Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Validation of HT Setup

Hello:

I would like some validation of my home theatre setup for an addition I am putting on my house:



I am at the wiring rough in stage:



I expect my factory outlet VP150, M60Tis, and QS8s to come in the next week or so (ordered just before the price jump on Nov 15)

Here is how the speakers are going to be placed:



More details on how the speaker placement will be on a “stage” where the fireplace is:



The QS8s will be placed at 7 feet high (9 foot walls) at about 16 feet from the projection screen.

The main listening couch will be 14 feet from the projection screen in the center of the room.

Concerns that I have

1. I may have to angle the VP150 down to the listening area.
2. Will the M60s be too high? The fireplace stage is 12” tall.
3. Will the way I have the M60s on the fireplace stage colour the sound at all?
   

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Thanks

BarilkoBart

Welcome barilkobart

WOW - what a room!!! I am seriously jealous. Did you speak to Axiom at all about your proposed setup? Given the size of this thing (and what looks like a a peaked ceiling), Your setup "looks" to be OK, but their expertise might be of value here. If need be, do you have room to put the M60s just off the stage or even to the outside of the 2 patio doors? I ask this question because I don't know where the seating position will be and a wider soundstage might be helpful.

Another question to ask Axiom - would the M80s be a better choice for this size room?

Also, you don't mention it, but this room is going to need some serious subwoofer-age. What components will you be using?

Ray hit all the points that I saw as concerns...most notably the proximity of your two main speakers at that sitting distance.

I also wonder two other things: One is that although it seems to be pretty widely done, I always wonder about putting ANYthing (screen OR plasma) above a fireplace. I wonder if it won't keep getting smokey. Just a thought.

The other one is that as soon as I saw the floorplan as the first image, I was thinking that you were going to be placing the system along the wall on the right. It seems to me that the lack of windows, etc., increases flexibility in speaker placement. I wonder if that's an option for your plans?

Edited: I almost forgot to echo Ray on another thought: Nice Room. Ditto the jealousy and the welcome!

Yup, I did talk to Axiom; they recommended the M60s as a minimum. Budget and upgrading my Receiver to drive a 4ohm load left me with the M60s.

There probably would be room for the M60s between the stage and the patio doors, but I was worried about the speakers getting bumped as people go in and out of the doors. Or worse yet, the M60s being used as drink holders!
I never even thought about putting the M60s on the outside of the patio doors. Something to play with. Thanks for the sugestion.

I plan on getting a couple of SVS subs in March.

Components:
Pioneer Receiver VSX-D810S (100W 6.1)
Pioneer DVD Player DV-578A-S
Infocus SP4805 Projector
ExpressVu 5900 PVR
XBOX
HT PC (future)

How much space do you plan on having between the M60's and the wall behind them?

I would be worried about having the speakers so close to the fireplace.

The M60s will be 2 feet from the edges of the fireplace and have about 7 inches of space behind them.

The fireplace is gas and there isn't much heat generated to the sides or above. Its more for atmosphere.

The fireplace is gas and doesn't generate took much heat.

Placing the system along the wall on the right would complicate surround setup. I want the fireplace and projection screen to be the focal point of the room.

Thanks for your comments.

I have a gas fireplace and keep it turned to "low" because it gives off a surprising amount of heat, mostly emanating straight forward rather than laterally, but 2 feet to either side might be enough. You do bring up a good point about the M60s acting as expensive drink holders. Even on the stage, they may attract a fair number of beers.

Thoughts about the left/right corner placement for the M60s. Great for drink avoidance, broader sounstage, but will probably require some toe-in. If you place them here, think about your SVS style & placement. Those corners look to be the best for the subs. That means you'll probably need to place them directly IN the corner to mazimize the LFE. If so, then the M60s will need to be placed in front of the subs or just beside them, a bit inside the corners.

If we assume that my thoughts are even close to making sense, quite a stretch , then it might make sense to consider the SVS cylinder style, rather than the box style. This isn't a bad thing, because it is clear that there is quite a bit of testosterone and bragging rights embedded in this whole project and the cylinders (I have one) will be excellent conversation starters.

This would be a good time to give SVS a call and discuss what the room will require, for a couple of reasons. First, given the size of the room, you will likely need max headroom vs. going low. I'm guessing they might guide to to the 25-31 PC+. This provides the most headroom, but can also be tuned to go lower, so you get the best of both worlds. Choosing the 16-46 or 20-39 would sacrifice headroom. Second, if you can zero in on the model now, it gives you time to keep an eye on their B-stock availability to save some money. The B-stock doesn't last very long and usually goes the lucky & quick.

This is just me thinking out loud - hope it's helpful. BTW, what part of the country are you in? Looks like winter outside.

Wow, indeed. That is going to be a fabulous room, and those are the best diagrams I've ever seen. Great picture, too. Thank you for sharing your project with us.

My concern about the placement of the front speakers is early reflections from both the mantel and the base of the stage. It will probably be fine if not wonderful, but your plan seems to add a lot of hard surfaces very near the edges of the speakers, which could compromise the imaging somewhat. I don't think the height of the M60's are going to be a problem since you'll be a good distance away. You can probably make minor adjustments on the angle of the VP150 pretty easily if you need to by using a little wedge of some kind under the back edge.

If you're wiring at the moment, you might wish to hedge your bets on the subwoofer placement and wire a couple of different options. It might be difficult to get the placement nailed before you get everthing done and the subs acquired, and you might find that you like one of them in the back of the room or something.

I'm concerned about control of ambient light from all those windows.

