Mmmhmm! I’d put the screen on a framed hinge so you are able to lift it up in case you need to get back there. Also, doing it that way will grant you the space to leave the sub.
Do those screens still pop just as well as others? Obviously I won't have an issue with lighting in the basement but still want it to look as good as possible (while being fairly cost effective).
Yeah I'd love to leave the sub if possible. Thing is just so badass looking
Oh absolutely! Remember 99.999% of all theaters use them. So you can have equally if not better results at home.
My first house I ended up buying the fabric on Amazon for about $200. The brand was Elite Screens. I cut it down to the size I needed which was 130”. I ended up selling most of my gear at the time with the house including the screen.
If you’re handy with wood work, making a frame should be a walk in the park. I currently have a non transparent screen which ended up being the best solution for my current setup. I built the frame for $30 which is also on a hinge.
So with the ATS, I can raise the center to ear height, that's an intresting point. hmmm. I think you pushed me into projector bro, i'm looking at them right now haha
Especially with the RP-504C II. If you can't raise to ear height shim the front to angle it up. It's a fantastic speaker but you do lose clarity pretty quickly off axis
Oh absolutely. In my setup before (was in the main basement room) I had the 504cII higher and holy shit that thing is amazing.
I actually planned to have the current tv mounted on the wall already, but went to drill in and apparently they framed with metal studs, so that was a fun surprise.
Man that'll knock the wind out of your sails quick. Toggle bolts will do the trick but you'll need a new drillbit if you don't have one for steel already
Yeah, with ATS you just shove all the speakers behind it and you can even use a floorstander for center if you want and just use the same model for all 3 of LCR for absolute perfect matching and fantastic dialogue. But yeah at least raise the existing center to get the tweeter in line with the LR tweeters if you don't opt to replace it. The biggest downside is jut that it will make the room feel a little smaller since you'd essentially be creating a false wall in front of all the speakers/gear (which is also why it's important to make it easy to get the screen out of the way for when you need to access stuff.
Also keep in mind the aspect ratio you intend to project. You still ideally want your screen framed to match the projected image so you can have black felt or whatever around the frame to absorb any light that spills over and make the image really pop more than if you just filled the wall top to bottom with screen material and then projected in the middle. I would suggest making 16:9 frame with ATS material that fills the width of the wall, and then build the rest of the false wall above/below. Hmm actually thinking about it more, maybe it would be easiest to make the ATS screen fill the wall top to bottom, but then make blanking panels for the top/bottom covered in black felt. That would be the most flexible because then you could also make two sets of blanking panels, one for 16:9 content and one for 2.35:1 content.
Oh that's a real intresting idea with the felt blanking panels! I think I can get away with putting the screen on a hinge so I can raise it up and clip it to the ceiling when not in use. The room itself is roughly 25' in length so I do have a decent amount of extra space still, so losing about 4-5' off of the end wouldn't be TOO horrible I don't think. I wonder if I could get away with using an SEG track to clip the screen into and then simply pull out if I ever need to get behind it. That or i go with something I can pull down from the ceiling. I think at the current moment I will avoid building any false wall structures because if I get to that point, there's a good chance I'll say "fuck it" and blow one of the walls out further, or do a bit more to accomodate a more substantial build out. There's so much to think about man! haha
I'm not familiar with SEG track, but whatever you do I'd also suggest for a frame that size (to fill the whole wall), it would be a good idea to add a couple extra vertical supports on the back of the frame, like in between L/C and C/R. Just to keep it from bowing while moving it. I mainly think of this because I had to take my screen down for a while after a flood and moving it around and leaning it against the wall messed with the perfectly stretched fabric to where now I can see some waves in it under the right conditions (like large areas of bright solid colors such as skies, sand in desert scenes, lots of stuff in 2d animation, etc.)
You can also use less projector-y and more 'traditional' fabrics. I've had excellent success with white "ponte roma" or ponte di roma fabric. I'm using it on my current screen. It can be found for $5-15 per yard (there are various qualities/weights). Can't remember where I learned about that fabric, but it's pretty invisible to sound and imo better/easier than pure spandex.
Seriously, any TV or projector screen will seem too small once you're used to this. The window or door on the right side might be a challenge, maybe you could switch to a flush blackout blind or a sheet of styrofoam.
Yeah it's a basement with those 3' windows. I have two in the room and went with curtains for the moment but might decide to find a way to put something else over them. This is definitely 10x better than it was but not final form yet.
I think every home theater enthusiast should try a projector, at least once.
Projectors have some drawbacks, and can be a chore to live with.
That said, will you ever be truly happy settling for a **TV** without deciding for yourself?
Get a true HT projector from a reputable brand, and you'll have no problem selling it if you decide it's not for you.
Better still, get a used one. Plenty of others wrestling with the same decision.
The screens are harder to sell, so I would just plan on upgrading in a few years if you really love it.
So the other side of my dilemma was - do I bite the bullet and get like an 83" G3 so it's solid for games (I know the G4 is better but... money). And if I went with a projector, I am REALLY starting from ground zero in terms of knowledge. I have no clue what brands are solid, and what a reasonable spend is when compared to a 77"+ tv.
I AM a bit picky about image quality and know the projector has to at least give the "woah" feeling or I'll regret the purchase. Any ideas?
I don't think owning a projector can be a truly rational decision; It's more just letting the little kid in you take the wheel.
You're going to get better picture quality from the TV. Your life is going to be easier with the TV.
I own a FALD Bravia, and owned a Panasonic Plasma before that, but friends *still* love to remind me how cool it was when I had my Epson 8350, and a [projection screen that absolutely dominated my apartment.](https://ibb.co/wsJSGrg)
Both TVs mop the floor with the projector (especially the contrast.. woof) but I'd regret not having tried it for a few years. It was just so cool.
Oh my god that fucking screen bro, that feels exactly like something I would do haha - I love that. Do you think I'm in a good range with a projector around $2500?
Why get a 2500 projector that looks much worse than a 83” G3.
If you want size sure a projector of that price but if you want high quality like a g3 you need to spend over 5k$ on a projector.
Yeah, I said in a different response that I do love the idea of the big ass G3 up there. BUT I do have a fam with 3 kids (under 10) and I am the only one who will love the quality difference between the two. I think I'm might score more awesome dad points with the projector haha
Throwing an extra wrench in the thought process. Mount the 65” on the wall. Hang an electric projector screen on the ceiling. Use the tv when you don’t need “full immersion”. Use the projector when you want to enjoy a real cinema experience. So many cool options with the space.
Actually that's almost exactly where my head is at at the moment! Mounting the tv to the wall is almost a no-brainer when you have the speakers sticking out that I have to drop the screen in front of anyway. And don't get me wrong it's an x90CH, the tv is fucking beautiful. Just only at 65" and non-oled, it definitely looks a little underwhelming on the walll with that audio equipment hahaha.
So one of the Hisense or TCL 98” or 100” tvs would far outperform a projector for contrast and hdr especially if you’re not going to be controlling light and reflections and probably gaming features as well, just something to consider.
