Need Help - a basement for me.

[TheZoof]

Hey all!

I have been watching blu-rays since about day one and since that time I have had the goal of making a home theater. That time is finally here. My fiancee and I are building a new home and we will be finishing the basement at the same time. The very good news is that part of the build process is to work with a local A/V company to get any speakers, wiring, or such throughout the house.

The problem is that due to the basement design(I have limited options) I can't come up with a good way to make the room work.

The goals are the following:

1. A nice relaxed theater area(prefer couch(s) rather than recliners. We are looking to fit as many people as possible but still keep it clean/relaxed look.

2. Room for a play area (poker table for now perhaps, play area for kids in future)

3. 5.1 or 5.2 surround system with proper position for sound.

4. Clean placement of components, players, etc. I am ok putting them out of sight completely in another room, if that is best.

5. Something that I probably haven't thought of.


Here is the area that I am working with. Please note that I can have the window in EITHER location. I could have both Windows however in theater I want it dark.

Any help is appreciated. I have added the image(if people want to get creative).

I am starting from scratch so TV, Audio equipment, furniture etc will all be brand new(maybe not at same time lol)

Help me Blu-ray Forum, you are my only hope.



EXCITED.

[TheZoof]

The problem that I am having is the right area seems too small for a theater spot and the room on the left is a good size but the hallway would be right where a rear speaker would be placed. Mounting it in the ceiling I suppose is an option but I was thinking of a tower in all 4 corners.

[GreatGreg]

So looking at the layout, I would try to make the most of the two rooms by stretching the HT across both. However, there is that top right hand corner cut-out. I suppose it is too late to have them straighten out that corner.

I would maybe put in both windows to allow more light. It can get dark pretty early in Canada anyways, and if you have a window, you can always cover it up with a screen later.

I wouldn't worry about the rear channel speaker and the hallway. You should expect to ceiling mount it because I don't see how you will get around it otherwise. It looks better and is not really a big deal, especially when you are starting from scratch in the basement.

Do you really need AV installers? I did mine myself. If you have an unfinished basement it should be pretty easy.

My first impulse was to put the screen on the far left wall and the sofa either in the second room facing the wall. It would be either flush against the other far wall or just behind the hallway entry.

Make sure you are building in a dry area to avoid flooding! It's been raining a lot these past few days!

[TheZoof]

Unfortunately the foundation can't be changed in that area. The dining area is above that location and we wanted it bigger but were already refused. They had some homes that were 'even' in the back but the homes themselves weren't as nice.

It is a good point about the light with extra windows however my experience is light hurts my movie experience. I will keep it in mind.

The AV installers come free with the home. I am not finishing the basement myself, the home builder is doing that and they actually have AV installers part of the build contract. It is the first time I have heard of this but very excited. Side note - I actually found this out when I visited the A/V company looking for some audio stuff unrelated to the house. It is so awesome. The home also comes with speakers throughout the house(kitchen, outside, etc) all included with the purchase.

Your idea about using both rooms is very interesting. I didn't really think of it that way at all. I was thinking 30' width would be too much.

I was thinking of getting a 75-85" tv and not a projector screen although I haven't 100% decided.

[Gravy4547]

My Advice:

1) If you are still building, SOUNDPROOF. Double drywall, air tight seals (especially around the windows). Look into it. I sound proofed my basement and it is the best thing I could have done. Movies at my volume anytime of night is priceless, especially when you have kids. It will take a big wet bite out of your budget, but it is totally worth it. Have the guys over for the game, get loud and rowdy, and have the wife NOT complain about the noise. Worth every single penny. thesoundproofingcompany.com

2) Atmos. Don't wire for old school 5.1, it ain't 1998. At minimum get a 5.1.2 Atmos system. Atmos is very flexable with its speaker placement options. Look into that too. Got to Dolby.com and research up on Atmos. (Man, I am giving you a lot of homework!) Going from 5.1 -> 7.1 -> 5.1.4, the jump from 7.1 to Atmos 5.1.4 is giant!

