Home Theater feng shui Zen masters needed inside! :D

[KASR]

OK, so next weekend - we're moving into a new house. I've scouted out the room that I believe will become the man-room/home theater room - but I'm having some difficulty figuring out where to put everything. So I've taken some pictures of the room, dimension specs, and pics of the equipment in hopes that some of you can help me here. So here goes.....

Here are the dimensions:

Here are actual shots of the room:

Here is the seating:

Here is the bulk of the equipment:

I do plan on painting the shelves to match the black equipment. The TV is a 60inch and the speakers are wall mounted (can't see them here) bookshelf Polks. So I take advantage of the window recess and use my light/sound blocking curtains....I just hate covering the window with the back of the chairs...but the narrower part of the room - I'm just not sold that everything will fit there. Another option would be to block off the access point on the right side.....hmmmmm....OK, what do you guys/gals think?

And thanks in advance!

 

[KASR]

OK, so there is another option.....it involves murrrrrrr-der.....

Ok, not really - but there is a room right next to the room above and the wifey has given me the pick of either room to set this HT up. So here are the dimension and snapshot of that room. I'm having trouble deciding which one would work best:

specs:

quick snapshot:

I do like the idea of having the wet-bar in the same room as the HT - however, I'm just not sure about the entry points. Between the fireplace and the window on the picture above, there is an in-wall shelf system going on there. I thought about maybe taking the shelving out or using the shelves for the equipment rack.....maybe paint them black to match. That would mean pointing the chairs away from the back window....there's an idea.


EDIT:::::

OK, so here are my initial thoughts....what do you guys think:

L-shaped room:

Fireplace/wet-bar room:

 

[jostenmeat]

Love the thread title, thanks so much for the pics/diagrams (helps us cut to the chase, and avoid wasted time/typing), and funny avatar too.

generally, lengthwise setup is recommended for audio, and hence I always recommend, well, lengthwise setup. I also always root for the larger room, because, well, I like HTs!

So, I would've voted for the larger room if the fireplace wasn't there. I'm not crazy about you losing space on either side with a width-wise setup there.

Therefore, I vote for your L-room diagram. It minimizes wasted space, you don't have to deal with very unwanted nearby boundary effect of the rear wall, it'll be easier to control light (I think*), it gives you future flexibility for another row, and or projector setup.

I just calculated for you (hopefully correct), that you can fit a 118" 16:9 screen there, and still have slightly more than 2' on each side for a speaker. If you're fine with putting speakers closer to the sidewall (compromise) than you can even go bigger.

I'd black out, darken, or use curtaining on the front wall, and the side walls up to the point where the short right wall ends. I like the curtaining idea particularly, because that can hide broadband acoustical treatments.

BTW, I'm just speaking from the tip of my tongue on what I would do*. Subject to change*

EDIT: btw, THX would have you only 5' away from a 46" screen. OTOH, the recommended starting point for listener positoning is 38% room length, whether from front or back in symmetrical rectangular room. Yours isn't symmetrical, but that # would be 7.75 ft, FYI.

EDIT #2. Sorry, I don't know why I was thinking 46" (confused with multiple threads). 60" THX distance = 6.7 ft.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I would prefer the setup you drew in the room with the fireplace. The other room is too narrow and tub like as you have it

 

[KASR]

Thanks for the replies/input. I welcome anymore opinions and further insight. Catching the right acoustics is really going to be the elusive part for me - so helpful info (like what jostenmeat had) is much appreciated!

 

[Adam]

I'm pretty useless on this, so I stayed out of it today. However, I wanted to let you know that I thought that the beginning of your second post was hilarious!

Now that you editted the second post and shown some ideas, I like the "Fireplace/wet-bar room" set-up better. The other one seems to have the chairs too close to the screen, but that's just based on what I'm used to having. Plus, the second option doesn't include blocking off a door...and you're right by the bar.

 

[bpape]

Tough call. Each has it's plusses and minuses. I'd probably set up in the L shaped room. While it has the speakers more in the corners, that can be dealt with via treatments and that room presents better symmetry and the opportunity for a much better surround experience. Your seating is also much farther away from the wall behind for better potential bass response.

Bryan

 

[Kai]

I would prefer the wet bar room based on its dimensions. The size will better handle the seating and gear providing a better sound stage...imo.
I just hate to see the fireplace go to waste...as a voracious reader that rooms screams to become a library/reading room with a pair of comfortable chairs near the fireplace while the rest of the room could be used as a small living room for entertaining.
Whoever designed the house did a pretty poor job imo. The rooms shown are not well disposed for use.
Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[jostenmeat]

Tough call. Each has it's plusses and minuses. I'd probably set up in the L shaped room. While it has the speakers more in the corners, that can be dealt with via treatments and that room presents better symmetry and the opportunity for a much better surround experience. Your seating is also much farther away from the wall behind for better potential bass response.

