Home theater placement for new house.

[buck]

Living room crude drawing.I am trying to figure out where I want the 42" LCD and components (speakers etc). I drew a crude drawing in paint to show size of the living room, the couch is normal size. I thought of putting it where it is and hanging the tv above the fireplace, although it seemed a little high to me. If we have the couch partially in front of the front window, it looks a little weird. We can also put the entertainment center on the opposite wall of the fireplace and turn the couch around. I am not sure and could use suggestions. I am worried about the TV being too high above the fireplace.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: buck
We can also put the entertainment center on the opposite wall of the fireplace and turn the couch around.

This is probably the way to do it, but you might be too far away for your screen size then unless you move the couch closer to that wall.

How far from the wall would you then be for viewing distance?

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: buck
We can also put the entertainment center on the opposite wall of the fireplace and turn the couch around.

This is probably the way to do it, but you might be too far away for your screen size then unless you move the couch closer to that wall.

How far from the wall would you then be for viewing distance?

7-8 feet

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well that's not too bad then.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Well that's not too bad then.

I guess my only weird problem with that is that the tv/etc is right there when you walk in. Also, the fireplace is behind the couch. Am i right in guessing that the tv will be too high above the F/P? I just want to get the best ideas before talking to the wife.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

How much of an issue "above fireplace" mounting will depend on how close you are to it and how high it will be on the wall.

In most cases, above fireplace mounting is going to be too high. It's up to you though for whether looking up at the TV at that angle is worth it to have the couch facing the fireplace. I'm assuming your wife is going to think that's the case 😉

If you want to tell her that YOyoYOhowsDAjello told you that the other way around would be better for neck strain and produce a better viewing experience in addition to likely better speaker placement, then go right ahead 🙂

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
How much of an issue "above fireplace" mounting will depend on how close you are to it and how high it will be on the wall.

In most cases, above fireplace mounting is going to be too high. It's up to you though for whether looking up at the TV at that angle is worth it to have the couch facing the fireplace. I'm assuming your wife is going to think that's the case 😉

If you want to tell her that YOyoYOhowsDAjello told you that the other way around would be better for neck strain and produce a better viewing experience in addition to likely better speaker placement, then go right ahead 🙂

She trusts you more than me, thanks! 😉

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
How much of an issue "above fireplace" mounting will depend on how close you are to it and how high it will be on the wall.

In most cases, above fireplace mounting is going to be too high. It's up to you though for whether looking up at the TV at that angle is worth it to have the couch facing the fireplace. I'm assuming your wife is going to think that's the case 😉

If you want to tell her that YOyoYOhowsDAjello told you that the other way around would be better for neck strain and produce a better viewing experience in addition to likely better speaker placement, then go right ahead 🙂

She trusts you more than me, thanks! 😉

I agree with him

What about wall mounting the tv to that wall, and using just a component stand? It would help eliminate some of the size and could make use of the door still.

Issue 2 with over fireplace there is that you'll get nasty glare from those windows. Especially when the sun is setting in them. With it on the other wall it won't be quite as bad.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
How much of an issue "above fireplace" mounting will depend on how close you are to it and how high it will be on the wall.

In most cases, above fireplace mounting is going to be too high. It's up to you though for whether looking up at the TV at that angle is worth it to have the couch facing the fireplace. I'm assuming your wife is going to think that's the case 😉

If you want to tell her that YOyoYOhowsDAjello told you that the other way around would be better for neck strain and produce a better viewing experience in addition to likely better speaker placement, then go right ahead 🙂

She trusts you more than me, thanks! 😉

I agree with him

What about wall mounting the tv to that wall, and using just a component stand? It would help eliminate some of the size and could make use of the door still.

Issue 2 with over fireplace there is that you'll get nasty glare from those windows. Especially when the sun is setting in them. With it on the other wall it won't be quite as bad.

Hmm, didnt really think of wall mounting it over there but it makes great sense. I love projects..... 😀
What I am really looking forward to is getting a sub, I have lived in apt until now.:evil:
Those details will be a later thread.

 

[heyheybooboo]

How wide is the room? Overall dimensions would help.

The wall opposite the front door would work great - even better if there is closet space behind that wall for a component rack. You could also do a little sitting area by the windows ...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
How wide is the room? Overall dimensions would help.

The wall opposite the front door would work great - even better if there is closet space behind that wall for a component rack. You could also do a little sitting area by the windows ...

I thought about that as well, but with that you will get glare from the larger of those two windows. Even if you block it out, the fireplace would throw glare on it anytime they used it.

It would work though as a second choice IMO. First would be opposite the fireplace IMO

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
How wide is the room? Overall dimensions would help.

The wall opposite the front door would work great - even better if there is closet space behind that wall for a component rack. You could also do a little sitting area by the windows ...

I thought about that as well, but with that you will get glare from the larger of those two windows. Even if you block it out, the fireplace would throw glare on it anytime they used it.

It would work though as a second choice IMO. First would be opposite the fireplace IMO

Well we move in on Saturday so I will update on Monday.

 

[Noubourne]

I agree that you are probably going to have better luck from an overall setup standpoint by placing the TV on one of the long walls. This will allow you to do proper surround placement, which can add a lot of depth to the experience. With a 42", I doubt you will be happy with the TV above the fireplace. You're going to have to sit too close to get the full benefit of HD on that small set, and with it above the FP you'll feel like you are sitting in the front row of a movie theater - if the movie theater has massive glare from windows.

