Questions for an AV room...

[ugh]

Hi folks,

I've sufficient space in my house to convert an unused area of about 10'x8' (that's in feet/foot == 12 inches). I'm just afraid that might just be a way bit small. There'll prolly be a 29" TV (could get bigger depending on budget) and the standard 5.1 speaker system in there along with a comfy sofa sufficient for 2-3 pple.

Anyone has a similar room setup?

Any ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Apex]

Figure out a budget.

Calculate your approximate viewing distance.

Go here to see what THX & SMPTE (Dolby) recommend as your optimum viewing distance/screen size:

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

Go to an A/V store, and stand that far away from a TV the size you were recommended. See if it seems too big or too small for you. See what kind of feed it is (video quality, DVD quality, HDTV quality).

If you're going to view higher quality material more often, you tend to be able to use a bigger TV. The lower the quality of your material, the smaller a screen you want.

Try to have the tweeters on the front 3 speakers be ear level to the viewers. The rear 2 speakers should be at a level where the tweeters are 2-3' above ear level, to the side of the viewers, or slightly behind (yet still to the sides).

Ideally, be flexible with subwoofer placement, so you can tune out nulls.

 

[imported_KirbsAw]

I have a similar thing in my garage (a little bigger) and it works pretty good. I have some weight stuff in there so no extra speakers just the tv. I would think it would be a little cramped but you should be ok.

 

[hjo3]

I did something similar with a 10'x15' space, only we squeezed two couches and a recliner in there and I use a digital projector on a wall with a big white-spray-painted square on it. It's very nice except it gets a bit warm in the summer.

 

[ugh]

Thanks for the load of info and the excellent link! The room will prolly be more of an audio room rather than a video room. So the rear speakers are kinda optional. I'm just afraid of how the sound would be like in such a small room.

 

[ugh]

Originally posted by: hjo3
I did something similar with a 10'x15' space, only we squeezed two couches and a recliner in there and I use a digital projector on a wall with a big white-spray-painted square on it. It's very nice except it gets a bit warm in the summer.

Those projects surely are space savers. I doubt you'll able to squeeze so many things in there w/o it What's your viewing distance BTW?

 

[hjo3]

About 11'. The image on the wall is ~6'x8'.

 

[MustISO]

I'm about 10' from my 51" HDTV and I could easily use a 57" in the room. Bigger is better.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: hjo3
About 11'. The image on the wall is ~6'x8'.

120" diagonal, very nice! I'm at about 11', only 100" diagonal 16:9 screen.

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: MustISO
I'm about 10' from my 51" HDTV and I could easily use a 57" in the room. Bigger is better.

Indeed. I'm still dreaming of getting my 57" widescreen. If I could afford a 65" space be damned!

 

[MustISO]

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: MustISO
I'm about 10' from my 51" HDTV and I could easily use a 57" in the room. Bigger is better.

Indeed. I'm still dreaming of getting my 57" widescreen. If I could afford a 65" space be damned!

I'd love a 65" HDTV but I think we'd be sitting a little close for that. If we were 3 or 4 feet back, I get one tomorrow (if I could sell my 51").