Home cinema recommendations, £5k budget
Discussion
I am about to put in a planning application to convert a barn to a 4 car garage with a cinema/games room above. I think I'll be able to stretch to £5k for home cinema equipment if I don't tell my wife. I could do what we have elsewhere and keep it simple (big TV with Sonos playbar, sub and play ones for rears) but I'd rather get some better quality if possible.
What do people recommend for this budget? I'll probably go for a 4k projector and decent fixed screen if I can afford it.
Thanks for your help, hopefully the budget is enough so I can afford to put something in the garage!
What do people recommend for this budget? I'll probably go for a 4k projector and decent fixed screen if I can afford it.
Thanks for your help, hopefully the budget is enough so I can afford to put something in the garage!
Certainly possible and with that sort of budget you would get a reasonable performance.
Basic rule of thumb is 1/3 Projection, 1/3 on Audio and 1/3 on Screen, Light control & Control. Obviously they can be a fluid, but the one thing I would watch if it is a room above, it is likely to have velux, so built in blinds would be good (manual or electric.)
At these sorts of budget I would look at mid range optoma, JVC and possibly bottom end Sony & Epsom for 4K stuff. The lastest electronic 4k (psuedo 4k) has become very good.
For audio, Monitor Audio is always a winner in this price range, SVS Subs and Speakers also get good reviews.
Then the rest is left for screen, blinds and control.
And finally who is installing it, you - then you can spend the full budget on kit, someone else, then you need to budget a day at least for setting it all up.
There are several of us here who can all help with spec and supply when you are ready.
V.
Basic rule of thumb is 1/3 Projection, 1/3 on Audio and 1/3 on Screen, Light control & Control. Obviously they can be a fluid, but the one thing I would watch if it is a room above, it is likely to have velux, so built in blinds would be good (manual or electric.)
At these sorts of budget I would look at mid range optoma, JVC and possibly bottom end Sony & Epsom for 4K stuff. The lastest electronic 4k (psuedo 4k) has become very good.
For audio, Monitor Audio is always a winner in this price range, SVS Subs and Speakers also get good reviews.
Then the rest is left for screen, blinds and control.
And finally who is installing it, you - then you can spend the full budget on kit, someone else, then you need to budget a day at least for setting it all up.
There are several of us here who can all help with spec and supply when you are ready.
V.
Cheers Vex.
So something like a Optoma UHD51, with Monitor Audio Monitor 20 and Denon AVR-X3600H, with the balance for screen, control, cables, etc? Does that sound about right?
Yes, the room will have a couple of velux windows, with fitted blackout blinds. I'm not sure I would get away with forgetting to include windows as it'll have some other uses too!
Thanks for your help, I'll be in touch when I'm ready to buy.
So something like a Optoma UHD51, with Monitor Audio Monitor 20 and Denon AVR-X3600H, with the balance for screen, control, cables, etc? Does that sound about right?
Yes, the room will have a couple of velux windows, with fitted blackout blinds. I'm not sure I would get away with forgetting to include windows as it'll have some other uses too!
Thanks for your help, I'll be in touch when I'm ready to buy.
clarkey said:
Cheers Vex.
So something like a Optoma UHD51, with Monitor Audio Monitor 20 and Denon AVR-X3600H, with the balance for screen, control, cables, etc? Does that sound about right?
Yes, the room will have a couple of velux windows, with fitted blackout blinds. I'm not sure I would get away with forgetting to include windows as it'll have some other uses too!
Thanks for your help, I'll be in touch when I'm ready to buy.
Let me check though in the morning, but on initial scan, Yes, So something like a Optoma UHD51, with Monitor Audio Monitor 20 and Denon AVR-X3600H, with the balance for screen, control, cables, etc? Does that sound about right?
Yes, the room will have a couple of velux windows, with fitted blackout blinds. I'm not sure I would get away with forgetting to include windows as it'll have some other uses too!
Thanks for your help, I'll be in touch when I'm ready to buy.
we can usually squeeze a deal out for PH friends and up the spec a little.
jason61c said:
Thats a very healthy budget.
I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
There's no harm in enjoying the selection process and spending a bit more though, especially if it puts a bit of business the way of a fellow PH member!I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
Having done this I wouldn't spend 1/3 on a screen - I got screen material from Jag at Epic Home Cinema, around £100 for a 105" screen (I made frame myself) - very easy to do and the quality is amazing, better than any other pre-built screen I've seen.
