Home theater room - need advice

[renjithvakkayil]

Renjithvakkayil, on last Sunday, i have written a lot on ideas toward your proposed home theatre, but you just did not reply a word, while on the same day which was a Sunday, you were seen writing on thread "The Movies I Liked".

This is not fair on your part, i had to take a lot of time out to write those contents, and you are just not bothered, this is not done, i think one should do some basic learning to value the free advice.

Regards

Vinay.

Hey Vinay sorry if you got offended....the day you replied on this thread I have sent you couple of messages via G-Talk but I didnt get any reply...and mean while I was typing a reply to be put on this thread...but before that I had to contact the consultant suggested by Sumit to let him know about the decision to go DIY rather than going for professional help...

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Hi Guyzzz thanks for all your valuable input..last few days I have been thru many posts here (like SANTHOL2's HT advice thread,Manu's subwoofer shortlist thread,HT room soundproofing thread etc) and in many other forums (AVS,BLURAYFORUM etc) and I learnt a lot (Not much technical data but GENERAL knowledge) about HT room construction and I have decided to depend entirely upon the forums and forum members to build the room rather than consulting a professional.There are many reasons for this....

1) I will not be able to get a consultant locally who will be able to oversee the construction closely by being onsite (else may have to pay airfare and accoommodation).The person suggested by Sumit is an expert in this field and the fee he quoted for consultancy is negligible comparing to the value addition he will be providing but still I feel that it wud be better if someone can be there physically.I shud agree with Vinay's words about the cost of airfare and STD/ISD bills......

2) You will not get the satisfaction which you will get if you do the supervising urself (DIY) and you wont learn much if u are hiring a professional.Tommorrow if there is any issue you may have to go for professional help but if you are doing it DIY with the help (experienced but not A/V Professionals - ie passionate but not professionals) of people from here I will learn many things and can fix small small problems without going for a professional.


3) I can reduce the cost of building the theater if I try DIY and spend the surplus on better A/V equipments...


Also I am a bit confused again regarding the room size.....


I have been to 2 showrooms where they demo audio/Video systems...one is a BOSE showroom and another one a A/V dealer and in both cases the room sizes were somewhere near 15*10*10 but still they were able to have a 100" (or 120??) screen and a decent viewing distance...whereas the room proposed in my flat is about 28*18*10 and I thinks its too huge (Just now only I came to know howmuch big such a room is) for my purpose.So isnt it okey if I go with a 20*15*10 room with 2 row seating instead of 30*20*10 ??

 

[renjithvakkayil]

If you will make the room windowless, you will hit a bulls eye, a geniune theatre has to be without the windows, among the advantages are, sound quality of the room will improve, there is no question of dust and sunlinght from outside, and most importantly the theatre interior effect will improve dramitically. I think there is no need of any elevation, just keep the room open for an hour during the day and once a week, keep it open for the night. The elevation will fall in place, because when you install a split air condition, the unit will have to be outside, so that small window will do the job of elevation, but this window also should have a wooden door if the need be, so you can even open this window for an hour or so once in every 2 days.

Indeed by watching movies via blue ray player will take you a step forward, but then i feel it is not much worth it, because movies are like a thermocal glass, most of the times we will not watch a movie again, so then why spend so much on a thermocal glass? I think in one's movies portfolio, one should not have more then 3% of his collection in blue ray. There are more benefits with digital movies (ripped) compared to a blue ray.

Vinay.

The room is going to be windowless..so I think I can have better acosutic experience...


For me its more like a collection...I luv to buy the movies instead of renting it out even though I am going to watch it only once or twice...the same goes with books (I love fictions more than movies for that matter!!).

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Pray to home theatre god that such a situation does not arise, as insult is a insult.

Vinay.

AMEN to that!!!

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Indeed to get an acoustic expert is like trying to get a camel milk.

For acoustics and other home theatre related works, It is indeed a smart move to depend upon the forum members as they could know much more better then most of the so called consultants.

It is very good that sumit is happy with the consultant, i am very happy for him that he found the right guy. I think in most of the cases one is not happy with the so called consultants. About the drawing to sumit, i have requested in the earlier post to make the drawing again so that way sumit and others will be able to throw a organized light of ideas, etc.

I am always willing to come with you to kerala, home theatre is my passion. I feel you should come and stay at my house for a day or two, so that you can have a much better idea, to take the things forward. I will take you to one more members house who has made a theatre, and then if you can visit sumit's theatre, that too will be a very good idea. I am sure venkat will oblige you a visit, there are some other leading members also who could visit your place, especially the banglore members.

Vinay.

Yup atlast I have decided to seek help from forum members rather than go for a professional consultant.I will modify the drawing a little bit and will upload it soon......

 

[renjithvakkayil]

I have shortlisted the following components after going thr various posts...the below is not finalised list so please do lemme know about your opinion...


