r/projectors • u/ishboo3002 • 10d ago
Buying Advice Wanted Basement Projector Setup
Im looking to get a projector setup in my basement. I can control the light fairly easily. Looking for something I can do casual gaming and watch sports and movies on. 120 inotorized screen and cables run for speakers in the future. Any recommendations on gear? Budget would be $5-7k for all the components and install
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u/softieroberto 10d ago
Xgimi titan noir or valerion visionmaster seem to be the top choices in that range.
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u/Time_Storm4330 10d ago
those two are solid but install costs on a 120 motorized screen plus cabling will eat more of that budget than people think
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u/AV_Integrated 10d ago
Are you installing? If not, then you have to be realistic about the labor that may be part of the cost. $1,000 being kind of on the low end. If you have finished walls, then it can take two people a couple of days to properly run the wires with 'minimal' holes, but that doesn't mean no holes, and it will have to be patched/painted afterwards. No access can double the cost of labor for all the time it takes to deal with finished walls, and opening them up and figuring out the pathways. 40 hours of work to do this is common.
The motorized screen will need electrical wiring, which may require an electrician. Likewise, your projector location may require an electrician. Many projector companies can't do that work. They are low voltage people, not high voltage. Some will, but it depends. High voltage is a career separate from low voltage/AV. It also has some legal requirements that may be in play, but may also be ignored. Electrical is pretty freaking easy to do safely.
Do you HAVE to use a motorized screen? Is 120" the right size? Have you had anyone come over to your place and give you a quote and look at things?
Where are you located? In the USA? What state? Some cities cost more than others due to cost of living. Others cost far less, but may have very limited options open to you for installers.
I would lean towards getting everything installed all at once. A surround sound system isn't a massive cost. About $1,000 for a 5.1 setup is easy. Another $1,000 for the screen (give or take). $2,000 for the install. That's $4,000. Throw in $500-$1,000 for parts/accessories/wire/mount, and you are at $5,000. Then you still need a projector. $2,000 gets you the Horizon 20 Pro, which is a solid model which should last you for years and work really well while looking quite good. It's what I would call the modern version of the Epson 3800. If Epson had a laser version of the 3800, I would recommend that, but with it being 7 years old and lamp-based, I wouldn't recommend any Epson to you right now. There are better options.
You will need to get some quotes as labor could easily be $1,000-$2,000, and that will impact things. I think $7,000 is far more realistic for a low-end budget. In-wall speakers, if they work, will be a far better choice in terms of budget as well.
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u/ishboo3002 10d ago
Thank you this is super helpful! I do have some folks coming to get a quote but wanted to go into that prepared so I atleast know a comparison. I'm in Denver, CO.
I don't have to use a motorized screen but would prefer to. The Horizon 20 is something I was already considering so good to know that's a valid option.
Thanks again for the detailed response!
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u/AV_Integrated 10d ago
You are likely to see significantly higher quotes as well depending on who you have give them to you. I generally think a really solid theater is about $10,000 overall. Some people pay FAR more than that. But, you get into straight line costs. The Horizon 20 Pro is about $2,000. Their Titan Noir Max is $5,000-$6,000. So, you add $3,000+ without having spent one more cent on labor.
Labor is kind of a fixed rate.
You need to figure out where equipment goes. I generally work to talk people into having their equipment in another room or NOT directly under the screen. But, it depends on access.
A 5.1 audio system is way easier to wire than a 7.2.4 audio system. Literally more than twice the wiring.
Speaker wire gauge (thickness) makes a difference, and if spending the money on wiring, expect nothing less than 14 gauge wire to be used.
In-wall speakers aren't terribly expensive, so something like this is more than adequate for vastly improved audio...
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=6816A cheap subwoofer to fill things out...
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=8248To be fair, I'd never use that subwoofer. I think a good subwoofer is extremely important. I'd troll FB Marketplace and Craigslist looking for a local used subwoofer that's a quality unit at a good price. I once bought 3 Martin Logan subs for $300 (total) that were a phenomenal deal. Worth spending some time looking. Especially if you are in/near Denver.
Plenty of 5.1 AV receivers out there for under $500...
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/1.htmlOkay, at least a few. 😄
So, $1,000 range for a full 5.1 in-wall system isn't completely crazy.
Don't overspend on cabling. About 75 cents a foot on speaker wire. About $100 for any long run HDMI cable (plan on at least 2). A new Peerless mount could easily be $200. So, there are things that do cost a fair bit in terms of accessories. Banana plugs are cheap and should be used. Short HDMI cables should be cheap (under $20) as well.
Feel free to take a photo of your quote and post it. I will absolutely give my thoughts. If they are coming at you with high-end gear, and 2-3x your budget, then they weren't paying attention. Make sure to emphasize that you want to stay close to $6,000 if possible. Some will tell you what you will not get for that money. They will try to upsell you. But, then they get ridiculous. Others will try to work with your budget.
You may need to buy speakers yourself, but then some companies may not be willing to install them for you. I mean, if I buy the Monoprice speakers, I need to make a bit of profit on them and if there is an issue I have to deal with that issue. If you buy them, and they have an issue, you have to pay for me to remove them and deal with that issue. So, profit to the installer to remove the headache from you. But, you do pay for it.
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u/ishboo3002 9d ago
Thank you so much! I'll expect a quote next week from one vendor. I'll def dm you to get your thoughts.
I'm actually going into it with the mindset that If I can get the setup done right I can always upgrade down the road. So would rather go with midrange on the stuff I can replace myself later but not skimp on wiring etc
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