Passionate about cinema, music and concerts, Dominique transformed his bedroom into a home theater room equipped with Klipsch speakers, a projection screen of almost 4 meters in diagonal and an Epson projector. The ideal installation to make the most of his passion from the comfort of his bed.
How big is your home theater and technical area (electronics)?
My home theater room is 35m2, with the technical elements at hand. I also like to be able to see my equipment when I watch movies or listen to music.
How long did it take you to build this home theater?
I completed this personal theater in about two months, after planning the project, laying the cables, building the partitions, painting and positioning the equipment.
When did you decide to design a room dedicated to home theater? Why create a personal movie theater?
At the age of 14 (1980) I bought my first Marantz amp which I still have and which is still present in the same room so as not to forget what I started with. I also love going to concerts and the home theater allows me to see and hear as much as possible, as close as possible to the real thing. In 2013, I was lucky enough to come across an ad for Klipsch speakers, an Onkyo receiver, and an Onkyo Blu-ray player. Everything was new and still packaged, for 50% of the price. I broke the bank to snap it up.
How did you organize the construction work? What was the most challenging aspect?
I didn’t really have any issues, except when it came to deciding the layout, because this room had to be just as effective for music, concerts and movies, while keeping its main function as a bedroom. I was also lucky enough to have built the house myself and to have already insulated everything thoroughly. The insulation of this room’s ceiling is 50cm thick and that of the walls is 30cm thick, allowing me to turn the volume up to any level without waking up the neighbors.
What was the overall budget for the system and construction?
I invested around €10,000 for the equipment, for the amplifiers, the speakers, the turntable, the projector, etc. I estimate the work to be around €2000 for partitions, the painting, electricity, rugs, etc.
Can you list the equipment used and tell us why you chose these brands?
My home theater consists of the following:
- Onkyo TX-NR3010 A/V receiver
- Onkyo BD-SP809 3D Blu-ray player
- Epson EH-TW5900 3D projector
- Two Klipsch RF-82 floorstanding speakers
- Two Klipsch RB-81 rear surround speakers
- Two Klipsch RS-62 rear speakers
- Two Klipsch RSW-10D subwoofers that I replaced this year with a Klipsch R115-SW subwoofer
- A Klipsch RC-64 center speaker
- This year I added two Infinity Kappa 9.2 floorstanding speakers for music and concerts
On several occasions, I had the opportunity to listen to the Klipsch/Onkyo association and I was always impressed by the sound, as well as the design. When I had the opportunity to acquire this equipment, I didn’t hesitate. For the Kappa Inffinity 9.2, the musical quality goes up several notches. However, they are not suitable for cinema.
How do you control the system (applications, universal remote controls, etc.)?
I use a remote control and the Amazon Alexa voice assistant to control the various devices in my home theater installation.
Did you use an acoustic treatment? If not, do you plan to use one in the future?
I have no specific acoustic treatment, apart from the rugs on the floor, the curtains and the furnishings. I don’t feel the need to improve the acoustics, because the bed, couch, rugs, curtains and furnishings do the job well. There is probably room for improvement in the acoustics, but I’m fine with it.
What is the first movie you watched in this room? Which one gave you a taste for home theater?
The first movie I watched with my kids was Ice Age in 3D. I don’t have a specific movie that made me more fond of home theater than any other, but if I had to choose one that is close to my heart, it’s Raging Bull with DeNiro about the life of Jake LaMotta. It is a cult movie.
How often do you use this home theater room?
I use it every day, for films, concerts, music, but also Youtube, news and reports.
Do you watch anything other than movies? Sporting events? Series? Video games? Concerts?
Yes, I don’t like soccer, but one of my daughters loves the Diables Rouges so I watch matches with her. Otherwise, I watch boxing, athletics, as well as rock concerts by Pink Floyd, Led Zep, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Doors, etc.
How would you like to upgrade your system?
I want to add a second Klipsch R-115SW subwoofer and replace my projector with a 4K model. I will also work on improving the evacuation of the heat produced by the projector, because in summer it heats the room up quite a bit.
What piece of advice can you give to someone who wants to make a room like this?
It is important to think carefully about the budget, as well as the coherence between the equipment and the room. Acoustics are also important, whether to avoid problems with neighbors or to limit resonance in a relatively empty room. Finally, you must also take into account the wiring budget and choose cables adapted to your system, just as you do not put 2CV wheels on a Ferrari and vice versa. It’s all a matter of consistency, which I recognize is a bit contradictory in my case with my 3 in 1 room.
Discover Dominique’s personal movie theater.