SUB WOOFER - SVS PB13 / GENELEC SUBS (Model to be decided)

SPEAKERS - SVS 7.0 Channel Set - Black** (7.0 set includes three pairs of

SBS-01 and one SCS-01 Center Channel speaker ) / GENELEC INWALL SPEAKERS

RECEIVER - YAMAHA - RX-V565 (7.1 Ch)

BLURAY PLAYER - PANASONIC BD60

PROJECTOR - OPTOMA HD65(720P) / EPSON 6500 (1080P)

SCREEN - Acoustically transparent screens (Either buy the fabric and make the frame or buy the readymade screen with frame)

UNIVERSAL REMOTE - HARMONY-1000

 

[vinay]

Renjit,

Anyone will get offended, about messages via g-mail, i reserve my reply, i think it is not a good move to chat on the same subject at 2 different places, one at the forum and the other via g-mail, the forum is idle place as everyone gets to see the writing, so more ideas surface. I understand your point on sumit and the consultant angle, but how would i know that?

Hey Vinay sorry if you got offended....the day you replied on this thread I have sent you couple of messages via G-Talk but I didnt get any reply...and mean while I was typing a reply to be put on this thread...but before that I had to contact the consultant suggested by Sumit to let him know about the decision to go DIY rather than going for professional help...

 

[vinay]

For most of your writing i have already replied in my earlier posts.

Vinay.

Hi Guyzzz thanks for all your valuable input..last few days I have been thru many posts here (like SANTHOL2's HT advice thread,Manu's subwoofer shortlist thread,HT room soundproofing thread etc) and in many other forums (AVS,BLURAYFORUM etc) and I learnt a lot (Not much technical data but GENERAL knowledge) about HT room construction and I have decided to depend entirely upon the forums and forum members to build the room rather than consulting a professional.There are many reasons for this....

1) I will not be able to get a consultant locally who will be able to oversee the construction closely by being onsite (else may have to pay airfare and accoommodation).The person suggested by Sumit is an expert in this field and the fee he quoted for consultancy is negligible comparing to the value addition he will be providing but still I feel that it wud be better if someone can be there physically.I shud agree with Vinay's words about the cost of airfare and STD/ISD bills......

2) You will not get the satisfaction which you will get if you do the supervising urself (DIY) and you wont learn much if u are hiring a professional.Tommorrow if there is any issue you may have to go for professional help but if you are doing it DIY with the help (experienced but not A/V Professionals - ie passionate but not professionals) of people from here I will learn many things and can fix small small problems without going for a professional.


3) I can reduce the cost of building the theater if I try DIY and spend the surplus on better A/V equipments...


Also I am a bit confused again regarding the room size.....


I have been to 2 showrooms where they demo audio/Video systems...one is a BOSE showroom and another one a A/V dealer and in both cases the room sizes were somewhere near 15*10*10 but still they were able to have a 100" (or 120??) screen and a decent viewing distance...whereas the room proposed in my flat is about 28*18*10 and I thinks its too huge (Just now only I came to know howmuch big such a room is) for my purpose.So isnt it okey if I go with a 20*15*10 room with 2 row seating instead of 30*20*10 ??

 

[vinay]

Well the drawing requires complete modification, there is no question of little modification.

Vinay.

Yup atlast I have decided to seek help from forum members rather than go for a professional consultant.I will modify the drawing a little bit and will upload it soon......

 

[vinay]

I think the equipment issue will be no point at this time, you have a long way to go before other works are completed.

Vinay.

I have shortlisted the following components after going thr various posts...the below is not finalised list so please do lemme know about your opinion...


SUB WOOFER - SVS PB13 / GENELEC SUBS (Model to be decided)

SPEAKERS - SVS 7.0 Channel Set - Black** (7.0 set includes three pairs of

SBS-01 and one SCS-01 Center Channel speaker ) / GENELEC INWALL SPEAKERS

RECEIVER - YAMAHA - RX-V565 (7.1 Ch)

BLURAY PLAYER - PANASONIC BD60

PROJECTOR - OPTOMA HD65(720P) / EPSON 6500 (1080P)

SCREEN - Acoustically transparent screens (Either buy the fabric and make the frame or buy the readymade screen with frame)

UNIVERSAL REMOTE - HARMONY-1000

 

[vinay]

I think the equipment issue will be no point at this time, you have a long way to go before other works are completed.

Vinay.

I have shortlisted the following components after going thr various posts...the below is not finalised list so please do lemme know about your opinion...


SUB WOOFER - SVS PB13 / GENELEC SUBS (Model to be decided)

SPEAKERS - SVS 7.0 Channel Set - Black** (7.0 set includes three pairs of

SBS-01 and one SCS-01 Center Channel speaker ) / GENELEC INWALL SPEAKERS

RECEIVER - YAMAHA - RX-V565 (7.1 Ch)

BLURAY PLAYER - PANASONIC BD60

PROJECTOR - OPTOMA HD65(720P) / EPSON 6500 (1080P)

SCREEN - Acoustically transparent screens (Either buy the fabric and make the frame or buy the readymade screen with frame)

UNIVERSAL REMOTE - HARMONY-1000

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Renjit,

Anyone will get offended, about messages via g-mail, i reserve my reply, i think it is not a good move to chat on the same subject at 2 different places, one at the forum and the other via g-mail, the forum is idle place as everyone gets to see the writing, so more ideas surface. I understand your point on sumit and the consultant angle, but how would i know that?

