My New Theater

[bkeeler10]

Hello all,

We are adding on to our home. As part of the renovation, we're building a new, dedicated theater room. I don't have a lot to say or show right now, but I will reserve the next several posts so that I can fill them in as the project moves along. I will use those reserved posts mostly as a reference on various aspects of the build, which may change as things go along.

Feel free to comment, making suggestions, asking questions, telling me how smart and/or foolish my ideas are, etc. I'm not a newbie when it comes to A/V, but I certainly don't pretend to know everything. I hope to learn some things along the way, both from going through this process from start to finish as well as from this community.

 

[bkeeler10]

Some plan views and conceptual views of the theater space. Not fully complete, but you get the idea.

 

[bkeeler10]

We ripped off the sunroom in early September, to make way for the addition. Excavation started September 29. The floor of the theater will be on the ground you see in the excavation picture. The door to the theater will be the left cutout in the "Foundation Done" picture (existing white door will go away).

Edit 2/3/18: Pictures added of walls with wiring, conduit, just before insulation.

 

[bkeeler10]

Update: Current audio equipment as of April 2019

Speakers
LCR: Revel Concerta2 F36
Sides, rears: Revel Concerta2 M16
Heights: Tannoy AMS 6DC
Rythmik F18 (x2)

Electronics
AVR: NAD T758 v3
Amplification: Outlaw Model 7125 running LCR & heights; AVR running sides & surrounds
MiniDSP 2x4 (for subwoofer time alignment)

Sources
Panasonic DP-UB820
Oppo BDP-103
Toshiba HD-A2

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Current plan for audio equipment

Speakers
Chane L series and/or A series (likely L7 for LCR, A2.4 for floor-level surrounds, A1.4 for on-ceiling overheads, but we'll see what else is available in the L series once it's released)

Depending on how things go and what connections I can take advantage of, I may attempt to compare various models of stereo pairs of speakers before deciding on a brand, similar to the multi-speaker review currently brewing on this forum. Others I would like to hear in my space when it is done are Monitor Audio Silver series, GoldenEar (Triton T5), Revel (Concerta F36), Martin Logan Motion.

Subwoofers
DIY build using two Rythmik F25 kits to make four 15" subs

AVR
Anthem MRX720. I may spring for the Emotiva XMC-1 if the 4k and Atmos boards are ready and I can somehow find a way to pay less than MSRP (used perhaps).

Amplification
Outlaw Model 7125 (already in possession) for 7 channels; AVR for the rest for now (unless I end up with the Emotiva of course).

 

[bkeeler10]

Update: Video equipment as of April 2019

Display system
JVC DLA-RS440
SeymourAV retractable screen (110" wide, 2.35:1 AR, acoustically transparent, UF material)

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Current plan for video equipment

Projector
JVC DLA-X590R/DLA-RS440U. Epson 5040 also under consideration

Screen
Retractable SeymourAV acoustically transparent screen (fabric choice to be determined).

UHD Bluray
Undecided. Not sure if I want to pony up for Oppo or not. HTPC under consideration.

 

[bkeeler10]

The theater will be "soundproofed" fairly well. Below is the construction I plan to use on the walls and ceiling. I'm trying to find the best compromise between good isolation and not chewing up any more room volume and floor space than I have to. I wish I could have dimensions more like 23' - 25' deep, 16' - 17' wide and 10' high. However, given my restraints and the current plan for sound isolation efforts, my finished space will likely be about 19' x 15' x 9'

Exterior walls
Sheathing will be plywood. 2x6 wood studs 16" on-center, resilient clips, and two layers of 5/8" drywall. Fiberglass insulation in cavity.

Wall to Den
2x4 metal studs 24" on-center, fiberglass in cavity, with two layers of 1/2" sheetrock each side.

Wall to Rec Room
Unsure. But now that the existing footings have been unearthed, it looks like this will be a double stud wall. If so, it will have two layers of 5/8" drywall on the theater side, and I may add a layer of 5/8" drywall to the existing 1/2" drywall on the other side.

Ceiling
Resilient clips mounted on joists (I assume 16" on-center, but unsure right now), with two layers 5/8" gyp and fiberglass in the cavity. Subfloor above will hopefully be gypcrete, and probably some sort of pliable underlayment to minimize footfall noise (the finished floor above will be wood laminate).

Doors
The door to the rec room will probably be a big heavy door with high STC rating (STC 50+ hopefully), with door seals and automatic door bottom of course. Or I may do two lesser doors (communicating doors). The door to the east will probably be a solid core door with seals and door bottom (I'm less concerned with that wall to the east of the theater).

 

[bkeeler10]

Reserved for Room Acoustics

 

[bkeeler10]

Reserved

 

[bkeeler10]

Reserved

 

[bkeeler10]

Reserved

 

[Todd Anderson]

Looking forward to this!

 

[bkeeler10]

Almost as much as I am, no doubt

 

[Todd Anderson]

Definitely run enough wire in your ceiling to accommodate a minimum of 6 atmos channels (and, if you can, I'd run speaker wire for Auro 3D channels, too). You never know!!!!

