Need Help With Pseudo Media room

[eyeage30]

Hello!

I have a spare bedroom in the basement that has no purpose for me at the moment, so I'm turning it into my AV room. I have most of the required components, but have some questions. As I am new to this stuff I'm going to break down what I'm doing, and hopefully you guys can let me know how it sounds, and what, if any, changes to make. I'm sure there are lots of changes I could make... but I'm trying to stay within my skill level and budget (I blew the budget before I started.. so there goes that).

The room dimesions are 13' x 13'. Here's a diagram for easier understanding

Ok. I've run most of the speaker wires underneath the baseboard already. I cut a 1 inch slot at the bottom of the drywall, and I am running the speaker wires into the closet and then I'm putting the baseboard back on. As you can see from the diagram I have to have my floor standing fronts a bit away from the wall due to the door for the closet. These walls are exterior walls, so there's no way to run the speaker wire in the wall without cutting and repairing drywall, and I'm just not at the point to tackle such a project yet. So I thought this would be the best option. Raceways were my other idea, but they aren't as clean looking and I'd spend $100+ to get what I need. Will I be fine running them the way I did?

Second. I bought monster XP cable. This was before I really read anything, and I can't take it back (store closing). So I have 100ft of it ran already. Its 16g (which I was able to find out from searching online, as it doesn't list gauge size on package), and I have two runs right at 50ft (max for that gauge I've been told). I had used the same wire prior to moving everything to this room, and it sounded great. But the runs were 15ft, not 50. Is this going to suffice, or am I needing to waste $50 of cable? I can shorten these cable runs by 15ft, but then they wouldn't be hidden, as I'd have to run them across the floors at the door jambs.

Third, I plan on having most of the cables, residential gateway (uverse), power management in the closet. I plan to have the receiver, cable box, PS3, and wii sitting under the TV. The only issue here is on that 5ft wall for the TV there is a power outlet 1ft from the floor. The wire for this drops down from 3 feet or so. Will this outlet cause me issues if I buy a power management system with filtering abilities? Wires are going to be coming through this wall to the receiver at about the height of the outlet. So I'm worried about interference, should I be? Should I move this outlet? should I move the receiver into the closet?

Lastly, paint. I keep reading I should paint the ceiling and TV wall black, etc etc. Is an off-white flat paint on the ceiling that horrible? I plan to paint the room in a dark brown, but had no intentions of painting the ceiling. I have this HVAC duct soffit on the one side that I planned on painting to match the wall.

So, that's my story. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Forgot to mention the stuff I have.

Buying new TV (VT series panasonic 55" plasma)
Denon 789 7.1 receiver (running 5.1 though)
Polk Rti 8 fronts
Polk Rti A1 backs
Polk Cs10 center
Polk psw111 Sub

The Audio stuff is 2 years old, so not 3d compatible receiver (upconverts to 1080p and blueray comp), but I figure I change that later if I decide to.

 

[jinjuku]

Everything sounds good. With surround material we are talking about the 10's of watts. So no issue with the 50 foot runs (still not sure how you are running 50ft in a 13X13 room). If there is the room correction in the AVR should take care of it by bumping the levels up.

You could at some point build an equipment rack into the wall of the closet. I don't think you will have any issues with were the power is.

One suggestion: if you are looking at a 55" TV you may want to look at getting a projector. You could get a 100" screen in there with the PJ on the back wall. Ceiling color comes into play more with projection than direct emission displays.

Not that you can do anything about it but your room is a perfect square, it could be a challenge for sub placement.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Not that you can do anything about it but your room is a perfect square, it could be a challenge for sub placement.

My 2 humble cents:
Polk psw111 Sub - Doesn't excite me much at all - this little box is probably could nicely reproduce sound of loud "f@rt" and probably that about it

You really want to look for dual sub solution and putting them next to left and right wall roughtly in middle of you room. You don't need to go overboard due to small room size, but there's a lot of room for improvement even on a humble budget like $300 (2x Dayton Sub-120)

Ideally you'd need four subs..

