3D Gaming room build log

[James111333]

Hey everyone, so I've decided to do a build thread on my cheap but not cheap home cinema.

It started a year and a half ago, i'd just split up with my girlfriend and moved back to my mums where I used to reside in the basement; the best place for a tech hermit I find. :beerchug:

Things were looking down so I decided to go ahead with something I had wanted to do for ages......

I started with this:

Half a basement full of 100s of computer spares and telescopes.

And turned the previously tidy bedroom side into this...

A few days before I had bought one of these http://www.audiblefidelity.co.uk/Optoma_HD33_Projector_p/HD33.htm?gclid=CJHg9deGq7gCFfMbtAod2nYAIQ

And so the 100 inch fun begins...

 

[remember300]

sorry to hear about the break up. but something to invest in, if your no got going to buy a screen maybe invest in some mattpaint or you can buy some screen paint, for the main wall

 

[James111333]

Next on the cards is the screen, I did a lot of research into my options and found that the best route by far was to use a tried and tested Black Widow (UK) paint on a DIY screen. It is basically the end result of days and days of testing different off the shelf paint blends to find the perfect balance between colour, contrast, black level and brightness. These guys spent 100s of pounds / dollars finding this mix. It is essentially a particular custom colour that dulux mix then mixed with a modelling paint that has minute aluminium particles throughout. I can't remember the names and codes right now but I can do some digging if anyone needs the info. In total it is about £45 worth of paint and a £10 sheet of MDF which creates an end result that matches the fidelity of screens of much higher budgets.

Hats off to the enthusiasts that achieved this marathon task.

Introducing the (freshly cut to 16:9) 9mm MDF to the basement.

Screen attached to wall (with ceiling mounted projector cables in the way of the shot...)

Next up is masking and priming, some people use a mini roller but for best results, it's better to spray. I built up a load of super light coats over about an hour and a half using water based acrylic primer.

I was really happy with the way it came out and it makes a huge difference having the right tools to hand. Also the slow application of the paint meant that there was no chance of runs. This is a one shot deal as the covering needs to be flawless, I learned that patience is key.

A bit of a pointless excersize I know but here's what the projection looks like on a wet primed screen (Wall-e)

I think the flash was on in this one so it looks washed out but even on a white wall, the HD33 produces an amazing image.
I left the halogen lights on at this point to aid drying, I was itching to see what it looked like with the BWUK coating.

 

[James111333]

sorry to hear about the break up. but something to invest in, if your no got going to buy a screen maybe invest in some mattpaint or you can buy some screen paint, for the main wall

It's all good now thanks we're actually back together and it's better than ever now
Yeah, the rest of the build is on it's way, including the screen paint.

 

[remember300]

It's all good now thanks we're actually back together and it's better than ever now
Yeah, the rest of the build is on it's way, including the screen paint.

ah awesome
and enjoy it

 

[James111333]

:beerchug:

ah awesome
and enjoy it

(double post)

The next step was the top coat, unfortunately I didn't get any pictures as I had other things on my mind, as like the primer, it's a one shot deal. Again it was a case of lots of light even coats in perpendicular strokes for each coat to slowly build up uniformity.

I was using this spray gun for both the primer and top coat and it worked flawlessly, can't fault it at all although I have used proper HVLP guns in the past which seemed to kick out the fan more effortlessly and respond slightly faster.

Here's the completed screen albeit a still wet screen so is way too reflective to show the finished product yet!

Next up, theese ^_^

http://www.avbristol.com/product.php/385/96/acoustic-energy-neo-v2-5-1-speaker-package

And this: http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-10944-ma...eceiver.aspx?gclid=CMDb3NCbrLgCFVMPtAodlSIApg

It always hurts seeing it on offer but I did buy it 18 months ago. :huh:

I found Acoustic Energy to be an amazing company to buy from, after I ordered the speakers, I called them up and they put me through to one of the guys that hand makes them and tests them to discuss AV receivers. I was blown away not only by his knowledge but his willingness to discuss my best options, it turns out that in their opinion, Marantz is the way to go so I got the SR5007 in with free next day delivery, ideal.

 

[mehere]

very nice where do you live and when are you out?

 

[James111333]

very nice where do you live and when are you out?

:lol:

 

[remember300]

Ah thats cool, i like customer service like that. What projector do you have?

 

[James111333]

Ah thats cool, i like customer service like that. What projector do you have?

I've updated the original post with thPJ but it's this one http://www.audiblefidelity.co.uk/Opt...FfMbtAod2nYAIQ
I raved about it just today in a build thread I'm running on another forum (quoted below), i'd love other people to experience the immersion, for me, if it was a 1440p monitor vs a 50"-300" 1080p projector, the projector will always win

If you haven't seen a PJ for a few years, you will be blown away with what you can achieve for relatively little outlay, the HD33 is still a winner but I think there may be a newer model out that is slightly brighter. The positive thing with that though is the HD33 can be had for a lot less than it's release price.
The picture still surprises me, on a 100" screen you have to be 8 inches away to make out individual pixels which is awesome and the motion is just outstanding, no LCD ghosting here.....

Then you get to 3D........ about 90% of the world think that 3D is a gimmick, especially 3D gaming but they need to see 100" 3D gaming! I have a pretty nice 42" Panasonic plasma for my monitor and 3D gaming on this just doesn't cut it. When the image FILLS your FOV though it just shines, modded Skyrim in 3D and Witcher 2 are nuts, the level of immersion is catapulted to a place I didnt realise was possible.

