Anybody ditch their dedicated HT and come out the other side ok?

[Midlife-crisis-again]

Ive had the perfect home theater for about 20 years now. 22x17 room with no windows, projector with 120" AT screen, 7.2.4 sound system, 2 rows of leather theater style chairs, and acoustically treated to the best of my own DIY ability.

But it rarely get's used.

The kids are grown up and mostly gone. The wife and I don't really entertain anymore and with the state of modern media we find ourselves binge watching tv shows much more than watching movies. The HT is not a comfortable place to watch TV for several hours straight. It's a dark closed off cave and the chairs don't allow for laying down and getting cozy. So we spend much more time in the living room with the 55" TV and sound bar lol. The HT still gets used for the occasional movie, but thats it. I'd love to binge watch these shows on a larger screen and a better sound sytem, but we don't like the look of a huge TV and a bunch of speakers in the main living room.

So we've been toying with the idea of ditching the theater and turning into more of a 2nd livingroom/media room. Opening up one wall to an ajoining room to make it more open concept like the rest of the house and allowing some natural light in. Painting the ceiling white, lightening up the walls, and ditching the fabric thats all over the place. The PJ would likely have to leave at that point due to lack of light control, but large TVs are available these days. I would keep the surrounds and ceiling speakers, but would either have to go to a phantom center or put the 3 front speakers pretty low to keep the TV from being to high. All of these things are major compromises I know, but I'm not the audiophile I once was. I've had tinitus for several years now so reference level audio is no longer an option anyways. I have to keep volumes lower or it bothers me.

So I don't know, has anyone been through this? Is there life post home theater?

 

[highfigh]

Ive had the perfect home theater for about 20 years now. 22x17 room with no windows, projector with 120" AT screen, 7.2.4 sound system, 2 rows of leather theater style chairs, and acoustically treated to the best of my own DIY ability.

But it rarely get's used.

The kids are grown up and mostly gone. The wife and I don't really entertain anymore and with the state of modern media we find ourselves binge watching tv shows much more than watching movies. The HT is not a comfortable place to watch TV for several hours straight. It's a dark closed off cave and the chairs don't allow for laying down and getting cozy. So we spend much more time in the living room with the 55" TV and sound bar lol. The HT still gets used for the occasional movie, but thats it. I'd love to binge watch these shows on a larger screen and a better sound sytem, but we don't like the look of a huge TV and a bunch of speakers in the main living room.

So we've been toying with the idea of ditching the theater and turning into more of a 2nd livingroom/media room. Opening up one wall to an ajoining room to make it more open concept like the rest of the house and allowing some natural light in. Painting the ceiling white, lightening up the walls, and ditching the fabric thats all over the place. The PJ would likely have to leave at that point due to lack of light control, but large TVs are available these days. I would keep the surrounds and ceiling speakers, but would either have to go to a phantom center or put the 3 front speakers pretty low to keep the TV from being to high. All of these things are major compromises I know, but I'm not the audiophile I once was. I've had tinitus for several years now so reference level audio is no longer an option anyways. I have to keep volumes lower or it bothers me.

So I don't know, has anyone been through this? Is there life post home theater?

How big is the room? If I had a decent sized room that wasn't being used as a HT, I would buy a nice pool table- I miss playing frequently.

 

[Midlife-crisis-again]

22x17. Perfect for a pool table! That's one benefit I would have with a regular room again. It could become different things occasionally.

 

[Eppie]

Your planned space kind of describes what I have. My room wasn't big enough for theatre seating so we just have an L shaped couch against the wall. Basements get cold in Canada, so I wanted a gas fireplace and the room has a short hallway that leads upstairs with no doorway. Sound transmission can be an issue sometimes so some French doors would have been nice but maybe later. The informal nature makes it a relaxing space and the couch means I can lie down and nap. I still managed to fit two small surround speakers at the ends of the couch and installed 2 ATMOS speakers in the ceiling last year. I've been pretty content with the setup and while a bigger space would be nice we also will be empty nesters once our son finds work (recent graduate) so I see nothing wrong with your plan.

You can see the evolution of my system here but I have yet to upload recent photos. The rear panel speakers are gone (was experimenting) and the white Cantons as surrounds were replaced with a pair of black Philharmonic True Minis.

 

[Midlife-crisis-again]

The informal nature makes it a relaxing space and the couch means I can lie down and nap.

I think you kinda nailed what I was trying to say in my post. A relaxing space thats not so formal that demands being used for one single thing only.

 

[Mikado463]

yep, went down the very same road ten or so years ago, returned my room to a dedicated 2 channel listening environment. Upstairs family room has the TV and 5.1 set-up, more than adequate for our wants / needs.

 

[-Jim-]

I've been a nut for Home Theater sound ever since we walked by, and then into, a Sony Store (remember those) in the Mall, playing the Music for Montserrat DVD.

I'm far more into Music than Movies, and even though we had the space, I could never bring myself to build a setup just dedicated to movies with a projector and row seating. I knew it wouldn't get a lot of use, nor past the WAF anyway. Life has been full of compromises.