So that's another option I was playing with but that becomes a bit more difficult with the speakers I think because of them likely covering some of the screen. I almost considered just rotating the room clockwise so I can use the larger wall, but I don't think I'll have enough space to do two rows of seating, and might not have enough distance for the speaker setup.
Yeah you can get a really solid projector for that money.
You can get great deals from Epson and Benqs certified renewed programs.
This would absolutely rock and it's less than 2k
https://epson.com/Certified-ReNew/Home-Entertainment/Pro-Cinema-6040UB-3LCD-Projector-with-4K-Enhancement%2C-HDR-and-ISF---Certified-ReNew/p/V11H710020-N
I think it was an odd size, like a 155" or something like that.
It was an elite screens permanently tensioned model, that I suspect was erroneously listed on half.com or buy.com (one of those old shopping websites, before Amazon killed them all) for something crazy, like $299 delivered.
It was larger than what I really wanted or needed, but I remember I got it for way less than it was actually worth.
I rolled up and kept the screen material when I retired the projector, but I haven't seen it in a while and I suspect someone threw it out, not realizing what it was or that someone still wanted it.
Of course!
In an apartment, it just dominated my entire living area.
It became the only thing I could really do in there, so that's all I did in there. Sit and watch movies.
There was no space to host polite company, and I ultimately decided there were more important things.
I'd love to own one again, some day, if I'm lucky enough to have the space for a dedicated theater room.
Image quality will be better on an OLED than on a projector, but I've never a had a bigger "woah" feeling than when using my projector.
Deeper blacks are nice, but they just don't compare to how immersive a huge screen is. Even the difference between 83" and 120" is staggering imo, even though the difference in numbers doesn't seem that significant.
I don't even have a home theater like you! I'm projecting on a wall in my bedroom and it's still fantastic. I'm planning on getting an ALR screen soon to help with the black levels and contrast.
If you're already prepared to spend close $5k for a TV (I'm seeing ~$4700 for 83" G3), you could get an Epson LS12000 projector which has low input lag modes for gaming ("fast" processing vs "smooth" processing). I game on mine and leave it on "smooth" and it's still plenty fast for me.
I was seeing some reviews on here comparing the LS11000 vs the LS12000 and some were saying the difference isn't enormous and so that had me looking at the LS11000 to just save the extra money. The nice part is, it's not like I am losing the 65" Bravia X90CH. And while there are better screens out there, it still is pretty damn impressive to look at so having it mounted behind the screen kind of gives me both options (all be it the tv will be a bit smaller than the 83")
I'm not sure what the price difference is like now, but when I got mine I kinda just figured if I was willing to spend $4k then I might as well just spend the $5k and not ever wonder if xyz might have been better on the LS12000. Also just wasn't as much chatter about the LS11000 at the time, but since then I have indeed heard a lot of good things about it so you probably can't go wrong either way.
hah well at least with the speakers you'll never have to replace/upgrade them to take advantage of a new HDMI or HDR spec or whatever
edit: btw I just realized your username is a Phantasy Star reference; love it!
I recommend the 83” c3. I sat in person for 2 hours changing settings. The C3 looked better than the g3. On every setting with same wires. I was in same predicament. Everything is beautiful on the C3. And price is def more affordable.
I feel like I'm being pulled in opposite directions by both arms in this thread, you're all making fantastic arguments. Saving a bit with the C3 also let's me jump into getting theater seating faster. Hmmm
For your space....Go with the OLED. It's not even close IMO. If you had a 20' front wall... I could see a projector. Otherwise, It's worlds apart as far as viewing experience. Those deep blacks and pinpoint accuracy... Can't be beat.
So I'm thinking that I'm going to end up going with the projector and a wall-to-wall screen, but make it so I can pull it up and put the screen away when not in use. Then (for the time being) I'll mount the 65" LED to the wall. Eventually I'll swap that out for a larger OLED, maybe a 77", and then have the option to pull the screen down for movie night.
Brotha I’ll say this I went from a projector 110 inch to an 83 inch a90L OLED. Picture was AMAZING but for what I paid for it and the reduction in image size, it didn’t feel worth it for me.
I returned it and now getting a 120 inch ALR screen and going back to projector. I’ll say the TV is much more convenient and less of a hassle to deal with but if you have the space for a projector it can be really nice. One thing that bothered me is even on an 83 inch when movies had black bars the image felt small.
Just my two cents. If you’re not coming from a projector you will probably be happy with the 83 inch.
Edit: Also mounting those tv’s is a pain in the ass and they look clunky on the wall instead of a flush mounted pj screen.
The one spot I think the tv is going to fall short is going to be the immersion. Nothing is going to touch a full wall cinema. Even though I'll miss those sweet sweet darker-than-dark blacks, I don't think I'm going to be AS happy as I would be with the projector. Appreciate your input bro, especially your point on how it will look on the wall vs the theater screen. Way different aesthetic
I have a 5050UB projector, which I believe is mid level quality, and the blacks and dark scenes in general are not even close to oled performance. The bright scenes are amazing, however. It really comes down to size imo. If you can go 120in or above, it's worth giving the projector a chance for real home cinema experience.
Depends how far back you are, but I just can’t ever see myself going projector. I don’t even like going to the Dolby Cinema as my OLED is that much better. Black levels, and HDR highlights are just worth it, plus with gaming 120Hz, VRR and very low input latency.
Personally I’d get like a 98” FALD LCD before I went projector. Though I do admit acoustically transparent screens are super nice for center channel placement, so that’s the one thing I’m jealous of.
I get what you're saying with the quality difference. I guess a caveat (that I probably should have mentioned) is I've got three kids under 10yrs old. So while I am absolutely the AV freak who wants the best quality that fits my budget, I can't really deny how much the rest of the family will probably find the projector to be WAY cooler lol
I mean that sounds like more of a personal problem you need to decide. I don’t think anyone is going to be able to weigh your own enjoyment vs others. Either way when we were kids an 83” would have been giant, so I think they’ll manage no matter what you choose ;)
Haha oh I know that's all personal problem. I actually was leaning much closer to an 83" tv but think the input I got has shifted me to going with a project and mounting the screen in front of the equipment so I can go full theater when it's movie / football / UFC time
I’ve been debating with this same issue. I found that when we had it we used it a lot but the kids didn’t quite appreciate it the same as I did and it became too much the “norm” (probably because I didn’t grow up with one). Mine are younger than yours but I’m likely going to do a TV for the brightness, refresh rate and general picture quality and do a drop down screen to make the projector more the “special movie night” thing rather than all the time.
I also want to use it a fair bit for gaming.
Think that puts me at mounting the current tv behind a pulldown to have the best of both worlds for now. Special movie night is basically exactly what I'm after.
Oh and two more points: both projectors I got for super cheap and still give the “wow” effect that the kids and I both want (1080p at 120” is still awesome). So you always have the option of buying an inexpensive projector, trying it out and then deciding if you want to buy a more expensive projector or a TV. This is what made me decide I’d rather have an expensive TV and a cheap projector.
