Digimak's Fake Chimney, flush TV & speakers setup

digimak · 15-01-2009, 11:26 AM

Hello everyone....long time reader, first time poster

Moved into flat at the start of last year and have completed various DIY jobs which needed done around the house.

I've now been given the go ahead from the missus to start on the AV setup...Getting married in July so although its going to be a semi-budget build I don't want to skimp on kit or components!

I'll get a Google Sketch drawing up in the next day or too, but here are some photos I took last night. TV has been up for two weeks now, just so I can get an idea of height and space.

Currently have standard Sky with Sony 40" - KDL-40S2030 and Sony DAV-S550 Home Cinema (sounds good for its time and price)

Shopping list includes -

Onkyo TX-RS606
Kef KHT 2005.3
Metropolis Blu Ray Ulimate Media Centre -

Metropolis Blu Ray Ultimate Media Centre on eBay, also, Desktop PCs, Computing (end time 07-Jan-09 16:32:49 GMT)
Logitech Harmony 1000 or equivalent

I'm going to run a HD cable to the master bedroom too for when I get Sky HD. Currently there is a coaxial cable which I'll retain for use with the Magic Eye.

The plan is to move the raditator and extend the chimney breast out to allow me to have the TV flush, with small alcoves for the front speakers.

New sofa arrives in 2-3 weeks so need to get most of the work done before then.

I have spend many hours trailing this forum and haven't found anything but good advise. Hopefully if I'm doing anything wrong then some of you will have sound advise for me!

Thanks for all your inspirations!

Mister Gonzo · 15-01-2009, 11:57 AM

The HTPC looks funky! It seems to be a good spec too, so shouldn't have any issues running blu-ray discs.

Will the front speakers be either side of the TV? The only reason I ask is if you want true stereo separation the speakers need to be 6' apart. Just something to consider. Otherwise it's looking good!

digimak · 15-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Sorry should have mentioned I'm going to extend the chimney out at the front and to the sides to allow me to mount the left/right speakers correctly. This will also mean I'll have hugh cabling space to the side where I'll have the AV kit.

I've got a small issue with the rear speakers positioning, but will elaborate once I get some drawings up this evening. At present I'm unsure to mount them to the wall or have them on stands.

Mister Gonzo · 15-01-2009, 12:05 PM

If you're looking to recess your AV kit into the floating wall it will be a nice touch. That was the only downside of mine was that I couldn't.

Positioning of the rear speakers comes down to personal preference. I used to have mine on stands but found the sound a bit too direct. I prefer now to have them on the walls a fair bit above the seating position - but this is just my preference.

digimak · 15-01-2009, 5:30 PM

With peoples experience with making frames for fake chimney breasts, is there a preferred size of wood? I was thinking 2"x2" but not sure if I should go bigger.

Thanks

digimak · 21-01-2009, 1:41 PM

Here's the first of no doubt many sketches.

I'm looking for advise with the rear speakers, do you think I would get away with putting in the corners?

digimak · 26-01-2009, 2:43 PM

Could I please ask a favour from someone with KEF 2005.3 speakers.

I'm looking to make MDF boxes for them so I can have them flush with the front of the chimney. I know there are 150mm depth but I need to know what depth they are with the wall bracket on, so I can take this into account when making the boxes.

albriscoe · 26-01-2009, 4:14 PM

Try this link for spec on the Kef`s

http://www2.kef.com/resources/Curren...rochure_en.pdf

Al

digimak · 27-01-2009, 7:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albriscoe

Try this link for spec on the Kef`s

http://www2.kef.com/resources/Curren...rochure_en.pdf

Al

Thanks for the link Al...but that PDF still doesn't have the measurement I need. I'm looking for the depth of the speaker with the wall brack attached. So I can make the same MDF speaker boxes you have in your conservatory. Hope you don't mind my copying your great idea....

If anyone can please help as this is holding by project up.

btw...new suite arrived on Saturday, will get picture up soon.

