Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 03:06:43 pm

Title: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 03:06:43 pm
So i've always wanted a media room.  And i finally decided to convert an unused bedroom into one.

Onkyo 1200W  7.1 surround system
Panasonic AE-4000U HD projector
110" screen
leather recliners

If anyone has any input, let me know
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bob-san on April 19, 2010, 03:10:57 pm
So i've always wanted a media room.  And i finally decided to convert an unused bedroom into one.

Onkyo 1200W  7.1 surround system
Panasonic AE-4000U HD projector
110" screen
leather recliners

If anyone has any input, let me know
Some stupid theater-in-a-box or are you actually going to build a decent audio system? Mind you, if you're using a purely Onkyo system, you'll probably be losing out on quite a bit. No one manufacturer makes a great everything.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 03:30:22 pm
Now come on... when have you ever known me to be half-assed about something?  I wanted a fast car, i built a 900HP car that does 60-120mph in under 3 seconds, spinning the tires all the way to 210mph in the 1 mile trap.  I like doing things right

Anyway, this shows the work i accomplished yesterday:

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage1_pic4.jpg)

This shows the front of the room, with a base coat.  That piece of plywood is going to be painted of course, and when everything's done the whole room is going to have a textured look.  So don't judge it right now.  The electric screen comes down right between those two speaker mounts, so that gives you an idea of the size of the screen.  The screen will be raised and in that 'hutch' behind it (where the plywood is), will be a popcorn machine and mini-bar.

I know the speaker mounts are 'ugly' (with the cable raceway going up to them), but i was going more for functionality than a clean look.  Besides which the room's going to be dark when watching a movie anyway, so you won't be able to tell


I am, however, going with a strictly Onkyo setup for now.  If i don't like it down the road i'll change it.  But this system did a preeeety good job when i compared it to others on the same level.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bob-san on April 19, 2010, 03:49:32 pm
Here's a better question... budget? :P You could easily spend >$20,000 on an audio system.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Mongoose on April 19, 2010, 04:18:15 pm
I would kill to have a setup like that someday.  Awesome. :yes:
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: headdie on April 19, 2010, 04:25:31 pm
just imagine playing something like crysis on that
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 04:32:21 pm
Here's a better question... budget? :P You could easily spend >$20,000 on an audio system.

Trust me - i'm not new to audio.  I've designed, purchased, and installed audio systems that cost over $150,000.  My budget on this room is/was about $8000.  That's turn-key.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 04:38:12 pm
just imagine playing something like crysis on that

Ah yes - at the heart of the system, is a computer i built, a I7 926, 8TB of hard disk space, 12GB of RAM, etc.

Just in case i ever decide to play a game on it, and project it onto the screen, the computer has a Radeon 5870 1GB, so it should be able to play most games rather well.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Klaustrophobia on April 19, 2010, 06:34:39 pm
honestly i think it might look crappy scaled up onto a 110" display
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Blue Lion on April 19, 2010, 06:38:57 pm
If you're going to have a good sound system have you looked at what the walls are made of? Is the wall itself insulated well and all that jazz?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 19, 2010, 07:54:13 pm
yeah walls are insulated.

and a good sound system doesn't always mean a loud sound system :)
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: General Battuta on April 19, 2010, 07:55:27 pm
honestly i think it might look crappy scaled up onto a 110" display

Shouldn't, since PC output is going to be considerably higher-resolution than most TV output on said display.

Right?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: BloodEagle on April 19, 2010, 11:17:43 pm
I don't know if it's a trick of the light or not, but you might want to go over the walls with non-glossy paint.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 20, 2010, 12:09:59 am
that's just the base coat.

it's non-gloss "ralph lauren suede" paint that's going over it
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 20, 2010, 03:31:09 am
 I wanted a fast car, i built a 900HP car that does 60-120mph in under 3 seconds, spinning the tires all the way to 210mph in the 1 mile trap.  I like doing things right

Pics/specs or it didn't happen.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 20, 2010, 07:31:48 am
Onkyo 1200W  7.1 surround system
110" screen

:jaw:
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 20, 2010, 09:13:55 am
I wanted a fast car, i built a 900HP car that does 60-120mph in under 3 seconds, spinning the tires all the way to 210mph in the 1 mile trap.  I like doing things right

Pics/specs or it didn't happen.

Check my previous threads/posts - i think i have a few pics in there, and the detailed specs. I even have the build progress in there i think.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bob-san on April 20, 2010, 09:15:26 am
 I wanted a fast car, i built a 900HP car that does 60-120mph in under 3 seconds, spinning the tires all the way to 210mph in the 1 mile trap.  I like doing things right

Pics/specs or it didn't happen.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 20, 2010, 09:34:34 am
About how long ago?  Just so I don't search all 422 pages of your previous posts :p
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 20, 2010, 09:38:43 pm
It was a year ago.  I don't post a whole lot over here anymore, so should only be about 10-15 pages back.  I'm sure several people here remmber me
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bobboau on April 21, 2010, 12:36:03 am
wasn't that around the time you died?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bob-san on April 21, 2010, 12:43:55 am
wasn't that around the time you died?
No after I think. Was it before or after your superbike?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 21, 2010, 10:13:12 am
LOL the Hayabusa - still have that monster.  I need to sell it though, inspection is coming up soon and it's a waste of money.

