Be the Judge: The Ultimate Home Theater Room Review Thread

[tripplej]

I do like this one. A bit bright color on the walls/chairs for me but looks nice. Two subs in the front?? Maybe one in the front and one in the back?

 

[Matthew J Poes]

How about this one

 

[JBrax]

Me like!

 

[tripplej]

I double like. Is there another view available?

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I don’t know whose theater it is so I’ve never found one. I was just looking for modern theater designs and stumbled upon it. I like how everything is built in.

It appears to be a shallow/wide theater. Acoustical I don’t like such rooms but I love the look of that room. I especially love the ceiling, which acoustically could be really great.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I also like this one. I’m curious if anyone will catch a certain theme in the two I’ve posted so far.

 

[tripplej]

I like the above as well. Theme? comfort??

Looks like 3 rows for both possibly with risers, don't see any wall speakers,

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I like the above as well. Theme? comfort??

Looks like 3 rows for both possibly with risers, don't see any wall speakers,

You’re close in ways I hadn’t thought about. Yeah it doesn’t look like a theater. It looks like a fashionable space. I like the giant wall art. I wouldn’t put a poster up with a glass front but I like the look. I’ve been thinking about having prints made on acoustically transparent fabric to make giant art like that. Then making them into acoustic panels.

 

[JBrax]

Not really a fan of the color scheme of the last one.

 

[tripplej]

I do agree, no glass picture frame.. But, instead put the art print on acoustically transparent fabric.

 

[Peter Loeser]

View attachment 4636
How about this one

This is one of a few images I have saved as inspiration for my new theater build. I love the indirect lighting and the shape of the ceiling. They kept it nice and clean wihout going so far as to make it look cold and sterile.

The blue room is a nice looking space, but I'd have to agree with JBrax - just too much blue for my taste.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

This is one of a few images I have saved as inspiration for my new theater build. I love the indirect lighting and the shape of the ceiling. They kept it nice and clean wihout going so far as to make it look cold and sterile.

The blue room is a nice looking space, but I'd have to agree with JBrax - just too much blue for my taste.

I think tone on tone rooms are not for everyone. My theater is tone on tone Navy Blue, but I’ve added contrast with the wood panels and grey fabric. I also have tan first reflection point panels. I liked the tone on tone look, but if they were my space I would provide more contrast in the form of non-blur fabrics and wood tones.

The first one I saved specifically for inspiration in my theater space. I drew up a plan for copying that ceiling myself. The plan was to use rigid fiberglass insulation and a 1x2 timber frame to create panels. I would then hang them from the ceiling using hooks and cable. The cable could be of varied length to accommodate the angles. Led light strips could be attached to the top near the front leading edge for the same light effect. The rear shelf could even be used as a projector housing, and you could build it such that much of the space is acoustically useful.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

How about this one!

I like the space but it’s an music first room. The screen is small relative to the space and speakers are placed suboptimally for good sound/video integration. It really needs a matching center to the L-R speakers and should be in line with the screen. The screen looks to be more than a meter behind the center.

Further nitpicking, this is a diffraction nightmare. The placement of the gear and center speaker in line with the L-R speakers allows for diffraction distortions off that gear. It would be better to have the amplifiers behind the speakers and the center mounted on an acoustically benign stand. However given their height relative to the midrange drivers I suspect this wouldn’t create horrible problems. It’s just not ideal in what is an otherwise ideal acoustic space.

Finally, the room has far too much absorption on the sidewalls. Without hearing it or seeing measurements that may be an unfair statement, but down to about 500hz that room has nearly no sidewall reflection of any kind. The treatments are also not symmetric on the left and right size and the reason is unclear (Windows?). Non-symmetric treatment can work, but should be done carefully.

 

[tripplej]

I agree with your assessment. Way to much treatment..

 

[Todd Anderson]

Is there absorption in there? Looks like a TON of diffusion

 

[Todd Anderson]

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Is there absorption in there? Looks like a TON of diffusion

All the curtains are absorption. The curved panels are curved surface absorbers. The MLS diffussers mix diffussion and absorption together and effectively apply bandwidth limited absorption. I have the same panels. It's all Vicoustic.

After killing any reverberation in my room I can completely understand why people would prefer a large amount of diffussion in such a space.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

View attachment 4924

Well it's a pretty room. It's an acoustic nightmare and I would wager money it's clarity score from the center channel is very poor for a theater. I would guess the owner would be shocked at just how much better it could sound with the center arranged differently.

