Help me build my new media room!

[Sylin]

We're in the process of building a new home (9-12 months to completion, so I've got some time), and I am finally getting a dedicated media room. I'd like to invest between $10k-$15k in it, and will need a wall-mountable TV, new speakers, sub, receiver, etc. I do have some questions and concerns, tho.

I am torn between 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker setup. I have room for either. I'm mostly curious about how the dynamics work when a 5.1 soundtrack plays through speakers positioned for 7.1? I can wall-mount or floor-stand any speaker, or have the option of having them built in to the walls if I'd like.

I've considered the Sony STR-DA5300ES as a receiver... maybe a Denon. Thoughts?

Also, power conditioner: yes or no?

I'll be hooking up a Tivo Series 3 for HDTV. A PS3 for gaming. But if Sony doesn't release a DTS-MA patch for the PS3 by then, then I'll also add maybe a Panny BD50 player.

Lastly, I'm debating a 52" XBR5 for the TV, or a projector, or potentially both, since the kids will be watching TV in here, too, and the projector might not be necessary or even practical during the daytime. Anyone run both?

Are there larger TV's that would still fit in my budget?

PS... Forgot to mention that we are having the walls and floor sound-proofed in this room. I am not sure what the builder uses, but I have plenty of time to customize since we're still months away from frame-out.

Thanks!

[Slec]

Man am I jealous.... I am no expert and I'm sure those guys will be along soon enough (don't be afraid to check out the thread with pics of HT, there are some great ones).

As for 5.1 to 7.1.... There are receivers that will matrix this out for you. I know the Onkyo 805 does and I think the 705 does... I guess my point is, with the receivers you're looking at, it should be a quick check, but most likely it will do this for you.

I've heard mixed reviews on Sony's receivers, but I know Denon's are top notch. Easy call between those two.

Maybe these 4 in similar price range (crutchfield is great for research. better pricing can be found)
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/P...ems=1585300ESB

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

We're in the process of building a new home (9-12 months to completion, so I've got some time), and I am finally getting a dedicated media room. I'd like to invest between $10k-$15k in it, and will need a wall-mountable TV, new speakers, sub, receiver, etc. I do have some questions and concerns, tho.

I am torn between 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker setup. I have room for either. I'm mostly curious about how the dynamics work when a 5.1 soundtrack plays through speakers positioned for 7.1? I can wall-mount or floor-stand any speaker, or have the option of having them built in to the walls if I'd like.

I've considered the Sony STR-DA5300ES as a receiver... maybe a Denon. Thoughts?

Also, power conditioner: yes or no?

I'll be hooking up a Tivo Series 3 for HDTV. A PS3 for gaming. But if Sony doesn't release a DTS-MA patch for the PS3 by then, then I'll also add maybe a Panny BD50 player.

Lastly, I'm debating a 52" XBR5 for the TV, or a projector, or potentially both, since the kids will be watching TV in here, too, and the projector might not be necessary or even practical during the daytime. Anyone run both?

Are there larger TV's that would still fit in my budget?

PS... Forgot to mention that we are having the walls and floor sound-proofed in this room. I am not sure what the builder uses, but I have plenty of time to customize since we're still months away from frame-out.

Thanks!

Damn you lucky SOB, wish I had that kind of change. Hmm....I'd personally go with wall or even ceiling mounted speakers. They won't take up space, and you will still get incredible sound. What size room are you looking at? Something to factor in are acoustics. Are you planning on using sound deadning material as well or acoustical padding? The Sony is a nice reciever but do some comparing as well, Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Onkyo also make great recievers in that price range. My brother and I have the 805 and it's great. Try looking up www.soundandvisionmag.com, and www.crtuchfield.com to help select components. Good luck and have a great time in your new room when it's done.

[Sylin]

Yes, room dimensions are 16x15. Here's a clip from the floorplan.



The entryway will most likely have a door. We're still debating that, as opposed to leaving it open.

[Big Daddy]

I have experience with dedicated media rooms. These are my suggestions:

SPEAKERS: go with 7.1 speakers.

Speaker Recommendations:

Definitive Technology: http://www.definitivetech.com/loudsp...dspeakers.html

Hsu Research: http://www.hsuresearch.com/packages.html

Paradigm: http://www.paradigm.com/en/reference...ronts.paradigm

POWER CONDITIONER: Yes. Ask the electrician to run a 20amp dedicated circuit to your media room. You don't want to blow your fuse.

