Who has a dedicated movie room; not full media room?

[ErinH]

Just curious how many folks here have a simple 'movie only' room, rather than a tv/pvr/movie room.

Please explain why you chose your route.

I know some people have only one room to do a setup so I can understand why you'd have an 'all in one' setup. No need for explanation there.

I'll have a dedicated room to at least watch movies on and am not sure if I want to set it up as a full blown media room by adding cable/tivo to that room. Just looking for further advice.

 

[Bryce_H]

I define media room broader (i.e. music and maybe media computer). My room is a dedicated home theater, but I watch tv (HD only) have a DVR setup (to record HD when I'm not able to watch it), and run a antenna from the attic to watch Lost and sporting events in HD from the local channels. I almost never listen to music.

Why?? I love movies and I have been "making due" for 10 years. When we built our house I had the builder leave the basement unfinished so I could do the work myself and do it the way I wanted my home theater done.

I'm pretty happy with the way it ended up

 

[ErinH]

I define things the same way.

Nice setup. Thanks for the input.

 

[jostenmeat]

Mine is movies only. I'm not sure what kind of advice you might be seeking, as I think it just boils down to what you want to watch.

I used to have cable, and a "tv", but no longer. Mainly for two reasons: I thought the quality of programming was going down the tubes, and to save some money.
Maybe because I wanted to sacrifice a couple of things to make myself feel better about spending a lot already, and also to avoid bulb costs.

I have a pretty sweet bulb warranty, but still. I guess that is pretty simply reasoning. Most tv programming would look pretty poor on a 159" screen anyways.

I have only two sources, Pana BD-30 and Tosh HD-A35. Blurays work extremely well (one dropout ever), but HD-DVD playback is more prone to sync issue. In the last month or so, my friends have bought me double digit titles. Unfortunately, over half of the gifts are HD-DVD. I very thankfully and delicately explained the issue, but the titles were indeed only available on this format (and cheaper too I presume). Anyways, b/w family and friends, my place is now where they "go to see the movies".

One friend wishes that I hooked up tv for sporting events, and my brother is itching to hook up his x-box to it. *shrugs*

Don't know if that helps at all, but I like your sig because I am a Stevie fanboy.

 

[ErinH]

I like that one line by Stevie. Says a lot.

I guess I'm just looking for input on what/why you did things. Not so much advice for doing what I want to do.

I'm on the fence. Like you, I don't want to risk burning out bulbs any sooner. I also think it might not be as plausible for me to say "let's go upstairs and watch tv in the movie room". *shrugs* I dunno. I have a decent living room setup that serves well. I just want the elusive 'theater room'. My wife is down so I'm going to do it. It's just a lot of planning involved. Heck, I've got at least a year until we do anything in the way of building a home but I'm already planning it out. Trying to be as ready as I can when the time comes.

 

[itschris]

When we build our new house, I'lll be putting in a fairly large dedicated media room. I can't imagine it just for movies however. I think it's too big an expense just for a single purpose. If setup well, it makes a great music room. Why not spend a couple hundred bucks on a good cd player or stream music from HTPC? The thing I hear from some folks who have "media" rooms is that they don't use if very often. If the room can do everything and do it fairly well, with minimum additional cost, why not maximize the use?

 

[jostenmeat]

When we build our new house, I'lll be putting in a fairly large dedicated media room. I can't imagine it just for movies however. I think it's too big an expense just for a single purpose. If setup well, it makes a great music room. Why not spend a couple hundred bucks on a good cd player or stream music from HTPC? The thing I hear from some folks who have "media" rooms is that they don't use if very often. If the room can do everything and do it fairly well, with minimum additional cost, why not maximize the use?

Understood and makes sense. It all depends.

I split off my stereo mains from the HT. Unfortunately, the room sucks.

If I kept systems together, with music as a top priority, placement with measured distances from front and side boundaries would have seriously reduced the screen size. There's always compromises it seems. My main speakers are closer to boundaries than they should be.

The way I see it, "if you're going to spend that much", make it the best movie theater you can.

I could have used an AT screen, but I don't think they make em big enough for me. The cost is EXTREMELY high, regardless, at least for quality AT weaves. And I needed very high gain at screen size anyways.

PQ and immersion are top priorities for me in the HT. I decided not to compromise those personal keys for good stereo playback. But, that's just me and to each his own.

 

[Midcow2]

Movie Room

I have one room that is DVD and TV only, a MOVIE room. Since that is what I do 95% of the time it made sense. It is clean and simple 722 DishNetwork DVR, Panasonic 30 DMP-BD30, LCD TV connected via HDMI to Marantz 8002. Def Tech surrounds in the ceiling and Def Tech 7002 Front Speakers and Def Tech ProSub100 with CLR3000 in the Armoire. Clean nice sound.



The other media room also has TV( 622 DVR) and DVD but has Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii with steering wheel stand and Wii fit board. It is more of a gaming room and sometimes music.

