Cinema project

[ProStreet]

Hi all,

I’m planning a big project and would love some advice, cost ideas, and things to consider from anyone who’s been through this.


The plan:

• Knock through a single garage (4.84m × 2.99m) into the living room (4.84m × 3.3m).
• This creates one big room: approx. 4.84m × 6.3m (around 30.5m²).
• Convert the space into a dedicated home cinema with a 7.2.4 Atmos setup and a 150″ acoustically-transparent fixed frame screen.
• Aim is almost no compromise: good sound isolation, proper acoustics, high-end AV gear, laser projector, recliner seating, controlled lighting.

Complications:

• The boiler isn’t on the knock-through wall, but some heating pipes are — so they’ll need rerouting. Might swap to a heat pump to get rid of the boiler from the garage.
• Wall may be load-bearing, so expecting RSJ + structural engineer involvement.
• Garage conversion requires full insulation, damp-proofing, heating, and compliance with regs.
• Want excellent acoustic treatment and ventilation/cooling that doesn’t add noise.

Spec I’m leaning toward:

• 7.2.4 Atmos layout (separate amplification, high-end speakers, dual subs).
• 150″ AT screen with 4K laser projector (ceiling mounted, hush box if needed).
• Soundproofed structure: resilient bars, Green Glue, MLV, acoustic door.
• Lighting: dimmable circuits, ambient LED, blackout blinds.
• Seating: 3–4 cinema recliners, possibly tiered.
• Star-ceiling / fabric wall panels for both aesthetics and acoustics.

Questions for the community:

1. Has anyone here done a garage+living room knock-through for a cinema? Any pitfalls to watch for?
2. Realistic cost ranges for structural + conversion + cinema fit-out?
3. What would you consider the biggest bang-for-buck items (and biggest money pits)?
4. How would you balance spend between projector/screen vs. speakers vs. room treatment?

 

[hornetstinger]

1 and 2 I haven't done so can't offer advice (mine is just in a living room)
3- AV pre amps are very expensive, compared to AVR's. Power amplifiers aren't generally that expensive although some brands are but they're a buy once item. You'll have to decide the number of boxes you'll want, or if you want to go to more boxes to seperate the channels, ie no compromise high end would be monoblocs all round but this is top end really. You can buy 11 channel amplifiers if you just want one box.
4- I don't have a projector.

Also have to decide if you want good stereo.

AV pre amps

Anthem
Trinnov
Storm
Marantz


All I can offer is demo lots of brands within your budget, size, finish, and of course sound and price.

But if I was building a room from scratch I'd probably want to have trunking for cables that you can replace yourself later if needed without ripping the wall off especially for HDMI. Get network cable ports down as well. and plenty of power sockets.

7.2.4 in that room sounds ok. I have a 9.3.4 av pre power system with dedicated amplifiers. In that room a couple of decent 12" ported subwooofers should be good enough have a look at mr wolfs subwoofer guide.

 

[hornetstinger]

One option is get a avr then decide if you want dedicated power amplifier say a three channel for left center and right using the avr for the remaining .

Denon AVC-X6700H review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2021 winner. Denon’s AV amps come back refreshed after a break

www.whathifi.com

Then keep that for a bit decide which brand AV pre amp to get then pull out the avr , and buy a remaining power amplifier at the same time. Maybe look for second hand AVR so the savings can go into the speakers/sub/room etc - because AV pre amps aren't cheap

Anthem AVM 70 8K (Black)

Shop for Anthem AVM-70 8k (Black) 15.2 Dolby Atmos and DTS X AV Processor with Richer Sounds for expert advice and Lowest Prices Guaranteed

www.richersounds.com

Depends if you're sort of person that wants to buy once, or add/upgrade in stages.

I do prefer av pre power but they do cost a lot more. I wouldn't want to spend AVM70 sort of money on 1 item it's just too much

 

[sk3lph]

I have been through this and I built my room on top of a double garage rather than the way you are doing it - nearly 10 years ago my project kicked off.

It looks to me that your requirements are pretty much aligned with mine - if I was to do it again I'd have paid more attention to room treatment as my subs occasionally find resonant frequencies above the ceiling but its a minimal issue.

