Now in the planning stages of a new cinema. We just moved into the house about 2months ago. For me the biggest factor in purchasing this house was the size of the media room (as a side note, why is it so dang hard to find a house with a decent media room?? you people with basements have it easy).

The wife has agreed to let me proceed (I think, she said something about not spending any money... oh well it probably wasn't important). I'm getting the chance to visit CEDIA (sorta) this fall. My wife works in the tradeshow business and is going to be onsite for the setup and first day. I decided to take a few days off work and tag along.

So, on to the room (23'10"L x 14'2"W x 8'6"H):
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/dseyer/HomeTheaterSeating45004.jpg

My current issues/questions are:
- where to locate the equipment. I've been thinking of putting a hole into the laundry room into the cabinets already installed there. Has anyone ever tried this? How would I finish out the theater side of the wall?
- riser size. Should the riser extend all the way to the back wall? I'm not worried about blocking the door, but should I leave more than 1/2" space?
- where to locate acoustic panels. Is there an easy way to estimate the ideal locations for absorption panels (most likely Corning703)?

Advice and opinions are certainly welcome!

Can you locate the equipment somewhere other than the laundry room. I would think that you introduce the possiblity of a lot of noise coming into the room from the washer/dryer if you do that. Perhaps the back wall?

Also, consider using a single, exterior door, instead of the double doors shown. It'll be much easier for sound isolation, and has the added benefit of being cheaper too. That space to the left could then be used for a rack or enclosed AV closet. As Brian mentioned the area behind the back wall could be good too, but it doesn't look like you've planned much room between the back row and the door, so I'm guessing you didn't plan on using that door too often. I would also consider sliding that door to the half bath to the left as well, to keep it further away from the screenwall. The current placement may prevent future upgrades to flase screenwall for AT screen or speaker enclosures, etc. Plus it'll be more comfortable access and easier to trim out the door if it's not right in the corner.

Hope this helps
Chip

Can you locate the equipment somewhere other than the laundry room. I would think that you introduce the possiblity of a lot of noise coming into the room from the washer/dryer if you do that. Perhaps the back wall?
I hadn't thought of noise from the laundry room. That may be a good reason not to go that route. The only other option then is to place the equipment somewhere in the room, which may mean building a cabinet under the screen or in the back corner.

Also, consider using a single, exterior door, instead of the double doors shown.
This is an existing room and I'm trying to make minimal changes. The double doors coming in may get swapped one day. Right now sound isolation isn't a big concern.

would also consider sliding that door to the half bath to the left as well, to keep it further away from the screenwall.
That's part I like least about the room. No chance of moving the bathroom however. I did consider flipping the room and using the other side as a screen-wall, but then I have to deal with an exterior door. Right now I'm planning to either paint a screen on the wall or go with a piece of laminate/Do-able.

I hadn't thought of noise from the laundry room. That may be a good reason not to go that route. The only other option then is to place the equipment somewhere in the room, which may mean building a cabinet under the screen or in the back corner.

Either of those would work.

What is behind the theater? You could build a in-wall cabinet flush with the back wall and have it go into the next room.

What is behind the theater?
On the diagram, the top wall is the only interior wall. The other 3 walls are exterior.

What software did you use to make your floor plan? It doesn't look like sketchup. It looks good, I am looking for something that looks like that.

That looks like Visio.

What software did you use to make your floor plan?
Microsoft Visio 2003. Not a cheap program, but I have access to it at work.

Also, consider using a single, exterior door, instead of the double doors shown. It'll be much easier for sound isolation, and has the added benefit of being cheaper too. That space to the left could then be used for a rack or enclosed AV closet. As Brian mentioned the area behind the back wall could be good too, but it doesn't look like you've planned much room between the back row and the door, so I'm guessing you didn't plan on using that door too often. I would also consider sliding that door to the half bath to the left as well, to keep it further away from the screenwall. The current placement may prevent future upgrades to flase screenwall for AT screen or speaker enclosures, etc. Plus it'll be more comfortable access and easier to trim out the door if it's not right in the corner.

Hope this helps
Chip

He has the right idea. That is what I would do!

Update:
After advice from a few folks I'm putting the AV equipment in the rear of the room. The laundry room idea just doesn't make sense. This raises a question of should I go with an IR repeater or RF remote system(with IR blaster)?

I'm also probably going to go with in-wall speakers because of the bathroom door location. This will leave the room completely open and I think the in-walls will give me a cleaner look. Are there any problems installing in-walls in an exterior wall?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/dseyer/HomeTheaterSeating45004-1.jpg