Building a system from scratch around Strato V

[Gerald.d]

So I guess a quick update is due on the plans and progress! I managed to get hold a photo of that shows the basement without any clutter. I had a rethink about how I can section off a portion of the basement for a home theater now, and realised there is a much better way to do it.

So here's the basement looking back down towards the stairs, and my thoughts are now to build a room where the two columns you see define the border of the cinema. This gives me a room that will be around 4m wide and 6m deep (I can go deeper if needed).



Here's the cinema wall outline -



The main concern is the low height of the ceiling, but hopefully it's workable.

Initially the plan was to use a 98" flat panel, but I'm now leaning towards projection, and I think I can probably get something in the 130" ballpark (plan below shows a 135" diagonal 16:9). Currently unsure whether to go 16:9 or 21:9. The low ceiling shouldn't be a restriction. Here's a rough plan of how it might work -



A few weeks ago I had a demo of some B&W 705 S3's and was mightily impressed. The dealer only had them hooked up to a Yamaha receiver, but I realised there was no way I could wait many months and not at least enjoy a partial set-up, so went ahead and bought the front 3 speakers, along with an amp and processor. I got the 705 S3 Signatures, and the HTM-71 S3 Signature center. I'd already settled on Anthem for the processing and amplification, and for now just got a single MCA 325 Gen 2 to power them. Processing is through an AVM90.

Obviously with the low ceiling, I am somewhat constrained for space below the screen if I do go for projection, but that's fine because the plan would be to mount the center behind the screen, but have the front LR on stands either side. I'll be going for a 7.2.4 layout, with the surrounds and ceiling speakers all-wall/-ceiling B&W's.

So yeah, that initial budget has been blown away just a little (I ended up getting the 48TB Terra Prime instead of the initially planned 22TB Compact), but buying things in stages like this - K first; then the front three speakers/amp/processor; and finally next year the display and reset of the speakers and amps, is a good way to not pay too much attention to what it all adds up to .

Now, I just have to wait until we can actually move in!

 

[Edgar]

So I guess a quick update is due on the plans and progress! I managed to get hold a photo of that shows the basement without any clutter. I had a rethink about how I can section off a portion of the basement for a home theater now, and realised there is a much better way to do it.

So here's the basement looking back down towards the stairs, and my thoughts are now to build a room where the two columns you see define the border of the cinema. This gives me a room that will be around 4m wide and 6m deep (I can go deeper if needed).

View attachment 5968

Here's the cinema wall outline -

View attachment 5969

The main concern is the low height of the ceiling, but hopefully it's workable.

Initially the plan was to use a 98" flat panel, but I'm now leaning towards projection, and I think I can probably get something in the 130" ballpark (plan below shows a 135" diagonal 16:9). Currently unsure whether to go 16:9 or 21:9. The low ceiling shouldn't be a restriction. Here's a rough plan of how it might work -

View attachment 5970

A few weeks ago I had a demo of some B&W 705 S3's and was mightily impressed. The dealer only had them hooked up to a Yamaha receiver, but I realised there was no way I could wait many months and not at least enjoy a partial set-up, so went ahead and bought the front 3 speakers, along with an amp and processor. I got the 705 S3 Signatures, and the HTM-71 S3 Signature center. I'd already settled on Anthem for the processing and amplification, and for now just got a single MCA 325 Gen 2 to power them. Processing is through an AVM90.

Obviously with the low ceiling, I am somewhat constrained for space below the screen if I do go for projection, but that's fine because the plan would be to mount the center behind the screen, but have the front LR on stands either side. I'll be going for a 7.2.4 layout, with the surrounds and ceiling speakers all-wall/-ceiling B&W's.

So yeah, that initial budget has been blown away just a little (I ended up getting the 48TB Terra Prime instead of the initially planned 22TB Compact), but buying things in stages like this - K first; then the front three speakers/amp/processor; and finally next year the display and reset of the speakers and amps, is a good way to not pay too much attention to what it all adds up to .

Now, I just have to wait until we can actually move in!

