Cy's Lounge

[cybrey]

The wife has always told me "Once we're detached you can have a home cinema", well I'm paraphrasing but I'm sure thats what she meant. This summer we moved to a detached house for the first time. Many a house was rejected because it simply didn't fit in with the projector or the telly.

I already have most of the equipment that I'll need ( although the list of stuff I'm buying seems to be huge). At the moment we have;

• Panasonic 36" Telly
• Panasonic AE700 PJ
• Speakers ( Front : B&W 603, Centre : B&W LCR60, Rears : Misson 77DS)
• Yamaha 640RDS amp
• Denon 1910 dvd
• Xbox 360
• Pronto ru950

The Telly will be replaced with a plasma shortly. Right thats the equipment out of the way, onto the room.

The room measures about 5m by 3.5m;

This glass window ( partition) you can see will be converted to a cd / dvd storage area.

and from the other side...

The plan is to have the projector ceiling mounted above the seating area. A hifi stand has been purchased ( can be seen in the second picture), this will go half way along the right hand wall. All cables will be sunk into the wall from this point and run around the room. Where the telly currently sits a partition wall will be constructed to hang the plasma from. Above this a pelmet will hide the electric projector screen.

Finally my sons room is partially above the lounge as I'm taking up some of the flooring anyway to lay the projector cables soundproofing will be put down into the rafters.

 

[cybrey]

First part of the construction started with the 'ripping' up of the floorboards in my sons room. This caused its own problems, firstly because the boards were painted so finding the screws was hard and secondly because the original boards were tongue and groove. Nevermind after a couple of hours swearing and a lot of broken boards the holes were created.

Into these were run HDMI, VGA and power.

The cables will run behind the coving, although I think I'll need to dig a groove at some points as I doubt the coving recess will be big enough.

The start of the holes in the walls, this one is for the Projector spur. It'll be a 13A switched socket;

Mount up, and you can just about see the access for the cabes behind. I'm using the draft excluder covers which seem to be excellent. There will be more of them used behind the hifi stand as well.

Projector up ( temporarily).

And temp screen for testing.

This is the (very) large cable hole I cut. I've worked I need to get 18 runs of cable down this ( it'll be fun).

Thats all for now tomorrow work starts in earnest hopefully. Screen is arriving so I'm going to make a start on the pelmet.

 

[albriscoe]

Hi Cy


nice to see you`ve made a start, I hope you keep us posted with good pics of the project as well. Where are the draft excluder fronts from?

cheers Allan

PS. I counted 18 as well but finished up with about 1973

 

[cybrey]

They're from Aldous, the company were really nice to deal with. I made a mistake on the order and they corrected it for me very quickly. Unlike my on going battle with ShoppingCentre.net which I'll divulge once its sorted.

My wire count went down today due to me working out I should be running the power slightly differently.

Have a lot turning up tomorrow, screen / a lot of cables plus off work so should get a lot done. Soundproofing turns up on Thursday I really hope it makes a difference otherwise it'll be a very expensively insulated room

Yes the pictures ( like yours) will keep coming, only thing I did today was cut more holes which aren't very interesting.

 

[dbs2]

This is going to be a good one

Glad i have caught it from the start......

 

[cybrey]

Today started well.... some boxes arrived Can you guess what it is yet...

These are loops I knocked up to hang the screen, these will be screwed into the ceiling joists ( They're the correct width ) The hooks then attach to the screen and then hook into these in the ceiling.

And suprisingly quickly the screen was up, sorry its blurred.

At this point the batteries on the cordless screwdriver/drill ran out, so I had to find something else to occupy myself with. I made a start on running the VanDamme Blue that also arrived this morning.

But the battery was soon recharged so I pressed on with the pelmet.

Which is now finished. ( well stud work at least)

Unfortunately after testing the screen its going back. Theres a massive hotspot just off centre at the top. Its visible even during grey / blacks, so something just aint reflecting the light properly. Thankfully I bought the screen from a uk distributor ( Richard of HCSV who I think frequents these forums from time to tim ). I emailed him at 4.45 and by 5.00 he'd replied back saying he arrange for a new one to be sent out and the old one to be picked up.

