Finally Built My "Home Theater"

[Quasmo]

So, I've been wanting to put together a "home theater" for some time now, and over the summer I raised enough money to "build" one for myself. I just moved into my apartment 2 weeks ago and couldn't think of a better way to entertain myself. So I used all the money I saved over the summer and bought myself a Panasonic AE700 (1280x720 widescreen) I built my screen out of a $15 Parkland Plastics sheet and some ply wood. I set my projector up on a book case behing my couch, and in the following weeks I plan on building a table that houses all my video game systems, and my HTPC (I've bought all the wood). At the moment I'm using VGA out from my computer and it looks decent, but I can't wait till my HDMI > DVI cable comes next week. I took some pics of the screen... it has a diagonal of 96 inches (8 feet) and I'm using z680s with digital optical out for my sound.

Screen with the lights on
Screen with the lights off
Hi-Def Conan

Pics were taken at noon (thank you cheap ass satin curtains from Wal-mart)

 

[lancestorm]

careful with wording, some members here are going to give you a hard time unless it is completely only used as a room for watching movies, it is not a home theater.

what is up with your speakers? what brand are they, first? And why up high on the wall? at least direct them down to you on the couch...

cool projector. i have the ae500, so it can only be better

 

[MrChad]

Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

its an apartment so I dont want to put up too much contruction and as I said I spent all my money on the projector (I'm in college)

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: MrChad
Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

its an apartment and as I said I spent all my money on the projector (I'm in college)

I'm talking about a couple bucks at Home Depot.

Oh well, to each his own.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: MrChad
Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

its an apartment so I dont want to put up too much contruction and as I said I spent all my money on the projector (I'm in college)

that is freaking awesome. i would go to your place all the fvckign time; i can't believe you did this in college. awesome.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: maziwanka

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: MrChad
Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

its an apartment so I dont want to put up too much contruction and as I said I spent all my money on the projector (I'm in college)

that is freaking awesome. i would go to your place all the fvckign time; i can't believe you did this in college. awesome.

yoyoyohowsdajello gave me a good bit of help so props to him, and hes in college too!

 

[laurenlex]

Can somebody post those pics elsewhere? Can't access bbzzdd at work.

 

[jalaram]

Looks nice. I was working full time when I created my "home theater," but it was in 700 sq. ft. 1 bedroom apartment. An 80" diag screen from my NEC LT150. I could watch HD or movies from my parking lot if I wanted to.

 

[toekramp]

kickass!

 

[Excelsior]

Should the right and left front speakers not be further apart?

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Should the right and left front speakers not be further apart?

the rear speakers are about 6 feet apart, and I aligned the front speakers with the arm rests of my couch, right now my Sound card doesn't support DD Live which kinda sucks, so my audio isn't quite up to par with what it should be. Last night I watched IMAX Alaska in HD and it blew my pants off (half literally) I was taking screen shots to use as my wallpaper.

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Should the right and left front speakers not be further apart?

the rear speakers are about 6 feet apart, and I aligned the front speakers with the arm rests of my couch, right now my Sound card doesn't support DD Live which kinda sucks, so my audio isn't quite up to par with what it should be. Last night I watched IMAX Alaska in HD and it blew my pants off (half literally) I was taking screen shots to use as my wallpaper.

how much was the setup?

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Should the right and left front speakers not be further apart?

the rear speakers are about 6 feet apart, and I aligned the front speakers with the arm rests of my couch, right now my Sound card doesn't support DD Live which kinda sucks, so my audio isn't quite up to par with what it should be. Last night I watched IMAX Alaska in HD and it blew my pants off (half literally) I was taking screen shots to use as my wallpaper.

how much was the setup?

around $2000 including the table.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: maziwanka

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: MrChad
Looks nice. :thumbsup:

I would add some white cable covers to conceal the speaker wires. Just to give it a more polished look.

its an apartment so I dont want to put up too much contruction and as I said I spent all my money on the projector (I'm in college)

that is freaking awesome. i would go to your place all the fvckign time; i can't believe you did this in college. awesome.

yoyoyohowsdajello gave me a good bit of help so props to him, and hes in college too!

Just have to work on your sound now

Image looks nice :thumbsup:

 

[randomlinh]

nice dude. exactly what i want to do.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Very nice. The speaker placement is the only thing I would change.

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

I thought you're suppose to angle those satellite speakers toward the listening position.

 

[spacejamz]

just wondering how 'loud' the bass is on your setup...

one thing I don't miss from apartment living were a$$hat neighors who would turn up their bass thinking they were the only ones living in the apartment, especially at 2 in the morning...

I am not saying the many people aren't considerate when it comes to using a subwoofer in an apartment, but there a few a$$holes who just don't give a sh!t about anyone else around them...

 

[lancestorm]

thanks for answering my question(s) OP! Nice to know...and I was your first reply.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: lancestorm
thanks for answering my question(s) OP! Nice to know...and I was your first reply.

They're Logitech z-680s if nobody said that already.

EDIT: oh wait, it says in the OP.

 

[lancestorm]

Good catch. Too small. Still, those speakers are pointing parallel to the upper foot of his ceiling. Either lower the speakers to listener height on the wall or point them to the audince OP

 

[Skiguy411]

Booo! Next time build your own projector!

At least thats what I did. You know on second thought, stick with buying it. I put alot of effort into it and got mediocre results

 

[arod]

looks good.... the ae700 was a good choice. Same as mine

 

[Howard]

Congrats to Jello for his new title.