Please critique my setup!

[TheRealOC]

Good morning!

I'm in the process of renovating an old Irish cottage, and am setting up a dedicated home theatre in the living room. Mrs TheRealOC has insisted that there will be no bookshelf or freestanding speakers in the room; everything will be flush-mounted in-ceiling or in-wall. I decided to pre-wire for a 7.4.2 speaker configuration while all the stud walls are exposed, and the carpenters are happy to build back-boxes into the stud before the drywall goes up.

Unfortunately, I don't have the budget to hire an A/V integration specialist (or even the budget to actually get speakers yet), so there will be no opportunity to do listening tests or experimenting with different speaker positions before the back boxes are permanently installed in the walls. To get around this problem, I've talked to @gene about what speakers would work well in this room, then I measured out the WxDxH dimensions of those speakers, and cut out accurately-sized paper placeholders from A3 sheets of paper, and stuck them to the stud walls to get a sense of how they will look in the room. I'm hoping that the back-box positions will be good enough so that any problems can be fixed with the AVR's digital room correction.

The room is approximately
- 3.95 metres (just under 13 feet) wide and,
- 3.8 metres long (12.5 feet), and,
- 2.45 metres (8 feet) high.

Television:

It's a bit messy but the square of green tape is meant to represent a 75" TV (and the smaller green square within it represents a 65" TV) - my feeling is that a bigger TV will dominate the front wall too much. For my testing, I've positioned an old sofa at a distance of 2.8 meters (9 feet) from the TV. This doesn't leave a whole lot of space between the back of the sofa and the rear surround speakers (more on that later), but due to the length of the room, there's not a lot of wiggle room there.

I tried to follow online advice that the center of the TV should be around eye level i.e. about 42 inches (105cm) above the floor level. And while sitting on the sofa, this level is comfortable. But as you can see, that position leaves a lot of empty space above the TV and more importantly, the center speaker is actually hovering in the middle of where the TV would be. (Mrs TheRealOC is set on using a TV so a projector with an acoustically transparent screen isn't really an option )

Front Speakers (Left, Right and Center):

@gene recommended the DALI OPTICON LCR MK2 for the front left, front center, and front right speakers. These are shallow speakers that are mounted on the wall (not in-wall), and I've positioned the paper placeholders (which are the same size as the actual speakers - 285mm x 482mm x 128mm) about 8 feet (244cm apart). So the front left and right and both about 122cm off-centre from the middle of the room, and in this picture, the bottom edge of the speaker is positioned 95cm (37.5 inches) from the floor.

For the center speaker, I've assumed that the DALI would be flipped horizontally, so I aimed to its tweeter in line with the tweeters in the front left and front right DALIs. This resulted in a centre speaker with its bottom edge positioned 115cm (45 inches) above the floor level, which is where most recommend the centre of the actual TV should be!

Atmos Speakers:

We selected the Monitor Audio C280IDCs for the two Atmos speakers. I positioned the paper placeholders about the same width apart as the front left and front right speakers (approximately 8 feet or 244cm apart), and positioned at about the mid-point lengthwise (i.e. about 1.9 metres from the TV wall, slightly in front of the sofa). The ceiling is not particularly high (about 2.44 metres, or 8 feet) but I think Atmos should work okay in this room.

Subwoofers:

For the subwoofers, I'm planning on using four Monitor Audio IWS-10 in-wall subwoofers. The front two will be on the front wall facing the listener, and the other two will be on the side walls facing each other to blast sound across the room behind the sofa. I've already installed dedicated wall outlets for the subwoofers. These subwoofers are fairly small and square shaped (11 inches x 11 inches). I tried to mount all the subwoofers a bit below ear level (positioned 60cm above the floor level).

The front subwoofers are slightly closer together than the front right and front left speakers and are also a bit lower down on the wall. The electrician has pre-wired a dedicated circuit in the room, just for the powered subwoofers. There is a dedicated wall outlet at the each corner of the room just for the nearest subwoofer.

Left and Right Side Surrounds:

The left and right side surrounds will be Monitor Audio W280 in-wall speakers. This is a vertically oriented rectangular speaker that is 441mm high and 288mm wide. We've lined them up with the front of the sofa in the side walls. and won't be super high up - about "picture level". In the below image, the bottom of the speaker is just over 150cm (59 inches) above the floor level.

