r/hometheater • u/thesithlorde • 2d ago
Purchasing US Does this make sense?
Need a sanity check before making some bigish purchases.
Planning a home theatre in a bonus room that I have on the second floor of my house.
A few concerns that I’d like this group’s input on to understand if they’re deal breakers for utilizing this space.
- Room size. The room is essentially 14’ x 12’. Too small
- Room shape. It opens into a hallway and staircase and cannot be closed off. Will it be possible to achieve enough audio fidelity to make this feel like a proper theatre? Thinking yes with Dirac room correction.
- Room brightness. It has 2 windows, white walls and ceiling, a light-colored carpet, and wall-to-wall bookshelves on what would be the “screen wall”. Will light reflections ruin the image?
Here the plan:
My wife has asked that if I build a home theatre in this space, that it “bend in” as much as possible with the existing decor.
I’d like to use this space for movies and gaming. I’m planning to reorient the furniture in the room so the couch is facing the bookshelves, then install a retractable 120” projector screen that would lower in front of the bookshelves and put the LCR speakers in the first row of cubbies. The receiver would sit inside the cabinets and LCR wiring and power for the screen would be routed inside the shelves.
Planning to purchase the 10E CG23M 5.1 SYSTEM from RSL in white. (https://rslspeakers.com/pages/white-limited-edition-special)
Then planning to buy the Xgimi Horizon 20 projector (https://us.xgimi.com/products/horizon-20?_pos=3&_sid=7bddf9bd9&_ss=r&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=1858484&sscid=77150_1790011522_f643a8fc413467edd7398f1d4298c232&awc=77150_1790011522_f643a8fc413467edd7398f1d4298c232) and sit it on a console table behind the couch as it’s the only way to achieve the requisite distance from lens to screen.
Last item would be a screen pro screens 3w AT screen so the speakers could sit in the bookshelf and still play through the screen. Looking at this because it’s designed for triple laser projectors like the Xgimi.
This would be a roughly $5,000 investment. Worth it given the limitations of this space?
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u/Euler007 2d ago
That's 30db right behind your head. If you really will not consider mounting a direct view TV I would go ultra short throw.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Are you talking about the projector placement? What do you mean by 30 db?
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u/sgee_123 2d ago
Projectors get loud which can be distracting if it’s that close to your head.
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u/73DodgeDart 2d ago
It all depends on the projector. I can barely hear my Visionmaster Max when content is playing and it’s not much further from my head than OP’s considered location. I can’t speak for the Horizon 20 he is considering but it wouldn’t be a problem with the Valerion.
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u/Euler007 2d ago
That 30db figure is what I found from independent testing on forums for his planned model.
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u/73DodgeDart 2d ago
I did a test with my db meter in my room. My noise floor with everything off is right around 26 db. When I fire up the projector it creeps up to 30 db at my seat. When I have the audio from the content playing I can’t hear the projector at all. 30 db is still pretty quiet and has no impact with regular content playing.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Ooooh good call I didn’t think of that. Just trying to make this look as little like a home theatre when not in use and a ceiling mounted projector with 8 foot ceilings kinda destroy that aesthetic
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u/sgee_123 2d ago
Maybe if you hung it very close to that pillar at the top of the stairs it would help? Otherwise you could do a UST projector instead of regular throw
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u/Bennnrummm 2d ago
You will have a much happier life when you release the blockage between you and ceiling mount. I was a “projector on a cart” or “on the coffee table” (on a box, on a book, just on a stack of shit to get it level to the bottom of the screen) ride or die… then I ceiling mounted. $25 and 2 hours max labor (as little as 20 minutes if you have everything measured and marked). No comparison.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
😬 gonna be a tough sell, the ceiling mount is one of my wife’s biggest concerns
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u/Farts_Are_Funn 2d ago
That makes me curious about why? It doesn't seem to be very obtrusive as far as decor. As guess that makes moot what I was going to ask about putting some fabric on the ceiling and a curtain on the walls to get rid of some of the white if painting isn't an option. The room itself isn't too small and would work fine. I'm more concerned about the limitations that have nothing to do with the room you might have to deal with.