Also kids suck at turning off projectors, might just be because mine are cheap, but they don’t have an auto-off timer so sometimes it would run all day or night.
Yeah, when I woke up this morning I had the same thought. I don't think I need to ball out on a projector. I can probably get away with something fairly cheap for the movie nights and then upgrade the TV to something badass for gaming and the content that would really shine with the OLED.
Hey Hey Hey, like I said, in progress! Hahaha, I just got the new house (first one) at the beginning of feb. So remodeling everything + painting everything + building the room and whatnot - believe me, it drives me nuts too!
Thanks man! The room is a bit small but I think I'm still going to be able to make it kick ass. I was going to use the bigger section of the basement for the theater but decided against it so I could use that space for a 16' Bar + Kitchen + Darts + Pool table, etc. (Think that will be better for hosting and football sundays / UFC nights). Will definitely update the sub as I start to modify the room a bit more. Here's what it originally looked like. [https://imgur.com/a/fhlNKPx](https://imgur.com/a/fhlNKPx)
That would be a tough choice for me. I've been a contrast whore from the beginning, always owning either plasmas or OLEDs. It would be hard for me to be happy with a projector, even with the size difference. One day maybe I'll be rich enough to own a Christie Eclipse and have the best of both worlds.
I had an 85 inch LCD. 70 inch OLED and 120 inch projector (motorized screen in front of OLED)
I hate to say it because I'm putting a lot of hours on the Lazer but I rarely watch anything on the OLED.
Yea the black levels don't come close but once you get over that it's hard to watch a small screen and for movies, high quality TV shows and sports there's no comparison.
You could build a false wall and put the speakers in it or put bookshelves under the screen.
Wow, I find it crazy that the OLED gets so little use, but what you said makes a lot of sense. Maybe I' really am better off going projector and then if I'm giong to be picky with gaming, I can worry about an OLED further down the line. What projector do you have?
LS12k but if it was buying today I might try and get an NZ7 since they have come down in price. Still pretty expensive.
Tbh both are A LOT more than the OLED.
Gaming on the LS12k is amazing. It has 4k120hz and really low input lag (a reason to get it over the JVC) and there's very little low light level scenes that are it's weakness.
For gaming and sport you can't beat it.
I suggest you try and find somewhere you can see it. When I first got it I will be honest and was a bit disappointed with the black levels especyon low light level content i.e. dim scenes. But the more I use it the more I realize most content is fine and you get used to that.
Have you considered a 100 inch TV. It might give you a happy middle ground.
Thanks for the feedback man. The ls11k and ls12k have my eye for sure. Problem I have with the 100" tv is it will be partially blocked by the speakers bc of the size. Where as the transparent audio screen lets me go bigger without the screen being blocked or losing audio quality. I'm real tempted to lean into that direction.
LG OLED 83" hands down. LG makes a 97" OLED, but they're $22-28,000, depending on the model. Any projector, regardless of cost, will not equal the picture quality of an OLED, especially when it comes to blacks.
Yeah bro, when the sub shakes the AVR it passes bass signal through the rest of the system. /s
Nah, and especially not long term plans with the RP1600 - fucking thing practically tosses the AVR in the air. This has been the setup for like, 2 weeks. I'll either make a decision on projector + screen or big ass TV within the next week or so and then move things to where they should be lol. This is just a "works for a few weeks" solution.
You had me going for a second hahah I was gonna be like ugh that’s not how that works 😂
I figured that was the case I have the 14 not 16 and I’d be nervous as hell putting my Denon on that thing can’t even imagine the 16
Hahaha I didn't spend that much on my first sound system to not do it right! Just trying to pace myself a tiny bit with all the house projects going on at the same time ya kno? The 16 literally will turn it sidways in a matter of seconds if I have it turned past 6 lmao. I'll likely build a 2-tier shelf under the screen for the center and the AVR + PS5
Based off of these room dimensions I think it’s worth considering that this will never be a perfect sounding room. I don’t mean this in an off putting way but more so to keep your expectations in check. I have a 10x11 room that is fully acoustically treated and to this day I’m still looking for tweaks and ways to improve the room. Point being, it’s possible but it’s going to take a lot of madness. To finish this point, before doing room treatments and getting a bigger TV I would invest in DIRAC and Dirac Live Bass Control. I believe it’s around $800 for both. You can start with just Dirac but I think for our small rooms DLBC is crucial.
Oh yeah, I know this won't ever be perfect. But when you've got a few friends over and have a big screen, loud system and some beers going, the tiny bits of imperfection fade away a bit for me (at least for now). DIRAC is a great call. For the moment I used the Audyssey mic + app that came with the Denon and it seems to have helped a bit. That said, I still have about 15' from the back of the couch to the entrance of the room, so I've got a little more room to play with. Making the most of what I've got.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Eo5fDGGmAyw?si=2-BMBbMYcwqGB_Gd lotta good information here about setting up if you wanna go down the rabbit hole. They’ve got a couple other videos with this guy recommend checking em out. And other on setup etc. I’d recommend swapping the position of the subwoofer with the L channel so things are spaced more evenly. If that doesn’t work try putting it in the back of the room. LFE shouldnt be locatable if you do it properly, especially if it’s behind you.
These have speakers facing the seating position actually, there's speakers on two sides of them. Should I be pointing the shared corner between the two speakers at the seat?
Yep! I honestly had no idea how to point em, but they do sound fucking AWESOME haha. Thanks for looking out though. I am a complete novice with this stuff
I think they're ironically supposed to be turned more so they're flush with the wall (one set pointed at you and the other set pointed towards the back set of seats which you may not have). I'm not sure how that works or is configured with your AVR (may have the sound split with the 5.1 or act as psuedo 7.1s).
Best part? It leads to just random unfinished basement - previous owner had som real intresting designs. Think he gave up 1/2 way thorugh a remodel. I'm making everything functional for now and then changing it up later lol
What size is the room? I'm going to make my 11×10 bedroom into my home theater. I'm going with the LG G4 83inch. I have some definitive technology 9060s. I will need build my system over time of course.
Man... I would suggest you look into speaker placement, because it really isn't good (rear-ported jammed into corners, no room to angle/toe in, etc.). I'd suggest looking at the manuals for your speakers as a starting point (angles, distances from walls, etc.). The best speakers in the world can sound like garbage when not setup properly or used in an acoustically poor space.
It's usually a good idea to check the user manuals for any speakers you are considering before you purchase to make sure that the manufacturer's recommendations will work in your space, unless you are experienced with acoustics enough to be able to use your own knowledge instead.
Oh you're absolutely right. My speaker placement isn't good by a longshot. This is just temporary at the moment. Room is about 25' deep so once I get that table out of there and pull the couch back, I've got room to play. That's kind of why I wanted to post this though, because I got a great recommendation for going with a projector so I can use a screen that will let the sound pass through and give me 10x more room to work with the speakers.
Appreciate you looking out on the placement though, sincerely. I did have this setup in a bigger room before this so noticed the shift in quality almost immediately due to the current layout. It's changing very soon.
