Could use some help redesigning our living room/BFTV room

[Woogie526]

I could really use some help with room design in our current project. This room is going to be the primary living room/hangout room / entertain guests room. Being given the green light to rig it like a home theater from the miss's I consider it a bonus.

I can't post pictures yet do to the post count requirement. I will do my best to describe it until I make enough posts to be able to post pictures. I don't want to spam, not a good way to make a first impression.

The room is 15' by 16' relatively square. The Northern wall will have the TV on it, currently thinking around 55". That wall is 16' long. The Southern and Eastern walls will have a massive almost full wall sectional along them. Also on the Eastern wall, there will be a Bay Window(8' wide and centered). On the Western wall there will be a walk through pantry(6' wide) and a wine fridge and beer fridge with a small counter top. The Bay window, and the walk through are the only natural light sources in the room.

My only major concern is the really funky ceiling this room has. It is part Cathedral and part dormer. It has some strange angles in it.

I'm looking for suggestions on where to put the speakers. The wall with the TV is 148" long I think I can put the speakers 6' on either side of the TV, which would be within the 22 to 30 degree range suggested. The side speakers will have to be 90 degrees to the couch(the couch is going to be 6" from the Southern wall). Where along the 16' southern wall is a good place to put the back speakers.

As far as system is concerned. Currently entertaining the idea of one of the new 55" LED backlight TV's along with the Midrange Sony receiver(499) 920 i think with JBL speakers.

This is almost a blank slate as far as layout. The only thing set in stone is the bay window and the couch has been ordered, and will only fit the room the one way. System/speakers/ speaker location/ TV are all things I could use feedback on.

Thanks in advance, pictures to come when I can post them.

 

[KASR]

Would it be possible to stand at each end of the room and take pics and post them? Might give us a much clearer pictures on the hurdles you have to jump.

 

[Woogie526]

I'm going to

But first I have to hit 5 posts. I'm assuming to prevent spam that is the forum rule.

I tried to post some pictures and it told me that. So tonight I'm going to clean the room some so by the time i hit my 5th post i'll be able to take pictures.

 

[KASR]

Can't wait to see the pics!

 

[Woogie526]

My original post now with pictures.

I could really use some help with room design in our current project. I am going to include a picture of the current room design. The couch has already been ordered and it will fit the room as shown.

The bay window is half the size that it is going to be, That should be 8' long and not 4'. There will be a 6' walk through pantry/dry bar on the bottom wall. Those are the only two natural light sources in the room. At the end of the couch, that does not have the chase, where the small recess is, will be a built in bookcase and a built in endtable / rack for all the electronics. My only major concern is the really funky ceiling this room has. Pictures will be posted below.

That small window is going to be replaced by the Bay window.

That little corner of trim is the top of the walkthrough entry way.

That is the wall the TV will go on.

I apologize if anything is unclear in the floor layout, I don't sadly have a scanner. I am going to take more pictures shortly, and will post them.

 

[jostenmeat]

I believe that the super close proximity to the rear (and side) walls to the listeners will have much more profound impact, negatively, than your funky ceilings.

While you could place panels on the ceiling (if you allowed it), you would ideally LOAD the rear (and side) walls with massive amounts of broadband absorption.

I'm speaking in terms of ideal acoustics. Doesn't mean that most people won't love it in there even with bare walls. But it seems you are concerned with acoustics, and so that is my response.

 

[Woogie526]

Requested pictures

These 2 are from the same corner. This window is going to be removed and replaced with the Bay Window. The TV will be on the wall with the couch currently on it.

That will be the walk through pantry. It is also the rest of the TV wall.

The door and window in these shots is going to be removed. This is the wall that will have the couch on it.

 

[KASR]

I agree with Josten, who pointed out the very same thing in one of the rooms where I was thinking of setting up - that backwall proximity will cause some issues with your sound. Do you have a budget for wall treatments?

That is a craaaaazy ceiling!

 

[Woogie526]

There is no official budget, so if there is a DIY treatment making that won't break the bank and can look alright then it could be in the cards.

I want the room to sound the best it can given the circumstances, but it's a living room first

I was going to use in-wall speakers, but on another thread that was discouraged. I was wondering given the layout of the room what would the impact be of the different types of speakers.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

 

[bpape]

You can certainly DIY treatments and save yourself some money. You'll need a good amount of broadband bass control - some up in the ceiling peaks if that's aesthetically allowed.

Any angled ceilings that would provide for reflections down to the listeners would be a prime candidate for diffusion.

I'll also agree that the seating close to the walls will be your primary problem. Some thick panels on the walls behind the main seating would be a great benefit.

Bryan

 

[Woogie526]

Rear Wall

I think the Rear wall will be a definate possiblity for treatments. I'm not sure about the ceiling.

How thick would the back treatments have to be to make a difference?

 

[bpape]

Depends on how much other broadband treatment you can get in the room and where. I wouldn't think about anything less than 4".

Bryan

 

[Woogie526]

Alright

If I can make the treatments not eye-jarring I think I can get em past the wife.

This is what I've figured out for speaker placement based on the 7.1 configuration tutorial I saw.

Where would I start treating, besides the back wall.

Should I space the back speakers farther apart even though that would not be the ideal angle, my gut says yes but this is just a start.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Woogie526]

Electrical Question

I am going to rewire some of the electric in that room.

Should I run a dedicated outlet for the TV? I am going to get something in between 50 and 55". I was thinking of running 3 wire, and having one circuit for the TV and one for the rest of the electronics rack.