DIY Home Cinema Build

With no option to go bigger than 82-inches on their projector screen, AVForums member oaklandraiders is asking which they should go with - the 82-inch projected image or an 83-inch OLED TV? What image would home cinema enthusiasts prefer?  

Having wired up their home cinema for Dolby Atmos a couple of years ago, member Itsthesmell upgraded the AVR and speakers only to find a degree of vibration and rattling is now present at high volumes. Where do home theatre enthusiasts think Itsthesmell should start looking for the culprit?  

Putting the upgrade bug to one side, what's a reasonable lifespan to expect for a home theatre projector? What are the elements that affect the longevity and how long have AVForums' enthusiasts managed with their past projectors before a fault forced a new model?  

Has anyone who is using a projector in their main living room painted the walls or ceiling in darker colours to get the best out of their setup? See what fellow enthusiasts have done in their viewing environments in this discussion thread.  

AVForums member tebbo65 asked whether wides would be a useful addition to his surround sound setup and went through the process of upgrading his 7.1.4 system. Follow his journey and the advice he was given and see what his conclusion was.  

A new look and a refined audio performance for this upgradable and highly flexible modular surround sound preamp/processor.  

The VPL-XW7000ES and VPL-XW5000ES promise a high resolution, high contrast performance in two of the world’s most compact designs, 50 years after Sony first entered the video projection market.  

For those that decide to go the whole 'Batcave' route for their home cinema room, what's the best approach to blackouts (excessive alcohol consumption aside!). Are blinds better than drapes? What about panels instead? And what are the recommended materials to use?  

We’ve established that the latest 800 Series is quite something in stereo but does that ability translate to multichannel? There’s only one way to find out.  

The eARC name for this upgraded model gives away the connectivity headline, with its supporting cast backed by more powerful dual subwoofers, refined drivers, and all-new SSE Max spatial technology.  

Member Dr.Rock will only have a 3cm gap around his Denon AVR in his new rack - is this enough to provide sufficient ventilation for heat dissipation or is a larger gap required to prolong the life of the device? What do AV enthusiasts recommend?  

Member Amorris asks whether now is a good time to commit to an AV receiver purchase without fear of being caught out by new technologies? Has AVR development peaked for the time being? If not, what other features do AV fans think might be just over the horizon?  

Is it possible to get an AVR that will deliver decent stereo and multichannel audio or will a dedicated 2-channel integrated amplifier always be better for music? Check out this thread for plenty of suggestions from AV enthusiasts.  

Comprising two towers, a centre, monitor, surround, and bookshelf options, the range also boasts THX Dominus certification.  

16 channels, seven HDMI ports and one eye firmly on the next generation of A/V content.  

The lifestyle oriented Ace Wireless collection of loudspeakers from Piega consists of the Ace 50 floorstander, the Ace 30 bookshelf units and the Ace Center centre channel model, all featuring the company’s signature aluminium cabinets and AMT ribbon tweeters.  

Three new compact subwoofers, the V15+, V12+ and V10+ models bring a lifestyle friendly design and THX certification to the home.  

US speaker company Perlisten Audio brings its proprietary audio technologies and THX Dominus Certification to UK music and home cinema enthusiasts with its Signature ‘S’ and Reference ‘R’ speakers and D-Series subwoofers.  

"Am I the only one left?" wonders AVForums member IWC Dopplel as he asks whether others also use the analogue audio outputs/inputs of their disc players and AVRs - or has everyone moved to HDMI now?  

Black paint? Covered panels? Starfield lighting? What would you recommend as the best treatment to cap off the ceiling of a home theatre project?  

JVC will introduce the new lamp-based DLA-NP5 as the entry level DILA projector in its Precision Series range in March.  

Ready to bolster your AV setup with some extra grunt? What class of amp gives the performance characteristics that AV enthusiasts recommend for a power amp: Class AB or Class D?  

Sure, home cinema rooms are supposed to be dark with non-reflective surfaces but do they have to feel like sensory deprivation chambers once the film is finished? What have you done to 'zhuzh' up your batcave?  

M&K Sound’s new X+ subwoofer range consists of three THX Certified models, the X15+, X12+ and X10+.  

The latest in Velodyne’s MicroVee subwoofer family is the MicroVee X which adds Carbon Kevlar drive units and its own dedicated remote-control functionality.  

Is there always a benefit to adding more speakers to a home cinema speaker setup? Or once you get beyond a certain number does the law of diminishing returns kick in? What have you found is the surround speaker sweetspot before pointless overkill kicks in?  

Your unstoppable passion (and empty wallet) has resulted in the home cinema room of your dreams. So, what's your usage pattern? Special friends and family occasions? Lone wolf viewing sessions, or everyday TV/Gaming? Let others know how you use your little piece of Heaven.  

Following Steve's rant on the podcast, how many AV enthusiasts reckon their personal home cinema also provides a more satisfying experience than the local fleapit? Let us know how you rate your own sofaplex. And what about the snacks, can you rustle up cheesy nachos too?  

Indifference, acceptance or fully on board - how does your better half react to the disruption, cost and results of your all-consuming passion? Leave your stories in the discussion thread.  

The AVR5 delivers 12 channels of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, supports Dolby Vision up to 4K and is equipped with numerous streaming features including AirPlay2, Bluetooth aptX HD and Chromecast.  

UK speaker specialist Q Acoustics has updated its Concept stereo and home cinema loudspeaker range with three new models; the Concept 30 standmount, Concept 50 floorstander and Concept 90 centre channel.  

Trinnov Audio has revealed its new Amplitude 16 power amp which showcases an ability to meet diverse channel counts and power requirements in high-end home theatre installations.  

Epson’s new EH-LS11000W and EH-LS12000B home cinema projectors aim to deliver big screen entertainment for film nights, streaming, sporting events and gaming.  

StormAudio has announced the launch of its new ISP Core 16 preamp/processor alongside an AoIP AES67 module plus a redesigned smartphone app.  

Member kenshingintoki is squeezing a few extra lumens out of his Epson 9300 in High Lamp Mode and asks if an acoustically lined enclosure is recommended to reduce the associated raised noise level?  

Sound United has unveiled the Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003, a pair of 8K HDMI switcher units for its Denon and Marantz brand 8K AV receivers.  

The McIntosh MX123 processor will now leave the US audio firm’s manufacturing facility equipped for 8K processing, with onboard upscaling and new features.  

The SDP-58 surround processor and SDR-38 AV receiver expand JBL Synthesis’s home theatre portfolio as the HDMI 2.1 upgrade program for current models is scheduled for December and the company introduces the SDA-1700 dedicated subwoofer amplifier.  

JVC has heralded its three new home cinema projectors as the world’s first featuring 48Gbps 8K60p/4K120p inputs. There’s also a host of other features toplined by BLU-Escent laser light source technology, newly developed 8K/e-shiftX and support for HDR10+.  

Offering a mix of traditional Hi-Fi quality combined with modern connectivity, all wrapped up in an attractive package, the Totem Acoustic Kin Play family caters for a range of audio scenarios.