Left and Right Rear Channels:

The rear surrounds will also be W280 in-wall speakers, but their placement is complicated by a few things. Firstly the door takes up 1 meter of width on that wall, so (assuming the two rears should be mounted symmetrically) we're forced to that have the rear left and rear right a bit closer together than the front left and front right.

Also because we're trying to somewhat follow the guidance about the distance from the sofa to the TV (9.1 feet or 2.77 metres), that leaves the sofa right up against the rear wall. So I positioned the rear speakers higher up the wall (about 6.5 to 7 feet high). The potentially bigger problem is that the left rear is very close to where the electrician has pre-wired for lighting cables

Similarly, the right rear speaker is very close to large clumps of ethernet and power cabling running into the adjoining comms room, where the A/V rack is going, which could lead to potential interference on the sound?

Would be super grateful for advice on these problems -

1) How can I solve the problem of the TV wall? (I think I could comfortably move the TV higher, so that the TV's centre is about 50 inches above the floor level, which would leave enough space underneath for a centre speaker, but then its tweeter would not be lined up with the two fronts)

2) Is my positioning for the front subwoofers okay? (slightly closer together than the front left and front right, and also slightly lower on the wall - their centres are about 60cm above the floor level).

3) Is it a problem that the rear subwoofers are slightly wider apart than the front subwoofers? What do we think about positioning them so that the sound is projected perpendicularly to the front subwoofers?

4) Probably most importantly, how do I solve the problems with the right and left rear speakers?

I've made some YouTube videos, which hopefully give a better sense of the space:

Room tour part 3

www.youtube.com

Any advice or insights are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Eppie]

I find it odd that you feel that a 75" screen would "dominate" the room. In any home theatre setup, the screen is supposed to be the most dominant feature. The larger the screen, the more immersive the experience. I don't think that I have ever seen someone post that they wished they had gone with a smaller TV. Maybe in a living room for casual viewing, but not in a dedicated theatre space. I would go with the largest screen that fits the room and your budget.

I am used to having the TV higher up so the TV position seems low to the floor but that could be a personal preference. I think you are putting too much concern on having the 3 fronts at the exact same level. That is rarely achievable without a transparent screen so some compromise needs to be made. Remember that speakers do not beam in a straight line but project in a cone. You want the tweeter to be close to ear level when seated, but most speakers have a flat response within +/- 15° so if you are within that 15° degree window you should be ok. I checked the Opticon LCR MK2 guide and it shows that the tweeter can be rotated 90° in either direction, so it is ok for horizontal mounting.

If you prefer the TV closer to the floor you can mount the centre above. I would not place the centre below unless you raise the screen considerably. You do not want the centre firing into your knees and I do not see any option for angling the tweeter. Having the centre right above the TV should still give the general impression that dialogue is coming from the screen. Do not raise the L+R to match the centre height. If you raise the TV, a decent compromise is to have the top of the centre speaker at the bottom of the L+R keeping in mind you want to be within that 15° vertical window. If you feel that raises the TV too high, another consideration is to raise the TV less but install a wedge behind the centre so that it is angled up towards your ears when seated.

Hard to say what the correct position for the front subs will be as each room will be different. The challenge with in-walls is that you only get one shot at it. They do not have to line up with the L+R unless you use a high crossover frequency and localization becomes a concern. At 80Hz and below that's not usually an issue. When placing subs in a room a typical recommendation is at 1/4 the length of the wall. They seem to be pretty close to that now. Having them closer to the floor will couple the speaker with the floor and produce a little more bass. Probably a good thing as an in-wall will not produce as much deep bass as a good stand alone ported sub. You can't add bass if you have a nasty null in the room, but if the bass is a little too boomy you can usually correct that with EQ, so more may be better than less.

I will have to defer to others on the rear subs but with that door way I see few other options. Subs are typically installed in the corners or 1/4 way in, so the corner placement in the rear seems logical to me, or 1/4 of the wall length from the back.

The side speakers should be lower and the rears are acting more as rear height speakers than rear channel. If this is dedicated to home theatre, can you move the couch away from wall and lower the rears? There are also rear/surround speakers out there that are angled, like SVS Prime Elevation, Arendal Height speakers and Klipsch Elevation, but they are surface mount, not in-wall.

Hopefully others with more experience will chime in as well.

 

[Trebdp83]

That is more of a 5.1.4 room. Add two more atmos speakers, couch needs to move up, surround speakers need to move down and back a bit. Agree about TV. It needs to be as big as you can get it.

