[NickTheGreat]

Well I’ve been lurking/participating on this board in one way or another for probably 5 or 6 years now. But we bought a split-level house with a walk out basement a year or so ago. It is a wonderful house with a kitchen opening into a great room, a front formal living room, and a third living room in the basement. Well it seems that two livings rooms are enough for the two of us. So enter the home theater subforum . . .


I’m an engineer and therefore am inclined to do my theater layout in Solidworks. My goal is to someday have a 3D model of my entire house. Just as well start now.

This first picture is my tentative plan view of the room. You can tell that it isn’t quite a dedicated room, but the shape wouldn’t really lend itself to that anyways.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Here is a section cut of the room at the couch. Doesn’t really tell a whole lot, but shows the soffit and the doors on the side.

These are actually pictures of the room from a few weeks ago. I didn’t bother cleaning it up because messy ‘before’ pictures make the clean, tidy ‘after’ pictures look all that much better . . .

 

[NickTheGreat]

Where the screen will go

Where we’ll sit

 

[NickTheGreat]

Trying to show how dark the room will be. I plan on doing some sort of blackout blinds or something on the windows.

The stairs to the main floor

 

[NickTheGreat]

As you can tell, I haven’t *done* anything yet. My only set plans thus far are to paint the walls some sort of dark blue. I’m not sure, but I think we can make the green carpet work. It looks better in person than the pictures. We’re HUGE Iowa State University fans, so any wall space open will have ISU stuff on it.


I’m leaning towards the 5010 for my PJ and I want a retractable screen, though I could probably be talked out of that. I’m not sure if I’m RBE sensitive, but I don’t particularly care for gaming (down here) either. My WAF is high for a HT in general, but not high for multiple rows or theater type seats (not sure I’d want this anyways). WAF is partially why I am leaning towards the retractable screen. We don’t care if we see speakers and such, but don’t know if I want a screen on the wall all the time. Plus, that leaves more room for decorations

But I welcome any comments, critiques, praises, suggestions, etc. I don’t really know about speaker placement, and I haven’t researched quite what to go with.

 

[Hockeypuck25]

Looks like a nice room and the layout works well. You already have the room created which is half the battle. I always say this but if you can get your hands on a projector ( i borrowed our work one) take it home some time and just try it out. I did that and my wife was instantly sold on the idea. It gives you a great reference also to screen size, and room layout.


Any idea on equipment? Budget?

 

[NickTheGreat]

I don't really have a strict budget, just a hope of 'bang for my buck.' I'm okay with paying more if something is obviously better.


I am leaning towards the 5010 for the PJ. And I'll probably get one of the latest crops of Denon AVRs. Don't know anything about speakers though, so I really need to lurk some more over there. I'm really leaning more towards an AT screen, so that may opening some doors for me.

 

[warrenP]

I'm personally looking forward to seeing the final pics of the widest deepest couch known to man.

 

[tlogan6797]

The only benefit to an AT screen is to be able to put the speakers behind it. If it were ME, I would


1) turn the room around

2) hang a retractable screen in front of the window

3) move the couch a couple of feet forward for better surround placement


You'll need to place an AT screen at least 18" out from the wall (maybe more, depending on speaker footprint ). The couch against the wall is not optimum surround placement. A retractable screen against the wall allows you a couple of feet to move the couch forward for better surround. And you can use the screen (non-AT) to block the window.

 

[NickTheGreat]



Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenP  /t/1428871/nick-s-attempt-at-a-theater/0_40#post_22392960


I'm personally looking forward to seeing the final pics of the widest deepest couch known to man.

Me too!

 

[NickTheGreat]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tlogan6797  /t/1428871/nick-s-attempt-at-a-theater/0_40#post_22392999


The only benefit to an AT screen is to be able to put the speakers behind it. If it were ME, I would

1) turn the room around

2) hang a retractable screen in front of the window

3) move the couch a couple of feet forward for better surround placement

You'll need to place an AT screen at least 18" out from the wall (maybe more, depending on speaker footprint ). The couch against the wall is not optimum surround placement. A retractable screen against the wall allows you a couple of feet to move the couch forward for better surround. And you can use the screen (non-AT) to block the window.

Thanks for the advice. I was actually contemplating this the other day. I really like the idea of an AT screen, simply to hide the speakers (the more I read about it). I need to do some more research for sure.

 

[hanesian]



Hi-dee-HO there, neighbor!


Congrats on starting your own build thread. Another Iowan HT build - amazing! Good on ya!


My main reaction is to encourage you to not automatically assume you have to - or even ought to - put your Ht equipment in a shelf/media cabinet at the front of your room. With just a little bit of creativity you can run wiring to a nearby area where it won't (a) limit the size or placement of your screen; or (b) have the various equipment lights become a distraction during movie watching. Lots of us have found that using an out of the way equipment rack/closet simplifies matters as well as keeps the room much less cluttered (and improved WAF). Maybe placing it upfront turns out to be the route you have to take, but don't necessarily start with that as a given.


