home theater on a beer budget

[lazydays]

Beer budget might be overstating it, let's go even cheaper than that. I do "guys movie nights" in the garage every few months so I'm not looking for fancy but I am looking for fun.

So far I have a Vivitek D510 2600 Lumen SVGA HDMI 120Hz 3D-Ready Portable DLP Projector. It is definitely low budget and I can see the little rainbow artifact occasionally but for my uses it is ideal. It has plenty of lumens for my uses (I can black out the garage windows) and it has an hdmi port for good quality images. I bought it for $329
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A4H...hs_product

My next step is to purchase a screen. I was looking at the Epson Duet 80-Inch Dual Aspect Ratio Projection Screen, Portable 4:3 and 16:9 Aspect Ratio Screen but several people have told me I should go even larger. At $115 I like the price but I could go a little higher. Painting a wall isn't an option in my garage as my walls are stuffed with tools.
http://www.amazon.com/Epson-80-Inch-Aspe...pd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IOTB51UF3RXMI&colid=5IZQ455KZ8GR

Seating seems like a challenge. If I only have 6-8 guys over then lawn chairs work but they aren't the most comfortable and I'm not sure how to go beyond that 8 person limit. Rows? Some type of elevation? Different kind of seating?

Keep in mind this is just for fun, it's always a drinking event and there's nothing fancy about it. As of yet no women have joined us so there's no need for anything to be "nice" at all.

Thoughts on the screen and the seating? Thanks.

[onthedownlow]

Check out the the screens towards the bottom of the page: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdep...p?c_id=109&cp_id=10829

[Ombligo]

Bean bags for chairs...? individual ones are around $40 at Wally World. They have couch versions too. Try hitting up a thrift shop for some lounge chairs.

Can you ceiling mount a screen?
if you can -- 84" for $99

[davester]

After a couple of beers, grandma's old B&W TV with the rabbit ears will look just fine. You did say "beer budget".

[testcase]

"Invite" hookers over and sit on their laps........


:wink:

[OWC Jamie]

repurpose the jib for a screen



doesn't the denali seat 7 or 8 ?



whoever buys rides shotgun







* let the air out of the back tires and the empties might roll out the back door

[Filliam H. Muffman]

120" pull down screen for $110 - http://www.amazon.com/FAVI-PD-HD-120-16-...0035IV81E/

Beanbag chairs for the front row could work, then lounge chairs from a thrift shop for the second row, or build a couple of really cheap chaise lounges and with foam pads.

[lazydays]

Filliam, I really like that screen. I'm changing up to that one for sure. Not portable but I would be rocking easy to just grab and pull.

[Dennis S]

"I'm not sure how to go beyond that 8 person limit. Rows? Some type of elevation? Different kind of seating?"

2 X 12 bleachers.

Rig it where you can stack the long ones in the corner when you're not using them.

[sekker]

We've used a white flat sheet hung on a wall as a decent projector screen on many occasions. You can deal with the biggest annoyance - the creases - by simply ironing before hanging.

Save the $$ for a decent sound system. That'll be a bigger issue, IMHO.

Is your projector noisy (i.e. does it have a loud fan)? You may want to consider some sound proofing - maybe a 270 degree wrapper box with one clear side. Then send the fan and heat out the back and keep everyone in front.

As for seating - lots of solutions. You could have people BYOC and you bring the beer!

Otherwise, I think the best inexpensive seating come from yard sales.