Number Of Speakers To Room Ratio?

[Johnmalo]

I just framed in a room that will be used for watching movies and shooting pool. The dimension are 28.5 ft long X 25.5 ft wide by 10 ft high. my screen size will be approx. 110 diag. The seating will be 12 ft from the front wall (25.5 ft). The back half of the room will be used for a pool table. I like your $12k theater package that you suggested, but I was thinking of upgrading to the Mordaunt Short 500 series. Now the question: because of the size of my room and the fact that I will be viewing movies from the approx. mid point of my room, do you think I will need additional (back wall) speakers and what type, if so ie "direct radiating or dipole"? When the room is done, you are all wecome for a game of pool, cold beer and a good movie. Thanks for the great site.
John from San Diego.

 

[Leprkon]

I'd put the back surrounds about three to five feet behind the listening area. For what it's worth, I recommend you go with a standard 5.1 set-up, as there's not really enough space between the sides and back position for effective seperation for a 7.1 HT set-up.

If you plan on driving music back to the pool table, you would want to go 7.1 or have a second channel.

 

[Johnmalo]

Room size to # of speakers ratio

Thank you for the reply. Any suggestion regarding the use of direct / dipole speakers for the area by the pool table? I ran 12/2, "sound & security" cable by Carrol, which I bought from a home improvement center, PRIOR to reading reviews on speaker cables. I think I'm going to pull the cables out and run Sound King cables instead. I will run a 7.1 layout in the event Audioholics suggests that the sound will fill my room better than 5.1.

 

[jaxvon]

Why do extra work? Carol cable is quality stuff and 12/2 is plenty big. You're not going to get a sound improvement with Sound King. Besides, since you used the Carol Wire, it's probably rated for inwall use, something I don't think Sound King is. Plus, custom install wire has a tough jacket made for pulling through walls and taking abuse, Sound King isn't made to do that stuff. You already paid for the cable, just leave it be.

As for the pool table, I'd set it up as a second zone with whatever reciever you decide to buy. That will allow you much greater flexibility in terms of volume, material played, etc.