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what is the average cost per screen to set up a booth with platters, projection and sound systems. The booth has all electric and venting allready in .Thanks for any help . or guidlines

What size screen are you trying to fill (lamp size required)? What is the size of the auditorium (audio power and speakers required)? Are you looking for new or used equipment? Which digital sound system do you plan on using?

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

My theater supplier friend tells me that the rule of thumb is from 40-60,000 per screen depending on how elaborate you want.

On a budget, you could certainly find ways to come in at a lower figure (e.g., used equipment).

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

agreed. we had a mix of new and used equipment and we have a pretty decent set-up including Dolby digital and we spent around $30K. Nothing fancy mind you but it all works and seems pretty reliable (knock on wood)

You can always go cheaper but you do get what you pay for.
I recommend the following as a basic guideline:
QSC amps - reliable and powerful
Century projector - Reliable, stable image
Century R3/R4 soundhead - goes with the projector
Dolby cat 702 digital soundhead - if you need digital, bite the bullet and buy a good penthouse reader they're mroe reliable than the comparable basement readers.
Strong lamphouse/console - Take your pick, I like consoles and Strong's one of the best
TA10 automation - the ta-10 is a great automation system
CP65 or 650 processor - if you've got the money for the 650 then go for it, but the 65 will do.
Christie aw3 platters - great platters, accept no substitute. properly tuned they run great.
Christie lamps - you can get cheaper, but christie is the best

Good luck

When people list per creen start up cost for the booth as $30,000 per screen (used) does that include screen and sound?

It is possible(not probable) to outfit a 150 seat auditorium for no more than $30,000. This would include projection, sound, screen and seats. The catch- you have to find those "perfect storm" deals and then hope it doesn't need alot of rebuild. Also, the overall package will not be top-of-the-line so if you are going up against any competition, forget it.

I am working a deal at the moment for my new 4 screen theatre that will average about $42,000 per screen with a mix of some excellent new and good used.

I did not have seats in that number .....Can you do a booth with sound and screen ,projector.........

A theatre architect just told me that to equip an auditorium from an empty room ( walls blank too ) to a theatre averages $100K. That is based on new construction for a 12 plex. So the smaller auditoriums cost less than the 300 seat ones but he uses 100K for an average for the whole building. I am sure it can be done for less based on location and how much is done by contractors vs if you can do some of the work or act as your own general contractor etc.

that must be for new construction?????

This comes up a lot around here, and seems (to me) to be one of the hard questions to put a firm number on.

The problems are in the variables... who we are, where we are, who and what we know, and how involved we want to be.

If you have the money, want "top cabin" equipment, and want it installed... all you do is write the check... figure $50k or so for the projector, sound and speakers. That should cover a really nice setup.

Same for new seats... about $150-200 each.

Naturally, it all goes down from there.

I've seen decent used seats, installed for as little as $40 each, including cupholders.

You can get a rebuilt Century projector head for $5,000. It will probably work better than when it was new (at $8k+). You can get the same head from a used equipment dealer (or Ebay) for $800 to $1,500, though you may have to clean it up and replace a few parts. Same for sound heads. Lamphouses range from roughly $1,000 to $5,000 plus power supplies, depending on condition, brand and wattage. Pedestals range from free to $600 or so.

Digital sound players run the same gamut. I've seen DTS players on Ebay for pretty low prices.... didn't Burney buy a couple of them? I've also purchased them new for well over 2,000 plus readers.

I think the factors that will most affect your situation will be whether you want to have all the work done for you or whether you can/want to do any rebuilding and installing yourself. That can knock as much as half off the cost.

New or used makes a huge difference, as does the source of the equipment. How much exploring you have time (and inclination) to do can trim a lot off the cost. If you get a supply company to help, who they are and how close they are to your project would probably make a difference, as well as whether you have a previous ongoing business relationship with them.