 

[bkeeler10]

Yep, definitely planning on wiring for 9.1.6 at a minimum. Might even run wire for 11.1.6, although I think in a room this size we're getting well into diminishing returns beyond 9.1.6, and I don't think we'll see affordable gear for it maybe ever.

Auro 3D is probably dead in the water, but hey, running wire now is cheap

 

[Todd Anderson]

I wouldn’t count Auro 3D out, so definitely wire. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t! ;-)

 

[chrapladm]

Do you already own the DIY subs?

Just curious as you could always get some SI 18HT subs for a bargain. Either way things look like it will be a very fun project.

 

[bkeeler10]

I don't own the subs yet, but I'm not interested in doing a from-scratch DIY design. The DIY portion of the subs I plan on is strictly building the boxes. I wouldn't mind trying DIY subs some time in the future, but not for now I don't think.

Everything I read about Rythmik subs is simply fantastic. I couldn't duplicate their patented servo technology. Of course, I'm paying much more for the privilege, vs a DIY sub build. I'm glad that Rythmik will sell the guts so I can build the boxes for them. That will save me a lot of money, in product and shipping costs, versus what I would have to pay for four of their finished 15" subs.

 

[Sonnie]

Looking forward to seeing the progress. It looks like you have really thought out everything very well and covered all the angles. I would probably try to figure out a way to get Dirac Live in the loop. I can tell you now that while Anthem is a great product, as is Yamaha, neither have room correction that can match Audyssey or Dirac Live when it comes to the low end. ARC is better than YPAO, but does not have the 512 filters of resolution that Audyssey has... and we've already seen that Dirac Live is taking over the top spot for overall best solution. I don't think surrounds are as crucial as the front and center, but you definitely want the fronts right for music.

 

[bkeeler10]

Hi Sonnie

I have had literally years to plan this theater. We have been looking at moving for about four years, including the possibility of building a new home, but it has not worked out. So we decided this year to stay put and add on. Needless to say, a theater has been part of my plans from the beginning.

I would be very interested in trying a product with Dirac Live, but quite frankly such products (that I'm aware of) are beyond my budget. Even the Anthem, which I should be able to acquire at a good price through my connections, is stretching things. All I have read regarding Anthem's ARC suggests it is at least as good at dealing with the low end as Audyssey is. I guess we'll see. I've been living with Audyssey for the past 9 years, and I'm ready to try something different. I've read that Arcam's AVRs have not implemented Dirac and bass management properly. I could be convinced to try it, however, if I had the hookups for that brand that I do for Anthem.

Gotta say that the new Emotiva RMC-1 pre-pro has me drooling, but that would blow the budget big-time. Maybe some day . . .

 

[Peter Loeser]

Very exciting! Looking forward to seeing this one progress. At this rate you may be done before me. Nice lineup of equipment and it sounds like you're planning ahead for all the right stuff.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Gotta say that the new Emotiva RMC-1 pre-pro has me drooling, but that would blow the budget big-time. Maybe some day . . .

Don't rule out the possibility of finding an existing Emotiva "Upgrade For Life" member that would potentially be willing to make the purchase for you at 25% off. Wink.

 

[bkeeler10]

Don't rule out the possibility of finding an existing Emotiva "Upgrade For Life" member that would potentially be willing to make the purchase for you at 25% off. Wink.

Tempt me not . I wish the RMC-1 were only 25% over my budget. I can't really spend more than $2000 for an AVR or pre/pro though, unfortunately.

That would be mighty generous of said "Upgrade For Life" member though . . .

 

[Todd Anderson]

Hi Sonnie

I have had literally years to plan this theater. We have been looking at moving for about four years, including the possibility of building a new home, but it has not worked out. So we decided this year to stay put and add on. Needless to say, a theater has been part of my plans from the beginning.

I would be very interested in trying a product with Dirac Live, but quite frankly such products (that I'm aware of) are beyond my budget. Even the Anthem, which I should be able to acquire at a good price through my connections, is stretching things. All I have read regarding Anthem's ARC suggests it is at least as good at dealing with the low end as Audyssey is. I guess we'll see. I've been living with Audyssey for the past 9 years, and I'm ready to try something different. I've read that Arcam's AVRs have not implemented Dirac and bass management properly. I could be convinced to try it, however, if I had the hookups for that brand that I do for Anthem.

Gotta say that the new Emotiva RMC-1 pre-pro has me drooling, but that would blow the budget big-time. Maybe some day . . .

You can always add a miniDSP unit for outboard correction of your subs with Dirac...

 

[Sonnie]

You can always add a miniDSP unit for outboard correction of your subs with Dirac...

Todd stole my reply... but my thoughts exactly. You could even get the fronts in there too.

Arcam is just over-priced in my humble opinion... even at accommodations pricing they would be expensive.

I believe NAD is going to hook up with Dirac Live also. The Emotiva is the bomb for sure, but as you suggest, it can also blow up your budget. It's what I want, but it will just have to be a "want" for now.

 

[bkeeler10]

Updated post #6 with sound isolation plan.