Everywhere (other than the Bedroom) where we have a TV, I've put together a HT setup. My Misses has been tolerant enough to allow me to do this, but other than my Man Cave /Junk Room setup in the basement, she has (with her decorator's help) made the other 2 systems comfortable and multi-use. One is in the Family Room which rarely gets used in HT mode, and the other is our ~20' x 16.5' Games Room which is where our 75 inch 4K TV and 7.2.4 Atmos system live. (I even put a 5.1 system at our Family Cabin on a lake in the interior.)

The Games Room has a large sectional, and other chairs where we watch TV, the odd Movie, and I enjoy my mostly Blu-ray concert disks. It's great to watch TV Sports and put on the system to get a real in stadium vibe when a big game is on. The large Samsung 75 inch 4K TV looks marvelous even if the California Shutters are open along the side with the Windows letting the Sun in. A projector would not work well for us in that room.

@Midlife-crisis-again I hope you can put together a multi-use room that makes you happy.

 

[mtrycrafts]

We still have a friend or rather the wife's friend who has been coming over to watch the Marvel movies in order. Otherwise, very few movies get watched now days. Some streaming through laptop in theater, the good movies only. Others, TV movies and series is enough now.
Kids are on their own, one in AZ, too far and other decided to estrange himself from mother. His two dogs don't help either.
Such is life.

 

[highfigh]

22x17. Perfect for a pool table! That's one benefit I would have with a regular room again. It could become different things occasionally.

You could have a real Clampett dining table, with six drink holders!

I made a few shots on Tuesday afternoon- hadn't done that in about ten years. That was a 8' table, the one at my friends' house was a 9' and I couldn't hit much on that because I haven't played on such a large table. Just like when we were in high school, my friend kicked my a$$.

 

[Tankini]

"Ditch" you say. Many many time's sold off or give away. Life happens, going from full blown HT setups back down to nothing.

Car/truck setup whatever was in it. Changes always kinda makes that an easy option. Used ear buds, or nothing out all.

Audio is ear Candy isn't it? Once adjusted don't miss what one doesn't have. Found other avenues of entertainment. Like spending quality time. Or even The Sound of silence can be Bliss!

I've read "Sub Candy" many time's on AH alone. Although useful it is an analogy and very subjective.

The power of suggestion, but Not necessary considering all things equal. Many on AH have stated some would be better off with better L/R mains, maybe a sub or not.
That last statement rings very true for some. Yep "ditch"-ing"<analogy for the lack of a better word. One does what one must do. After all audio isn't life blood.

Cheers.

 

[ski2xblack]

I ditched the ht, secondary to divorce, and sure enough I came out ok.
-No WAF restrictions
-stereo setups in every room
-home filled with music of my choosing, instead of her exclusive preference for Dave butthole Matthews, all the freakin time.

 

[Wardog555]

If I don't watch in my optimized room which is a full 5.1.2 atmos setup.

I am miserable and will not enjoy it. I really struggle to live without surround sound for my movie and tv show watching.

Watching TV shows in the home theater is a life changing experience. Something I will never give up.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Yes I moved from a 7.2 HT system to a 2.2 channel music system in the same space. I find I listen to music more and watch less TV which led to the change and it’s worked out well. Enjoy your new musical journey.

 

[Tankini]

All 3 comments below my comment, subjective. OP, nothing suggested is necessary.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Ive had the perfect home theater….

But it rarely get's used….

we find ourselves binge watching tv shows much more than watching movies….

The HT is not a comfortable place to watch TV for several hours straight. It's a dark closed off cave and the chairs don't allow for laying down and getting cozy.

I watch TV 50% of the time, movies 50%.

I have a 23x24 very open living room with cozy soft sectionals and big TV + big speakers + AVR. I use it about 10% of the time.

I have a cozy big 22x26 closed HT room (150” screen, 6K-Lumen 4K PJ) with cozy soft loungers that I can actually SLEEP in if I feel like it. I use it about 90% of the time.

So who says a “perfect” HT room has to be an uncomfortable place you can’t LIE DOWN to watch and sleep if you want?

 

[Tankini]

I watch TV 50% of the time, movies 50%.

I have a 23x24 very open living room with cozy soft sectionals and big TV + big speakers + AVR. I use it about 10% of the time.

I have a cozy big 22x26 closed HT room (150” screen, 6K-Lumen 4K PJ) with cozy soft loungers that I can actually SLEEP in if I feel like it. I use it about 90% of the time.

So who says a “perfect” HT room has to be an uncomfortable place you can’t LIE DOWN to watch and sleep if you want?

The last thing one would need is their chosen pharmacist develop delirium!!

trust me I know. All kinds of issues can be had when well, it's why you fall asleep. Free you mind, your $ss will follow. Got to be better than chewing curd ( grass/hay) like cows huh. Lol.

 

[Teetertotter?]

NO........Wife has our living room with her own TV programing. I have my HT basement room for movies, regular TV, and You Tube videos. No Theatre type seating. We have been retired since 2008. We are unable to watch the same programs together, as our tastes are pretty much opposite.

We have Directv Satellite, along with apps, Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Paramount+, Disney, Peacock, and Starz. We do watch some Brewer, Bucks, and Packer games together, on her living room TV. The Fever games too. lol