Home theatre room acoustics

[btprabhu]

Dear Members,

I'm looking for a Home theatre setup for my new home. We have just started false ceiling work of the media room and I have hold up the work as we want to run the conduits for audio/video cables before closing the false ceiling panels, also I want to buy the HT system after 4 months from now, which would be a combination of AV + 5.1 speakers. Please suggest and help on the following questions:

1. A good consultant who can help in deciding on acoustics of the HT room. He/she should be a professional in audio/video who charges reasonable amount, who can design and placement of audio equipment based on inputs including speakers, suggest dampening materials, suggest on how to run the conduits(size of the conduits) in the false ceiling for audio/video cables keeping in mind a 7.2 speakers + AV + HD projector

2. Can we convert 5.1 system to 7.2 by buying additional speakers ?. Currently I'm thinking of Paradigm CT 100 speaker pacakge.

I want to buy the audio/video cables now and run them before buying the HT system as false cieling has to be completed.

Please suggest me a good and reasonable acoustic consultant in Hyderabad.

Thanks,
Prabhu

 

[btprabhu]

I got a quote from an acoustic consultant in Hyderabad, Please suggest:

STANDARD - 5.1
Audio+vedio+Acoustics+consultancy @20,000/-
REGULAR -5.2 or 6.2
Audio+vedio+Acoustics+Seating+consultancy @25000/-
PREMIUM
Audio+Video+Acoustics+Seating+lighting & Integration @45000/-

 

[John]

There are lot of threads here on the forums where members have built their own HT rooms, with input from other forum members. You can try that route. I did that, and you can look at my thread.

I am very satisfied at the results. I don't know about Hyderabad, but in most places these audio "experts" know very little.

To start off you need with the size of the room, height , length, breadth. Viewing distance, nearest and furthest.

Where is the room? Does it have windows?

Secondly, it is recommended to buy speakers first and then by an AV receiver that can match up with it. If you want to go with 7.1 speaker system, you need to purchase a 7.1 AV receiver.

Once you decide on the speakers>then AVR, you need to decide if you want to go with a TV or a projector. Again this will depend on the viewing distance mentioned earlier.

Acoustics can be done by placing bass traps for the corners. And diffusion /absorbtion panels.

Then add some beauty to the theater using paint/panels/wallpaper/posters...lighting....no end to it.


I would suggest going DIY (do it yourself). The results will be much more satisfying than going with some weirdo audio "expert."

Do take a look at my thread by clicking on this link

 

[mkreddy]

I was checking with AudioPeople show room guys some time back on this. They were saying consultation will be around Rs:10K. Please check with them. It is on Road No:36, JubileeHills.

 

[btprabhu]

Dear John,

Thank you for your valuable suggestions. Following are the details :

1. The HT room is on the second(top) floor and the dimensions are
21' 1" x 11' x 10' including a bar counter.
2. There is a window of the size 6'0" X 4'6".
3. The viewing distance would be 6-7 feet. Is it ok for a 80" screen size if we go for a HD projector
4. I'm thinking 7.2 supported AV Denon AVR-X3000 and decide on speakers as below
a) HT speaker package paradigm CT 100 or wharfedale DX-1 and add a subwoofer and speaker later to make it 7.2.
b) Buy paradigm Monitor 7 series and choose each speaker/woofer seperately for all the 7.2. please suggest.
5. I'm thinking of total 4 recliners two in each row.

I have also attached current 3D design of the HT room including the false ceiling design.

- Prabhu

 

[John]

Dear John,

Thank you for your valuable suggestions. Following are the details :

1. The HT room is on the second(top) floor and the dimensions are
21' 1" x 11' x 10' including a bar counter.
2. There is a window of the size 6'0" X 4'6".
3. The viewing distance would be 6-7 feet. Is it ok for a 80" screen size if we go for a HD projector
4. I'm thinking 7.2 supported AV Denon AVR-X3000 and decide on speakers as below
a) HT speaker package paradigm CT 100 or wharfedale DX-1 and add a subwoofer and speaker later to make it 7.2.
b) Buy paradigm Monitor 7 series and choose each speaker/woofer seperately for all the 7.2. please suggest.
5. I'm thinking of total 4 recliners two in each row.

I have also attached current 3D design of the HT room including the false ceiling design.

- Prabhu

1) Prabhu, the 3-D design is looking good.

2) Now the bad part. Purists will tell you remove the bar counter. In fact, it is going to interfere with acoustics, with that counter, all that cabinets et al. And they will also tell you no food in the Home theater. It will bring in dirt. Insects. Rats. But in the end of the day it is your call. Here is how I see it.

If you are watching a movie, are you going to be sitting at the bar counter? Possibly no. In fact, with the projector on, you will probably want the HT as dark as possible. Not very good for a drink at the "counter" you see. You might as well bring your drink to the recliner and you can always bring a small tray/stool for food. I myself wanted a bar counter/corner, but ultimately decided against it. The plus is you get the extra space in the home theater itself.

