Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New dedicated home theatre...

Hi all! It's definitely been awhile! I've been on the site every now and again looking to see what new products can be had, and checking out the forums...

So here's my question of the day: I have just moved to a new place and I have a spare room that I would like to turn into a dedicated tv room. The dimensions of the room are 11'3" x 8'2".

I have 2 questions actually:
1- What is the best way to block the window so that I can not only block light out, but put the screen over it as well?
2- What would be the best Axiom set up for such a room? I know the epic 80s will be too much for a room that small.

thanks guys!

oh by the way, I would like a 5.1 setup... so info on bass would be cool also.

Thanks Guys

Nothing? hmmmm.... I don't want to spend a bunch of coin on another system as I already have the epic80/ep800 that will be used with my primary home theatre system, but I do want to get a nice little system to go with the 46" television in the aforementioned room.

Any info you guys can give me would be a big help. Thanks

Hi Majik,

I think there are only a select few here who might have posted in the early hours of the am.

1. Can you explain exactly what you are trying to do with the window? Are you looking to permanently block it out or just have it blocked when the screen is over it and in use?

2. That's not a big room so no need for more M80s (unless they make you smile more ) Also, I think you have the right idea in going 5.1 vs. 7.1 or more in a room of that size. Adding rears would not add a lot from my experience in a 12x12 room.

My first instinct would be for M22 mains paired with an EP350. QS8s for optimal surrounds and if your budget allows, you might want to demo the new VP180 for a center. It's new and I've never heard it but I'd love to try one. It's huge and although you don't need the power, you might appreciate the clarity it promises. Otherwise, I'd go with the more easy to place, VP150.

I thought my spare room was small at 13' x 14' where I am eventually planning on a projector and M80's. I have the same problem where I would have to mount the screen over a window.

For the window problem, my plan is to build a shallow box that will mount over the window. I'm not sure how to fasten it yet, but I could always use hinges on one side and a latch of some sort on the other. Then build a similar box for the other side of the wall so it would be symmetrical. Then I would just need to make sure it would block out all of the light. I would also have easy access to the window if the need should arise.

I have one window on the right side of the wall where the screen would mount and another window on the wall to the right of the screen.

Hi Majik. I'd look at a setup like either the Epic Midi(swapping the QS4's for QS8's though) or the Epic Grand Master which is the M22 anchored HT. You could also go with M2's/22's right across the front combined with QS8's for surrounds.

As Murph questioned, is the window covering meant to be permanent?

Thanks for the input guys. Yeah, when I woke up I saw that the thread had been viewed a few times with no reply and thought... maybe no one's replying because it's just too small a space to warrant any Axiom Gear. Glad to know that's not the case!

As for the window, it will be permanent... although I wouldn't mind a real black-out curtain if I can find one! I've decided to put the tv in that room and transform the living room into the home theatre.. but it's still going to be a dedicated tv room and I love watching tv in the dark, especially hi-def!

So is this it then?:

M22 fronts
ep 350
vp180 (but switch that for the the vp150 I have already with the epic80/800 and use the latter for the small room and the 180 for the home theatre)
q8s for surround.

Sounds like a plan, but the only issue I have is having to buy the same finish as my epic80 (I would have liked to change it up) but I need my wares to co-ordinate.. so no, mix-matching for my set-ups). would have liked to get the Boston cherry finish with black grilles as it matches my furniture and decor for that room.. but mansfield beach it is... I really want the vp180 for the epic80 system...

Two more questions:
1.About room sound...
a) what kind of carpet and where to buy
b) do acoustic curtains really work

2.About rears for the home theatre - room is fairly big: 25'x12' but I want to have acoustic curtains cut the room in two at 14' should I go with rears to go with the epic80 then?

I'll post a pic later to see if it'll help. The curtains are really to control ambient light.

In a room that small, I'd consider onwall speakers.

My current room is about 10' x 15' and I'm running with M60 fronts, VP150 center, and QS8 rears. I originally bought that setup for a much larger area, but they totally rock in the smaller theater. Too much? No. Needed for that size space, no as well.

If I had started in the 10' x 15' space, I probably would have done the M22 fronts as well and built the system around them.

Today there are so many on-wall, in-wall options that it is great.

I am planning dedicated home theater space every time I go into another house that I am looking at for when we move this fall. Every time I see a window, I wonder what my room darkening options are. I have heard that there are some blinds/shades that have tracks that go inside the window opening, so that there is no gap between the blinds/shades and the window opening helping to block all light coming in, and leaving your options open for if you ever wanted to have access to the window again.

I guess that it is just something that I wouldn't want to block out permanently in a theater area. I did it with my first theater, and it came back to hurt us when we sold the house and the window was blocked.

Good luck. To me, this part is exciting... Planning out one of my favorite areas to build in a house.

I'm going for bigger is better, even if it IS in a closet.

Thanks for the input! I know I'm going with the M22s, Q8s, the vp150 (but going to buy the vp180 to go with my m80s - I totally love those bad boys, don't you?), and the ep350... don't forget this is a dedicated television room... not my dedicated home theatre room. For that one, I will be back for more support/advice later!