build a home theater

This weekend I am going to finalize where the cables are going. My wife and I are disagreeing on the position of the electronics console/cabinet. Once we figure this out, I know where to run the cables to.

I will have to purchase and pull the speaker cables, along with moving an electric outlet to that area. Right now the outlet is near the floor and it will need to be up a few feet.

I tested the receiver that I got off of eBay and it works. The guy totally shipped it wrong, and it showed up late and the box was all mangled. Fortunately the styrofoam took the beating and the unit survived without a scratch.

It was moved to the basement to await installation. I am thinking I need to work on the shelves and wiring next.

The reciever showed up yesterday. The guy who shipped it to me, used the original box, and no additional packaging. It traveled from California to Ohio using ground shipping, and it looks like it was used to hold the door open at all the stops. I was not impressed at the condition of the box at all! Thankfully the Styrofoam took the blows, and it looks in great condition.

I plugged it in and it works so far, but there is nothing hooked up. Tonight I am going to test it further to make sure there is no internal damage. Too bad I am going to wreck this guy’s eBay feedback regardless. It is inexcusable to ship a $500 item like this. Cross your fingers for the testing!

Last night I did the thousands of measurements and calculations and finally mounted the projector to the ceiling. It looks beautiful! I played a few minutes of Flower on PS3 to show off to my wife how wonderful it looks. Temporarily there are tape marks lining the screen boarder and also some shelves that we purchased yesterday.

Everything is slowly filtering in. The receiver should arrive today and I am very giggity. I have to mount the projector to the ceiling and then leave feedback on eBay for that this evening.

• Blackout curtains
• Wiring
• Move/add electrical box for projector
• Component cabinet
• Shelving for front wall
• Speakers
• Screen paint
• Universal Harmony remote

Items Completed:
-The in-wall audio system has been installed
-Painting is complete
-The 120” screen has been mounted
-The projector has been mounted

Items Remaining:
-New furniture
-Snack station
-Movie Posters

We built one into our basement after a remodel. The contractors left us a blank room and I did the rest. All the wiring, equipment choice, etc.

We use it all the time and hardly ever go to the movies anymore.

It’s easy to spend your whole paycheck on high-end shit, but for most people, a budget system is enough. Most of all, don’t spend out the ass for Monster interconnect cables…. Splurging on fatter guage speaker wire might make a difference though.

My setup consists of:

Sources:
Panasonic S77 DVD Player
iPod

Video:
Panasonic AE-700 LCD High-Def Projector

Audio:
L/R: Axiom Audio m22
Center: Axiom Audio M3
Surrounds: Axiom Audio QS8

Receiver:
Onkyo TX-SR602 6.1

...and I couldn’t be happier…well, maybe a little.

I’ll save this for when I have a house to build a home theater in.

Totally worth it. Movies are so much more fun with HD and propers components. Don’t skimp on anything. It will all be worth it.