Whats the difference ?

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  • kgveteran
    Senior Member
    • Oct 2005
    • 865

    #1

    Whats the difference ?

    While talking to a friend about HT, he said that even though my HT was a great room it's not like the ones in the magazines.

    So I thought about it a minute and tryed to see if he had a point (other than the one on the top of his head :B ).

    My room is not pretty.I painted everything gray(even my speakers).You can see everyone of my DIY accoustic treatments.I guess if I did a little time based sweeps I could see if there was room for improvement.I'm not sure what a good decay time should be,or if the sweep would be the whole spectrum(10hz-14khz{my hearing}).

    I have DDEX & dtsES as well as DPLIIx.It's a 6.1 system.I have HDTV (which I watch very rarely).My DVD player will do SACD/DVD-A (which is almost dead).I watch DVD's in 480p.

    My sofa only holds two adults and one kid (my family) ,It does recline and I find it quite comfortable for the cost.I have no cup holders and really, drinks in the videoroom make me a little nervous ( I'll take a beating for that one I'm sure).

    There's no NASA based vaccum seal on the door, it's an MDF solid six panel.Sure, you can hear the washing machine if there is a quiet spot in a movie. I'm sure the noise floor isn't the best in the world.

    The screen is about 7' diagonal.
    I guess the most important part of the room is the sound. It's pretty much flat from 10hz to 18khz.If I watch a movie at 85-90db there is enough headroom for another 6.1 system in there.My hand touched every single thing in that room and it's all where it is because I took the time to put it there.I read a library full of text and still read to this day on how to improve it.

    So...the next time anyone if faced with that question...rest assured your system is better than any magazine system because you took the time and you built it with the help of other great friends online and/or other, and you can say you did it.

    Ok, time for a movie !
    Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !
  • peterS
    Super Senior Member
    • Dec 2005
    • 1038

    #2
    tell him his wife isnt like the ones in the magazines

    Comment

    • Chris D
      Ultra Senior Member
      • Dec 2000
      • 16875

      #3
      :rofl: Good one, peter. Or hand him a copy of "GQ" and tell him that HE isn't like those in the magazines.

      Here's the thing--it's YOUR room, right? Does it make you happy? Good. I always give props to the people who DO, not those who critique, including all of us here on forums. I spent 2 years buliding my theater, and I built it exactly the way I did for me, not to show others. Of course, it's nice when I show people my theater and they give gushing praise. But even if they didn't--it's mine, not theirs!

      I'd say maybe 75% of people in this world say, "that's a crappy painting", or "I don't like her singing", or "that band sucks", or "your theater isn't as nice as others I've seen in magazines". What really gets me is when people scoff and say, "big deal... I can do that", but THEY DON'T. If you can do better, why don't you? :roll:
      CHRIS

      Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
      - Pleasantville

      Comment

      • kgveteran
        Senior Member
        • Oct 2005
        • 865

        #4
        Originally posted by peterS
        tell him his wife isnt like the ones in the magazines
        Thats pretty funny :B
        Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !

        Comment

        • John Holmes
          Super Senior Member
          • Aug 2000
          • 2707

          #5
          I have always been of the camp "if you like, I love it". As stated, it doesn't matter what others think. Home Theater is about ones personel enjoyment (and their families) within their own home. For some it's an HTIB, for some it maybe Bose Lifestyle, for others it maybe simple 2ch. It does not matter how you get there as long as you are enjoying the trip.
          "I have come here, to chew bubblegum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubblegum!!!"

          Comment

          • sirbogey
            Senior Member
            • Mar 2006
            • 344

            #6
            Originally posted by peterS
            tell him his wife isnt like the ones in the magazines
            nice one! :T

            My best friend told me once that my HT system is not even mid-fi! It hurt badly, for a day or two, or a week... but then again, him being my best friend.. he's forgiven. The thingd is, he doesn't know anything about music nor HT. He based his comment on magazines and prices... more expensive being the best.. :Z

            Comment

            • SteveCallas
              Senior Member
              • Aug 2005
              • 799

              #7
              While talking to a friend about HT, he said that even though my HT was a great room it's not like the ones in the magazines.
              Does he realize that those hidden in wall speakers and subs are huge compromises? Or is he an average guy who doesn't really care about the actual performance and just wants your room to look prettier?

