Hi Folks, I am in the midst of building a HT room in a new home construction and I am really racking my brain on this one. The room measures 15'2" by 14'7". I wanted to build a stage for a scope screen too however if I do not build out a stage this may even take more length out of the room or not?

So I have came up with three options I will attach for everyone to give me their honest opinion what they would choose and why.

1# option Lets say first the maximum room length that we would get would be lets say 14'10" after drywall, and if I were to leave 3 feet behind back row from North wall and then have a 5 foot riser base to allow for couch or chairs to be placed on. That would leave the first row at a approx distance 6"10' from the scope screen. Is that seem to close for viewing a scope screen?

#2 option What I could do is have the riser base only 2 feet from the back wall, and make the riser base only 4 feet in depth, and this would bring the front row to viewing distance of 8'10" if my calculations are correct, which to me seems more livable with me as long as the surround effect is still there for the second row.

Option #3 I could scrap the whole idea of second row and riser and then place the theater seats 4 feet from the back wall not on a riser and your prime viewing distance from a single row would be 10'10" from the scope screen. But it would be nice to have more seating than for just three.


Or Option #4 What ever you think my work better than the three suggested above.

I will attach the three scenarios below please anyone let me know what you would prefer to do if it were HT room and why. And any recommendations on size of scope screen, I will have an anamorphic lens too.

Thanks In Advance

Oil Country

Couple of things to answer. What is your typical viewing experience. Is it just you and the Wife 99% of the time, or would you like to have more than 3 people more than 10% of the time.

You left out one option used here a lot. that is to put a row of refurbished theater seats right up against the back wall and a front row of similar seats (see McCall) or the plush HT Recliners 4 ft in front of the back wall. That gives you great seating most of the time and some overflow for those occasions with guests.

Refurbished theater seats are readily available from on line vendors.

Thanks for the advice so far. I spoke to a fellow at a HT seat store and he recommended a 5 seat arrangement with a slightly curved arrangement to wards screen. Has anyone ever tried this? I think it would put my viewing distance at 10 to 11 ft and the rear surrounds at least 3 to 4 feet away then. Any opinions on this please? And what size screen would you recommend then?

Thanks

Oil Country

Any chance of flipping the set-up 180 degrees?

Sanjay

I'd probably go with option #2, but I'd make the rear riser 5' total in depth and use real theater seats there. This would allow you to put recliners in the front row and your distance from the front row would be about 9' (from the eyes).

Any chance of flipping the set-up 180 degrees?
Sanjay

I agree with this. Turning the room around would allow for the entrance more toward the read (so people can walk in and take their seat, instead of walking in and blocking everyone's view).

Option #2
I agree that the entrance should be in the rear. The real theater seats on the back row is also a good idea...I'm doing that myself :-)
Can't wait to see this one start to shape up!
-Cam

Couple of things to answer. What is your typical viewing experience. Is it just you and the Wife 99% of the time, or would you like to have more than 3 people more than 10% of the time.
You left out one option used here a lot. that is to put a row of refurbished theater seats right up against the back wall and a front row of similar seats (see McCall) or the plush HT Recliners 4 ft in front of the back wall. That gives you great seating most of the time and some overflow for those occasions with guests.
Refurbished theater seats are readily available from on line vendors.
Funny thing, that is EXACTLY what I did. I have the main seats (3) at 12' from 120" diagonal cinemascope screen, and the refurbs (5) at about 17' on the back wall (but NOT touching back wall)
The "cheap seats" as I used to call them (not anymore!) are phenomenal especially when the there is lots of camera motion.....the extra space seems to make it much easier to watch those kinds of movies w/o getting dizzy!

I have two buttkickers mounted on their riser to "move" the patrons as well.... Nice effect, IMHO :)
Best,
Tom
Chinaclipper

Hi I have two rows of real theater seats
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/Arwenmark/augustscreenshots022.jpg

I have 24" behind the seats and riser is 58" deep, but I have 17' screen to rear wall not 14' 7"
My screen is 120" x 51" and seating is 9.5' and 12.5'.
I believe you only have room for One row at an optimum distance then put in bean bags for the overflow, I would go with a straight row not a curved one however.