dmoney24
10-27-09, 04:17 PM
I'm in the process of finishing our basement and need some help. This is the second basement I've finished, and for whatever reason, this one is posing more challenges. First, this room will have a fireplace. At this point, I think the fireplace needs to be centered to the room. I considered putting it in the corner and angled at 45 degrees facing out to the room, but there is not enough room due to placement of windows (partial exposure) on the wall it would share.
Below is a diagram of the room, see attached.
The majority of the room has roughly 9 foot ceilings; however, that portion from the blue dotted line back to the wet bar will be just under 8 feet (due to steel beam support and placement of duct work.
As you can see, it is largely open to the back of the room (which is fine, we will have gaming items such as fooseball, pool table, stuff like that -- eventually). I'm not interested in closing off this portion of the room. I'd like to view the TV from this area when playing pool or what not. I'm comfortable with a 52 inch TV for this occasional use. I would be watching a sporting event in this type of case and feel the viewing distance is fine for this.
I am looking at buying a Samsung 52" LN52B630 flat panel LCD. I have a 5.1 channel Yamaha receiver with a digital coaxial optical output, I believe (it is a 530, maybe 8 years old or so). I have a center channel speaker, two bookshelf speakers, two rear surround speakers (all from Phase Technology -- again 8 years old or so), and a larger Mirage subwoofer. These are all from the older basement I finished in 2000 or 2001. Again, I'm not sure what of any of these components I can use, based on the design of the space. Again, much will depend on the placement of the television.
So here's the first issue: Where to place the TV? I see two options: 1) above the fireplace or 2) to the right of the fireplace on the cabinet (or on a bracketed arm). I don't need or want a raised hearth, so the fireplace will essentially be flush with the floor. As far as design, it won't be huge. A simple surround of some sort around the fireplace, and then a mantle. The cabinets on each side of the fireplace will be standard and stock, with nothing more than some sort of top on them. No shelving or cabinets above them.
Once the placement of the TV is resolved, it must be balanced with how to design the audio components. In other words, if the TV is centered and over the fireplace, I can likely use the bookshelf speakers and simply place them on each side of the fireplace. Center channel speaker is a little tricky. Using the rears pose a challenge again, but I think they could be used.
One option is placing the TV to the side, and getting a new sound bar (I'm considering a new Polk Audio SurroundBar 50). I have no experience with these types of speaker alternatives, but seem to have a place for this type of placement.
Hopefully I can at a minimum get some thoughts or pros/cons with the alternatives.
Below is a diagram of the room, see attached.
The majority of the room has roughly 9 foot ceilings; however, that portion from the blue dotted line back to the wet bar will be just under 8 feet (due to steel beam support and placement of duct work.
As you can see, it is largely open to the back of the room (which is fine, we will have gaming items such as fooseball, pool table, stuff like that -- eventually). I'm not interested in closing off this portion of the room. I'd like to view the TV from this area when playing pool or what not. I'm comfortable with a 52 inch TV for this occasional use. I would be watching a sporting event in this type of case and feel the viewing distance is fine for this.
I am looking at buying a Samsung 52" LN52B630 flat panel LCD. I have a 5.1 channel Yamaha receiver with a digital coaxial optical output, I believe (it is a 530, maybe 8 years old or so). I have a center channel speaker, two bookshelf speakers, two rear surround speakers (all from Phase Technology -- again 8 years old or so), and a larger Mirage subwoofer. These are all from the older basement I finished in 2000 or 2001. Again, I'm not sure what of any of these components I can use, based on the design of the space. Again, much will depend on the placement of the television.
So here's the first issue: Where to place the TV? I see two options: 1) above the fireplace or 2) to the right of the fireplace on the cabinet (or on a bracketed arm). I don't need or want a raised hearth, so the fireplace will essentially be flush with the floor. As far as design, it won't be huge. A simple surround of some sort around the fireplace, and then a mantle. The cabinets on each side of the fireplace will be standard and stock, with nothing more than some sort of top on them. No shelving or cabinets above them.
Once the placement of the TV is resolved, it must be balanced with how to design the audio components. In other words, if the TV is centered and over the fireplace, I can likely use the bookshelf speakers and simply place them on each side of the fireplace. Center channel speaker is a little tricky. Using the rears pose a challenge again, but I think they could be used.
One option is placing the TV to the side, and getting a new sound bar (I'm considering a new Polk Audio SurroundBar 50). I have no experience with these types of speaker alternatives, but seem to have a place for this type of placement.
Hopefully I can at a minimum get some thoughts or pros/cons with the alternatives.