Fors* Townhouse Home Theater Journey

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by smithb

When we built our first house, a townhouse (by Ryland and off shoot of Ryan) back in 1995, the one thing they let me do was run speaker wire. They gave me one evening to go in after the wiring inspection and just before the drywall was to go up. I could mount blue outlet boxes where needed, run the wire and tie it off at each end and the drywall folks would put in the cutouts appropriately.

Lucky you....maybe your project manager was a cool guy, but I asked mine and he danced around the subject, basically saying he would not let me do that.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Since I started looking at the LG G2 OLED TV and the Denon 3800 AVR in the beginning of February, both have gone down $200 and $100 in price accordingly! That extra $300 will be added to the funds I put aside for the 4 additional Atmos speakers I will be adding to eventually get to a 5.2.4 set up.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-65-c...?skuId=6501495

https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/...ers/avr-x3800h

hey there. IF you can wait, in 4-5 months after you move in, Black Friday week might drop them even lower.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by smithb

When we built our first house, a townhouse (by Ryland and off shoot of Ryan) back in 1995, the one thing they let me do was run speaker wire. They gave me one evening to go in after the wiring inspection and just before the drywall was to go up. I could mount blue outlet boxes where needed, run the wire and tie it off at each end and the drywall folks would put in the cutouts appropriately.

Originally Posted by Fors*

Lucky you....maybe your project manager was a cool guy, but I asked mine and he danced around the subject, basically saying he would not let me do that.

I don't know if it's a regional thing, a builder thing, or maybe times have just changed and with companies trying to save costs in every way, shape, or form, maybe they're just not allowing it anymore because I've had a few people tell me the builder won't work with them. Otherwise, way back maybe 2005'ish we went in on a new house, and they practically rolled out the red carpet for us and said I could pretty much do whatever I wanted (as long as it was to code) between them completing the wiring and putting up drywall. KB Homes was the builder. I had big plans for the HT Room, but we ended up backing out and getting our current house.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

I don't know if it's a regional thing, a builder thing, or maybe times have just changed and with companies trying to save costs in every way, shape, or form, maybe they're just not allowing it anymore because I've had a few people tell me the builder won't work with them. Otherwise, way back maybe 2005'ish we went in on a new house, and they practically rolled out the red carpet for us and said I could pretty much do whatever I wanted (as long as it was to code) between them completing the wiring and putting up drywall. KB Homes was the builder. I had big plans for the HT Room, but we ended up backing out and getting our current house.

It is probably a combination of what you said. My impression is it had to do with not wanting to do it. They would rather just get it finished and move on.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Since I started looking at the LG G2 OLED TV and the Denon 3800 AVR in the beginning of February, both have gone down $200 and $100 in price accordingly! That extra $300 will be added to the funds I put aside for the 4 additional Atmos speakers I will be adding to eventually get to a 5.2.4 set up.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-65-c...?skuId=6501495

https://www.denon.com/en-us/product/...ers/avr-x3800h

Hopefully it stays that way for you! Everything I otherwise look at anymore continues to go up in price. Pre-amps, amps, AVRs, all about 20%-30% more for the next model in their respective model iterations. They continue to blame the chip market (of course I have other theories, but I won't go there). But geez, even freakin' OATMEAL has doubled in price. Are they putting nano-semi-conductors in that too?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Hopefully it stays that way for you! Everything I otherwise look at anymore continues to go up in price. Pre-amps, amps, AVRs, all about 20%-30% more for the next model in their respective model iterations. They continue to blame the chip market (of course I have other theories, but I won't go there). But geez, even freakin' OATMEAL has doubled in price. Are they putting nano-semi-conductors in that too?

Time will tell. I believe I am now less than 60 days from settlement on the house and I just rented a storage unit. Time to buy lots of stuff since I have nothing, yet I now have somewhere to put all the new things for the time being.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Time will tell. I believe I am now less than 60 days from settlement on the house and I just rented a storage unit. Time to buy lots of stuff since I have nothing, yet I now have somewhere to put all the new things for the time being.

Not the A/V gear though, right? I mean, if storage places in PA are anything like they are in Commiefornia, I wouldn't trust it.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Not the A/V gear though, right? I mean, if storage places in PA are anything like they are in Commiefornia, I wouldn't trust it.

I trust this place....have shared a separate unit with my brother for 2 years now with no issues. Climate controlled, inside with gate only access and a key required to open the unit as well. I feel pretty good about it.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

I trust this place....have shared a separate unit with my brother for 2 years now with no issues. Climate controlled, inside with gate only access and a key required to open the unit as well. I feel pretty good about it.

Cool deal. Wish I could say the same based on the handful I've been to out here. I get bad vibes and not the kind of place I'd want to be after dusk lol.

[Aerodude73]

Per your post in AL's thread (HTG), I just saw this was posted today. Might be interesting...

