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IMAX Will Build You a Home Theater -- Starting at $400K (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader shares an Ars Technica report: If you have about $400K to spare, IMAX's Private Theatre division will now build an IMAX cinema setup in your own home. The entry-level IMAX Private Theatre is the "Palais," which starts at about $400,000 for a screening room with up to 18 seats. For your money you get dual 4K 2D/3D projectors, a proprietary IMAX sound system, and a media playback system that supports everything you might want to throw at it (TV, games, Blu-ray, etc.) No word on the exact specifications of the projectors, but they're probably not IMAX-with-laser. Screen size will vary depending on the setup, but generally they will be 3 metres (10ft) tall or more. Stepping up to the "Platinum" IMAX home theatre for about $1 million gets you a much larger screening room with space for up to 40 people.

13 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. How Much More For The Movies by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How much more are they going to charge you for the film everytime you want to watch a movie? It would be a shame to get a set-up like this and then watch inferior Blu-Rays or DVDs on the thing.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:How Much More For The Movies by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2

      Yeah cos their customers are world renowned penny-pinchers.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  2. This is a case of time or money by magarity · · Score: 2

    If I was out making that kind of money, I wouldn't have time to lounge around watching movies on this kind of home system.

    1. Re:This is a case of time or money by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes you would. Rich people don't work as hard as their gardeners. There is this fallacy that the rich "work hard" for their money. Most inherit it.

    2. Re:This is a case of time or money by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      Actually I inherited most of my wealth. Who said I hated the rich? I am just pointing out facts here.

    3. Re:This is a case of time or money by OakDragon · · Score: 2

      Most inherit it.

      Not even close. Maybe 20% tops, depending on how you ask the question. http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/real-1-percent

    4. Re:This is a case of time or money by SonicSpike · · Score: 2

      Actually only about 20% of those who are wealthy inherited it. Read the book "The Millionaire Nextdoor" and it goes into great detail about a study conducted on this very topic. It's a great read.

      --
      Libertas in infinitum
  3. for the man with more brass than sense. by nimbius · · Score: 5, Interesting
    As someone who works in professional lighting and sound systems for a company in Los Angeles, I cant think of a worse decision than an IMAX theatre in your home. youre literally just buying it for the brand.

    you get dual 4K 2D/3D projectors

    And the subsequent headache of trying to source your favourite films in a format compatible with an imax 4k implementation. Enjoy your titles that never came out in an IMAX format because the studio didnt want to spend the money. IMAX projection units are also liquid cooled, require signed hardware and media, and typically require an internet connection.

    a proprietary IMAX sound system

    IMAX has no "sound system." it has a rough set of guidelines for theatre based on dimensions of the room, usually "huge." That having been said, most theatres run EV amps and a combination of Electrovoice or JBL drivers based on cost in your market. scaling this to the size of a home theater means you end up with image problems in the audio. It also means you wind up with a lot of pointless extras like compander/limiter setups that theaters use but you really wont.

    a media playback system that supports everything you might want to throw at it

    That...already exists. its called a home theater receiver or if you're raking in cut-rate lawyer money its something like a leviton system. but beware...once this is installed you really cant just "plug in" whatever new thing comes along and hope it to work. while a modern digital multiplexer might come with 30 ports, most are shut off until you buy a firmware license that lets you use them.

    all in all the biggest concern for this IMAX-in-the-home is the enormous amount of power draw and cooling required just to get 18 of your friends to gloat about your wealth. anyone with the sense could set up something comparable...and if you pick up a magic marker you can probably freehand draw the "IMAX" logo wherever you like.

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    Good people go to bed earlier.
  4. Perfect gaming environment! by drew.kroft2490 · · Score: 2

    For my Atari 2600 Pong

  5. That's not how it works by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

    If I was out making that kind of money, I wouldn't have time to lounge around watching movies on this kind of home system.

    That's not how it works. You think that because you have to work for your money. But money works even when you're not looking. Once you have money, you usually have to actually try to go broke. You know, like Trump.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Re:Best Buy has a better deal... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

    If you have $400K to spend on a home theater, somebody will show up to take your money.

    You shouldn't carry that much cash on your person. Pay by check instead.

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Of course... by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

    Of course, if they just didn't use the gold plated monster cables and cable risers, the cost would be couple hundred bucks...

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.