New to HT

[eits]

Hey everyone, I'm looking to set up my basement for a home theater, but I'm looking to do it on a budget and am fine with adding things over time. The two crucial things I want first are a projector and screen.

What do you guys recommend? I'm looking to spend around $600 for a projector.

Next, I'd like to buy an affordable wireless surround sound setup.

I'm fine with buying this stuff off of Craigslist or from other AT members via the FS/FT forums, so the $600 might be able to buy a better projector.

I'm thinking that I want a DLP with Dark Chip 3, but I dunno. You guys tell me.

Thanks for the help

 

[eits]

So, there's a ViewSonic PRO8200 for sale on CL in my area for dirt cheap. Is it worth it for me to get that or should I maybe go for an Optima HD131Xe?

 

[fralexandr]

Don't know too much about projectors other than that woot likes selling refurb ones.
What screen size are you looking for? There are paints you can use to convert walls into projection screens. Monoprice sells some screens too. The motorized ones are likely out of budget though
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=108&cp_id=10829

Wireless surrounds are rather pricey fyi.

 

[eits]

Don't know too much about projectors other than that woot likes selling refurb ones.
What screen size are you looking for? There are paints you can use to convert walls into projection screens. Monoprice sells some screens too. The motorized ones are likely out of budget though
http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=108&cp_id=10829

Wireless surrounds are rather pricey fyi.

Thanks!

There's a wireless surround sound system (Sony BDV-HZ970W) that was discontinued someone has been desperately trying to sell on CL, it appears. Based in the amazon reviews, it's a 4/5 star system. I'm not above getting it if he sells it to me at the right price.

 

[tential]

As for projector. Check out avsforum.com

Really you should use that forum for this whole thread.

The W1070 projector though is the most widely recommended projector.

There was a projector for $600 on slickdeals but I'm positive how good it is.

To get optimal performance out of a projector you need a room dedicated for that projector. Light control, dark walls/carpet, etc. All are important to getting the most out of it.

As for speakers/reviews. Speaker reviews are the least representative of actual performance of the speaker possible. Most popular speaker brands/kits have VERY high reviews (4-5 stars).

The thing with Speaker reviews is it's HIGHLY dependent on what the person is coming from. So if you're coming from TV Speakers to your first speaker set, you'll be happy no matter WHAT you get.

If I was to review each set of speakers as I got them I would have given them 5 stars. Each one has been an upgrade so each one has sounded AMAZING to my ears. If I was to go backwards though, I'd have a much different opinion.
The Z-5500 I first owned was decent bass but the small satelites just didn't have enough output for high volume listening if I wanted it to be accurate as well.
The Polk Monitor 70s with a Klipsch sub when I FIRST go tit was AMAZIGn. Never need to upgrade again. But having it for awhile nad now seeing better options, I can say that the SUB is dependent on the surface you put it on. So wood/solid was a lot different than Carpet. Doesn't extend as low as I want it to. Hit's great volume for the room though for music, but for HT it's lacking. Speakers sound dull compared to the B&Ws I have found now. The high end sounds much better on the B&W.

I'm sure I'll have a VASTLY different opinion again as I upgrade to a DIY kit of speakers. Because most people writing speaker reviews though are on their first/second set of a prebuilt system, it of course will be the best thing they've heard.

As for picking up speakers on Craigslist. If you can't listen first don't purchase. Pick something in which you KNOW EXACTLY what it's supposed to sound like. With detailed highs. Because a LOT of the time, people are selling their speakers because they don't like the sound anymore. Because they have broken the speaker (Usually blown tweeters). Even when I inherited the speakers I have now. The Bose were useless as they had blown tweeters and the B&W had 1 blown tweeter. Didn't even bother repairing the Bose, just wasn't worth it, the B&W I have though as they do sound good. I'd buy new preferably.

As for my thoughts on wireless. The last wireless system I setup really isn't truly "wireless". The back 2 speakers do receive their signal wirelessly but they need to be plugged into a wireless hub anyway. There are many ways to wire so that you can minimize wires showing.

See if you have a friend that can run wires through walls. That's the most elegant solution. After that, I'd just run it along the ceiling and use a cover to hide the speaker wire. In my living room and in my basement there is a rug infront of my TV that extends to the couch. I can also hide speaker wire/wires under that and run from the TV, under the rug, under the couch, and then hook up the speakers on a table behind the couch. A lot of living rooms are decorated with a table behind the couch. Usually holds some type of decorate. If you don't have one perfect, you don't have to contest with the lady to moving the decorations off and putting speakers on it. If you do and it has decorations well... good luck messing around with the room lol.