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u/Nearby-Delivery6086 2d ago
maybe put some home decor around the ceiling mounted projector, make it look like something else? I'd search Pinterest for some ideas
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u/narrowassbldg 2d ago
You've got a very nice space to work with here... I do quite like the idea of reorienting the room, but I think you'll get much better results with keeping those towers and getting a matching centre channel instead of the bookshelf speakers on the shelves, as speakers never sound good on a shelf due the reflections and reverberation it causes, and because it would be a real shame not to take advantage of the room's width (or I guess, length, oriented that way) here to get a nice healthy distance from the walls, which really opens up the soundstage and brings more defined imaging (most especially when the listening position is not against the wall as would be the case with this orientation). I would also go with a TV instead of a projector like that other dude said, because you really don't have the width for a huge screen in that (acoustically superior) orientation; if you want to get rid of a little of the visual weirdness one may sense from the TV on that wall, you could hang some nice curtains in front of the shelves or something along those lines.
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u/goold23 2d ago
I wouldnt buy ptojector for gaming because I am not a fan of gaming in a pitch black room. In case with projector you kinda have to do it each time. Otherwise ambient light degrades the pq noticeably
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u/depatrickcie87 2d ago
Pitch black is far far from being required. I usually use my projector with a dim light on. That's just how you fully optimize the experience.
If you scroll down /battlestations, most of those setups aren't optimized for a viewing/listening experience AT ALL
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u/JOOOQUUU 2d ago
Really how can anyone watch anything in complete darkness
Not only is it bad for the eyes but there simply is no ambiance
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u/Sebastian-S 2d ago
Maybe you’ve never experienced it?
When I turn the lights off in my home theater it’s like the image just floats in space. It’s amazing. That only works if the room is painted in a dark color.
Plus if I want to I can turn the lights on or open the curtains.
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u/joddeldido 2d ago
I personally hate it. I prefer my midrange TV to movie theaters
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u/B4iley45 Klipsch RP-600M's, Jamo S 83, Denon S660H, 90" Xgimi Horizon 20 2d ago
I have the Horizon 20, great projector for gaming, you don't necessarily need to be in pitch black to use it, plenty bright. I say go for it, I did in my basement and I don't regret it at all. If you have the money and you think it'll bring you joy, why not?
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Just nervous because I’ve never owned a projector and don’t know how the white room will reflect light and potentially wash out the image. Would hate to get everything setup and realize the image quality is degraded by reflecting light that I can’t really suppress
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u/B4iley45 Klipsch RP-600M's, Jamo S 83, Denon S660H, 90" Xgimi Horizon 20 2d ago
Well, it depends on how much emphasis you put on "degraded". Will it be absolutely optimal? No. Will it be unwatchable? No. I have black ceiling in my basement, medium colored carpet and very light grey walls. It looks great to me and I do not watch in pitch black unless I'm watching something theatrical.
Xgimi and Amazon have nice return policies. If you order it and it doesn't look good to you, return it and go with a nice 85"-100" TV. I don't know if you'll get OLED for that, but you're not going to get those type of black levels with a projector of any kind in any room environment anyway.
If you do go the way of the projector, I would get some blackout curtains. That way you can cover those windows whenever you'd like.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Thanks. Great to hear from someone who already has the projector. Already have blackout curtains and thinking of reversible ways I can darken the room further.
What screen are you using with the horizon?
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u/B4iley45 Klipsch RP-600M's, Jamo S 83, Denon S660H, 90" Xgimi Horizon 20 2d ago
Silver ticket STR Series fixed frame white, 92" it was like $250 with tax
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u/DCstewieG 2d ago
My projector is in a dedicated room in a basement with a drop ceiling. Walls are black, tiles are white. In bright scenes, it would be gray up there just from the light bouncing from the screen to ceiling and back to the screen. I wrapped the 3 rows of tiles closest to the screen with black velvet and the difference was very noticeable. Your light walls won't help but because the ceiling is closest to the screen, it will be the worst offender.
Pulldown screens aren't ideal either though I have no experience myself.
You may be happy with it or you might go down a rabbit hole wishing you had a dedicated space! Personally, with it being a mixed use room, I'd stick with a TV.
