Home Theatre in New Zealand

[AV Expression]

This is a basic Home Theater that we did for a customer of ours. We designed it as a multi functional space even though it looks like a dedicated Home Theater room.

Specs are below:

- Panasonic AE2000 projector with custom built housing and ventilation ports.
- 100" Fixed Tasman Screen
- TX-SR609 7.1 CH receiver
- Dali IKON 5 front speakers
- Dali IKON VOKAL 2 center speaker
- Dali IKON 2 surround and back speakers
- Dali IKON active sub woofer
- Panasonic HDMI DVD player
- XBOX 360
- Vantage IR over CAT5
- All For One remote control

The entire system cost less than $15,000 NZD which is around $7,000 USD.

Note: All cabling and wall plates were carried out by the contracted electrician. Hence why the wall plates are so high up on the wall. I wasn't happy with that at all to say the least. LOL.

Muzzi

 

[Exit]

Very nice clean room. I am guessing it is in a basement since there are no windows.

 

[tattoo_Dan]

awesome room ! for sure,

clean and simple.

 

[MatthewB.]

Nice room, but your sound would be greatly improved by adding some room acoustics and wall treatments. Otherwise very clean looking.

 

[lsiberian]

Very nice clean room. I am guessing it is in a basement since there are no windows.

No it's just New Zealand. The country is so gorgeous that they must not put windows in any buildings for fear that people will be distracted from their task at hand.


Very nice setup.

 

[lsiberian]

Nice room, but your sound would be greatly improved by adding some room acoustics and wall treatments. Otherwise very clean looking.

Seems a bit late for that. I don't see room treatments looking good in that room. I plan to rockwool my theater whenever I get to build one.

 

[Matt34]

Nice looking room! One question though, whý was such a light color used in the room? I would think reflections from the screen would be an issue?

 

[Kai]

Beaufiful room and system. A bit too light and bright for my tastes in a media room. Acoustical treatments are needed and the coverings can add much to the room look wise as well as sound wise.
Outlets are where they are for "code" more than likely and is not a bad thing.

 

[MatthewB.]

Isiberian, some acoustic panels would easily be hung and could also be decorative, help tame the brightness of the room along with helping with room reflections. They come in a variety of colors that would help to decorate the space and also be very cost effective. The room already looks good, but acoustic panelling would be the cheapest and greatest thing that could be done to the room to help with the sound.

 

[westcott]

Since you are a professional, you should have a thick skin and can take professional strength criticism.

As others have said, the light color does not bode well for light reflections on the screen. This should have been explained to the client.

Speaker placement obviously was not a concern or given much thought. This too should have been explained to the client.

I would have used three towers up front and moved the entertainment system out of sight.

Is that a subwoofer buried in the entertainment center? Major point deductions. One should know better as a professional.

No room treatments in a closed space such as this? The others are right. No excuse for this oversight. Especially in what appears to be as close to a dedicated space as one could get and still not call it that.

It is clean and I like the fixed screen, projector,and the speakers but it does not look like it was welll executed. I see the same mistakes most amateurs make.

 

[zeuiax]

I was hoping for mountains .....................Nice setup

 

[lsiberian]

Beaufiful room and system. A bit too light and bright for my tastes in a media room. Acoustical treatments are needed and the coverings can add much to the room look wise as well as sound wise.
Outlets are where they are for "code" more than likely and is not a bad thing.

http://www.acoustics101.com/default.asp

I suggest you consult this site for more ideas.

I see no reason to buy specialty rockwool since rockwool is rockwool

The white walls are ok, but I would have suggested a different color like a dark red.

 

[MatthewB.]

I can understand why the theater owner wanted white, because it is a long narrow space and white opens up the space, it is never a good solution when used with a projector, because of light reflection washing out the image and making the room much brighter than it needs to be. I would;ve gone with a khacki beige as a light color that doesnt hinder the space. But if the color couldnt be changd, then I would use very large acoustical panels to help tame the light reflections as well as the sound reflections. With a white room, you could go with any color acoustic panels and they would look good (except white panels mind you)

I also suggest moving that sub out of the cabinet, subs in cabinets are never EVER!!! a good thing.

 

[ldgibson76]

Since you are a professional, you should have a thick skin and can take professional strength criticism.

As others have said, the light color does not bode well for light reflections on the screen. This should have been explained to the client.

Speaker placement obviously was not a concern or given much thought. This too should have been explained to the client.

I would have used three towers up front and moved the entertainment system out of sight.

Is that a subwoofer buried in the entertainment center? Major point deductions. One should know better as a professional.

No room treatments in a closed space such as this? The others are right. No excuse for this oversight. Especially in what appears to be as close to a dedicated space as one could get and still not call it that.

It is clean and I like the fixed screen, projector,and the speakers but it does not look like it was welll executed. I see the same mistakes most amateurs make.

Hello Westcott!

You haven't changed much....., bashful as always! You internalize way too much. Just let it out and tell us how you really feel!

But, frankly speaking, Westcott is on point with his assessment. A white walls in a front projection theater does not render the ideal environment. Granted, white walls does allows for an assortment of options when it comes to adding acoustic panels. The panels will offset the reflectivity the blank white walls will create.
The room itself is a very nice and has a lot of potential. Speaker placement IMO is the easiest fix. As far as the sub's location, I agree with Westcott, it should standalone for the best performance.

Again, the room has much potential and with proper adjustments and modifications, can be an outstanding theater room!

Regards.

 

[Ito]

:O
That room is so devoid of personality it is almost sickening

 

[AV Expression]

Thank you everyone for all your comments.

This photo was taken with a fish eye style lens, so the room looks a lot bigger than it really is. There was no space to put the entertainment system anywhere else but the front.

The sub was placed inside the entertainment system only for the photo shoot to give the impression of symmetry in the room.

We came into this job after the room was completed, so we had no hand in the design. We did suggest some acoustical treatments to the client, but the interior designer thought it clashed with the decor and the idea was shot down.

If any of you do this for a living, you would know that the customer is always right...even when they're wrong. They were more than happy with the final outcome and it meet their requirements without blowing the budget.

Regards,


Muzzi

 

[MatthewB.]

Muzzi, thanks for clarifying. It's sad when experts like you try and design a system that will be the best for the client and the client reffuses to budge (meanwhile you understand how good acoustics will improve the system) Can't please everyone. Oh well I'm sure the guy dating an ultra hot supermodel is wondering if something else is better out there. Personally I find it deplorable that a customer would reneg on room acoustics in a room like that, but then again the majority of people out there, are niave to all that goes into making a fantastic sounding HT room (heck most Bose owners are very happy with what they have). But thanks again for sharing those pics and hopefully we will see more of your work.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Looks great!! What's up with the white walls? Talk about light reflections?


Right?

 

[cerwinmad]

good start

i myself live in NZ, in Tauranga, in the Bay of plenty. this is a room id love to start with and then add many of the improvements others have stated. I think bringing the speakers forward to avoid reflecting off the cabinet, and closer together, just think it would sound better. i would have gone with a darker tone just to make the room less clinical, as well as the the other reasons. i think if your going to do a room like this, do it right. I rent so i have to put up with a myriad of problems such as walls that vibrate horribly and bass nodes. i look forward to the day i buy our first home so i can have free reign!