Double Garage - Blank Canvas

[Nerved One]

Folks, I have a detached double garage (new build)....that I'd like to convert to a home cinema, using some of my existing kit. I don't really want to do this myself...so looking for advice on a professional conversion. I live in central Scotland and am looking for recommendations....my own research has revealed poor looking websites, so not confidence inspiring ! I want the conversion done to the highest standard but don't want to pay a daft amount.

Really need it to be sound proofed too.

Any help appreciated.

 

[cjwood555]

Hi James,

IMHO the best way to do this is get a reputable AV company to do the design/spec and contract the build to a builder specialising in high-end projects. Speak to architects for recommendations.

Sorry but I'm not particularly familiar with any contractors up your way!

Regards,
Chris

 

[Nerved One]

Hi James,

IMHO the best way to do this is get a reputable AV company to do the design/spec and contract the build to a builder specialising in high-end projects. Speak to architects for recommendations.

Sorry but I'm not particularly familiar with any contractors up your way!

Regards,
Chris

Thanks Chris.

 

[cjwood555]

No probs. If you can state a budget for equipment and what you already have then I'm happy to offer some initial advice.

Chris

 

[Nerved One]

No probs. If you can state a budget for equipment and what you already have then I'm happy to offer some initial advice.

Chris

Well this is where I'm at...the budget ! I need the garage to be sound proofed, so I've plucked a figure of £10k to get the room habitable, sound proofed, and including decor.

Kit wise, I already have Dali Helicon 400's, C200 and Paradigm Studio Sub 12, Marantz UD7006 BR player, and a Pioneer SC-LX75....rears are in ceiling and will stay in lounge and I'll get new front end (small discrete speakers to turn the lounge back into a lounge), and will use SC-LX75 for that.

So....I'll initially use the Helicon front end with Paradigm sub....and I'll get new Dali in wall rears. New kit wise, I am looking at Anthem D2V with P5 power amp and if I can the P2 to give 7.1. I'll add a JVC projector and fixed screen....what with seating and other bits and bobs, I'd say overall budget will be in the region of £35-40k....I'd prefer to keep it lower, but Anthem kit is a must as I really need the system to do 2 channel music as well as 7.1 cinema. And I want hi-end kit at the get go to avoid my lusting after the next upgrade all the time...I'll just get the Anthem now and make more modest changes going forward...such as a streaming device should that really take off...which is certainly seems to be !

 

[cjwood555]

Sounds like you already have a pretty sound idea of what you want to put in. Having such nice speakers makes it worth spending the money on the amp, I would say. If you didn't already have them then I'd suggest having a seperate 2-channel system entirely.

What are you thinking about doing in terms of control, lighting and heating/ac?

Chris

 

[Nerved One]

Well, not yet at the stage of working out the finer details. This is just a scoping stage, I need to save like crazy, then look at finance options to pay for the balance and at that stage I'll consider the finer details. I have a simaudio moon cd3.3 for 2 channel with the helicon 400s...but amp is the limiting factor. A friend has the Dali Euphonia ms400 with simaudio moon i700 and 750d cd....a formidable pairing.

 

[cjwood555]

Well if the Anthem bits take up, say £15k, and the JVC + a decent fixed screen is £5-6k (assuming X30-r), seating if decent cinema seating is £1k+ per chair, assuming 3 seats, you'd have £11k-16k for the build, lighting, heating and control.

Control wise I'd suggest something like an RTI T3-V for a nice balance between physical buttons and touchscreen-ness. That's £1250 retail. XP-3 processor for IP and 1x RS232 is about £550 if needed, but you can use the T3-V in standalone mode (IR).

Lighting wise, you could do anything from a varilight IR touch dimmer (~£100 IIRC) to a pack of iLight or a Lutron GrafikEye. Cost of fittings is of course how long is a piece of string. If you allow yourself £500 in the budget for lighting then you'll have enough to do something relatively nice. £1k would be better, especially if you want skirting lights, lit steps/walkways, a seperate reading light, etc.

An air-air heatpump system can be had for ~£2k fitted, probably less if you shop around. That'll do heating and aircon, as you may know. A cheaper option is electric heaters, but harder to make look pretty or discrete.

HTH
Chris

 

[Nerved One]

Thanks for taking the time to put that together Chris. Anthem 7.1 would come to just over 20k. Projector is 7k....but I can do it in stages If need be....as in get the cable for 7.1 in....and just get anthem 5 channel initially. If I had unlimited budget I would get the moon kit for separate 2 channel.....if you've not had a listen to moon kit.....I'd highly recommend it....it's fantastic kit....yet to hear better...revealing but very musical.

 

[cjwood555]

No trouble at all hope it was in some way useful!

Easiest way to save money on build costs would be to reduce seating spec, and wire lighting for standard switching with a mind to automate at a later date. Carpets are another thing that can be bought cheaply and replaced easily later on. You can allegedly acheive equivalent performance to the X7/X9 using the X3 and an appropriate processor - I don't know whether this will carry through to the new 30/70/90R's.

Will keep an eye out for the Moon kit. Personally I haven't heard the Anthem stuff yet either! What speakers did you hear the moon stuff with?

Chris

 

[sherbert79]

James

Depending on where you are in central Scotland, try the guys at Sevenoaks Sound and Vision, they are located just at the end of Great Western Road (Cowcaddens End). They are pretty good and know their stuff, very helpfull even if you dont buy from them. The also have a few PJ's set up for you to have a look at.

If you give me an idea of the area you stay in I may be able to recommend some other places!

Good luck and get the pics uploaded!!

sherbert

 

[Nerved One]

No trouble at all hope it was in some way useful!

Easiest way to save money on build costs would be to reduce seating spec, and wire lighting for standard switching with a mind to automate at a later date. Carpets are another thing that can be bought cheaply and replaced easily later on. You can allegedly acheive equivalent performance to the X7/X9 using the X3 and an appropriate processor - I don't know whether this will carry through to the new 30/70/90R's.

Will keep an eye out for the Moon kit. Personally I haven't heard the Anthem stuff yet either! What speakers did you hear the moon stuff with?

Chris

Cheers Chris, the moon kit was picked...after having initially gone in to hear an Arcam cd player cd37 I think it was, it was ok, but nothing special. Dealer suggested moon, and it was clear instantly that it was in a different league....at more than twice the price of the Arcam you'd expect some improvement.

Speakers - tried Focal first Diablo's and I was initially impressed, then proac, not impressed, a few others...and then a pair of living voice auditorium II.....superb speakers...and order went in.......then a year later I wanted to indulge my other passion...home cinema.....and tried set ups from several dealers and settled on Dali Ikon range with a Paradigm sub, Pioneer amp and marantz blu ray.......some months later, I upgraded to the Dali Helicon range....and they are simply sublime....traded in the Living Voice with the moon kit....missed the moon kit and recently purchased another moon cd player...not from original dealer as they have an attitude problem and won't be getting any business from me again.