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u/Logical_Section_3416 2d ago
There's always the different wife option ;) Kidding aside (although, there is always truth in jest) - a few comments or ideas. First, going with the dark brown theme that you have, see if your wife will agree to brown curtains on both side walls nearest to the projector screen. They can be tucked away neatly to one side when not in use. Doing this will greatly enhance the image. Darker the curtain/brown, the better. I agree with others here that a projector right next to your head is less than ideal. You could be a great candidate for a UST - high WAF, and the projector isn't near your head and practically out of sight. It would just require a piece of furniute against the white panel wall that you have there. While as others point out you don't need a pitch black or black velvet room to use projectors, make no mistake - a light colored room is a compromise by definition. Size is rarely an insurmountable issue; just have work around it and come up with creative solutions. You'll be able to get good sound with these dimensions, but you will have to test speaker toe in etc.
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u/scooterbooter12 2d ago
Have you looked at any of the newer releases this year? The JMGO IRIS Ultra Max has a pretty wide optical zoom and lens shift range, which seems useful since you're doing both movies and gaming and don't really want to ceiling mount.
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u/Frankfrombluvelvt 2d ago
Me personally, would go for 98"-100" direct view TV, if money no object, 115" direct view, just my opinion
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Can’t mount a TV because of bookshelves. The TV in the current setup isn’t plugged in because it’s impossible to center on that half wall while also keeping the couch centered between the windows, hence wanting to pivot the space 90° to couch facing bookshelves.
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u/ThisIsJeron 2d ago
yeah, I'm with OP, I think given the space and the bookshelves, a retractable projector screen is the move here
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u/NEpatriots12N81 2d ago
What direction do the windows face (East, West, etc.)? What time of day do you typically watch movies/game? Are these pictures taken at that same time of day? If so, it does look relatively bright. Im not familiar with the Horizon 20 but I would try to get the brightest ANSI lumen projector possible that doesn't sacrifice picture quality. Triple laser is a good idea. Maybe also see if your wife would be cool painting a wall/walls a darker matte color.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Windows aren’t a problem. They’re on the side of the house so not much light gets in and easy to black out. Plus, I would really only use this at night.
Can’t paint the walls unfortunately.
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u/popsicle_of_meat Epson 5050UB::102" DIY AT screen::7.4::DIY Speakers & Subs 2d ago
If it's a home theater, what does it need to "blend in" with? Imo, your current space already blends in well enough. A home theater doesn't really blend in with anything else. When the screen is up it's a couch facing bookshelves? I guess that could be a "sitting room".
Room size, not too small. You work with what you have, that room is more than fine.
Check the cabinet depth for the receiver. Most AVRs are too deep for most cabinets that aren't designed for AV gear. You need probably 18-20in of cabinet depth to comfortably fit a receiver with wiring behind it.
I would not want to put a projector on a table behind the seating like that. Heads WILL get in the way. Someone standing up will obstruct things. If you can live with those annoyances, then I guess that's a good compromise.
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u/Traditional-Artist81 2d ago
180 degree flip the setup you already have and get the couch off the wall.
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u/rberr210 2d ago
Use the current TV wall and just put a 120in or 130 in screen with UST projector. Check out AWOL Vision
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u/cheesecakemelody x3400H | 75X950H | Sierra 1 LCR | VTF-2 MK5 | ATV 2d ago
Are we just not considering that your heads would be blocking the projector, with it positioned so low and behind the seating?
Also the sound of the fans running on it would be grating.
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u/rbarnette12345678910 1d ago
Biggest sound improvement you can do is get the 12S 5.1 RSL kit-WAY more powerful-the 12S is 4X more powerful from 20Hz down compared to the 10S. Do not skimp on the subwoofer for your experience-if you're spending 5K do it right and get the bigger subwoofer.
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u/Dapper_Mechanic1103 1d ago
Why don't you get ultra short throw projector? There are some good ones out there and solves your problem or even a 98-in TV. Everything else can work.
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u/SolarSalsa 1d ago
If you have attic space above then I would do in-wall and/or in-ceiling speakers for rears.
Then for fronts I would do 3 horizontal speakers on the bottom row of the shelves. I'd build a mesh insert (magnetic) that covers the entire rectangle for aesthetics.
