[kjlewie]

Hello,

I'm starting this thread looking for thoughts and opinions on our HT redesign. The primary purpose of the redesign is to clean up the front wall. The photos are of the current setup and the Google sketchups are of the new design. The theater area is 12 x 18 within a 6500 cubic feet basement. In the sketchups I added a wall four feet behind the screen wall to create a small room where all of the speakers and electronics would fit. One of my initial questions is whether to make the screen wall of ascoustically transparent cloth or leave it drywalled and use in wall speaker grills over cut outs? Please share your thoughts on the general design as well as ideas for the front wall.

My wife has decided WE will not enclose the room but WE don't want to see the speakers so this is what I've come up with.

Thanks,

kjlewie

 

[John Simpson]

Hi KJ -- looking good!

I'm a designer, so I tend to go for symmetry if possible. Rather than have a door next to your screen (and a room behind) I'd push the entire shadowbox back against the wall, and then construct a mid-room divider behind the seats. There's no need to have your equipment near the screen, so put it behind in that dividing "room".

Once that dividing space is in place, you could even build a riser to improve the cinema feel. And think about a larger screen, of course!

 

[bpape]

Most definitely make the front AND SIDE wall of that area just studs and cloth (assuming you have to keep the little hall off to one side). You don't ever want to try to build speakers into the wall that weren't specifically designed to be in-wall. You'll completely mess up the sound since the xover wasn't designed for a front baffle the size of a wall.

Also, the cloth over studs allow you the option to properly treat the front wall area without any of those being visible either.

Bryan

 

[kjlewie]

Hi John,

I can't build the rear wall of the shadowbox any further as it would cut too far (I'm already taking 4 feet) into the bedroom (I forgot to add the window in sketchup). In one of my other sketchups I tried to use the rear bedroom as an enclosed HT:daydream:. WE decided we should keep the bedroom:nono:.

Do you have any examples what you mean by a mid room divider? Is it like a half-wall??

I thought of building a component rack in the wall opposite the window, but I haven't decided. One reason is HDMI cable distance. From the in wall rack to my projector would be less than 20' ran parallel to the ceiling joists. From the shadowbox to the projector would be more like 50'.

Thanks for your thoughts and the complement.

kjlewie

 

[kjlewie]

Hi Bryan,

I have to keep the hall to access a bedroom and bathroom. I can't make the side wall of the shadowbox cloth because the door to the area will be there. Is it a huge sonic issue if only the front wall is cloth? Especially, if the screen area is treated for acoustics?

Did you mean the side wall opposite the door?

Thanks for your thoughts,

kjlewie

 

[bpape]

If you're bringing out an area to enclose the speakers, etc. - you should have no problem doing the front and side of it in just cloth. The door isn't on that wall and won't be in the way.

Bryan

 

[salvasol]

I think this is what Bryan means ...

This is similar to the links I gave you before ... http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...on-thread.html and http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...ld-thread.html except that you will add another panel to the side because of the acces to the bedroom :yes:

You can use speaker cloth, guilford of main fabric (http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/products/fabrics/guilford.asp) or any other transparent fabric; I'm sure that Bryan can help you get what you need for this project http://www.gikacoustics.com/gom_fabrics.html#build

 

[kjlewie]

Hi salvasol,

The links to Tanner Ridge and Blaser's builds were very inspirational. Its actually where my idea came from. Thanks for that. I could not reach the threads in your first two links above. Would you repost them? The acoustic material links will come in handy as well.

Thanks for clearing up Bpape's suggestion - I was bit confused:dontknow:. Learning as I go...

Just to be clear, the door to the proposed shadowbox area is the current entry into the bedroom. After building the new front wall, the entry to the bedroom would be a new door straight ahead facing the hallway with the bathroom on the right and the shadowbox door on the left. Is the suggestion to remove the current door and replace with fabric? I'm not sure I'd want a fabric wall facing into the hall. Durability and WAF would be a concern.

Thanks for your thoughts,

kjlewie

 

[bpape]

Yes - remove the existing door and replace with cloth - in fact, remove the door frame and the drywall too.

Bryan

 

[salvasol]

...The links to Tanner Ridge and Blaser's builds were very inspirational. Its actually where my idea came from. Thanks for that. I could not reach the threads in your first two links above. Would you repost them?

I don't know what happenned ... here they are http://www.hometheatershack.com/for...-tanner-ridge-cinema-construction-thread.html and http://www.hometheatershack.com/for...construction/8587-blaser-ht-build-thread.html

... Just to be clear, the door to the proposed shadowbox area is the current entry into the bedroom.... Is the suggestion to remove the current door and replace with fabric? ...

Yes, see response from Bryan ... this is the only difference between your false wall and Blaser and Tanner build :yes:... they did it from wall to wall.

... After building the new front wall, the entry to the bedroom would be a new door straight ahead facing the hallway with the bathroom on the right and the shadowbox door on the left. ... I'm not sure I'd want a fabric wall facing into the hall. Durability and WAF would be a concern...

You can use the same door that you have right now (just in a different place); remember that you will replace it (at the current place) with wood and fabric ... I suggest to paint the door, wall, etc. the same color as the fabric you'll use ... or put some curtains in the front to cover it if you want to keep a light color; this way you won't be distracted when watching movies (unless it doesn't bother you :bigsmile

Were here to help each other :T

 

[kjlewie]

I haven't been able to get back to this thread for a couple of weeks due to the recent flooding here in the midwest. Fortunately, we've had no direct impact from the flooding but we've spent some time helping out.