 

[eyeage30]

Thanks for the reply. About the 50 foot... 13ft for the wall.. 5ft into the wall at the corner.. 7ft x 2 + 2ft for the door (running wire through the door jamb.. so up and around).. and another 10-15 ft for the front. So, with some +/- I'm near 50 ft.

I love the idea to build the rack into the wall. So much so, that I think I'm going to go ahead and do that now. Takes care of the issue I was having trying to find an appropriate shelf for the receiver, etc. Awesome!

How wide is 100" projector screen. I was thinking about it, but I have two doors on that wall and only a 5ft space between. I think 80" would be as big as I could go, if that. I could change the arrangement of the room, but if I put the couch under the soffit and the screen over the window the door wouldn't open coming into the room... and if I put the screen under the soffit, I'd see 8 inches of drop down when looking at the screen. Obviously this isn't the optimal room for this. I'm making due with what I have. I saw this 3d tv yesterday that didn't require glasses, man that thing is cool. Might get it instead of the VT.

As you can see, not a lot of space to work with.

 

[eyeage30]

@Jinjuku

So, Because of the AWESOME ideas you gave me, I'm considering changing the room around like I had intially had it set up (I copied my neighbor because the room seemed more open). This way it'll make for a way easier cabinet build though. And it allows for better speaker placement (not hindered by doors).

@everyone

Now, take a look at this picture for me. This is a one sided wall. The other side of it is unfinished, thus making for a way easier cabinet to be built. So, on to the questions.

First, do you think this would be a more optimal setup? It seems like it would be, but I'm a newbie when it comes to this stuff. Better to do it right the first time.

Second, That soffit that hangs down should be painted like the wall I would think. Would you agree?

Third, Do you think it would look better to have the audio cabinet to the side of the TV or underneath. I don't have a ton of components. PS3, AVR, Wii, and that's pretty much it. Though I may add to that later.

These may seem like trivial questions, but I have noone to bounce ideas off of as my fiancee wants nothing to do with helping me pick things as this is "my project" that she wanted to turn into a bedroom instead... lol

Thanks again for your help. Any responses are appreciated.

 

[jinjuku]

@Jinjuku

So, Because of the AWESOME ideas you gave me, I'm considering changing the room around like I had intially had it set up (I copied my neighbor because the room seemed more open). This way it'll make for a way easier cabinet build though. And it allows for better speaker placement (not hindered by doors).

@everyone

Now, take a look at this picture for me. This is a one sided wall. The other side of it is unfinished, thus making for a way easier cabinet to be built. So, on to the questions.

First, do you think this would be a more optimal setup? It seems like it would be, but I'm a newbie when it comes to this stuff. Better to do it right the first time.

Second, That soffit that hangs down should be painted like the wall I would think. Would you agree?

Third, Do you think it would look better to have the audio cabinet to the side of the TV or underneath. I don't have a ton of components. PS3, AVR, Wii, and that's pretty much it. Though I may add to that later.

These may seem like trivial questions, but I have noone to bounce ideas off of as my fiancee wants nothing to do with helping me pick things as this is "my project" that she wanted to turn into a bedroom instead... lol

Thanks again for your help. Any responses are appreciated.

You could look at the Epson Home Cinema 8350. It has plenty of lens shift so it should be able to throw a picture under the soffit. 80" will be fine. You have 7.5 to 16 ft placement for 80". It's $1099 at Projectorpeople.com. I have Black Widow screen paint I can send you so you could spray on your own screen. Lay down a few coats of primer and then the BW mix. Tape it out and paint a black border.

I would paint the soffit the same as the wall.

You could use flat speaker cable and run it under the carpet padding for the surrounds. Since it isn't a load bearing wall you could turn the entire space under the screen area into a recessed AV cabinet.

