My home cinema build thread

[bigboss]

Wow! What an experience!!! Forget 65-inch TVs, projector is the way to go! *clapping*

Absolutely stunning! Sony HW40ES is superb out of the box! I haven't changed any settings yet. Even Sky TV is pin sharp quality (HD).

And sound is mind-blowing! Vastly superior to my previous setup. Even my father in law who is 75 commented on how good the sound was. These Monitor Audio speakers and Marantz AVR are highly recommended.

 

[bigboss]

I've just put these settings:

https://www.avforums.com/threads/sony-vpl-hw40es-reviewers-recommended-best-settings.1880074/#post-20707238

Picture already looks even better. I'll run the projector for about 200 hours before calling Vincent.

 

[simonlewis]

*drinks*

 

[simonlewis]

If only i can get my hands on my inheritence, a three bedroomed semi and a projector has my name on it. *wacko* *diablo*

 

[simonlewis]

If only i can get my hands on my inheritence, a three bedroomed semi and a projector has my name on it. *wacko* *diablo*

 

[Frank Harvey]

I've never understood people "upgrading" their perfectly good 40/50/60" TV to another one the same size or slightly bigger when most of their viewing on the TV is Sky. These size TVs are fine for TV viewing, but in my opinion not big enough for really experience the full benefits of movie viewing. Keep your TV if it looks fine for Sky etc, and put that money towards a projector - you can then have as big a screen as you want (within reason), and it adds so much to the experience! I could never go back to watching films on a TV now. I've been using a projector for movies now for around 12 years now, starting with this thing:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Sony-VPL-HS1_Cineza.htm

Standard def, noisy, no component connections, 1 year warranty and no lens shift - all for £2k! Compared to a HW40 which is cheaper....

 

[bigboss]

Agreed. If it wasn't for relatively short projector lamp life, I would've ditched the TV completely.

 

[Regisss]

More pictures please :drink:

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Wow! What an experience!!! Forget 65-inch TVs, projector is the way to go! *clapping*

Absolutely stunning! Sony HW40ES is superb out of the box! I haven't changed any settings yet. Even Sky TV is pin sharp quality (HD).

As the world's biggest fan of 65" (and larger) televisions, I say - bah humbug!!! *smile* It's just that I've never been particularly impressed with projectors, even calibrated ones at proper dealers.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

I've never understood people "upgrading" their perfectly good 40/50/60" TV to another one the same size or slightly bigger when most of their viewing on the TV is Sky. These size TVs are fine for TV viewing, but in my opinion not big enough for really experience the full benefits of movie viewing

But surely, if most of their viewing is Sky, or (like me) Freeview and Freesat, then surely they should stick with TVs. No point in getting a projector if you're not going to use it very often, no?

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Agreed. If it wasn't for relatively short projector lamp life, I would've ditched the TV completely.

You could sell it back to gel!!

 

[bigboss]

Wow! What an experience!!! Forget 65-inch TVs, projector is the way to go! *clapping*

Absolutely stunning! Sony HW40ES is superb out of the box! I haven't changed any settings yet. Even Sky TV is pin sharp quality (HD).

As the world's biggest fan of 65" (and larger) televisions, I say - bah humbug!!! *smile* It's just that I've never been particularly impressed with projectors, even calibrated ones at proper dealers.

Let me know when you're coming towards Yorkshire. I'll show you the real experience. Trust me, you'll want to replace all your TVs with projectors!

 

[bigboss]

I've never understood people "upgrading" their perfectly good 40/50/60" TV to another one the same size or slightly bigger when most of their viewing on the TV is Sky. These size TVs are fine for TV viewing, but in my opinion not big enough for really experience the full benefits of movie viewing

But surely, if most of their viewing is Sky, or (like me) Freeview and Freesat, then surely they should stick with TVs. No point in getting a projector if you're not going to use it very often, no?

I watched Sky for about an hour on my projector. Difficult to go back to TV now.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Agreed. If it wasn't for relatively short projector lamp life, I would've ditched the TV completely.

