Nashional Theater Project

Here's the final design I received yesterday (before shopping for builders).

NashTech,

You and I have a very similar profile room (nearly same dimensions). I'm building a theater in my attic and plan to have a 120" screen. Good luck with the build! I'm doing everything myself and it's hot as hell up there!

I just read your build thread (and bookmarked it too). I'm probably a couple of months away from breaking ground, if everything else goes well and the builders bids are in line.


I'll be keeping an eye on your progress.

I already built your theater minus raised cloud ceiling!
Link to thread

Might I suggest a door on the backside of your presumably A/V closet. Maybe make the closet a little deeper too so you can store misc A/V stuff behind your equipment and maybe a fan pointing into your office to circulate the air away from the a/v rack.

Here are some things to not forget:

-smurftubes

-outlet for ropelight in soffit

-ir control wires for lighting & A/V

-sound treatments on walls ceilings and 45s as they will be an extra reflection point

- what I'd do differently

-stage and riser by the builder (they will probably overcharge but can be build by you)


Have any equipment choices yet?

Thanks for the link malovich.


The whole closet thing will probably change since I realized a little while ago that I don't have any closets in the office. So I'll probably have one on either side of the entrance door which would make a short hallway before going in to the theater.


The theater itself should have two rows of chairs with a walkway along the right (or left) wall and at least a 100" screen.


I've had "surround sound" for at least a decade and I've had a lot of equipment. Right now, I have some very nice Polks LR&C with a Velodyne powered sub all pushed by a Onkyo SR-805 (which I just got a couple of weeks ago and sounds awesome compared to my $1,400 Yamaha that's just a few years old). I also have a PS3 for BR and an xBox 360 and Wii will be in here too.


I'm thinking the screen may be too big for gaming and regular TV watching, so I'm toying with a retractable screen with a 60" or so behind it. Currently I have the Sony A3000 60" DLP which I really like.


Due to my current setup in a vaulted living room (and hardwood floors -- can you say echo!), I have some cheezy surround speakers (still they're Polk), but the SR-805 made everything come alive! But I'll need rear and side surrounds, which I haven't decided on. I can't imagine what this system will sound like in a purpose-built room if it sounds this good now.


So really I have everything except the projector and screen and good surrounds. And these won't be purchased until we get near the end of the build (who knows what the next best thing will be in a few months ).

Let's look at a list of things you need to consider (the builder certainly hasn't or won't).


- Lights...typical poor job. Either all the lights are on or they are all off. Yeah, you can dim; but, still, all on or all off. Use two or three circuits.


- HVAC...will the builder install both supplies and returns in the room? Likely he's only planned for a supply or two. You'll need in the area of 9000 BTU's of cooling in that room with two supplies in the front and two returns in the rear (no more than 250 FPM per supply/return) I don't care about the CFM...that's the HVAC suppliers problem ... I care about the FPM. Remember...that room has a ceiling, three walls and a floor over against non-conditioned space...even more heating/cooling requirements.


- Will you have access to the attic on either side of the room for cable chases?


- Adequate power to your equipment and projector locations. Reclining theater seats? Need power in the floor for them.


- You have a 45 degree ceiling angle on boths sides for the entire length of the room ... really bad for sound. Plan on treatments!


Just quick thoughts off the top of my head.



Quote:
Originally Posted by NashTech /forum/post/14111548


The width at the ceiling is 104". So I think I can squeeze a 100" screen in that space? Is this possible?


And larger if I came down a few inches....

Click to expand...

I set up my projector and PS3 last night. Projected a 140" (2.4:1 ration) video onto some bed sheets. It's probably to big, but here's a picture of it:

Thanks for the tips Dennis. I'll be sure to address them while interviewing potential builders.

So, I borrowed the garage from the wife and with blue paint tape masked out what the theater room will be shaped like (attached image).


The measurements I've come with up will take 2 feet from either side of the room to allow clear headroom when walking for those up to 6'2". So that leaves 12' of usable width.


If I allow 28" of walking space on either side, that leaves me with 88" for the maximum seating width. There's not a lot of seating that would fit in this in space that I could find during my short search online, but I can probably go a little wider if needed. Does this sound feasible? Any recommended seats or seating arrangements for this?


I plan for one side to be at floor level and the rear row will have a step to a raised platform for that row. The step will be accessible from the front and rear of the theater.


I should have one row of three seats 11'+/- from the screen. It would also be 8' from the side surrounds and 9' from the rear surrounds. This seems to put the middle seat here in a prime listening position.


However, anyone sitting to the right or left of center will be 5'6" from one side surround and 10'6" from the other surround. I really don't have a way to test this, but assuming I use a good dipole/bipole speaker placed at the walls just before the wall angles to the ceiling (4'4" from the floor at the top of the speaker), would the side they're sitting next to overpower them for surrounds, or should it still sound somewhat normal since they are sitting to that one side?


I look forward to any answers and help. Better to figure out all of this now instead of after it's built and doesn't work right .