We've also had a couple of contractors by to discuss our wall/door moves. There are a number of technical issues (moving HVAC, electric) that have pushed their bids up. I've used sketchup to come up with another alternative. Please weigh in with your thoughts of the acoustic potential and overall design.

Per bpape's suggestion, I'd still use fabric all around with the potential exception of the right side. To cover the subs, the frame would come out 21"-30" from the front wall and taper back to 14" to cover the center channel. The L/R channel frame would extend 15"-18" from the wall. Overall front wall dimensions remain the same (11'6' W x 8' H).

Thanks again for your help.

kjlewie

 

[bpape]

Glad you're OK with the flooding up there. Looks to be a mess.

All I can say is that the less solid surface you have, the better off you are. Skeleton frame and all cloth is the best.

Bryan

 

[salvasol]

... Per bpape's suggestion, I'd still use fabric all around with the potential exception of the right side. To cover the subs, the frame would come out 21"-30" from the front wall and taper back to 14" to cover the center channel. The L/R channel frame would extend 15"-18" from the wall. Overall front wall dimensions remain the same (11'6' W x 8' H)...

I'm glad nothing happened to you ... this weather have been crazy :yes: ... floods in one area and 110 F heat in others :whew:

Like Bryan said: " try to use wood and cloth everywhere" ... he's the expert on accoustic.

Is there any way you can bring the screen to the front??? ... so is in line with the front speakers or at least just a little behind them (1" - 2") :dontknow:

 

[kjlewie]

I like the suggestion. I haven't sketched it but I think I see what you mean.

I continue to struggle with something my wife and I both like that is a reasonable blend of looks and performance. I've probably cranked out dozens of Sketchups that don't make the cut.:thumbsdown:

I could be on the verge of a major breakthrough! My wife said, "Maybe we should just make this a family room and we can use the storage room for an HT?raying::daydream::bigsmile::T

Have to be really careful here. The situation is very delicate and fluid. One false move could blow the whole thing. Actually, she just wants to know my plan and whether it fits the budget. Great questions to help refocus my excitement.

I've had loose plans for years but now I need to make some strategic decisions.onder: I have to really consider sound proofing solutions (DD/GG/RSIC?) as the storage room is below the kids bedroom. And acoustics - what's the point of a dedicated room if you don't make it sound good? Thank God for these website forums. After the holiday, I'll post some pics of my plan and the space for advice and comments.

I will make use of Bpape's acoustic expertise here - thanks for that.

I won't get too far out over my skis though as I'll keep your screen suggestion in mind for the current space.

Thanks again for reading and helping.

kjlewie

 

[titch--]

I could be on the verge of a major breakthrough! My wife said, "Maybe we should just make this a family room and we can use the storage room for an HT?raying::daydream::bigsmile::T

Have to be really careful here. The situation is very delicate and fluid. One false move could blow the whole thing. Actually, she just wants to know my plan and whether it fits the budget. Great questions to help refocus my excitement.


kjlewie

Looks like you better take her out for steak and lobster this weekend to soften her up some.

 

[bpape]

:T :surrender:

 

[kjlewie]

That long holiday weekend at the inlaws really paid off. She said, "Yes" to the dedicated HT.:jiggy:
The room is 19 x 11 x 8. I nee to snap a few pics of the current space, but I have a couple of sketchups to offer up for any comments. I'm a little concerned about the jog out on one of the exterior walls, but I'm not sure if I need to be? Should I?

As I continue to plan, what else can I consider to help with sound isolation on the ceiling and walls (in addition to DD/GG/RSIC)? I've seen a few posts on "soundboard"? Can that be combined with DD/GG/RSIC for better sound isolation?

Thanks for reading and helping.

kjlewie

 

[bpape]

Schweeeet!

If you're doing all the rest, you don't need anything fancy for wallboard. Standard drywall will work just fine.

The only other thing you can do is if you can redo the walls so they're 1/2" short of the joists above and use DC-04 clips to decouple it. You'll also need to look at floor transmission and how to isolate the HVAC system.

Bryan

 

[salvasol]

Gooooood!!!! :T

I like sketch #1 ... because on #2, the gray rectangle on the right of screen is a door right???, and that won't help with the accoustics.

When are you starting the build???

 

[kjlewie]

Gooooood!!!! :T

I like sketch #1 ... because on #2, the gray rectangle on the right of screen is a door right???, and that won't help with the accoustics.

When are you starting the build???

Not sure which way I'll go, but I like both with a preference for the seating space on #2. The door will be closed so acoustic treatment on it should help, right? Not sure when I'll actually start but I've attached a rough construction timeline to help my planning. Is there anything missing from the list?

Currently, I plan to build the equipment into the wall. Have you heard of successfully isolating sound with a built in rack? Would I be better off locating the equipment somewhere else or has this been done successfully without lots of sound leaking through?:help:

Bpape -

Where would you list floor treatment on the attached timeline? The floor is concrete - do I need a subfloor or just underlayment below the carpet? Would you suggest a thread that discusses floor treatment/transmission and one for HVAC? I've seen posts on linacoustic but I haven't researched it yet.:help:

I've included some pics of the room for reference. First is the entrance; second is the front of room; third is the back. I'll take better pics when I move some things out of the way.

Oh yeah - the completion dates on my construction timeline are purely for the entertainment of anyone reading this thread - go ahead and laugh.:rofl:

Thanks for reading and helping.

kjlewie