The As-Yet-Unnamed West Seattle Cinema

[Todd Anderson]

Looking good, Travis. Are they fairly lightweight?

More importantly, when are you going to name the theater?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

They’re very lightweight. Really pleased with them, visually, and I’ve noticed better imaging in the front channels.

The amp I bought on eBay to power my height channels ended up having two dead channels so a delay in getting those up and running, but the speakers are here and ready to go.

And I haven’t put too much thought into the name at this point.

And upstairs, the new turntable arrives tomorrow!

 

[Todd Anderson]

Its gotta have a name!! Perhaps we should host a naming contest (or tie it in with a big giveaway we have coming up)!

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Its gotta have a name!! Perhaps we should host a naming contest (or tie it in with a big giveaway we have coming up)!

As long as I get to win the giveaway!

Perhaps I’ll work on some options and we could run it as a poll to avoid it being named something I’m not a fan of.

 

[Todd Anderson]

As long as I get to win the giveaway!

Perhaps I’ll work on some options and we could run it as a poll to avoid it being named something I’m not a fan of.

Winning name gets tattooed on your forehead

My theater was originally named the SUBmarine Theater.

But, as the basement has evolved, I've started calling it the Entertainment Bunker. Of course, to muddy things, the Bar/Games area of the basement has a big custom sign that says "The Bird's Nest"

It's a very confusing situation.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Just realized I hadn't updated this thread, only my AV Showcase....

We'll start with an updated equipment list...

JVC X790R projector
Anthem AVM-60 processor
Emotiva UPA-700 amplifier
Emotiva UPA-500 amplifier
Triad Bronze LCR in-wall speakers x3
Triad Gold Satellite speakers x7
Triad Silver MiniSat speakers x4
SVS PB2000 sub
Home-build PLEX server w/60TB storage array
Nvidia Shield Pro
AppleTV 4K
Emotiva BasX 5 amplifier
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema Series speakers x5
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite speakers x4
SVS SB-2000 x2
Kaleidescape Strato C
Kaleidescape Terra 48TB
Kaleidescape Compact Terra 6TB
Lumagen Radiance Pro 4240

I had downsized to a 5.1 setup so ditched the 7ch amp.
Then I upgraded the Triads to the NextLevel Acoustics speakers.
Then I decided to go back up to 5.1.4 and added the NLA satellites and the BasX amp.
Had a huge null around 40Hz so swapped the single ported SVS to dual sealed SVS.
Added the Lumagen for tone mapping to hold me over until I can decide on a projector - wish I'd added this MUCH sooner.
Put a new lamp into the projector.
Added more blackout treatment and custom artwork absorption to the side walls.
And added some strip lighting - still trying to find the best light strips that don't go offline.

The other big thing I've been working on in trying to replace the Harmony Elite remote with something not plastic. I have one of the Unfolded Circle Remote 2 units here, arrived in December, and I proceeded to beat my head against the wall trying to figure out how to get it working properly in my system.

Finally this week I had a bit of a breakthrough. I've also been spending some time learning Home Assistant, and this remote would still be a paperweight without Home Assistant. But the two finally working together has opened up a lot of possibilities, and I have things working a little more like a Control4 setup now. The Kaleidescape sends a lot of cues for playback status, which I have controlling the light strips, which is also why I still need to find some light strips that don't keep going offline.

All I'm waiting on now is a way to get the Lumagen into the remote or home assistant so I can control it. For whatever reason, the Remote 2 can't learn the Lumagen IR codes or even function with them when I add the hex or pronto codes manually.

If anyone reading this knows enough about Home Assistant to write an integration, please let me know. I'd love to get the Lumagen functioning via RS232 control through HA.

Next up is a new screen masking control system from Seymour...

 

[VJM]

Awesome! It's finished eh?

haha, it's never really finished is it? I love this hobby!

 

[VJM]

The NextLevel Acoustics speakers are nice, still happy with them?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

The NextLevel Acoustics speakers are nice, still happy with them?

Not quite finished with the theater yet, but getting there.

I'm loving the speakers. They're incredibly dynamic and image wonderfully. They haven't even broken a sweat yet!

 

[Sonnie]

The other big thing I've been working on in trying to replace the Harmony Elite remote with something not plastic. I have one of the Unfolded Circle Remote 2 units here, arrived in December, and I proceeded to beat my head against the wall trying to figure out how to get it working properly in my system.

Have you looked at the Universal Remote Controls? I use the MX890 in our great room and the AV room. It's a fantastic learning remote with macro abilities galore, and most of the codes we've ever needed are available. Of course you need a dealer who will share the software with you.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Have you looked at the Universal Remote Controls? I use the MX890 in our great room and the AV room. It's a fantastic learning remote with macro abilities galore, and most of the codes we've ever needed are available. Of course you need a dealer who will share the software with you.

I don’t like the URC hardware. I’m a design wonk and those feel really outdated to me and too many buttons. I only really need to launch an activity and then the d-pad and playback controls.

I really like the hardware with the UC Remote 2, it’s very VERY nice. The software is very much unfinished, but with Home Assistant it’s getting almost there. I’ve actually been using it the past couple nights, but also having to use the Lumagen remote to turn it on/off.

All the lighting is automated by Home Assistant and the Kaleidescape. Screen masking will also be automated through the system very soon.

I hate fiddling with stuff when I’m trying to just watch a movie. I love that this is really getting to be automated and the remote is very simple for daily use, it’s the programming part that’s tricky.

The best part, though is that 95% of commands are being delivered by IP, not IR, so they’re much more reliable and 2-way communication in most cases, so the remote knows the current status of the devices, it’s not just sending a command and assuming.

 

[phillihp23]

What are the dimensions of your theater room ? WxLxH
Just curious about those speakers and how they compare to On floor/ On wall speaker setups. Cubic volume wise and cost.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

What are the dimensions of your theater room ? WxLxH
Just curious about those speakers and how they compare to On floor/ On wall speaker setups. Cubic volume wise and cost.

The room is 124” wide, 19’ long and 8’ high.

The NextLevel Acoustics are fantastic. The models I have are on-wall, but they make an in-wall for 2x6” construction or a hybrid in-wall with only 1.75” extrusion in 2x4” construction. They’re based on dual 8” drivers and a single compression tweeter, and are incredibly efficient and easy to drive. They take to room correction very easily so you can get whatever response you’re looking for.

Jeff Meier of AccuCal compared them to JBL Synthesis at a fraction of the price, and that was on a set being powered by an Anthem AVR.

I have not had a single complaint or thought of changing them out since installing them. I have them crossed over at 80hz with the pair of sealed 12” subs and they blend seamlessly, with no problems at all.