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computerpro3
LightningRod
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2003
- Messages
- 8,702
Well, For the longest time now I've been wanting a home theater. Even when I was living at home, it had always been my goal but the way things worked out it just wasn't possible.
I'm still not "totally done" (I still need a MFW-15 subwoofer and a center speaker stand), but done enough to post pics.
I live in an apartment, so I'm a little worried about the security deposit. But who knows, provided my landlord never comes over for the next year (and some creative spackling) maybe I can get away with it after all!
Equipment:
Optoma HD-65 Projector
Cisco Explorer 8540HDC DVR
Cincinnati Bell Fiber Optic Digital Cable
Marantz SR4003 Receiver
Dantax Vision Two Speakers
HTPC
Monster HTS3500 MK II power conditioner
Beyerdynamic DT770 80ohm headphones
Logitech Harmony One remote
DIY 110in screen with 2:40:1 masking panels
Track Lighting
Lutron Maestro IR controlled lighting
APC SmartUPS 2200VA
Blackout blinds on doors (trying to find a good motorized blackout blind for the window)
Logitech DiNovo Edge
Logitech G7
Specs of the HTPC:
Silverstone GD02B-MT
Core i5 overclocked 4ghz
8GB Gskill Ripjaws Ram
Gigabyte P55M-UD2
2x 1.5TB Western Digital Green Drives for 3TB of total storage
ATI Radeon HD5770
9 in one nMedia card reader
Corsair HX620 Modular power supply
Starting out I knew I was going to face several challenges. First of all, while I decided to go ahead and break the apartment rules by ceiling mounting the projector, I had no way of getting the wiring through the walls (about 25ft distance). Second, I decided that I wanted a fixed frame screen for performance and looks, but I wanted to be able to remove it in 10 seconds if the landlord suddenly knocked on the door (why tempt fate more than you have to, right?). Therefore, I would have to build it to be super-lightweight and come up with an easy mounting scheme.
Even from the get-go, I knew that it was going to be impossible to get truly great performance during the day due to the high amount of ambient light. There are french doors directly opposite the screen, and a window in the kitchen. Also, the room is painted in a light color and I didn't want to get into repainting as I'll only be here for another year or two at the absolute most. Therefore, I went for a "make the best of the situation" approach. Also, I'm doing this on a college student piano performance major's budget so I can't get too extravagant.
Unfortunately, I don't have any build pictures. I was too busy and doing everything alone meant I didn't have someone else to take pictures during the process.
The only thing remaining that I really need is a subwoofer and a center channel speaker stand, both of which will be purchased soon.
Before:
Results:
DIY 110in screen
I made this out of 1x2 strips with heavy duty metal corner braces and Joann Fabrics blackout cloth. I did it this way because it was very lightweight - I managed to make the entire thing under 30lbs which allows it to be hung on a single-nail picture hangar. I can remove it in under 5 seconds if I have to and it doesn't leave any damage on the wall. I ripped up the carpet to hide the speaker wires. The track lighting was installed by me as well (had to rip down the old fan to do it, another mark against my security deposit!) and is hooked up to a Lutron Maestro IR controller.
Masking Panels:
Made these out of foil backed foam, plastic edging, and black velvet from joann fabrics. Total cost - $30. It's amazing the difference in contrast that you notice when the black bars are gone. I measured them perfectly so they fit solidly with friction alone.
A shot of them installed:
Getting the Cables to the Projector:
I used cable raceway to solve the problem of not being able to fish the cables through the wall. You can see the raceway going from my equipment rack up to the ceiling mounted projector.
A projector shot:
Just a standard universal projector mount, it's done a great job so far.
Equipment Rack:
Input Devices:
Reciever:
HTPC Shots:
Door closed hiding ports:
Door Open:
Remote Shot:
I love this remote with a passion. I control the room lighting, the air conditioning, everything! Set it up so that all lights come on when I hit stop, it dims to favorite setting when I hit pause, and all lights go off when I hit play. Playing around the macros is a lot of fun. And I love the channel icons.
Rear speakers: Again, broke the rules here and mounted two shelves into the walls.
And the best part is, if I want a snack this is only 10 feet away:
The breakfast bar doubles as great overflow seating for football and baseball games, as well as an awesome place to lay out Nacho's and pizza when I have people over for movie nights.
