Layout Challenge

xdfireguy

Okay, as you might know already, I’m the new guy without a clue. As I have previously stated, I’ve been living in a cave for the last 30-some-odd years. My previous experience comes only from a 10-year old Onkyo HTiB (HT-R500). I am slowly transitioning to the TSi line. I have a CS20 over top of the Mitsubishi TV and a pair of TSi200’s on their way to me now. I also have a Klipsch RW-12D sub. I am currently running a pretty limited Yamaha RX-V371 AVR (next to be replaced after the speakers).

Music is almost always playing in my house, however it is 90% Pandora and 10% off iTunes via an AppleTV box. However, I do really enjoy my movies too. My collection has been described as “overwhelming.” I am looking to get away from the poorly recorded music and learn to experience it as close I can to how it was intended to be heard. Which leads me to my problem and I turn to you all for some suggestions.

My living room (the only room available to do this and central room in the house), is acoustically inept. It is approximately 20x13 with a large opening to the dining room and an stairwell with a half-wall. Due to the built-in bookshelves and woodstove at one end and the large window adjacent to it, there was really only one location that made sense (to me) to put the TV. I have attached a sketch of the layout as it currently sits.

I could really use some suggestions as to improvements and modifications as I replace the speakers. The current surrounds are on cheap metal stands and will be replaced by the 200’s. I am concerned about finding a quality (yet reasonably priced – single father remember?) stand that is tall enough to accomplish this. Everything that I have found so far is fairly short. I understand that perfection is unachievable and serious concessions will have to be made. Building an addition for a media room is out of the question until I win big on that lottery that I never play.

So get your creative minds out and throw me some feedback, suggestions, and recommendations. Oh, and one last thing. I have been eyeing up the TSi500’s for up front, but the 400’s were just listed on Polk Direct eBay site. Any reason not to wait for the 500’s?

xdfireguy

I thought about that, but I have a couple concerns. First, the mantle sits at 53" above the floor, that would stick the TV fairly high. Also, I run the woodstove all winter and it really cranks out the heat. My heater barely ever runs! Ideally. That would be the best layout.

decal

You definitely don't want your TV that high, your neck will be hurting all the time from looking up.

hosedagain

Move the TV against the half wall at the stairs. Move the couch about 10 feet from the TV, if you don't want to see the back of the TV when using the stairs put a screen, room divider behind the TV. Move the speakers in a 5.1 set up, the sides at either side of the couch, you will now have a sweet spot when sitting on the couch for movies. Maybe put a sub woofer where the TV is now?

rpf65

I would probably try moving the couch towards the center of the floor, at the same angle as the tv. Move the chait to the other side of the fireplace, and hang dipole/bipole speakers where your current surrounds are. Those I would repurpose for rears, placed on stands at the side of the fireplace, and someplace around the bay window.

That is if room dimensions and couch size would allow it.

xdfireguy

Thanks, I'll try rearranging furniture this weekend. I really enjoy watching the woodstove during the winter months, but it's worth a try. I'm a little concerned as the main path of travel is between the front door (in that little bump out below) and the kitchen through the large opening.

Only one way to find out though! I greatly appreciate the feedback. No comments on cheaping out on the 400's so I'll wait on the 500's. My wallet appreciates the pause in spending!

Now to figure out tall stands. My ears sit 49" up when seated, 40" when lounging. If I recall, the 200's sit at 7" or so at their center

eclypse

Looks tuff. I just got done moving my setup around. No flat wall to setup my large new 82" Mits DLP. Wife don't want me to block the front window with the tv. So its off to one side on an angle in the corner.. sort of blocks about half the window but that's how its gota be. Was fun figuring out how to set up my old Polk Audio RTi 70s,CSI 40, RTi 38 and FXi 30s in 7.1 channel setup in that corner shot but got lucky.

The only way I could arrange the seating area the best was to take the 2 large couches and make a L shape with them with the 2 ends barely meeting at the ends in the middle of the screen for the sweet spot. Center rears (FXi 30s) behind the sweet spot hanging on the wall (another corner) about 5 feet behind.

