I am an Audiophile who is about to build a "somewhat" custom home that will include a Media Room option. Right now the project looks like this...
So now is my opportunity to "herd" the builder in the right direction on some best practices to make the most of this opportunity. Can't change the room dimensions (17'w x 19'd x 10'h) or layout, but will be able to a lot within those boundaries. Don't know how he will deal with the idea of decoupling clips and green glue, but I intend to push what the forum thinks would be "best practice" as much as possible without driving everyone nuts.
I have some decent sound equipment available to go including B&W speakers. 804s for the fronts and HTM2 for the center. I have DS3 B&W for side surround and Solids for the rear fill.
My first question is how difficult is it to use floor standing and book shelf style speakers in a HT application? Do I need to look at doing an acoustic transparent screen/front to hide them to make things work right? Is it a good practice to mount the book shelf B&Ws on the side walls? Are floor standing rears not a good idea? Should I scrap the floor speaker idea all together and go with traditional HT wall/ceiling speaker configuration? I don't have an unlimited budget for this but I also am able to invest to get this correct. I can tell you I'm looking forward to having the B&W 804/HTM2s in this acoustically superior environment. Would really like to use them front stage. The remainder can be changed with not many regrets.
Also, most of the new home designs we've looked at have the cabling coming out of the middle of the wall the screen is on. That seems a dumb place for the electronics to me. Shouldn't electronics be place out of sight at the rear of the room or even in the room next to the MR?. My layout will have a center-rear located door into a Game Room behind the MR so access from in there would require leaving the room, but would be out of sight. There is space for a closet or rack area in the rear wall of the Media Room would an equipment closet back there be a better idea?
I'm sure that is enough to start with as I continue to cruise the remainder of the Forum for more info.
Thanks!!
Edit 8/26/18: Current Equipment
JVC RS-2000
Carada 136" BW Scope Screen
Tekton Ulfberht Fronts, Tekton Ulf Center, DS3 Surround and Solid Rears
DIY Sub, (2) Dual Opposed Dayton RSS390HF-4 15" drivers powered by dual Crown XLS1000 amps.
Denon 4520ci Integrated Amp. Lyngdorf 2170 in HT mode powering the front mains.
Oppo BDP-103
Home built HTPC
Feickert Volare Turntable with Hana SL cartridge.
Thorens TD-165 that I drug out of the closet and refurbished. Originally purchased in 1974.
So now is my opportunity to "herd" the builder in the right direction on some best practices to make the most of this opportunity. Can't change the room dimensions (17'w x 19'd x 10'h) or layout, but will be able to a lot within those boundaries. Don't know how he will deal with the idea of decoupling clips and green glue, but I intend to push what the forum thinks would be "best practice" as much as possible without driving everyone nuts.
I have some decent sound equipment available to go including B&W speakers. 804s for the fronts and HTM2 for the center. I have DS3 B&W for side surround and Solids for the rear fill.
My first question is how difficult is it to use floor standing and book shelf style speakers in a HT application? Do I need to look at doing an acoustic transparent screen/front to hide them to make things work right? Is it a good practice to mount the book shelf B&Ws on the side walls? Are floor standing rears not a good idea? Should I scrap the floor speaker idea all together and go with traditional HT wall/ceiling speaker configuration? I don't have an unlimited budget for this but I also am able to invest to get this correct. I can tell you I'm looking forward to having the B&W 804/HTM2s in this acoustically superior environment. Would really like to use them front stage. The remainder can be changed with not many regrets.
Also, most of the new home designs we've looked at have the cabling coming out of the middle of the wall the screen is on. That seems a dumb place for the electronics to me. Shouldn't electronics be place out of sight at the rear of the room or even in the room next to the MR?. My layout will have a center-rear located door into a Game Room behind the MR so access from in there would require leaving the room, but would be out of sight. There is space for a closet or rack area in the rear wall of the Media Room would an equipment closet back there be a better idea?
I'm sure that is enough to start with as I continue to cruise the remainder of the Forum for more info.
Thanks!!
Edit 8/26/18: Current Equipment
JVC RS-2000
Carada 136" BW Scope Screen
Tekton Ulfberht Fronts, Tekton Ulf Center, DS3 Surround and Solid Rears
DIY Sub, (2) Dual Opposed Dayton RSS390HF-4 15" drivers powered by dual Crown XLS1000 amps.
Denon 4520ci Integrated Amp. Lyngdorf 2170 in HT mode powering the front mains.
Oppo BDP-103
Home built HTPC
Feickert Volare Turntable with Hana SL cartridge.
Thorens TD-165 that I drug out of the closet and refurbished. Originally purchased in 1974.