Movie buff Fabien has transformed his home’s annex into a private home theater equipped with a 5.1.2-channel Klipsch setup. An achievement for this enthusiast who now enjoys this dream installation on a daily basis with his family and fellow film lovers.
How big is your home theater and technical area (electronics)?
My home theater room is 18m². For the technical area, I don’t have a dedicated space, but a tempered glass cabinet (AV receiver, player, Blu-ray player and perhaps a turntable one day).
How long did it take you to build this home theater?
I designed this home theater room in 5 months, including the electrical work, the partitions and the floor done by myself between January and February. The painting was done in March by a professional, then I ordered, received and installed the equipment in May.
When did you decide to design a room dedicated to home theater? Why create a personal movie theater?
I have always been a movie fan and this project was conceived when I was drawing up the plans for our house (new build). I wanted to have the possibility of enjoying movies with family and friends who are also moviegoers.
How did you organize the construction work? What was the most challenging aspect?
Making a screed is no small feat, but overall the rest went pretty well.
What was the overall budget for the system and construction?
I invested around €10,000 for the equipment and €5,000 for construction.
Can you list the equipment used and tell us why you chose these brands?
My home theater system consists of the following:
- 1 x Vogel’s EPC-6545 projector bracket
- 1 x NorStone Esse Hi-Fi cabinet
- 1 x pair of Klipsch RP-402S surround speakers
- 1 x Klipsch RP-504C center speaker
- 1 x pair of Klipsch RP-8000F floorstanding speakers
- 1 x Marantz SR-7013 AV receiver
- 1 x Lumene Coliseum UHD 4K 240C electric projection screen
- 1 x Sony UBP-X800M2 Blu-ray player
- 1 x Klipsch R-115SW subwoofer
- 1 x BenQ W5700 projector
- 1 x pair of Klipsch RP-500SA Atmos speakers
Regarding the choice of the equipment, I selected a Klipsch Reference Premiere system, having already been able to listen to these speakers at friends’ homes, both in Hi-Fi and home theater configurations. In addition, Klipsch has a good reputation.
The BenQ W5700 projector was highly acclaimed, especially for its ability to provide an incredible picture. The Lumene Coliseum UHD 4K 240C screen makes the most of this ability, while simplifying usage with its motorization.
Finally, I selected the Marantz SR-7013 receiver for its versatility, providing both a high quality sound in Hi-Fi and a perfect reproduction in home theater.
How do you control the system (applications, remote controls, etc.)?
I have a Zidoo Z9X (ZDMC) player and I control the whole thing with a Logitech Harmony Elite remote control. Except for some occasional latency when scrolling through the menus on the touch screen, it works very well with all my devices.
Did you use an acoustic treatment? If not, do you plan to use one in the future?
No particular acoustic treatment is used in this home theater room, except that the plasterboard is soundproof. I still plan to work more carefully on the acoustics of the room in future improvements. The addition of panels on the front of the room – in front of the screen on the left and right – could allow for a more contained sound (less resonance) and a reduction in disturbance.
What is the first movie you watched in this room?
With this installation, Life in UHD 4K. The quality of this BluRay is quite poor though, with a lot of grain in the image.
How often do you use this home theater room?
I use my home theater installation on a daily basis.
Do you watch anything other than movies? Sporting events? Series? Video games? Concerts?
I sometimes watch concerts but also a few F1 and Moto GP races on weekends.
How would you like to upgrade your system?
I would like to add a very good turntable and maybe a second subwoofer.
What piece of advice can you give to someone who wants to make a room like this?
It is important not to underestimate the size of the center speaker. You must also take the time to properly position all the speakers and properly calibrate the home theater system.
Discover Fabien’s personal movie theater.
