Reader's cinema: Car? Park it outside!

John Johnston, a 33-year-old professional photographer, discusses his journey into home cinema, beginning at age 18 when a friend introduced him to LaserDisc and Dolby Pro-Logic. Subsequent exposure to early DVD players solidified his interest in high-quality visual and audio experiences. John and his girlfriend moved into their current home in August 2013, and he immediately envisioned transforming the garage into a dedicated home cinema room, as it would not be used for cars. The project was undertaken by a professional company, Avcomm.TV, and took approximately six weeks from start to finish, following the acquisition of planning permission from the local council. John notes this was a rapid completion compared to similar projects, and while he contributed significantly to the design, the physical work was handled by the professionals. Initially, the budget for the project, including equipment, was set at £12,000, but this increased to around £16,000 to ensure the desired aesthetic and quality were achieved without compromise. The most challenging aspect of the build for John was the waiting period for planning permission and building warrant approval due to his impatience, especially with a goal of completion by Christmas, which the team successfully met. He expresses complete satisfaction with the outcome and would not change anything about the process or the finished room. The home cinema system features an Epson EH-TW8100 projector paired with a custom-made velvet fixed-frame screen utilizing Cinesound Acoustic Transparent material. The audio setup is a 7.1 surround sound system, including three Monitor Audio WT280 speakers for the front left, center, and right channels, four Monitor Audio CT380-FX speakers for the rear and surround channels, and a Monitor Audio Radius 380 subwoofer. A Yamaha RX-V675 AV receiver powers the speaker system. Source components include a PlayStation 4 and a custom-built home theatre/gaming PC. All AV equipment and lighting are controlled via a Harmony Ultimate remote, which also manages the ceiling and floor strip lighting that can change colors. The seating consists of comfortable chairs purchased from an eBay seller, noted for their affordability compared to other home cinema seating options, and they include a massage function. A small two-seater sofa was later added for guests. John currently has no plans for kit upgrades, finding the Epson projector's image quality, in both 2D and 3D, to be exceptional, comparing it to a personal IMAX experience. His favorite pieces of equipment include the Epson projector, the Yamaha AVR for its sound performance, and the Harmony Ultimate remote for consolidating multiple remotes and controlling various room elements, including main lights and strip lights. He also appreciates the small fridge conveniently located among his AV equipment. Friends and family are reportedly impressed by the system. John's favorite Blu-rays and games for showcasing the system include 'Avatar' in 3D, 'The Dark Knight' for its sound, 'Call of Duty Ghosts' on his gaming PC, and 'FIFA 14' on the PS4. 'Avengers Assemble in 3D' is specifically mentioned for demonstrating the system, particularly its end scenes. He considers the finished room "absolutely priceless," fulfilling a childhood dream and honoring his late brother's unfulfilled wish for a home cinema. John utilizes the room daily for movies, sports, and video games, fitting it around his work-from-home schedule. Regarding 4K/Ultra HD, he hasn't seen much of it but anticipates its potential impact if the visual leap is comparable to previous format advancements from video to DVD or DVD to Blu-ray. A video of the garage conversion is available on John Johnston's website. #HomeCinema #GarageConversion #HomeTheaterDesign #AVEquipment #MonitorAudio #EpsonProjector #YamahaAVR #SmartHomeControl #HomeCinema #GarageConversion #HomeTheaterDesign #AVEquipment #MonitorAudio #EpsonProjector #YamahaAVR #SmartHomeControl