Is it really worthwhile?

[Davidt1]

I went to HD to buy some screws to hang my projector screen. After getting home and looking at the screws and the mounting holes on the screen, I realized I had the wrong screws. I went back and got smaller screws. On the way back I thought about the cost of my system and countless the trips to HD and Lowes to buy parts to put it together. The real cost is more if you add electricity.

Then I remember that my local theater chain charges $5 admission for shows before nooon. I did a little math and at $2,000 -- the cost of my meager system -- I can buy 400 movie tickets at $5 each. If I go once a week, that comes to about 7 years of movie watching -- all without any of the headache, problems and regrets of putting together my little home theater system.

No matter what I think, my system is not as good as those at movie theaters. With that out of the way, I have to find other ways to rationalize this never-ending hobby. Is it really worthwhile for you?

 

[mazersteven]

With the refrigerator so close and the fact that I get to sit watching the movie in my underwear. I think having your own home theater system is worth it.

Plus my seats are more comfortable.

 

[krzywica]

I would take the comfort of my couch, a cold beer, and the women de jour any day of the week over a movie theatre. And yes your home theatre can be much better than the average theatre for as little as a few thousand. A few thousand mind you, meaning less than 5 and more 2.

That and I find it fun.

 

[krzywica]

With the refrigerator so close and the fact that I get to sit watching the movie in my underwear. I think having your own home theater system is worth it.

Plus my seats are more comfortable.

*Must wash mind......mental picture......ahhhh...*

 

[obscbyclouds]

No matter what I think, my system is not as good as those at movie theaters. With that out of the way, I have to find other ways to rationalize this never-ending hobby. Is it really worthwhile for you?

Yes! For the following reasons:

1.) I never have to step foot in a sticky floor covered with M&M's from the previous show.

2.) No one yells, shouts, talks through movies and throws popcorn in my HT.

3.) I can't go to a movie theater and pop in my favorite CD, DVD-A or SACD to sit down and listen.

4.) When was the last time you saw a movie? $5???? $10 ($7.50 for a matinee) minimum in my neck of the woods, and that's without soda, popcorn, etc.

5.) If i need to go to the bathroom or answer a cell phone call, I can push pause.

6.) I can watch TV on my HT, or play a video game.

7.) I love setting up, planning new upgrades, playing with menu's, etc. I love the feeling of accomplishment knowing I put the system together that can WOW my family & friends.

8.) I still think my HT sounds every bit as good (and most of the time better) than most movie theaters I have been to.

 

[Exit]

Don't forget a lot of us love to listen to quality music and the HT serves double duty.

 

[Haoleb]

Well theres always the fact that in your personal theater you.......

Dont have to listen to 3/4 of the audience laughing at something that isint in the least bit funny

Dont have to listen to 3/4 of the audience chewing popcorn opening candy wrappers or slurping sodas

Dont have to have 3/4 of a pound of god only know what kind of sticky mess on your shoes

Dont have to get up out of the seats only to run home and burn your clothes for fear of 62 different diseases

Dont have to listen to crying babies

Dont have to listen to cell phones or see people checking them

Dont have to listen to people talk to themselves or others (what just happened, whos that etc. WE ARE ALL WATCHING THE SAME THING. PAY ATTENTION AND SHUT UP

Dont have to stand in line waiting for a ticket and then walk in the theater only to be blasted by the smell of synthetic butter and popcorn

Dont have to pick out a nice seat far away from anyone in an empty theater only to have some jerkoff come and sit down RIGHT NEXT TO YOU

Dont have to make your legs mutate into stubs every 3 minutes to let someone out of the row, And then back in again. For the 12th time.

Dont have to actually pay money to go in and see a movie only to be put in what used to be a broom closet converted to a theater where the surround sound doesnt even work and the screen isint much bigger than your tv at home.

Dont have to sit through 14 hours of useless trivia and commercials before they actually play the movie. And you Do have to do it because if you show up by the time its over all the good seats are taken.

I would say that sums up why a HT is better.

 

[mazersteven]

No matter what I think, my system is not as good as those at movie theaters.

Maybe we need to help you get the most out of your system. Because even a $1000 system IMO is better then the theater.


Speakers
Subwoofer
Placement
Acoustics
Calibration
Gear

 

[100r1]

My sound system sounds better than most theaters and I can control the volume and processing. I can stop, start and pause when I want. My modest 42" LCD looks great also.