Feel free to have a look at the the Build log I did for ideas and post pics as I'm sure there will be lots of interest and comment from everyone on here.

sk3lph's Media/Cinema room

 

[Distracted]

I have been through this and I built my room on top of a double garage rather than the way you are doing it - nearly 10 years ago my project kicked off.

<Snip>

That looks amazing. How do you decide who gets the middle seat?

 

[sk3lph]

That looks amazing. How do you decide who gets the middle seat?

If I have people round I'll of course always step aside and let someone else have the best seat

 

[pugheaven]

Hi all,

I’m planning a big project and would love some advice, cost ideas, and things to consider from anyone who’s been through this.


The plan:

• Knock through a single garage (4.84m × 2.99m) into the living room (4.84m × 3.3m).
• This creates one big room: approx. 4.84m × 6.3m (around 30.5m²).
• Convert the space into a dedicated home cinema with a 7.2.4 Atmos setup and a 150″ acoustically-transparent fixed frame screen.
• Aim is almost no compromise: good sound isolation, proper acoustics, high-end AV gear, laser projector, recliner seating, controlled lighting.

Complications:

• The boiler isn’t on the knock-through wall, but some heating pipes are — so they’ll need rerouting. Might swap to a heat pump to get rid of the boiler from the garage.
• Wall may be load-bearing, so expecting RSJ + structural engineer involvement.
• Garage conversion requires full insulation, damp-proofing, heating, and compliance with regs.
• Want excellent acoustic treatment and ventilation/cooling that doesn’t add noise.

Spec I’m leaning toward:

• 7.2.4 Atmos layout (separate amplification, high-end speakers, dual subs).
• 150″ AT screen with 4K laser projector (ceiling mounted, hush box if needed).
• Soundproofed structure: resilient bars, Green Glue, MLV, acoustic door.
• Lighting: dimmable circuits, ambient LED, blackout blinds.
• Seating: 3–4 cinema recliners, possibly tiered.
• Star-ceiling / fabric wall panels for both aesthetics and acoustics.

Questions for the community:

1. Has anyone here done a garage+living room knock-through for a cinema? Any pitfalls to watch for?
2. Realistic cost ranges for structural + conversion + cinema fit-out?
3. What would you consider the biggest bang-for-buck items (and biggest money pits)?
4. How would you balance spend between projector/screen vs. speakers vs. room treatment?

This was mine...

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/pugs-new-cinema-build-double-garage-conversion.18904346/

 

[hornetstinger]

Also recommend adding a audio streamer, NAS/server for music playback.

 

[hornetstinger]

made any decisions?

AVR, av pre amp & power amplifier?

This is good value if you want a single box 11 channel power amplifier

ToneWinner AD-8300PA 11 channel power amplifier | Kalibrate Limited | Home Cinema products, Calibration, DVD Players, 3D Glasses | Audio Systems | Cinema Systems

ToneWinner AD-8300PA 11 channel power amplifier

www.chromapure.co.uk

Or this for a 7 channel

IOTAVX AVXP 7-230 7 channel power amplifier - HifiPilot, 2.199,00 €

With 230 watts per channel, the 7-channel power amplifier delivers an incomparable sound spectacle. The two large toroidal transformers together provide 2,6

iotavx.com

nice one here apollo

Apollon Audio Amplifiers | Apollon Audio Hypex Purifi Premium Amplifiers

apollonaudio.com

Multi Channel Ncore Amps | KJF Audio

We don’t sell anyone else’s amplifiers, just our own designs. All of them are based upon the Hypex N-core NC***MP series of amplifier modules. The MA-01 is a fully customisable multi-channel amplifier. Designed for a world of changing needs, this amplifier can be reconfigured back at base so...

kjfaudio.com

 

[Distracted]

This was mine...

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/pugs-new-cinema-build-double-garage-conversion.18904346/

I remember this one. Another amazing build, and I loved the heads and whatnot that were in the room.

 

[SenTineL]

AV pre amps

Anthem
Trinnov
Storm
Marantz

You should probably add Lyngdorf to that list too.

The big three are generally Trinnov, Lyngdorf and Storm. Anthem and Marantz have some great flagship products, they're maybe not at the same level as those three.

Speak to dealers and get a demo of as much as possible, they can offer advice on the build and some will manage the project if you want to offload that to them too.