New Theatre room setup, seating placement, platform etc.

[dreamz]

Hi Guys,

 

After long time our wish for a new home is coming true, we just finished the framing and I am bit confused about the platform heights for my seats in the theatre. its a 4m x 6m long room. please see the attached picture. My plan is to have a 130" screen. audio equipments at the back corner where it has a designated space, so the front looks clean. I am thinking of having 2 rows of seats. What you guys think abiout that, is the space is enough for 2 rows? if so whats the platform height you recomment, how many steps? should i put the first row also in a platform or only the second row. Ceiling height for the room is 2.7m

 

Also what you guys think about the sound proofing, i am putting sound screen 3.1batts in the walls and in the ceiling, what other things i can do to get better sound proofing

 

Thanks in advance

 

[Benje]

@dreamz

 

1. With the AV space, can you get rear access when you need to, eg a rear door?  That really helps when you need to rewire any connections eg speakers, new sources/replacement sources.

 

2. with the two rows of seating.  Do a floor plan of where the speakers will go (on-wall, in-wall, floorstanding or ???, screen on wall or in front of speakers ie with acoustically transparent screen?) and where you want the seats to be in relation to the speakers.  Try to avoid the 50%, 66.7% and 75% positions in reference to the length of room.  Allow plenty of space from side walls to seats (say 900 mm) leaving 2.2 metres for seat width - about three seats/row maximum with 4 metre room width.

 

3, is the rear row going to be fixed seats or recliners?  They have different space requirements.  Your layout plan will help you to decide what should happen, re what can comfortably fit in the theatre.

 

Benje

 

 

Edited Thursday at 06:08 AM by Benje

[Kaynin]

Sound is going to leak out of the sliding pocket door like nothing else basically as though the door is open the whole time.  When you're watching a movie the door will be closed so there's no sound insulation in the door cavity, just two sheets of plaster.  If you can switch to a hinged door and then upgrade that to solid core, then that will have a massive impact.

 

It's hard to advise on sufficient space for seating if you don't have your seats selected.  Allow 1m from the rear speakers to the first seat - don't make the mistake of sitting too close to the back wall.  You want to be in the sound field, not on the edge of it.  

 

So many people want to cram as many seating positions in as they can, like a cinema.  I was one of them.  I spent $16k on a custom build lounge, and it was cramped seating for 7.  I soon hated it.  My next lounge sits 3 with heaps of room and space, including discrete remote storage - a much better choice.  I've always gone recliners in my HT, so that adds to the length required for seating.  I wouldn't have the first row raised, so maybe consider wait until the space is completed and you decide on your seating to see if you need a platform.  It's not difficult to add later, and may not even be required.

[dreamz]

@Benje @Kaynin Thanks

 

Rear access is not possible as its a wine cellar at the back. but will put the system in a rack with wheel, so should be oke.

 

screen on the wall, not accounstic. floor standing speakers at the front, 2 subs, 4-6 ceiling speakers, another 4-6 surround/back speakers on the wall

 

i was thinking about 4 seats at the back and may be 3 at the front, all recliners

 

my previous HT was 5.2m and 1 row and some bean bags at the front for the kids. 

 

What i am really confused is whether to put the front seats also in a platform, and what height each platform/seating needs to be

 

hinge door opens to the room, so its kind of a distarbance, i agree with the sound leak in that portion, may be a thick curtain or double plaster wall. 

 

Defenitely need more than 5 seats as we are a family of 5 with occassionally grand parents visiting.

Edited Thursday at 07:20 AM by dreamz

[hopefullguy]

hi mate, lets address the question first.

no riser for the front row. as you have had a HT room before and seem fixed on the seating then look for 2x 3 rows of recliners, narrow style but be very carefull not to buy those stupid so called theater chairs with big soft head rests. they are great for the head but block sound to your ears. the Valencia style are good for "raising"  the ears above the chair sides... but silly prices.

the riser should be about 330mm high with carpet/underlay, with 1 set up on each side. fill it with insulation you get free from facebook marketplace. look there for "cover sheets" of flooringor bunnings if wanting good cheap flooring usually$10 $20? a sheet for the right flooring wood.

as for the size it comes down to seating foot print and allowing at least 400mm in front for walking past seating. 

my room is 4x 6.5x 3.1 and i have only 2 narrow recliners at the front and normal sofa seating at the back on a riser and it works better imo.

 

as you have a "clean" front i would setup the screen last and try different screen heights on the front wall first. my 123" 16:9 screen use to be at 800mm from floor and it annoyed me and others. lowering to 650mm gave better immersion.

