To Baffle Wall or Not?

[kopkiwi]

Our house build is about to commence and with it comes nailing down the design of the home theatre. One decision I am having problem nailing down is whether to go baffle wall behind the screen, considering PSA MTM-210 or Klipsch KL-650 speakers. Or do I move the screen back and go traditional with the speakers in front and get something to show off?

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Our house build is about to commence and with it comes nailing down the design of the home theatre. One decision I am having problem nailing down is whether to go baffle wall behind the screen, considering PSA MTM-210 or Klipsch KL-650 speakers. Or do I move the screen back and go traditional with the speakers in front and get something to show off?

I’d say you could go with either one just fine (quality wise). I think it’d just come down to personal preference/taste and budget. Having the speakers behind the screen (if that’s what you mean) will require a slightly more complex installation and more expensive projection screen (since it’d have to be acoustically transparent). If you’d rather save a bit of money and/or simplify the installation then having the speakers in front should work just fine. If none of those matter to you then what would it look like better to you and whoever else would be joining you when watching movies?

One thing to keep in mind, however, would be that if the wall where you want to place the screen isn’t very wide then it’d be better to have the speakers in front, closer to the viewer since it’s recommended that the distance between each of the front L & R speakers and the viewer is about equal or just slightly longer than the distance between the front L & R speakers themselves.

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by samlop10

I’d say you could go with either one just fine (quality wise). I think it’d just come down to personal preference/taste and budget. Having the speakers behind the screen (if that’s what you mean) will require a slightly more complex installation and more expensive projection screen (since it’d have to be acoustically transparent). If you’d rather save a bit of money and/or simplify the installation then having the speakers in front should work just fine. If none of those matter to you then what would it look like better to you and whoever else would be joining you when watching movies?

One thing to keep in mind, however, would be that if the wall where you want to place the screen isn’t very wide then it’d be better to have the speakers in front, closer to the viewer since it’s recommended that the distance between each of the front L & R speakers and the viewer is about equal or just slightly longer than the distance between the front L & R speakers themselves.

Thanks for the feedback. Room is 5m x 6.5m meters. I'm about bit worried I haven't gone wide enough, I don't really want to loose 600-700mm with a baffle wall as I want two rows of seating.

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Thanks for the feedback. Room is 5m x 6.5m meters. I'm about bit worried I haven't gone wide enough, I don't really want to loose 600-700mm with a baffle wall as I want two rows of seating.

If you’re worried about space then I’d go with no baffle wall. But if you prefer it then I’d try to plan on every single thing that you’ll have in the room, make a list of the objects with their measurements, and then draw the room and everything that’ll go in it from bird’s-eye view to scale, and see if everything will fit with the baffle wall. Just be as precise as possible and leave a little wiggle room just in case.

I think two rows and a baffle wall might be possible in that space but you’ll just need to plan everything very carefully before starting anything. Taking into account the sizes of the speakers, if they’ll be in-wall or on it,if you’re planning to have your receiver, other components, and movie collection there as well, and basically any thing else that might go in it.

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by samlop10

If you’re worried about space then I’d go with no baffle wall. But if you prefer it then I’d try to plan on every single thing that you’ll have in the room, make a list of the objects with their measurements, and then draw the room and everything that’ll go in it from bird’s-eye view to scale, and see if everything will fit with the baffle wall. Just be as precise as possible and leave a little wiggle room just in case.

I think two rows and a baffle wall might be possible in that space but you’ll just need to plan everything very carefully before starting anything. Taking into account the sizes of the speakers, if they’ll be in-wall or on it,if you’re planning to have your receiver, other components, and movie collection there as well, and basically any thing else that might go in it.

Think I'll go with speakers in front of. Less complicated, plus I'd like to show the speakers off a little bit as well :-)

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Think I'll go with speakers in front of. Less complicated, plus I'd like to show the speakers off a little bit as well :-)

Yeah, I agree. Keep us updated if you can once your start .

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by samlop10

Yeah, I agree. Keep us updated if you can once your start .

Absolutely, will start a build thread.

Got to star the arduous task of finding speakers now

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by samlop10

Yeah, I agree. Keep us updated if you can once your start .

Went speaker infront, 5 years later I'm ripping out the stage and doing the baffle wall I should have done originally.

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Went speaker infront, 5 years later I'm ripping out the stage and doing the baffle wall I should have done originally.

What made you decide that after all?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Went speaker infront, 5 years later I'm ripping out the stage and doing the baffle wall I should have done originally.

Looks like you have seen your speakers long enough. I look forward to what sonic improvements you can pick up on once you get everything set back up with the wall.

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by samlop10

What made you decide that after all?

Front stage just became too cluttered. Speakers on top of each, tucked away. Took away from the grandness of the room and because of the door entry, the stage just became cumbersome.

Originally Posted by Fors*

Looks like you have seen your speakers long enough. I look forward to what sonic improvements you can pick up on once you get everything set back up with the wall.

Trying to find some information on baffle wall design for these speakers is proving a bit of a pain.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by kopkiwi

Trying to find some information on baffle wall design for these speakers is proving a bit of a pain.

I am sure you have done this already, but I have to ask.....have you looked online for videos or articles?

[kopkiwi]

Originally Posted by Fors*

I am sure you have done this already, but I have to ask.....have you looked online for videos or articles?

Yeah, nothing absolutely definitive. Or relatable to existing cinema room retrofitting a wall in it. Most talk about it should be capable of but nothing actually showing you a design or specifics etc.