Where does the equipment live?

Very exciting project. Congratulations and thank you again for sharing your journey with us.

I have a similar layout in my home. (open greatroom, vaulted ceilings). The only thought coming to my mind is light. Don't know if you've checked, but shades for trap windows are mighty expensive. I have traps throughout my house and no shades because of the costs.

I experimented with my speakers on the fireplace hearth which is 16" high. I preferred them higher but they just didn't look right. I have rock and a hand carved mantel surrounding my fireplace and the speakers took away from them. I spend more time standing in the great room / kitchen area than sitting though. But also liked them higher when I was sitting down as well. I'd just experiment if I was you.

Oh, and one other thought......does you wife know your plans? When I had one of those, she refused to let me have a TV in the greatroom.

And you don't 'need' the M80's. Anyone who suggests them for reasons of space and volume anywhere other than a gymnasiam has not heard them.

Barikobart. First I'll echo the others above by saying that is going to be a lovely room, with a MARVELOUS view. Very nice.

1) It's possible you may have to angle the VP150 down a bit, but it's not a certainty, and I'm leaning toward th probability that it won't be necessary. It's gonna be one of those "you'll just have to wait and see" things. Depending on how you will be mounting the VP150, angling can be very easy. If it's on a shelf using a couple of those wedge shaped rubber doorstops (or any nicely finished, wedge shaped, pieces of wood) can easily do the job. If they would be hidden from view, the doorstops work fine.

2 & 3) The consensus optimum height for the M60s is having the tweeters right at ear level. But, that is the ideal. When it comes to placement, many of us are unable, for one reason or another (space constrictions; furniture configuration; "significant other" demands, etc.) to achieve the ideal. I have my M60s on 13 inch risers, and sit a lot closer them than you will be to yours. No problems.



Just try to be sure the front edge of the M60s are out from under the mantle an inch or two so as to avoid any reflections off the bottom of the mantle.

My only concern about your proposed placement of the M60s is that they will only be about 8 feet apart while you are sitting 14 feet away. As you can see, from the diagram below, the optimum is for the speakers to be as far apart from each other as you are from each speaker - the "golden triangle." For that reason, you may want to experiment with placing the M60s on the floor a little wider apart. Again, this is an ideal which many of us are unable to achieve. Doesn't mean you proposal won't be satisfactory. Experimentation is recommended.



Glad you're here. Keep us posted on the progress of your house, and what you decide to do concerning placement. Enjoy!

Thanks, my wife is all for the projector.
For now, I am going with a DIY screen, perhaps with an electric drop down screen a couple years down the road.

awesome room, congrats, ditto with the 60s, they are more than enough for all but the monster rooms. Can they build my damm new house fast enough. Please refrain from big/great rooms till then...........

Equipment will live over by the stairs.
I am putting in a IR repeating system so I don't have to point the remote at the projector above and the equipment on the right by the stairs.

Thanks for your thoughts on SVS.
Definately leaning towards the 20-39PCi model.
Will definately check the B-Stock option.

BTW, I live just east of Oshawa (Mitchells Corners).

Oh boy, am I apprehensive to talk subs LOL, may I suggest the 20-39 pc plus, according to SVS thre is a substanial difference in the plus models, and the cost seems "relativly" close, can't go wrong either way.

Is anybodyelse concerned about only having 7" of space behind the M60's?

I would also be concerned with the lack of "tweakability". You do not thave much room to play with if the sound is not good.

Also look at Hsu subs!

If you can set up the patio doors so the outside half does the sliding (ie right door slides left and left door slides right) you could put the M60s a couple of feet outside the hearth / stage and get :

- more correct distance between speakers
- nothing behind the speakers interfering with the port
- no crispy-critter M60s from the fireplace heat
- more hearth space in front of the fireplace for people

Just got my confirmation email from Amie.
VP150/M60s/QS8s are shipping on Friday.
Early Christmas gift for me!

Great news!!! What did you decide about placement? BTW, in that size room, an SVS 25-31 PC+ sub in each of the front corners would be excellent, not to mention an outstanding conversation starter.

If your going for projection, I assume you mean Front Projection, as your screen is coming in around 92" diag. What is your plans for light control and what projector are you planning, unless you a light cannon Front Projector, you will have to do something about the ambient light, unless you just plan to watch movies always in the evening.

In progress website.

I am going to run speaker wire to the fireplace stage and outside the patio doors so I can play with the sound of the M60s.

I'll be picking up a PCi 20-39 (or perhaps +) in March.
One sub for now.
We drive to Florida for March break every year; I will have it shipped there to save on duty and taxes and bring it back across the border.

Would I be happy with two SVS PB10-ISDs located in the corners outside the patio doors?
Not as much of a conversation piece, but they would fit in the budget in the near term.

I am going with an Infocus 4805 for now.
We just plan on watching movies at night.
We will have a 32" tube TV for regular daytime viewing.
We are thinking about light blocking movable drapes for the patio doors and side Windows to control some of the ambinent light. Little concerned about the traps.

You might want to ask SVS about the 2 PB-10s; that's alot of room to fill with LFE. Matter of fact, you might also ask if the 20-39 PCi is enough. At the very least, the 25-31 might be a better choice because of the additional headroom it provides.

Also, a warning - the 20-39 PCi is big, I mean REALLY big. Even more so if you keep it in the box. I'm not sure what you are driving to Florida, but if you plan on bringing it back in a car, you better make plans to strap the wife to the hood . If you can get it into the car, there won't be room for much of anything else.