[Sonnie]

Welp... it's that time to start planning.

I have a lot of space to work with since this will actually be an addition to the back side of our home.

There use to be a formula for calculating the proper size of a home theater room... anyone recall it?

I would probably like to have something about 16-18' wide by 24-26' deep... somewhere in that range or close to it.

Keeping in mind a 4 recliner section is about 12' wide and a 5 recliner section about 15' wide. Not sure what I will do there yet, just a thought to keep in mind for the width.

 

[salvasol]

There use to be a formula for calculating the proper size of a home theater room... anyone recall it?

I would probably like to have something about 16-18' wide by 24-26' deep... somewhere in that range or close to it.

I think it was 1:1.6:2.4 (9'x14.5x21.6) :scratch:

 

[salvasol]

I did a search ....and almost got it right :innocent:

Height Width Length
1.00 1.14 1.39
1.00 1.28 1.54
1.00 1.60 2.33

Table 2: The ideal room has a ratio of height, width, and length similar to one of these

Here is the link to full Article

 

[Sonnie]

That's a pretty good read there.

New dimensions and layout pics in this post.

 

[Space]

Here is an article more related to the room ratios and volume of room.

http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/room_sizing/?content=best

It was a link taken from this page;
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?t=685


All heavy reading but all worth the time, imho.

 

[Sonnie]

They seem to agree with each other.

I used the Room Mode Calculator we have here at the Shack and compared a few sizes.

The far right is what we had in our previous dedicated room... 8.5 x 11.5 x 19.5.

From what I understand, you want the as evenly spaced out as possible, but also the more you have the better.... you do not want them too far spaced out. The first column appears the best.

 

[robbo266317]

The only issue I would have with the first one is that their are six close groups.
1) 57, 62, 64
2) 88, 89
3) 125,127
4) 170, 173
5) 188, 191
& 6) 232, 234

The second one only has two close groups with the rest spaced out.
1) 70, 72
2) 141, 144

 

[Sonnie]

I need to try to figure out a good ratio with 9' height if possible. It seems hard to get that height with enough width and depth.

 

[robbo266317]

What is your maximum & minimum widths available.

 

[Sonnie]

It will be an addition, so I can do pretty much whatever I want. I was trying to stay in the 9' high x 16-20' wide x 23-27' deep. Somewhere in there. The 10' x 16' x 23.4' may end up having to work, but the height could end up being an issue. I would rather not have to deal with it and probably wouldn't have to if I can go with 9' height.

 

[thewire]

24 X 15 looks pretty good to me for a 9' ceiling. That isn't when I am using any specific ratio, just looking at the calculator.

 

[robbo266317]

I will have a better look tonight but have a look at 24 x 21 x 9.
No problems below 150 Hz. Also if you are going for a vaulted ceiling it's harder to predict what that is going to do to the response.

All I do is choose the dimension that i prefer eg width or height and paste it into the spreadsheets here: http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/room_sizing/room_ratios.xls using the formula. 9.0 =D3*B3 =D3*C3 and then search for likely candidates. (That is with 9.0 in cell D3 and the two formulas in the next two cells)

 

[Sonnie]

15' would be too narrow... I need 16' and would prefer 17'.

I have read in several studies that multiples of each other is the worst you can do, but plugging in 21 x 24 x 9 does not look too bad... although that is a bit wide and a tad short for what I would like.

 

[thewire]

I was recommended not to exceed a volume of around 4590 cubic feet. It is a challenge to fill all that space with sound.

 

[robbo266317]

A fair compromise can be had by a room of 25 x 18 x 10
Which comes out at 4500 cu ft. and only has a minor group at 90Hz.
If you plug the figures in here:- http://www.bobgolds.com/Mode/RoomModes.htm
it also shows there are only minor problems.
For a graphical display of room node ratios check out here:- http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?t=3148
hth

 

[Sonnie]

I really do like that size... especially the 18' wide.

I will investigate it along with adjusting 4-6" one way or the other on each.

 

[robbo266317]

Found another great site which lists the "2nd best room dimensions"
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/room_sizing/?content=best
The file link is:-
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/room_sizing/room_ratios_second_best.zip
It's a zipped Excel file, set an autofilter and you can search all the ones close to 1.8 (ie 18 feet)

 

[Sonnie]

I have been reading over all of these sites and wow... my head is spinning.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Welp... it's that time to start planning.

I have a lot of space to work with since this will actually be an addition to the back side of our home.

So you gave up on the "family room theater?"

Regards,
Wayne

 

[Sonnie]

You are up late.

Yeah... I think that will end up being too small and it looks like Chelsea may never leave the house. She's home grown and rooted for some reason... :dontknow: Plus... Angie is none to crazy about all this bass in the great room, and it is worse when you are in the family room, so the great room will probably be bad if subs are in the family room.

With a dedicated room added on to the back side of the garage, entrance from the now back door of the garage, it should really be silent even with the IB system. There will be no openings from the HT attic to our current attic. Access into the attic of the HT room will be from within the equipment room by way of a ladder. The addition will be bricked same brick as the house... as well as roof the same, so it will look like a part of the house.

This way I should be able to do it right... the right size... like I have always wanted. It will be the last big thing I do I hope.