Downunder Theatre MKII - Page 2

G'day Greg - thats the problem, we've sunk WAY too much into that darn thing, its taken valuable theatre coin.

Anyhow, weekend was ok. Saturday wasn't good, first car ride = not like, new surrounds = not like, away from mum = not like. Sunday was better, today better still. Learning some good things like sit, stay, shake hand etc. I'm not going to get much sleep tonight. Its their first night out in the kennel and well, its bucketing down here.....if they stay in it'll be ok, but if they venture out in the rain and cold they'll not be well in the morning. My wife and I are rather worried.....

Anyhow, have zero free time for theatre work at the moment (none spare, but in the case we do, its looking after those two while the other showers etc) and because bunnings are a bunch of idiots, I dont have the first door yet....so in no hurry. I am restoring a couple of arm chairs atm tho so that's another task....as is finishing around the garden. I has to slat of under the back stairs today....naughtly little fiends

Ah dag nabbit.....we went through something similar with Kingstone Homes - they went tits up so we were happy about that. Give Mark Tullipan a call, I can't recommend them enough. You're more then welcome to come round here and see what the finished product 16 month post completion

Right, so no building progess.....we need a "need money? lets start a business thread" this forum is motivating enough

So a bit of down time, back to some planning work. Just so you all know, I'll be using the AVS/Erskine layout service, but I haven't put pen to paper on my ideas yet so I'll be slowing updating here, time permitting. Of course Dennis/his people might give it the thumbs down, but these are just my thoughts for the moment.

Proposed Soffit:
So there are two here, ones got the rear speaker placement and the other will run along the rest of the room. The speakers I have are designed so that they can be placed flush at 45 degrees aimed at the listener, or just hung on a wall as normal. Made by Vaf Research, its called Soundwall.

I am told Soundwall has the following off axis response:
- Around +/-3db out to over 13,000hz as wide as +/-45 degrees
- Actually its supposed to be a little better than that

With Speaker


Without Speaker


So these will run along the room to the front, where I'll have a larger box as a soffit leading into a bar diffuser.

Question - is the 140x140 triangle large enough to move air in/out of the room?

This is the proposed dead vent that I'll have under the house, adjacent to the room in void space - it'll be hung on isolated hangers. I'll build an MDF duct from the dead vent to the soffit, again hung on isolated hangers and attached only to the new ceiling, not the existing house/framework. Oh ignore the different sizes, I couldn't be bothered changing it on sketchup, they'll be the same in/out/duct size

Another soffit option - with a light:

Thanks Dennis - what about the air con "in" for the room - does it need the same sort of thing?

Planned wiring plan:

Room circuits (remembering this is 240v):

Dedicated:
1 x 15 amp for the rack
1 x 10 amp for the lights + ?

Rest of house:
1 x other circuit near the room (10 amp)

The rack will have gear obviously (amps and all that)

The room will have:
- Projector
- Sub(s)
- Possibly a source (a CD player)

- Lights and projector to be on the 10amp one (lights off when projector on?)
- Subs and other in room stuff on the corresponding circuit for that part of the house (just a spare room and a small bathroom)
- HVAC will be on one of the other ones in the house

Just blew something in my AVR....that nice expensive smokey kinda smell.......what a F-ing awesome way to start the weekend......

Trying to sell some gear....

....I am just about over this, thinking perhaps I should just get some headphones and forget the theatre for a good number of years

Hey dont rub it in......! we rented a complete dump of a place when we were building.....I'd dig out the photo, but its too embarrasing to post online, we had boxes of stuff piled everywhere

Well I've sold my mains and sub, so its back to the design drawing board and on with auditions to find something else. in the mean time, I've got some furniture for upstairs to make and then its back into the room.......assuming the receiver doesn't cost $1000s to fix...

Starting with Procella....when the dealer had his room finished.

If I could afford it, I'd like a custom pair of speakers from Aslan Acoustics.....I just like the sound of his high end models. If I had another room for say 2 channel listening, I'd splurge on that......lets not get ahead of myself here

Well actually I started with Genelec.....but the room was crap and as a result so was the sound. I am hoping Procella will be as impressive as everyone makes out. If not I'll be off to Melbourne to listen to a good room with Genelec and some Seatons.