Hi Vinay again I am sorry for not responding thru this thread...let me make it clear that it was not because I dont value or appreciate your advices but just coz of few other issues.I can understand your anger coz you have put those points to help me and even after 2-3 days you didnt see me replying to this thread instead I posted in another thread...even I wud be angry if someone do this to me.Anyway now I hope everything is clear....

 

[renjithvakkayil]

I think the equipment issue will be no point at this time, you have a long way to go before other works are completed.

Vinay.

I am planning for the equipments now itself coz I will be going to India in sep/october so if possible I can take atleast few items with me.The falt will be ready by next May/june only and if I am going in May/june that will be for my wedding (if it doesnt happen in Mar/apr) and then I dont think my concentration will be on AUDIO/VIDEO equipments (!!!) so I thought I will buy stuff when I am free and bachelor...

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Couple of days back I have been to a shop which specialises in Hometheater systems to check out the Acousticaly Transparent screens (These people are the local dealers of SCREEN - RESEARCH transparent screens) and they had 2 models in display 1 is fixed screen (16/9) and another one is a motorised screen (4/3) which comes with inbuilt speakers (Center and front Left,Front right) which will roll down with the screen.Both the screens were good but I liked the fixed screen one coz its cheap (compared to the other one) and you can select your own speakers unlike the motorised one where you have to go for the front and center speaker which they offer (I cudnt find the brand name of those speakers....may be custom built for the screen company).The person who explained about the product was a veteran in A/V field (He has been to this field for the past 25 years and has designed acoustics for numerous people here in Muscat - Even for one of the Royal Palaces...) and he asked me what my requirement was and then I told him that I am planning to have a dedicated HT room and need equipments for that...then he asked me abt the room size,location etc and when I said its in the 2nd floor he said that LOW FREQ from the woofer will travel thru even concrete and I need to have the floor soundproofed and he said that I dont need to spend lot on room acoustics...


He told that I can build a wall within a wall (The real outer wall and thinner innerwall which are non-parallel) and fill the gap using rockwool/glasswool (which are cheap and easily available) and then to slant the roof also a lil bit towards the screen (can use a false ceiling).Then I can make stands (or a shelflike thing) on the wall (Screen side wall) and place the center and front L and R on them and then fix the screen infront of the speakers so that the speakers will be concealed and the voice will come directly from the projector so that you will get a more real feeling.Also regarding the flooring he told me that I can place thermocol sheets on the floor and then make a wooden platform over it and the use some thick carpets so that the noise wont travel down (I dont remember if he told to fill the gap between thermocol and fllor with rock/glasswool) and then he told about placing Bass traps on the corners after measuring the distance from spekaers etc.He suggested that I can conceal the rear speakers in false ceiling (I shud buy down-aiming speakers in that case)


He told that if I am buying a certain set of speakers (GENELEC - FINLAND)he would even ask the Audio company representative in Mumbai to do the calibrations and settings for me.The speakers and subs from GENELEC are solid but I think they may be very expensive...anyway he asked me to come with the floor plan so that he can tell me about the designing part and can audition using different speakers and screens (Their demo team had gone outstation for some installations).Their DEMO room was small but still it looked like it was enuff for a 120" diagonal screen (16/9)...they used DOMINO SIM-2 HD PROJECTORS and had some outstanding recliners for sitting...


What is your opinions about the above statements ?


I am now thinking to reduce my roomsize a bit and expand other rooms lil more...coz few of my friends pointed out some shortcomings in the current planie dont have a common toilet,dont have a poojaroom,will be good if I cud have a separate living and dining room instead of making the living room cum dining room etc..

So I think I will go for a 20*15*10 HT room (Which after looking at different demo rooms seems enough..)

 

[renjithvakkayil]

I am not sure about the double wall thing...can anybody tell me if its advisable and also how will it look like (ie any pics ?)...

 

[unleash_me]

Home Theater Design: Layout and Design

 

[unleash_me]

Well no one can give you suggestions better than Vinay!

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Home Theater Design: Layout and Design

Thanks for the pics...since I dont know much about these things..lemme ask you a doubt...so this will be like an outer wall (Normal build) and then an inner wall madeof gypsum boards or acoustic panels with a few inch gap in between ?? Also whats that thing screwed to the wall ?

 

[renjithvakkayil]

Well no one can give you suggestions better than Vinay!

Dont I know that....and Vinay is very patient in answering and elaborates the points so that it is easy to understand....

 

[unleash_me]

Ranjith, I'm by no way an expert in this. You might find more details from the site. All I remember is an episode from Monster House where Steve Watson was making a home theater for one of his clients and he did a similar exercise of building a parallel wooden framed wall and filled it up with foam. This was supposed to acoustically isolate the HT room from the living room.

Best regards.