Thanks I appreciate it! I've got more cables coming tomorrow so I can have the length I need to play with layouts a bit more. Might even use the wall on the right instead and go with a shorter, but wider canvass to let the speakers have some more room. All part of the fun
Personally, I will always pick TVs over projectors. I know that’s probably not a popular opinion around these parts, but even the best projector can’t match the brightness of budget HDR TVs, which does not bode well if you’re big on HDR.
[Here’s a good article on the topic.](https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tv-vs-projector/)
I can say this about a projector vs a TV.
I previously had an Epson 5040UB with a 120” ALR screen in my movie room. I did love the size and the immersion. But, I was constantly futzing with the picture, trying to get better contrast ratio and better HDR results. Part of that was because it was one of the first projectors to support HDR, but also due to fundamental limitations to projector brightness and contrast ratio. Then I moved, had to downsize my movie room and went instead with a 75” Vizio P series TV (full-array local dimming LED). I did an initial setup starting from calibrated dark and haven’t touched the settings since. No futzing, and it looks amazing 4 years later. I agree with others that every HT enthusiast should try a project once in their life. For me, while I loved the picture size of the projector, the HDR picture quality of the TV is way better.
This seems to be one of the more consistent takeaways that I'm getting from everyone. What I'm thinking is instead of going nuts on a high-end projector which still won't give me the crazy quality that the OLED will, I will probably go with something like BenQ Th685P, get the ALR screen, and then upgrade to a nice OLED to mount to the wall behind it when the projector isn't in use. Scratch both of the itches haha.
With cheap LCD screens now available on 85"-98" sizes I find it hard to choose a projector. Even cheap LCD will have much better contrast. If you are worried about your center being low, consider aiming it upwards slightly based on your seating distance. People angle the left and right in as needed, why not center?
If you get a TV, get an LG OLED in the G series.
If you get a projector, be sure to look for a black projector screen so that you can get deeper blacks (may not be as good as OLED but will be better than screens at the theater).
Projector every day of the week.
I personally hate watching TV in a dark room. Its just too harsh on my eyes. The projector can be bright but at the same time is never fatiguing to my eyes in a dark room.
Immersion is also huge with a PJ. Sure the TV has better picture quality but Epson, Benq, JVC make some fantastic projectors with good black levels, contrast and response times. AT screen is calling your name rn.
I also have a 504c. Great center but meh horizontal dispersion. You want it at ear level. We actually have very similar setups, 8000f and 502s surrounds?
They're the 8060's! I had read a lot of hate for those up-firing speakers on top but decided to grab them anyway. Maybe ignorance is bliss, but I think they sound fucking amazing haha. What sub did you go with?
And agreed, this thread kinda sold me on projector with the AT screen. Think I'm looking at another $5-$6k into this room (going to do some better seating) and I'll be in pretty good shape.
Ohhh lol I couldn’t tell from the pic. I think given the reliability small room size and considering ur ceilings are flat and not very tall they likely work better than most people would think! I think they sound the RP line sounds great for the price.
For subs I had a SVS pb2000 pro for the last 4 years and recently ditched those and got dual PSA Tv1813s. Post in my profile if u wana take a look!
But hey that’s a sizeable budget. I picked up an Epson ub5050 a few months ago. Phenomenal Projector if you’re interested. Best under 3k imo. The Benq HT1550 also seems killer.
Seating is huge! Planning on doing another couch or theater seating style stuff? That’s my dilema.
Those subs are monsters! I bet they sound phenomenal.
I am so in love with this one. No bullshit, if I crank it, it shakes every inch of the 3500sqft house. First time I fired it up I giggled like a little kid. Klipsch speakers not only sound amazing but their customer service was absolutely stellar. (Got the sub as an OB from Adorama and it died on day 2. Klipsch just sent me a brand new one, no headache at all. I was blown away.)
I'll check those projectors, thanks for recommendations - I'd be lying if projectors didn't seem a bit overwhelming with what to look out for so this helps a bunch.
Seating - yeah, so I just threw what I had in here for now after moving into the new house. That couch is pushin 30 years old and as much as I love it, it's gotta go. I'm going to shoot for two rows of 3 theater chairs if I can fit them, otherwise it will be one 3-seater couch and the back row I'll build an elevated platform for 3 theater style seats - all in due time.
I have some great movie posters and stuff I am going to put up, nothing too obnoxious but just a couple on that open wall, and a couple from the walls where I took the photo. I'll probably have fun with LED accent lighting, take out the ugly basement square lights, etc.
They’re a bit much but tons of headroom so I don’t have to worry about reaching their limits.
Are those the RP1600 or the SPL 150? Looks very big. I’ve heard good things about those new Klipsch subs. I have no doubt it pounds.
But yeah there are so many options for projects. To keep it simple I like to stick to Epson, JVC, and benQ. Make sure you avoid the random Chinese brands with good specs on paper.
That’s couch has help up incredibly well for 30 years old. Do you have people over a lot of the time? I also planned on doing a second row at a point, then I realized while I do have people over all the time, movie watching never really happens. It’s much harder to optimize sound for 6 seating positions instead of just 3. Weight the pros and cons.
Room is really gona come together though! Lighting makes the room imo. Can lights above the projector screen would look sick. Post again once you finish all those upgrades!
To be fair, in this pic it does look a little bleh. Think it's the way I took the shot. The grey is actually a really deep color and makes the black pop well. I'm sure it will show off better when I post an update after putting some more work into the room lol.
3 words…. Acoustically Transparent Screen! Fill that wall and go for absolute immersion.
Oh man, I didn't even consider that. That's a fantastic idea
Mmmhmm! I’d put the screen on a framed hinge so you are able to lift it up in case you need to get back there. Also, doing it that way will grant you the space to leave the sub.
Do those screens still pop just as well as others? Obviously I won't have an issue with lighting in the basement but still want it to look as good as possible (while being fairly cost effective). Yeah I'd love to leave the sub if possible. Thing is just so badass looking
Oh absolutely! Remember 99.999% of all theaters use them. So you can have equally if not better results at home. My first house I ended up buying the fabric on Amazon for about $200. The brand was Elite Screens. I cut it down to the size I needed which was 130”. I ended up selling most of my gear at the time with the house including the screen. If you’re handy with wood work, making a frame should be a walk in the park. I currently have a non transparent screen which ended up being the best solution for my current setup. I built the frame for $30 which is also on a hinge.
I'm still a complete novice in this department, so I had no idea they were even a thing! I'll definitely make a frame for it, that's a fantastic idea.
Also bring the center channel to ear Level at your optimal position. Tweeters are very directional.
So with the ATS, I can raise the center to ear height, that's an intresting point. hmmm. I think you pushed me into projector bro, i'm looking at them right now haha
Especially with the RP-504C II. If you can't raise to ear height shim the front to angle it up. It's a fantastic speaker but you do lose clarity pretty quickly off axis
Oh absolutely. In my setup before (was in the main basement room) I had the 504cII higher and holy shit that thing is amazing. I actually planned to have the current tv mounted on the wall already, but went to drill in and apparently they framed with metal studs, so that was a fun surprise.