Will post pics when the subwoofer comes in!
EDIT:
A couple screenshots:
I'm still not "totally done" (I still need a MFW-15 subwoofer and a center speaker stand), but done enough to post pics.
I live in an apartment, so I'm a little worried about the security deposit. But who knows, provided my landlord never comes over for the next year (and some creative spackling) maybe I can get away with it after all!
Equipment:
Optoma HD-65 Projector
Cisco Explorer 8540HDC DVR
Cincinnati Bell Fiber Optic Digital Cable
Marantz SR4003 Receiver
Dantax Vision Two Speakers
HTPC
Monster HTS3500 MK II power conditioner
Beyerdynamic DT770 80ohm headphones
Logitech Harmony One remote
DIY 110in screen with 2:40:1 masking panels
Track Lighting
Lutron Maestro IR controlled lighting
APC SmartUPS 2200VA
Blackout blinds on doors (trying to find a good motorized blackout blind for the window)
Logitech DiNovo Edge
Logitech G7
Specs of the HTPC:
Silverstone GD02B-MT
Core i5 overclocked 4ghz
8GB Gskill Ripjaws Ram
Gigabyte P55M-UD2
2x 1.5TB Western Digital Green Drives for 3TB of total storage
ATI Radeon HD5770
9 in one nMedia card reader
Corsair HX620 Modular power supply
Starting out I knew I was going to face several challenges. First of all, while I decided to go ahead and break the apartment rules by ceiling mounting the projector, I had no way of getting the wiring through the walls (about 25ft distance). Second, I decided that I wanted a fixed frame screen for performance and looks, but I wanted to be able to remove it in 10 seconds if the landlord suddenly knocked on the door (why tempt fate more than you have to, right?). Therefore, I would have to build it to be super-lightweight and come up with an easy mounting scheme.
Even from the get-go, I knew that it was going to be impossible to get truly great performance during the day due to the high amount of ambient light. There are french doors directly opposite the screen, and a window in the kitchen. Also, the room is painted in a light color and I didn't want to get into repainting as I'll only be here for another year or two at the absolute most. Therefore, I went for a "make the best of the situation" approach. Also, I'm doing this on a college student piano performance major's budget so I can't get too extravagant.
Unfortunately, I don't have any build pictures. I was too busy and doing everything alone meant I didn't have someone else to take pictures during the process.
The only thing remaining that I really need is a subwoofer and a center channel speaker stand, both of which will be purchased soon.
Before:
Results:
DIY 110in screen
I made this out of 1x2 strips with heavy duty metal corner braces and Joann Fabrics blackout cloth. I did it this way because it was very lightweight - I managed to make the entire thing under 30lbs which allows it to be hung on a single-nail picture hangar. I can remove it in under 5 seconds if I have to and it doesn't leave any damage on the wall. I ripped up the carpet to hide the speaker wires. The track lighting was installed by me as well (had to rip down the old fan to do it, another mark against my security deposit!) and is hooked up to a Lutron Maestro IR controller.
Masking Panels:
Made these out of foil backed foam, plastic edging, and black velvet from joann fabrics. Total cost - $30. It's amazing the difference in contrast that you notice when the black bars are gone. I measured them perfectly so they fit solidly with friction alone.
A shot of them installed:
Getting the Cables to the Projector:
I used cable raceway to solve the problem of not being able to fish the cables through the wall. You can see the raceway going from my equipment rack up to the ceiling mounted projector.
A projector shot:
Just a standard universal projector mount, it's done a great job so far.
Equipment Rack:
Input Devices:
Reciever:
HTPC Shots:
Door closed hiding ports:
Door Open:
Remote Shot:
I love this remote with a passion. I control the room lighting, the air conditioning, everything! Set it up so that all lights come on when I hit stop, it dims to favorite setting when I hit pause, and all lights go off when I hit play. Playing around the macros is a lot of fun. And I love the channel icons.
Rear speakers: Again, broke the rules here and mounted two shelves into the walls.
And the best part is, if I want a snack this is only 10 feet away:
The breakfast bar doubles as great overflow seating for football and baseball games, as well as an awesome place to lay out Nacho's and pizza when I have people over for movie nights.
Will post pics when the subwoofer comes in!
EDIT:
A couple screenshots:
Last edited:
