Good theater doesn’t require a massive bankroll. Just ask Marc Wiener. He created his basement home theater for a mere $5,000.
That’s just for the electronics and new furnishings for his basement. “The construction pretty much only cost me the materials, plumbing, and painting, as my father-in-law is an amazing carpenter and did all the work,” Marc says. “I can’t thank him enough!”
However, this basement is what Marc calls “multifunctional.” It’s not just a theater; it’s for sitting, for socializing, and even doubles as a home office.
Of course, it can be difficult to get any work done with 104 high-def DVDs and a rack full of equipment staring at you from the back of the room. This high-def mix includes HD DVD and Blu-ray. “I really like the fact that my theater is format-neutral,” Marc says. “HD DVD may be dead, but there is plenty of software out there that I am glad to be able to play with.”
When Marc first decided to add theater into the room, he knew he didn’t want to spend a boatload of cash. However, that didn’t mean his equipment selections were to suffer. “I try to be very particular in my choices and tend to do a lot of research,” he says.
That research led him to both HD DVD and Blu-ray players. Frankly, Marc doesn’t care how he gets high-def, as long as it’s in high-def. “I think with a 90-inch screen I am able to get more clarity, detail, and depth out of the picture, as well as more immersive audio,” he says. “I enjoy both high-def formats very much—although I wish HD-DVD had stuck around.” He still has the Toshiba HD-A35, and got it at a good price. However, Marc is also on the Blu-ray bandwagon, via his Panasonic DMP-BD10A. Marc says this player had the best features and reviews around the time he purchased it. “I know one day I will want to upgrade to a full profile player that can bitstream DTS HD-MA,” he says, “but for now I am very pleased with the player.”
Out of all of the equipment, however, Marc says most of the research and planning went into his Panasonic PT-AE900 projector purchase. It was all worth it, though. “Nothing else in the room would make sense without it, and the first time I fired up an image from that thing the smile on my face was 10 feet wide!”
Aside from the equipment, Marc takes pride in his room’s decor. This was an area where he was able to show off some of his movie memorabilia. He has posters and other items around the room to reflect some of his film tastes. “I am a huge fan in particular of the horror and sci-fi genres,” he says. “A lot of the items, equipment or work were acquired as gifts from my family, so the room really feels like a gift to me. It is something I always wanted.”
The end result might not win any awards, but it’s a blockbuster hit with Marc’s family and friends. My 3-year-old son loves to watch movies in ‘our own movie theater’, as he calls it,” he says. Marc makes sure to have friends over on a regular basis—especially since he rarely goes to the local Cineplex anymore. He even has “theme” nights a few nights a year. “Halloween time is a favorite!”
Marc may not have the best or most expensive theater, but this beauty is in the eye of its beholder. “I see a lot of photos of home theaters that are downright beautiful, but that I think are unattainable for most people,” Marc says. “I think mine is a great example of the word ‘home’ in home theater.”
Quick Hits:
Location: Staten Island, NY
Year Completed: 2006
Room Size: 20 x 20 feet
Length of Project: 6 Months
Total Cost: Roughly $5,000
B-tech 90-inch Pull-Down Screen
KLH Speakers (7)
Logitech Harmony 720 Universal Remote*
Monoprice 2x1 HDMI Switchbox
Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver
Panasonic DMP-BD10A Blu-ray Player
Panasonic PT-AE900 720p Projector
RCA Subwoofer
Scientific-Atlanta HD Cable Box - Time Warner
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player
Toshiba SDV-592 DVD/VHS Combo
Coaster Matinee Chairs (3)
I also am glad you did this post. I wanted to mount my speakers on my wall but didn’t want to run wires through the walls of my apartment. This theater game me the idea of using the metal bracket things for hiding the wires and i can paint them to match my wall! You don’t see these sort of things in the super high end theaters, whereas with this realistic one there are many ideas that wouldn’t cost a huge amount of money! Brilliant!
I admit I thought his 5K theater was going to be more elaborate. I too was shocked when I saw the picture above and I’m female. My first and hopefully last theater attempt is a 12x37 dedicated room with a 58x104, 119” diagonal sheetrock screen. I’m too frugal to use recliners so I went with real theater seats.
http://community.webshots.com/user/myhometheater
Well said Rito.
I enjoy looking at wild designs for home theaters as much as the next person. I think it’s cool that there are people out thaere that are fanatical enough to turn their 2000 sq feet basement to a multi tiered home theater. I also think it’s cool that there are people out there that will theme a whole room to look like the Starship Enterprise or the Death Star.
I also look at their budget and say that I have better things to do with my money; But I appreciate their efforts to show what can be done with some imagination and money (lots of it) non the less.
I think that what Marc did was the best he could do within the constraints that he had (time, money and manpower) so cut the guy a break.
And for those of you who are so critical of his theater and equiptment what was your first attempt with a home theater? My first was a 42 inch rear projection TV with a Pioneer HTIAB. And hell yes, I was as prouud of that as I am proud of what I have today so many years later.
I get the people that are critical of Rachel because she decided to cover this home theater, because you a point that this does not bring in any new and wonderful ideas. But so what?
For every one of the normal guy home theater there are 100 others that are reviewed for their innovations. I think everyone who is looking for ideas will find something.
Thanks Rachel for injecting some reality to the scene.
Thanks Marc for your willingness to share your home theater. Enjoy your trip in this fun but expensive hobby!
Rachel, I’m glad you featured this home theater - it shows that you don’t have to spend tons of money or have the services of an interior designer just to put together a functional home theater. What really counts is that the owner, his family, and his friends enjoy it and get to watch hi-def movies on a big screen. I applaud the owner for taking action and putting together something that he and his family can take pleasure in.
Most people in this country don’t even have hi-def TVs much less a big screen home theater so I’d say that the owner is doing pretty good to have a room like this. I’d be willing to bet that there are thousands of home theaters out there that are no where near as nice as this one.
What I can’t believe is how many overly negative, harshly critical, insulting, condescending, and arrogant comments you got from people who didn’t like this home theater. Most of the negative comments had little, if any, constructive value to them. How about showing just a little bit of manners people? Just because you can verbally abuse somebody in the safety of your own little section of cyberspace doesn’t mean you should do it. Why not act like you’re speaking face-to-face with the home theater owner and use just a little bit of good manners? Would you really walk up to a total stranger on the street and be so harshly and insultingly critical? I don’t think so. If you can’t find anything good or constructive to say then don’t say anything.
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Actually Adam what you call metal brackets, I believe are plastic runways, I used the same thing for my HT, and yes they work great and can be painted. They sell for about $8 for a five foot strip. You just peel the strip off the back of them and they’ll stick to the wall, or in my case the ceiling.
They can be found at Menards, Lowes, Home Depot, and I’m sure many hardware stores.