Building a home cinema from scratch

[Pecker]

Okay, this is a very long-term project.

When I next move house we are going to buy one with enough room to build an extension. The extension will be a dedicated home cinema room. But it's worth planning ahead, and in the intervening period I wouldn't want to buy any kit that leads me up a dead end.

So, any ideas?

Budget is not limitless, but I'd like something like:

- Sim2 C3X projector
- CIW variable masking screen
- Seperate power amps
- M&K speakers

Over to you.

Ideas?

Sizes?

Must-haves?

Steve W

[M.D. Klapwijk]

In my opinion the only thing worth investing in for a longer time period would be your (stereo) speakers. All the other kit tends to get cheaper/better every month!

[Ted White]

This would have full acoustic treatments?

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by Ted White

This would have full acoustic treatments?

Would it? Should it? How much?

You tell me! That's what this thread is for.



Steve W

[Ted White]

There are a few sound issues you might want to consider:

THX specs a low noise floor. Essentially so during a quiet scene you are not listening to your neighbors. This involves sound isolation

You may want to turn up the volume without having people come in and tell you to "turn that down."

Hard, untreated surfaces in the theater will not be pleasant. For multi-channel playback you might consider wall treatments beyond simply addressing the first reflections. In a 7.1 system, in a sense all surfaces are first reflections.

[inzaman]

Steve how about CIH, there are a lot of posts on the subject if you want to read up on it

What about a processor, and why the Sim, why not one of the Dila pjs, as this could save a bit of money that could go towards your power amp or amps. If separate power amps then Bryston is a good make, or have you thought about the new Arcam or the Arcamm 888/777 combo that is coming out?

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by inzaman

Steve how about CIH, there are a lot of posts on the subject if you want to read up on it

I'll check that out, I've been hearing good things.

Originally Posted by inzaman

...and why the Sim, why not one of the Dila pjs...

I've always preferred the look of dlp over LCD (and LCD-based) projectors. But I'll be sure to have a demo when I get chance.

My hope is that maybe, by the time this happens, LED-based DLP projectors will have come into their own. Whatever, my next projector will not exhibit rainbows.

Steve W

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by Ted White

There are a few sound issues you might want to consider:

THX specs a low noise floor. Essentially so during a quiet scene you are not listening to your neighbors. This involves sound isolation

You may want to turn up the volume without having people come in and tell you to "turn that down."

Hard, untreated surfaces in the theater will not be pleasant. For multi-channel playback you might consider wall treatments beyond simply addressing the first reflections. In a 7.1 system, in a sense all surfaces are first reflections.

I think the first thought in building an extension was to stop any noise leaking out or in, in as far as is possible.

Rather than build the room then treat it, I'd rather eliminate as many problems as possible from the start. So, would you have felt-covered walls, or what?

Steve W

[Pecker]

Okay, one thing I've been considering is a separate projector room.

PJs can be noisy, and act like fan heaters. So, given that I can start from scratch, I thought maybe have a small room at the back of the cinema room with a small window (I think you can get a particular sort of glass that won't distort or degrade the projected image).

I'd also use this room as my 'library' to keep my DVDs/Blu-ray Discs, as well as holding the equipment, again as it can be noisy and/or hot.

Comments?

Steve W

[illingworth22]

Originally Posted by inzaman

Steve how about CIH, there are a lot of posts on the subject if you want to read up on it

What about a processor, and why the Sim, why not one of the Dila pjs, as this could save a bit of money that could go towards your power amp or amps. If separate power amps then Bryston is a good make, or have you thought about the new Arcam or the Arcamm 888/777 combo that is coming out?

No Prices on the web site ....ouch sound like a lot of cash!!!!

Any idea how much?

[albriscoe]

Steve

as your quite near to me you are very welcome to come and see/hear some MK`s and a Sim pj.

Also a darkened room with acoustic treatments as well.

The Brystons are a belting amp and coupled with an Onkyo processor will really make the MK`s sing.

[Pecker]

Many thanks. I may get in touch in the Summer break.

Steve W

[AndyST]

As you're actually building a room from scratch then the first thing to consider would be the dimensions to minimise the effect of room modes. The length, width, and height should not be equal or multiples of one another. If possible make the walls non-parallel too.

If it's a dedicated room I assume it won't have windows, so do you need some form of ducting/air conditioning to take air in and out of the room?

It also helps to plan your acoustic treatments well in advance so these can easily be integrated during the construction phase.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by AndyST

As you're actually building a room from scratch then the first thing to consider would be the dimensions to minimise the effect of room modes. The length, width, and height should not be equal or multiples of one another. If possible make the walls non-parallel too.

If it's a dedicated room I assume it won't have windows, so do you need some form of ducting/air conditioning to take air in and out of the room?

It also helps to plan your acoustic treatments well in advance so these can easily be integrated during the construction phase.

All good ideas - thanks.

So, what would you do for acoustic treatments?

If the walls aren't to be multiples of each other - let's say initially you had planned 4m x 4m. Let's keep that 4m long - how much larger or small does the width need to be? 10cm? 50cm?

Also, I understand that bass from the subwoofer can cause problems in some rooms because they're too small. What's the minimum size of the room to minimise these issues?

Steve W

[Dr Force]

Originally Posted by Pecker

I'll check that out, I've been hearing good things.





I've always preferred the look of dlp over LCD (and LCD-based) projectors. But I'll be sure to have a demo when I get chance.

My hope is that maybe, by the time this happens, LED-based DLP projectors will have come into their own. Whatever, my next projector will not exhibit rainbows.

Steve W

Hi Steve

I have the Mits HC6000 1080p 24,and for the money I think it is outstanding.

Hd material is breathtaking and extremely sharp, there is not a hint of any motion blurring, no chicken wire effect due to the no of pixels and it is a doddle to set up.

The video processing is also very good and SD material looks very good if you let the PJ do the scaling.

Blacks are very nice but perhaps not as deep as DLP but it's definately a future proof PJ.

I am not all that clued up on acoustic treatment, which will depend entirely on your room size, dimensions and positioning of the speakers. My room is an extension with dimensions of 2.4m x 4.6m which is rectangular and not bass freindly. I have had to fiddle with the sub to get a less boomy sound (thanks to Russ), however apart from that my SVS speakers produce a great sound.

The room has 1 layer of acoustic board which has been dot and dabbed onto the internal walls and then skimmed over. the floor is screeded with a thick underlay and carpet which helps with reflections and a fire door has been hung to help sound proofing.

It is all very basic and in my humble opinion I would not get too hung up on acoustic treatments, as you could end up with a dead sound which is far harder to correct than adding furnishings/drapes to dampen the sound.

I am not an expert, I just love film and I decided that applying too much science can somewhat confuse matters.

I have the screen coming through the ceiling (using removeable mdf) and so you can also use it as a chill out area to listen to music with the screen up and curtains open.

Lots to think about Steve and I hope it all goes well