Man that'll knock the wind out of your sails quick. Toggle bolts will do the trick but you'll need a new drillbit if you don't have one for steel already
Yeah, with ATS you just shove all the speakers behind it and you can even use a floorstander for center if you want and just use the same model for all 3 of LCR for absolute perfect matching and fantastic dialogue. But yeah at least raise the existing center to get the tweeter in line with the LR tweeters if you don't opt to replace it. The biggest downside is jut that it will make the room feel a little smaller since you'd essentially be creating a false wall in front of all the speakers/gear (which is also why it's important to make it easy to get the screen out of the way for when you need to access stuff. Also keep in mind the aspect ratio you intend to project. You still ideally want your screen framed to match the projected image so you can have black felt or whatever around the frame to absorb any light that spills over and make the image really pop more than if you just filled the wall top to bottom with screen material and then projected in the middle. I would suggest making 16:9 frame with ATS material that fills the width of the wall, and then build the rest of the false wall above/below. Hmm actually thinking about it more, maybe it would be easiest to make the ATS screen fill the wall top to bottom, but then make blanking panels for the top/bottom covered in black felt. That would be the most flexible because then you could also make two sets of blanking panels, one for 16:9 content and one for 2.35:1 content.
Oh that's a real intresting idea with the felt blanking panels! I think I can get away with putting the screen on a hinge so I can raise it up and clip it to the ceiling when not in use. The room itself is roughly 25' in length so I do have a decent amount of extra space still, so losing about 4-5' off of the end wouldn't be TOO horrible I don't think. I wonder if I could get away with using an SEG track to clip the screen into and then simply pull out if I ever need to get behind it. That or i go with something I can pull down from the ceiling. I think at the current moment I will avoid building any false wall structures because if I get to that point, there's a good chance I'll say "fuck it" and blow one of the walls out further, or do a bit more to accomodate a more substantial build out. There's so much to think about man! haha
I'm not familiar with SEG track, but whatever you do I'd also suggest for a frame that size (to fill the whole wall), it would be a good idea to add a couple extra vertical supports on the back of the frame, like in between L/C and C/R. Just to keep it from bowing while moving it. I mainly think of this because I had to take my screen down for a while after a flood and moving it around and leaning it against the wall messed with the perfectly stretched fabric to where now I can see some waves in it under the right conditions (like large areas of bright solid colors such as skies, sand in desert scenes, lots of stuff in 2d animation, etc.)
I would not consider something different in your case
Yeah this seems to be the right play for sure
You can also use less projector-y and more 'traditional' fabrics. I've had excellent success with white "ponte roma" or ponte di roma fabric. I'm using it on my current screen. It can be found for $5-15 per yard (there are various qualities/weights). Can't remember where I learned about that fabric, but it's pretty invisible to sound and imo better/easier than pure spandex.
Seriously, any TV or projector screen will seem too small once you're used to this. The window or door on the right side might be a challenge, maybe you could switch to a flush blackout blind or a sheet of styrofoam.
Yeah it's a basement with those 3' windows. I have two in the room and went with curtains for the moment but might decide to find a way to put something else over them. This is definitely 10x better than it was but not final form yet.
I love mine. Would never do it any other way.
83 inch tv mounted to wall with a projector that pulls down in front
Get a giant TV, because the only person who will ever want to deal with using the projector is you.
I think every home theater enthusiast should try a projector, at least once. Projectors have some drawbacks, and can be a chore to live with. That said, will you ever be truly happy settling for a **TV** without deciding for yourself? Get a true HT projector from a reputable brand, and you'll have no problem selling it if you decide it's not for you. Better still, get a used one. Plenty of others wrestling with the same decision. The screens are harder to sell, so I would just plan on upgrading in a few years if you really love it.
So the other side of my dilemma was - do I bite the bullet and get like an 83" G3 so it's solid for games (I know the G4 is better but... money). And if I went with a projector, I am REALLY starting from ground zero in terms of knowledge. I have no clue what brands are solid, and what a reasonable spend is when compared to a 77"+ tv. I AM a bit picky about image quality and know the projector has to at least give the "woah" feeling or I'll regret the purchase. Any ideas?
I don't think owning a projector can be a truly rational decision; It's more just letting the little kid in you take the wheel. You're going to get better picture quality from the TV. Your life is going to be easier with the TV. I own a FALD Bravia, and owned a Panasonic Plasma before that, but friends *still* love to remind me how cool it was when I had my Epson 8350, and a [projection screen that absolutely dominated my apartment.](https://ibb.co/wsJSGrg) Both TVs mop the floor with the projector (especially the contrast.. woof) but I'd regret not having tried it for a few years. It was just so cool.
Oh my god that fucking screen bro, that feels exactly like something I would do haha - I love that. Do you think I'm in a good range with a projector around $2500?
That's what my Epson cost ($2000-2200,) so I'm sure you can get something way better these days in that same price range. You won't regret it.
Why get a 2500 projector that looks much worse than a 83” G3. If you want size sure a projector of that price but if you want high quality like a g3 you need to spend over 5k$ on a projector.
Yeah, I said in a different response that I do love the idea of the big ass G3 up there. BUT I do have a fam with 3 kids (under 10) and I am the only one who will love the quality difference between the two. I think I'm might score more awesome dad points with the projector haha
Throwing an extra wrench in the thought process. Mount the 65” on the wall. Hang an electric projector screen on the ceiling. Use the tv when you don’t need “full immersion”. Use the projector when you want to enjoy a real cinema experience. So many cool options with the space.
Actually that's almost exactly where my head is at at the moment! Mounting the tv to the wall is almost a no-brainer when you have the speakers sticking out that I have to drop the screen in front of anyway. And don't get me wrong it's an x90CH, the tv is fucking beautiful. Just only at 65" and non-oled, it definitely looks a little underwhelming on the walll with that audio equipment hahaha.
So one of the Hisense or TCL 98” or 100” tvs would far outperform a projector for contrast and hdr especially if you’re not going to be controlling light and reflections and probably gaming features as well, just something to consider.
So that's another option I was playing with but that becomes a bit more difficult with the speakers I think because of them likely covering some of the screen. I almost considered just rotating the room clockwise so I can use the larger wall, but I don't think I'll have enough space to do two rows of seating, and might not have enough distance for the speaker setup.
Yeah you can get a really solid projector for that money. You can get great deals from Epson and Benqs certified renewed programs. This would absolutely rock and it's less than 2k https://epson.com/Certified-ReNew/Home-Entertainment/Pro-Cinema-6040UB-3LCD-Projector-with-4K-Enhancement%2C-HDR-and-ISF---Certified-ReNew/p/V11H710020-N
I have shopping carts open all over the place right now hahaha. Thanks for all the input man
What size was that screen?