The super fun part was making my own center speaker shelf to hang my center speaker up above the large TV as its in the corner theres no way of hanging it on the wall.. too far to use some large extending tv wall bracket for it. So the cheapest thing I could figure out to use was a cheap heavy duty steal shelf that was about 70" tall. Perfect height to attach a hanging shelf bracket to. End result is my center speaker is flush with the top of the tv and angled perfectly at the sweet spot.

You'll want to use a laser pointer to help level your center and front speaker tweeters at ear level at the seating position. Lay the pointer on top of the speaker and figure out the distance from the top of the speaker to the tweeter before. Point it at your seating spot and hold up a tape measure and measure the dot. Adjust the height/angle of your speaker till its dead on ear level at the seating position and your golden! Just something I recently thought of.. back in the day I would just level off the speakers with a level and measure the tweeter on the seaker and compare the height at the seating position not thinking about how the floors may not be level and off. Here I find out my fronts were always too low and pointing at the ground really and the center speakers tweeter was 2 feet too high at the sweet spot!

Everything sounds great now after all the speakers are in there right position and rears pointed about 2 feet above ear level and dialed in using Audyssey MultEQ XT. Happy happy!

Good luck with your setup!

xdfireguy

About to break out the Excedrin Back and Body and start moving furniture around! We'll see if things will work and still allow traffic flow through the room.

My concern over hanging the surrounds is that the 200's are ported to the rear. I have been advised against that.

BTW the 200's are in now and are a remarkable improvement over the stock HTiB Onkyo's! They are up front right now until I can score a deal on 500's

xdfireguy

Oh, and good idea on the laser pointer. I had heard that before, but never gave it a shot and keep forgetting about that trick!

xdfireguy

Anyone want to donate a half million dollars so I can rebuild this house in a more functional manner?

Moving the 65" Mitsubishi and couch works. I love looking straight at the screen there's room for the 500's but I would have to figure something out on the center. But... it creates a dead space (almost a third if the room) behind the couch and completely obscures the woodstove and the stonework that I slaved to put in. Also it's now a tight squeeze to get through to the kitchen.

Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!! If only the fireplace was on the interior wall, or just decorative and I didn't love it so much.

gce

I disagree that the TV would be to high above the fireplace. My mantle is 50" high and the TV is above the center speaker. The mount tilts forward a little and when setting on the couch its very comfortable watching TV. Its amazing how far your eyes can move up and down without using your neck!

xdfireguy

I'd need a new tv. I only have 44" from ceiling to the mantle. Besides mine is a dlp - about 16" deep.

eclypse

From the original pic.. did you try just moving the tv to the right up against the wall and move the couch up a little and to the left centered to the tv?

eclypse

Or just keep the tv as is and move the couch up in the center of the room off the window and a little to the left so that the right side of the couch and the chair next to it would be in the sweet spot.

xdfireguy

I appreciate all the ideas. I'm feverously moving things around to see what works best layout wise. I guess the speakers will have to just fall into place.

I'll keep you updated!

Syndil

As much as I dislike mounting TVs above fireplaces, if that's your only available room, it just makes the most sense. Might consider one of these to make the most of the situation:

www.dynamicmounting.com

Lowers the TV from above the fireplace. However, if you're running your fireplace all the time, it could cause the TV to die an early death, so... Build an addition.

eclypse

That would be impossible with his setup as he's using a DLP TV which you cant hang on a wall.

naturallight

I'm not sure i understand the layout VS what you say is in there... Either thats a fireplace or a wood stove insert. If it's a wood stove...do NOT put your TV over that..period. If thats a good wood stove as you say it heats 1/2 your house...it will fry your TV in 1 winter.

xdfireguy

Yeah, it is a wood stove insert. The rear half of the stove is within an old fireplace. I ruled out going over the mantle due to heat some time ago.

Every option is being tried. I think I'm just going to have to deal with it and do the best I can.

Keeping my eyes open for those 500's still and then I'll pick up a receiver that has Audyssey. I figure if I sell off some of my old stuff, I should be able to justify purchasing one sooner. I have pricewatches running on the Onkyo TX-NR809

Edit: Maybe a projector with a screen drop over the mantle? That might be a long term goal. Although an addition might be cheaper! :cheesygrin:

cnh

decal wrote: »

You definitely don't want your TV that high, your neck will be hurting all the time from looking up.

Some QUALITY recliners would take care of that!

"Major Tom to Ground Control!"

cnh