In 2010, I undertook a project to convert my unfinished basement into a home theater, allocating an initial budget of $10,000 primarily to equipment. I didn't track my expenses closely and ended up "slightly" over budget. The room layout includes two rows of seating: a back row with three recliners and a front row with a reclining couch that's somewhat too close. Since starting this project, I have periodically updated different aspects of the DIY Home Theater.

I began with the goal of setting up a projector for a 115-inch fixed screen, initially aiming for a 7.1 surround sound system. Over time, the audio evolved from a 7.1 to a 7.2.4 Atmos setup. Although the room layout has remained consistent, I've made incremental upgrades over time, including acoustic treatments and equipment updates to support new audio and video features.

Throughout the process, I documented my research and decisions in roughly chronological order, including mistakes and technical details. This write-up (see Table of Contents to the left) serves as a detailed record of the journey in creating a DIY, tailored, and immersive experience.

To view pictures of the finished room and bypass my pontificating on the design and build of the theater and what I learned along the way, this link will take you directly to those photos.

The initial goals and requirements for the design were:

Accommodate 5-6 people.
Screen size between 110 and 120 inches, requiring a projector
Support 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, later evolving to 7.2.4
Utilize existing equipment initially and add or upgrade it over time.
Budget goal of less than $10,000 for initial equipment purchase

Next: Initial Planning