Home cinema room

[Ream]

Originally Posted by donubenz

Hi with regard to distance/width. I was told that the front speaker links the dialogue to the action and that the ideal sound system is for a triangular shape so that the "pinned " front speaker is exactly in the middle of the two R and L speakers. You should be the same distance away from the screen, the point you are sat forming another apex of an equilateral triangle. Surround speakers up high behind you. This is of course in an ideal world with only one viewer and I know that all sort of effects can be achieved by adjusting the amp that can compensate and enhance the experience. This means that the width of the garage will possibly limit the size you can go back in the space. Still you can always put a pop corn machine in!

This might sound like a silly question but do the three front speakers around the screen R L and Center can they be the same type or does the centre speaker need to be different to L & R.

[davethemus]

[0] [0-0] [0]

The centre speaker should have 2 speakers i would imagine

[A-AvantGarde]

Centre speakers are normally different to the Left & Right. It's also important as it's the one most of the speech will come out of when watching movies or TV.

The front left & right and rear speaker could all be the same type, typically you'll find a 'matched' centre speaker for various ranges of speaker.

[donubenz]

Centre speaker is mainly for the voice sounds so usually is smaller and does not need such a wide range eg 100 to 5000Hz typically. Your ear can hear 15 to 18000 Hz, so outside ones have better range performance and are usually bigger. With modern technology this is not always true now as Bose for example have a "wave" system that is supposed to be true to life. Note your hearing deteriorates with age so a pensioner may not benefit much from a high end system.
I was at a demo from Bose and they played a scene from a movie when a train was arriving at a station platform. You heard the approaching Steam train in the right speaker and the characters speaking in the middle then the train roared through and the sound disappeared to the left. The sub woofer 20 -200Hz, that can be placed anywhere in the room, as the bass sound is omnipresent really made your body feel the boom from the train. Twittering bird sounds and other conversations in the station from the rear surround sound speakers. They obviously picked the scene for the acoustics but it really was impressive, shut your eyes and you could have been standing there. A lot depends on the skill of the sound person making the Dolby or whatever in splitting the various sounds and deciding where to send them. This is really quite noticeable when it is done badly.
At the end of the day it is what suits you but lots of money spend does not necessarily give the best system.

[JohnEBoy]

Originally Posted by davethemus

[0] [0-0] [0]

The centre speaker should have 2 speakers i would imagine

My cheaper 5.1 system as a single driver on the centre speaker and worked well.

[Benzmanc]

I used to run Onkyo receivers but switched to Pioneer, simply a world better

Superfi - PIONEER VSXLX55 3D READY HOME CINEMA RECEIVER WITH INTERNET RADIO AND WIRELESS ADAPTOR


For speakers these are a bargain

For Sale: Triad Gold Speakers *reduced for a quick sale* | AVForums.com - UK Online

The centre speaker is the most important as it does around 60% of the audio.

For a sub I'm running a BK Monolith, superb for the price especially if you like the sofa shaking.

http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/sub_woofers.htm

[AnilS]

Ream, where are you based?

I install HC stuff as a hobby, and maybe able to advise if local.

Failing that, sound advice given already.

AVForums has a great classifieds section, so to save money, it might be worth going down the 2nd hand route.

[Ream]

Originally Posted by AnilS

Ream, where are you based?

I install HC stuff as a hobby, and maybe able to advise if local.

Failing that, sound advice given already.

AVForums has a great classifieds section, so to save money, it might be worth going down the 2nd hand route.

I'm in Canterbury mate, looking for new or second hand in wall speakers, second hand amp (will replace with a new one after a year), still not decided on tv or projector yet due to the fact I will be using the screen as a monitor for my computer to stream football and run my office. Looking at lighting and sound proofing as well.

So far the door has gone, wall built and floor screeded and window will go in next week, still have pipes to move and electrics to renew before stud walls so early days but on track.

[LTD]

If fitting stud walls, make sure that you run in conduits and fishlines to any area you plan to cable.

Makes instillation and future upgrades a lot easier.

[Ream]

Originally Posted by LTD

If fitting stud walls, make sure that you run in conduits and fishlines to any area you plan to cable.

Makes instillation and future upgrades a lot easier.

Thank you very good advice, once plumber and electrician have finished will call on my bros who are data cabling engineers to plan and execute, on second thoughts they work for RBS a lot so maybe they don't have planing experience

[AnilS]

OK, you're a bit far

If looking at in wall speakers, look at Kef.