Also, I assume that sound containment is not a concern for you, right? Obviously you can't expect to keep the sound down in that area with the nearby open stairwell, or prevent sound from the rest of the house from being heard down there. Probably not a huge issue without kids, but just be aware of it, in case that changes later or you and your wife plan on regularly both generating noise in different areas at the same time.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Oh great, hanesian showed up in my thread

That's a good comment about the rack location. Somebody else mentioned this to me (not in the thread) and I am inclined to agree. I am really leaning towards a false wall with AT screen. I think I have room for an equipment room of sorts on the other side of the wall. The part that is behind where I show the screen is an unfinished shop/furnace room/brewing room/storage room/etc.


You are also correct that I kinda abandoned any sort of sound containment. Between the existing walls, ceilings, and the open stairway, I figured it was lost cause. I mean, it could be done but would be a lot of work and costly. We do nearly everything together (weird, right?) so me disturbing her with my movie isn't really a concern. And kids . . . yeah . . .

 

[BeerParty]

Does the 'pub table' already exist? Is that something you would change? I had an idea when looking at your plan that might work better but it would require the removal of the pub table.


Try this on your plan - move the couch out ~6 feet so the front of the couch is even with the split doors on your north (?) wall (you'll probably want to shrink it down to typical couch size). Put a small pub table under the window on the West wall with a couple of pub chairs. Add end tables to either side of the couch (if you have room).


This will get your primary seating (couch) away from the back wall which will shorten your viewing distance and improve your surround sound. With a nice soffet w/light over the new 'pub area' I think that space behind the couch would work well and can be used for overflow seating when you have a crowd.

 

[BeerParty]



Quote:
Originally Posted by NickTheGreat  /t/1428871/nick-s-attempt-at-a-theater/0_50#post_22392334


I’m leaning towards the 5010 for my PJ and I want a retractable screen, though I could probably be talked out of that.

-snip-

We don’t care if we see speakers and such, but don’t know if I want a screen on the wall all the time. Plus, that leaves more room for decorations

Another option - instead of a retractable screen you could have a fixed screen with curtains. Open the window blinds and close the screen curtains when you don't want to see the screen. Just throwing out the idea for you to consider.

 

[NickTheGreat]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BeerParty  /t/1428871/nick-s-attempt-at-a-theater/0_40#post_22399997


Does the 'pub table' already exist? Is that something you would change? I had an idea when looking at your plan that might work better but it would require the removal of the pub table.

Try this on your plan - move the couch out ~6 feet so the front of the couch is even with the split doors on your north (?) wall (you'll probably want to shrink it down to typical couch size). Put a small pub table under the window on the West wall with a couple of pub chairs. Add end tables to either side of the couch (if you have room).

This will get your primary seating (couch) away from the back wall which will shorten your viewing distance and improve your surround sound. With a nice soffet w/light over the new 'pub area' I think that space behind the couch would work well and can be used for overflow seating when you have a crowd.

Thanks for your input. No, the table isn't purchased and we haven't even really had our eyes on anything in particular. Just *thought* we'd like something like that. Your idea of putting something behind there has some merit.


I don't know why I'm so concerned about seating, I only have 1 or 2 friends.

 

[hanesian]



Quote:
Originally Posted by NickTheGreat  /t/1428871/nick-s-attempt-at-a-theater#post_22398714


And kids . . . yeah . . .

Never say never. Kids can be more fun than you might think! They give you a great excuse to be ridiculous in public without being immediately arrested!

 

[NickTheGreat]

Bumping a dead thread is okay if it's your thread right? Right?

So I am finally getting on this thing. And posting here to keep myself more accountable. I've done other projects around the house, got married, etc, etc. Typical things that prevent progress on HT's.

I've kinda had a change in design plans and perhaps some sacrilegious ones. I am trying to lean less on this being a dedicated HT and more of a bonus room that can also be used for movies. I am intending to try to go the Murphy bed route on the screen wall, with a retractable screen. I've always been fascinated with those things. Build it into a cabinet, so when it's folded up, and screen is up, is pretty inconspicuous.


I am really shooting to make this thing usable by Superbowl. Yes, THIS COMING Superbowl. My unrealistic goal is to hang the PJ, screen, and have the room painted. And scab together something for the audio.


New plan view of the space:
http://s700.photobucket.com/user/Ni...SE/2012 THEATER/2014Plan_zps47778ba0.jpg.html

 

[NickTheGreat]

I have little progress to show.


I am in the process of removing the classic 90's fluorescents and putting in some recessed LED fixtures. I have 3 of them up and tested out. I am very pleased with the amount and quality of the light.




I also have a test area painted.



It's a good compromise between the light designer stuff that they do on HGTV and the jet black they do on AVS.

 

[NickTheGreat]

So the main reason I come here is for speaker help. I know as much about speakers as I do the rules for soccer (very little).


I have been reading a lot on here, and I think for my space and budget, I could be happy with a nice set of bookshelf speakers. See the view of the initial design for the screen wall.




I guess the main reason I'm updating this thread is to ask for input on speakers. My budget isn't real set in stone. If I could get all 5.1 speakers for under $2000 I'd be happy. $1500 more happy. My design requirements are a little funky with this setup. I probably need something that is under 13" in width. I'm not terribly limited in height or depth as I'm building this thing to suit.


I've just started listening to some speakers in person. I listened to some JBL's and Polks and wasn't real impressed with them. I've never heard Klipsch in person. I've entertained maybe Martin Logan since I could probably hear them at BestBuy Magnolia.