The usual false wall in lounge build...

After moving in together, marriage, baby etc I finally have a chance to get the tv out of the corner of the room and get a proper home cinema set up once again!

I toyed with the idea of going for a full in-wall/in-ceiling 5.1 set up and asked for recommendations on another thread but have decided to keep it simple and go for a recessed soundbar and surround speakers.

The plan is to build out the entire wall opposite the bay window by approx. 11cm and recess the tv and soundbar as per attached image.


I've had to make a few compromises with regards layout mainly due to the fact we had a recessed gas fire installed last year on the chimney breast and there was no chance of touching that wall again.

Equipment wise i'll be going for an MK Sound MP-9 soundbar with a pair of M4T tripoles placed on the floor behind the sofa. Slightly unconventional but should sound ok and will simplify wiring as I plan to route the wires behind the skirting board to the back of the sofa.

The TV will be either a 48" or 50" (still working on convincing the wife to go for a 50" but she doesn't see anything wrong with the current 42" so its proving difficult to convince her of the need for a 50" tv!). I'm planning on mounting the tv bracket directly to the brick wall and having some sort of plasterboard 'surround' behind the false wall to hide it and allow me to run cables to the tv and soundbar without them being seen but also without having to chase into the wall. Still not quite sure how this will work so if any anyone has any examples/ideas I would be grateful!

All equipment will be in the alcove next to the tv so all cables will exit via a brush plate on the false wall into a cabinet.

We are just finishing a small extension so the plasterer and joiner will start on this room in a fortnight and start by stripping off the existing plaster and then dot dab plasterboard and skim after the wall is built. This will give me a chance to run all the cables prior to the plasterboard going up.

I'll post up a before pic and then update as it progresses.

 

Sounds good. Could you not have in wall or on wall speakers instead?
Are you buying new? As good as the mp9 is i think you can pick up quality 2nd hand on wall or in wall speakers for similar money

 

True, I'm still toying with the idea of in-walls specifically the monitor audio cp range. It would be cheaper but I guess part of it is laziness on my part as I would have to install and run the wiring for the ceiling speakers myself!

 

I was thinking more the front end really i think you'll be able to move up a range or two going 2nd hand. Even using 3 seperate m5's would be cheaper. I do admit perhaps wouldnt look as good but still an option. Maybe look out for mp150's? may cost a touch more for a quality used 3 but are in a different league

The m4t's are good and i've seen tripoles work facing upwards to good effect. Unless your going with an atmos setup i wouldnt bother with in ceiling

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure I could get better performance for the money but as you say it probably won't look as clean and that's a big factor for me. I've got one eye on the loft as a cinema room one day but one project at a time!

 

Finally the joiner and plasterer got round to doing the living room this week.

Room boarded out and back boxes fitted with cables thread through at the back of the room:


False wall built ready for the plasterer to board tomorrow:


And finally trunking put in and cables run within the false wall prior to boarding:



Boarding and plastering due to be done tomorrow. That then leaves running the cables round the room behind new skirting, decorating and then the fun stuff can begin ie install av!

 

Well, the main work is done:


Pretty chuffed with the result just hope all those cables work!

Need to wait now for the plaster to dry and then decorate put new floor in.

Gear wise I've bought a Yamaha rx-v1800 from the classifieds and mp9 soundbar should arrive this week. Just leaves rears and sub(s) to get.

 

Not much going on at the moment just waiting for plaster to dry and quotes to come in for flooring.

I have managed to pick up some M&K K4 rear speakers do its just a sub (or two) left to purchase.

 

So, its been a while but finally got a working system!

Flooring being fitted in December and then skirting can go in and decorating can start but still put my kit in. Have put my old 42" tv in but really needs a 48" to fill the recess. Need to cut the back out of the besta to fit the amp and the rest of my kit in but very happy with the results so far.

 

Here's a panoramic I took on my phone that gives a better view of the false wall.

 

Kudos on mounting the TV at a sensible height.

 

Cheers, it's a pet hate of mine so made sure it was mounted at a good height.

 

An unplanned addition! I did want a Logitech Harmony Ultimate but wasn't too keen at £160. Saw it for £110 last night on Amazon so had to buy! Just set up and works a treat. Must admit was getting bored of having to open the cabinet every time I wanted to watch a film so pleased to have got this now.

 

It's a good remote, I nabbed mine in an Amazon sale a few months ago for a similar price. My only complaint is the lack of physical number buttons.

 

Looking at this remote for a well out of date Yamaha receiver !!

 

Works fine with a well out of date Yamaha rx-v1800!

 

Cheers I have an RX-V595a hope it will work with that too !

 

And the flooring is in. Just skirting and decorating left to do now. Although a 48" TV would be good too!

 

I'm thinking about something similar to this. Any updates after decoration?

 

Good timing, things don't move fast round here but skirting is in and I just finished the first coat of paint today. I'll get some pics up this week.

 

Here's a quick pic of the room as it is (Dog bed not normally there!). You may notice the tv doesn't fit the recess yet. I thought I would get away with not moving the existing tv bracket but no such luck. So thats the next step. All equipment is in the besta in the alcove. All cables (subwoofer cables x2, surround cables x2, cat 5 to router and aerial) to the back of the room are behind the skirting.

Still a bit to do diy wise but the main work is done. Then need to fix tv position and get rugs/blinds and finally watch some films!

 

Don't you have issues with the soundbar being muffled? The arrangement of speakers being at the top also i would of thought made it sound off?

 

i don't but I need to angle the soundbar up slightly so it's pointing to the listening spot rather than knees. I prefer this compromise than having the soundbar above the tv which I don't think would have looked right.

 

I have the same setup myself with a soundbar and we were thinking of putting it into a recess but after trying it in a similar situation the speakers were very muffled which is why i asked. In the end we just mounted it on the wall below tv.

 

Yeah, fair enough. From a sound quality point of view I think your solution is preferable but that's (another) compromise I made.

 

At last tv fitted in the recess with the help of vesa bracket adapters and a few bolts.

 

That's a good fit. I reckon you cheated and measured it!

 

Hah, I did indeed! Originally measured up for a 48" Sony but the Samsung slotted right in.

 

Funny about measuring i must of got it wrong about 4-5 times and still now it doesn't quite look right but i give up and the bracket needs adjusting again. Think i'll go for a dearer sonus mount this time when i get round to replacing it!

 

Same here, only got to fit with the vesa extensions but the wall and bracket are so dodgy I literally didn't dare remove it and try and fit it further up the wall. In saying that I couldn't justify shelling out for a vogels mount either!