CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Ernie Pantuso · Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 5

I always wondered what the be-all/end-all of home theater looked like!

achase · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:56 am Post subject:

LOTREE · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:01 am Post subject:

That's just not right. My whole apartment could easily fit in your lobby, LOL. Looks awesome, love it. I see Reese's, Junior Mints, Glosette Peanuts and a liquid butter pump, that's good enough for me. Cool

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

All the goodies and no cash register ! Thumbs Up

achase · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:03 am Post subject:

First screen shots. The object under the screen is the top of the podium reflecting the screen light.

Pablo · Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Los Angeles

Terrific!

But as Richard Dreyfuss said in JAWS, "I need something in the foreground to give it some scale." As I recall, that screen is huge -- how big is a person in relation to these TOY STORY images?

I'm assuming you're running bluray, and it looks like both the TOY STORY and AVATAR images hold up nicely at that size.

Your lobby looks very cool too. I'm partial to Whoppers, by the way.

Thanks again for sharing this amazing project with us!!!

JustGreg · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3098 Location: Kenosha, WI

You done good Arnold!; and I'm sure the pix don't come close to doing any of it justice. Still, it's jaw dropping to know this in a residence.

And Avatar was a nice choice IMO. Very immersive and just a great transfer.

psartana · Joined: 11 Jun 2010 Posts: 3

Great to have you back Arnold. Those screen shots look marvelous. Seeing those images along with the HPS-4000 sound system must be pure heaven. I truly envy you Smile

Did you happen to take any pictures when John Allen visited your theatre to do the final tuning and voicing?? If so can you please post them. It sounded like his visit was very intricate and exciting.

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Arnold, does the podium reflection bother you? My center speaker is right under the screen like that. It's matte black but it still reflects some. I covered it with black fabric to make it pretty much disappear. If it was me, I'd have a piece of black fabric behind the podium to flip up over it to block the reflections. I mean, when your theater is THAT freaking perfect, who wants a distraction like that??

Beautifully done!

achase · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:16 pm Post subject:

achase

After four years of planning and construction, my home theater project is finally complete (well, at least until the next new gadget or format comes out…). Over the last few months I’ve had a number of viewing ‘opportunities’ to sit back and make some critical evaluations.

I’ve watched hours of “Boardwalk Empire” via DirecTV, a few shows through a TIVO Premiere, a couple of DVD’s, and MANY Blu-Rays on the OPPO 83. I am very happy to finally report that all the years of effort have come together. I am simply thrilled and amazed at how good a viewing experience can be.

One of my biggest worries was whether the Hughes-JVC route was insanity, or brilliance. Having one of two remaining operational 12k projectors in existence did not exactly inspire a “warm fuzzy” feeling in me, but the combination of numerous spare parts and Leo Bassett’s brilliance in getting it dialed-in perfectly, in the end, made the decision a correct one. I am simply ecstatic over how good the image looks, with a color palate that is truly spectacular. Not being limited by a fixed pixel array such as in a DLP or D-ILA results in a completely natural film-like image without any digital artifacts whatsoever. There is zero compromise with the keystone and other adjustments that would challenge a fixed array projector. Yes, this all comes at a cost: a minimum of an hour warm-up, a HUGE footprint, three-phase power input, and more than a dozen (loud) cooling fans. But it’s all worth it. Like a fine dinner that needs hours of preparation, the results just can’t be matched a ‘microwave’ meal. Yes, it would be wonderful to just hit the power button and sit down, but if that and the need to adjust the settings on a regular basis is the price to pay for that picture, then so be it. The only real downside right now is the inability to show 3D movies. I am searching for an external “black box” / IR emitter driver that will allow the matte screen to handle 3D with active glasses.

In summary, the experience is transformative, just like what you’d get at the local Cineplex (in one of their FILM auditoriums). I find myself immersed in the story, not looking at a picture on a screen, as was the case with my previous home theaters. Bottom line, I’m absolutely thrilled with the picture.

As good as the picture is, I am even happier with the sound. As I’ve mentioned before, what I am happiest about is the incredibly smooth and continuous sound field. There is absolutely none of the surround effects being localized to a speaker. The front sound field is absolutely seamless with the surround field, creating a continuous unified sound presence from the front to the back of the house. DTS and Dolby go to great lengths to provide “bit for bit” soundtracks, yet most people do things to deviate from the original sound palate. Crazy piston sub-woofers and speakers in the seats certainly provide great effects, but they simply do not provide an accurate rendering of the original intent. When I go for a “McRib”, I expect it to taste just like I remember it. I don’t throw “A-1” sauce, extra salt, or other stuff on it. I want the exact intended experience. That’s why so much time and effort went into making sure that everything was at exact reference levels. Last time I checked, most guys put a LOT of effort into getting their TVs “calibrated” to display accurately. I don’t think those people turn the red, green, or blue up because they think it looks better that way, they want things to as closely match the original material. Ditto here with the sound.

In closing, this part of the house was responsible for 90% or more of the aggravation, delays, and problems of the entire house project. But when I’m sitting there, it was all worth it…

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Arnold you mentioned 3D and I was wondering what your maximum refresh rate is ?

**kal**

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Nice job!

I agree about the sound. I get the appeal of Dbox, but I don't like it. Of course, I think the same thing about 3D. I mentioned this before and I know you have no interest, but the only thing I would have added was the Thigpen rotary sub to cover 0hz to 20hz.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:39 am Post subject:

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

I don't know...I guess I just have a little difficulty hearing 0-18 cycles per second not sure about 20 though... Wink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_range

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

You don't hear that. You FEEL it.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Is this the unit?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/img.cfm?pid=168

http://www.aboutprojectors.com/pdf/jvc-ila-12k-specs.pdf

Athanasios