Dear forum members,
I wish you all and your families the best of health, happiness and fulfillment in the new year of 2022 !
I would like to share my plans with you and hear your views 😊
So the story is:
I am building a house and already thinking about the sound system in the living room.
As you can see in the attached pictures, the tv will hang on the wall and a cabinet will stand under it. All this next to the entrance to the living room.
The distances shown in the figure are in meters
Therefore, due to lack of space, I will not use tower speakers next to the said cabinet.
The sound system will be designed for both listening to music and watching movies.
I have two options I am considering:
Option 1:
System: PC (For music FLAC, For movies) --HDMI CABLE--> Marantz SR5015 ---->
Since the bookshelf and the central speakers placed on the cabinet would not look very nice.
I would make a cabinet so that the speakers would be placed inside it.
For example:
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Option 2:
To make a Custom Sound Console - Speaker | Inside would be drivers for L, R, C and a subwoofer driver.
System: PC (For music FLAC, For movies) -- HDMI CABLE--> Marantz SR5015 ---->
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Since the space in front of the TV is about 29 square meters, I think ELAC speakers may be too weak for such an area. So maybe it is possible to choose drivers that are more powerful and have better sound quality than mentioned ELAC speakers + SVS SW?
What do you think about Option 1 VS Option 2?
I wish you all and your families the best of health, happiness and fulfillment in the new year of 2022 !
I would like to share my plans with you and hear your views 😊
So the story is:
I am building a house and already thinking about the sound system in the living room.
As you can see in the attached pictures, the tv will hang on the wall and a cabinet will stand under it. All this next to the entrance to the living room.
The distances shown in the figure are in meters
Therefore, due to lack of space, I will not use tower speakers next to the said cabinet.
The sound system will be designed for both listening to music and watching movies.
I have two options I am considering:
Option 1:
System: PC (For music FLAC, For movies) --HDMI CABLE--> Marantz SR5015 ---->
- L;R speakers: ELAC DEBUT REFERENCE DBR62 (one of the choices)
- C speaker: ELAC DEBUT REFERENCE DCR52 (one of the choices)
- SW - Subwoofer: SVS SB-2000 (one of the choices)
- S: Speakers in the ceiling
Since the bookshelf and the central speakers placed on the cabinet would not look very nice.
I would make a cabinet so that the speakers would be placed inside it.
For example:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option 2:
To make a Custom Sound Console - Speaker | Inside would be drivers for L, R, C and a subwoofer driver.
System: PC (For music FLAC, For movies) -- HDMI CABLE--> Marantz SR5015 ---->
- L;R speakers: Drivers inside Custom Sound Console (could be midrange + tweeter OR one full range driver; because subwoofer would be responsible for 30 - 180 Hz region for example )
- C speaker: Drivers inside Custom Sound Console (same as L;R)
- SW - Subwoofer: Driver inside Custom Sound Console + Crown amp (for example Crown xti 1002) (Drivers: 1x12 OR 2x12 OR 1x15 inch)
- S: Speakers in the ceiling
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the space in front of the TV is about 29 square meters, I think ELAC speakers may be too weak for such an area. So maybe it is possible to choose drivers that are more powerful and have better sound quality than mentioned ELAC speakers + SVS SW?
What do you think about Option 1 VS Option 2?
I hate subs in the back. Center front works better.
Elac are popular, but I find them shrill to my ears. There are quite a few thin wall mount or in wall I might pick first. With a sub, a 5 or 6 inch 2-way is fine. With the opening on the right, you don;t want it to stick out. When building, you can make the wall cavity a real speaker box. Proper dampening and bracing, rock wool fill etc.
I would try to do as recommended and put the mains to the right and left of the screen, 2 feet away is suggested as optimum.
Get the center as close to the screen bottom as possible. It's job is to focus speech. As you are building, you can use in-wall there too. You only need to get down into the upper 60's.
Do you have the ability to put about 2 inches of OC 407 on the TV wall. DIY absorbers. Nice cloth coverings. By your sketch, it is going to be a very live room, so think about that. Might allow a "flush mount look" on the TV and speakers.