Bryan

My thoughts exactly. +1 to each of those 5 sentences.

 

[KASR]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and opinions everyone. I'm gonna measure the depth of the bookshelf to see if I can house any of the equipment there - else the second option will be moot. It's really been a difficult time deciding where everything will look/sound best - I certainly don't want to move this stuff around more than once and considering that my wall mounts will have me drilling holes and whatnot....just want to get it right the first time.

Anyone else have an opinion on the subject?

 

[majorloser]

I also have to vote for the room with the fireplace. It gives you room to add a couple more chairs on the side if you need more room. The wet bar can be made into a "snack bar". Acoustic room treatment can also be worked into this space easier.

 

[KASR]

Thanks for the input, Major. You are correct - it just so happens that I have two gaming chairs that could be placed on either side of the theater seating (for friends or my kids...whichever...) with the L-shaped room, it might be a challenge to place those. Yet, another aspect to consider.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks for the input, Major. You are correct - it just so happens that I have two gaming chairs that could be placed on either side of the theater seating (for friends or my kids...whichever...) with the L-shaped room, it might be a challenge to place those. Yet, another aspect to consider.

And OTOH the L-shaped room has length-wise space for a riser. That means all viewers can be relatively on-axis to both picture and sound. Not the case for the width-wise setup.

And as already implied, one of the first places you'd want to treat in the wide setup is the back wall... which is where you are planning on having the electronics...

 

[KASR]

And OTOH the L-shaped room has length-wise space for a riser. That means all viewers can be relatively on-axis to both picture and sound. Not the case for the width-wise setup.

And as already implied, one of the first places you'd want to treat in the wide setup is the back wall... which is where you are planning on having the electronics...

You make an excellent point - if i want this setup to be acoustically good, I really need to think about that back-wall dilemma....especially if it's so darn close to the seating....hmmmm.....

 

[nibhaz]

Acoustically speaking I would have to vote for the L-shaped room, because of the rear wall issue as already mentioned.

Have you thought about how you plan on running the cables to your rear channels? In the L-shape layout you could simply run the wires along the wall hidden behind your base boards and then up to your speakers. In the other room you’re going to have to work a little harder to get a clean looking install.

 

[KASR]

Acoustically speaking I would have to vote for the L-shaped room, because of the rear wall issue as already mentioned.

Have you thought about how you plan on running the cables to your rear channels? In the L-shape layout you could simply run the wires along the wall hidden behind your base boards and then up to your speakers. In the other room you’re going to have to work a little harder to get a clean looking install.

I'm hoping to run wire through the attic - but if am unable, then along the wall for the L-shaped room and under the carpet for the wet-bar room (although, I really hate that idea....)

I'm starting to go along with the L-shaped room....I just hate blocking off an access point.

 

[KASR]

OK....so what about this idea then - it's moving the theater and seating to the other side of the L-Shaped room and then re-opens the closed access point on the west side (which is really the north side...)

Would the sound escape out the left side though and/or would it screw up the acoustics????

 

[nibhaz]

I think this newest option is the best so far

 

[jostenmeat]

OK....so what about this idea then - it's moving the theater and seating to the other side of the L-Shaped room and then re-opens the closed access point on the west side (which is really the north side...)

Would the sound escape out the left side though and/or would it screw up the acoustics????

This new idea seems to point towards even more effort at light control (not that any of that effort is ever wasted). I have thick burgundy curtains covering up a couple of large windows, and there is still some light leakage during the day. The liner is white, which doesn't help either. Looks good during the day, but not quite as jaw dropping as at night. My point is to really test out how well your choices can black out the light. I thought I was going to be golden, but not quite...

remember, with every bit of extra light do you lose contrast at an exponential rate. Please consider painting that entire room as dark as you will let it be. Flat paint, not glossy of course.

On one hand having the opening might be nice since there is less asymmetrical reinforcing boundary there, but OTOH it seems like a pretty reflective and resonant space through that keyhole.

This is what I would do. Hook up some speakers, and crank it at all of the positions!

For the moment, without hooking up speakers, I would clap, shout, sing, bang POTS and PANS in all of the potential spaces. Listen for ringing, resonances, etc.

I still like the symmetry of the other orientation. But, as always, it's a difficult matter of juggling compromises.

 

[KASR]

OK, the move is in full swing and my back is KILLING me! It looks like the last option is gonna be the winner (the second variation of the "L" room) I'll post pictures up as soon as I get everything up and running (waiting on a new set of Polk L/R's that I purchased)