Need help with AV layout please!

[Cloon]

Hello all,

I have a house under construction, and want to plan my basement layout before the drywall goes up so I can run all my cable, but the room is very oddly shaped, and im having a tough time figuring out where the TV should go that will allow for the optimal speaker placement for 7.1 surround.

Here is a pic of the rooms layout:

For equipment, I have a 60" LCD, Harmon Kardon AVR3600, and Athena Micra 6 speakers and sub, though I am considering in-wall speakers. There is a basement window along the top 14ft wall, and the right 23ft wall, but high enough that the TV would easily mount below then, and the morning sun does come through that top window.

I can have my reciever, cable box, ect., all stashed either under the stairs or in the utility room, so I can put the TV just about anywhere in the room, just not sure what the best spot would be, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

How ‘bout this? I don’t hold much hope for a viable 7.1 layout in that room, since anyway you arrange it the rear walls will be too far back. Unless you want to hang speakers from the ceiling...

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Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Cloon]

Thanks Wayne, thats what I was afraid I was going to hear about the 7.1, I really dont want to hang anything from the ceiling if I can help it.

I do like that TV placement though, means the HDMI wont be too long to need to run it over some cat6 runs. Guess ill have to settle for 5.1.

The other option is since its still at the framing stage, I could have the builder make a wall or half wall partition on the 8ft wall going down another 8 ft and almost splitting the rec room... think that would work?

 

[Rmassey]

I'd use the 14 x 23 area for a 7.1 HT placement, locating the screen and L/C/R + Sub in the 14x8 area, nicely tucked away from any foot traffic. This leaves plenty of room for two rows of seating, Side surrounds and ch 6/7 located on the back wall.

The only challenge with this layout is your left side surround, which could be placed on a speaker stand near the seating or creatively hung from a ceiling mount at the proper height. In ceiling speakers may also be an option if WAF is an issue. Perhaps a sofa table behind the first row of seats flanked by sides surrounds on stands. There are lots of options that will work.

Using the 14 x 23 area for the HT also avoids people walking in front of the screen when entering the room. This leaves the more open 15 x 19 area for other actives, like a pool table, game table, etc. You could find a spot to install a wall mounted LCD to run as Zone 2 and allow secondary viewing from all locations.

I'd also try to install an in-wall rack under the stairs, if possible. With this location, you could locate all your media near the rack and away from the HT area.

... sorry I don't have any layout software, but I think you get the idea.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

The other option is since its still at the framing stage, I could have the builder make a wall or half wall partition on the 8ft wall going down another 8 ft and almost splitting the rec room... think that would work?

It would give you a nice storage room, and an additional option location for the subwoofer (left corner). Would also give less cu. ft. for the sub to fill and perhaps give it a bit more extension.

Maybe you could then re-locate the gear to that room, which would give shorter signal runs between there and the TV. Maybe even do a built-in rack.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Rmassey]

I could have the builder make a wall or half wall partition on the 8ft wall going down another 8 ft and almost splitting the rec room...

There's a great idea... build a pony wall right where that sofa is in the second post. This would give you a perfect place to put the left side surround, either sitting on top of the pony wall or built into it. you could alos just opt to close in the 14 x 23 space completely.

Also, I just noticed your 60" LCD.... sorry, I was thinking projector + 110" + screen. anyway to step up to PJ + Screen now or later on?

With a 60" LCD and the second post layout suggestion, you will be 19 ft away from the display.... I think this may be a problem for proper viewing.

 

[Rmassey]

How about this....

 

[Rmassey]

Rack location....

... for the above layout, I'd move the in-wall rack to the utility room, right between the Rear Centers (6/7) to keep your speaker & HDMI cable runs shorter.

if you build up a full wall(vs. Pony wall) to divide the room, this would be a perfect place to install an LCD panel outside the HT room for secondary viewing from the open area. you could even pre wire in-wall speakers on each side of the LCD for a clean look.

As odd as the L-shaped room looks to you now, I think it's actually ideal for a 7.1 HT + RecRoom area.

If all this sound too ambitious, do it in phases as budget permits full build out
1) have the builder build a full wall as shown above, pull 7.1 wires as shown before drywall goes up.
2) install an in wall rack in the utility closet
3) use your current 60" LCD, hung on the outside wall towards the gaming area
4 ) use the gaming area (for now) with a sofa where the table is drawn and install a temp 5.1 system in this spot

if you have the budget now, go nutz, if not, plan the layout and wire pulls for the above layout, using your existing equipment for a 5.1 system in the 15x19 gaming area. if you start to think past your current 60" LCD limitations and towards a projector and screen, the room is ideal.