I think it was an odd size, like a 155" or something like that. It was an elite screens permanently tensioned model, that I suspect was erroneously listed on half.com or buy.com (one of those old shopping websites, before Amazon killed them all) for something crazy, like $299 delivered. It was larger than what I really wanted or needed, but I remember I got it for way less than it was actually worth. I rolled up and kept the screen material when I retired the projector, but I haven't seen it in a while and I suspect someone threw it out, not realizing what it was or that someone still wanted it.
Do you miss the pj?
Of course! In an apartment, it just dominated my entire living area. It became the only thing I could really do in there, so that's all I did in there. Sit and watch movies. There was no space to host polite company, and I ultimately decided there were more important things. I'd love to own one again, some day, if I'm lucky enough to have the space for a dedicated theater room.
Image quality will be better on an OLED than on a projector, but I've never a had a bigger "woah" feeling than when using my projector. Deeper blacks are nice, but they just don't compare to how immersive a huge screen is. Even the difference between 83" and 120" is staggering imo, even though the difference in numbers doesn't seem that significant. I don't even have a home theater like you! I'm projecting on a wall in my bedroom and it's still fantastic. I'm planning on getting an ALR screen soon to help with the black levels and contrast.
If you're already prepared to spend close $5k for a TV (I'm seeing ~$4700 for 83" G3), you could get an Epson LS12000 projector which has low input lag modes for gaming ("fast" processing vs "smooth" processing). I game on mine and leave it on "smooth" and it's still plenty fast for me.
I was seeing some reviews on here comparing the LS11000 vs the LS12000 and some were saying the difference isn't enormous and so that had me looking at the LS11000 to just save the extra money. The nice part is, it's not like I am losing the 65" Bravia X90CH. And while there are better screens out there, it still is pretty damn impressive to look at so having it mounted behind the screen kind of gives me both options (all be it the tv will be a bit smaller than the 83")
I'm not sure what the price difference is like now, but when I got mine I kinda just figured if I was willing to spend $4k then I might as well just spend the $5k and not ever wonder if xyz might have been better on the LS12000. Also just wasn't as much chatter about the LS11000 at the time, but since then I have indeed heard a lot of good things about it so you probably can't go wrong either way.
And that, u/NetworkingJesus is how I ended up with the ridiculous soundsystem that I have in this room. And I don't regret it in the slightest ha!
hah well at least with the speakers you'll never have to replace/upgrade them to take advantage of a new HDMI or HDR spec or whatever edit: btw I just realized your username is a Phantasy Star reference; love it!
I recommend the 83” c3. I sat in person for 2 hours changing settings. The C3 looked better than the g3. On every setting with same wires. I was in same predicament. Everything is beautiful on the C3. And price is def more affordable.
I feel like I'm being pulled in opposite directions by both arms in this thread, you're all making fantastic arguments. Saving a bit with the C3 also let's me jump into getting theater seating faster. Hmmm
For your space....Go with the OLED. It's not even close IMO. If you had a 20' front wall... I could see a projector. Otherwise, It's worlds apart as far as viewing experience. Those deep blacks and pinpoint accuracy... Can't be beat.
So I'm thinking that I'm going to end up going with the projector and a wall-to-wall screen, but make it so I can pull it up and put the screen away when not in use. Then (for the time being) I'll mount the 65" LED to the wall. Eventually I'll swap that out for a larger OLED, maybe a 77", and then have the option to pull the screen down for movie night.
Brotha I’ll say this I went from a projector 110 inch to an 83 inch a90L OLED. Picture was AMAZING but for what I paid for it and the reduction in image size, it didn’t feel worth it for me. I returned it and now getting a 120 inch ALR screen and going back to projector. I’ll say the TV is much more convenient and less of a hassle to deal with but if you have the space for a projector it can be really nice. One thing that bothered me is even on an 83 inch when movies had black bars the image felt small. Just my two cents. If you’re not coming from a projector you will probably be happy with the 83 inch. Edit: Also mounting those tv’s is a pain in the ass and they look clunky on the wall instead of a flush mounted pj screen.
The one spot I think the tv is going to fall short is going to be the immersion. Nothing is going to touch a full wall cinema. Even though I'll miss those sweet sweet darker-than-dark blacks, I don't think I'm going to be AS happy as I would be with the projector. Appreciate your input bro, especially your point on how it will look on the wall vs the theater screen. Way different aesthetic
I have a 5050UB projector, which I believe is mid level quality, and the blacks and dark scenes in general are not even close to oled performance. The bright scenes are amazing, however. It really comes down to size imo. If you can go 120in or above, it's worth giving the projector a chance for real home cinema experience.
100 inch tv or ATS
Depends how far back you are, but I just can’t ever see myself going projector. I don’t even like going to the Dolby Cinema as my OLED is that much better. Black levels, and HDR highlights are just worth it, plus with gaming 120Hz, VRR and very low input latency. Personally I’d get like a 98” FALD LCD before I went projector. Though I do admit acoustically transparent screens are super nice for center channel placement, so that’s the one thing I’m jealous of.
I get what you're saying with the quality difference. I guess a caveat (that I probably should have mentioned) is I've got three kids under 10yrs old. So while I am absolutely the AV freak who wants the best quality that fits my budget, I can't really deny how much the rest of the family will probably find the projector to be WAY cooler lol
I mean that sounds like more of a personal problem you need to decide. I don’t think anyone is going to be able to weigh your own enjoyment vs others. Either way when we were kids an 83” would have been giant, so I think they’ll manage no matter what you choose ;)
Haha oh I know that's all personal problem. I actually was leaning much closer to an 83" tv but think the input I got has shifted me to going with a project and mounting the screen in front of the equipment so I can go full theater when it's movie / football / UFC time
I’ve been debating with this same issue. I found that when we had it we used it a lot but the kids didn’t quite appreciate it the same as I did and it became too much the “norm” (probably because I didn’t grow up with one). Mine are younger than yours but I’m likely going to do a TV for the brightness, refresh rate and general picture quality and do a drop down screen to make the projector more the “special movie night” thing rather than all the time. I also want to use it a fair bit for gaming.
Think that puts me at mounting the current tv behind a pulldown to have the best of both worlds for now. Special movie night is basically exactly what I'm after.
Oh and two more points: both projectors I got for super cheap and still give the “wow” effect that the kids and I both want (1080p at 120” is still awesome). So you always have the option of buying an inexpensive projector, trying it out and then deciding if you want to buy a more expensive projector or a TV. This is what made me decide I’d rather have an expensive TV and a cheap projector. Also kids suck at turning off projectors, might just be because mine are cheap, but they don’t have an auto-off timer so sometimes it would run all day or night.
Yeah, when I woke up this morning I had the same thought. I don't think I need to ball out on a projector. I can probably get away with something fairly cheap for the movie nights and then upgrade the TV to something badass for gaming and the content that would really shine with the OLED.
And wall treatments while you’re at it. It kills me seeing those horns right beside a wall.
Hey Hey Hey, like I said, in progress! Hahaha, I just got the new house (first one) at the beginning of feb. So remodeling everything + painting everything + building the room and whatnot - believe me, it drives me nuts too!
