The couch000 Theater Build

[couch000]

Need some help and some opinions on the couch build from you guys.

I haven't fully decided on where to put the screen, equipment, etc. The framing is just about done and my wife and I put some chairs in the room and sat in a few positions to get an idea of what it would be like.

I can't decide which wall to put the tv, projector screen, equipment, and speakers. I wanted to have the 50" plasma mounted on the wall with a projector screen coming down over it for movies, sports, and occasional gaming. I was going to have a tv stand below the tv to put the equipment in and put the center channel on top of it (about 24"-28" off the ground) and have the floor standing speakers to the side of the projector screen when it is down. I was thinking about putting in a 100 sq. in. projector screen.

If I put the equipment on this wall it's not centered and I don't have quite enough room to put the floor standing speakers (mains) to the side of the pj screen. They would need to be below the screen at the very edge. The advantages of this positioning is that the room is longer (19' vs. 13') and I could probably put a larger pj screen in compared to the other walls.

Here's the view:

The next option is on one of the long walls. The advantage of this wall is that I have room to put my equipment and the pj screen how I would like. Disadvantage is that the surround speakers should be placed where doors open and I'm not sure I would have an optimal placement. They would need to be placed either on the back wall only a few feet from the listening area and angled 180 degrees inward or about 3-5' in front of the listening areas (they wouldn't be behind the listeners or to the side). I have contemplated ceiling speakers but just really don't want to go that route. The wife likes this option because she thinks it makes the room look bigger watching from under the duct. The room kinda opens up when looking out from the under the duct. She also likes the fact that you would be able to see the screen/tv from the main door when it's open.

Here's the view from the main entrance door (where the surround speakers should go):

Next option is the opposite wall from the previous wall. Again this is one of the long walls and would allow me to set up my equipment how I would like and allow the surround speakers to be mounted correctly at the back of the room- no doors to worry about. The disadvantage of this wall is that the tv and pj screen would have to be mounted below a duct and is about 1' lower than the rest of the ceiling. It's about 7' tall up to the duct. I thought about mounting an Optoma GT700 about 1' from the edge of the duct so I thought that would look ok. The studs in the picture below are actually being re-worked so they are closer to the duct so the ceiling will be opened up 3-4 more inches. Which I think will make a nice difference. The wife doesn't like this position because you are sitting in the more open area looking into the lower ceiling area.

Here's the view:

My choice right now is option 3 because it gives me the optimal layout for equipment. I would rather have optimal sound. My only concern is mounting the pj screen under the duct- although the framing is being re-worked so it won't come down as low. Should that be any concern? Hoping for some suggestions from the experts.

Thanks!! Sorry to be so long-winded.

 

[AVRat]

So your room is 19’ x 13’ x 8’, with about 7’ under the soffit, correct? Is that a bit of a bump out where the ladder is in Pic 1? I’m guessing that you looked at the left side of the screen coming down along that side, and with a screen width about 88”, you wouldn’t have enough room on the right side for the speaker, correct? I’m also assuming that you’ll be using a regular screen, not an AT screen, so that the center speaker needs to be below the screen? I’m really trying to see if there’s a way to use the lengthwise orientation, which is definitely preferred, and the room is actually wide enough. Do you have a specific screen in mind?

You need to be careful with a projector like the Optoma, because its mounting position options are very limited.
http://optomausa.com/distancecalculator.asp

 

[jostenmeat]

I promise to take a harder look here when I have the chance. In the meanwhile, some blueprints/plans or something could be helpful too. I will give you my starters:

The best audio means AT (acoustically transparent) screen. Plain and simple.

It also means three identical, vertically arrayed speakers, all on the same plane. Plain and simple.

AV RAT is right about lengthwise, but I'll take a harder look at it later to understand the other compromises better. Starting point is 38% of room length for ears, either from front or back, for best evening of modal issues. The lengthwise orientation helps keep down intensity of modal issues.

I have to ask you, why a TV for a dedicated theater? The only issue I see is saving money on bulb costs, but a tab tensioned screen, tv, furniture, etc, will be way more money than bulbs.

If willing to forgo TV and tab tensioned, you can make your own AT screen with Seymour DIY. There are a number of us here who have built one, I can think of at least three members including yours truly. You have no idea how much you will save for the quality you can obtain.

Remember dark dark dark and flat flat flat paints. If you're willing to go black anywhere, please ask me, and I'll tell you the recs I know of.

If willing to do Seymour, you'd want at least 11' away from screen to be safe as far as detecting texture. I can be closer than that and still not detect anything, but just to be safe . . .

talk later.

 

[jostenmeat]

Ok, I read it again.

If surrounds need to be in FRONT of viewers, then no, it just ain't worth it.

There is too much emphasis, or perhaps specifically limitations, being placed by the equipment placement.

The worst place, yes THE worst place, to put your equipment with a PJ setup is by the screen.

Get a vertical rack, even an inwall rack like adk highlander has. Before drywall goes up, start running some thick conduit everywhere it needs to go. A 35' Monoprice cable is really cheap, I think maybe less than $50, well, I used to use it, and still have it. I now am on a 25', also cheap. They work perfectly.

A remote like the URCRF20 combo pack is $75, and now you can just completely hide your equipment if you wanted, thanks to RF.

Therefore, outside of the rack cost (which could be less than the furniture), for only ~$100 you can not only hide your equipment, but have much more freedom with performance setup.

 

[fotto]

So, what's in that soffit in terms of HVAC? If supply and return (appears to be big enough to contain both), consider rerouting one either to the other side of the beam, or the other side of the room. That would make the existing soffit smaller and you could match it on the opposite wall for symmetry, AND center your screen between the two.