[CrispyXUK]

Wow, I've been tearing my hair out as to what to do, what have people found to be the pro's and con's of either option?

[adieboy]

My system's in the living room as we haven't the space for a dedicated room, anyway, the projection system and media center are our only telly. This kills two birds with one stone and the room's comfortably furnished with plush leather sofas, etc. However this has lead to inevitable compromises...
The walls are a light colour (I'm a bit of an AV nutter but even I couldn't stomach living in a dark, miserable cave for the sake of increased contrast).
I had to forsake a fixed screen for a tab-tensioned affair (Quite reasonably, my partener objected to the idea of a 2.5 metre expanse of white cloth on permanent display).
I also had to compromise when it came to light exclusion. Strangely enough, she wouldn't allow me to brick up the windows, so heavy curtains had to do...not perfect on a sunny afternoon but just fine by early evening.
Overall, I'm quite happy with things the way they are, at least I don't have to drag myself off to some cold, draughty garage conversion or boiling-hot, sun-baked loft space....Oh yeah..a lot cheaper too.

Adie.

Ps. I may be a little jealous of some of those garages/lofts really!!

[Amit_Desai]

Front room unless you have the cash and space to do a proper cinema room.

At the end of the day.. which room would you spend more time in?

I see a dedicated room as a room where you would sneak of every now and again to watch a film or host a film night.

On a day to day basis you would use the front room.

Spend your money on getting a decent day to day setup then if you have cash left over and the space, build a seconded dedicated room.

Amit

[rob_talisman]

If you can id go for a dedicated room.

"Lets face what room would you spend more time in"

Me mate id spend more time in the cinema room than the front room lol. If your building your own room then you must watch alot of films/tv. I do so thats why im building one now.

Yes expensive but i think it will be worth it. dark walls = yup. black out blind = yup. and huge permanent screen = errrr will be when my missus will let me replace the tab tension one i bought 2 years ago. (i want a bigger one now the room can take it hehe)

also if you build another room its normally added onto your side of the house and therefore you can whack the sound way up, get that bass thumping and the neighbours wont hear a thing. I cant wait hehe.

Currently my setup is in my front room. Cant whack the sound up to high. In summer time, day light hours i get a lot of light leakage from the curtains which is a bummer. the walls and ceiling colours are poo as well.

Go Cinema Room

[inzaman]

Dedicated room without a doubt, having had both. My set up was in the living room first, pre projector days, now having had a dedicated room for nearly two years there is no comparison imo.

The living room is not cluttered with dvds, speakers etc, i can put posters up, have memorabilia in the room etc without worrying about ruining the asthetics of the living room. Another important factor if you are married or cohabiting is when your partner, wife in my case, wants to watch crap on tv you can just disappear to the cinema room and get immersed in your own environment

[inzaman]

Originally Posted by rob_talisman

"Lets face what room would you spend more time in"

Me mate id spend more time in the cinema room than the front room lol.

Exactly, and i am known to spend far more time in the cinema room than the living room. Its also great when you both want to watch a movie together as well though as its the room you disappear too with no disturbances, phone, front door etc.

[Rob100]

Originally Posted by inzaman

Another important factor if you are married or cohabiting is when your partner, wife in my case, wants to watch crap on tv you can just disappear to the cinema room and get immersed in your own environment

Second that. My wife really doesn't have much (if any) interest in home cinema although deep down she does appreciate the set-up we have in the lounge.

I watch most films on my own late at night, normally when my wife and son are tucked up fast asleep. There's NO WAY I could watch at the levels I do if I was in the lounge. In 'my room' (garage conversion) I can crank the sound up (sub shaking soft levels) way beyond needed and it doesn't cause any problem even if 2am in the morning. Also there's no way I could have a dark room, fixed screen and PJ in the lounge.

Also having a dedicated rooms allows me to sneak new bits of kit in unnoticed

I realise this arrangement wouldn't suit everyone, but it suits me down to the ground.

Anyway, off to watch some BSG

Rob.

[CrispyXUK]

Well I've decided to go the dedicated route, just need to sort a stereo for the front room and some rear speakers for the cinema setup.

Cheers guys

[stricko]

Definite vote for dedicated room. I tried for a long time to achieve a compromise solution, but it's so much easier to achieve great result in a dedicated environment, even if it (like mine) it is very small. With teenagers in the house, it also provides another refuge for them or my wife and I.