 

[sdifox]

why wireless? Running wires should be very easy in the basement.

P.S. You will need to power the speakers somehow. Running ac line is a lot more expensive than running speaker line.

 

[MongGrel]

AVS usually great for any of these things ya.

I've been salivating over getting a real projector a long time even with the bulb thing for movies only maybe.

Once my old Olevia 747i dies off extended here it will happen someday.

By the time I do it there might be 4K projectors at a real price but I doubt it.

Somewhere I looked at one the other day and they were 35 K

Almost popped for a Mitsubishi one for a big discount a few months back as they were going defunct.

Pretty good thread here though.

http://www.avsforum.com/f/68/digital-projectors-under-3-000-usd-msrp

 

[sdifox]

AVS usually great for any of these things ya.

I've been salivating over getting a real projector a long time even with the bulb thing for movies only maybe.

Once my old Olevia 747i dies off extended here it will happen someday.

bulbs are not really all that expensive. just put a quarter in a jar every time you watch a movie and by the time the bulb is done you should have enough to buy a bulb.

 

[tential]

AVS usually great for any of these things ya.

I've been salivating over getting a real projector a long time even with the bulb thing for movies only maybe.

Once my old Olevia 747i dies off extended here it will happen someday.

By the time I do it there might be 4K projectors at a real price but I doubt it.

Somewhere I looked at one the other day and they were 35 K

Almost popped for a Mitsubishi one for a big discount a few months back as they were going defunct.

Pretty good thread here though.

http://www.avsforum.com/f/68/digital-projectors-under-3-000-usd-msrp

I'm pretty sure I've seen a number of 4K projectors under 10K.

The W1070 though is the most highly praised projector on their site for 1080p/3D content at under 1K. That should tide anyone over until 4K comes to a more reasonable price and should be easy to sell once 4K is at a price you want.

Family/Friends that see it will want that type of picture once they see it. I got offers for my 70 inch LED pretty quick when I was moving. I kept it though.

My only thing was I didn't want to worry about bulbs/lighting. I don't want to have to paint my whole basement/prep it for a projector.

 

[eits]

I'm buying a ViewSonic PRO8200 for $500

 

[MongGrel]

10K still pretty out there for me.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Since you're okay with buying over time, I would strongly suggest dumping the wireless idea (and dumping the Sony idea - they are fine for electronic components, but not speakers). Get a nice receiver and front pair, and if you can get the center channel now go ahead, but if not make sure you are getting a front pair that is part of a lineup with a good center channel. You will want them all to match.

Throw just about anything in the rear for now. For the most part, you just want something capable of undistorted noise back there, at least while you are focusing on getting quality in the front.

The screen is another place you can save early on - a cheap screen (or even better, a do-it yourself painted screen) will give you a great picture, and the higher quality screens compared to low end or DIY is not that dramatic, IMO, unless you start talking about 120" or bigger where every little nuance is obvious.

 

[boomhower]

Don't know a thing about projectors but take the time and run some speaker wires. You'll get much better sound not to mention almost endless options for upgrades down the line.

 

[alkemyst]

The real thing with any of these kinds of threads is the details.

1) how big a screen you looking to project onto?

2) how much distance are you dealing with if you can't do a ceiling mount?

3) budget

4) looking for projecting with lights on or will this be a total dark room?

I could go on.

For many basements I have seen a 70-80" non-3D barebones HDTV would have been a better experience.

 

[queequeg99]

The screen is another place you can save early on - a cheap screen (or even better, a do-it yourself painted screen) will give you a great picture,

DIY painted screens can be really nice because you can get a mix that is pretty specific to your projector, room (e.g. lighting conditions), and intended use. Yes, it is cheaper than a decent pull down. However, it will still be by far the most expensive gallon of paint you will ever buy if you do it right. By "right," I mean mixing a custom solution. There are people on avsforum.com who live for finding the best mixes. They give you all of the ingredients and are very open to questions about the best mix to get for your exact situation. That advice made a HUGE difference in my situation (where I have difficult eliminating 100% of ambient light).

One issue with painted screens is that you need to have a good surface. If you're painting on drywall, be prepared to a do a fair amount of prep work with some drywall compound, a light sanding sponge, and a high powered halogen lamp (to highlight flaws in the wall finish). It's not hard by any means, but it does take a little time. An HVLP paint sprayer will also help a lot. Again, the folks at avsforum.com know the best (and cheapest) models.