Oh well I suppose we'll see what the next one is like.

I did manage to finish all the speaker cabling but forgot to take a photo, I'll take one tomorrow. Tomorrow is soundproofing day !!

 

[chelsea.tone]

Coming along nicely Cy

 

[dbs2]

Nice start....

Shame about your screen.... But HCSV are good (well they were when i got mine) i didn't hang mine from the hoops though, just screwed straight to the ceiling joist (lucky they were going the right way and one was in right position for the frow (god i need a spell checker..... )

Keep up the good work......

 

[MarkP80]

Cy,

This is looking like a good job, well done mate! I have to say, you work a lot quicker than I do - I'm pleased my wife doesn't read this stuff, or she would be cracking the whip!

Keep the pics coming.....

MarkP

 

[cybrey]

Cy,

I have to say, you work a lot quicker than I do - I'm pleased my wife doesn't read this stuff, or she would be cracking the whip!

Ah, the benefits of having a most of the week off work and sending the wife/son away for a week it allows you live in complete chaos knowing where everything is ( most of the time).

 

[cybrey]

just screwed straight to the ceiling joist (lucky they were going the right way and one was in right position for the frow

I did think about this but it leaves me with a little more flexibility in terms of altering the level of the screen, plus taking the screen up and down is about 10 seconds.

 

[albriscoe]

Today started well.... some boxes arrived Can you guess what it is yet...



Do we have to put answers on a fiver??

its flying along Cy and looking good, you must have your camera in the hand your not working with at all times, shame on you

Allan

 

[dbs2]

I did think about this but it leaves me with a little more flexibility in terms of altering the level of the screen, plus taking the screen up and down is about 10 seconds.

Glad to see you thought about everything......

 

[cybrey]

Soundproofing arrived today.

This is the 100mm Acoustic Mineral wool which'll form the first layer.

Its actually pretty easy to fit once I worked out the knack. I started using a stanley knife but the blade wasn't long enough and it was just shredding the wool, so in the end I used a saw.

Once the wool was laid I cut new floorboards ( old ones got damaged being taken up) and the sealed everything with Acoustic sealant. This meant I couldn't really get in the room whilst it was drying so I'll take some photos of this tomorrow prior to the soundproof mats going down.

Finally finished all the wiring as well, although I ran out of clips so some still need nailing to wall.

This is the main 'trunk' which'll sit behind the hifi stand. In total theres 7 speaker cables, 2 HDMI, 2 VGA and 1 S-Video.

The two faceplates, not quite attached yet

The mess of wires that the pelmet will hide

Thats it for today, tomorrow is the finishing up the sound proofing and making a start on the million jobs the wife actually wanted done whilst she was away. Unfortunately I have to wind the project down for now till the end of August at which point my Father will becoming across to build the stud wall for the plasma. After which I can get the plasterer in Still haven't decided whether I going to use plasterboard or MDF for the pelmet.

 

[dbs2]

Still haven't decided whether I going to use plasterboard or MDF for the pelmet.

mdf... MDF... Please don't use plasterboard as you will regret it the first time you need access, besides, mdf will give a much better finish.......

Great progress by the way...

 

[albriscoe]

mdf... MDF... Please don't use plasterboard as you will regret it the first time you need access, besides, mdf will give a much better finish.......

Great progress by the way...

I second that as well, mdf will give you better access Cy but if its a plaster finish your after then there`s no contest you have to go with plaster board

keep up the good work

Allan

 

[cybrey]

Access I am worried about, however the walls and I'm presuming the pelmet will be papered. I don't really wanna spend 200-300 quid getting the entire room re-plastered so the trunking holes will be filled in and then papered. So the finish on the pelmet isn't particularly important. I'm guessing MDF is going to be more expensive but easier to work with.

 

[elootos]

Looking at the photos I've only just realised that this is the same room you were looking to soundproof; I hope your son appreciates the hard work you're doing for him (or is it more a case of: no soundproof = no surround sound?!)