It was around the same time, maybe a couple months before.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 22, 2010, 10:24:53 am
today i installed a Z-wave light switch and a light.
(http://www.jascoproducts.com/products/pc/catalog/45606/45606webd1.jpg)

My Monster remote control will be able to control the lighting in the room too
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 22, 2010, 10:25:25 am
(http://hometheaterreview.com/images/monster_avl300.jpg)
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 23, 2010, 01:06:12 am
i just bit the bullet and spent the last 8hrs working on the room.  got it done though.  temporary projector screen mounted (just backing cloth - didn't want to order a screen and then decide it was too big/small and have to send it back.  if you ever do this - just tack some backing cloth up on the wall and project the image onto it and watch movies, tweaking the size every so often until you're happy with the size.  for me, i decided 120" was WAY too big for the room, and i'm happy with the current 16:9 at 103".  plenty big.

wired up the sound. finished the painting completely.  the only thing i need to do is clean the stuff off the floor and move the sofas/recliners in.  in the meantime, it's functioning perfectly.  spent 15min calibrating the sound, and got it tweaked well enough for now.  sounds awesome.

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic1.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic2.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic3.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic4.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic5.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic6.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic7.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic8.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic9.jpg)

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage2_pic10.jpg)

Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 23, 2010, 03:34:07 am
I can't wait to see how your finished room will look like, Stealth. Keep it coming. :yes:
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Bob-san on April 23, 2010, 04:56:25 pm
You should grab a second matching subwoofer and place it in the other corner. For bass balance.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Galemp on April 23, 2010, 05:00:39 pm
Pics/specs or it didn't happen.

I saw it myself, does that count?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 23, 2010, 05:13:39 pm
Ah...I guess :p

Linky (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=53627.0)

Well done...on the room and the car. :yes:
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 23, 2010, 11:58:26 pm
So, we've established that your media room is still U/C. What about the car? Is it finished?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: redsniper on April 24, 2010, 01:21:24 am
HLP Houston 2: We go watch movies at Stealth's house
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 24, 2010, 11:06:00 am
Room is finished as of yesterday.  Love it.

The ONLY thing that i need to do is touch up a few spots with paint, but that's so minor i haven't even worried about it yet.

Oh, and i need a recliner.  I have an old pig-skin seat in its place for now.  The leather sectional arrived yesterday afternoon, and i put a few decorations on the wall.


OH (duh) - i forgot.  The current screen is just a piece of blackout cloth thumb tacked to the wall.  I've ordered the 'real' screen (which will sit at roof level, and be electric).  Behind the current screen is a hutch for the popcorn machine and mini-bar (i have both, but haven't installed them since i don't have an electrically retractable screen at the moment.

so i guess i'm not done, i'm more like 97% done.

(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic2.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic3.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic4.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic5.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic6.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic7.jpg)
(http://www.f1f3.com/hosted/media_room_stage3_pic8.jpg)
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 24, 2010, 11:18:30 pm
Hmm ... nice wallpaper. :)

What's that white thing below that black Pirates of the Caribbean T-shirt?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 25, 2010, 01:08:51 am
hehe it's not wallpaper - it's black paint, textured with grey on top of it ;) (take a plastic bag, dip in the paint, and 'sponge' the wall).

the white thing below the shirt (by the way - that's my feeble attempt to 'decorate' the room a bit.  without going overboard) is a window air conditioner.  i'm still going to spray paint it black, but for now it's white, and since it's in the back corner of the room, it's no distraction to anyone while watching a movie.

that window a/c is necessary, since with 6 people and some extremely hot-running equipment, the room heats up very, very fast.  that 10,500 BTU air conditioner would have no problem cooling a room 4 times its size, and still not break a sweat, so it keeps the room really cool, and really efficient.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 25, 2010, 06:27:45 am
So you have two A/Cs - one for the audience and one for the equipment? Or is that the only A/C in the room?
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 25, 2010, 08:36:03 am
well the house has its own A/C, so the room has a vent in the roof, but that's not nearly enough to keep the room cold, so the room has an a/c unit in the window too.

the only cooling the equipment has is a few 120mm fans behind it, blowing all the hot air (from the receiver, which is the only part that actually gets warm) out of the cabinet
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 25, 2010, 10:07:34 am
Neat. :nod:

Here's a slightly OOC question for anyone: Can these guys (http://www.bigassfans.com/) be trusted to make good fans? Ever since I saw one of their giant ones in my school, I've always wondered if they can be trusted.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 25, 2010, 04:52:02 pm
why would you not trust them because you saw one in your school??

they make good products.  i've bought several for the company.  and every 24hr fitness i've ever gone to has had one.  seems like they've got a pretty unique, but good business model.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on April 26, 2010, 01:01:32 am
Well, considering that that was the first time I'm seeing a fan made by a company I've never seen in my local shopping mall, I was a little curious to find out who they are.
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 26, 2010, 04:06:06 am
HLP Houston 2: We go watch movies at Stealth's house
And take his Caddy to the track :yes:
Title: Re: My media room...
Post by: Stealth on April 26, 2010, 10:53:28 am
hahaha :)