When buying his new house, Aurélien saw the perfect opportunity to create his own home theater in a vacant bedroom. In only three months and with help from his wife, Aurélien made his dream come true by building his own 7.1.4-channel private cinema on a par with the best movie theaters.
How big is your home theater? And the technical area (electronics)?
The room is 14m² (4.16 x 3.33 x 2.10m). There isn’t a technical bay. The electronics are directly integrated in the cinema room. When we bought the house last year, the room was used as a bedroom. It was obvious to me that it would become the home theater of my dreams.
How long did it take you to build the home theater room?
My wife and I built the room in three and a half months. We had a pretty advanced idea of the project in our minds. We worked on the room in the evening after work, on the weekend, and I also took a week off work to get things moving. At the same time, we changed the window carpet, tiles and stretched fabric were fitted.
When did you decide to design a room dedicated to home theater? Why create a personal movie theater?
From a very young age, I’ve always wanted to have my own movie theater at home. For me, it’s a combination of all my passions: sound, technology, image, etc. In my opinion, creating a private cinema is the ultimate solution for viewing the films and series we love in the best possible conditions.
How did you organize the construction work? What was the most challenging part?
We did the work in a chronological manner. We prepared by making a list of the necessary materials and supplies for the room. Then came the stripping, making the channels, cable routing (there were lots of cables!), re-caulking, installing the suspended ceiling, carpet and stretched fabric! And finally, of course, the installation of the devices. We didn’t encounter any particular difficulties, apart from the installation of the stretched fabric, which is complex and above all tedious, but the result is superb acoustics and an attractive look.
How much of the budget was for the materials and construction work?
We spent approximately €10,000 on the material and €3-4,000 on tools and supplies.
Can you list the equipment used and tell us why you chose these brands?
My private movie theater uses the following equipment:
- LR speakers: Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Center speaker: Klipsch RP-504C II
- Subwoofer: SVS PB2000 PRO
- 4 x surround speakers: Klipsch RP-502S II
- 4 x Atmos speakers: FOCAL 100 ICW6
- Projector: EPSON LS12000
- Receiver for the surround and Atmos speakers: DENON AVC-X3800H
- Receiver for the front speakers: CROWN XLS 1002 in stereo mode
- Receiver for the center speaker: CROWN XLS 1002 in bridged mode
- Screen: 120” 16/9 ELITESCREENS AEON EDGE FREE
These are my sources:
- PS5
- APPLE TV 4K
- Synology DS218 8 TB NAS
- PCHC
I chose Klipsch speakers because I already owned some and I was already familiar with their distinctive sound. I’ve tried other speakers, but I’ve always come back to the Klipsch sound. The high sensitivity is also a plus for powering them.
The Epson LS12000 was chosen due to its price, quality, picture, 4K abilities, contrast, etc. The picture is really gorgeous and exceptional for a reasonable price. I’m very very happy with this projector.
The SVS subwoofer is superb. I’ve had Klipsch and Tangent models, and the SVS sound is incredible. The impact, velocity, deep lows. It’s a superb sub. It was a big investment, but the result is superb.
The Denon receiver was chosen for its versatility, processing and price. I’m very satisfied with it. I’m still hesitating to do a DIRAC calibration, as the price is relatively high. I’m very satisfied with the Crown receivers. They make it easy to power the front stage, with limited distortion even at high volume, and above all, virtually no heating and no noise either. Class D…
The PCHC allows me to have a visual library via KODI, it’s really a great player for digital content. It lets me play the various files stored on my DS218 NAS. I have the PS5 for gaming and its Blu-ray player, and the Apple TV for content from streaming services.
Le PCHC me permet via KODI d’avoir une bibliothèque visuelle, c’est vraiment un superbe lecteur pour les contenus dématérialisés. Cela me permet de lire les différents fichiers qui sont quant à eux stockés sur mon NAS DS218. La PS5 pour le jeu et son lecteur Blu-ray et l’Apple TV pour les contenus des services de streaming.
How do you control the system (apps, universal remote controls, etc.)?
As a whole, the system is controlled using various remote controls. I haven’t yet decided to buy a Logitech Harmony-type remote control. I’ve invested in a small backlit keyboard to control the PC and the KODI interface. The lighting is controlled using a Philips HUE switch that can be programmed with several scenarios. Furthermore, the lights are controlled via KODI. When a film starts playing, the lighting automatically cuts out at a 15-second tempo, as do pauses and the end of a film. This really contributes to the immersion, it’s quite impressive!
Did you use an acoustic treatment? If not, do you plan to use one in the future?
For the acoustic treatment, I applied a stretched acoustic fleece fabric to all the walls of the room. The suspended rock wool ceiling (22mm) and the carpet also contribute to the room’s acoustics. The sound is damped in the same way as in a movie theater, without being too stuffy. I’m very happy with the acoustics.
What was the first movie you watched in this room? Which one gave you a taste for home theater?
The first movie we watched was Top Gun: Maverick. Our goal was to finish the work to be able to watch it in our room before seeing any spoilers! The experience was exceptional, so much so that we got goosebumps during the combat scene. We felt as if we were in the cockpit. Interstellar was the movie that really got me into home theater. The shots, the sound and the story of this science fiction film still fascinate me to this day.
How often do you use this home theater room?
I use the room 4 or 5 times a week. Whether it’s for video games, movies, series or streaming via the platforms.
Do you watch anything other than movies? Sports? Series? Video games? Concerts?
The cinema room is designed to be a media room. I use it for cinema (films and series), video games and concerts. I really like racing simulations, hence the steering wheel and seat. The experience and immersion are top-notch in the room!
How would you like to upgrade your system?
One of my plans is to upgrade the installation by adding a second SVS PB-2000 Pro subwoofer to the front stage. This will accentuate and better distribute the bass to the listening position. We’d also like to install LED strips on the ceiling all around the room. I’d also like to install cinema shakers for the seats.
What piece of advice can you give to someone who wants to make a room like this?
The advice I can give is to think carefully about your installation beforehand. Construction work, choice of materials, so that the room is harmonious as a whole.