              Comment

              • kgveteran
                Senior Member
                • Oct 2005
                • 865

                #8
                Originally posted by SteveCallas
                Does he realize that those hidden in wall speakers and subs are huge compromises? Or is he an average guy who doesn't really care about the actual performance and just wants your room to look prettier?
                I would like to see what my room would cost to have it installed.What do they charge an hour ?
                Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !

                Comment

                • cobbpa
                  Senior Member
                  • Apr 2005
                  • 456

                  #9
                  This is something I encounter with my humble setup as well..only since I'm in college and my speakers don't put out inflated bass, therefore it isn't like the typical college setup, people aren't impressed. My parents enjoy it, and though they aren't any kind of experts, I like that. It's only 3 speakers, but I've built them all and I know that the sound I get is good, especially when money is considered. I'll take clarity of music & understandable dialogue, thank you

                  kg, yes it's true your room isn't like the ones in the magazines. You didn't pay extra for marketing, installation, or frills. Your sound is less compromised than the in-wall models often seen in those pictures. Recalling pictures of your subwoofers, I can't think of many (any?) mag setups I would bet on in tests against yours. Maybe $2,000 chairs improve the experience a little bit, but I'd guess that a movie in your setup isn't much less enjoyable than most in HT magazines.

                  Comment

                  • Chris D
                    Ultra Senior Member
                    • Dec 2000
                    • 16875

                    #10
                    ... except mine.
                    CHRIS

                    Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
                    - Pleasantville

                    Comment

                    • kgveteran
                      Senior Member
                      • Oct 2005
                      • 865

                      #11
                      I guess my biggest concerns with integrity are at the preamp outputs.What I mean is from the preamp outputs goes the signal I care most about.From there it goes to amplifiers that need to be sizable enough to power speakers, which are capable enough to translate motion to air pressure.From there the air pressure needs to be controled by acoustic treatments.

                      This to me is fundamental for HT and enjoyable movie experience.
                      Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !

                      Comment

                      • whoaru99
                        Senior Member
                        • Jul 2004
                        • 639

                        #12
                        Is it safe to assume your friend does not have a HT room "like the ones in a magazine" - if he has one at all??
                        There are some things which are impossible to know, but it is impossible to know which things these are. :scratchhead:

                        ----JAFFE'S PRECEPT

                        Comment

                        • George Bellefontaine
                          Moderator Emeritus
                          • Jan 2001
                          • 7636

                          #13
                          Well I love to look at those home theater pictures in magazines, and to a degree they inspired me to put together my setup. Yeah mine has neutral gray walls, curtains frame the screen and that's where any resemblance to those fancy ht's in magazines ends. My equipment rack isn't hidden, my speakers hang on the wall and the wires show. But when the lights are out the only thing that matters is that great picture projected on the screen and the sound that fills the room.

                          Sure, if I had tons of money and a huge house, I would certainly have me one heckuva theater just like the magazines, but I don't have tons of money and my theater takes up more of my basement that I would like, but when all is said and done, I love my home theater just the way it is.
                          My Homepage!

                          Comment

                          • Chris D
                            Ultra Senior Member
                            • Dec 2000
                            • 16875

                            #14
                            Well, here's another thing--all those fancy, gaudy theaters you see in magazines? They're not designed for function, they're designed for eye appeal! On many of them, I can tell from just looking at them that the acoustics are a bear, even if they've done equalization and treatment. I see marble floors, shiny gold objects, metal items that will rattle and resonate at native frequencies, etc.
                            CHRIS

                            Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
                            - Pleasantville

                            Comment

                            • Sithlord
                              Senior Member
                              • Aug 2004
                              • 285

                              #15
                              Now that I have a projector, I need to address the color of the ceiling and walls. After getting suggestions from a professional calibrator, I told some members of my family about what I want to do with my theatre room (lounge room) and they just didn't get it. Grey walls grey ceiling they said that will look awful even after I expalined why that needed to be done they still didn't approve. Well I had one anwser to that "well it's my house I can do whatever I want". I know that it will be a big improvement when I eventually have it done together with the professional calibration so at the end of the day if it makes the experience so much better then I will do it. You have to have at least one passion in life.