When I read your first post, I was tempted to suggest a projector and AT 130” screen. I’m glad you got there after all! This essentially describes my own theater, complete with low ceiling worry. As for 16:9 or 21:9, if you’re not already in one camp or the other, I’d go with the largest screen your wall shape allows. In my case, I’m hardcore scope, plus I have low ceilings, so that was the natural choice. I have a build thread on AVS Forum, that might be helpful to read and avoid all my mistakes. Hopefully it’s okay to share a link:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/cinema-77.3193466/

 

[Gerald.d]

When I read your first post, I was tempted to suggest a projector and AT 130” screen. I’m glad you got there after all! This essentially describes my own theater, complete with low ceiling worry. As for 16:9 or 21:9, if you’re not already in one camp or the other, I’d go with the largest screen your wall shape allows. In my case, I’m hardcore scope, plus I have low ceilings, so that was the natural choice. I have a build thread on AVS Forum, that might be helpful to read and avoid all my mistakes. Hopefully it’s okay to share a link:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/cinema-77.3193466/

Oh super - thanks so much for sharing. I will check it out for sure!

 

[Golfx]

When I read your first post, I was tempted to suggest a projector and AT 130” screen. I’m glad you got there after all! This essentially describes my own theater, complete with low ceiling worry. As for 16:9 or 21:9, if you’re not already in one camp or the other, I’d go with the largest screen your wall shape allows. In my case, I’m hardcore scope, plus I have low ceilings, so that was the natural choice. I have a build thread on AVS Forum, that might be helpful to read and avoid all my mistakes. Hopefully it’s okay to share a link:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/cinema-77.3193466/

Loved your build thread and the results are outstanding. Who wouldn’t want to spend all their time in that theater.

 

[Edgar]

Oh super - thanks so much for sharing. I will check it out for sure!

Sure thing! Let me know if you have any questions.

Loved your build thread and the results are outstanding. Who wouldn’t want to spend all their time in that theater.

Thank you, I appreciate it! I do end up spending at least an hour in there every day, even with nothing playing. It's like therapy!

 

[rafaelsmith]

When I read your first post, I was tempted to suggest a projector and AT 130” screen. I’m glad you got there after all! This essentially describes my own theater, complete with low ceiling worry. As for 16:9 or 21:9, if you’re not already in one camp or the other, I’d go with the largest screen your wall shape allows. In my case, I’m hardcore scope, plus I have low ceilings, so that was the natural choice. I have a build thread on AVS Forum, that might be helpful to read and avoid all my mistakes. Hopefully it’s okay to share a link:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/cinema-77.3193466/

That is one sexy theater build. Makes mine look childish by comparison.

 

[StanfieldNC]

That is one sexy theater build. Makes mine look childish by comparison.

Different strokes for different folks. It's definitely nice, but we all have different use cases. I'm sure yours does its job. Mine has been 13 years and always in-progress. Maybe someone ought to start a Kscape viewing room thread so we can all share and discuss our viewing ares.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Different strokes for different folks. It's definitely nice, but we all have different use cases. I'm sure yours does its job. Mine has been 13 years and always in-progress. Maybe someone ought to start a Kscape viewing room thread so we can all share and discuss our viewing ares.

I think mine looks and sounds amazing.... I just need to work on the other aesthetics some. I probably went a tad overboard with the whole "theater must be black" thing. But then I watch a movie and the screen just floats in space and I smile.

 

[romoco]

I am about 50% sports/tv and 50% movies. I wanted movie night to be more special. There’s nothing like seeing the whole width of your scope screen fill the field of view. With low ceilings, your wall definitely lends itself to scope. I have 142” 2.35.

 

[Edgar]

That is one sexy theater build. Makes mine look childish by comparison.

Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say. I had some lucky breaks along the way, and a lot of help from experienced people on both forums. I’m sure yours is awesome too, the owner’s passion for the movies is the most important part of the theater!

 

[Edgar]

Different strokes for different folks. It's definitely nice, but we all have different use cases. I'm sure yours does its job. Mine has been 13 years and always in-progress. Maybe someone ought to start a Kscape viewing room thread so we can all share and discuss our viewing ares.

That sounds like a great idea! I’d love to see all of your rooms.

 

[josh]

Maybe someone ought to start a Kscape viewing room thread so we can all share and discuss our viewing ares.

Good idea! Traveling now but will try to find some time when I return to start a theaters showcase area of the forum. Will be interesting for sure.