Thanks

digimak · 27-01-2009, 8:02 AM

New Suite pictures -

digimak · 27-01-2009, 11:37 AM

Re-cabled the coax to the three bedrooms and conservatory with RG6 and a distrubution box with powerpass so I can use magic eyes.

Was worried how I was going to pull the cables through, but found a hatch in the hall way (never know it was there), opened it and found a 2 foot space all the way round the house. Got on my hands and knees and it was easy.

Going to do the same tonight to install Cat5 for picture to the rooms.

finding this space help me solve a lot of problems and also means I dont need to use as much speaker cable etc for the rears as I can just put it under the floor.

FoooManChu · 27-01-2009, 11:57 AM

Hello Digimak!

Just spotted your thread. Not sure if you have sorted your earlier issues but I went with Wickes' C16 63x38mm Studwork timber. Decent price and a planed finish so nice to work with (no nasty splinters!)

Like the suite you've chosen too. Like that feature sofa

digimak · 27-01-2009, 1:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoooManChu

Hello Digimak!

Just spotted your thread. Not sure if you have sorted your earlier issues but I went with Wickes' C16 63x38mm Studwork timber. Decent price and a planed finish so nice to work with (no nasty splinters!)

Like the suite you've chosen too. Like that feature sofa

Thanks for the tip on the wood...going to go pick it up tonight. Problem I have at the moment is that I'm having to wait for a new TV bracket I've ordered, so I wont know how far to extend the chimney out so the TV is flush. This is going to bring things to a halt, hopefully it shouldn't be much longer.

I've ordered a double arm bracket which will allow me to put the TV out to access the back and also spin it 90 degrees so that we can watch TV from the dinning/kitchen.

Any one had any experience with this bracket?

Like this -

digimak · 29-01-2009, 1:39 PM

After my astonishing find of large space under the house, I have now decided within this build to cable the house with Cat6 to everyroom.

For those of you who have done this how did you go about distribution etc. Was it just a case of getting a hub and having your ADSL router hang off that. I'm keen to try and run everything at 1 GB. Therefore I realise I would need a 1000 base hub and network cards being able to run at this speed too.

Any advise?

_Chronic_ · 29-01-2009, 2:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimak

Any one had any experience with this bracket?

Like this -

I have that bracket, it's awesome. Only thing i will say is if you are mounting it on the face of a wall it does stick out about 5 or 6 inches so if you want a flush look then take the wall back a bit, recess the arm as much as you can.

digimak · 29-01-2009, 3:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Chronic_

I have that bracket, it's awesome. Only thing i will say is if you are mounting it on the face of a wall it does stick out about 5 or 6 inches so if you want a flush look then take the wall back a bit, recess the arm as much as you can.

Amazing!!!!

Thanks for letting me know. I'm going to be building the fake wall so that its flush with the front of the screen so I need to wait for the bracket to arrive to get the correct measurement.

Cheers

albriscoe · 29-01-2009, 8:22 PM

Bloody Hell thats a bracket n half

my son Gary has said that all the extendable brackets the firm he worked for at the time used, including some costing £500`s dropped after a while.

Have you asked the company supplying yours this by any chance.

Fingers crossed all will be ok for you, also 2 x 2 timber will be fine for the stud wall, thats all I used and its well up to the job but don`t skimp on it though and remember to put the timbers where the plaster board edges will lie to avoid cutting and wastage

IE; if you use 2400x 1200 boards the uprights need to be at 600mm centres and 1800 x 900 boards at 450 mm centres.

Hope thats helps matey Al

digimak · 30-01-2009, 1:18 PM

I hadn't thought that would be an issue...I better check

_Chronic_ - How long have you had your bracket for, have you had any problems?

Thanks for the info on the stud wall Al....I've seen loads of guides online so should be fairly easy, but saying that it's always the little stuff you forget about isn't it.

The fiancé is away this weekend so leaves me to get on with the cabling under the floor. I've also order QED Silver XT cable so hopefully this should arrive today.

I'll get some more pictures up after the weekend...cheers