 

[-Jim-]

I'm with the gents above, go for the 75" TV. We did our big Reno a few years back (and I did the systems wiring - I'm a licensed electrician) so I know what you are going through.

I had to do in-walls for the rears of a 5.1 set-up in the Family room, but have box speakers for the Games Room system => except in-ceiling for Atmos in a 7.2.4 set-up. We have a 75" TV there. It's 51" to the center of the screen, and I've got a CCB-8 (on the flat) under it at a slight upwards angle. Works great! The TV Wall bracket is tilted slightly down towards the main seating position (mine!). As per @Eppie these set-ups are usually a bit of a compromise so don't sweat it too much. But I do realize you want to get it as close to perfect as you can.

My only real concern is too many speakers in such a small room, and the sofa position. I know the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) may be at work here with the sofa, so hopefully you can get locking coasters on it later to pull it away from the back wall a bit more. (Hint: Good for vacuuming). I wouldn't go for more than a 5 bed level speakers.

Good luck with your build.

 

[afterlife2]

Get a projector 1080/4K for 100-150 screen.

 

[j_garcia]

Rear speakers aren't necessary in such a small room. If you have no room behind the couch, it defeats the purpose of having them at all. You are better off with just heights and sides = 5.2.4

I have a 75" and kind of wish I had gone with an 85". Not that it isn't big enough, but I have the room and will end up upgrading sooner rather than later.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That is more of a 5.1.4 room.

Or 5.1.2.

 

[mono-bloc]

I've read your inquiry and then re-read it and frankly your living in fairy land, Your room is six inching short of being square, which is always a problem with any home theatre install. Then to add to your problem your taking advice from someone who has no experience in home theatre design or probable hasn't even been in a home theatre. It's a disaster from the word go. . What your trying to do is stuff an elephant into a dog kennel .Your room is simply not big enough for that amount of speakers. I'm sorry but I really don't mean any disrespect . What you really need to do is visit a working home theatre to see just what it in'tails. And take "her indoors" with you. In wall speakers take a lot of research to get them right, It's not that simple to simply drop them in a timber box and expect them to sound the way there intended, And if they do sound like crap, that's what your stuck with . There is zero adjustment, and they can't be moved without a major re'fit. In a room that size do you really need a 7-4-2 system, Probably a LCR and a sub, would be all you would need. You haven't spoken about intended amplification or your source, be it streaming, DVD, etc. But cost will be considerable. As someone else has said short throw projectors are really the way to go with such a small room. It really won't cost you anything to gain some experience of just what's available, and at what cost, by visiting working theatres and really all the video's on Utube never sound like crap, there all just wonderful. It costs nothing but time to do some practical research in just what's available. I'm sorry if what I've said sounds blunt, But I've been round the block a few times and have seen what people spend, only to find there home theatre remains unused, as it's badly designed, and the credit cards full..

 

[TheRealOC]

I find it odd that you feel that a 75" screen would "dominate" the room. In any home theatre setup, the screen is supposed to be the most dominant feature. The larger the screen, the more immersive the experience. I don't think that I have ever seen someone post that they wished they had gone with a smaller TV. Maybe in a living room for casual viewing, but not in a dedicated theatre space. I would go with the largest screen that fits the room and your budget.

I am used to having the TV higher up so the TV position seems low to the floor but that could be a personal preference. I think you are putting too much concern on having the 3 fronts at the exact same level. That is rarely achievable without a transparent screen so some compromise needs to be made. Remember that speakers do not beam in a straight line but project in a cone. You want the tweeter to be close to ear level when seated, but most speakers have a flat response within +/- 15° so if you are within that 15° degree window you should be ok. I checked the Opticon LCR MK2 guide and it shows that the tweeter can be rotated 90° in either direction, so it is ok for horizontal mounting.

If you prefer the TV closer to the floor you can mount the centre above. I would not place the centre below unless you raise the screen considerably. You do not want the centre firing into your knees and I do not see any option for angling the tweeter. Having the centre right above the TV should still give the general impression that dialogue is coming from the screen. Do not raise the L+R to match the centre height. If you raise the TV, a decent compromise is to have the top of the centre speaker at the bottom of the L+R keeping in mind you want to be within that 15° vertical window. If you feel that raises the TV too high, another consideration is to raise the TV less but install a wedge behind the centre so that it is angled up towards your ears when seated.