Even 2D gaming is a whole new experience though, again, the level of immersion in amplified immensly when you are running around a game world and it is life size! I wish more people could experience it as I think there would be many more adopters, Especially when people are spending £100s on nice screens and missing the gem that is big screen gaming. Also, think FIFA and C&C.....
The Optoma HD33 projects a screen from about 50" up to 300" so will work great even in bedrooms

 

[James111333]

ah yeah, and good customer service goes a long long way, these guys went the extra mile AFTER I had handed my money over which shows the difference between a salesman and person genuinely wanting to help. Top marks for Acoustic Energy customer service, the rant about how amazing the AE speakers are, is still to come ^_^

 

[James111333]

So the speakers arrived and I was stunned at the build quality and craftsmanship. They really are like no speakers I have seen before, admittedly I haven't been around many really nice speakers and of course there are a lot nicer speakers than this but not within my price range.

The painful wait began while the AV receiver was on it's way.....

It gave me a chance to make up the cables though with oxygen free speaker wire and start to calibrate (armature style) my projector.

Painted screen ready for lots of HD goodness

I found that everyone on the AV forums were recommending that the surrounding areas should be light absorbent, a lot of people use velvet but it costs too much so I decided to improvise. I found some really cheap weed membrane (the dense netting stuff you put under gravel etc to stop weeds coming up) and it work perfectly, something like 75p a meter instead of £5.
At some point I plan to re finish everything but at the time I didn't really have any other options.

It arrived! Finally!

Even now, I still don't know about every option and setting on this thing, the main reason for buying it is the quality of the parts used to make it in order to do my speakers justice.

I thought £400 systems sounded pretty good but this is just unreal, it is so much more than I ever expected, it makes listening to music that I have listened to for years sound like totally new tracks, there is so much detail lost when played on the set up I had before.

You wouldn't believe the composure these speakers have at all volumes, down low there is a perfect balance of levels then crank it up and it becomes very apparent that these aren't your average speakers, even at extremely high volumes, the clarity of every part of the track shines through, the bass from the sub pounds but it's so tight and responsive. Then put on a film to really let the centre speaker show itself off, the vocals are clear even in the most intensive action scenes. Even 18 months on I still smile every time I turn them up

Now I need a table to house this amazing amp.....

 

[remember300]

very nice my bro in law got a nice 5.1 set ill get the manufacturer later for you, he got given them and i remember fitting them in a friends of his house i think the whole kit cost about 3k inc the amp. but my god i do know what you mean by crisp.

 

[James111333]

Just realised I took a quick video, Yes, recording a 1080p Screen with a crappy digital camera

 

[remember300]

looks crisp even then, to test your Sound out gladiator was the best test ive found anywhere

 

[James111333]

very nice my bro in law got a nice 5.1 set ill get the manufacturer later for you, he got given them and i remember fitting them in a friends of his house i think the whole kit cost about 3k inc the amp. but my god i do know what you mean by crisp.

Yeah, it really takes sound to a how different level. With gaming, I have developed a whole new appreciation for the effort developers put into sound effects. My previous 5.1 just sounds sub par now. Amnesia got a lot more scary lol. (although it scared the hell out of me before, I lived on a farm by myself in a caravan in the south of France for 2 years and I had to keep turning it off. When there is no one nearby for miles around, I had just been robbed of every tool I own a few weeks before (i'm a builder) and pitch black outside, the game gets real! Really real!) But now it's life size....... :lol:


I wish I could be given a 3k set up too ^_^ would love to know the make, surely it's only fair if he passes it on to you now he's had it a while

 

[James111333]

looks crisp even then, to test your Sound out gladiator was the best test ive found anywhere

Sounds like one to try, haven't seen it for ages. I can't wait to get back, I can't remember if I wrote before but I am 300 miles away renovating a house so miss it a lot haha.

On AVForums, someone has created a torrent of the very best scenes to showcase both visuals and sound on home theater setups, I need to get that downloaded too.

 

[remember300]

Sounds like one to try, haven't seen it for ages. I can't wait to get back, I can't remember if I wrote before but I am 300 miles away renovating a house so miss it a lot haha.

On AVForums, someone has created a torrent of the very best scenes to showcase both visuals and sound on home theater setups, I need to get that downloaded too.

ha thats kinda cool but yeah gladiator has always been a test for me for surround sound, main reasons are it has many dif volumes and intensities through out and in the Colosseum it tests the surrounds effects and qualities, plus its not a bad film

 

[James111333]

I'll make it my next film to watch

 

[James111333]

Ok, so had to give my ears a rest and breathe some non basement air for a bit so decided to make a table for my AV receiver.
I don't have many good pictures but it's just a basic coffee table made from solid oak that I had left over from fitting the skirting board in my basement.

Oak is my favourite wood to work with, it's stunning whether it be machined or rough cut and you can sand it down increasing the grit on the sandpaper to a point where it becomes soft like if you were to pour flour on some glass and run your hands over it, odd description I know lol but it's hard describe.

I routed a step into the lengths before I cut the mitres which allowed me to fit a clear acrylic top. I also had to make the legs by cutting a 45 degree edge down 2 sections and joining them together with a biscuit joiner. This gave the table a more bulky appearance and also allowed me to fit a clear shelf on chrome dowel pegs to sit the AVR on.

There is not one screw, nail or staple in the entire table, every joint is a glued biscuit joint, cut with this: Biscuit jointer