THAILAND cave build, What am I to do??

[Bahtman]

Hello to all.

Seems the forum is a bit more user friendly (with an acoustics topic) than others to post so here I stay.

I’m a first time poster here and have a few questions I’m hoping someone can help me with.

I’ve been monitoring this and other forums on a lot of topics and have learned quite a bit and now ask for some input pertaining to my current situation, as I’m no expert by any means.

What’s important to me now is building a new system here, with limited resources. I know I can’t replicate what I had in the US, but I like my tunes and movies and need to make do here with what’s available.

The first has to do with room acoustics as my new house is under construction and being made with concrete floors and tile, cement block walls and sheetrock ceilings.

Yea, I know what you’re thinking, a cement house and a good sounding system don’t compute, but I’m now living in Thailand, and with no wood here, houses are built like warehouses.

That being said, the main living room size is open and quite large at 22’ wide x 46’ long with about a 17’ vaulted ceiling (starting from the 10” vertical wall).

The framing is quite higher but the ceiling will be dropped to 17’ (Think of the elevation looking like an A with legs.

[/URL][/IMG]

My plan is to split the room somewhat by building a smallish internal wall 8-9’ wide x 10’ high near the front (this might be considered my “back wall”), in the center of the 22’ width (leaving a 6-7’ walkway on either side) and mounting a 65-70” TV on that wall. Seating will put me 8-9’ from that wall as the main (only) seating area.

The 10’ area behind this wall (the top of the A will be mostly glass.)
There is really no back wall as the area flows into an open kitchen about 10’ behind the seating area.

[/URL][/IMG]

The plan was to locate the front mains a couple feet on either side of the TV and the surrounds near the side (concrete) walls.

Distances are good as all speakers should be about the same distance from the seating area.

As I don’t envision a place for rears, I was considering using front highs instead, located a 3’ or so over and to the sides of the mains.

I can’t hang acoustical tiles or the like on the walls (don’t exist here), but with the size of the room and no real back wall or ceiling for reflection, how concerned should I be about the acoustical properties of this room.

I did just find a place that sells “Home Theater” components that include:
Metal furring strips that screw into the block wall. Insulation (think 1" pink) between the strips and a piece of dense Styrofoam about 2” thick over that and finally drywall over that.

But in my room setup, where would I use these materials, if at all?

It’s not possible in the high ceiling, back wall or glassed wall behind the front stage.

The only walls where this stuff could be placed are on the sides, and with the combined thicknesses of about 4", I need to rethink my wall construction rather quickly if you think it would be of any value.

System components are a bit limited here and I’m considering an Onkyo TXNR 727 or 828 or a Yamaha RXV something with Polk speakers and a good sub, but that's not pressing yet.

The house has to be pre-wired or I’d end up grinding groves in the rendered walls (or sheetrock) to run the wires.

It’s a multi-purpose room and on a big piece of land I’m not concerned about noise in or out.

I’m fearful of your responses. Hello, hello, hello hello

Am I looking at a dead horse here?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[ski2xblack]

I'm not sure what you're referring to as the dead horse. Consideration of your local acoustics and addressing problems is one of the best things you can do.

I think every audio nut should have a copy of Toole's book on acoustics, so that's my first suggestion.

Off the top of my head, as things are in your drawing would be ok from the MLP on the couch. I would not put speakers into the recess of the block wall with the TV; get them out of those corners. For the sake of expanding the sweet spot, I would consider wider placement of the mains, and controlled directivity speakers properly oriented to sidestep early first reflections from the side walls. That would help stereo imaging over a larger area of the room, too.

With all the concrete, tile, glass, and sheetrock, it will take some work. You should be able to improve it. In our acoustically lively living room we have a virtual forest of plants, and they really do help diffuse the sound. Lots of our treatments masquerade as room decor and art. You'll have to get creative with it.

 

[Bahtman]

I would not put speakers into the recess of the block wall with the TV; get them out of those corners.

So far I've stuffed the double block side walls with insultion and plan on insulating the ceiling as well. The "sound stage" wall will be insulated as well.
The reasoning behind the corners were to act as support legs for the freestanding wall, but agree with your "not in the corners" comment and can eliminate them on the front side. The wall shape will now look like a U not an H.



For the sake of expanding the sweet spot, I would consider wider placement of the mains.

I was looking at the TXH and Audessy speaker placment guides and can come pretty close to the angles they recommend.

"Controlled directivity speakers properly oriented to sidestep early first reflections from the side walls."

Can you elaborate a bit on "Controlled directivity speakers "?

With limited resources here I was leaning towards Klipse as I've had them before and they now carry a wireless powered sub.
And..... if I use front highs/wides would these be the same speakers as the side surrounds??


With all the concrete, tile, glass, and sheetrock, it will take some work.

I have nothing but time on my hands and once the house is finished my creative juices will flow even more freely.


You should be able to improve it. In our acoustically lively living room we have a virtual forest of plants, and they really do help diffuse the sound. Lots of our treatments masquerade as room decor and art. You'll have to get creative with it.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[ski2xblack]

Kind of ghostly in this sub-forum...

Controlled directivity speakers refer to waveguides/horns. Klipsch would qualify. I'm not a fan of their subs, there are just too many better values to be had. Hsu, SVS, or DIY. For that matter, I'm not a fan of many of their speakers. I do like the Heritage and Cinema lines. The THX 650 are great, too.

Anywho, I made that suggestion because controlled directivity speakers can be a magic bullet for certain acoustic problems. They have a more constrained coverage pattern, at least in the mid and treble bands, and you can use their directivity combined with careful placement to drastically reduce or eliminate early reflections, while dramatically expanding the sweet spot. If you're curious about it read this.

That all may have zero relevance, or maybe it will if you end up with some sort of Klipsch. If the primary goal is optimizing for the couch, and you're close to the THX recommended placement, you're on the right track and doing well. In your favor, with the couch out away from any walls and speakers in close proximity, treating the room will be somewhat simplified. Good luck with it, and have fun.

 

[Bahtman]

I good read and thanks for the input.

I'm trying to lay out the build now, and have only gotten one other comment there.

A couple of threads down you'll see "large open room layout" and if you would take a look there and give me some input there as well, I'd appreciate it.

I guess after the final layout, I'll hunt you down again for speaker selection options.

Thanks again for your time