You could sell it back to gel!!

If you wanted to sell it you would get your money back.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I've never understood people "upgrading" their perfectly good 40/50/60" TV to another one the same size or slightly bigger when most of their viewing on the TV is Sky. These size TVs are fine for TV viewing, but in my opinion not big enough for really experience the full benefits of movie viewing

But surely, if most of their viewing is Sky, or (like me) Freeview and Freesat, then surely they should stick with TVs. No point in getting a projector if you're not going to use it very often, no?

I just meant other than films. Anything on Sky gets watched on my TV, except for Formula 1, which gets watched on my projector along with films.

Some people feel that watching a film is a special experience (certainly is on a PJ), and want that experience when watching a film, as it's more like going to the cinema. Cinematography can be better appreciated in a larger screen too.

 

[ellisdj]

No projector

No Issue - just sit much closer to the TV... Problem solved

 

[bigboss]

No projector

No Issue - just sit much closer to the TV... Problem solved

Not really. I compared with standing 2 feet from the TV. You just can't compare it. Besides, your speaker position will mean it will sound all wrong from that distance.

 

[scene]

Quick question bb
I may have missed this, but did you ever consider going for an acoustically transparent screen? Did you just decide against on cost grounds, or other reason.

 

[bigboss]

Quick question bb
I may have missed this, but did you ever consider going for an acoustically transparent screen? Did you just decide against on cost grounds, or other reason.

Yes, I looked hard for a reasonably priced acoustically transparent screen. But I wanted one suitable for ambient light, as my living room isn't a bat cave. Acoustically transparent tab tensioned ceiling recessed grey screens are frightfully expensive.

 

[bigboss]

Just watched Transformers 4 in Dolby Atmos. Rubbish film, but Dolby Atmos is superb!! This is my first ever experience. I didn't expect the effects to be so powerful!

Without a doubt, 5.1.4 is superior to 7.1.2 for those considering between the two.

 

[bigboss]

More pictures please :drink:

Just waiting for the iPad mini dock to be mounted (hopefully tomorrow if the snow doesn't cause much bother) then I'll take some pics and post.

 

[bigboss]

Wow! What an experience!!! Forget 65-inch TVs, projector is the way to go! *clapping*

Absolutely stunning! Sony HW40ES is superb out of the box! I haven't changed any settings yet. Even Sky TV is pin sharp quality (HD).

As the world's biggest fan of 65" (and larger) televisions, I say - bah humbug!!! *smile* It's just that I've never been particularly impressed with projectors, even calibrated ones at proper dealers.

One of the reasons why you were underwhelmed may be because you watched it on a white screen. Even I felt the same, until I demoed on a grey screen.

 

[scene]

Quick question bb
I may have missed this, but did you ever consider going for an acoustically transparent screen? Did you just decide against on cost grounds, or other reason.

Yes, I looked hard for a reasonably priced acoustically transparent screen. But I wanted one suitable for ambient light, as my living room isn't a bat cave. Acoustically transparent tab tensioned ceiling recessed grey screens are frightfully expensive.

I thought it might be a cost issue. From this and other comments, I take it the grey screen is a tall must have.

 

[bigboss]

I compared a grey screen with white, and grey is far superior. Much better contrast with deeper blacks. Draper ReAct 2.1 has a gain of 1.0 despite being a grey-silver screen.

Sapphire makes hybrid AT screens, where the top 40cm is acoustically transparent. But only on white.

 

[ellisdj]

No projector

No Issue - just sit much closer to the TV... Problem solved

Not really. I compared with standing 2 feet from the TV. You just can't compare it. Besides, your speaker position will mean it will sound all wrong from that distance.

That was a joke BTW

I really enjoyed Transformers 4 - especially with the Dinobots Reference - that was a real blast from my childhood - I loved that

I would like to spin it again as my system is muc better setup and optimized and now my bass is insane good. First watch had the system on its limits at times it seemed

You need to come and listen BB and hear just what the SB13 can do - its an eye opener in the righ hands