Hey Guys: where to start????

[djnagle]

My current audio room is an insulated and walled off single car garage bay. Any more when I listening to audio I use headphones and I’m thinking about turning my audio room into a home theater.

I don’t know where to start. Do they make 12 foot wide LEDs or should I use a projector? If so, what’s a good projector to start with. Should I hang a screen or should I paint the wall with screen type material.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mnawrath]

My current audio room is an insulated and walled off single car garage bay. Any more when I listening to audio I use headphones and I’m thinking about turning my audio room into a home theater.

I don’t know where to start. Do they make 12 foot wide LEDs or should I use a projector? If so, what’s a good projector to start with. Should I hang a screen or should I paint the wall with screen type material.

Thanks in advance.

How about starting with a bit more details about you use of the finished "home theater." Are you shooting for a place that you will invite another couple over to watch a movie, or is your goal more of a man cave where you will watch your football games in and regular TV, if anybody under age 60 does that anymore? How is the room finished off now? I can see a wide variety of uses, with corresponding choices t hat are dependent on how you intend to use the room. But if your goal seems to ne the largest screen possible, you are likely looking at a projector for maximum screen size and flexibility. Then you will decide how much you want to spend on a sound system. Maybe you can re-purpose part of your listening room setup for the sound. But if you have mostly converted to headphones, maybe that is more practical for you.

 

[djnagle]

This will be a straight up home theater with just the screen, projector, speakers, and two rows of 6 recliners. The room is 21' x 11.5’ x 9’.

 

[Apreggiator]

Screen (TV) vs Projector: Cost leads me to recommend a projector. Also if you blank off that side window it's a nicely dark room for a private cinema.
Projectorscreen vs wallpaint: Screen! Even with special projector paint, you can see every imperfection in the drywall.
Projectors: The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB has beautiful image quality, but quite a hefty price (around 3k iirc). The BenQ HT3560 is a good choice that you will enjoy too, at half the price. But if superb contrast and depth, great color and no rainbow effect are important: Then it will have to be the Epson. Both projectors I mention here have competitors in their respective price brackets that are also decent choices.

Some more thoughts about the projector:
Light Control: Considering that you can keep the room dark you do not need extreme brightness (lumens)., this allows you to focus on contrast instead of high lumen output.
Darkness: Look for high native contrast specifications rather than dynamic contrast for rich and sharp results when watching dark scenes in movies.
Resolution: Native 4K projectors offer the best clarity, but4K enhancement (pixel-shifting) is an alternative that can also offer great results.
Color accuracy: Projectors that have DCI-P3 support are the best for color accuracy.
Fan Noise! As low as possible of course.
Throw Distance: Has to fit with your room.

 

[Duane]

There's a lot that goes into making a theater room. You might want to check out the AVS forum for some ideas on theater building or just media rooms. Lot's of information. Can be a bit overwhelming at first.

https://www.avsforum.com/forums/

 

[airscapes]

+1 For AVS study time. Theater = New Hobby.. not the same as Audio .. And go front projection, used higher end will get you way more than new does.. Lots to learn, take your time and get it right. I personally use old high end 1080p projectors, no desire to go 4K HDR or any or that .. 120" from 14' looks good to us! Have fun and don't loose your mind!

 

[Apreggiator]

used higher end will get you way more than new does.. Lots to learn, take your time and get it right. I personally use old high end 1080p projectors, no desire to go 4K HDR or any or that .. 120" from 14' looks good to us! Have fun and don't loose your mind!

This is true.
Which ones would you recommend?

There's a lot that goes into making a theater room. You might want to check out the AVS forum for some ideas on theater building or just media rooms. Lot's of information. Can be a bit overwhelming at first.

https://www.avsforum.com/forums/

But where to start, as the OP asks..
Imho:
A projector screen and a decent projector. A surround amp with active room correction and a 5.1 speaker setup.
Then decide where upgrades are required or desired.
..Not that complicated.

 

[djnagle]

By the way: the pictures of my room empty was when I first Waldorf the third car bay of my garage. That was I think seven no years ago. Here is what the room looks like now front to back and side to side.