                              Comment

                              • George Bellefontaine
                                Moderator Emeritus
                                • Jan 2001
                                • 7636

                                #16
                                Those grey walls will indeed improve the contrast on your screen, Sithlord, so you are making the correct decision.
                                My Homepage!

                                Comment

                                • aud19
                                  Twin Moderator Emeritus
                                  • Aug 2003
                                  • 16706

                                  #17
                                  Here's the paint code for absolutely neutral grey if you want it Sithlord

                                  Here's the Kodak 18% Grey formula for HD Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Latex (1 Gallon). I got this from another forum member who had the Kodak color card (almost) perfectly matched at his Home Depot.

                                  Accent Base (1600)
                                  4 columns on label:
                                  ------------------------------------------
                                  COLORANT OZ 48 96
                                  ------------------------------------------
                                  D Thalo Green 0 36 0
                                  E Thalo Blue 3 14 0
                                  F Red Oxide 1 11 0
                                  I've used it behind my RPTV with a bias light and LOVE it :T
                                  Jason

                                  Comment

                                  • kgveteran
                                    Senior Member
                                    • Oct 2005
                                    • 865

                                    #18
                                    Life is just shades of gray :roll:
                                    Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !

                                    Comment

                                    • Sithlord
                                      Senior Member
                                      • Aug 2004
                                      • 285

                                      #19
                                      Great thank you for that guys. I needed to go down to a photo place a get a grey chart but you have done the hard work for me. I will go to the paint store and see what they say about that choice or if they have something similar. Probably get this done early next year. I just bought 3 theatre chairs that recline that click together and have cup holders so I'm a bit straped for cash at the moment. Baby steps.

                                      Comment

                                      • Chris D
                                        Ultra Senior Member
                                        • Dec 2000
                                        • 16875

                                        #20
                                        sithlord, you can search here in the guide for my theater pictures. I used grey carpeting, grey lower half of the walls, deep blue upper half of walls, and midnight blue ceiling. Looks and works great, as far as I'm concerned.
                                        CHRIS

                                        Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
                                        - Pleasantville

                                        Comment

                                        • Azeke
                                          Super Senior Member
                                          • Mar 2003
                                          • 2123

                                          #21
                                          It's your home and it matters only how you enjoy it. I don't have the most elaborate setup either, but it's the small things that count. I have had friends come over and they love my HT, so much so, that they ask me to help them construct one for them in their homes, that provides some personal satisfaction for me.

                                          My wife is even to starting to get into it now, she told me that she wants to order some Home Theater seating. I just work on things a little at a time in my small basement space. Is there room for improvement? Certainly, but I don't have the big bucks to make significant improvements, one day at a time.

                                          Peace, blessings and Merry Christmas everyone,

                                          Azeke

                                          Comment

                                          • kgveteran
                                            Senior Member
                                            • Oct 2005
                                            • 865

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by Azeke
                                            It's your home and it matters only how you enjoy it. I don't have the most elaborate setup either, but it's the small things that count. I have had friends come over and they love my HT, so much so, that they ask me to help them construct one for them in their homes, that provides some personal satisfaction for me.

                                            My wife is even to starting to get into it now, she told me that she wants to order some Home Theater seating. I just work on things a little at a time in my small basement space. Is there room for improvement? Certainly, but I don't have the big bucks to make significant improvements, one day at a time.

                                            Peace, blessings and Merry Christmas everyone,

                                            Azeke
                                            AZEKE,


                                            Merry Christmas to you also. I have had a HT in every house i have owned.The first was in the living room because I was single.I had a video grade Runco cinema pro 750.S-Video input.

                                            Next was a smallish bedroom in a three bedroom ranch.I loved that room.

                                            Now this one is dedicated and I have been working on it for about 4 years.I've kept a journal of upgrades and all the DIY stuff.I wish I kept one from day one.

                                            Besides my subwoofer system, I'm most proud of the three RS WTMW centers I use as mains.They are so friggin dynamic it's scary at times.I can't wait to build the 28a/225's for the 2 sides and rear center.

                                            Kg
                                            Here is my LCR "Trio". Way to go guys !

                                            Comment

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