I would vote for opposite fireplace, flip the couch around, and find some other seating to use for the fireplace area.

 

[CharlesChauvi]

Hey first of all congrtas for lcd tv. But dear can u please provide me the size of the room and the other things so i an suggest u properly. I think u have to adjust ur lcd tv from right now with the adjustment of the speakers also so u also get the benefit of the voice with the picture.

 

[buck]

I was supposed to update yesterday, but I will add the pics tonight. Turns out the wife factor came into play... Pics to come, along with measurements.

 

[olds]

How about this?

 

[buck]

I am sorry for the delay, but we are still moving stuff in. We had to settle on the corner of the room that is pictured. I wanted to look into towers, but given the lack of space, bookshelfs will have to do. I was hoping someone could give some advice for what kind of TV stand would work for me here. In fact, any thoughts about how I could make this situation better would be very welcome. The room layout is terrible, I could put my HT against the wall when I get a larger TV in the future, but this is the best I could do. Surrounds will be on the wall or ceiling, they are the least of my worries.

p.s. No laughing.

sigh *edit* sorry i forgot the pics.

http://img149.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img2692.jpg

 

[Noubourne]

First - I'm not trying to be mean. We all work with what we've got. That said:

That's not a home theater, it's a tv in the corner.

From an audio standpoint, it's a horrific setup. You're sacrificing imaging and soundstage in massive ways. What's the point of surround? Your front soundstage is mangled.

With the pictures it's easy to see how limited you are based on the room. What's in the basement? Any man-cave potential?

Or maybe you can find another place for your library, and rip out the bookshelves and put the TV on that side wall. You'll still be open to the fireplace that way. You would have much better soundstaging that way. The surround would have to be placed inappropriately, but you could get a nice enough front stage that it would at least be half of a theater.

Good luck!

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
First - I'm not trying to be mean. We all work with what we've got. That said:

That's not a home theater, it's a tv in the corner.

From an audio standpoint, it's a horrific setup. You're sacrificing imaging and soundstage in massive ways. What's the point of surround? Your front soundstage is mangled.

With the pictures it's easy to see how limited you are based on the room. What's in the basement? Any man-cave potential?

Or maybe you can find another place for your library, and rip out the bookshelves and put the TV on that side wall. You'll still be open to the fireplace that way. You would have much better soundstaging that way. The surround would have to be placed inappropriately, but you could get a nice enough front stage that it would at least be half of a theater.

Good luck!

Man, that is what I told the wife and her feng shui hippie friend. I have to face it, no matter what is done in that odd shape room, its going to look weird. So why not at least have a good sounding home theater if its going to look weird anyway?
I just called the wife at work and told her that we have to move the damn TV, end of story (yes I just grew balls).
I will post pics of where I move it Saturday morning.

Thanks for the "tough love" Noubourne.

P.S. As for your other questions, yes we have a basement, unfinished though. My man cave room is too small for HT.

 

[Noubourne]

Feng Shui! I wonder if there was ever an audiophile who believed in Feng Shui. How could you properly place your equipment for best performance if you had imaginary energies that dictated you place your speakers right up against the wall.

Maybe you can argue the value of sound therapy!

Best of luck to you.

 

[SlickSnake]

Mounting TVs above the fireplace are usually a bad idea and are recommended by home fashion designers not home theater experts. Most fireplace mantels are far above an optimal viewing level, unless you stand up to watch TV. Optimal viewing for a seated position is about 3 feet and no more than 4 feet off the ground. Even if you tilt the TV down at an angle above a fireplace, you still need to tilt your head back a bit to comfortably view the TV at 5 feet or more high. For prolonged viewings, this would be an uncomfortable and a BAD thing.

As others said, your best bet is to place the TV either on the wall on the bottom (looks ideal) or on the wall on the left (less ideal because one speaker might be in front of a window, and the couch would be in front of the bookcase). And this plan is based on the fact it looks like you have built in bookshelves on the wall on the right. Now, you could also place the TV and speakers in front of the bookshelves, but it would obviously block some of them in the process. But you could use the bookshelves to place the bookshelf speakers on, too, for added left, center and right channel seperation.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Mounting TVs above the fireplace are usually a bad idea and are recommended by home fashion designers not home theater experts. Most fireplace mantels are far above an optimal viewing level, unless you stand up to watch TV. Optimal viewing for a seated position is about 3 feet and no more than 4 feet off the ground. Even if you tilt the TV down at an angle above a fireplace, you still need to tilt your head back a bit to comfortably view the TV at 5 feet or more high. For prolonged viewings, this would be an uncomfortable and a BAD thing.

As others said, your best bet is to place the TV either on the wall on the bottom (looks ideal) or on the wall on the left (less ideal because one speaker might be in front of a window, and the couch would be in front of the bookcase). And this plan is based on the fact it looks like you have built in bookshelves on the wall on the right. Now, you could also place the TV and speakers in front of the bookshelves, but it would obviously block some of them in the process. But you could use the bookshelves to place the bookshelf speakers on, too, for added left, center and right channel seperation.

Actually, that bookcase is not built in, next week when my replacement receiver gets in, i will try both walls you (and others) suggested.