Bought new house, need help / advice designing the living room

Gizmo99
Gizmo99 Posts: 169
edited March 2010 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I am finally moving out of my apartment and buying a house that is not yet built. Finally, I going to able to start enjoying my polk gear without feeling bad about my neighbors!! I need some advice from you guys to help me design my new living room / media room. But first let me tell you what I own ...

Speakers:

I currently own

Front: LSI15
Center:LSIC
Sourrounds: FXI Sourrounds (I know they don't match the Front/Center :))
Rear: FXI Rears (I know they don't match Front/Center :))
Receiver: Onkyo 805
TV: 52 inch SONY LCD
Sub:


Problem 1: TV

Like all new homes, the TV is "designed" to be put on top of the fire place. I personally do not like this spot since its too high, as of right now my options are to remove the Fireplace (which i do not want). Or lower the fireplace mantel so I could put the TV ontop of the fireplace at a shorter height. How have people on this board dealt with this?

Problem 2: Speakers

I really want to take advantage of prewiring and pre-installing speakers into the wall and ceiling for my Front (sourrounds), and rear. However I love my LSI15, LSIC, and sourrounds. I know Polk sells IN-WALL Speakers and subs that can be built into the ground. How do these speakers and subs compare to regular, non in-wall speakers / subs I have? I don't really want to repurchase my entire set of speakers but I am willing to spend some money inorder to achieve a nice pleasant looking and high quality sounding setup :)


Here's the floor plan if anyone is interested. I plan on having the setup in my living room.


http://camwest.com/images/model/m_1320_flr_2008-11-18_120008/SH_1140-4_Shaw%20logo%20R.pdf


ANY advice, comments are welcome. If you got in-wall speakers, pics are welcome too!


Thanks in advance guys
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805
Amp: Emotiva XPA-5
Front: LSI15
Center: LSIC
Sourround: FxiA4
Rear: Fxi3
Sub: Bic H100
TV: Sony 52' XBR4


"The more time you spend researching here, the less money you will have" :D
Post edited by Gizmo99 on
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Comments

  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2010
    My 2 cents.

    What is wrong with using the wall opposite of the fireplace? TVs above fireplaces suck.

    In wall wiring, and speakers, are to limiting. You cannot upgrade to better speaker wire in the future, and you are stuck with the placement of the wire, and the speakers. In this type of design, any thing permanent is the absolute worst choice. You need the ability to change anything at anytime, with as little hassle as possible.

    Personally, if I had a family room like that I would use a projector and make it a great HT. That means no inwall speakers, inwall wire, and any other design that restricts my future options.

    Use the living room for a dedicated, decent, two channel system.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • Huck344
    Huck344 Posts: 453
    edited January 2010
    BlueFox wrote: »
    My 2 cents.

    What is wrong with using the wall opposite of the fireplace? TVs above fireplaces suck.

    Based on the drawing, it looks like there are windows on the opposite wall.
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited January 2010
    Using the standard floor plan I don't see a better option other than putting the flat panel over the fireplace, just make sure they don't do a raised hearth, as that would make the TV way too high.

    My first choice would be to use the alternate family room plan, with the fireplace on the back wall. I would have them move the right wall windows from the center and spread them out to the sides, and put the flat panel on the right side wall between the two windows.

    Nice house.....are you leaving the loft on the second floor or making it into the 4th bedroom. The loft would be a perfect place for a two channel rig :)

    Jimmy
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  • Gizmo99
    Gizmo99 Posts: 169
    edited January 2010
    jimmydep wrote: »
    Using the standard floor plan I don't see a better option other than putting the flat panel over the fireplace, just make sure they don't do a raised hearth, as that would make the TV way too high.

    My first choice would be to use the alternate family room plan, with the fireplace on the back wall. I would have them move the right wall windows from the center and spread them out to the sides, and put the flat panel on the right side wall between the two windows.

    Nice house.....are you leaving the loft on the second floor or making it into the 4th bedroom. The loft would be a perfect place for a two channel rig :)

    Jimmy


    Thanks for all the replies. The area
    I have to work with looks a lot bigger in the PDF than in real life. I like the big windows in the original floorplan but the alternative floor plan will allow me to put the tv on the right side wall without it being elevated

    I am going to make the 4th room a bedroom but use it for a two channel rig :). I wish the room is big enough for a home threater.
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805
    Amp: Emotiva XPA-5
    Front: LSI15
    Center: LSIC
    Sourround: FxiA4
    Rear: Fxi3
    Sub: Bic H100
    TV: Sony 52' XBR4


    "The more time you spend researching here, the less money you will have" :D
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  • drselect
    drselect Posts: 664
    edited January 2010
    What directions (North?) are the windows facing? May have an impact on a placement of a TV. You could also do multiple things like make sure the hearth is low no matter were you place the fireplace that way you have options for placing the tvover the hearth. If you were ever to sell the house the next owners may like the TV over the fireplace. What about having them frame out the place for the window on the right but not having them install it. Sometime in the future you could have the window added if needed. Is the house going to be built on a slab/crawl space /basement. Depending what you have may give you some options for wiring.
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  • raidersrule76
    raidersrule76 Posts: 471
    edited January 2010
    What about basement? Is there an option to put it down there? That way you would have a little more flexibility on how you did things.

