Home Theater Design and Construction

**fdelin** · **10-29-09, 02:22 PM**

Hi all,

I thought I'd crosspost some info from my introduction post for folks who didn't see it:

Hello Everyone,

My name is Frank and I have been doing an equipment upgrade to my 2001 lineup. We purchased a new home a year ago and I've got some time to try changing my current TV/Movie viewing area into a bit more of a home theater. Basement room, half of it is under grade, about 12 feet wide, 8 feet high(other than where the soffit runs), and about 22 feet deep.

I've got a 5020 Pioneer Kuro and a wall mount ready to go, a Denon 3808ci that I use for AVR and no seperate Amp, A collection of Polk RTiA series of speakers coming(no sub, that's the one hold over for now from the old system, a 150 watt 10" yamaha powered sub) that I'm going to use in a 7.1 configuration.

I'd like to do up a nice fabric wall system and a few acoustic treatments and I'm looking for some advice.

I'm planning on doing a fabric wall around the entire space with a few faux columns to put sconces on. I need to block a couple of windows and doors and figured that 4'x8' fabric panels french cleated to the existing drywall walls and maybe magnetically attached at the bottom would be the best marriage of aesthetics and access to places I don't want permanently covered.

I guess my big question is do I want to back those panels with damping material, something like the OC703 that I read about in the DIY acoustic treatment threads? I'm planning on fronting them with muslin, maybe a plum color, we've got some purplish furniture that's currently in our living room upstairs that I think I'd like to swap out with the super sized sectional we have in the TV room right now.

Thanks

**bpape** · **10-29-09, 03:14 PM**

Hi Frank

Some of them yes, some of them no. You don't want the entire room dead and only in the upper mids and highs. You need a balanced solution based on usage and the room size. You'll also need some thicker panels in places for bass control.

Bryan

**fdelin** · **10-29-09, 03:24 PM**

OK, So would I be looking at the whole front third and then trying to find spots where I want to cut down on mid/high reflections?

**bpape** · **10-29-09, 03:29 PM**

Do floor to ceiling for the first third and then up to maybe 5' high for the balance. Leave the top a bit more reflective. On the rear wall, use something thicker and use a facing on it to allow bass control but not kill the upper mids and highs as well as the surround field.

Bryan

**fdelin** · **10-29-09, 03:42 PM**

Brilliant, I have a plan. Now all I have to do is find someone in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area that sells 703.

Thanks, that was unbelievable fast and helpful.

**bpape** · **10-29-09, 03:49 PM**

If you can't find OC703 specifically, see if you can find a Johns Manville distributor. Their JM814 is basically identical to Owens Corning 703.

If you still can't find anything, drop me a PM. We'll get you hooked up.

Bryan

**SierraMikeBravo** · **10-31-09, 04:19 PM**

I actually approach things a little differently. I try to use some type of diffusion/absorption (ex RPG Diffsorbers) in my first reflection region. Works really well.

**fdelin** · **10-31-09, 09:55 PM**

Well, I just got done taking the desks and computers out of the back of the room and once I get the rest of the associated stuff out I'll take some pictures and post them. I've also got the house plans that I can scan to get a feel for the size of the space.

My RTiA5s and 3s arrived today. They look so nice, can't wait to hook them up.

**fdelin** · **11-01-09, 09:21 AM**

Here are a few shots of the space, as you can see I've got some windows in the rear and doors on the front and side to deal with. That's the reason I am planning on french cleating the panels in, so that I can move them easily to access the doors and windows if I need to. I am planning on covering the backs of the wall panels with some kind of paper that's thick enough to block light but which isn't a vapor barrier.

http://www.hometheatershack.com/gallery/index.php?n=3018

**fdelin** · **11-01-09, 03:06 PM**

Here are the house plans, both original build plans and what actually got put in

http://www.hometheatershack.com/gallery/index.php?n=3019
http://www.hometheatershack.com/gallery/index.php?n=3020

Now given that I'll have 1.5 less inches all the way around if I frame with 2x2s I'll basically have a 12' by 23' rectangle give or take a half an inch.

Still working on wife buy-in buy the current plan is to put a rise in the 5 and a half feet that are behind the hallway in the back and bring down the sofa/loveseat from the main floor and put the sectional up there. Couch in front of the hallway, Puts my primary seating 9' and change from the rear and around 14' from the front. I have Polk FXi A3s coming for the side surrounds that'll at the same depth as the primary seating if my understanding is correct.

I'm either going to put the electronics in a nice stand under the set or in that little 2 and a half by 3 foot nook by the stairs.

Pointers on things I'm off on?

Advertisement