Home Theater on a Budget

[Laro]

Just want to share with everyone here the dedicated home theater I built and enjoyed back in 2002 to 2012 in my St. Louis condo before retiring to SE Phoenix. I defined the screen area with 2x2 framing at the top and 2x2 and 2x4 framing at the bottom to hide the stereo speakers and then drywalled. The screen area was painted with a special screen non-reflective paint found online. I hid the Bose satellite speakers behind aluminum picture frames with masonite covered with cloth and cutouts for the speakers. They were just hung with 2 drywall screws for easy access. The wall pics were downloaded and placed in silver painted frames from garage sales. The projector was located on a built shelf above the door in the furnace room and finished with a painted picture frame on the theater side. The Bose 321 system, Sanyo PLV-Z4 projector, cables, Ikea furniture, screen paint, fixed curtains made, frames and construction was around 5k. I was quoted prices of 15k to 50k if not more from the home theater pros, so although it wasn't professionally done, it made for a very cheap enjoyable and somewhat professional looking home theater for my wife and I to enjoy for 10 years! Now, with only a 1500 square foot retirement home, we utilize a remote controlled 120" screen that we bring down in front of our 65" Samsung to get that home theater experience! That said, I'm new and on this site to learn how to finally upgrade my sound equipment on a similar or smaller budget! Hope this gives some ideas to those wanting to build a dedicated home theater without spending a fortune!

 

[Pogre]

Okay right off the bat, it looks really good. Very nice in fact. One wouldn't even know it was a home theater just looking at the room so nice work.

That said, are those rectangular panels close to the floor where your speakers are, and do you have Bose speakers inside cubby holes, or right flush with the wall..? Placement is really critical for good sound and some speakers don't do well in cubbies or inside walls.

Oh, I live in Mesa! Another valley resident on the forums! (We're taking over...)

 

[Laro]

Thanks Pogre, we enjoyed that basement theater back in St. Louis, but out here in Phoenix with rooms at a minimum, I had no choice but to install a theater screen behind a valence I built for our entertainment alcove (last 3 photos). Actually, back in St. Louis I just had the little Bose satellite speakers sitting on a couple of books behind the cloth covered frames and the subwoofer I placed in that blonde cabinet on the left with a hole cut in the side covered with an auto speaker grille. Didn't sound any different to me and looked clean! Mesa? You are close as I am in Queen Creek!

 

[BMXTRIX]

It's a huge myth that home theater has to cost a fortune. Let me be clear, in my world, anything short of a front projector isn't home theater. It's just TV with surround sound. But, I respect that some (clueless individuals) may disagree.

With entry level 1080p of good quality starting under $800 and some 4K pixel shifters at $1,000, you can get a complete setup from $1,500 to $2,000 which will be comparable to many local movie theaters. Yes, the 'home theater in a box' kit, won't be super great, but using a respected manufacturer and hitting up Accessories 4 Less online can get very entry level surround. Add in a fixed frame screen (when possible) or a roll up electric screen for a few hundred bucks, and you are good to go.

I like your setup, and the attention to detail by adding a valance to cover your screen is a big plus.

I had a client do a 106" tab-tensioned screen put into a built-in setup of bookshelves once. When the screen was up, you had no idea that there was even a projector in the room. The projector itself was built into the soffit. Super clean and the image was great.

 

[Kingnoob]

Get the largest speakers you can fit , especially center it does most the work . Small or large towers in front , bookshelves can be wall mounted in back , towers still are better .
Look at subwoofer forums for suggestions, at least one or two .
Bose is a entry level system, maybe ok for a bedroom .