 

[eyeage30]

You could use flat speaker cable and run it under the carpet padding for the surrounds. Since it isn't a load bearing wall you could turn the entire space under the screen area into a recessed AV cabinet.

I just ran the surrounds through the baseboard way, since I already had it set up to hold wire. It's a concrete floor, so no carpet to hide things with

Thanks again for the suggestions, Painting on my own screen sounds.... like something I could mess up. Though, it does sound awesome too. I have plenty of room for a 100 inch screen setting up the room this way (I think).

Think I should just build the shelving myself and paint it the color of the wall? Or am I better off buying that audio crate style stuff?

I'll check into that home theater unit. I have never shopped them, so really don't know what to look for, but $1100 sounds really reasonable, considering I was going to spend ~$2500 on a TV.

Much appreciated!

 

[jinjuku]

I just ran the surrounds through the baseboard way, since I already had it set up to hold wire. It's a concrete floor, so no carpet to hide things with

Thanks again for the suggestions, Painting on my own screen sounds.... like something I could mess up. Though, it does sound awesome too. I have plenty of room for a 100 inch screen setting up the room this way (I think).

Think I should just build the shelving myself and paint it the color of the wall? Or am I better off buying that audio crate style stuff?

I'll check into that home theater unit. I have never shopped them, so really don't know what to look for, but $1100 sounds really reasonable, considering I was going to spend ~$2500 on a TV.

Much appreciated!

Use something like a Wagner Control Spayer (use a GOOD mask, like a $50 one) and put a fan in the window exhausting out.

You should have a screen up in no time. You could also go to htdepot.com*

They have a 98" diagonal for $199 plus shipping. It could be a good starter screen.

*I have not ordered anything from HTDepot. I can not speak to the quality of their product. It's just a product I have seen mentioned. Due diligence as always is prescribed.

 

[eyeage30]

(use a GOOD mask, like a $50 one) and put a fan in the window exhausting out.

I like how you're looking out for the welfare of others

I can't seem to find a projector in a store to view as it's being operated. I've never seen one outside of a movie theatre. I'd like to see how they compare. Once I start cutting and building I'll post some pictures of the progress.

 

[jinjuku]

I like how you're looking out for the welfare of others

I can't seem to find a projector in a store to view as it's being operated. I've never seen one outside of a movie theatre. I'd like to see how they compare. Once I start cutting and building I'll post some pictures of the progress.

You won't find a lot of the PJ's mounted for viewing. Even then they are not calibrated. You will want to go to Projectorcentral.com and do some reading.

 

[eyeage30]

I found some at the only high end AV store I could find here in St Louis (recently a couple have shut down). I was instantly hooked. I ordered the JVC HD250 and I should be getting it tomorrow. I am so stoked! I have the room finished with the exception of mounting the pj and the screen. For a temporary screen I got a wilsonart laminate sheet for $42. Apparently some people are happy enough with it that they actually framed it out and made it permanent. It's been a busy 3 weeks, but it's finally coming to a head, and I'll be able to enjoy this room again

 

[jinjuku]

I found some at the only high end AV store I could find here in St Louis (recently a couple have shut down). I was instantly hooked. I ordered the JVC HD250 and I should be getting it tomorrow. I am so stoked! I have the room finished with the exception of mounting the pj and the screen. For a temporary screen I got a wilsonart laminate sheet for $42. Apparently some people are happy enough with it that they actually framed it out and made it permanent. It's been a busy 3 weeks, but it's finally coming to a head, and I'll be able to enjoy this room again

That is a heckuva nice PJ. Can't go wrong with it. Enjoy and post some pics when you get a chance of the completed room.

 

[eyeage30]

That is a heckuva nice PJ. Can't go wrong with it. Enjoy and post some pics when you get a chance of the completed room.

I'm just putting the finishing touches on the room, and working on the diy projector mount and I'm ready to go. I work all weekend, but next week this baby is going to be getting some play time!