The biggest improvement I noticed was the sense of engagement with the films, an effect I guess I'd only ever experienced at the cinema. I'm re-watching a lot of old stuff (Ealing comedies etc) that I'd only ever seen on a TV screen, and it's great, even with mono sound and B/w.

No one walks through, sits down to read the paper, wants to watch something else or listen to music. Years ago I noticed a similar thing with my photo darkroom. If I had to set it up each time in a "compromise" location (bedroom, bathroom) I could rarely be bothered. For a while I was able to set it up continuously in the box bedroom, and the usage of it, and the quality of the results, improved enormously.

Yes, you have to buy more kit, but again you remove many of the compromises. I re-used a bunch of old speakers, shelving units etc, and spent the serious money on picture quality. I got cheap recliners from ebay and for extra chairs, I refurbished a row of old cinema seats, which adds a bit of authenticity.

Go for it!

[CrispyXUK]

I'm thinking of leaving the larger Ruarks in the front room for stereo duties, and the rest of the kit in the dedicated/computer room, which I'm hoping will keep me satisfied.

[Dr Force]

I have had a plasma cinema set up in my front room for the pat 18 months and loved it, but I have to concur with most comments above.

We have decided to build a single storey extension to the house for a dedicated room and extension to the kitchen.

Living in a semi -detached where the our lounge is attached to the neighbours, puts huge limitations on the experience ie sound.

I would go with a nice TV for day to day TV with a dedicated room for movies and gaming.

I cannot wait to blast the ears knowing I am not upsetting any neighbours

gotta say a dedicated room thats wot i have an its gr8

[BruceH]

When we moved to our current house, the wife didn't want the cinema gear in the lounge (at the time is was a widescreen CRT and big equipment rack).

So we set the TV and cinema gear up in an upstairs bedroom.
No TV in the lounge at all.

Unsurprisingly we didn't end up spending any time in the lounge, so a bit pointless.

We then moved the gear into the lounge and eventually converted to the projection system which leaves the room looking very tidy when the screen is up, especially with the new cabinets I have had made.

[CrispyXUK]

Originally Posted by BruceH

When we moved to our current house, the wife didn't want the cinema gear in the lounge (at the time is was a widescreen CRT and big equipment rack).

So we set the TV and cinema gear up in an upstairs bedroom.
No TV in the lounge at all.

Unsurprisingly we didn't end up spending any time in the lounge, so a bit pointless.

We then moved the gear into the lounge and eventually converted to the projection system which leaves the room looking very tidy when the screen is up, especially with the new cabinets I have had made.

Ideally I'd do the same but my ceilings are too high and old to hide a PJ screen, There will be a TV in the front room with a stereo setup, and a full 5.1 system with PJ and games consoles in the spare room.

[Epoman]

I'm with the combined room brigade myself as I can think of nothing worse than sitting in a dark room all alone. It's not always possible or desirable to sit together with the family however as they don't share my Gears of War addiction and I have no interest In whats going on in the BB house!

My compromise is that the extension we're building will house all my AV and PC gear but this will be as invisible as possible so that the room can be used as a family room/second lounge. My electric screen is being installed in a void in the ceiling and I have in wall speakers. The equipment will be in a closed cabinet so that it can't be seen. I won't however be able to control the light in the room as there are likely to be 3 sets of part glass double doors leading to it! This should not be a problem once I get some blinds up as I only view in the evening anyway.

My 50" plasma is presently in the main lounge and I'm toying with the idea of putting this in the new room (behind the PJ screen) and putting my bedroom 37" plasma in the main lounge so that the TV does not dominate that room.

[bluesilver]

mine is dedicated room too I'm afraid.. yes it's more expensive but on the plus side, the extension is adding money to the value of the place. Even with a garage conversion I'd imagine people would rather have a useable room than a garage to put their cars in. I think HC is the new car tinkering hobby.

I think there are a few plus sides to having a dedicated room.
One, as I said I think an extension will add value to your house, even a converted garage.
Two, with a duel purpose lounge you will have speakers and possibly wire and memorabillia and a big screen about etc and often I think this just doesn't work as well as a dedicated room. Often it looks cramped and a bit like boys toys gone mad.. and I've been as guilty of that as anyone..
Three. You can design your dedicated room to look cool, you can hide all your wires properly, you can set it up too look like a luxurious cinema/listening room and not feel bad that your stuff is everyone messing up the lounge.
Four, the pure convenience of having a room you can listen or watch stuff without bothering people. It's like having a shed or allotment in the old days, you can just dissapear and enjoy everything in peace. And when you have parties it's perfect!