I again will agree to the MDF for the pelmet, then at least you'll have an easier job fixing it again if you need to get your screen down. Just remember to take plenty of photos of the pelmet and where the screw fixings are. (also remember to wear a mask when working with it)

 

[albriscoe]

Access I am worried about, however the walls and I'm presuming the pelmet will be papered. I don't really wanna spend 200-300 quid getting the entire room re-plastered so the trunking holes will be filled in and then papered. So the finish on the pelmet isn't particularly important. I'm guessing MDF is going to be more expensive but easier to work with.

Cy

I`m in west yorks, if you are near enough I`ve got loads of mdf off cuts you can have. pm me if you want em

Allan

 

[cybrey]

Looking at the photos I've only just realised that this is the same room you were looking to soundproof;

Well the room above is the one being soundproofed and its done now. The sound travelling through the ceiling and through the floor is greatly reduced so I'm impressed from that aspect. My only problem is now the sound is travelling out the door and up the stairs I may put thicker doors in to see if this solves it but we'll see.

I`m in west yorks, if you are near enough I`ve got loads of mdf off cuts you can have. pm me if you want em

Thanks for the kind offer and I'd probably take you up on it if I was a little closer not only cos I could have a nosy then But I live in Cambridge which is prolly not worth driving from. Thanks anyway.

 

[albriscoe]

Well the room above is the one being soundproofed and its done now. The sound travelling through the ceiling and through the floor is greatly reduced so I'm impressed from that aspect. My only problem is now the sound is travelling out the door and up the stairs I may put thicker doors in to see if this solves it but we'll see.


Thanks for the kind offer and I'd probably take you up on it if I was a little closer not only cos I could have a nosy then But I live in Cambridge which is prolly not worth driving from. Thanks anyway.

No prob with the mdf, regarding thicker doors you could try fitting a fire rated door but you need to fit a casing as well with the fire trap seal round. But I honestly don`t know if that will cure the noise problem, I think I would contact a specialist and ask there advice before parting with the cash.

cheers Allan

 

[cybrey]

Last post ( with photos) for a while.

These are of the 'soundproofed' room with its fetching rubber mats

HCSV messed me about today after promising delivery of the replacement screen it didn't turn up, apparently it'll be sent on Monday.

My dispute with ShoppingCentre is still ongoing. Basically I paid them 140 quid for 100m of VanDamme Blue. They promise 24/48 hour delivery of items in stock, the item was in stock when I ordered it. I contacted someone after 48 hours and the said oh it was dispatched 24 hours ago it will be with you shortly. 3 more days passed this time I phoned them ( took me about 4 hours to get someone on the phone). They said they'd been sent the wrong item and that I'd be best getting a refund and ordering from someone else. This was 5 days ago and I'm still waiting on the refund.

 

[cybrey]

Just to set the record straight after a 5th email ShoppingCentre finally refunded the money in whole ( was worried about getting stung for paypal fees). Personally I'll be steering clear of them from now on.

 

[cybrey]

Second screen arrived, it still has sparklies although in a different place so it'll be going back. I think this time I will get a refund and search for a different screen altogether.

 

[cybrey]

Oh well the screen issue has now been resolved.

The issue I was seeing was 'sparklies' on certain parts of the screen from certain angles. On a still image its not particularly noticeable but on a moving image, especially on bright scene, it was un-watchable. The following 3 images 'try' to highlight the issue. 1st one is the undoctored image, 2nd one has lines on it to try show the rough area, 3rd and final image is the same scene on a blackout blind.

I have mixed comments about the supplier ( HCSV). The level of service was very good, quick responses to emails ( apart from a 2 day gap), delivering / picking up replacement screens at his own cost / full refund. However on two occasions I was promised a delivery / pickup and nothing materialised, this was annoying as it meant time out of the office to wait for the screen.

So I can recommend HCSV as a supplier, I wouldn't personally recommend the screens. As mentioned previously I'm going to give the Grandview screens with Direkt2u a go next in a couple of weeks (not taking anymore time out of work so I'll get the plasma / screen / building materials all ordered at the same time.)