Should I go with the long wall or the short wall

[Dan DRC]

I am in the early planning stages for a dedicated media room. My room dimensions are 19 x14. I was thinking about going front projection but would be open to other options. I would be purchasing mostly new equipment. I have had several systems in past in different types of rooms but this is the biggest room option I have been able to use so far. Would you place screen/monitor on the short 14' side or the long 19' side? Just look for a few opinons on how this could change the results. Thanks

 

[MDS]

I think what you are looking for is how either choice will affect acoustics but you'd need to provide a lot more info on the layout of the room like doors, windows, columns in the way, etc.

Just off the cuff though I'd say you'd probably be better off putting the screen on the short wall so you have enough space for the full set of surround speakers. If you go 7.1, you'll need space behind the listening position to put the rear surrounds. What's really going to decide which option to choose is how you can arrange furniture. One way may be more conducive to a nice comfortable layout than the other.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am in the early planning stages for a dedicated media room. My room dimensions are 19 x14. I was thinking about going front projection but would be open to other options. I would be purchasing mostly new equipment. I have had several systems in past in different types of rooms but this is the biggest room option I have been able to use so far. Would you place screen/monitor on the short 14' side or the long 19' side? Just look for a few opinons on how this could change the results. Thanks

Yes, MDS made some great point. You need to decide on his points and if you want a 6.1 or 7.1 setup in which case the use the 14ft wall, again exactly the same as MDS' thought processes

What kind of $$$ are you thinking about for this?

 

[fmw]

On the short side. Room acoustics will be better that way. The idea is to give your speakers "room to breathe." In other words they will sound better if they aren't flush against a wall. They need room behind them for the backwaves to work properly. You will need all of that 19' feet to get far enough away from the screen. You don't want either your speakers or your seating to be against a wall.

 

[Dan DRC]

Thanks, excellent points.
This will be a 5.1 system. Leaning towards something like an Onkyo 805 for a preamp, I have two Acurus A150's from and old system and would use those for the front three speakers and would probably use the internal Onkyo amps for the rear. My sub is a HSU VTF-2. I will buy a blue ray or HD DVD, red book CD is done with and old Cal Audio Icon MkII. The room has two doors which will be closed during system use, no colums, there is a fireplace (which is not used) on one of the short walls and a door on the other short wall. My budget for the LRC and SS speakers is around $1,500. I guess the main point of my question would be from an acoustic standpoint first then how could I incorparate a FP system with that wall choice. If that did not work then I would look at flat panel options if I decided that audio is more iportant that screen size.

 

[Seth=L]

Long wall placement, particularly for the subwoofer can give you more bass output at the listening position, short wall offers the advantage of more room for speakers and screen size.

For speakers you might look at Boston Acoustics VR3, VR2, VRC, VR1, and a few others at onecall, they are marked down and sound great IMO at retail prices.

 

[Dan DRC]

Sorry had a typo, fireplace is on one of the long walls. Thanks fmw I was thinking the same way as far as being able to sit far enough away from the screen if I chose front projection. As far comfort level for seating I was thinking of HT style recliners for four or maybe five and that is pretty much it.

 

[j_garcia]

In terms of sound, I prefer to have the display on the short wall because the longer length gives you better options for speaker placement usually. My room is 13.5 x 23 and I used the length to allow my surrounds to be behind me and give me an appropriate distance from the front speakers and screen. My fireplace is on the left wall.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am in the early planning stages for a dedicated media room. My room dimensions are 19 x14. I was thinking about going front projection but would be open to other options. I would be purchasing mostly new equipment. I have had several systems in past in different types of rooms but this is the biggest room option I have been able to use so far. Would you place screen/monitor on the short 14' side or the long 19' side? Just look for a few opinons on how this could change the results. Thanks

I would put the screen on the 14' wall 100%. Gotta have plenty of room for viewing distance & surround speakers.

 

[Dan DRC]

Thanks for the replies. I suspected the 14' wall would be the way to go.