Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Ceiling Heights and Expectations

Hi All,

Can someone point me to thread that discussed ceiling height. ? ( this would be easiest but if y’all want to jump in on a new thread I’d welcome it. I recall a good discussion a while back about room size shape dimension but can’t recall where that is or if there was a ceiling height discussion. ).

Or , please comment on your experience with ceiling heights in terms of quality of soundstage and imaging / holographic possibility or any nuances with various heights snd their sonic affects.

For example, differences between 8,9,10, or 12 foot ceilings.

Or if anyone can comment on 7 foot ceilings specifically or 12 foot ceilings specifically.

I’m thinking I sort of understand the sonic affects of large open spaces versus small ones and room shapes but height is one I haven’t considered much.

Thanks everybody,

Kodiak.

Going out on a limb here since i haven't researched much on room dimensions post-media room build 15 years ago.

The ceiling heights play into the role no different than the total distances of walls that make up the room dimensions along with room shape. With a perfect square room (10x10x10), you will have reflection points that are easily calculated. Similar to a rectangular room (10x10x8) but the reflection points will be drawn out and not 'on top of' each other (so to speak) which vary more with increasingly different dimensions (15x8x21.5). The best designed rooms typically have some asymmetry to them and preferably less hard angles and it's why you see amphitheaters with those crazy ceiling shapes and typically a fan shape seating area. Even those rooms usually have acoustical treatments.

There are lots of good references on building a room and room dimensions, been discussed many times on these forums over the years, though i don't think i have any specific threads saved in my list of threads.
Trevor is best dialed in on this topic so if he doesn't respond, send him a PM. Best if you have a specific question to ask such as "my room is Y by X with Z ceilings and i want to add some sound panels to improve P"...

When designing my HT I was aiming for a 11’ finished ceiling for modal and large screen reasons. After many compromises I will end up with something like 8’ 10”. Bass wise I’m fairly sure it’s going to be fine given 4 subs to even things out but it’s going to be a bit tight screen wise. No problems with imaging ... right now the 1/2 finished height is 9’ 2” ... cement floor and plywood walls and ceiling.

Resonances are calculated by 1130/2L

So 11’ ceilings = 1st order node of 51.36hz.

Ideal room is 10h x 17w x 23l

Avoid rooms with common dimensions or squares.

The neutral points for modes are 0.2/0.32/0.45/0.55/0.68/0.8 times any dimension. Putting listeners on these ratios, or speakers/subs ensures more neutral response. Avoid sitting in the middle of the length dimension. -Null at room fundamental and peak at 2nd harmonic.

Increasing height increases volume. Practically, there is no reason to expand height unless you are looking to accomodate tiered seating or as Rich is, a large screen. Beyond 10’ you are causing issues unless you plan on treatment. Long bare reflections = long decay times = Not nice. Long decay times lead to poor dynamics and decreased speech intelligibility (especially on the length axis.). Expect unpredictable zings and boings in tall ceiling rooms. Pop a balloon and see.

Large rooms trend to longer decay times in general. In reproduction, we want shortish times. In live sound we want longer times. In practice, it totally depends what you are using the room for and how many listeners, etc you are looking to fit. I would recommend you buy a reference book and stop online research. Lot of boneheads on AVS and youtube that will end up costing you wasted time.

FWIW, you can make any existing room feel bigger with diffusers.

Fwiw, my basement HT is 7.5h x 14.5w x 22ish long. Height is A-ok.

Yeah, the original plan had a lot more treatment in it. That got pulled when I decided that i was probably trying solve non-existent problems and that I should wait and see if I had them first. The exception to that was going with 4 subs. It would have been smarter if I ordered two and added more if needed but hey, sometimes one gets a bit carried away in this hobby

You'd have never known if 2 were good enough. Sure, it would have sounded good, but could it have sounded better? With 4, you can test that. Four will sound better BTW.

Are you wondering about 8?

4 already takes up too much space ...

Maybe a stacked topology.

You may laugh but I've tried it. Room loading is soooooo much better with 500s stacked on 600s.

EP1100s to go with LFR1100s?