Dream home cinema set up.

[Garibaldi_red]

Having now been working from home for almost 2 weeks, the boredom is really kicking in, so I thought I'd start a thread asking for recommendations for a 'dream' home cinema set up.

We are currently thinking of moving house and i am hoping to find a property with a room above a double garage (or similar) that could be used as a home cinema room, albeit that I would probably choose to have more a relaxed, sofa style setting in a 'U' shape, rather than fixed rows of seats etc.

In this case, I'm interpreting 'dream' cinema to mean an impressive residential set-up , say £25k-£40k, rather than the ultimate professional set-up costing £250k, but feel free to set your own budget!

For me, it would be something along the following lines:
- large plasma for regular viewing (75")
- Drop down, projector screen (120")
- 4K projector
- 7.4.1 Atmos set-up (in-wall speakers)
- Pre-amplifier
- A/V Amplifier
- Blue-ray player
- Sky Q
- PS4 (upgrade to PS5 in 2020/21)
- Universal remote control

What have I missed and what brand / model of equipment would you recommend?

Looking forward to some interesting suggestions!

Thanks

[Garibaldi_red]

As a starting point:

Samsung QLED 82" Q800T = £7k
JVC DLA-N7 4k = £8.5k
Miller & Kreisel in-wall speakers = £20k?
Oppo upd203 Blu-ray player = £800
Denon AVR 8500h = £2,500
Sky Q 2T = £200
Logitech Harmony Elite remote = £200
Misc cables etc

= c. £40k

Over to you!

[h0b0]

I’m close!

my current Set up
- Drop down, projector screen (120")
- 4K projector - Sony
- 5.1 Atmos set-up (in-wall speakers)
- A/V Amplifier a will support atmos. - integra and pinoneer.
- Amazon fire Tv (4K)
- PS4 (upgrade to PS5 in 2020/21)
- Universal remote control
This is in the basement where the kids play hence the need for an electric screen

Photo below is 1080 on HBO

Edited by h0b0 on Sunday 29th March 19:11

[Garibaldi_red]

h0b0 said:

I’m close!

my current Set up
- Drop down, projector screen (120")
- 4K projector - Sony
- 5.1 Atmos set-up (in-wall speakers)
- A/V Amplifier a will support atmos. - integra and pinoneer.
- Amazon fire Tv (4K)
- PS4 (upgrade to PS5 in 2020/21)
- Universal remote control
This is in the basement where the kids play hence the need for an electric screen

Nice picture. I thought you needed ceiling speakers for Atmos or is this virtual Atmos?

[h0b0]

You do need the extra speakers which I have not installed hence the 5.1 set up. This is in my basement and it’s a place for me to hide after the kids have gone to bed. I’m afraid that if I put the atmos speakers in the noise will bleed into the other floors.

Nothing is idea about the set up though. As you can probably tell from the picture, I have white walls. I also have no curtains. Not ideal. But, the sound can be amazing. I find myself watching films either for the sound track or the image quality and not the story.

I use the system every night and even watch you tube videos on it. It has taken me a few years to build up the components but it is proving invaluable under lock down.

[Garibaldi_red]

h0b0 said:

You do need the extra speakers which I have not installed hence the 5.1 set up. This is in my basement and it’s a place for me to hide after the kids have gone to bed. I’m afraid that if I put the atmos speakers in the noise will bleed into the other floors.

Nothing is idea about the set up though. As you can probably tell from the picture, I have white walls. I also have no curtains. Not ideal. But, the sound can be amazing. I find myself watching films either for the sound track or the image quality and not the story.

I use the system every night and even watch you tube videos on it. It has taken me a few years to build up the components but it is proving invaluable under lock down.

I think that systems without compromises are few and far between - in the real word, there are al sorts of practical constraints that need to be incorporated, not least £££!

[drgav2005]

I'm currently building our new home (well, I will be once the lockdown is over!). We've integrated the following into the living room... I cannot wait to test it out!