Don't have to sit next to some unknown person that is wearing bug spray for perfume that gags me and makes me sneeze the whole move, not to mention the idiots that think there stupid ring tone on their cell phone needs to be as loud as the movie and has no thought of others by talking on the phone during the movie.

all of the $ 5.00 movies in my area are at old run down movie houses that smell, the seats have more butter from popcorn on the seats than a butterball turkey.

Oh yeah, that $ 5.00 ticket per person for a family of 4 still cost almost a $ 100.00........pop corn, soda, hot dogs, etc, etc then theres the arcade games before the show and not to mention the gas to get there.

to each their own, I'll stay home!

 

[Warpdrv]

two words - PORN & Cocktails !!!!

Maybe I should add another word.... LADIES !!

 

[chadnliz]

If you enjoy trips to the theater in rain, snow, general traffic, waiting in line, paying way too much for snacks, finding an ideal seat with no rude talkers or cell phone users, dirty bathrooms, poor sounding equipment all for the chance you may see a movie you actually enjoy and hopefully dont have to use bathroom and miss any part of the film then I see no reason to have a Home Theater........we must be nuts to invest in this hobby!

 

[Davemcc]

If I amortize the cost of my system over the number of hours it gets used in a year, the actual cost doesn't seem that high over it's expected lifetime. It gets used many hours a day, every day for music as well as movies. Worth every penny.

 

[ivseenbetter]

Nobody has mentioned the fact that you can watch the movie on your own schedule....not before noon on certain days. You also don't have to hurry up and finish your dinner date in order to get a decent seat before the crowds hit when you have your own at home.

It's the lifestyle that makes it all worth while.

 

[sparky77]

I guess I'm kinda lucky in my rinky dink little town of 1500 people where out theater is very seldom ever crowded, and is kept pretty clean and is actually thx certified. I would still actually watch a movie at home on my 2.0 system and crank the volume to drown out the kids that think they have to narrate ever movie they've seen already than sit in the freezing cold theater listening to everybody elses kids whining about not enough snacks. It's the few tradeoffs that I'm building up my system as I can, but I'd still rather watch a movie in 2.0 on a 19inch and listen to my own three kids, than sit in a theater and listen to 40 kids that arent mine.

 

[Halon451]

I went to HD to buy some screws to hang my projector screen. After getting home and looking at the screws and the mounting holes on the screen, I realized I had the wrong screws. I went back and got smaller screws. On the way back I thought about the cost of my system and countless the trips to HD and Lowes to buy parts to put it together. The real cost is more if you add electricity.

Then I remember that my local theater chain charges $5 admission for shows before nooon. I did a little math and at $2,000 -- the cost of my meager system -- I can buy 400 movie tickets at $5 each. If I go once a week, that comes to about 7 years of movie watching -- all without any of the headache, problems and regrets of putting together my little home theater system.

No matter what I think, my system is not as good as those at movie theaters. With that out of the way, I have to find other ways to rationalize this never-ending hobby. Is it really worthwhile for you?

Logistics, cost and convenience aside - if you aren't getting any kind of supreme enjoyment out of building your own system, then you've probably picked the wrong hobby.

 

[stratman]

I tell you, it takes a big-butt movie(Star Wars) to get mine out of my very humble "theater," bubblegum, soda on the floor, sticky or wet seats, sorry I'd rather stay home. And noticed I skipped the part dealing with teenagers, cell phones, and texting.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I love movies and we used to average about 8 movies a month, but I sure hate dealing with a lot of annoying things at the theaters. If I could watch opening nights on Blu-ray at home, I would never go to another movie theater. I just don't have the patience to wait 6 months to see a blockbuster movie -- like "The Dark Knight".

Oh, another factor is pride of ownership. It will be YOUR movie theater. Kind of like owning a car -- it is YOUR car, not a RENTAL or a LEASE.

 

[Alex2507]

I like doing both. Sin City was definitely a thearter deal for me and going out is worth something to me. It helps that I go to a nice theater. HT is great too for all the reasons previously mentioned. The key here is that if it's not fun then it's work.

 

[Johnd]

Is it really worthwhile for you?

If you really don't already know David, and if you have to ask that question, you've already answered it for yourself. 400 movies @ $5.00 per...you're just missing the whole point. Sorry.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you really don't already know David, and if you have to ask that question, you've already answered it for yourself. 400 movies @ $5.00 per...you're just missing the whole point. Sorry.

In other words, it's a HOBBY?

It's for FUN and ENJOYMENT?