Hard to say what the correct position for the front subs will be as each room will be different. The challenge with in-walls is that you only get one shot at it. They do not have to line up with the L+R unless you use a high crossover frequency and localization becomes a concern. At 80Hz and below that's not usually an issue. When placing subs in a room a typical recommendation is at 1/4 the length of the wall. They seem to be pretty close to that now. Having them closer to the floor will couple the speaker with the floor and produce a little more bass. Probably a good thing as an in-wall will not produce as much deep bass as a good stand alone ported sub. You can't add bass if you have a nasty null in the room, but if the bass is a little too boomy you can usually correct that with EQ, so more may be better than less.

I will have to defer to others on the rear subs but with that door way I see few other options. Subs are typically installed in the corners or 1/4 way in, so the corner placement in the rear seems logical to me, or 1/4 of the wall length from the back.

The side speakers should be lower and the rears are acting more as rear height speakers than rear channel. If this is dedicated to home theatre, can you move the couch away from wall and lower the rears? There are also rear/surround speakers out there that are angled, like SVS Prime Elevation, Arendal Height speakers and Klipsch Elevation, but they are surface mount, not in-wall.

Hopefully others with more experience will chime in as well.

Hi @Eppie

Thanks very much for your feedback; I have made some changes based on your suggestions and would appreciate your thoughts on them!

I marked out the spacings for an 85" TV on the television wall with the center of the TV now about 4 feet above the floor level. I think you're right about the TV size; I was worrying about nothing.

I repositioned the center speaker above the TV, with the bottom of the center speaker now approximately 178 cm (5 ft 10 inches) above the floor level, which is higher than the tweeters of the front left and front right speakers

The front left and front right speakers are now approximately 11 feet apart (same height), and the front subwoofers are about 8 feet apart (same height). I've attached a photograph taken with my phone to illustrate the changes.

Any thoughts much appreciated

 

[TheRealOC]

@Trebdp83 @j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy @-Jim-

So I'm definitely over the idea that an overly large TV could dominate the room; that was just a weird hang-up I had, and now that I see the outline of an 85" TV on the actual wall, I don't think it would be problem. @afterlife2 Would love to setup an acoustically transparent screen, but unfortunately Mrs TheRealOC is set on the TV option I wouldn't be against moving the sofa closer to the TV either; the reason the sofa is right up against the wall is because this TV Size to Distance Calculator recommended sitting 9.1 feet (2.77 metres) away from a 65" TV, and in this room, that's almost as far away from the TV as it's possible to sit.

Interested in how far everyone thinks the sofa should be moved forward, and whether this would affect the decision on whether or not to have rear surrounds?

@j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy Also interested in whether going with a 5.1.2 or a 5.1.4 is compatible with @-Jim- 's suggestion of five bed level speakers? Are Atmos speakers normally considered "bed level"? Currently, the two Atmos speakers are positioned halfway along the length of the room - If I added a second pair of Atmos speakers, would the front Atmos pair be positioned 1/4 way along the length, and the back pair 3/4 of the way along?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

@Trebdp83 @j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy @-Jim-

So I'm definitely over the idea that an overly large TV could dominate the room; that was just a weird hang-up I had, and now that I see the outline of an 85" TV on the actual wall, I don't think it would be problem. @afterlife2 Would love to setup an acoustically transparent screen, but unfortunately Mrs TheRealOC is set on the TV option I wouldn't be against moving the sofa closer to the TV either; the reason the sofa is right up against the wall is because this TV Size to Distance Calculator recommended sitting 9.1 feet (2.77 metres) away from a 65" TV, and in this room, that's almost as far away from the TV as it's possible to sit.

Interested in how far everyone thinks the sofa should be moved forward, and whether this would affect the decision on whether or not to have rear surrounds?

@j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy Also interested in whether going with a 5.1.2 or a 5.1.4 is compatible with @-Jim- 's suggestion of five bed level speakers? Are Atmos speakers normally considered "bed level"? Currently, the two Atmos speakers are positioned halfway along the length of the room - If I added a second pair of Atmos speakers, would the front Atmos pair be positioned 1/4 way along the length, and the back pair 3/4 of the way along?

Atmos speakers are supposed to be placed based on angles. The “ideal” is 45° fore and aft the MLP, and 45° apart. Also, I’ve only skimmed this thread, but the IW subwoofer idea is something to reconsider.

