u/ThisHumerusIFound

Just had service installed. Cut my other cameras forcing me to buy new ones, damaged my siding (cracks and chips/breaks), used 0 sealant, missed placing a sensor, misplaced a sensor that broke on day 1 already (wrong size), put the panel on without filling the old holes and put it on low and crooked with the open holes sitting unevenly above. Spent over 5 hours on the phone and got no where. Only got a reply once I left a review. Then the email chain was pretty terrible but at least led to someone coming out to document on the issues. They damaged and threw out my own property. And most importantly forged a signature. Absolutely terrible installation and absolutely terrible customer service.

I've never had a theater/dedicated space. Just a TV in a living room on a stand.

I'm moving into a house next week that has a theater in place. There is also a "storage" room behind where the screen is. There is no wall there, almost like an extension of the room (but more narrow, so not functional as part of the theater proper). It was designed that was as the previous owner put in the projector as a rear-projection set up with the translucent screen (100") taking up the space where the wall would have otherwise gone. As well, the amp and receiver stack are in that room.

In case the picture doesn't post/show (never been able to get it to post one before), both rooms are rectangular. Picturing it like a floor plan, the storage room is to the left (12'5" x 7'1") and is "centered" relative to the theater which is to the right (25'5" x 15'4"). There are two door ways (back right and right). The right is a double-door. Center of the theater ceiling is a recess for a night sky set-up (specifically noting because I don't recall how much space there is from the door opening to the night sky set-up for the sake of a ceiling mounted front-projector).

Current equipment:
Screen: Stewart 100" (88" width, with rough 1' on both sides additional space)
Projector: Sim2 C3X Grand Cinema
Receiver: McIntosh MX135
Amp: McIntosh MC207
Speakers: unsure

Theater is perfectly functional as-is, but I want to upgrade within the next year. Considering making it a front projection set up for better picture quality and I can put in a slightly larger screen (likely 120" +/- due to the angles of the walls that cant be moved. Potentially slightly adjusted, but likely not worth the hassle though.

If I went with front projection, was thinking of taking advantage of actually having that room to put speakers, subs, etc with an acoustically transparent screen.

That all said, I'm a complete newb.

Would you leave as is and just upgrade some equipment with the 100" screen with rear projection?

Would you make the switch like I'm thinking about?

How much room is needed to take full advantage of speakers behind the screen like commercial theaters? I see many with speakers behind by cutting into the wall or making a false wall, but to mitigate space loss, speakers are right up to/nearly up against the screen. With the room I have, how much space is ideal?

In any case, what suggestions do you have for upgrades (likely looking to upgrade most except maybe the MC207)?

What would you do?

Thanks for any and all suggestions, ideas, things to think about, etc!

AVOID

Suggestions, ideas for staging for a newb. TIA!