LG G3 OLED TV Review | MLA Is the Truth! - YouTube

[Fors*]

Well, the builder told me I can decide where I can put the coaxial outlets in the townhouse (despite originally telling I could not make this choice). So, this now opens up the living room again (my original choice) as my location for the HT. Below is a pic of what the room will look like. In picture 1, the TV and front soundstage will be on the wall on the left (subs will more than likely go in the opposite corners up front), and in picture 2 is what the opposite side of the room away from front soundstage/TV looks like. I know it is an "open" space, but this is better than the small bedroom I was going to use IMO.

The drywall will be going up next week, so better late than never I guess.

Living Room3.jpg

Living Room4.jpg

[Girls With Guns]

Wait, what? The electrical panel box is exposed right there on the front living room wall??? I suppose that may be convenient, but why the heck there?

You'll have to hang a tall mirror or framed picture over that to hide it, I guess...

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

Wait, what? The electrical panel box is exposed right there on the front living room wall??? I suppose that may be convenient, but why the heck there?

You'll have to hang a tall mirror or framed picture over that to hide it, I guess...

Yep, but I already have that figured out. It is flush with the wall, so it will be easy to hide with some kind of wall decoration/painting.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Well, the builder told me I can decide where I can put the coaxial outlets in the townhouse (despite originally telling I could not make this choice). So, this now opens up the living room again (my original choice) as my location for the HT. Below is a pic of what the room will look like. In picture 1, the TV and front soundstage will be on the wall on the left (subs will more than likely go in the opposite corners up front), and in picture 2 is what the opposite side of the room away from front soundstage/TV looks like. I know it is an "open" space, but this is better than the small bedroom I was going to use IMO.

The drywall will be going up next week, so better late than never I guess.

Attachment 289076

Attachment 289077

My main room is completely open on one side to the rest of the house as well, and it still works. I trust auto-calibration enough these days (plus minor tweaks) to get it right. Although the overhead effects are better in the enclosed mancave where I have very similar gear, but it isn't to the point where I feel like I'd rather watch in the mancave. I still prefer the main room where I can crank it and make the walls shake.

Originally Posted by Fors*

Yep, but I already have that figured out. It is flush with the wall, so it will be easy to hide with some kind of wall decoration/painting.

First I've ever seen a panel in the house like that. I've never seen that here in Cali. Hopefully it doesn't get any bass rattle, but thankfully there's foam seal for that.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

Wait, what? The electrical panel box is exposed right there on the front living room wall??? I suppose that may be convenient, but why the heck there?

You'll have to hang a tall mirror or framed picture over that to hide it, I guess...

Magnepans for side surrounds?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Magnepans for side surrounds?

Well, those twins do more or less fit in with the Brazilian Rosewood cabinets of the Rockets and furniture....but in regards to sonic transparency, ......meh, I'm not so sure.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

My main room is completely open on one side to the rest of the house as well, and it still works. I trust auto-calibration enough these days (plus minor tweaks) to get it right. Although the overhead effects are better in the enclosed mancave where I have very similar gear, but it isn't to the point where I feel like I'd rather watch in the mancave. I still prefer the main room where I can crank it and make the walls shake.

I do have the neighbors on that wall, so I will have to pick my spots when it comes to letting the speakers/subs open up.

First I've ever seen a panel in the house like that. I've never seen that here in Cali. Hopefully it doesn't get any bass rattle, but thankfully there's foam seal for that.

Yeah, I thought it was strange too (but remember, no basement), however it can easily be covered and if anything rattles because of it, I'll figure something out.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Well, those twins do more or less fit in with the Brazilian Rosewood cabinets of the Rockets and furniture....but in regards to sonic transparency, ......meh, I'm not so sure.

Way back when I was trying to assemble an HT that could also serve as a 2-channel music setup, I was seriously considering Magnepans for the base 5 channels. This was way back before I got the Rockets. But it never panned out since I generally dislike subwoofers with music, and they're almost a must with Magnepans.

Still, I do think about getting a pair for a 2-channel room every so often.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Way back when I was trying to assemble an HT that could also serve as a 2-channel music setup, I was seriously considering Magnepans for the base 5 channels. This was way back before I got the Rockets. But it never panned out since I generally dislike subwoofers with music, and they're almost a must with Magnepans.

Still, I do think about getting a pair for a 2-channel room every so often.

If you want to listen to music, 2 channel is the way to go, so I agree with you that a sub should not be included. But have you ever thought of something like these for music?

https://www.soundandvision.com/conte...peakers-review

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by Fors*

If you want to listen to music, 2 channel is the way to go, so I agree with you that a sub should not be included. But have you ever thought of something like these for music?

https://www.soundandvision.com/conte...peakers-review

I'm not a fan of DefTech, and the purist comes out of me when it comes to bipoles for music.

And actually, the B&Ws is the reason why I finally replaced the Rockets. They get a bad rap for being a little on the bright side, but it only takes a small amount of EQ and proper angle for them to shine. I don't know what science says about the externally mounted tweeter, but the imaging and and overall depth is at another level. And the midgrange and bass definition with tunes is just wow. The Rockets are still better for HT, especially on the bottom end. But I much prefer the B&W for music, and they still do an excellent job with HT.