Blackbird
Auditioning
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
- Messages
- 12
- Real Name
- Victor
Hello everyone. This Winter, I'm going to begin building a HT in my basement. Even though I've searched through this forum, there are still a lot of questions I have that I haven't found the answers to. I love DIY projects. My main concern with this project, is building my HT correctly. I'm very patient and would much rather take my time with this and build it the right way, than rush through the construction process and have to live with mediocre results. My plan is to build a good, acoustically solid theater and then, over time, as money permits, fill it with the right electronics to give me a WOW experience.
So that you know, I have a 20-foot long, by 11 foot wide area to fit the HT into. Once the walls are built, the finished dimensions will obviously be a little smaller than this. Because of the "Golden Rule," I realize that building a 20 foot, by 10 foot theater will not offer good acoustics. Because of that fact, I'm planning on building a media room that's 2 feet deep behind the front wall. That would allow me to keep all of the media out of sight. I also have another neat idea about the front wall that I'll cover/ask about when I ask about wall construction.
I figured I'd ask about one topic at a time to make this easier on all of us. I'm really looking forward to reading what all of you have to say. I'm really AMPED about this whole project!
[SIZE= larger]CEILING[/SIZE]
My brother and I are the only people living here in this house, so I don't have to be as concerned about noise escaping the HT as some other people would need to be. Having said that, it would still be nice if either of us could use the HT even late at night without worrying about waking the other person who's asleep 2 floors above on the second floor of the house (where the bedrooms are). With this goal in mind, I had planned on using isolators between my 5/8" drywall ceiling and floor joists. It goes without saying, I also plan to use batting in the voids between the joists to prevent any "drum effect." What I'm wondering is whether it would be advisable to install a second layer of 5/8" drywall on my ceiling to help keep sound from escaping the HT. Try as I might, I can't find any information telling me if you CAN double-layer 5/8" drywall when making a ceiling that utilizes isolators.
I've read that a smooth, painted ceiling is not ideal for acoustics in a HT. How do most of you finish your ceilings? Do you just use some type of textured paint you buy at Lowes?
I've also read in this forum about "risers" that can be used to hide your projector when it's not in use. Do most of you have your projectors installed so they lower out of a compartment in your ceilings? Keep in mind that the finished dimensions of my HT will probably be close to 18 feet long, by 10 feet wide, by 7 feet tall. If the ceiling isn't where most of you have your projectors mounted, where is the best place to mount it? A custom-built table in front of the seats? I know that where you mount your projector has a lot to do with what projector you have. I'm planning on buying a JVC RS1 projector (unless you guys talk me out of it), so what ever you think would be a good way to mount one of those projectors is what I'll do.
Thanks for any help on this guys. I really do appreciate it!
So that you know, I have a 20-foot long, by 11 foot wide area to fit the HT into. Once the walls are built, the finished dimensions will obviously be a little smaller than this. Because of the "Golden Rule," I realize that building a 20 foot, by 10 foot theater will not offer good acoustics. Because of that fact, I'm planning on building a media room that's 2 feet deep behind the front wall. That would allow me to keep all of the media out of sight. I also have another neat idea about the front wall that I'll cover/ask about when I ask about wall construction.
I figured I'd ask about one topic at a time to make this easier on all of us. I'm really looking forward to reading what all of you have to say. I'm really AMPED about this whole project!
[SIZE= larger]CEILING[/SIZE]
My brother and I are the only people living here in this house, so I don't have to be as concerned about noise escaping the HT as some other people would need to be. Having said that, it would still be nice if either of us could use the HT even late at night without worrying about waking the other person who's asleep 2 floors above on the second floor of the house (where the bedrooms are). With this goal in mind, I had planned on using isolators between my 5/8" drywall ceiling and floor joists. It goes without saying, I also plan to use batting in the voids between the joists to prevent any "drum effect." What I'm wondering is whether it would be advisable to install a second layer of 5/8" drywall on my ceiling to help keep sound from escaping the HT. Try as I might, I can't find any information telling me if you CAN double-layer 5/8" drywall when making a ceiling that utilizes isolators.
I've read that a smooth, painted ceiling is not ideal for acoustics in a HT. How do most of you finish your ceilings? Do you just use some type of textured paint you buy at Lowes?
I've also read in this forum about "risers" that can be used to hide your projector when it's not in use. Do most of you have your projectors installed so they lower out of a compartment in your ceilings? Keep in mind that the finished dimensions of my HT will probably be close to 18 feet long, by 10 feet wide, by 7 feet tall. If the ceiling isn't where most of you have your projectors mounted, where is the best place to mount it? A custom-built table in front of the seats? I know that where you mount your projector has a lot to do with what projector you have. I'm planning on buying a JVC RS1 projector (unless you guys talk me out of it), so what ever you think would be a good way to mount one of those projectors is what I'll do.
Thanks for any help on this guys. I really do appreciate it!