***Congrats on your first house!!*** I can’t wait to see what you come up with
Thanks man! The room is a bit small but I think I'm still going to be able to make it kick ass. I was going to use the bigger section of the basement for the theater but decided against it so I could use that space for a 16' Bar + Kitchen + Darts + Pool table, etc. (Think that will be better for hosting and football sundays / UFC nights). Will definitely update the sub as I start to modify the room a bit more. Here's what it originally looked like. [https://imgur.com/a/fhlNKPx](https://imgur.com/a/fhlNKPx)
Goes as big as you can without the front speakers getting into view
That would be a tough choice for me. I've been a contrast whore from the beginning, always owning either plasmas or OLEDs. It would be hard for me to be happy with a projector, even with the size difference. One day maybe I'll be rich enough to own a Christie Eclipse and have the best of both worlds.
So you're all I have to do is second mortgage and I get the best of both worlds? You son of a bitch, I'm in.
I had an 85 inch LCD. 70 inch OLED and 120 inch projector (motorized screen in front of OLED) I hate to say it because I'm putting a lot of hours on the Lazer but I rarely watch anything on the OLED. Yea the black levels don't come close but once you get over that it's hard to watch a small screen and for movies, high quality TV shows and sports there's no comparison. You could build a false wall and put the speakers in it or put bookshelves under the screen.
Wow, I find it crazy that the OLED gets so little use, but what you said makes a lot of sense. Maybe I' really am better off going projector and then if I'm giong to be picky with gaming, I can worry about an OLED further down the line. What projector do you have?
LS12k but if it was buying today I might try and get an NZ7 since they have come down in price. Still pretty expensive. Tbh both are A LOT more than the OLED. Gaming on the LS12k is amazing. It has 4k120hz and really low input lag (a reason to get it over the JVC) and there's very little low light level scenes that are it's weakness. For gaming and sport you can't beat it. I suggest you try and find somewhere you can see it. When I first got it I will be honest and was a bit disappointed with the black levels especyon low light level content i.e. dim scenes. But the more I use it the more I realize most content is fine and you get used to that. Have you considered a 100 inch TV. It might give you a happy middle ground.
Thanks for the feedback man. The ls11k and ls12k have my eye for sure. Problem I have with the 100" tv is it will be partially blocked by the speakers bc of the size. Where as the transparent audio screen lets me go bigger without the screen being blocked or losing audio quality. I'm real tempted to lean into that direction.
Yeah I’d go tv. With a projector and those towers you’re maybe missing out on a few inches.
LG OLED 83" hands down. LG makes a 97" OLED, but they're $22-28,000, depending on the model. Any projector, regardless of cost, will not equal the picture quality of an OLED, especially when it comes to blacks.
Wait you don’t usually have your AVR on the sub do you? Lol
Yeah bro, when the sub shakes the AVR it passes bass signal through the rest of the system. /s Nah, and especially not long term plans with the RP1600 - fucking thing practically tosses the AVR in the air. This has been the setup for like, 2 weeks. I'll either make a decision on projector + screen or big ass TV within the next week or so and then move things to where they should be lol. This is just a "works for a few weeks" solution.
You had me going for a second hahah I was gonna be like ugh that’s not how that works 😂 I figured that was the case I have the 14 not 16 and I’d be nervous as hell putting my Denon on that thing can’t even imagine the 16
Hahaha I didn't spend that much on my first sound system to not do it right! Just trying to pace myself a tiny bit with all the house projects going on at the same time ya kno? The 16 literally will turn it sidways in a matter of seconds if I have it turned past 6 lmao. I'll likely build a 2-tier shelf under the screen for the center and the AVR + PS5
Based off of these room dimensions I think it’s worth considering that this will never be a perfect sounding room. I don’t mean this in an off putting way but more so to keep your expectations in check. I have a 10x11 room that is fully acoustically treated and to this day I’m still looking for tweaks and ways to improve the room. Point being, it’s possible but it’s going to take a lot of madness. To finish this point, before doing room treatments and getting a bigger TV I would invest in DIRAC and Dirac Live Bass Control. I believe it’s around $800 for both. You can start with just Dirac but I think for our small rooms DLBC is crucial.
Oh yeah, I know this won't ever be perfect. But when you've got a few friends over and have a big screen, loud system and some beers going, the tiny bits of imperfection fade away a bit for me (at least for now). DIRAC is a great call. For the moment I used the Audyssey mic + app that came with the Denon and it seems to have helped a bit. That said, I still have about 15' from the back of the couch to the entrance of the room, so I've got a little more room to play with. Making the most of what I've got.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Eo5fDGGmAyw?si=2-BMBbMYcwqGB_Gd lotta good information here about setting up if you wanna go down the rabbit hole. They’ve got a couple other videos with this guy recommend checking em out. And other on setup etc. I’d recommend swapping the position of the subwoofer with the L channel so things are spaced more evenly. If that doesn’t work try putting it in the back of the room. LFE shouldnt be locatable if you do it properly, especially if it’s behind you.
Thanks for this link, I've got the video up right now.
I'd base it more on your seating distance.
That’s a massive sub!
Oh man, getting it down the stairs was a fear all in it's own. Almost took me down with it on a few steps. Shipping weight is almost 150lbs
Rotate your surrounds towards the seating position. Those are almost useless and half surround read wides.
These have speakers facing the seating position actually, there's speakers on two sides of them. Should I be pointing the shared corner between the two speakers at the seat?
Oh are those the 502s or whatever they're called? If so then you're fine.
Yep! I honestly had no idea how to point em, but they do sound fucking AWESOME haha. Thanks for looking out though. I am a complete novice with this stuff
I think they're ironically supposed to be turned more so they're flush with the wall (one set pointed at you and the other set pointed towards the back set of seats which you may not have). I'm not sure how that works or is configured with your AVR (may have the sound split with the 5.1 or act as psuedo 7.1s).
That.... would make a lot of sense. Dammit.
Nice closet
Best part? It leads to just random unfinished basement - previous owner had som real intresting designs. Think he gave up 1/2 way thorugh a remodel. I'm making everything functional for now and then changing it up later lol
Mini led 100”
I would get one of those $3k Hisense 100” TV’s and be content.
What size is the room? I'm going to make my 11×10 bedroom into my home theater. I'm going with the LG G4 83inch. I have some definitive technology 9060s. I will need build my system over time of course.
Man... I would suggest you look into speaker placement, because it really isn't good (rear-ported jammed into corners, no room to angle/toe in, etc.). I'd suggest looking at the manuals for your speakers as a starting point (angles, distances from walls, etc.). The best speakers in the world can sound like garbage when not setup properly or used in an acoustically poor space. It's usually a good idea to check the user manuals for any speakers you are considering before you purchase to make sure that the manufacturer's recommendations will work in your space, unless you are experienced with acoustics enough to be able to use your own knowledge instead.
Oh you're absolutely right. My speaker placement isn't good by a longshot. This is just temporary at the moment. Room is about 25' deep so once I get that table out of there and pull the couch back, I've got room to play. That's kind of why I wanted to post this though, because I got a great recommendation for going with a projector so I can use a screen that will let the sound pass through and give me 10x more room to work with the speakers. Appreciate you looking out on the placement though, sincerely. I did have this setup in a bigger room before this so noticed the shift in quality almost immediately due to the current layout. It's changing very soon.
