Can I use formal living area as a media room?

[Asere]

I currently have a family room set up but was wanting to use another room for a more dedicated area. Nothing really big just a tv stand with a 5.2.2 set up. I can't use a projector since this is the formal area and the main entrance to the house. Crazy or is there potential?
Just looking for ideas.

 

[leecreek]

I have a similar setup. In the second pic I have the tv etc. about where those pictures are ( on the left ) and the couch across in front of the window. Our room is about 12 x 21.
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[Asere]

I have a similar setup. In the second pic I have the tv etc. about where those pictures are ( on the left ) and the couch across in front of the window. Our room is about 12 x 21.
.

I am not sure what's better. Place the tv by the large window fist pic. Or by the large painting second pic.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Hmmm... I think you can pull it off. But I'm wondering how you'd integrate anything beyond a two to three channel setup with having to cut through walls, etc, to hide cables.

Have you thought that far out?

 

[Asere]

Hmmm... I think you can pull it off. But I'm wondering how you'd integrate anything beyond a two to three channel setup with having to cut through walls, etc, to hide cables.

Have you thought that far out?

I am not going to cut up walls etc. I would have the tv and stand with the mains, subs and for surrounds I was going to place them on stands. I would place the surrounds and the stand in a corner when not in use and conceal the cables under a couch. Start with a 5.2 and then up to a 5.2.2 setup by placing Antmos speakers on top of the mains.

My biggest concern is that it is by the main entrance of the house and I don't know how good all the equipment will look. It is not like a dedicated room were only certain people see it. It would be everyone being the formal living area.

 

[tripplej]

My first question and only question is.. Did the wife approve?

 

[leecreek]

Ya know they make plastic wire raceway about 1.5 inches tall and .5 inches thick that has a hinged cover and can be painted. I have it going 3/4 around one room from another.

 

[Asere]

My first question and only question is.. Did the wife approve?

Well she was ok with it until I told her I was going to place there some speakers and subs. She'll get over that in sure. It's me that's wondering aesthetically how it would look.

 

[Asere]

Well she was ok with it until I told her I was going to place there some speakers and subs. She'll get over that in sure. It's me that's wondering aesthetically how it would look.

Thanks I've thought of that. First I want to see how all the equipment will look. Being a formal room at the main entrance is questionable.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Asere: Yes, I think you can do it. In all honesty, don't discount something like this:

https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/goldenear-technology-supercinema-3d-array-xl-review.731/

Talk about a super-high performance system that essentially hides itself. No joke, sound quality is amazingly good. Just some food for thought!

 

[Asere]

Asere: Yes, I think you can do it. In all honesty, don't discount something like this:

https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/goldenear-technology-supercinema-3d-array-xl-review.731/

Talk about a super-high performance system that essentially hides itself. No joke, sound quality is amazingly good. Just some food for thought!

Thank you Todd that is something to consider for sure. With the GE does it feel like you are surrounded without having to use surrounds?

 

[Asere]

I was actually thinking of placing a screen were the big picture frame is and a projector perhaps overhead if I can manage to do so instead of my original idea of placing a tv on a stand.
Will a projector mounted in the ceiling be a good idea considering it is a formal living area that is at the front entrance of the house?

 

[AudiocRaver]

Until a week ago, I might have said "don't count on getting great sound." But I have recently set up my MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL pair with a single pair of GIK DIY absorptive panels critically placed, and the sound is surprisingly not bad.

I see the couch removed on the left and the plant and stand on the right, and a pair of towers Left and Right on those two spots., well out from the front of the room. Being close to the walls on the sides, some absorptive panels, which can be fairly thin and very nicely decorative, to eliminate the first reflections, and then the vertical blinds being a little heavier and each angled to reflect any rear wave back at the speakers instead of reflecting it toward the listener. With the right speakers, the result might should sound pretty good.

That is one possibility, there are certainly others.

 

[Asere]

Until a week ago, I might have said "don't count on getting great sound." But I have recently set up my MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL pair with a single pair of GIK DIY absorptive panels critically placed, and the sound is surprisingly not bad.