LG C9 65" OLED for normal daily viewing
Sapphire 106" electrically operated projector screen
Optoma UHD 52ALV projector
Screenint SI30 electric projector lift (so projector hidden in ceiling void)
Denon 8500 AV receiver
Iota AVPX1 amp
Pioneer DP-UB820EB 4K blu-ray
3x Kef Ci5160-THX for L/C/R
6x Kef Ci200RS-THX for atmos / surround in 5.2.4 setup, using Hoody 2 speaker hoods for noise control / fire regs for ceiling speakers.
2x Kef XQ60b subwoofers
Sky Q
Amazon Firecube

[PhilboSE]

I've done this twice now, best things we ever did to a house. My spec was pretty close to yours, albeit using 2016 versions (e.g. JVC iDLA-9500).

For the projector screen, go as big as you can and definitely consider an ultra wide screen acoustically transparent screen with speakers mounted behind. Atmos is a must-do at this level for the relatively small increment in cost.

Don't get hung up on a single AV receiver that can drive all 11 channels using integrated amps. Multichannel power amps are relatively cheap and means you can focus on the best processor. Also the processors fail/get obsoleted rather more frequently than power amps! If you can, get a processor which has the best room treatment - Dirac > ARC > Audyssey.

You don't need to go massively overboard on the budget for the speakers IMO. You pay disproportionately more for thin in-wall speakers than more traditional but bulkier units with fewer drivers. As an example the XTZsound cinema speakers in my first room significantly outperformed at less than half the price the in-walls I had to use in my second room because of various constraints. Don't scrimp on the sub(s) though; they do a lot of heavy lifting especially if the drivers are small in the main speakers as well as LFE.

You will also want to budget for room treatment (blackout blinds) and possibly acoustic treatment (sound reflection dampening) and an integrated controller system e.g. Control 4, which makes it much more user friendly - just press one button to drop the blinds, turn on all the gear and switch to the correct source and display system without battling multiple remotes.

Finally, consider a media player system. I use Kodi attached to 3 HP microservers toting 39Tb of disk space. Our media library is ripped in native resolution to MKV files and stream directly. This way you can dial up a film using a really nice user interface, you have easy access to all the film metadata and you can jump right in to the main feature without having to wait for load times and all the enforced titles and anti-piracy crap.

Also allow some budget for cabling, interconnects and installation. I installed my second system myself but if you haven't done it before then it might be a good idea to get some help. They will have the necessary gear to position speakers correctly, calibrate output devices and have a calibrated microphone for the room equalisation.

The phone camera rather foreshortens the view but the screen is over 4m wide diagonal. It does rather irritate me when I see dedicated cinema rooms with undersized screens!

[PhilboSE]

In terms of kit recommendations (a lot of this will depend on constraints of the installation itself)

- Electric screen depends on size requirements vs preferences; if you want OLED for the best picture then I think a Sony 65" is the largest affordable option at the moment but if you want size then it's a QLED. Say £4000-£7000.
- Projector screen: Screen Excellence acoustically transparent screen 2.3:1 ratio £3500
- Projector: JVC still produce the most natural looking images for me. Try a few and stop spending money when your eyes can't tell the difference any more. A DLA-N7 is a good shout. £8000
- AV processor: Arcam AVR 550 £1700
- Power amp for Atmos channels: £1000 (could double up on this with a second power amp for surround channels just leaving the Arcam for LCR).
- Kodi player £200
- Media Server: £2000 should buy/build a system with a decent amount of storage depending on the size of your library
- Amazon firestick £40
- PS4 Pro £300
- Speakers: XTZsound M8, M8C, S2 x 4, SUB1X12 x 2 or SUB3X12 £6000 (this may seem cheap but trust me they are worth a listen as dedicated cinema speakers) if you have the space. For in-walls, look at Definitive Technology UIWRLS II, Kef Ci range, Artcoustic Spitfire or B&W CWM range depending on available space & depth.
- Cables, mounts, brackets, interconnects £1500
- Automation: Control 4 £1500
- Room treatment (light & acoustic - £??? depend on room)
- Installation £1000

Coming in around £33,000 but in-wall speakers would take it much closer to your £40k suggestion.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

PhilboSE said:

....Coming in around £33,000 but in-wall speakers would take it much closer to your £40k suggestion.

I guess if you're on a budget, you could skip the FireStick

[VEX]

Ok. My setup is from the end of 2016 and end of our knock-about - Extension build, in a non-dedicated room its our living-room and the screen drops infront of the patio doors, so I have an angled, in-ceiling Center Channel which works brilliantly.

Daily, drop in/out TV, LG 47" 1080P and no other Audio boost.

