SwiftOnSecurity
Unless you're unwilling to compromise on screen size or have some other extreme edge-case deal breaking scenario like needing the center-channel behind the screen, a projection home theater doesn't make sense. It's a waste of money and it's worse in many ways.
A lot of hobbies are like this. The expensive stuff there for some stupid reason people won't compromise on.
Nov 13, 2022 at 3:18amWeb
Show threadSwiftOnSecurityNov 13, 2022
In my case I moved into a place with a bedroom customized as a home theater with the screen already there. It had been a long time dream of mine, having my own theater space with serious sound and screen size, so I just went for it.
Show threadTim Allardyce šŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦Nov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity You do you! You only live once. Get a small popcorn maker in there, and make it a home.
Show threadShatterNov 13, 2022

@tallardyceCA @SwiftOnSecurity

Make sure it's got a warming plate built in. Years back I went full hacket/geek on making the ultimate popcorn.

The two secrets are Flavacol (butter flavor, salt, food coloring) and a warming plate to get all the moisture out. Coconut oil is optional but works better than anything else.

Without one you can dump fresh popcorn on a cookie sheet and bake at 140 for 20min or so.

Super crunchy. Like the best movie theater you've been to.

Show threadSupposeNotNov 13, 2022
@Shatter242 @tallardyceCA @SwiftOnSecurity I donā€™t understandā€¦ are you drying out these popcorn after it pops?
Show threadTim Allardyce šŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦Nov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity @Shatter242 i miss the Kernels buttersalt..canā€™t find it anywhere, but Iā€™ve seen the recipes around.. ghee is great for this too, as itā€™s the butter without the moist whey components. I hate that home popped popcorn is never quite dry and crunchy enough.. just kinda chews instead of snaps. Will try it in the oven next time!
Show threadShatterNov 13, 2022

@tallardyceCA @SwiftOnSecurity

This is the stuff. It's the secret movie theater ingredient.

After you bake the popcorn you'll never go back.

Show threadTim Allardyce šŸ‡ØšŸ‡¦Nov 13, 2022
@Shatter242 @SwiftOnSecurity amazing. Will get some!
Show threadSeclovinNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity Subwoofers are awesome toys, the only counterpart are neighbors.
Show threadMatthew MusanteNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity I have a nice theater setup in my bedroom as well.
Show threadAdam RawnsleyNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity what did it feel like after getting it? Everything you wanted it to be or slight disappointment?
Show threaddashNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity i canā€™t stand the grey-black spectrum on projectors. it bugs me so so much. tried to play halo at a friendā€™s who had one forever ago and legit could not focus because the picture bugged me so badly. hell, i prefer to watch new movies on my phone right up in front of my face than go to theatres these days, but thatā€™s only partially because of the display type šŸ˜…
Show threadSeclovinNov 13, 2022
@dash @SwiftOnSecurity 
Show threadNatanael āš ļøNov 13, 2022

@SwiftOnSecurity have you seen LEP flashlights? That's my first thought from another hobby.

If you need a handheld light with extreme range with a narrow beam and a laser is too narrow, then you can use a LEP - which works like an inverted telescope, with a high power laser pointed to a small fluorescent surface which lights up a reflector which in turn direct all light forwards.

Show threadDavid A. Pirata InformĆ”tico Nov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity As someone who loves audio. I'm impressed with that setup. I'd love to have a good 15" sub.
Show threadMicahNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity In my case, I didn't want something heavy on the wall, and I found a QKK for $25 barely used. HDMI, USB, VGA, and it's tiny, and portable. All I need is a darkish room and a white sheet on the wall and I'm set. Bluetooth headphones connected to the source video is a bonus. Cons? Unless it's nighttime or you use a window blackout, it's subpar experience, and the fan in the unit is a little noisy. A ventilated projector box failed to keep it cool enough so I had to replace the lens inside that got imageburned, replaced that for about $7 and everything was peachy again. But for a home theater, yeah... the room has to be super dark or it's not that great.
Show threadMicahNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity and those little Roku boxes wow they get hot too!
Show threadThat Anonymous CowardNov 13, 2022

@SwiftOnSecurity
Well there is something to be said for people who aren't actually into the thing so much as being able to tell people they have the thing.
They are more focused on having it & showing it than how well it actually functions for them.

See also: Cars. They dunno how to check tire pressure but they have the best tires according to the magazines, but keep having to buy new rims for lack of a pressure gauge.

Show threadStaticNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity My wife told me I couldnā€™t have a projector unless I ā€œBought us a bigger house with a dedicated theaterā€ Deal!
Show threadMrs Mouse at workNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity I want the projectors from my last side job but *sigh* they're too expensive and I *really* don't have a place to put it.
Show threadšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡¦ haxadecimal šŸš«šŸ‘‘Nov 13, 2022
Part of why I went with projection is that it was LESS expensive, but that was ten years ago. I've been very pleased with projection.
I have the center channel speaker below the screen rather than behind, which would have doubled the screen cost.
Show threadNeel ChauhanNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity I have a 10 GbE network at home, but normally use ~1 Gbps and sometimes 3-4 Gbps via SFTP.

My home network is a hobby. Even then my Wi-Fi is just a Netgear Orbi and not some fancy UniFi setup.
Show threadSIEM ShadyNov 13, 2022

@SwiftOnSecurity Absolutely true today. Moved into a new house with a different layout, and sadly my home theater is packed away.

Did my first in around 2005. It was an Optima 720p DLP. It cost $2700 at the time and I had to spend another $700 on light control.

Back then, there was nothing close to a 120" screen, so I was Da-Lited (HT pun intended).

Next week I have a well-appointed 85" TV showing up that was less than that first projector.

That said, good projectors are one of the few living room display devices left that don't have a bunch of bloatware and trackers. You have to add that with a fire stick or roku yourself.

Show threadSIEM ShadyNov 13, 2022

@SwiftOnSecurity That said, I did re-purpose my second projector for the "teen room" I setup in the house that hosts my nieces and nephews around holidays. Cheapo 86" screen and an Epson 8350 1080P LCD.

It's mounted high so the kids can see it from the top or bottom bunks. Using an old Klipsch Promedia 2.1 computer speaker setup. Slid half of the back row from my old theater between the bunkbeds.

Show threadSIEM ShadyNov 13, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity The bulbs are cheap for that one. They aren't getting my 5040UB in there.
Show threado0-oNov 14, 2022
@SwiftOnSecurity I used to live in an old factory with 14ā€™ ceilings. Dedicated one of the walls to a projector and had 7.1 audio. It was glorious. If youā€™re playing anything from a PC, calibrating with a colorimeter can be a game changer. Sanding the drywall made a noticeable difference as well.