I'm moving house and leaving the cinema in situ, so will be bookmarking this thread for ideas for the new house
I'm moving house and leaving the cinema in situ, so will be bookmarking this thread for ideas for the new house
For your budget, I would stick with Epson. Sony 4K is going to be out of budget and Optoma are just horrible little things. Yes the Epsons are not true 4K but they very bright units which perform well when you have ambient light, so 'media rooms' rather than dedicated cinema rooms.
Denon or Marantz for your AVR and then has already been said, Monitor Audio or Kef for your speakers. With budget in mind, perhaps go with 5.2 rather than pushing a greater number of channels and reducing quality.
Denon or Marantz for your AVR and then has already been said, Monitor Audio or Kef for your speakers. With budget in mind, perhaps go with 5.2 rather than pushing a greater number of channels and reducing quality.
ozzuk said:
Having done this I wouldn't spend 1/3 on a screen - I got screen material from Jag at Epic Home Cinema, around £100 for a 105" screen (I made frame myself) - very easy to do and the quality is amazing, better than any other pre-built screen I've seen.
I'm moving house and leaving the cinema in situ, so will be bookmarking this thread for ideas for the new house
Where’s the front centre speaker?I'm moving house and leaving the cinema in situ, so will be bookmarking this thread for ideas for the new house
jason61c said:
Thats a very healthy budget.
I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
Definitely ignore this. The more you spend on Home Cinema kit, the bigger the smile will be I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
More £ spent = better experience.Agree not to go crazy on cables though. My 10m HD Projector cable was £10 - been perfect.
Very slight change of plans - a large Lesser Horseshoe bat maternity roost means going into the roof space is highly unlikely, so I'm going to put the cinema room in with my office. The upside is I can get on with it right away!
To do this, I'll need a projector mount for a sloping ceiling, and a retractable 100" screen. Any recommendations?
To do this, I'll need a projector mount for a sloping ceiling, and a retractable 100" screen. Any recommendations?
rossub said:
jason61c said:
Thats a very healthy budget.
I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
Definitely ignore this. The more you spend on Home Cinema kit, the bigger the smile will be I don't think you need to spend that much, on a room for that sort of use, a projector and audio to suit should come in at about £3k. Don't waste money on expensive cable, its only cheap cable when its recorded!
A bit of picture setup will see it sorted.
More £ spent = better experience.Agree not to go crazy on cables though. My 10m HD Projector cable was £10 - been perfect.
For a 10m run if you are looking at 4k hdr in the future I would strongly recommend one of the fibre hdmi cables. I’ve got Ruipro but there are others. They cost in the region of £100 and up.
Imasurv said:
Get over to AV forums, plenty of good advice and guidance, and the classifieds have some really good kit making your money go a lot further.
I got my speakers, pj, tv, Oppo 203 and several other things off there in the end.
Yes AV forums is good. I did all this myself about 10 years ago. What I realise now is that all the high-end audio stuff is still bang up to date, but the video stuff is only fit for the bin. The fancy AV-receiver doesn't even want to know about 4k and the equally fancy BD player broke a few years ago. I got my speakers, pj, tv, Oppo 203 and several other things off there in the end.
Also used custom faceplates. Didn't add much to the overall cost but just looks lots more professional.
clarkey said:
Very slight change of plans - a large Lesser Horseshoe bat maternity roost means going into the roof space is highly unlikely, so I'm going to put the cinema room in with my office. The upside is I can get on with it right away!
To do this, I'll need a projector mount for a sloping ceiling, and a retractable 100" screen. Any recommendations?
Ok, first thing is room size and layout. To do this, I'll need a projector mount for a sloping ceiling, and a retractable 100" screen. Any recommendations?
And obviously budget!
Secondly, before we even start looking at kit is how steep the ceiling slope is as the adjustability of projector image starts to become an issue.
V.
Morning
Room is about 4.5m by 6.5m. The screen will go in the middle of the 6.5m wall. I think I will be able to avoid a projector mount now - I will be able to put it a bit lower on a shelf. The screen will be fixed to a bookcase, so needs to be retractable. The walls are vertical to about 2m high, then slope at around 40 degrees to a high vaulted ceiling.
I'll probably get blinds sorted out first then getting shopping for the exciting stuff!
