Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374
devotee
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OP
devotee
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374 |
I've recently started to look around for a bigger home, also with the intention of commandeering a room for a dedicated home-theater setup. (sound treated, stepped seating, projector, etc.)
What are the best qualities to look for in a room like this? Are there certain shapes, sizes or surfaces that are best? What's a good height? Are there certain traits to avoid at all costs?
I know some of you have built rooms like this for yourselves and I'm wondering if you've learned what some of the tips or pitfalls of this sort of space might be.
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
SG, one of the more obvious points that you may be already aware of is to avoid equal or near-equal room dimensions, e.g., 8' x 8' x 8', terrible. Also dimensions being even multiples, e.g. 8' x 16' x 24', should be avoided. Various authorities on room acoustics have suggested specific ratios, e.g., 1:1.25:1.5 for a small room, 1:1.7:2.5 for an average room, etc.
There're other items, such as avoiding large openings to other rooms, and not having the room either too "live" or too "dead", either from furnishings or room treatments.
Regardless of anything, however, the room along with the speakers will continue to have a major effect in altering the recorded material, while things such as players, amplifiers and cables have little or no effect. So, there really ain't no such thing as a "perfect" HT room.
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374
devotee
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OP
devotee
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374 |
I'd heard to avoid the even dimension spaces. Those seem pretty rare anyway. Is the reasoning that it's hard to control the echoes and phasing (and the ever popular standing waves?)
I'm sure I'll have to treat any room, but I guess what I'm fishing for is some things to look out for that might make a project like that a little easier if I'm walking through houses and scouting for a good area. I'll start googling those dimensions you mentioned as well to see if I can find photos that can help me eyeball the general style that seems to work best.
I suppose I should have said something more like "ideal" or "optimal." (perfect is probably out of my price range :P )
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569 |
I just spent 6 months searching before I found what I was looking for based on my limited experience with my apartment theater:
1. Symmetrically shaped rectangular walls - makes placement of everything easier to optimize especially speakers.
2. Fairly large - allows more flexibility in placement of everything. Helps improve soundstage all around. I settled on 13x21x8-12 foot vaulted ceiling.
3. Construction - basements and brick (outer walls) allow a lot less sound in and out than wood-frame stucco.
4. Light control - Even with a HDTV this incredibly improved PQ everything was more vivid. It even enhanced sound quality in movies buy reducing visual queues that would otherwise degrade my sound systems ability to trick my brain about where sounds were coming from.
5. High or vaulted ceiling - I just like the openness this lends to the sound. Also ceiling height at the screen wall will determine how tall a screen you can use depending on your front speakers. Big factor for me because I wanted total freedom of placement for 3xM80s up front under the screen. I also think higher ceilings create a more movie theater like atmosphere.
6. Adjoining closet or space - I like having my equipment separated from my room by something to eliminate noise and clutter.
These were the main things I was looking for.
Cheers, Dean
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
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Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7 |
I wish I could check more of those off. I imagine I'll never be happy, though.
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374
devotee
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OP
devotee
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374 |
Thanks for your list. Did you end up finding all that in your room?
Basements are probably unlikely as I'm still shopping around southern California.
Am definitely considering adding brick or cinderblock to the walls tho.
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569 |
Basements are probably unlikely as I'm still shopping around southern California.
They’re a rare commodity here in Phoenix too. Thanks for your list. Did you end up finding all that in your room?
One end is partly open which I will enclose with a screen wall otherwise the size and dimensions are great. Unfortunately, the house is wood frame stucco which could be a tough one if noise becomes an issue. The light issues are easily managed. The ceiling is vaulted and at the screen wall it’s 9 1/2 feet so I can fit my M80s under a 142” diagonal 1.78:1 screen. There is an adjoining den/office destined to become a media room for all the equipment and source material. It also has a gas hookup in the garage for a dryer I mean NG converted brewing setup, and it’s in a great location. Plus for the price and outstanding condition of this house I couldn’t pass it up. Good luck in your hunting. Dean
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 374
devotee
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OP
devotee
Joined: Jan 2008
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You brew too? I've also been eyeing ones with larger concrete patios (some with outdoor ranges already installed) in the back for that stuff.
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569 |
You brew too? I've also been eyeing ones with larger concrete patios (some with outdoor ranges already installed) in the back for that stuff. I love homebrewing. The only thing I like to DIY more is growing my own…aaah…hops that’s it hops. Outdoor would be cool. You could brew, drink homebrew and barbeque at the same time. I plan on setting everything up in the garage. Buying or making a Brewtree http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/brewtree-building-39095/And buying or making a couple of these: http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=16584&cat=809&page=1I figure 8 different beers on tap is at least livable. I love having beer on tap and hate bottling though I’ll probably still bottle some beers like Trapist ales, triplebocks and barley wines etc… since they age well. When I used to live in Madison WI my roommate and I typically had 10-15 different homebrews bottled at any given time. I could sure get use to that sort of variety again. Any particular beers you like to make the most? Originally I focused on recreating expensive foreign beers but realized that every style tasted better homebrewed. I’ve pretty much given up on commercial beer except to try new ones especially local beers when I travel overseas.
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: Qualities for the perfect HT room?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,331 |
You might find this article, re: "The Golden Room", helpful. (Might not ) If you'll google "home theater building," you'll find a plethora of info, probably more than you could want.
Jack
"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton
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