I see the couch removed on the left and the plant and stand on the right, and a pair of towers Left and Right on those two spots., well out from the front of the room. Being close to the walls on the sides, some absorptive panels, which can be fairly thin and very nicely decorative, to eliminate the first reflections, and then the vertical blinds being a little heavier and each angled to reflect any rear wave back at the speakers instead of reflecting it toward the listener. With the right speakers, the result might should sound pretty good.

That is one possibility, there are certainly others.

Thank you! I was thinking of placing the screen and speakers on the wall were the big picture with flowers is and of course placing the couch there and moving the dinning room elsewhere more towards the front of the room where the big window is. Will that spot work too?

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Personally I’m a big fan of family room set-ups, especially in homes with open-concept floor plans. The irregular dimensions do much to improve the sound. Dispersion is better, and bass levels are usually fairly consistent for any seating away from boundaries. I’ve never had a problem getting excellent bass response with the sub in a corner and equalized. By contrast, with the rectangular rooms many set up their systems in, bass is strong at boundaries and weakens as you move away from the walls, with a “bass hole” in the dead center of the room.

That said, the dimensions of your room make it something of a challenge. And the tile floor is probably a problem as well.

Regards,

Wayne

 

[Todd Anderson]

Thank you Todd that is something to consider for sure. With the GE does it feel like you are surrounded without having to use surrounds?

Sorry for the late reply... yes, the GE does a great job of creating a sense of envelopment (at least it did in my space).

 

[Asere]

Sorry for the late reply... yes, the GE does a great job of creating a sense of envelopment (at least it did in my space).

No worries Todd and Thank you. I might consider the GE at some point.

 

[Asere]

Personally I’m a big fan of family room set-ups, especially in homes with open-concept floor plans. The irregular dimensions do much to improve the sound. Dispersion is better, and bass levels are usually fairly consistent for any seating away from boundaries. I’ve never had a problem getting excellent bass response with the sub in a corner and equalized. By contrast, with the rectangular rooms many set up their systems in, bass is strong at boundaries and weakens as you move away from the walls, with a “bass hole” in the dead center of the room.

That said, the dimensions of your room make it something of a challenge. And the tile floor is probably a problem as well.

Regards,

Wayne

Thanks I se what you mean by the tile floor. I place a round throw rug in the family room and plan on doing the same to this room. My biggest concern and what is stopping me is how will an in ceiling projector look in a formal living area?

 

[Todd Anderson]

No worries Todd and Thank you. I might consider the GE at some point.

Keep in mind, it would need a sub. But, I can pretty much guarantee you'd be blown away by the sound quality (even for two channel listening).

 

[Asere]

Keep in mind, it would need a sub. But, I can pretty much guarantee you'd be blown away by the sound quality (even for two channel listening).

Yes, I would move my 2 KK to the new room. Do you think a projector in ceiling in a formal room would look good?

 

[Todd Anderson]

You know, Asere, I think a projector would be problematic in that space. You have too much ambient light to make it useful during the day time (you could get a special screen to help boost black levels with ambient light... but... I just don't know if it would be worth it).

That all being said, check out what I wrote about short throw projectors in the CEDIA show report, that space is perfect for a short throw projector. The Epson model, in particular, would be perfect.

If you went that route, added a sound bar (or... perhaps some great in-wall speakers...again, check out GE in-walls...), you could have a VERY discrete system that would be usable at any time of the day.

 

[NBPK402]

Personally I would go with a drop down screen in front of the windows... a large enough one to completely cover the wi ndows, and then get a short throw projector. Maybe the new LG?

 

[Tony V.]

Talk about digging up an old post LOL, projectors in an open room with windows is not always ideal as you need to be able to stop most incoming light through the windows or it just gets washed out. Large 70" displays are reasonably priced now so that would be a better idea.

 

[NBPK402]

A friend of mine has a setup in a room very similar to this one...he has a projector, and room darkening curtains and it looks great. Might not look as good as a bat cave, but it is gtreat too. Just my 2 cents. Did not see how old the thread was.

 

[Asere]

A thread is never really old. You can find helpful information and never a bad idea reviving it. As for the replies thank you! I have decided on keeping things the way they are in the family room and not utilize the formal living area. I will save my money for a nice 4k tv eventually.