Subs? either Procella, Genelec or Danley

One cautionary note: my wife spent most of yesterday in Hospital, not life threatening, but lets say I am worried it'll being forward some biological capital expenditure (thats a bankers way of saying having children), which will automatically can the theatre works.....now if that happens I'll come labour for you on weekends and after work so we can get your room done and I can live at your place

Well, the doctors have spoken. The Downunder Theatre MkII is hereby officially on long term hold. It'll become the Downunder storage room/workshop MkI

Positives (strictly AV perspective, lets not get into a philosophical debate here):
- When we do, do it, it'll be done 150% (no cost cutting, no compromise)
- I'll drag Dennis out of retirement in Tonga in about 15 years time, put that in your diary please
- I'll get to put a fairly decent solution into our living room now (but with a TV)

So on that last point, I'll post some photos in coming days/weeks to get some ideas. I'm already thinking about it.the problem will be surrounds mounted in 3300mm high ceilings.

So initial thoughts:
- Procella P6's x 3 mounted to the TV wall, covered in a nice kinda fabric)
- Where there isn't a P6 I'll put insulation/absorption (we have hardwood floors)
- Procella P10 sub, either under the TV or somewhere else in the room
- Surrounds? I'll need some divine intervention on that one
- We're getting a rug
- I'm going to make a bass trap ottoman
- Instead of hanging glass framed photos on the walls, I'll have acoustic panels printed instead.unless that costs $1000's

I can't leave it there without some thankyous to all of those people who have helped to date:

1. Dennis Erskine (aka God, occasionally grumpy man and AVS King) - as I've been compiling his many, many useful insights he's also offered me other bits and pieces of advice that have been invaluable. When I first starting thinking about a dedicated room, it was very basic and I would have had a poor outcome. Though Dennis' inspiration and advice the room started to develop into something a lot more special. Hopefully one day I will be able to complete it in a way that is fitting. Thankyou

2. Ted White (Mr Soundproofing) - I had never contemplated the enormity of the task. Ted has been able to break it down into lots of little steps and clearly define what is required, what will work and what wont. Many thanks

3. Roger Dressler - how good is it to see a room the same size completed beforehand! Again Roger has given me loads and loads of ideas to improve the room, at little or no cost. Again thankyou

And thankyou to everyone else for their encouragement and general support to date.

Warm regards,
Peter

Thanks Greg......erh these things happen. I think "perspective" is the correct word to use. Whilst its dissapointing, it does give me a blank cheque (dont read that Dennis ) when it comes time to do it right......yum Runco.........drooooool

The only annoying thing is I wanted somewhere quiet to go and sit and listen to music,yes thats the main thing I am annoyed about. Now say if I get 2 Procella P8's, these babies can run full time at 116db....in a 8mx8m room with hard surfaces and no real isolation, thats going to sh!t our neighbours something chronic.

The other annoying thing about not having a soundproof room is fan noise.....my pet hate, I mean it really, really gets under my collar. We've got a fridge, a freezer, a gas heater, ceiling fans, two dogs, a commercial grade cooker, a wife, a dishwasher (same thing right? )

I'll be more than happy to come round and give you a hand....time permitting.

P.S. Coopers or Squires Amber Ale fits the bill actually vodka is my preferred thing, you'll have to come round to an "appreciation afternoon" I've got all sorts of things from all over the globe

Unless I get a stupidly massive bonus one year its going to be quite some time. I'm budgeting on 10 years.....we'll need a new car in there as well....two very large dogs sqeezed into the back of a Golf isn't going to work well with a couple of kids as well.

I think the layout/acoustic design thing Dennis or SMB offers is great value for money. That way you'll know you've got everything just in the right spot, instead of perhaps putting something 1/2 a foot to the left, instead of the right and as a result its a significant deterioration in quality. Good value for peace of mind.

Also glad you're going to DIY the room - I'd not let a builder anywhere near your precious clips if they'd not used them before.....try finding someone in this whole darn country that has....they're few and far between.

Not sure about the home brew, but if its over a good movie I think I'll manage