3) Don't go sound bar or Home Theater in a Box. Build a custom system with your favorite components. The nerds here can help your speaker/receiver selection process.

[TheZoof]

Gravy -

Thank you for your input.

1) Yes, this being done and in the plan already.

2) I did consider atmos but never really heard a difference. I am definitely open to getting that done. I am very versed in it and such. I set up my friend's Atmost theater a few months ago.

3) Sorry, I guess I didn't explain my audio thoughts. I will be getting components and I expect to spend around $15-20k when completed. I currently have a Pioneer Elite hooked up to PSB speakers in my current home.


My main concern is where to place the theater in that space. I can't think of a clean way to do it that flows well.

My current thought was to place a wall on the left room and keep it contained in there however it seems silly since the bigger room is going to be used very little.

[Gravy4547]

Honestly with your placement, I can't really help you unless I am actually there in your basement. When you are working through the the remodel, it can be hard to see the big picture. What helped me when I built my HT is I got the second opinions of my friends, and it was actually my brother, who knows jack squat about HT building, who provided the final layout.

Or alternatively, you could future proof and wire both rooms for surround sound. What's an extra 50 bucks in speaker wire?

[TheZoof]

Well I am not so worried about speaker wire but I am sure the builder will charge X amount for each output and it is going to add up fast.

I have an idea actually after being in my friend's home theater. I will just have to look at bookshelf speaker size for the rears.

[GreatGreg]

Yes, I just assumed you would be using bookshelf rear speakers mounted from the ceiling. There is not usually much coming out of them anyway.

[TheZoof]

I was actually looking at PSB or Paradigm Reference towers for the rears(and fronts).

The good news is both make a balanced bookshelf speaker of similar quality.

[GreatGreg]

I have PSBs for my mains and my rear channels.

Paradigm is also very good (and locally made)!

[cwhite40]

I would do the tv top wall of the big room or top left corner. This way you could see it from both rooms.

Maybe a sectional bottom wall of the big room and a recliner/love seat top right corner of big room. Or you could probably fit two rows of couches using risers in the back.

[TheZoof]

Originally Posted by cwhite40

I would do the tv top wall of the big room or top left corner. This way you could see it from both rooms.

Maybe a sectional bottom wall of the big room and a recliner/love seat top right corner of big room. Or you could probably fit two rows of couches using risers in the back.

Interesting idea for putting tv in the corner.

I did think of that but it would waste a ton of space unless I got a very fancy wallmount. Which is possible.

[FIshda]

personally, i would go for the smaller room. front stage on top wall. dual sub on opposite corners of the room. go bookshelf all around, I would spend rest of my cheese on room treatments, and maybe 4k upgrade? keep the room clean. put your media in another spot.
i just like a more intimate space when i watch movies, i mean 80% of the time i use my home theater is with my wife and kids.

best of luck, exciting times.

[ewsjr]

So this is what I was looking at. My theater is in a room that is 32x12. The minimum that most suggest is 25x12. You don't have that so I tried to use both rooms as someone else suggested and it could work. In my attachment I set your room up like mine. Display, speakers on left wall. Matching sofa, two recliners on either side and your surrounds mounted on walls on either side of sofa. Going into the other room you, like did, can build a 6-8 inch riser (cover it wil matching carpet or whatever you choose to put on the floor) then put matching love seat on top of that. You would have to ceiling mount your rear speakers if going to have 7.1. The side and back walls can be used for memorabilia or dvd/blu-ray storage. You don't really have any great option in either room because of size and surround/rear speaker placement. If I had to I would go with the bigger room. Plus you have to at least have the sofa 8-10' from display (a 75-80' display is a great idea). Just a thought. If you look at my home theater photos you can get an idea of my set up. Make sure you post pics after you get it set up.

[bigshot]

I have rears high up the wall and it works fine. The problem with floor standers in the rear is that they will be firing into the back of your couch. It actually sounds better to raise them up where they're unobstructed.