I would at least pre-wire for a full ATMOS configuration.
Subs are for 80 Hz and below. Not 180. I hope that was a typo.
Are you a freak for super loud special effects? Then a pair of 12's may be better, but a good single 12 if you are rational. You don't have a big room. I run a pair of 10's in my HT. Plate amps do fine for subs. I used to run a Beringher, but it was a waste.
What would be slick is a panel in the small room so you can access the back of the TV.
Elac are popular, but I find them shrill to my ears. There are quite a few thin wall mount or in wall I might pick first. With a sub, a 5 or 6 inch 2-way is fine. With the opening on the right, you don;t want it to stick out. When building, you can make the wall cavity a real speaker box. Proper dampening and bracing, rock wool fill etc.
I would try to do as recommended and put the mains to the right and left of the screen, 2 feet away is suggested as optimum.
Get the center as close to the screen bottom as possible. It's job is to focus speech. As you are building, you can use in-wall there too. You only need to get down into the upper 60's.
Do you have the ability to put about 2 inches of OC 407 on the TV wall. DIY absorbers. Nice cloth coverings. By your sketch, it is going to be a very live room, so think about that. Might allow a "flush mount look" on the TV and speakers.
I would at least pre-wire for a full ATMOS configuration.
Subs are for 80 Hz and below. Not 180. I hope that was a typo.
Are you a freak for super loud special effects? Then a pair of 12's may be better, but a good single 12 if you are rational. You don't have a big room. I run a pair of 10's in my HT. Plate amps do fine for subs. I used to run a Beringher, but it was a waste.
What would be slick is a panel in the small room so you can access the back of the TV.
Happy 2022 to you too!
My honest opinion?
Putting the TV where your view is interrupted everytime someone comes or goes to the kitchen for a snack is going to get really annoying, really quickly.
Rotate the sofa 180o & put the TV on the right hand wall, you then also have more freedom of choice wrt loudspeaker form factor as they won't be as in the way for people passing by.
I have no experience with those ELAC's, but the very first review I found mentions they don't sound so great backed up against a wall, so they wouldn't be ideal for your application, whether you move the TV or not.
Look for speakers that are designed/reviewed as being good for near wall placement, whatever you do.
HTH,
David.
My honest opinion?
Putting the TV where your view is interrupted everytime someone comes or goes to the kitchen for a snack is going to get really annoying, really quickly.
Rotate the sofa 180o & put the TV on the right hand wall, you then also have more freedom of choice wrt loudspeaker form factor as they won't be as in the way for people passing by.
I have no experience with those ELAC's, but the very first review I found mentions they don't sound so great backed up against a wall, so they wouldn't be ideal for your application, whether you move the TV or not.
Look for speakers that are designed/reviewed as being good for near wall placement, whatever you do.
HTH,
David.
@tvrgeek
Wall mounted system was also in my plans. I watched in wall mounted speakers:
Dali Phantom : https://www.dali-speakers.com/products/phantom/
and
Focal 300 series: https://www.focal.com/en/custom-integration/in-wall-in-ceiling-loudspeakers#300-series
Wall will be made of plasterboard, so there is such a possibility to install in wall speakers, but I do not like the look as you can see the grilles and it is different from the wall. And the invisible Sonance series -https://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/invisible-series - I doubt it.
„Are you a freak for super loud special effects?“ I think about good single 12 or 15 🙂
@David Morison
Thanks for your thoughts!
„Putting the TV where your view is interrupted everytime someone comes or goes to the kitchen for a snack is going to get really annoying, really quickly.“
The kitchen will be on the left, I marked in blue. There won't be much distraction from there. There will certainly be walks crossing the tv area, but we (me and my wife ) have been laying out different configurations for a long time. We have tried many different configurations of TV, sofa and table, in this configuration there is enough space for both table and sofa, so we stick to this layout.
You both mentioned that ELAC have cons. What do you think about my idea described in Option 2?