Event / Movie / Evening watching.
Sony Native 4K Projector VW320ES- Circa £6K - IMO Sony produce of the most natural coloured images I have seen/used.
Standard On-Ceiling 120" Tab-Tensioned screen, but hidden in ceiling and dropping out through a 'aircon looking' slot in the ceiling. - CIrca £1.5/2K
Yamaha Atmos 4K twin output AVR - C£1.5K
GoldenEar Atmos Speaker Pack C £6K - 2 x Trition 2 (Active with Subs in the base, 1 x Invisa HTR7000 In-Ceiling as Center Channel, 2 x HTR7000 In-Ceilings as Atmos and 2 x SuperSat3 as rears. Giving a stunning 5.2.2 package. I would rather spend money on Atmos than a pair of sides, whole heap of difference.
Samsung 4K BluRay
Sky Q
Apple TV, 4K
Fire Hoods
Rako Lighting Control
Harmony Ultimate Remote
Double, OverLap boarded the whole room and Isolated with GreenGlue - Amazing sound isolation from / to other rooms.

Off the top of my head that comes in at around £20k + Install Time

If you are local you are welcome to come and view/listen to it.

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 11:54

[VEX]

From an installers / recommendation prospective, dont get a big TV!

I know that sounds odd, but trust me, if you do you will use the projector and screen less because there is less of a difference and it will be less of an 'event' to use it.

Also, as has been said, spend money on the subs, they do do alot of the ground work to enjoying a film sound track, and go for a pair! There is an odd sound effect where by using two, set up and spaced propoerly, you get a deeper responce than a single one on its own can achive, even if they are identical. The subs in the base of my Triton2's cause my trouser legs to flap!! I have a client who has 4 x 18" Subs - your body feels those before you hear it!

As has also been said, consider light control and feature lighting. If it is a dedicated room you can do some amazing things with the look of the room with LED Tape and colour glows. Projectors really need darkness to shine (if you excuse the pun). So also having the lighting and blinds etc controlled by the same remote as the rest of it is an advantage.

Finally, some do a lot of research, some do not, typically if you know a good installer and like what he has as a demos for you to see/listen to, trust them, they will be able to replicate that for you. If you want to do it yourself, listen to lots, build your kit list, then listen to the advice of what combo's work and play nicely together.

Hope that all helps.

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 12:11

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 12:14

[VEX]

Finally from me, what would I do now, with that budget - to many variables at the moment, with size, self or installer build, light control etc.

But here are my go-to brand options as an OP and then a £100k Ulitmate Spec for fun. (OP / Ultimate) based on my useage and likes, All IMHO.

Projector: Sony 4k / Sony 4K Laser with Anamorphic Lens
Screen: ScreenExcellence, Draper / ScreenExcellence 2.3:1 Curved, Auto Masking 4K Fabric & Accousticly Transparent
Audio: Emotiva, Arcam, Marrantz, Yamaha / Trimov, JBL Professional - Both Processor & Amp combos
Speaker Pack: GoldenEar Triton or Invisa, Sonance, Monitor Audio (dependant on budget) / JBL Professional
Sources: Sky Q, Oppo 4K BluRay (if you can still find them) or Sony, Panasonic, AppleTV (4K) Sony PS4,5 or a-n-other games machine.

Lighting Control - Rako / Rako
Smart Remote - Harmony / RTI, Control4, Crestron

Again - Hope that helps, happy to provide more if you want it.

V.

[PhilboSE]

VEX said:

From an installers / recommendation prospective, dont get a big TV!

I know that sounds odd, but trust me, if you do you will use the projector and screen less because there is less of a difference and it will be 'event' to use it.

I get what you're saying, but it does depend on the room usage and your definition of "big".

My first room doubled up as a kids room by day and cinema room by night. I didn't want the kids firing up the projector and putting the bulb through lots of on/off cycles and over-using it, so they were free to use the TV to watch as much as they liked. I also wanted the TV for the fast response rate for PS4 gaming and given the seating was set up for the projector screen, the TV had to be a certain size to be usable.

Whenever it was evening movie time, everyone migrated to the projector, it was just so much more of an event. Our TV was just a 55" though, I can see that a 75"+ screen starts to blur the lines a bit especially if the projector screen is smallish.