AV amp wise, look at a decent HDMI (upscaling) swicthing one as it makes it easier for cabling. If you can get a secondhand Sony 5400ES, they have two HDMIs out so you have the flexibility to run separate cables outputting to a screen and projector. They happen to be excellent too.

Sony STR-DA5400ES review from the experts at whathifi.com

I have the baby 2400ES and its effortlessly good. Pioneer and Yamaha are also excellent but not a fan of Onkyo personally.

I'm not a fan of electric projector screens, but a manual one like this;

Panoview DS-9084PMG 84" 16:9 Pull Down Projector Screen: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

are very good to get you started. Optoma projectors are great and excellent value 2nd hand.

Take a look at Gumtree in your area for local bargains.
I recently bought an Optoma 720p themescene HD projector and screen for £220 collected

[janner]

Best bang for your buck is likely to be 1080p projector, decent AV amp with cheapish front speakers from Richer Sounds, really cheap surround speakers and thick carpet.

Setting up the amp properly will make the biggest difference.

If money's no object then... vox-olympian.html

[gIzzE]

I would go with Kef custom install speakers.
They offer good value and sound good but think you will need a slightly better amp, stick with onkyo by all means but buy last years £1000 model for £500.

The Ci200 speakers across the front three are great and the go for Ci160s as rears.
If you have the budget add centre rears, but better to get good 5.1 tha.n compromised 7.1 IMHO.

I had the kefs running off a Meridian processor and Classe amp combo which was £11,000 and they didn't let the system down. Everyone was seriously impressed with them, even some real hi end Hifi nuts.

The nice thing about them is you can also paint them to match the walls if you want, or leave them white....



That was my old loft room from 10 years ago!

Hi had the Ci160's as rear centres and the dipole speakers as sides, you can just see them by the side of the chair....






I know everyone is saying projector, but think long and hard before going that route, do you like sitting in the dark?

I would suggest a nice big plasma, or maybe a cheaper used projector for £500 and a mid range plasma for every day.
You can pick up the truly stunning JVC HD1 now for £500 used and it will impress.


The other thing, you may want to consider setting the room up side ways, always sounds better and actually makes the room more useful too.
Plus you don't feel you are sitting in a hallway.


You need to decide what speakers you are going for before you put the walls up, as you really want to put the joists around them to make a speaker enclosure, this will give the in walls decent amounts of bass weight, it will allow you to get you sub down to a good 80hz and make the whole thing sound much better. Also, put channeling in behind the TV so you can add whatever cable you need to, and a false skirting that allows you to run cables around the room.

Someone somewhere is always doing offers on the Kef custom install speakers and you will be had pushed to beat them for the money.

Oh, and in that shape room definitely plasma rather than LCD, you could have a nice U shape sofa layout then.

You are in a great position to get a perfect set up, and you will be able to get great results without spending silly amounts if you design it right.

[Ream]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I have now purchased the ONKYO amp second hand and purchased 7 inwall KEF speakers (4 new 3 ex display, we will see when they arrive) I have also purchased in wall cables and projector screen. Now need to wait and purchase projector and plasma and a sub woofer.

I would like the room to be used daily so projector screen will come down for films and some football but tv will be a computer monitor, and for me to escape when the wife has a body-wedding-Essex-program on

I have gone down the eBay route and won the items 10-40% cheaper than direct with the online shops and I have not spent to much on the amp yet, this is mainly down to being a beginner and lucky for me if I want to upgrade I have buyers or another place for the current set up.

Will post before and after photos some time in the summer

[brucemillar]

For the true cinema buff you will require the following or the whole experience will be ruined for you and your guests.

1) A family of young children (not yours). The kids must be out of control running about shouting and show absolutely no interest in the film or any attempts to control them.

2) Some big people with bad personal hygene issues. Ideally they will sit in front of your seat and break wind loudly at crucial moments in the movie (funeral scenes, deathbed scenes etc)

3) Industrial sized tubs of popcorn & fizzy drinks. These must be tossed around to unsure an even covering of your floor, walls and seats. You know it is good when the popcorn sticks to the fizzy drink that has now soaked into your clothing.

4) Pick & Mix sweets. These must be priced in the same bracket as Gold, Platinum etc. This will encourage your guests to try and eat the sweets at the industrial bagging area without you spotting them.

5) Ensure that any toilet facilities you have are either locked or or have a permanent queue of people at the door.


Now sit back and enjoy. And don't forget to answer your mobile when it rings with the worlds silliest ring tone.