Wall mounted system was also in my plans. I watched in wall mounted speakers:
Dali Phantom : https://www.dali-speakers.com/products/phantom/
and
Focal 300 series: https://www.focal.com/en/custom-integration/in-wall-in-ceiling-loudspeakers#300-series
Wall will be made of plasterboard, so there is such a possibility to install in wall speakers, but I do not like the look as you can see the grilles and it is different from the wall. And the invisible Sonance series -https://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/invisible-series - I doubt it.
„Are you a freak for super loud special effects?“ I think about good single 12 or 15 🙂
@David Morison
Thanks for your thoughts!
„Putting the TV where your view is interrupted everytime someone comes or goes to the kitchen for a snack is going to get really annoying, really quickly.“
The kitchen will be on the left, I marked in blue. There won't be much distraction from there. There will certainly be walks crossing the tv area, but we (me and my wife ) have been laying out different configurations for a long time. We have tried many different configurations of TV, sofa and table, in this configuration there is enough space for both table and sofa, so we stick to this layout.
You both mentioned that ELAC have cons. What do you think about my idea described in Option 2?
Nothing wrong with it if done right.
A few random thoughts...
The console as sketched seems quite low - generally getting at least the HF drivers up a bit nearer head height improves clarity.
Making it modular, so you have separate sections for each speaker (and if wanted racking for your source components) allows the option of moving the sub around - often this is useful in helping even out the LF response in the room, which is heavily dependant on locations. It might also help reduce the effects of any vibration from the sub affecting the other speakers, though if well braced that shouldn't really be a problem in the first place. Further to that, keep open minded about the possibility of 2 or more subwoofers at different locations as this can also help even out the in-room response a lot.
FWIW, it wasn't so much people going back & forth from the kitchen to sofa I was referring to but rather people coming & going from the rest of the house, as they would have to walk right across the front of the screen.
Cheers,
David.
A few random thoughts...
The console as sketched seems quite low - generally getting at least the HF drivers up a bit nearer head height improves clarity.
Making it modular, so you have separate sections for each speaker (and if wanted racking for your source components) allows the option of moving the sub around - often this is useful in helping even out the LF response in the room, which is heavily dependant on locations. It might also help reduce the effects of any vibration from the sub affecting the other speakers, though if well braced that shouldn't really be a problem in the first place. Further to that, keep open minded about the possibility of 2 or more subwoofers at different locations as this can also help even out the in-room response a lot.
FWIW, it wasn't so much people going back & forth from the kitchen to sofa I was referring to but rather people coming & going from the rest of the house, as they would have to walk right across the front of the screen.
Cheers,
David.
Hi Ernest. Welcome to the forum. I'm nearing the end of my self build, (at last) it's taken too long but so far still within budget. I found it very useful to draw a plan of the walls and have cutouts for furniture, and "fixtures" that it was possible to move, (all to scale). Then it's a game of "Musical chairs". This may help to try out various ideas. Looking at what you have on your first layout I would wonder if it were possible to move the door into the lounge down, so that the sofa could be moved to the audio cabinet wall and that swapped over. This would allow speakers to be placed along the lower wall, better access out of the room to the south (if there is that facility) and audio possibly in a more vertical cabinet. I do understand that this may loose 1.5M x 0.8m of space from the next door room though. The TV (if large enough could possibly go on the wall opposite the doorway into the room, the one near the 8.098 dimension). All the best.
the "unnamed" room in the layout is a laundry room?
i would shrink it and shift the "hallway" entrance (north), flip the orientation of the kitchen 90 deg left, flip the couch orientation 180.
of course the "breakfast bar" table would need to move to the shortened "mid/east" wall but that would/should allow the dining table to be almost centered in the space.
not knowing where services or other structural elements may come to bare it may be something to consider.
i think it solves traffic flow issues and gives a slightly larger area for your sound system that could look like....
i would shrink it and shift the "hallway" entrance (north), flip the orientation of the kitchen 90 deg left, flip the couch orientation 180.
of course the "breakfast bar" table would need to move to the shortened "mid/east" wall but that would/should allow the dining table to be almost centered in the space.
not knowing where services or other structural elements may come to bare it may be something to consider.
i think it solves traffic flow issues and gives a slightly larger area for your sound system that could look like....