 

any just my thoughts

[Benje]

dreamz

 

what is the floor width of the 130" screen?  What does that leave you in space for the left and right speakers?  How close to the side wall will they be?  Is that an issue?

 

your floor plan will clarify the outcome of these decisions.  It will also help with determining the spots on the ceiling for Atmos, and on side/rear walls for surrounds.  Perhaps also projector location (make sure the projector is back far enough to 'throw' the full size of your desired projector screen).

 

Sounds like two rows of three seats, with a riser for the second row. all recliners.  You won't fit four seats in a row without making both aisle seats undesirable.  I have a riser at 240mm for my second row and that is adequate.  I also have a 'standing area' behind the second row (without the riser) for the very infrequent overload of a sporting event, where blokes might stand and have a beer.

 

Two subs - location? middle front and middle back or front corners?  I expect middle front and middle back will be a better result, but it may not be possible.

[Kaynin]

19 hours ago, dreamz said:

Also what you guys think about the sound proofing, i am putting sound screen 3.1batts in the walls and in the ceiling, what other things i can do to get better sound proofing

 

 

 

You won't achieve sound proofing unless you spend $100k, but you can achieve very effective sound dampening and it's well worth the investment.  What are you doing for ceiling speakers?  You stated batts in the ceiling, you will have to cut holes for the installation of in ceiling enclosures if that's what you're doing.  This will result in noise bleed from those speakers.  I have acoustic batts in my wall and ceiling cavity, and the in-ceilings bled noise because of this issue. 

 

Is there cavity space in the HT ceiling for Dynaboxes?  I installed these for my 6 ceiling speakers, so heard the result of before and after.  I have actually sat in my roof cavity and listened to the effect of the Dynaboxes and there is ZERO noise bleed.  An incredibly effective product worth considering.

 

https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/39810250/dynabox-noise-barrier-enclosure-for-in-ceiling-speakers-for-in-ceiling-speakers

 

Edited Friday at 12:40 AM by Kaynin

[dreamz]

@hopefullguy @Benje @Kaynin  Thanks

 

I was thinking of a riser depth of 1800-2000, height of 300mm as my ceiling is 2700-300=2400 i get above the second row. two steps from one side or from both side.

 

I may be able to squeeze an extra reclainer at the back, helps when it gets crowded. 3 at the front.

 

I will have my 2 subs sitting at the front next to the centers. 

 

Total screen width is 3000-3200, which is enough to fit two floor standers next to it. Had the same width in my previout HT

 

I will be putting some enclosers for the ceiling speaker defenitely 

 

Projector will be sitting in a shelve at the back top. easier to adjust than having it on a mount

 

Another thing i am bit confused is whether to have the bulk heads around or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Benje]

you could do in-ceiling, or on-ceiling speakers.  Less ceiling damage with on-ceiling speakers, but they intrude (I use on-ceiling atmos and on-wall surrounds by KRIX).

 

Re bulkheads.  Why do you need them?

 

I have a bulkhead on three sides because that is where the roofline cuts through.

Perhaps you need them to do air-con ducting, or water pipes.

I wouldn't value them for just aesthetics.  Might affect room acoustics.

 

Benje

[Quark]

Rather than separate back boxes for in-ceiling speakers, you can buy ones with sealed backs  like Krix

 

https://www.krix.com.au/home-entertainment?category=in-ceiling

 

[hopefullguy]

hi again.. was there a mistype about "centres"  vs centre? i will run 2 centres, usually called many things for doing so... just ducking the rocks now haha

many will ask budget, i think thats a negative. if you work out what you want in the room then work out how to get it... some parts diy, some new, some 2nd hand some free stuff. that way you get what you want.

example.. even if doing a 16:9 screen there is no reason not to do an A/T screen fro the centre. diy material from XY Screens and look on avs forums under "minimalist screen wall" for many great ideas.

[dreamz]

@hopefullguy i tried A/T screens before, didnt like it much. I am thinking of going with ALR screens, which is far supirior interms of picture quality due to the reflective coating

[hopefullguy]

what projector is it?

i ran a old pull down window blind, grey from the 1980's in my 2nd room. it covered the entire wall and that end was 1 full wall window and it worked great with my benq projector, actually all my projectors. colours werent as poppy but contrast/blacks seemed better.

what gear/speakers/subs will you be running?

[dreamz]

Projector hasnt decided yet.

 

Paradigm S8 fronts , 2 x sub15, some other paradigm gears. I have some of my old gears sitting here for long time ready for this  to start with i have a sony 4k projector as well, keeping it for the last 3-4 years not used at all