New house, new Home Theatre!

Xeones

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Hi Everyone

Picking the keys up to my new house this week! Exciting times with a baby on the way but we are not moving in until all the work (and there are tons) have been completed.

Anyway the new house means that after the extension is built I've been allowed to have a dedicated cinema room.

The room will have my hd projector (currently the sony in sig) and perhaps a plasma screen too depending if I use my automatic drop down screen or a fixed projector screen. Looking also to have a sofa of some sort and maybe an armchair but have none of these yet so open to ideas

Any ideas about placement of things? I'm looking for the biggest screen possible but it will need to seat 3-4 people watching movies comfortably.

Attached is a plan of the lounge with dimensions, a 3d view and a plan with furniture in that i think is the best setup. Everything is movable though including doors!

Thanks in advance for any advice! :smashin:
 

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Hi,

Plans look good, I would definitely agree using the widest wall like you have. If it's a dedicated room, I'd seriously suggest getting a fixed screen and forgetting the TV.
 
Thanks for your comments Dr Gekko.

Was indeed thinking that a fixed projector screen would be far more cinema like. Was a little worries by the throw of the projector though, with the layout being as in the first design the projector will only be 3m away from the screen, seating will also be only 3m. A little too close or ok?

Can only work with what I've got!
 
At 3m from the screen i would be looking at a screen about 2m wide. If doors are moveable I would move the door in the top right to a more central position on the wall as otherwise you are going to limit your position of front speakers
 
Sony VPL-HW10 Projection Calculator - Throw Distance and Screen Size

You say you have a vpl 10 but there are a few models with 10 in the nomenclature I don't know if it's the HW10 as that is the most recent 10 model. If you look at the calculator from a throw of 3mtrs you could get a 82"-98" diagonal screen. If you have a 1080p pj viewing from around 3mtrs will be ok with 1080p material (bluray/HDDVD).

I have a 1080p machine with a 106" screen and view from just over 2.4 mtrs and that is sharp enough.I would get the biggest screen you can as to small and you will want to upgrade quickly, bigger is nearly always better.:devil:
 
Amazing advice thanks guys.

Now def thinking the setup I have planned out is optimal. Thinking could try and mount the projector in the chimney to get even more screen size (the chimney is blocked up) May look a little odd the sofa being in front of the chimney but then surrounds can go into the alcove so they are properly behind the viewer, although will the chimney breast block the surround sound?

One thing I was thinking of getting lots of small satellites rather than big floor standers and large fx speakers. As the room is 12x14 ft would that be suitable for a soundstage? Have got money to burns were thinking very high end satellites like MK 950s with m4ts or s95, thinking 7.1 or 9.1... any thoughts?:smashin:
 
The MK's you have been looking at are a very good option but will need a better amp and sub than what you have now.
 
I run a MK 9.1 system in my room that is slightly smaller than yours (11 x 13-6") and it sounds fantastic.
 
The MK's you have been looking at are a very good option but will need a better amp and sub than what you have now.

Don't even have a sub right now as am living in a flat. Will be upgrading to a high end amp, was thinking pioneer 83/85/86 or arcam 360/400/600. Any of those be suitable.

Also planing a HdBaseT matrix system to send the av around the house... loving all the research and plan to do it myself... that wise? Redoing the whole house so could get the pros in but its not as satisfying!

Will work on the speaker positions tonight and get your opinions if I haven't asked too much already :thumbsup:
 
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If you are looking at MK they do seem to like Onkyo & Anthems and they both have very good automatic room correction systems that are second to none.Audyssey XT32 for Onkyo and ARC for Anthem.

I have heard that the higher end pio amps can be ok with MK but whilst the Arcam's are known for their musical qualities not so sure about movies.Is this going to be a mainly movies system or movies with some music.

For subs consider MK KK and for outstanding value a USC15 (which I have) they are sold by Gecko the UK distributor of MK & Steinway Lyngdorf systems. The USC15 is an awesome sub @ £1395 that competes very well with subs up to £2k and beyond. It has a single 15" driver in a compact 20" cube with a separate 3000w amp that has dsp onboard (dsp= digital sound processing).
 
Those speakers have a 10yr warranty so at least 8yrs remaining. I bought all my MK's used some are 6yrs old and still work like new. Speakers last years so have no fear buying used, most speakers will last 20+ years.

