Need suggestions on system for new basement

This is the layout of my new house's finished basement I will be moving into in November. I'm going to set up a basement home theater, similar to what I have now. The only difference is that the space is a little smaller. So that I don't have to go with a smaller screen, I'm probably going to set up an acoustically transparent fixed screen with in-wall speakers behind it. I figured that'll work out nicely for timbre-matching anyway with 3 equally sized speakers, and will make for a very clean install. I will then have in-wall speakers for the surrounds as well.

I'm thinking I have two options as far as arrangement:

Option 1:



Option 2:



Blue = screen
Green = sofa
Red = speakers

I see disadvantages and advantages for both.

Option 1 makes for an open-feeling seating, which could be good or bad. I may be exaggerating the size of the sofa, but Option 2 is "cozier". Option 2 has seating near the HVAC room, which may produce some noise. Option 2, however, allows for 7.1. I'm not sure how I would pull off Option 1 with 7.1, unless the side channels were ceiling mounted. Also, there's more potential for light reflection off walls in Option 1, though one advantage would be the ability to paint the 3 walls adjacent to the screen a dark color. Can't do that in 2.

Keep in mind the window is a basement window that faces nothing. It's below ground level. I'm not getting the optional bathroom or fireplace, although I do plan on buying a little bar where the opt. bathroom would go.

One concern is acoustics. I realize neither is optimal, but am wondering what would be best.

I'm a little hesitant to do an in-wall sub. Seems like that much bass directly on a wall would be troublesome. I'm in a new townhouse with very good sound insulation from neighbor to neighbor, but still. I'm an end unit... so the left side faces no one. Another consideration.

I have a good amount of time before I will be installing the speakers in the walls. At least 2-3 months after move-in. So I can try both arrangements with my existing speakers and project against the wall in the meantime to get a feel for both setups. But I would love to hear some opinions on the matter either way.

Also very interested in hearing suggestions for reasonably priced:

• In-wall speakers
• Acoustically transparent fixed screen, preferably DIY for cost savings

I know someone has some advice.

top

Actually there is no fireplace, that is just an option.

And yes - on the window I will have total light blocking cellular shades.

My only worry with Option 2 and an open backed speaker like the Speakercrafts is that my neighbor is opposite the wall where the L/C/R speakers would be. Again, I'm an end unit so there's nothing on the left wall but foundation.

Now, granted we don't share the same exact wall and there's a firewall in-between us, , but I don't know much about townhouse structural engineering and sound insulation.

I used that generic batting to fill a boomy sub a while back and it worked great. I'm sure it would do wonders for in-walls.

I don't see any enclosures that Speakercraft makes for the Cinema series, just the LCR's. Unless I'm missing something. I think I would want the Cinema's, just not sure that the LCR's would be anywhere near a full range sound.

I've heard a lot of people warn about non-enclosed in-walls and lots of people swear by speakers like Triad's where the back is enclosed.

Well, one nice thing about the Speakercrafts are the price. I haven't seen any enclosed in-walls that inexpensive. They're more than half the price of Triad's, generally.

If I wanted to go with their enclosures, I could go with the LCR's in front with their enclosures, and then one or two powered 8" subs in front with their enclosures. That way I get the bass of the Cinema's, if not more as the sub(s) would have a dedicated power source.

Then I could do a bigger 10" or 12" sub behind the couch for the harder hitting deep bass.

That could work if I didn't want to make my own enclosures, and would still be quite a bit cheaper than a Triad system.

Builder says there's a 2 hour firewall that should isolate sound from neighbor. Any thoughts?

Looks like I might be going with an SVS PC12-NSD subwoofer behind the couch if I go with option 2.

One thing I still like about option 1 is the ability to paint the wall the screen is on black. That would be cool.

I think I will be getting my screen material from Seymour. http://www.SeymourAV.com/

Lastly, I've been torn about where to put my components. Now I'm seriously considering using the utility room to house them. Just build some shelves and be done with it. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would hide them. The only question is whether my Playstation 3 controllers will still work. Maybe not.