Room is about 4.5m by 6.5m. The screen will go in the middle of the 6.5m wall. I think I will be able to avoid a projector mount now - I will be able to put it a bit lower on a shelf. The screen will be fixed to a bookcase, so needs to be retractable. The walls are vertical to about 2m high, then slope at around 40 degrees to a high vaulted ceiling.
I'll probably get blinds sorted out first then getting shopping for the exciting stuff!
garyhun said:
Where’s the front centre speaker?
Behind the screen There a relatively large gap there, white stone wall, so I installed a dark heavy curtain to stop reflection. Could have painted wall but this was easier. Screen is held in place with velco in case I need to get behind it. Side speakers are covered usually. Rear speakers are Q Sounds, I also left wiring in the ceiling for extra speakers.
Ime
Speakers hold their money pretty well. I always buy second hand. Ive got some B&W 804sigs and htm3s centre. They are worth today what I paid for them (circa 2ks worth)
My projector was also second hand, a sony hw65es. Its only 1080p, but very nice. This about 1k second hand, 3k new, and still a cirrent model so a great saving there.
My amp is an older yamaha dsp z7, £200 worth now as its 'only' 5.1 and not 4k.
So for me do I upgrade to 4k, new proj, new amp etc...? Not for now. I think high quality 1080p is a good vfm point today, there is still a hefty 4k price premium today. In a year or two all the 4k stuff will have lost 50% of its value when the next "must have" nextgen hooha feature comes in...... , ill pick up 2020 top end kit then, and have the same 4k rig much cheaper.
My setup with parts from new would be circa £10k, but ive paid 1/3 that, and my stuff isnt depreciating quickly so can step up to the next level for a modest price.
Its all good fun
So I recommend going all del boy and trawling the avforums classifieds and ebay. Its fun nabbing bargains!
Speakers hold their money pretty well. I always buy second hand. Ive got some B&W 804sigs and htm3s centre. They are worth today what I paid for them (circa 2ks worth)
My projector was also second hand, a sony hw65es. Its only 1080p, but very nice. This about 1k second hand, 3k new, and still a cirrent model so a great saving there.
My amp is an older yamaha dsp z7, £200 worth now as its 'only' 5.1 and not 4k.
So for me do I upgrade to 4k, new proj, new amp etc...? Not for now. I think high quality 1080p is a good vfm point today, there is still a hefty 4k price premium today. In a year or two all the 4k stuff will have lost 50% of its value when the next "must have" nextgen hooha feature comes in...... , ill pick up 2020 top end kit then, and have the same 4k rig much cheaper.
My setup with parts from new would be circa £10k, but ive paid 1/3 that, and my stuff isnt depreciating quickly so can step up to the next level for a modest price.
Its all good fun
So I recommend going all del boy and trawling the avforums classifieds and ebay. Its fun nabbing bargains!
Edited by stuthe
on Sunday 31st May 09:47
on Sunday 31st May 09:47ozzuk said:
garyhun said:
Where’s the front centre speaker?
Behind the screen There a relatively large gap there, white stone wall, so I installed a dark heavy curtain to stop reflection. Could have painted wall but this was easier. Screen is held in place with velco in case I need to get behind it. Side speakers are covered usually. Rear speakers are Q Sounds, I also left wiring in the ceiling for extra speakers.
I’d say same on screen, we ordered an electric screen circa £200 and it’s done the job admirably (8ft wide)
VEX’s advice is sound, we spent about the same with him all in and the results are incredible, as good a quality as our LG 4K and the sound (all monitor audio radius) is awesome!
The amp (pioneer avr) is very good, the speaker build quality and bracketry is top notch, as was the bracket to drop the projector from the ceiling (vaulted) which managed a 600mm difference to screen top with no distortion (jvc eshift)
Great comms with vex also, anytime, didn’t seem to matter, he has a real passion for what he does
VEX’s advice is sound, we spent about the same with him all in and the results are incredible, as good a quality as our LG 4K and the sound (all monitor audio radius) is awesome!
The amp (pioneer avr) is very good, the speaker build quality and bracketry is top notch, as was the bracket to drop the projector from the ceiling (vaulted) which managed a 600mm difference to screen top with no distortion (jvc eshift)
Great comms with vex also, anytime, didn’t seem to matter, he has a real passion for what he does
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff