My Apartment Theater setup thread

[RedCOMET]

So, its been a slow day at work, and to help organize what I needed to order for my home theater setup I created a block diagram of everything. I moved into a new apartment, and I needed to plan how my equipment would connect to each other in the new place

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/HT_Connecting_Diagram.JPG

Additionally this helped in the planning of additional materials. Such as a longer VGA cable for the computer, the audio cable for computer to Receiver, stuff like that. Not all aspects of this block diagram of been implemented.

In the future I plan on purchasing a screen for my projector. Right now I have it projected on a ghetto black cloth like curtain I bought at Lowes improvement store. The spot for my screen used to be a double bay window. I covered the window with the curtain as a temp screen. The curtain will stay while the real screen sits in front of it.

Here is an old pic of my wall being used as a screen in my last apartment.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/High_Wii_Score_on_projector.PNG

And my best is a 299, but that pic is on my cell phone.


I thought I would share the beginnings of my of apartment theater setup with you all! I mainly use it for video games, movies ( both dvds / internet ) and some HD TV via FIOS!!!

edit:
Pictures:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Screen01.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Screen02-TV.JPG

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Screen03-xbox.JPG

Projector:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Projector.JPG
Rack:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Rack1.JPG

Close up:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Rack2.JPG

Lacing Bars:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Char_0079/Lacing_Bars.JPG

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Does RCA audio with the 360 and the cable box mean stereo analog? No digital audio connections?

 

[vshah]

why not get a receiver with hdmi and analog->hdmi conversion so you only have to run one cable to your projector, instead of 3.

 

[RedCOMET]

why not get a receiver with hdmi and analog->hdmi conversion so you only have to run one cable to your projector, instead of 3.

I was trying to hold out but after having my speakers sit in a box in my old apartment for about 5 weeks it was tough to wait and get the right receiver. So my denon AVR-588 doesn't upconvert according to the manual. The receiver is the next one of the things i plan to upgrade to solve this problem. Plus I need a reciever that has more unique inputs.

Does RCA audio with the 360 and the cable box mean stereo analog? No digital audio connections?

I think so... I do have an optical audio cable for the xbox 360 just to over come this problem. However once I tried to set it up initially at my old place and it didn't work. I never thought about digital audio for the cable box. I'll have to see what connections i have on the FIOS HD DVR box.

Getting extra cables to the projector is not challenging to say the least. what is a challenge is playing some NES or N64. The equipment rack is another room and playing games that have wired remotes will not be possible unless such game systems are in the same room. I know I can play some of these old systems on the Wii or with roms, but i like the feel of the old controllers and the dated graphics.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So without digital audio, you're using Prologic II or some equivalent to get fake surround rather than the real deal?

 

[RedCOMET]

duplicate post.

 

[RedCOMET]

So without digital audio, you're using Prologic II or some equivalent to get fake surround rather than the real deal?

unfortunately..yes
ruh-roh!!!

Then again.. i don't have backs yet.. i just have my LR and a center.. Its starting to be a cash flow problem to purchase all the things i need/ want for my apartment.

i guess you could say, my audio/ video/ theater savvy is sorta low. for the obvious over sight of the non-digital audio.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

unfortunately..yes
ruh-roh!!!

Then again.. i don't have backs yet.. i just have my LR and a center.. Its starting to be a cash flow problem to purchase all the things i need/ want for my apartment.

i guess you could say, my audio/ video/ theater savvy is sorta low. for the obvious over sight of the non-digital audio.

Well, getting things "right" is a never ending process with Home Theater

I just spent $700 to improve my subwoofer equalization system over the already pretty good subwoofer equalization system I had since the old one did not properly deal with two subwoofers.

The kind of changes / improvements you'll be making shortly will be substantial bang for your buck differences over what you're using now. Unfortunately, it's all going to cost money. Luckily you're still at the stage where buying a new cable might make a big improvement.

 

[RedCOMET]

Well, getting things "right" is a never ending process with Home Theater

I just spent $700 to improve my subwoofer equalization system over the already pretty good subwoofer equalization system I had since the old one did not properly deal with two subwoofers.

The kind of changes / improvements you'll be making shortly will be substantial bang for your buck differences over what you're using now. Unfortunately, it's all going to cost money. Luckily you're still at the stage where buying a new cable might make a big improvement.

I know this "hobby" is expensive. there will be plenty "upgrades" over the years to come. Right now i just need the basics.

Forward plan is to 1) get a screen (either build one or purchase), 2) work on the cable management of stuff in my equipment rack, 3) Research stands for my front speakers since i'm using bookshelf speakers as my main LRs. 4 Play Modern Warfare 2. 4) buy a toaster oven & microwave. 5) spend some time with the girlfriend 6) unpack more of my apartment. Buy more cables....

and the list goes on.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well, at least you have a plan.

I made my own screen and I'm quite happy with it. Having a nice border on it helped me get the image to pop a bit more. I also made a masking system that had the same effect. It was probably a $150-ish project.

 

[Chapbass]

Well, at least you have a plan.

I made my own screen and I'm quite happy with it. Having a nice border on it helped me get the image to pop a bit more. I also made a masking system that had the same effect. It was probably a $150-ish project.

Yoyo, not to thread hijack here, but since the OP might find it useful as well:

Any chance you have a reference on how you did your screen? I could use a screen for my projector as well (btw OP, I run a very similar setup to the one you drew out, works great, although I'm using HDMI almost exclusively).

 

[RedCOMET]

I made my own screen and I'm quite happy with it. Having a nice border on it helped me get the image to pop a bit more. I also made a masking system that had the same effect. It was probably a $150-ish project.

Yeah, I vaguely remember that thread. I'll have to find it again and re-read it. If its really that cheap to build, I might do that than buying a $3-400. Although, I really won't be able to work on the theater until December. The amount of free time I have in December will determine what project gets done first. I'm thinking the only thing that will get done will be Modern warfare 2 and spending time with my GF.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Here's the thread I made (before the AV&HT area existed, so it was in Off Topic)
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=3440

There's a link in there to an AVSforum thread with a lot of DIY screen material options.

That said... a blank white wall isn't too bad. If things look alright on that already, I think it might make more sense to get the speaker stands going first, connect audio digitally, get surround speakers, etc.

 

[vshah]

how complicated is the wiring gonig to be? you may want to consider putting down the "next step" cables (optical, rear speakers, hdmi to projetor) while you're doing it so its a simple matter to plug in upgraded components later on. you could probably get every cable you need for under $50

 

[RedCOMET]

Thanks for the link YoYo. Do you have it like bookmarked or something?

I made the diagram while at work. i had to kill about 160+ hours.. and that was as a good as any time to figure out what equipment needed what cables, and how i was going to hook it all up to the receiver. It also afforded me the opportunity to search monoprice for cables and avsforum for the IR kit.

Right now, I have the component / vga to the projector. The 360, pc, and HD box are hooked up to the reciver and then i got the IR kit hooked up.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I just used the search function to bring it back up

 

[cheesehead]

If you're on a budget, it's generally better to sink your $$$ into a good pair of mains than a crappy surround system. Anything less than $1k, and you may as well just go with stereo.

 

[RedCOMET]

If you're on a budget, it's generally better to sink your $$$ into a good pair of mains than a crappy surround system. Anything less than $1k, and you may as well just go with stereo.

I currently have a set of Klipsch RB-61 bookshelfs for the main LR, and a Klipsch RC-62 for the center. I still need stands for the 61s as they are currently sitting my floor. In the future, I plan to upgrade the LR. But for right now, I am happy with the sound the produce for space that I use them in. I also have a subwoofer from klipsch. I don't have a long enough cable for it to hook it up to my reciever. I also don't know how my neighbors will react to the sub when i watch movies or play games.

$$$ is always issue. I work quite a bit (get taxed for it sure enough) but I also moved this past year which can get expensive when you have a lot shit that you don't want to get rid of / sell. And I've been thinking of changing careers or pursuing Grad school to help me change careers. Both of those things are $$$. I'm trying to keep the theater cost reasonable. I've already spent a bunch of my PJ and speakers.

how complicated is the wiring gonig to be? you may want to consider putting down the "next step" cables (optical, rear speakers, hdmi to projetor) while you're doing it so its a simple matter to plug in upgraded components later on. you could probably get every cable you need for under $50

Sounds like a need a flowchart to guide my upgrade path..lol. Monoprice has been keeping my cable cost down. My old apartment was a lot simpler to wire, and I only had the xbox 360 and Wii to the projector. The new place is more complicated b/c I wanted to keep the equipment in a different room as the projector / theater. And b/c I've incorporated TV set top box and PC to play hulu / other videos.

I'll try to get more pictures in the next few weeks when I can grab my GF camera and when I actually step foot in my apartment. Right now I'm working a 14 days offshore / 14 day on land work schedule. Being in my apartment for only 12 or so days a month (b/c of travel to / from job site) makes it tough for this project to really gain traction.

 

[RedCOMET]

Made a little more head with getting my apartment "theater" set up... Got the DVDs in a book dvd case. although I'm utilizing more than 70% of its storage space ( box set dvds take up space).

My GF and I also built a screen with some Block Out Cloth using some of the same techniques and methods outlined in YoYo's Screen thread and few resources found on AVS forums. It was suprisingly simple and cheap.

I have learned some things though while building the screen.
1. I can't use a circular saw for shit when it comes to cutting 1 x 3.
2. My GF is really good at using a Dremel tool to square up the edges of the 1 x 3s that I cut badly.
3. My GF is amazing at stapling the cloth to the wood frame. Next time though, i think we will tryto strethc the cloth just a smidge tighter.
4. I should have bought better quality wood.
5. Still neeed to find the "right" hardware to mount the screen to my wall b/c the frame isn't that square and is slightly bowed b/c of the shitty wood i bought.

Next step is getting velvet to dress out the the wall behind the screen so the screen can pop a little bit. when its being used as a 16 x9 display.. I don't know if i could adequately construct a masking system that YoYo created. My buildling skills are not all that good.

Hopefully i will be able to make more progress with it in january... work schedule and holiday travel is keeping me tied up.

Any body got tips on building speaker stands with some plywood and 2x4s?

 

[kalrith]

Made a little more head

Maybe this thread belongs in L&R

Any body got tips on building speaker stands with some plywood and 2x4s?

I would suggest using something like MDF (or even some nice hardwood) instead of plywood, unless you're planning to cover the wood with something like fabric. Then you could stain all the wood and make some decent-looking stands.

I found this link in which they built speaker stands with a hardwood top and bottom with a 3" PVC pipe filled with sand in the middle. Sounds like a simple and solid design.

 

[RedCOMET]

I would suggest using something like MDF (or even some nice hardwood) instead of plywood, unless you're planning to cover the wood with something like fabric. Then you could stain all the wood and make some decent-looking stands.

I found this link in which they built speaker stands with a hardwood top and bottom with a 3" PVC pipe filled with sand in the middle. Sounds like a simple and solid design.

Not a bad link.. will have to take a look at in more when i get to my apartment. I have black speakers, but I am sure a stained hardwood would be an nice accent.

I was just thinking of spray painting the 2x4s and plywood ( or i guess MDF) black. Although, the link you gave for speaker stands might in fact be simplier to construct. Rigt now I just need 2 stand for my main LR since they are bookshelf style speakers. My center speaker is almost at the right heigh while its sits on a box i'm using for it. So, i might forgo a stand for that one.

 

[RedCOMET]

I posted some pictures in the show me your Setup thread. Still some outstanding items to take care of until i can call the thing complete

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=29219972&postcount=711