[kepople]

Time to get your guys input...

History:
We had our house built and moved in on Halloween. The house was built with the media room option over the living room and before the builder sheet rocked I was able to at least get my wiring in. The house is wired to whole house audio, and streams from the Puter downstairs. I ran Cat 6 everywhere for an intercom, and an seperate network of Cat 6 to all the media centers to the office where the router and Mac are located. So I am hardwired to the router for downloading movies to Apple TV soon.

Now that we are here, I have finished my hookups for the media, and got the Home Theater hooked up and running, and calibrated it for the present situation.

Heres where you guys come in...
Time for the pretty up, and finish out of the room to turn it from a dedicated media room to a true home theater.

Specs:
Sony HW10 Projector
Peerless mount
Elunevision 1.2 gain 120" white screen
Denon 2809ci hooked HDMI to the projector
Sony BDP350 Bluray player
Uverse
Apple TV
Samsung DVD player (for playing DVD audio discs) More on that later
Klipsch F3 mains
Klipsch C3 Center
Klipsch S3 surrounds
Klipsch 12 Sub

Room:
18'x18'x8'
4 Berkline 13174 seats in curved configuration
Rack to be determined

So next up:
Acoustics and paint

The room has an echo, and little mid range bass even with the sub and dual woofers on the towers.
The only acoustic plan for sure so far is to deaden the front wall by completley covering it will 1.5" or 2" JM814. Wedge shaped bass traps will go in the front corners floor to ceiling, and the screen will be remounted placed away from the wall a few inches to accomodate rope lights behind it.

Other than that... I am open for suggestions for decorations, and acoustic treatments. let me add right now that I know the proper thing to do would be to get someone in here to measure the acoustics and follow thier advice, but I also know what I want to hear in the room, and I dont hear it yet.

As far as decor, the front wall will be covered with black fabric, either burlap or GOM701 as will the bass traps. The side walls will get panels at the reflecting points and/or a chair rail hieght acoustic treatment all the way around the room and 2x2 panels at the reflecting points.

I am open to suggestions for color, design, acoustics, and whatever else you have.
Thanks for looking...heres the snappers...
Kirby

p.s. I think we have narrowed the walls to a brown, and I found a bargain on Speaker fabric so that is what I will use on the bass traps and screen wall...

 

[kepople]

We are going to go with Berkline 13174's more than likely in Brown if the walls turn out to be lighter than we think, or the tan 12003.

Kirby

 

[bpape]

You may also need some additional bass control on the rear wall.

You should cut off your main speakers at 80hz and cross them over to the sub. If you're running the mains full range and overlapping the sub, you can actually be causing cancellations.

Don't count on the receiver calibration - most don't work well. Use a meter to set your SPL levels yourself.

Take a LOT of time experimenting with seating position and sub postion. Those 2 things can make a TON of difference in bass response.

Just a comment - that sub isn't all that strong to fill what looks like a pretty big space. You might want to consider a bigger sub or a 2nd one. I wouldn't do it until you've spent a lot of time with the setup portion.

Walls should be as dark as possible. Front wall should be black - ceiling too if you can swing it. This will help a ton with video dynamic contrast.

Bryan

 

[kepople]

THanks Bryan;

Its a 12" sub, I would have thought it was enough. If you were to put two subs in a room like this, do they have to be the same size? I have a Klipsch 10" as well I can add.

I will try the cutoff, that makes sense.

We found a color pallette last night that I think we like. Brown Microsuede leather fabric, Khaki Suede, and Khaki burlap for panels which will be on the darker walls.

The front wall and bass traps will be covered with the Speaker matierial over 1.5" jm 814 and the Bass traps will be the triangle broad range in the front corners in a square column 1' thick. I will build a rack in the back left corner that will have bass trap at the bottem built into the cabinet, also covered with black speaker fabric.

The question is:
on the screen wall, between the floor to ceiling bass trap, I am thinking of putting a heavy black curtain. What effect will this have on the screen wall reflections from the mains?

THanks
Kirby

 

[bpape]

The curtain should have little impact over what the 1.5" 814 is already doing.

As for the corner absorbers, I'd make them a little bigger. Try 17x17x24" triangles instead of 12x12x17" ones. That will give you more surface area and also deeper extension.

For the sub, I'd likely do a 2nd 12". Doesn't even have to be the same brand. You just need more oomph (pardon the technical term) in the bottom end. Something like the HSU Research VTF III would be outstanding.

Bryan

 

[tonyvdb]

With your room being 18x18 your going to have some real issues with cancellation and boomyness.

A perfect square is the worst for acoustics but of course you have it and now have to work with it. I suggest raising the screen at least a foot higher and raising your center at least that much as well so its even with the tweeters on your mains.

 

[bpape]

That's another good reason for 2 subs. You can use placement to help with tuning around some of the issues from it being square.

Bryan

 

[kepople]

Does the wattage on the second sub have to be the same if they are not the same brand?

So I guess I am in the market for a second sub... Seating first though... and fabric. I have that 10" I may put up there for the moment jsut to get the placement in the general area.

I really dont want to build a false wall, so hopefully I can make it work as a square. I plan on a soffet so that I can hide the curtain rods, and some screen lighting.

Man Bryan, you just doubled my Bass trap costs...

Kirby

 

[kepople]

Is the 1.5" JM 814 enough or do I need the 2" on the screen wall?
And is it necessary if I am putting heavy curtains infront of it in places?

