Mark
I've been reading that a matte or flat dark color is good, and that black, red or brown in dark colors are best. Gray is unwelcoming and doesn't set a good atmosphere, so I would prefer to go with one of the first three. I'm just not sure which would go best with the ceiling (since it can't be painted).
So any help is appreciated. Also, is there a special screen paint for the projector I should use? I don't want a screen, if possible.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n54/uh-oh_here_we_go/085.jpg this is the link to a picture of what the ceiling tile color is like.
Answer
The reason for dark colours is to enhance contrast. Unfortunately white ceiling tiles will degrade contrast so painting the walls will have less impact than ideal. That said, a matte medium/dark wall colour is still a good idea. What color doesn't matter that much. Any color caste from the wall color can be compensated for when you calibrate the projector.
As to the screen, there are commercial screen paints (e.g. Goo systems, 1st link) or numerous recipes for DIY screens with paint, cloth, laminate, etc (See 2nd link). I did a DIY painted screen several years back and it worked out very well. I have also made my own screen using blackout cloth. painted and separate screens each have advantages and disadvantages. I suggest reading in the forum at the 2nd link.
The reason for dark colours is to enhance contrast. Unfortunately white ceiling tiles will degrade contrast so painting the walls will have less impact than ideal. That said, a matte medium/dark wall colour is still a good idea. What color doesn't matter that much. Any color caste from the wall color can be compensated for when you calibrate the projector.
As to the screen, there are commercial screen paints (e.g. Goo systems, 1st link) or numerous recipes for DIY screens with paint, cloth, laminate, etc (See 2nd link). I did a DIY painted screen several years back and it worked out very well. I have also made my own screen using blackout cloth. painted and separate screens each have advantages and disadvantages. I suggest reading in the forum at the 2nd link.
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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