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Basement Theater Ideas

2410 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by magnetic1, May 27, 2007

magnetic1

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2007

Hello guys! new here and amazed by all the projects Ive seen.

We are in the middle of remodeling our basement and wanted to get some ideas on a particular wall. The room is 19x12 and is going to be separated from the rest of the basement with a 3' high half wall.

My question is for the front wall. There is a cutout in the foundation. My guess is it has something to do with the fireplace upstairs. The problem is the cutout is way too small to put a screen in... it is right smack in the middle almost. I was thinking about putting in a custom shelf to put equipment in and having a projector screen that comes down over it.

The wall with the window will have 2 sconces. The windows are under the deck, so outside light coming in is minimal. The opposing wall has a soffit up top which will house some recessed lights.

Current plans are to put in a Panny projector on a screen between 80-100".

Any ideas/comments/complaints would be appreciated! Pictures below:

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TimSaupe

· #2 · May 11, 2007

That's funny mag - I have the exact condition in my screen wall as well and the fireplace is directly above it. I was thinking that maybe the sub could go there in a bass trap?

Otherwise, I'm not sure what to use it for . . .

ChrisWiggles

· #3 · May 11, 2007

Make a secret compartment!

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magnetic1

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TimSaupe /forum/post/0

That's funny mag - I have the exact condition in my screen wall as well and the fireplace is directly above it. I was thinking that maybe the sub could go there in a bass trap?

Otherwise, I'm not sure what to use it for . . .

I was thinking perhaps the same... but the space is very tall...

Perhaps just make a flat wall back there? then build a projector screen frame in front of it?

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TimSaupe

· #5 · May 11, 2007

Yes it is tall - but I was thinking of framing it off to enclose part of it.

But of course, for all I know, placing the sub in a box in the middle of your screen wall is a very stupid idea.

magnetic1

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 11, 2007

Speaking of secret compartments. Ive seen some racks in threads where the equipment was completely hidden behind a door that matched the column, etc. Maybe something like that would work well in this space.....

How flexible are screens? ie. can it be on top of the door and swing open?

dc_pilgrim

· #7 · May 11, 2007

Post the pic in the accoustic thread (sticky in this forum). That space might be good for bass trapping (just jam it full of insulation and cover it with fabric, not drywall).

magnetic1

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_pilgrim /forum/post/0

Post the pic in the accoustic thread (sticky in this forum). That space might be good for bass trapping (just jam it full of insulation and cover it with fabric, not drywall).

Dave, do you know where in the 76 pages that pic is?

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McCall

· #9 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TimSaupe /forum/post/0

Yes it is tall - but I was thinking of framing it off to enclose part of it.

But of course, for all I know, placing the sub in a box in the middle of your screen wall is a very stupid idea.

Yes it absolutely is a very stupid idea. You could place a center speaker if it is in fact the center of our screenwall, and if you are using an acoustically transparent screen but you don't want a sub behind your screen period.

TimSaupe

· #10 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by McCall /forum/post/0

but you don't want a sub behind your screen period.

But what if it is below it? I wasn't really thinking *right behind* the screen . . . it would rest on the floor with the screen in front and above it . . .

wayhigh

· #11 · May 15, 2007

Your cutout is likely where the fireplace ash catcher was supposed to go but no one ever created the front wall and small door for it.

In my house, there's a trapdoor in the fireplace that allows for ashes to be swept into it so that you can vacuum them out at a later date. Works pretty well actually.

dc_pilgrim

· #12 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by magnetic1 /forum/post/0

Dave, do you know where in the 76 pages that pic is?

At the end, when you post it and ask a question.

BIGmouthinDC

· #13 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TimSaupe /forum/post/0

But what if it is below it? I wasn't really thinking *right behind* the screen . . . it would rest on the floor with the screen in front and above it . . .

That would solve the behind the screen problem. But the sub should not be centered between the left and right walls because of the way that the reflected sound waves form standing nodes of amplification and cancellation throughout the room.

To observe this problem get a cd with a few single sustained bass notes. (can be downloaded free) Put it on you system and walk around the room. Most often you will find places in the room where it is much louder than others. Your goal is to minimize this problem so that wherever you are sitting the sound has the same volume.

Strategies to accomplish this are Sub-woofer location, use of multiple subwoofers, and acoustically treating the room to absorb the unwanted excess bass reflections.

As for the Sub location along the front wall the number one No No is in the center of the room. From what I've read the sub should be located either at the 1/3s or the 1/5s of room width. Be flexible in your design and when the room is done take your sub for a walk across the front (or sides and back) or the room to determine the best location.

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dc_pilgrim

· #14 · May 15, 2007

What if the space was enclosed to be an infinte baffle setup?

tlogan6797

· #15 · May 15, 2007

I have the same thing in my basement. I think it was desgined to put in ANOTHER firelplace if the builder finished the room (among some other totally stupid design ideas - like, building a closet around two supporting poles to hide them, but which would be stuck out in the middle of nowhere).

My plan is to make that the equipment closet and put an SMX screen in front. By using an RF repeater and putting the DVD player below the screen, I should only have to get in behind there rarely. Of course now that I can't the get SMX, I may have to rethink that plan.

Tom

Tom

drin

· #16 · May 15, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by tlogan6797 /forum/post/0

Of course now that I can't the get SMX, I may have to rethink that plan.

Not true at all. You can buy an SMX screen from Ruben, and a frame to go with it. He even has some incredible pricing for AVS forum memebers right now. You just can't buy the SMX material on its own.

-drin

tlogan6797

· #17 · May 15, 2007

Well, I meant that I couldn't get it as a DIY project to custom fit it in there.

Tom

magnetic1

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 27, 2007

Got the drywall up. Going to fill up the top portion behind the screen and build a shelf on the bottom for a center speaker. Fill the rest to make a bass trap. Thoughts? Comments?

Link to big pic:

http://brakeswapracing.com/ericwong/...t/IMGP2173.JPG

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