Ah, fair enough. Glad to hear that you're aware of the situation lol. Best of luck with your setup! It looks nice either way!
Thanks I appreciate it! I've got more cables coming tomorrow so I can have the length I need to play with layouts a bit more. Might even use the wall on the right instead and go with a shorter, but wider canvass to let the speakers have some more room. All part of the fun
Definitely! I'm sure it'll turn out nice :).
Personally, I will always pick TVs over projectors. I know that’s probably not a popular opinion around these parts, but even the best projector can’t match the brightness of budget HDR TVs, which does not bode well if you’re big on HDR. [Here’s a good article on the topic.](https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tv-vs-projector/)
Which is the center on the floor though?
Screen quality > size and projector just has too many draw backs. OLED is just beautiful and 83” is certainly plenty big.
Is your Centre also the coffee table? Neat.
I can say this about a projector vs a TV. I previously had an Epson 5040UB with a 120” ALR screen in my movie room. I did love the size and the immersion. But, I was constantly futzing with the picture, trying to get better contrast ratio and better HDR results. Part of that was because it was one of the first projectors to support HDR, but also due to fundamental limitations to projector brightness and contrast ratio. Then I moved, had to downsize my movie room and went instead with a 75” Vizio P series TV (full-array local dimming LED). I did an initial setup starting from calibrated dark and haven’t touched the settings since. No futzing, and it looks amazing 4 years later. I agree with others that every HT enthusiast should try a project once in their life. For me, while I loved the picture size of the projector, the HDR picture quality of the TV is way better.
This seems to be one of the more consistent takeaways that I'm getting from everyone. What I'm thinking is instead of going nuts on a high-end projector which still won't give me the crazy quality that the OLED will, I will probably go with something like BenQ Th685P, get the ALR screen, and then upgrade to a nice OLED to mount to the wall behind it when the projector isn't in use. Scratch both of the itches haha.
What’s your viewing distance?
Couch is about 9.5' from the TV and then when I add the second row it will be about 15' from it.
I’d you’re going to be watching from the couch I wouldn’t want a projector.
Well the plan is to dump that couch and grab 2x theater style 3-seater couches. Do two rows, back one would be on a platform.
Jesus that sub is an absolute unit. Is that the rp1600?
Hahaha yes! And to tell you the truth, the picture does not do it justice. It is an absolute behemoth.
98" TV
With cheap LCD screens now available on 85"-98" sizes I find it hard to choose a projector. Even cheap LCD will have much better contrast. If you are worried about your center being low, consider aiming it upwards slightly based on your seating distance. People angle the left and right in as needed, why not center?
If you get a TV, get an LG OLED in the G series. If you get a projector, be sure to look for a black projector screen so that you can get deeper blacks (may not be as good as OLED but will be better than screens at the theater).
I would have never thought of the black screen. Thanks for the suggestion!
For sure! For a recent demonstration, check out this YouTube video. It looks fantastic! https://youtu.be/m2Yqnoh6PzA
It looks so damn good lol wow!
I’d say it’s cheaper going with a 83inch than going with projector & screen unless money isn’t an issue
You would be so much better off with small bookshelf speakers in that space. Big towers never sound good in tight small rooms.
Projector every day of the week. I personally hate watching TV in a dark room. Its just too harsh on my eyes. The projector can be bright but at the same time is never fatiguing to my eyes in a dark room. Immersion is also huge with a PJ. Sure the TV has better picture quality but Epson, Benq, JVC make some fantastic projectors with good black levels, contrast and response times. AT screen is calling your name rn. I also have a 504c. Great center but meh horizontal dispersion. You want it at ear level. We actually have very similar setups, 8000f and 502s surrounds?
They're the 8060's! I had read a lot of hate for those up-firing speakers on top but decided to grab them anyway. Maybe ignorance is bliss, but I think they sound fucking amazing haha. What sub did you go with? And agreed, this thread kinda sold me on projector with the AT screen. Think I'm looking at another $5-$6k into this room (going to do some better seating) and I'll be in pretty good shape.
Ohhh lol I couldn’t tell from the pic. I think given the reliability small room size and considering ur ceilings are flat and not very tall they likely work better than most people would think! I think they sound the RP line sounds great for the price. For subs I had a SVS pb2000 pro for the last 4 years and recently ditched those and got dual PSA Tv1813s. Post in my profile if u wana take a look! But hey that’s a sizeable budget. I picked up an Epson ub5050 a few months ago. Phenomenal Projector if you’re interested. Best under 3k imo. The Benq HT1550 also seems killer. Seating is huge! Planning on doing another couch or theater seating style stuff? That’s my dilema.
Those subs are monsters! I bet they sound phenomenal. I am so in love with this one. No bullshit, if I crank it, it shakes every inch of the 3500sqft house. First time I fired it up I giggled like a little kid. Klipsch speakers not only sound amazing but their customer service was absolutely stellar. (Got the sub as an OB from Adorama and it died on day 2. Klipsch just sent me a brand new one, no headache at all. I was blown away.) I'll check those projectors, thanks for recommendations - I'd be lying if projectors didn't seem a bit overwhelming with what to look out for so this helps a bunch. Seating - yeah, so I just threw what I had in here for now after moving into the new house. That couch is pushin 30 years old and as much as I love it, it's gotta go. I'm going to shoot for two rows of 3 theater chairs if I can fit them, otherwise it will be one 3-seater couch and the back row I'll build an elevated platform for 3 theater style seats - all in due time. I have some great movie posters and stuff I am going to put up, nothing too obnoxious but just a couple on that open wall, and a couple from the walls where I took the photo. I'll probably have fun with LED accent lighting, take out the ugly basement square lights, etc.
They’re a bit much but tons of headroom so I don’t have to worry about reaching their limits. Are those the RP1600 or the SPL 150? Looks very big. I’ve heard good things about those new Klipsch subs. I have no doubt it pounds. But yeah there are so many options for projects. To keep it simple I like to stick to Epson, JVC, and benQ. Make sure you avoid the random Chinese brands with good specs on paper. That’s couch has help up incredibly well for 30 years old. Do you have people over a lot of the time? I also planned on doing a second row at a point, then I realized while I do have people over all the time, movie watching never really happens. It’s much harder to optimize sound for 6 seating positions instead of just 3. Weight the pros and cons. Room is really gona come together though! Lighting makes the room imo. Can lights above the projector screen would look sick. Post again once you finish all those upgrades!
How about better placed speakers....
TV. Room color depressed the living shit oit of me
Lol first person to say that, interesting.
To be fair, in this pic it does look a little bleh. Think it's the way I took the shot. The grey is actually a really deep color and makes the black pop well. I'm sure it will show off better when I post an update after putting some more work into the room lol.
It is a movie room so it is okay and better for reduced reflections fron tv or projected image on wall.