 

[Cloon]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Having the wall built wont cost me a dime, the builder signed off in the house offer that so long as the utility room didnt move, I could configure the layout however I want. in your drawing, are you saying it should be a separate piece? I was thinking just extending the 8ft section to about 16ft total.

There is a small basement window on that 14' section at the top of the drawing, and the morning sun comes through it... at this stage of the house, its hard to say how it would affect viewing, but I suppose I could just put in some blackout blinds/curtains.

If the cable box, set top, reciever, etc. is in the utility room, isnt that too long a run for a good HDMI signal? I am running triple cat6 to wherever the TV goes, so I could go HDMI over cat6, but I'd prefer a direct HDMI cable run if at all possible.

The second row seating might be a bit out of my league, i dont know about raising the floor... I was thinking of just getting a nice sectional couch, where my good friends would be in the optimal viewing area, and the mediocre friends sit along the side, but that should still work with that layout also.

I do have an casino sized poker table I will be putting in that room somewhere also, so that layout looks like it would work well for that too. I am going to run conduit to the roof once the layout is decided in case I move to a projector later, but this TV is only about 6 months old, so not really considering a projector anytime soon, this new house is killing my wallet as it is.

 

[AVRat]

Great ideas guys, can't wait to read Cloon's feedback. I would definitely be running conduit/wiring for Pj/screen upgrade down the line.

Rmassey, where you located? I'm in the Pikes Peak Region.

Welcome to the site folks.

Cloon, you snuck in while I was reading and posted.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Having the wall built wont cost me a dime, the builder signed off in the house offer that so long as the utility room didnt move, I could configure the layout however I want. in your drawing, are you saying it should be a separate piece? I was thinking just extending the 8ft section to about 16ft total.

There is a small basement window on that 14' section at the top of the drawing, and the morning sun comes through it... at this stage of the house, its hard to say how it would affect viewing, but I suppose I could just put in some blackout blinds/curtains.

If the cable box, set top, reciever, etc. is in the utility room, isnt that too long a run for a good HDMI signal? I am running triple cat6 to wherever the TV goes, so I could go HDMI over cat6, but I'd prefer a direct HDMI cable run if at all possible.

This is a reason I thought that switching Rmassey's might work better, especially if you extend/enclose the 8' wall as you suggested.

The second row seating might be a bit out of my league, i dont know about raising the floor... You actually build what's called a riser, which could be done later if you decide to intall a projection sytem at a later date.
I was thinking of just getting a nice sectional couch, where my good friends would be in the optimal viewing area, and the mediocre friends sit along the side, but that should still work with that layout also.

I do have an casino sized poker table I will be putting in that room somewhere also, so that layout looks like it would work well for that too. I am going to run conduit to the roof once the layout is decided in case I move to a projector later, but this TV is only about 6 months old, so not really considering a projector anytime soon, this new house is killing my wallet as it is.

 

[Rmassey]

Sounds good Cloon. I understand budget constraints with a new house purchase.

Rmassey, where you located? I'm in the Pikes Peak Region.

Near Monument.

 

[Cloon]

Ahh, I see what your saying, put the AV gear on the left side of the wall that gets added to the plans... that would definitely work, I can build a nice closed cabinet in that corner.

7.1, and works for the future... exactly what I was looking for!

One other possible stupid question concerning that conduit... how do you usually connect the ends of the in-wall conduit? Do you just fasten it to a stud next to the faceplate, or is there some sort of junction box behind the faceplate you can get that the conduit can attach right on to? I was just planning on using the blue plastic fleixble stuff from home depot, and they had couplers to extend two or more lengths, but nothing on how to attach the ends?

Thanks again!

 

[jostenmeat]

I haven't read every word here, but of the two layouts offered, I do like them both. However, I would probably lean to the first one because it is along the greatest length, which may help out with both future proofing, and acoustics, possibly. I would also take into consideration where light control would be easiest, and it would be the first thing I'd worry about if say there was a 3rd possibility with the TV on the left.

As for 35ft runs, it's no problem, check out Monoprice. I've used one, and still have it in possession. I couldn't tell you how well it would work for 3D for instance, but for 2D, it's perfectly fine. I've used many lengths, and they all look the same, currently using a 25 ft.