I would echo your other sentiments, especially about getting help from an installer for a first room as there is a huge learning curve to go through. My installer only charged a nominal amount for his time because of the margin he was getting on the supply of most of the kit. I couldn't buy it much cheaper independently anyway, so it wasn't any skin off my nose either way.

Whereabouts are you based OP?

[kingston12]

VEX said:

From an installers / recommendation prospective, dont get a big TV!

I know that sounds odd, but trust me, if you do you will use the projector and screen less because there is less of a difference and it will be less of an 'event' to use it.

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 12:11

I think that depends on the definition of a big TV.

I’m running a 65” TV behind a 100” electric projector screen and I hardly ever use the TV because it looks so small in comparison.

My use case is probably different from most as I never watch standard TV programmes, always movies, sport and the occasional ‘big’ TV series which is more of an event anyway.

I do get a bit of use out of the TV for gaming. As long as I sit close enough to the screen, the extra picture quality from the TV outweighs the extra immersion from the projector for high quality games. It doesn’t for films & sport even though the TV picture quality is obviously better.

If I had moved up to a 77” TV it may have got a bit more use I suppose.

[toasty]

VEX said:

The subs in the base of my Triton2's cause my trouser legs to flap!!

Trouser-flapping bass is where it's at. I wish I lived in a detached house again.

[chilistrucker]

VEX said:

From an installers / recommendation prospective, dont get a big TV!

I know that sounds odd, but trust me, if you do you will use the projector and screen less because there is less of a difference and it will be less of an 'event' to use it.

Also, as has been said, spend money on the subs, they do do alot of the ground work to enjoying a film sound track, and go for a pair! There is an odd sound effect where by using two, set up and spaced propoerly, you get a deeper responce than a single one on its own can achive, even if they are identical. The subs in the base of my Triton2's cause my trouser legs to flap!! I have a client who has 4 x 18" Subs - your body feels those before you hear it!

As has also been said, consider light control and feature lighting. If it is a dedicated room you can do some amazing things with the look of the room with LED Tape and colour glows. Projectors really need darkness to shine (if you excuse the pun). So also having the lighting and blinds etc controlled by the same remote as the rest of it is an advantage.

Finally, some do a lot of research, some do not, typically if you know a good installer and like what he has as a demos for you to see/listen to, trust them, they will be able to replicate that for you. If you want to do it yourself, listen to lots, build your kit list, then listen to the advice of what combo's work and play nicely together.

Hope that all helps.

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 12:11

Edited by VEX on Tuesday 31st March 12:14

Great topic from the OP, and some great info on here

If 40k were ever to become an option I would definitely have to go to the Pro's for solid advice as I just don't have the knowledge sadly, but I would spend a lot of time visiting the specialists too see what they would come up with.

When we did our lounge, (so not a dedicated room) I did as much research as I could as I was on a budget and wanted to try and get the most out of it. In the end I got a 55 LG Oled B8S, with a Yamaha YAS 207 sound bar and a PS4.

Bear in mind its a small front room, we are a mid terrace and have a decent amount of outside light coming in through the back door and windows.

Overall I am pretty happy, the TV is spot on, and I can block most light out via blinds and curtains, it works well with both the PS4 and the Yamaha set up giving quality sound and enough bass for our needs, (for now.)

TBH I think maybe an amp and surround setup would have been better, but at the time I was just wondering if I could ever get the full potential from that sort of system.

The YAS is fine, but I do feel I'm lacking from having that surround feel, regardless of volume level.
I may upgrade at some point too the amp and surround system, and it doesn't all have to be brand new, (from research)
Would probably look at a 2k budget but that would need to include install as I would want it all very neat and tidy.

Sorry for a bit of thread hijack, but always like hearing peoples opinions on best setups, bang for buck, etc.

[Baldchap]

90" 4k and 18 speaker Atmos. 3 Anthem amps and a Marantz thing.

It came with the house. No idea what it does.

[justin220]

Not quite the same budget but I setup a home cinema in a spare room in our house. My wife was initially against the idea but loves it now.

Agree on the TV comment. The projector adds so much to the sense of occasion. I'd also say sound is actually more important than the picture quality.

I'm running.a BenQ, Denon AVR, SkyQ and PS4 type arrangement through Dali Oberons and a 150" and its absolutely brilliant for watching films

[h0b0]

While I appreciate this wasn’t the “cinema rooms you have built” thread I thought I would share a picture of need for speed.