We are designing a new home with the HT incorporated into the main floor great room. Component visibility is a huge issue. I have learned a lot from reading the forums over the last month and am now ready to submit my project for everyone’s review. Since the system will be built into the house (not a cabinet), this will be a major commitment with little opportunity for adjustment after installation.

Apologies for the length, but I have tried to provide every detail I can think of in this original post.

Please comment/suggest/critique any and all details you care to. Thanks in advance for everyone’s help!







Great Room Description:
Size 16' x 28' w/ open back wall
Ceiling - Tray ceiling 9' high on perimeter, 10' high in center
West wall - all glass
North wall - open to dining and kitchen - roughly 50'
South wall - TV/fireplace/L/R/C in cabinet speakers
East wall - all open
HT/Music ratio – 70/30

Proposed system:
EMO UMC-1
EMO XPA-3 (or 2?)
EMO XPA-5 (w/ a 6.1 this gives capacity for distributed audio)
L/R - M80 in cabinet
Ctr - VP180 in cabinet
L/R Surrounds - QS8
Rear - M2/M22/VP100 in wall (undecided)
Sub - EP175 (reuse 1 old and add one new?)

Patio/Kitchen
M3's - outdoor
In ceiling for kitchen - undetermined

Questions:

What is best for this room? - 5.1/6.1/7.1
(a local “expert” commented that the room might be too lively for anything beyond 5.1)

I currently own one EP175 and plan to buy another instead of one large sub.

Each sub must be located below an M80 to fit in the space allowed – is it ok to locate inside the cabinet?

M80 height is 2’ from the floor - must give up subs to go lower.

VP180 is 6’ from the floor ... plan to tilt approx -10 degrees

QS8's
> mounted on side wall of tray ceiling at 9' high and 10’ spread
> mount w/ brackets tilted down or flush mount?
> how far behind couch based on height and spread ?

Rear (if used)
> 2-M2’s in wall for rears? How far apart? also mounted on tray ceiling side wall – 9’ height
> Single M2 or M22 or VP100 for 6.1?
> If used, M2/M22 in wall must be mounted sideways – would a VP100 be better suited?

Amps
> Better to put L/R/C on same amp (XPA-3)
> Could go with same amp for fronts XPA-2 and put CTR on XPA-5
> The XPA-3/XPA-5 combo in a 6.2 system gives me capacity to run distributed audio on main floor

Existing equipment for re-use – maybe in lower level den/exercise room:
Harman Kardon AVR335 (7 x 65W)
M50's
M2's
VP100