If you are watching a match with friends, and your projector works well in some light then yes, but for movies, I tell you, you want a dark environment.

3) Acoustics, start off with bass traps for all corners. And try to get rid of any window if you want a dedicated HT.

4) Use a mirror test to see the reflection points and put diffusion/absortion panels. You can see the other HT threads, as well as mine. It works wonders. Back wall should have diffusion panels.

5) Audio equipment. It is really your call. The AVR is good. Take a look at Onkyo as well. I recently changed from from Denon to an Onkyo and the Onkyo rocks for movies.

Good reading here: http://realtraps.com/art_room-setup.htm

Read here what member manoj-p has written about mirror test

Originally Posted by manoj.p View Post
You need bass traps for subwoofer. Those usually go in the corners of the room, where two surfaces meet each other. Check some threads here and at google to find more info.

for main speakers, if you want to treat, there is a simle mirror test to determine the reflection points. Have a friend sit in the listening position, and then you, holding a small mirror in hand (flat, facing the room). Start from the back of the room on the left side of the wall. Start walking slowly towards the front of the room. At some point, your friend will see the reflection of right speaker in the mirror. Mark that position. You would want to put an absorber here. That will take care of the reflection of the right speaker on the left wall. Keep walking slowly towards the front and next your friend will see is the reflection of center speaker. We will talk about this later. Keep going and your friend will the reflection of left speaker. Now, you have two choices here - You can put absorber, but it will make the room quite dead. Instead, if you put diffuser here, it will diffuse the sound and a straight reflection will not occur coming from there and won't interfere as much coming from the left speaker.
Repeat the above with the right wall. This way, you will have taken care of the left and right speaker reflections and made sure that right speaker sound is coming from right only and vice-a-versa.

About center speaker - whether to treat with absorber or diffuser is your choice. You can even leave it alone because, if the center is exactly in the center, then the reflections from left and right will be same and pretty much cancel each other. If the room is not square and you don't like the sound, then measure and decide.

The above will get you pretty much covered from the audio wise. You can offcourse, get the measuring tool out and measure the room response to do more tweaks.

 

[sash]

Also you will want dark colored walls and ceilings (something in "wood" colors might be good for aesthetics too) if you really want to enjoy movies - otherwise the ambient light will be a big distraction.
You should either get rid of the windows or use some thick insulation on the inner side.
Warm spot lights (yellowish) are better. You can spot light your bar table but still enjoy the movie without much ambient light.
As advised earlier, pls reconsider the bar. There is very little use for it when movies are running, maybe for sports but not for movies. The subwoofer can rattle your bar and the glasses and what not.
Speakers are your choice but the largish room deserves good powerful speakers and receiver. Pay extra attention to the center channel - more than 50% of the movie sound is played through the center channel and it is the most important (and most neglected) speaker.

 

[btprabhu]

I have finally decided to give up bar counter in the HT room, so that I will have dedicated HT room with at least 4 recliners, (two in a row), but I want to retain the window and have a double glazed window(sound proof) instead. I'm thinking to have a mini-refrigerator some where in the room.

- Prabhu

 

[firewindwells]

great,beaut, You can see the other HT threads, as well as mine. It works wonders. Back wall should have diffusion panels.thanks

 

[ravidharap]

Dear all, A good thread and superb replies , happy to announce, I have started construction of my dedicated HT Room, this forum helped me so much in designing my HT

 

[elangoas]

Looking @ your dedicated HT room and assuming your budget is good, i would suggest you to reconsider an AVR with Audyssey MultiEQ XT32 & Sub EQ HT Digital room correction software..... They are the top most digital room correction from Audyssey and the results are phenominal... Very accurate....

Some AVR suggestion for you Denon X4000 (7.2) /Onkyo TX NR 1010 (7.2) /Marantz SR 7008 (9.2)..if not Onkyo TX NR 929 (9.2)...

Denon X4000, Marantz SR 7008 & Onkyo TX NR 1010 have Audyssey Sub EQ which equalizes the subwoofers too....While the Onkyo TX NR 929 doesn't have this feature....

 

[manoj.p]

I have finally decided to give up bar counter in the HT room, so that I will have dedicated HT room with at least 4 recliners, (two in a row), but I want to retain the window and have a double glazed window(sound proof) instead. I'm thinking to have a mini-refrigerator some where in the room.

- Prabhu

You should be fine with the bar. The bass wave will bounce off it but its open above. If you care a lot about acoustics, then keep the openings on the front of the bar and back, so bass waves can go right through it.

Better yet, you can use that to keep a subwoofer facing the screen. It can be used creatively and still get a good use out of it.