Building a Moderately Priced Home Theater Room

[Tom Andry]

<P><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/Ref2Deconstruct.php"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 94px" alt=[system2_screenLG1] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/system2_screenLG1_th.jpg" align=left border=0></FONT></A><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Some people build cars, others work on boats… As an official Audioholic, my passion has been for consumer electronics for quite some time now. While boats and cars can be hidden away in garages (or front lawns depending upon what part of the country you live in), home theater projects take on a considerably more sensitive nature in that your living space takes the brunt of the disruption. Fortunately, as any Audioholic knows – a complete rebuild must take place in as short a period of time as possible, so as to more quickly resume home theater bliss. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>[</FONT><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/Ref2Deconstruct.php"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Read More</FONT></A><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>

 

[Matt34]

Great article!! The paint you used looks almost identical to the Maghony from Behr that I used.

Couple issues I saw, first some of the pictures when clicked on don't expand. Second, for a multi-paged article like that I would like to have the page numbers at the bottom instead of the "next" link. Makes it easier to go back through (especially on my slow connection).

 

[Tomorrow]

Mighty nice HT and great write-up! ....though one person's "moderately priced" is another's "impossible dream" (but a really great dream). I guess the best part is that you got a wonderful theater room AND got to write it off of your taxes. What a job.

 

[jagercola]

I liked the part about running wires. Ballbark, how much does it cost to hire someone to do the typical running of wires from a closet to a projector, including what you need to cover it up too? Also, once the walls are already built and you want to mount surrounds, is it still possible to pull speaker wire out of the wall?

 

[Tsunamii]

Great write up. I was just looking at RBH for some inwalls

 

[slicki]

I am in the construction phase of my own moderately priced home theater (about 35K) and there were many similarities between my experience and this article (which is extremely well written and invaluabe). One of them being my decision to hire Rives. This was invaluable especially as I've learned over the years how in-depth and difficult room acoustics can be. I was even willing to go to pay Level 2 but based on my budget they thought my money would be better spent somewhere else in the project! To me, that really showed integrity on their part. My only other comment concerning them would be that I felt a little rushed by them at times. I viewed their customer service as above average to outstanding.

I am using many of the same acoustical treatment in this article but was confused by the following in the article,

"When mounting 2" panels 2" off the wall (by using 2x2s or other method) you can achieve significant absorption down towards the 250Hz range. If you merely mount 2" panels on the wall you only ..."

Call me dense but what exactly do you mean by on versus off wall. From elsewhere in the article you mentioned that you hung these on the wall by using the spike fasteners that came with the RPG absoption panels.

Oh...I was also surpised that you didn't touch upon anything concerning sound isolation for the room. Concerns/options/materials. I ended up putting up putting an additional layer of drywall on every wall+ceiling with Green Glue (between layers) and putting in 1 3/4" thick solid core doors. My wife insisted on double doors unfortunately. Regardless I bought a solution (Threshold / astragal / seals...) from http://www.acousticalsolutions.com to go around the doors which I have yet to install so I don't know how well it worked yet.

 

[Tom Andry]

Couple issues I saw...

Here's the deal, Clint and Gene are out of town and I posted this article for them. To make a long story short, many of the issues will be addressed when they return. Sorry for the inconvenience. I blame OPRA. He blames Cheney.

 

[Tom Andry]

I am using many of the same acoustical treatment in this article but was confused by the following in the article,

"When mounting 2" panels 2" off the wall (by using 2x2s or other method) you can achieve significant absorption down towards the 250Hz range. If you merely mount 2" panels on the wall you only ..."

Call me dense but what exactly do you mean by on versus off wall.

"Off wall" means that there is a 2" gap between the panel and the wall. "On wall" means that the panel is mounted flush.

 

[df4801]

Great article!

But since it is about a "moderately" priced HT, I thought I'd add a suggestion.
I loved the look of the CinemaSite, but not the price.
So, I had a cabinet guy make a custom "knockoff" replica. I actually think it looks better than the CinemaSite and was much, much cheaper.
The other advantages are, custom fit for your room and screen size, endless array of stain choices, and you get to place in there any speakers you desire.
Not to mention the thousands you save.