 

[jostenmeat]

I just wanted to expound on my choice to compromise (or completely forgo) music playback. This is a portion of what I wrote in the PJ subforum here:

FWIW, I believe I have a 42 deg angle for my front row, decidedly closer than THX's 36 deg. I originally had the front row at THX, and the back row at roughly SMPTE, but I moved both further up because I realized I loved greater immersion. So much so, I went with the biggest screen I could practically fit, and the remaining space for speakers was an afterthought. I am presently researching well designed horizontal center speakers that are short in height.

There have been only two times that I've ever preferred the back row. Once was for watching The Frighteners as the PQ is not up to par as with most of my purchases. The other was for a foreign film with subtitles. I have zero issues with the aforementioned "tennis match phenomena", but I find vertical movement of the eyes more difficult to deal with.

So if you will watch a lot of normal DVDs, I might say smaller screen as the inferior PQ may be hard to swallow. I have only Bluray and HD-DVD hooked up to mine, and even then, Im only purchasing those discs that have top-notch picture quality, even relative to other hi-def movies.

Movie playback quality was #1 for me. Everything else took a back seat. Of course, I am equating "quality" with PQ and visual effect, and with audio taking the back seat. The audio is not bad at all, but its configuration/setup definitely took the back seat here. Before the "dedicated" HT, it definitely took the front seat. The audio quality used to be much superior. At this time, the soundstage is lower, the surrounds/rears are not as immersive due to back row height. Also, the side surrounds straddle the two rows, with some experimentation to decide on very slight "toe-in". Not ideal surround placement for those in the back row, but with the picture Im feeding them, they are drooling anyways and are oblivious.

-jostenmeat

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I define media room broader (i.e. music and maybe media computer). My room is a dedicated home theater, but I watch tv (HD only) have a DVR setup (to record HD when I'm not able to watch it), and run a antenna from the attic to watch Lost and sporting events in HD from the local channels. I almost never listen to music.

Why?? I love movies and I have been "making due" for 10 years. When we built our house I had the builder leave the basement unfinished so I could do the work myself and do it the way I wanted my home theater done.

I'm pretty happy with the way it ended up

Awesome setup, man! I love it.

 

[MUDSHARK]

After seeing Loser's last year I abandoned the concept and am living in shame at the inadequacy of my family room Ht.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

IMO, if you are going to have a movie room, why not also add TV, Music, PS3, XBox, and other sources?

I wouldn't want to put a pool table, ping-pong table, etc. in the room. But simply adding TV, PS3, XBox, PVR, & music should not interfere with your movie-watching experience.

 

[ErinH]

A Wii is going in... no doubt!

 

[TLS Guy]

That is an interesting question.

I have been building good audio systems for about 50 years now. Video is a very recent addition.

During my 30 years in our Grand Forks ND home, and the during the six years I was in Canada my main system was in the basement, although I had a good system in the living room also, I cold enjoy by the fire.

There were significant funds in these systems, and I was the only one in the family who used or listened to the basement system.

I suppose basements being dark they would have been ideal for video. I have to say I have really enjoyed getting out of the basement, and have really enjoyed the light and views from this space.

When I put my main space together two years ago, the design started sometime before that, I wanted to make this a very versatile space.

My prime criteria was that it be a superb audio space with good video capability. Most of the time the video display is off. I don't watch movies by myself. I do watch opera though. I have CD, SACD, DVD Audio workstation, LP and 78, DAT PCM F1 and reel to reel tape, two and four track with Dolby A and B, dbx I and 2, cassette with Dolby B, C and dbx 2. So it plays everything I have collected over the years. It also is a museum to a degree, and presents older technology at its best and in the best light possible.

However the really nice thing is that because of the video aspect the rest of the family just love tis room. My wife, children, spouses and grandchildren just love it. My eldest daughters husband is a real movie buff and he calls it the best movie theater in the world.

For pictures please click on the link in my signature.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I haven't watched actual television in more than 10 years. If I want to watch a TV show, I get it on DVD. In that sense, my HT is movies only. (I also have a separate music-only system in another room.)

 

[majorloser]

After seeing Loser's last year I abandoned the concept and am living in shame at the inadequacy of my family room Ht.

And you can come back in a couple weeks to enjoy the feeling of "theater envy" all over again

 

[astrodon]

IMO, if you are going to have a movie room, why not also add TV, Music, PS3, XBox, and other sources?

I wouldn't want to put a pool table, ping-pong table, etc. in the room. But simply adding TV, PS3, XBox, PVR, & music should not interfere with your movie-watching experience.

I agree, why not have all the "bells and whistles" available depending upon what mood you are in? I have a "home theater" downstairs that has HD capabilities in video (and audio) and a system upstairs in my living room with only SD capabilities in video (but has HD audio). In both systems, I can watch movies, TV via Directv, and play music, though if I want to listen to vinyl, I have to use the system upstairs since the turntable is located there. However, I want the option to do DVD/TV/music on both floors depending upon where I am located (kitchen is upstairs, computer is downstairs in the home theater).