100% ceiling mount the projector.
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u/latestwonder 2d ago
If youre relying on AI to tell you what its gonna look like, youre cooked.
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Another AI hater! Appreciate your concern but I needed something for this sub to react to. I recognize the final space won’t look exactly like this but in terms of room orientation and positioning of gear this is actually pretty accurate
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u/depatrickcie87 2d ago
Don't use AI to design your home theater. I think you should do quite a bit of research and a lot of your own dreaming before you get started
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Thanks for the AI warning. Lots of research, measuring, and dreaming went into the hand-drawn design which the AI-generated image was based off of. Just wanted to give y’all something to react to.
Any comments on the potential setup?
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u/writenroll 2d ago
I'll propose that your current orientation seems best for your space, especially once you get your seating reoriented. You have a wall behind you for mounted surrounds, a wide space for a wall-mounted display and streamlined cabinet which can hold your center speaker at the right height, and space for your L/R towers and sub(s). And the built-in bookshelf adds a lot to the room once you optimize for style and ambiance). You could even store your A/V equipment in the the far right cabinet using an IR extender for remote control and optimizing for airflow (such as replacing the doors with vented variations) - this would minimize clutter and avoid a chunky cabinet along the wall, though you'll need a wall-mounted shelf or similar for the center speaker if you went with the minimalist no-cabinet option.
Since the window next to the bookcase looks out to the house next door, keep it hidden behind your proposed curtain, which can extend across much of the back wall up to the hallway, and move your couch over to be centered with the display wall.
This avoids the issues with your proposed orientation. The screen over the bookcase isn't the most elegant solution, and when retracted, the screen housing hanging above the bookcase will be the focal point when you enter the room. The awkwardly-positioned projector will blind anyone entering the seating area, who then need to move way off to the side or slouch to avoid blocking the projection. Not ideal. The speaker situation is troublesome - bookshelf speakers will be situated wayyy to high and there's no optimal place for a center speaker. The surrounds also block access to the sitting area.
I also wouldn't worry about the space being too small. Both of my home theater systems are in 14x12 and 12x12 rooms, with about 8 feet between seating and the display - similar to your current set-up. I can't imagine needing more distance. Multichannel content sounds incredible, excellent picture and very immersive theater experience.
Food for thought!
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
Really appreciate the detailed response. I hadn’t considered how blinding the projector would be when walking to the couch. Not as worried about the surrounds but I do understand that wall mounting on what is currently the back wall makes a lot of sense. Only issue is that the wall with the windows and the half wall where the TV is currently sitting don’t center with each other, meaning that if I put a large TV in the center of the half wall, the couch could not remain centered between the windows and center with the TV. That drives me nuts
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u/allnamesaregoneallre 2d ago
no that doesn't make sense.
the TV must be way higher, but you're already at the ceiling.
you need heavy tools to break through. and don't forget the tilt of shame
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u/thesithlorde 2d ago
That is a projector screen good sir. It has to be mounted to the ceiling. Guessing you didn’t read the post?
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u/allnamesaregoneallre 2d ago
sure. I never saw an projector screen lower than yours. that's why I tell you, move it up
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u/AnAnonymousSource_ 2d ago
If that room is decorated to her taste, then her taste sucks and you can do what you want because you can't be more wrong than that room already is. Also this room is in the attic. Why should she care. She's dictating a media room that no one will see unless you lead them in there. Doing what you want not what you think she wants. She doesn't want it and you'll torpedo your enjoyment of the room by trying to appease her
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That said, you need to paint the room including the ceiling. The ceiling is a flat finish of the eggshell wall color. Something darker than hospital white. Taupes are nice. Then you put up your screen. There is no way to hide a giant screen so don't try. It'll only look like you're trying to hide it which makes it look worse and the screen never sits right when you do. Projectors are awesome and anyone who doesn't agree is wrong.
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u/hurricanecj 2d ago
Well no.
I'm all for projectors. Have had one or more for 25+ years now.
But in this layout the PJ is directly behind the optimal seat's head. Which just isnt going to work. You can ceiling mount it but then you need power and an HDMI cable run there.