I wanted to solicit comments from others in this forum on my recent HT setup.  Thanks to both Ben and Korey at Aperion for their advice and guidance as this "newbie" was learning the basics.  As we designed and built this addition to our home, I designed the room to accommodate a 7.1 system with the wiring inside wall and ceiling cavities.  Any comments are welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks Great Ron!!

Nice system Ron!  Good planning too, to eliminate messy speaker runs all over the room!    One question, have you experimented with the placement of your sub?  You have quite a large room, and you may benefit from 'more' bass if the sub is closer to a corner of the room?  Just a thought?  Also, do you have any plans for a larger TV?

Good question about the sub...for music it's ideal when in the hot seat...if you're an audiophile-type..but generally the sub will have more bass when in the corner and sometimes better distribution throughout the room. More bass could be cool for home theater, but may dwindle audio performance. There's always the idea of two subs too I especially like that one!

 

By the way, what is the painting or drawing next to the right side surround speaker? I like it.

B

 

Thanks for the comments.  I have considered putting the sub in a different location.  I used to have it where the plant is located to the left of the front-left speaker...seemed a little "boomy".  I will say that the sectional is new...I would be interested to see how the sectional would impact the bass resonanace with the sub positioned back in that corner.  If I did put it in that corner again, should I face it toward the rear of the room (which put direct the sound between the love seat and the wall)...or should I point it towards the TV.  If you look at the third picture, you will notice a small 3'x3' nook in the corner. (To the left of the white closet door).  I would be interested to see how the sub would do in a very small enclosed space. 

If you look closely in the 2nd and 3rd picture...where the front left and right speakers connect to the wall plate, I have also included a sub connection.  I put this connection there so I can place the sub on either side of the room...unsure of the best location.  Currently, I am connecting the sub directly to my receiver because I am adjacent to the TV stand.  I have several placement options, but with my lack of experience, don't know the best location for the sub.  In fact, I am not even sure my sub controls are optimally set...any further suggestions for placement and/or sub settings would be appreciated!

In terms of Jim inquiring about me getting a larger TV...someday...I will be patient as prices of TV's continue to lower.  I will say that I overlooked the spacing between the two windows...In hindsight, I would have made this spacing much wider to accomodate a larger, possibly wall mounted flat panel...but for now, my $99 Costco TV stand and 27" Panasonic TV/DVD will have to do.

Ben, the drawing you reference in the third picture was a "self portrait" that my 8 year-old son did of himself this year...he was happy to hear you liked it.

Ron, good to hear you have experiemented with the sub placement already.  One starting point, for determining your room nodes and finding the ideal sub placement, is setting up the sub in your 'sweet spot', or ideal listening position.  Then walk/crawl around the room to see where the sub sounds best.  You'll feel a little odd doing it, and the ideal spot may not work cosmetically, but it will give you a quick idea of where to place the sub, as well as where not too.  It's a simple (and odd) technique, but a useful one.  At least to get you started.

As for the TV, I hear you.  I am waiting til the year's end to purchase my plasma (as the prices keep dropping)!  Or course, now I think it's grown to 2? so the $ I save, doesn't really go into my pocket anymore! 

Jim,

To make sure I understand you correctly...are you saying that I should put my sub in the location where I would sit...facing towards the TV?...then walk/crawl around the room and determine where it sounds best?...would I output to the sub, white or pink noise generated from my receiver?  Any further elaboration would be helpful...and when you say "sounds best", do you mean where it doesn't sound too "rattled" etc?...I assume that "sounds best" would be purely subjective to the listener...where I think it sounds ok may not be where someone else does. 

In terms of sub controls, where would you start out with the knob settings when you do this sub placement excersize?

I'll jump in on this one if I may...

Yes, the sub would go in the spot where you sit. Doesn't matter which way it faces (*it would if the front speakers were putting out low bass tones...then facing the sub at the speakers would cause some cancellation).

As you walk throughout the room you'll notice spots that have increased bass, maybe even boomy, and spots that have very little bass. When you find a spot that sounds the best to you, put the sub there. Since bass is omnidirectional, the woofer can really point anywhere. Except for the * situation above.

The sub settings should be where you have them now...I assume those settings are the most to your liking. If they aren't and you're starting totally from scratch, try the recommended setting in the owner's manual.

,

 

 

Thanks for your comments Ben!  One point of information though...while I evaluate the location, would I simply output white/pink noise to the sub during this time...from the receiver? 

Thanks again!

Great room and very nicely planned, not sure about the color