 

[Craig234]

Question

I suspect "Moderately Priced" is an official marketing term for the spouses.

I've read that the sound is best when there's nothing in the way between the ear and the speakers.

Does having those big, comfy padded chairs interfere with the rear sound?

 

[Tom Andry]

Does having those big, comfy padded chairs interfere with the rear sound?

Personally, not having big comfy padded chairs interferes with my enjoyment of the sound and significantly reduces the amount of time I spend listening to my system. I guess if one was really worried about it they could use in-ceiling speakers. After spending a few months on a short, vintage, purgatorial couch where I had to stop a movie a few times to stretch, I wouldn't give up my recliners for anything.

 

[slicki]

"Off wall" means that there is a 2" gap between the panel and the wall. "On wall" means that the panel is mounted flush.

Ok, I'm still a little iffy on what actually was done. Even though you mentioned the significant advantage of going off-wall, I'm guessing you hung them on-wall since you used the the spike fasteners that come the panels or do the spike fasteners actually suspend them from the wall?

Oh...and you talked about wall color but didn't mention the color of your ceiling. In a few pictures it appears that you went with a pretty white looking carpet.

 

[HAA Acoustics]

Nice theater but did I miss the discussion of the calibration of it? A good blow-by-blow discussion would be interesting and help diffuse the plug n' play myth about audio equipment. Of course calibration begins with the design so the job was well launched by Richard and the boys from Rives. Also, how's the seat back height on the Berkline chairs versus ear-height? That's a big ouch for me if I have to sit on a few phone books to get my ears above the seat back. Can't tell from the picture.

Gerry

 

[got_hp?]

Personally, not having big comfy padded chairs interferes with my enjoyment of the sound and significantly reduces the amount of time I spend listening to my system.

agreed !!!!!!!!

 

[corey]

"Moderately Priced Home Theater Room"

You've got to be kidding. I understand that Mr. Gates & a few others might find 50K moderate, but once you set aside some money for food, housing, taxes, health care, & etc., & etc.; 50K is a lot of "net" money.

I think it's great that some people can consider/afford systems like this, & I hope that more & more can; but you shouldn't call this "moderately priced"

 

[Audioholics]

you shouldn't call this "moderately priced

Well, you see we can't really make everyone happy and knew that the second we called it "high-end" we'd get lambasted for not having a $20,000 tube-amp powered system complete with turntable and a laser pickup 8-track player. In this case moderate means "marked by avoidance of extravagance or extremes." But yes, it's certainly not inexpensive,

 

[slicki]

In regards to the comments about being (or not) able to afford this. You'd be surprised what you can afford if you decide NOT to get a new car when your existing car is paid off. You also save because your insurance doesn't go up. For myself I gave up that BMW I'd been dying to get for years. I hate my current car but now I've got to live with it for 10 years but hey...look at what's waiting for me when I get home.

 

[got_hp?]

"Moderately Priced Home Theater Room"

You've got to be kidding. I understand that Mr. Gates & a few others might find 50K moderate,

in this context, the term moderate is not used to describe what the average fan can afford.........its used to refer to the range that is spent by people who actually build a dedicated home theater room. "moderate" has the be relative to the rest of the spectrum.

you have to consider the large numbers of dedicated theaters in the $100-200k range, and many even higher.

IMO i would break it down something like this, plus or minus a bit
$10-25k entry level
$25-75k moderate
$75-150k high end
$150k+ exotic

some might even consider my labels conservative

 

[ScottMayo]

IMO i would break it down something like this, plus or minus a bit
$10-25k entry level
$25-75k moderate
$75-150k high end
$150k+ exotic

some might even consider my labels conservative

Um.. entry level is HTIB audio, an inexpensive projector and a painted-on wall screen, in a spare bedroom. That can be done for a whole lot less than 10k$. For a lot of people, it's a fun and entirely adaquate solution. Pile up spare blankets in the corners and you can even get some acoustical trapping.

 

[ScottMayo]

a laser pickup 8-track player.

I'm going to have nightmares for a week, in fear that someone's going to actually develop that. Thanks.