    Mark
    Sig to be updated after dealing with the insurance company:(:(:(
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  • Gizmo99
    Gizmo99 Posts: 169
    edited January 2010
    drselect wrote: »
    What directions (North?) are the windows facing? May have an impact on a placement of a TV. You could also do multiple things like make sure the hearth is low no matter were you place the fireplace that way you have options for placing the tvover the hearth. If you were ever to sell the house the next owners may like the TV over the fireplace. What about having them frame out the place for the window on the right but not having them install it. Sometime in the future you could have the window added if needed. Is the house going to be built on a slab/crawl space /basement. Depending what you have may give you some options for wiring.

    Good idea on framing the windows but not installing them. This might darken the room a bit but I will talk with the builder about this.

    I am going to ask for a lower Hearth as you suggested. Also, there's no basement for this house. Basements are not that common on the west coast it seems
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805
    Amp: Emotiva XPA-5
    Front: LSI15
    Center: LSIC
    Sourround: FxiA4
    Rear: Fxi3
    Sub: Bic H100
    TV: Sony 52' XBR4


    "The more time you spend researching here, the less money you will have" :D
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  • drselect
    drselect Posts: 664
    edited January 2010
    If you are going to build on a slab, I have heard of some people running conduit (before slab is poured) from one wall to another and/or from one side of fireplace to another. The access to the conduit is "hidden" behind a removable piece of base board. This allows you to hide the wire and still be able to change wire out.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited February 2010
    See if the electrician can run a couple of dedicated circuits for the gear as well. Your ears and equipment will thank you for it. Something to think about when they do the rough -in.
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  • Gizmo99
    Gizmo99 Posts: 169
    edited February 2010
    I will probably ask for a dedicated circuit (I've had times where I heard crackling and popping noises in my old apartment).

    Are there any other things I should ask for ? I am goign to ask them to do speaker wiring for the front, side and rear.
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805
    Amp: Emotiva XPA-5
    Front: LSI15
    Center: LSIC
    Sourround: FxiA4
    Rear: Fxi3
    Sub: Bic H100
    TV: Sony 52' XBR4


    "The more time you spend researching here, the less money you will have" :D
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  • ssages
    ssages Posts: 1
    edited March 2010
    What directions (North?) are the windows facing? May have an impact on a placement of a TV. You could also do multiple things like make sure the hearth is low no matter were you place the fireplace that way you have options for placing the tvover the hearth. If you were ever to sell the house the next owners may like the TV over the fireplace. What about having them frame out the place for the window on the right but not having them install it. Sometime in the future you could have the window added if needed. Is the house going to be built on a slab/crawl space /basement. Depending what you have may give you some options for wiring.
    very good luck to every one
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  • jimbo1421
    jimbo1421 Posts: 772
    edited March 2010
    Put the TV in the fireplace like Costas' and Colbert's Olympic studios.

    Jim
    5.1 System:
    TCL R613 55" 4K
    Front: SRS-3.1TL
    Center: CS400i
    Surround: Monitor 10B
    PSW10 subwoofer
    Onkyo PR-SC886P Pre/Pro
    NAD T955 5 channel power amplifier
    Technics SL-1710 MK2 turntable
    Audio-Technica AT14Sa cartridge
    Parasound P3 pre-amp
    Oppo BDP-103 Blu-Ray
    2014 MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz

    2.0 Office System:
    Monitor 10A (Peerless)
    Outlaw 1050 receiver
    Parasound HCA-1000A power amp
    MacPro
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  • Phil Dawson
    Phil Dawson Posts: 288
    edited March 2010
    When we built our house 3 years ago I installed flexible PVC (it,s blue) in many locations in the house. We didn't finish the basement ceiling so we can run wires from almost anywhere to almost anywhere in the house. We even included a box in the garage that really was handy when we installed an FM antenna in the garage attic and I was able to make a long run of coax without it showing in the house. you run the PVC to low voltage electrical boxes and then use a cover that has enough holes for your needs. We also are set up this way for phones. We installed 20+- of these boxes in the house. I have already made wiring changes and it was really cool not to be locked into a pre-wired situation. (I had to change anSDA pin blade to blade blade). Another option for the TV is to use a projector with a drop down screen. I plan on doing that in the future when time and money permits.
    Good luck, Phil

    SRS-SDA Front
    2 cs400i Center
    SRS-SDA Rear
    Shure 12in sub
    B&K ref 10 pre-pro upgr to ref 50
    Techniques 1200 TT
    Mac MR71 Tuna
    Lexicon rt-20 uni player
    HK citation pre for TT
    2 PSE Studio Mono Blocks
    4 PSE Studio Stereo Amps
    1 Mac 2100 Amp for sub
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