I'm going to post pics of mine as I started a few weeks ago when the place was being built. It's not the biggest, 10ft by 22ft, but I absolutely love it.
And I love having the option of being able to escape to watch a film or listen to music whenever I want to in a really, really brilliant room :-)
As you can tell, I've just finished my room and after a year of it being planned and built, I am incredibly happy with it

[freero]

I have to make do with my front room. But if I had the money/space i`d go with a dedicated room without a doubt. I just don`t think you could beat that feeling of walking in to your own private cinema

[Crocodile JD]

I've always liked the idea of a dedicated room but like so many, I have no choice but to make do with the lounge. However, I reckon I've cracked it. We have a regular 28" wide screen TV in the corner of the room for general viewing, with the only evidence of a home cinema being smallish speakers and a nice looking sub (satelites are Kef eggs and sub is curved Kef PWS2500 in maple) plus 4 small eye bolts in the ceiling. 2 to hook the pull down screen up to, which takes less than a minute and 2 to hook the home made, light weight, projector bracket up to, which takes seconds. Then run the component cable, which is normally coiled hidden behind the TV, round the side of the room behind the sofa and up to the projector. The sofa at the back of the room, opposite the screen is a double recliner with a beer ( coffee) table each side. what more do you need?
The eggs pass the WAF test, the rest of the time there is nothing to see. I might post some pics of the projector bracket at some point. It is utilitarian to look at, who cares in the dark, but it is the key. The secret is that the projector is mounted behind the vertical line down from the eye bolts, so it wants to swing the bracket forward. The bracket is simply prevented from swinging past vertical by an out rigger (arm). When you've finished watching, unplug and lift it off the hook, fold it and put it in a cupboard, the garage, anyware out of the way. Also got blackout blinds which are hidden by the curtain valence. Have to put up with light walls, but I don't find it a problem at all, especially with hanging the screen some 18" off the wall. I was thinking of hanging a removable black back drop behind it but never felt it was required and it would then start adding to what is currently a well under 5 minute setup time.

I'm happy, the kids are happy, even the boss is happy dispite the fact that she's not into the big screen.

Croc

[Epoman]

Originally Posted by Crocodile JD

.....plus 4 small eye bolts in the ceiling. 2 to hook the pull down screen up to, which takes less than a minute and 2 to hook the home made, light weight, projector bracket up to, which takes seconds. Then run the component cable, which is normally coiled hidden behind the TV, round the side of the room behind the sofa and up to the projector. ......... When you've finished watching, unplug and lift it off the hook, fold it and put it in a cupboard, the garage, anyware out of the way. Also got blackout blinds which are hidden by the curtain valence. Croc

Hat off to you mate. Sounds like a bit of a palava - don't think I'd have the patience.

[Crocodile JD]

Originally posted by Epoman

Hat off to you mate. Sounds like a bit of a palava - don't think I'd have the patience.

....have you got an electric screen and a big remote by any chance or are you an LCD TV man. At least putting my PJ away saves me having to contribute to all the "Dust blob on my screen, how can I get rid of it" threads. It is no more hassel than setting it up on a coffee table, as many do and with the bracket, it is 9 10ths set in height and zoom etc. just minor focus tweeks required

Croc

[Epoman]

Originally Posted by Crocodile JD

....have you got an electric screen and a big remote by any chance Croc

Yes I'm afraid I do have the luxury of being a one click man.

I don't think I'd use the PJ if I had to go through a setup procedure every time!

[stealther]

My living room is currently dominated by all my AV gear, media and memorabilia. When we move in August I will be having a dedicated room for all my gear and will be looking at a second hand screen and projector leaving just the tv and a decoder in the living room.

Those people who don’t want a dedicated cinema room probably don’t like leaving the sofa or have a very understanding mrs.

[Rob100]

Originally Posted by stealther

Those people who don’t want a dedicated cinema room probably don’t like leaving the sofa or have a very understanding mrs.

I have a very understanding mrs as she doesn't mind me disappearing to my room and leaving her watching some old rubbish (IMHO) on TV. Suits us both TBH

[Epoman]

Originally Posted by stealther

Those people who don’t want a dedicated cinema room probably don’t like leaving the sofa.....

I will have a dedicated room, just not a room whose sole purpose is to be a cinema.

Originally Posted by stealther

.....or have a very understanding mrs.

Funnily enough, I had to talk my wife into getting rid of my B&W floorstanding speakers