Power Conditioner Recommendation: http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=307

DISPLAY: I would pick a projector over a TV. They are cheaper than TVs and display a larger picture.

Projector Recommendations:

Epson Home Cinema 1080ub: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/c...s&oid=63073679

Sony VPL-VW40: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665307855

Sony VPL-VW60: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665192796

RECEIVER: Sony, Denon, Onkyo, and Pioneer Elite make excellent receivers.

Receiver Recommendations:

Sony STR-DA5300ES: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665186458

Denon AVR-4308CI: http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3494.asp

Onkyo TX-SR875: http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i

Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH : http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...=07-46181698-2

SPEAKER CABLES: Make sure you run 12 gauge speaker cables inside the walls from the location of the receiver to the speakers. You can buy cheap wholesale 12 gauge cables up to several hundred feet at your local Home Depot.

Shop around and get the best deals for your components.

[ak808]

Don't forget the furniture as well. But if I were to have a dedicated media room not no crappy tv/dinning room then I'd def go with the 130inch screen with projector. LCDs are great and all but nothing beats a good projector. Also if you go this route I would put in automated curtains as well. It's not that hard you just gotta plan an extra outlet or two with the electricians.

[lexm]

I was in your position 3 years ago and I can tell you its totally worth it. I was building a house from dirt and my builder allowed me to design a custom media room for the house. So i went nuts with it. No windows, staggered floor, wiring for 4 rear speakers, 2 fronts, center, and 2 subs, phone and ethernet jacks, lights on the walls like a movie theater, and all 4 walls have insulations.

Couple of questions.

If this is a dedicated media room, why not just go with a front projector instead of a plasma/lcd panel or rear projector. Front projector is the way to go, there is no HT experience like it.

If you are building from dirt, and you are going to have a dedicated media room, why not just build one without windows. Also if you can, why not add a staggered floor.

Other minor details you might want to think about are things like:
-doors to the room should swing outside the room, that way you wont run the risk of hitting a speaker.
-dont worry too much about wiring for front, center, and subs. You'll probably be better off using higher grade wire on these instead of what the builder will use. The side and rear surrounds, you might want them wired in the wall anyway
-have electrical outlets on the side walls at even spacing and directly one across the other. That way you can put in nice little LED night lights that point down that way your floor will be light like in a movie theater without making any ambient light.
-use dark colors in the room. Dark walls, dark carpet, I even painted the ceiling. This will kill any ambient light in the room. If you leave it light, it will bounce around and its really anoying if you are using a front projector with a screen (my dad has it that way at his house).

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have experience with dedicated media rooms. These are my suggestions:

Ironically enough, all your speaker recommendations I already had down on my "research list". Thanks!

As for the projector, aren't projectors washed out during daylight? If we want the kids to be able to watch TV in this room during the day with the windows open, and movies at night (or day, with the heavy curtains drawn), would you recommend maybe mounting a TV on the wall, and having a retractable projector infront of it? I know this adds to the cost, doubling up on monitors, but it might be worth it.

I checked out those projectors--any idea what makes Sony's $15k model so much more expensive than these $4k products?

Thanks for the tip on the dedicated circuit. I was thinking of having them do this for my home office, too.

Originally Posted by ak808

Don't forget the furniture as well.

Good point. We will probably only have room in this room for a small sofa, some end tables, and maybe some beanbag seats for the kiddos. I want it to feel cozy, but not cluttered.

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by lexm

If you are building from dirt, and you are going to have a dedicated media room, why not just build one without windows. Also if you can, why not add a staggered floor.

For resale, mostly. But also because this room will be upstairs, and used by the whole family. We have 3 small children and I want to give myself the best cinematic experience possible while still having a setup my 9 y/o can use, and a room they can play on the floor with their friends in without having to worry about someone taking a tumble.

We're still deliberating on floor plans, but this is the one the wife likes best. Although, a friend of mine is a custom builder and I just went to his new model home today and it made me have doubts cuz his designs are pretty awesome. Also, I'm considering your suggestion of having the media room completely enclosed... no windows... hmmm...

[Slec]

ikcizokm,
From your plan, it looks as though there is an HVAC room on the right. If so, that is just screaming to have all your componentry and a hole in the wall for a projector to peek out of. Just thinking something like a Harmony 890 with RF extender could really leave a clean look in the actual viewing room...

