
There are many more considerations for a home theater. But, that should get you started.
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