 

[-Jim-]

@Trebdp83 @j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy @-Jim-

So I'm definitely over the idea that an overly large TV could dominate the room; that was just a weird hang-up I had, and now that I see the outline of an 85" TV on the actual wall, I don't think it would be problem. @afterlife2 Would love to setup an acoustically transparent screen, but unfortunately Mrs TheRealOC is set on the TV option I wouldn't be against moving the sofa closer to the TV either; the reason the sofa is right up against the wall is because this TV Size to Distance Calculator recommended sitting 9.1 feet (2.77 metres) away from a 65" TV, and in this room, that's almost as far away from the TV as it's possible to sit.

Interested in how far everyone thinks the sofa should be moved forward, and whether this would affect the decision on whether or not to have rear surrounds?

@j_garcia @AcuDefTechGuy Also interested in whether going with a 5.1.2 or a 5.1.4 is compatible with @-Jim- 's suggestion of five bed level speakers? Are Atmos speakers normally considered "bed level"? Currently, the two Atmos speakers are positioned halfway along the length of the room - If I added a second pair of Atmos speakers, would the front Atmos pair be positioned 1/4 way along the length, and the back pair 3/4 of the way along?

Sorry if I confused you. The 5 "bed level" speakers refer to the non Atmos speakers typically at / near ear level. In home theater jargon each number and it's position quickly illustrates what subset of speakers you are discussing, and how they are configured. x.y.z = x is the bed level and the value not only tells how many but how they are relatively positioned around the listener (some folks mis this last bit); y is the sub woofers; and z is the Atmos speakers. Have a look here for Dolby Atmos Speaker Placement.

 

[Trebdp83]

Bed level speakers are the Ear level speakers. So, the 5, 7, or 9 speakers in a 5.x.x, 7.x.x, or 9.x.x setup are the bed level or bed layer speakers. The Atmos speakers are height speakers. The Center channel and surround channel speakers shouldn't be so high in a system using height speakers. If the couch can't be moved up, surround speakers need to come way back and 5.1.2 might be more appropriate here as was mentioned by @AcuDefTechGuy.

 

[TheRealOC]

I've read your inquiry and then re-read it and frankly your living in fairy land, Your room is six inching short of being square, which is always a problem with any home theatre install. Then to add to your problem your taking advice from someone who has no experience in home theatre design or probable hasn't even been in a home theatre. It's a disaster from the word go. . What your trying to do is stuff an elephant into a dog kennel .Your room is simply not big enough for that amount of speakers. I'm sorry but I really don't mean any disrespect . What you really need to do is visit a working home theatre to see just what it in'tails. And take "her indoors" with you. In wall speakers take a lot of research to get them right, It's not that simple to simply drop them in a timber box and expect them to sound the way there intended, And if they do sound like crap, that's what your stuck with . There is zero adjustment, and they can't be moved without a major re'fit. In a room that size do you really need a 7-4-2 system, Probably a LCR and a sub, would be all you would need. You haven't spoken about intended amplification or your source, be it streaming, DVD, etc. But cost will be considerable. As someone else has said short throw projectors are really the way to go with such a small room. It really won't cost you anything to gain some experience of just what's available, and at what cost, by visiting working theatres and really all the video's on Utube never sound like crap, there all just wonderful. It costs nothing but time to do some practical research in just what's available. I'm sorry if what I've said sounds blunt, But I've been round the block a few times and have seen what people spend, only to find there home theatre remains unused, as it's badly designed, and the credit cards full..

Hi @mono-bloc

No need to apologise; I have no problem with bluntness. I freely admit I have zero hands-on experience in this area, but I'm not just taking advice from one person (hence this post ) and it was actually @gene dellasalla who recommended the 7.2.4 setup in the first place - although that was a long time ago, and it was only on the basis of this architect's blueprint - if we had the conversation when I actually knew the final studded-out dimensions and shape of the room, it might have been a different story. But I'm definitely open to hearing different perspectives and trying to make an informed decision.

Regarding the in-wall speakers, I am aware that they require research and proper installation to achieve optimal sound quality. And I also understand that this room size/shape is not ideal for a home theatre setup, but I am just trying to make the best of what I have.

Also appreciate your concern for the cost and practicality of the setup, but I assure you that I am taking those factors into consideration as well. The AVR I own currently is an oldie - it's a first-generation Atmos receiver from Yamaha (RX-A2040), but I am researching different amplification and source options, and I am open to making adjustments.

