Twin Peaks Theater and Basement Build

We just finished up the plans for our basement and will be starting construction shortly. This thread will focus on the theater (that's where I need the most help), but I'll also post shots of the other parts of the build as well. Below is the full plan:



I'll be modifying the theater a bit from this. Here's my initial sketch:



The rear opening is a half wall with arched opening into the bar/game area.

And here's the equipment list for the theater:

• Triad Gold LCR
• 4 Triad InWall Silver/4 Surrounds
• Integra 80.3
• 3 Emotiva XPA-1 for LCR duty
• 2 Emotiva XPA-2 for surrounds
• Panamax 5400
• HTPC
• Xbox 360
• Middle Atlantic rack (ERK-4425)
• JVC DLA-RS4810
• 2 18" dual opposed subs custom built by Nathan Funk
• 2 LG FP14000 clones to power subs
• Fixed frame 140” width 2:35 AT screen (Seymour AV, frame by Jamestown)
• 9 Fusion Escapes from Roman

Thanks in advance for thoughts and advice along the way!

Mike
Edited by mjh222 - 2/17/13 at 12:41pm

Reserved

Reserved

Funny on the name ... I probably should have mentioned where it came from as I can see where confusion may arise . I live a bit east of Seattle in the area that the show Twin Peaks was filmed. We've got a nice view of the mountain from our house.

I knew the opening in the back would (justifiably) be one of the first things that came up. It is something we thought long and hard about, and realize it compromises the acoustics of the room but it is the look we want. I had been toying with the idea of the AVS layout service and will think about it a bit more. I already get nauseous when looking at my budget spreadsheet . The general plan for treatments I've been thinking about is Linacoustic behind front speakers, OC 703 triangle bass traps in front corners behind screen wall, OC 703 covered with fabric on top 2/3 of side and rear walls (MDF wainscoting on bottom 1/3), riser built with open air construction/stuffed with insulation for rear bass trap.

Thanks!
Mike
Edited by mjh222 - 11/5/12 at 9:37am

Framing begins!

Here's a shot looking from the front wall to the back of the theater:



And an updated room layout. I moved the door closer to the middle of the room after calculating the first reflection points for the L/R speakers to be ~10.4' from the front row center LP, and not wanting the door to interfere with placement of treatments at the first RP. I used the calculation found HERE for the reflection points and also modeled with THIS software (getting the same results).


Edited by mjh222 - 11/28/12 at 9:56pm

Thanks Dave! Definitely some compromises by going with the open concept, but overall I believe it's the right choice for us. I'm subbed to your thread and watching with great interest. Amazing woodwork you have going on. Best of luck to both of us!

Hi JonMass, thanks for the interest! Yeah, there will likely be occasions where noise from the bar/pool area will enter the theater, but for us it will probably be during big sports events rather than serious movie watching. So, I think we can live with it

We've made a bit more progress with the framing, including stage construction. I'll be ordering sand tomorrow (guesstimating ~100 50# bags of the play sand) and will soon be embarking on the rite of passage to transport it down to the basement.





We need to make a decision on heat as well in the very near future (do not need air conditioning). We've had a couple contractors recommend Cadet in-wall heaters like THIS. I hadn't heard of them before, but they seem to get good reviews. I had been thinking we would do a traditional furnace, but the estimates we are getting for the furnace are in the $10k ballpark, contrasted with the Cadet heaters coming in at ~$2k. Even if the furnace is more efficient (?), that's a lot of energy cost savings we'd need to make up to justify the furnace expense. We are also installing a good-size (37,000 BTU) fireplace in the main bar/game area that we expect to be able to take the chill off the room fairly quickly. Would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Mike
Edited by mjh222 - 11/28/12 at 9:57pm

Thanks electricmanscott and Bacon13 for the thoughts on the HVAC. I've decided that I'm going to give the Cadets a shot (still deciding on model, but considering this one), with the following factoring into the decision:

• About 2/3 of the space is below grade and maintains a pretty comfortable temperature year-round. Similar to electricmanscott, we don't anticipate needing heat many days of the year and when we do, it should be minimal.
• There will be a 37,000 btu fireplace in the main bar/game area and there is a pass-through into the theater nearby.
• Cost ... furnace is an incremental $8k.
• Ability to keep heat off in unused rooms. With the Cadets we can keep them off when not in use (extra bedroom, gym). The furnace pricing we received was for only 1 zone; additional zones would be significantly more.
• We have no need for A/C. We have it in the remainder of the house and we rarely need it there. The basement always stays cool during summer.

Thanks again!
Mike

Just a few more construction pics ...




5,000 pounds of sand and my little helper

Thanks Bacon13! The back of the room is indeed a pass through. My neighbor has already claimed "his" seat to be able to straddle the theater/bar area Thanks for the input on the heat ... it will only be used part time, and expected to be fairly infrequent.

Starting to think about the interior finish of the theater. One of my biggest inspirations is the Cinemar theater, and I'm going for a very similar look. Thank you Mario for so many amazing ideas and the detailed information in your thread! I'm thinking about black wainscoting on the bottom 1/3 of the walls and 2" OC703 around the room on the top 2/3rds of the walls covered with GOM Anchorage Goose. Carpet will likely be one of the Masland Quadrate patterns (Market Square, Times Square, or St. Marks Square).

Image below is one of Mario's renderings. I'll be lucky if I can get anywhere close to this look. I've also been talking with Jeff at Night Sky Murals to do a star ceiling for us.


Edited by mjh222 - 12/3/12 at 4:35pm

We've been making some progress, though a bit slower than we had hoped (isn't that always the case?). Drywall is going up now and expect to be done mudding/taping by end of next week. Here are a couple pics of the theater:

Drywall up (OSB underneath), bottom furred out 2" to match up with 2" OC703 going above the wainscoting.



Riser:



Nathan is almost done with my custom subs, which he's turning into an official product, the 18.2. He's starting to post info here.


Edited by mjh222 - 1/17/13 at 3:01pm