I still have some Gale 301's I still use in my lounge system and they are 30+ years old. I did have the woofers replaced about 6 years ago as the foam surrounds had disintegrated.I could have just had the foams replaced though which would have only cost £20 but decided to give them new drivers so I could get another 25 years out of them (that cost me £120 IIRC).
 
It really depends on your budget, if the skies the limit still look at MK as they are really fantastic for movie based systems and they still do music very well.

The top end MK's MP150 or S150's will cost approx £3k for the front 3 and add 2 pairs S95/S150T for surrounds could add a further £2-3k so you see how the costs can add up, that 950/M4T deal suddenly looks quite attractive don't you think.

MK Sound | Home Cinema Products
 
Kbfern you are a wealth of knowledge and advice as usual, I tip my hat to you for taking the time to answer my questions :clap:

The amp in the Cinema room will be used for movies/sport/tv only so looks like an Anthem or Onkyo may well be better suited. We are building an open plan kitchen/living room in the extension which will have a separate amp for tv/music so may look for an Arcam for that.

What models would be appropriate... mrx 300 or will i need higher to run the 950s... 500 or 700 (just seen they only have 7.1). Onkyo there are too many to mention!

Are there any other high end small speakers I should be considering?
 
For speaker positions if you are using Onkyo amps they will do extra wide speakers with Audyssey DSX which I think are fab and can be used in a 7.1/9.1 or even 11.1 combo.

I have an Onkyo 818 and that's a 7.1 amp but using a second avr I had sitting round hooked that up to give 9.1.

I currently have it configured as below.

MK 651 front LCR
Atlantic tech extra front wides L&R
surrounds at either side K4 tripoles
Heights at front top of the screen L&R MK Xenon 26
Subwoofer USC15

That's 9.1 I am using heights but can also reposition at the back as back surrounds if required, can't decide at the moment if I prefer heights or back surrounds. The wides though are a must as it really opens up your front soundstage and makes the walls in the room disappear.

I would wire for a full 11 channels and even if you don't use them all straight away it will be less hassle than adding them once you have finished the install.

Audyssey DSX 2 | Audyssey
 
If you don't go with MK only consider KK (Ken Kreisel sound) as the other option these two are the best speakers you can get for sub/sat systems there are others that are cheaper (MA apex for instance) but these are the best other than the Steinway Lyngdorf S system but that will cost £45k for a 5.1 system.:devil:
 
For amps just get the MRX300 although I understand teh 350 is out soon and add a power amp (Anthem or Emotiva) at around £600-1000 to supply more grunt, it will still only be 7.1 though.

Onkyos 3010/5010 will deliver the goods or even an 818 with a power amp for extra grunt, the 818's are now discontinued but are still about for £600 but with your budget the 3010 will be more than ok.

Onkyo-Now.co.uk : : Specialists in Onkyo's award winning Hifi and home theatre systems
 
By the way if you have a serious budget you really need to upgrade the pj as things will have moved on a fair bit since the 10 models.

Where in the country are you based as a demo of the MK range should really be done, if in the south Gecko have fab demo facilities and are near Newbury or if in the North Ideal a/v in Yorkshire.

I am afraid there are no Demo facilities in the UK now for KK stuff since Frank Harvey are no longer dealers as it is now an internet based model where you can buy them and return in 30 days paying for returm carriage to Scandinavia if you don't like them. Other than that The dude2 has a set in the London area he would probably give you a listen.
 
Keith - excellent advice as usual.

Xeones - if you've got plenty of cash, I would seriously consider 7.2 or 9.2 channel system - whether you go for 7 or 9 channels, having 2 decent subs will be far more satisfying and balanced than even a single "very good" sub.... and second hand, you'll definitely find a bargain. I'm using MK X12 which is definitely louder and more controlled than my previous THX 350 but I'm convinced that even a pair of second hand or nearly new MX 250's will provide better overall performance.

Also, if you only need 7.2 set-up, I'm sure Onkyo 818 will suffice to provide great entertainment for excellent value. You can always add power amps later.

Part of your research must include hearing some demo's before parting with your hard-earned cash and also appropriate time preparing the room and improving the acoustics - not necessarily expensive but something which should be done prior to installing equipment.
 

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