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by Slec

ikcizokm,
From your plan, it looks as though there is an HVAC room on the right. If so, that is just screaming to have all your componentry and a hole in the wall for a projector to peek out of. Just thinking something like a Harmony 890 with RF extender could really leave a clean look in the actual viewing room...

Not far from the truth! The opposing wall is actually a very large unfinished storage room accessible from the master bedroom closet (so the kiddies can't go roaming in there). We might be able to put all the components in there, or do some cut-outs. Good idea--thank you!

[Big Daddy]

If you plan to have children watch TV, then I suggest that you put a smaller TV (40" to 50") on the side for them or put a TV in the living room. I have a 65" TV in my media room in addition to the projector. It is a waste not to have a projector in a dedicated media room.

The 15 thousand dollar Sony projector has a much more expensive and brighter lamp. It also looks nicer and may have better contrast. The rest of it is marketing.

Projector technology has improved so much in the last few years that the picture quality of the 3 to 4 thusand dollar projectors of today far exceed the PQ of twenty thousand dolloar projectors of a few years ago.

I also agree that you should select darker colors for the walls, floor, and furniture.

[lexm]

Well, as far as resale, let me tell you a lot of builders are adding dedicated media rooms without windows to their floor plans (mostly as an option). And not just at the custome home level. I'm starting to see builders add dedicated media rooms to homes that would be considered "middle class". I think if your house has 3 to 4 bedrooms plus the dedicated media room, you should not worry too much on resale. Yes, I am a realtor.

If you decide to go with a room with windows one thing you could do is put normal blinds or plantation shutters on the windows, so that they would look nice from the outside, and behind the blinds/shutters, you can put in some heavy dutty curtains. If I remember well, Lutron makes some pretty nice curtains that would get a room pretty dark. Specially made for HT.

Another thing I forgot to sugest is that if you want to do a front projector, think about adding an electrical outlet on the back wall of the room at about 1 foot away from the ceiling. That way you wont have an unsightly extension cord going up your wall.

By the way, my room is actually pretty close in dimensions to yours.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Not far from the truth! The opposing wall is actually a very large unfinished storage room accessible from the master bedroom closet (so the kiddies can't go roaming in there). We might be able to put all the components in there, or do some cut-outs. Good idea--thank you!

The room in these pics is bigger, but you can show your wife to get an idea, approval, and an upgraded budget!!!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=297

[lexm]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Not far from the truth! The opposing wall is actually a very large unfinished storage room accessible from the master bedroom closet (so the kiddies can't go roaming in there). We might be able to put all the components in there, or do some cut-outs. Good idea--thank you!

That actually sounds really good. Just remember that you will probably have to air condition this area if its separate from the main room. HT components run very hot and need to be kept cool.

[gearyt]

Design and build for 7.1 even if you start w/ 5.1
wireing is easier ie: cheaper now

Build extra drops into your tv and av center for expansion

don't worry about pricing on tv's until you get ready
they drop on a daily basis

when you choose, if you go projector, check on lamp pricing
I pay ~$700 per lamp, 2 per projector and go thru them twice a year
the picture between a new and used lamp assy is huge

power conditioners for sure, save on lamps first of all, and all electronics second,
I use Furman hi end stuff, ~ $200-$300

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by gearyt

when you choose, if you go projector, check on lamp pricing I pay ~$700 per lamp, 2 per projector and go thru them twice a year
the picture between a new and used lamp assy is huge

Am I reading this correctly? You spend $2800/year in lamp replacements? (2 lamps replaced twice a year?) Jebus!

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Am I reading this correctly? You spend $2800/year in lamp replacements? (2 lamps replaced twice a year?) Jebus!

sorry worse yet, I have two... and my sister property has 7

but the unknown is that we run the shit out of them in our sports books
I run mine only during games, the other property runs them 24/7 and buys the bulbs by the case... yep it hurts.. just ordered 4 to change out for March Madness

[Ratdaddy]

Hey ikcizokm whatever you do make sure if you run cables in wall or ceiling to run them through some pvc pipe with extra nylon pull cords . In the future you may want to change or add more cables or speaker wires.

[OnlyBLU]

I would Suggest a Vidikron projector the picture is awsome,