Kirby

 

[salvasol]

This is going to be a killer HT room ....:yes:

You're right about the sub, it has to be the same specifications or as close as possible, I used a Velodine and Infinity sub, but both were 150watts, 10" ...so we can say, similar.

If you can get the 2" fiberglass instead of 1.5" ...I think it will work better, maybe Bryan can help you there.

I like the curtains idea, but I think that it will look a lot better with a false wall.

Good luck :T

 

[bpape]

Well, you can play a lot with the level control of the sub to get things to match better. They won't be identical settings anyway if they're in 2 different places in the room.

Bryan

 

[Prof.]

Looks like a nice room...Pity about the room dimensions though..
Apart from what's already been mentioned here, I would suggest that you also place several 4" thick acoustic panels across the back wall..This will also aid in taming down the reverberations..

 

[kepople]

Doing some math and measurements...
What would be the opinion of using anywhere from 17-24" wide x 12" deep square bass traps in the front corners?

Since these are 8' ceilings if I do it that way, I get 4 pieces per panel, and since the 1.5" is 1/2 the price of the 2" (Dont ask me why), I can use the 1.5", cut 64 pieces, and end up with floor to ceiling for less than $100 each plus wood and fabric.

Do I need to set these traps off from the wall, or put it right against the wall?

Thanks
kirby

 

[bpape]

If you cut 17x17x24" triangles, you'll get 8 pcs per panel. It's not quite as thick on average as a 24"x12" but it still performs very well.

In either case, they're thick enough that you can use them pretty much right against the wall.

Bryan

 

[kepople]

Okay some decisions have been made.

Walls-
Cost of treating the whole room with the fabric we like is too high.
We will be painting the walls above a chair rail a darkish tan to match the carpet.
Below the chair rail will be a dark microsuede fabric

Panels-
I will build 6'x2' acoustic panels, framed, and covered with Burlap. They will be as evenly spaced as possible, and I believe 8 will be the magic number. The sides will be 2" thick, and the back wall will be 4" thick.

Screen wall-
The screen wall will be covered completley with 1.5" JM814, be hind frames of Black speaker fabric.

Bass traps-
Floor to ceiling bass traps will be used made either from 12"x24" squares, or 17x17x24" triangles. the rear left corner will have a bass trap below and above a custom built rack. Next to the rack will be a concession counter top.

Decor-
I will hang black velvet curtains next to the screen

Soffet-
I will build a 12"x6" soffet around the room, filled with insulation and panel covered with the black fabric. I will use this to hide the curtain rods, and add screen lighting as well as some uplighting to the ceiling.

two things still under debate:
What color to paint the ceiling (Black or a dark brown to match the carpet)

what color to paint the molding, doors, and outlets (leave it white, paint it black, or a dark brown)

Opinions on the last three and suggestions are of course welcome on the rest.

Kirby

 

[salvasol]

What color to paint the ceiling (Black or a dark brown to match the carpet)

If you'll be painting the top part of the walls with a dark brown, maybe you can use the same color on the ceiling or one or two shades darker, (I painted mine that way)

what color to paint the molding, doors, and outlets (leave it white, paint it black, or a dark brown)

For moldings I used two shades lighter than the wal color, and for outlets same color as walls (or you an also use the molding color).

Below the chair rail will be a dark microsuede fabric

I used this Accoustic Fabric/carpet (see picture in the spoiler, never mind the colors, they look better in person) ...I don't know if is a big $$$ difference between microsuede or this fabric.

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Prof.]

That all sounds very good..

what color to paint the molding, doors, and outlets (leave it white, paint it black, or a dark brown)

Opinions on the last three and suggestions are of course welcome on the rest.

I painted my floor mouldings, door, power outlets and anything else attached to the walls all the same as the wall colour..
That way, everything blends in..but it's really a personal preference..

 

[swithey]

Kirby,

I think your room is going to turn out great. A buddy of mine did one with lighter walls (kind of a medium to medium light tan/beige) for WAF and he has not noticed any issues with light reflection, etc.

As for your sub, don't forget you could build one yourself (if you have the skills and some basic tools). You could put some serious bass in there for not too much cash. However, nothing beats writing a check and having one show up on your porch a few days later :R

 

[kepople]

As promised, here are the photos of the WAF taped off plan on walls.

There is a photo of the color pallette we like. The seating will be black.
Screen wall will be covered with that black fabric, as will the bass traps. I will use triangle 17x17x24 traps, but the enclosure will be the shape thats taped off on the floor to make it less obvious. If I have extra insulation, I will fill the void as well.

The panels on the wall will be 2" thick
The screen wall will be 2" thick
The back wall 3 panels will be 4" thick

I think this gives me about 60 coverage on the walls. the ceiling will get a 2" panel at the reflection point.

Colors:
Chair rail probably black, brown, or stained oak
Above the rail will be the beige paint
below the rail will be the dark brown micro suede
Ceiling will be black or DARK brown...

Still under debate:
Build a counter in the back next to the cabinet
Soffet around the room to hide the lighting
trim color (including a frame that will be built around each panel from 1x stock)
Curtains on the front screen wall

Opinions welcome, escpecially the items under debate.

Thanks
Kirby

 

[raw23062]

Looks awesome man. Can't wait to see the finished product. Those paint samples look exactly like the paint I used for my media room. If you want to see it on the walls take a peek at mine. Keep the pics coming!