The screen is too big for the room and compromises the sound quality. My suggestion to him would be to consider switching to an AT screen and moving the center behind the screen. The front wall needs absorption, quite a bit.

Those types of speakers could benefit from diffussion or absorption at first reflection points. The ceiling especially.

The floor and ceiling are virtually untreated and so he needs to treat the majority of one or the other. If he wants hardwood exposed floors, then the ceiling needs to have some absorption.

The panels are mounted in the back of the room and are too thin. He needs 2" or 4" panels in a position like that.

The center needs to come off the floor and needs absorption under it if it's going to be that low. If the screen has to stay there, then switching to a slightly smaller screen and placing the center on top of a large absorbing cradle would be best. It would need to be about 4-6" thick to be effective and some "wings" to the side would be helpful as well. Basically you have to control the speakers radiation to the floor because the floor is acting like a badly designed waveguide as it stands.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

I just realized those panels on the rear may be 2" I couldn't tell.

It's also worth noting that the rear doesn't necessarily need any absorption other than bass.

 

[tripplej]

I also agree, the screen is way to big for the room.. It is a nice room thou.

 

[JBrax]

I see lots of reflective surfaces but that screen is HUGE! It absolutely dwarfs the center channel and I’d venture a guess it’s not nearly as small as it looks.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Well it's a pretty room. It's an acoustic nightmare and I would wager money it's clarity score from the center channel is very poor for a theater. I would guess the owner would be shocked at just how much better it could sound with the center arranged differently.

The screen is too big for the room and compromises the sound quality. My suggestion to him would be to consider switching to an AT screen and moving the center behind the screen. The front wall needs absorption, quite a bit.

Those types of speakers could benefit from diffussion or absorption at first reflection points. The ceiling especially.

The floor and ceiling are virtually untreated and so he needs to treat the majority of one or the other. If he wants hardwood exposed floors, then the ceiling needs to have some absorption.

The panels are mounted in the back of the room and are too thin. He needs 2" or 4" panels in a position like that.

The center needs to come off the floor and needs absorption under it if it's going to be that low. If the screen has to stay there, then switching to a slightly smaller screen and placing the center on top of a large absorbing cradle would be best. It would need to be about 4-6" thick to be effective and some "wings" to the side would be helpful as well. Basically you have to control the speakers radiation to the floor because the floor is acting like a badly designed waveguide as it stands.

Yeah...acoustical nightmare is a good way to put it. I'd be curious to hear the sound in this space... Sometimes I'm surprised at how good something can sound in a less than ideal space. There's ideal, yes. But sometimes less than ideal can still sound good!

 

[Matthew J Poes]

Yeah...acoustical nightmare is a good way to put it. I'd be curious to hear the sound in this space... Sometimes I'm surprised at how good something can sound in a less than ideal space. There's ideal, yes. But sometimes less than ideal can still sound good!

You are right. In fact with music it can even be pleasant to have a fairly reflective room. It just depends on what is reflecting and how. The way the speakers interact with the room.

Personally I've seen too many theaters with center channels on the floor like that where owners complained of a nasally voice, excessive chestiness, and poor dialogue clarity. It seems like fixing the center or going to a phantom center ways makes those owners happiest.

A guy on another forum posted a similar image and complained of poor sound. Excessive sibilance and poor dialogue clarity. He had an AT screen but his center sat low to the floor. Lots of people have him advice to no avail (most were over thinking the problem). Two of us noted that his first reflection panels sat in the wrong place, too high and too far forward. His L and R speakers were too close to the wall and had no toe. Then the center problem. I gave him some basic advice. Take some measurements using a free room acoustics app called Impulso. To then move his speakers and toe them more. To get the center off the floor. To move his acoustic panels. Sure enough he tried each thing I suggested and listened after each step. He said it made a huge difference. That he couldn't believe how much better it sounded. His impulso measurements also showed a better EDT curve his C50 core was higher after the center was moved for a measure of the center. I then suggested a handful of additional GIK traps to further flatten his RT60 and resolve some bass issues. He then got into REW, his room measures great now, and he sent me multiple thank you messages for how successful these simple tips turned out to be.

Bad rooms can sound good, but often easily be made to sound much better with simple changes.

 

[Matthew J Poes]

How about this?

 

[tripplej]

Nice room. The curtains seem to be very reflective. Looks like it is built for comfort than anything else.

I am assuming speakers are behind the curtains and screen?