Thank you for your input; hope to hear more feedback in the future

 

[TheRealOC]

Sorry if I confused you. The 5 "bed level" speakers refer to the non Atmos speakers typically at / near ear level. In home theater jargon each number and it's position quickly illustrates what subset of speakers you are discussing, and how they are configured. x.y.z = x is the bed level and the value not only tells how many but how they are relatively positioned around the listener (some folks mis this last bit); y is the sub woofers; and z is the Atmos speakers. Have a look here for Dolby Atmos Speaker Placement.

No need to apologize I've just seen some folks include Atmos in their definition of "bed level" for some reason (no clue why), and wanted to clarify. Thanks!

 

[TheRealOC]

Bed level speakers are the Ear level speakers. So, the 5, 7, or 9 speakers in a 5.x.x, 7.x.x, or 9.x.x setup are the bed level or bed layer speakers. The Atmos speakers are height speakers. The Center channel and surround channel speakers shouldn't be so high in a system using height speakers. If the couch can't be moved up, surround speakers need to come way back and 5.1.2 might be more appropriate here as was mentioned by @AcuDefTechGuy.

Just for the sake of argument, if you were going to move the couch forward, how much forward would you move it? (room is about 12.5 feet long, and the front of the sofa currently is around the 9 feet mark). If you moved it forward, would you still use as large a screen as possible?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just for the sake of argument, if you were going to move the couch forward, how much forward would you move it? (room is about 12.5 feet long, and the front of the sofa currently is around the 9 feet mark). If you moved it forward, would you still use as large a screen as possible?

Personally, I wouldn't want to sit closer than 9 FT to the screen.

 

[Trebdp83]

Just for the sake of argument, if you were going to move the couch forward, how much forward would you move it? (room is about 12.5 feet long, and the front of the sofa currently is around the 9 feet mark). If you moved it forward, would you still use as large a screen as possible?

The front of my couch is 7ft from the TV screen. So, my eyes are 8ft from the 77" TV screen. The price jump from 77" to 83" was a bit much or I'd have done it.

 

[mono-bloc]

Personally I think what you should be doing is working out your budget first. Then shaping the room to what you can actually afford, without selling a kidney. If you can budget the sound of a couple of helicopters flying round the lounge room all power to you. The bottom line is shape your system, to your budget, with provision to up date / grade, when costs allow. I don't own a home theatre as such, I'm really a two channel guy as per my forum title. But I do understand what's required. And at what cost. I've seen people spend an absolute fortune of theatre gear everything from custom made seating to 30 thousand dollar Kaleidescape Blu-Ray movie servers. But I also know people who have spent next to nothing on used gear and are just as happy. Here's a couple of good sites, Both supply and install normal priced designs to ultra high-end. Both are also the best in there field world wide Both are also based in Sydney Len Wallis audio, Click on the link to Project Page. HTTPS://lenwallisaudio.com/ Wavetrain which are home theatre designers HTTPS://www.wavetrain.com.au/ Both will show you just what is possible, and there ideas can be adapted to your intended system and budget

 

[BMXTRIX]

I really struggle with this room.

WHAT IS IT?

Is this a room in your basement? I don't see any windows in this room at all. This doesn't seem like a living room to me in any way. It seems FAR more like a home theater space. So, that begs the question: Is this a library? A living room? Or is it a home theater?

If it is intended to be a home theater, then stop calling it a living room. It's a home theater. Then approach it like it is a home theater. The living room gets treated and designed like a living room. A theater gets designed and treated like a theater.

Get the fucking interior decorator the hell out of your home theater. If that interior decorator is your wife, then do it politely.

By all accounts of your photos, this room BEGS for a front projector with an acoustically transparent screen. I absolutely would NOT do ultra short throw if you're in the pre-drywall stages. If I was stuck with a TV, then I would absolutely go with a 85" TV, or a 77" OLED as my display. But, at 10 or 11 feet eyes to screen, I'd do a projector with a 110"-120" diagonal screen.

I just don't know what the plans are for this room other than watching TV and how much of a TV person your wife is. If this room really has a significant other purpose than looking pretty for other interior decorators, then it's a useless room. If the purpose is to watch TV, then make that purpose to watch TV. If the purpose is to be able to read a book, then figure out how a large TV impairs the ability to read a book.

We have a family room in our home. It's got large windows, a fair bit of seating for guests, and a large TV. We have a living room without any TV where my wife reads and the kids play their instruments. Then, in the basement, with no windows, we have a theater with surround sound and a 161" projection screen. Don't build every room to be another family room or living room, it's the most useless thing people can do in their homes. It would be like putting a couch in your bedroom because someone decides it looks better than a bed. It's just the wrong way of doing things.