Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Cable ordered thank you!
I have been messaging around loads of companies to fit the ceiling speakers, projector screen (on ceiling) and the projector (ceiling mounted) ad aligned.
Most won't do it because they didn't supply the equipment (some were charging 40% more for the equipment!).
The only one who has got back to me so far says it is a 2-day job, one of which will require 2 people and that the cost per day would be £150 exc VAT.
Does this sound reasonable?
I'm unsure if I could do it myself but I have thought about it . . . .
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Fitting the speakers screen and projector shouldn't be too difficult. The problems are locating joists or strong point for the projector. The same problem applies if the speakers are being hung from the ceiling, if if mounted in the ceiling, cutting accurate holes and running the cables. The screen should be OK if you use the appropriate fixing and fix the a solid structure. If it's electric, the problem is running concealed cables.
£75/day/person probably OK as it's a niche type of installation, but ask how they will run wiring, does it include terminals etc if required, will wiring ne concealed or run in surface mounted flat trunking? Ask to see samples of the trunking and see if that is acceptable. You might want to ask for references, where they have installed stuff and perhaps contact the person/organisation to inspect the work done previously. Are they members of a trade organisation?
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Thank you for the reply. I will be contacting them again after work today. They would like to come out and view the room first (good sign) and then we can discuss the finer details.
I don't mind paying someone to do a good job. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't excessive. I now wonder sometimes why I got into teaching. So much more money out there for other things! :)
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dashers
Download Room EQ Wizard, it's free, and pick up a monitor from Maplin or something. You can then test your room for acoustic problems and apply relevant fixes.
Remembering at all times, acoustic treatment isn't sound-proofing.
Just going back to his,
Are there any 'cheap monitor mics' which can be used to try this? Or would they not be worth it?
I have also ordered Rockwool slabs, muslin cloth (to go over wool and stop dust) and a wine red coloured fabric. I just need to get the frames sorted. Thinking of maybe six panels (3 either side of the room) 120cm long - 60cm wide.
Would this be worthwhile or likely make little difference?
Thank you.
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Small update, I have picked paint for the room:
http://www.paint-direct.co.uk/en-GB/...88-33-0-2.aspx
Hope to start that asap.
Ceiling speakers have arrived. I have already swapped over to the new AV Receiver. I find the dialogue a little on the low side after calibration but will wait for the room to be finished before tinkering.
Ceiling speakers, projector mount, and projector screen will be installed next weekend. I am also working on the acoustic tiles.
Exciting times :)
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Didn't see your update on the REW thing. You can get calibrated USB microphones off Amazon for a reasonable price, best way to get accurate results.
You need a SPL metre too, but I think that just gives you accurate levels, if you don't then the graph might be offset in terms of volume, but otherwise accurate where your reflections are.
Where are your progress pictures?
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Woo :D They look great. A bit bigger than I thought they would be but a solid bit of kit. All getting installed on the 20th.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...510_200051.jpg
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Nice! :)
Love the 'Useless if dropped' :D
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Yes, I chuckled at that comment :D
Just in case anyone didn't already know :D
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Speakers and screen up! The guy was here for 9 hours yesterday. Top tip for people: Know where your joists are! As we only bought the house, we had no idea and they took a lot of time to navigate. I played the Dolby Atmos Blu-ray and it was brilliant!
100inch Elite Spectrum was the biggest I could get that would fit :( Really wanted bigger. Oh well.Also couldn't get one tab tensioned.
I still need to:
Paint the room
Get black out blinds
Make Acoustic panels
I have narrowed down the paint - Dulux Night Jewels 1
Should I do the ceiling a different colour? Any recommendations?
Acoustic panels need to be made: Rockwool was delivered damaged. The company is being a nightmare and want to take it back before they send a replacement. The issue has been ongoing for 6 weeks!
Anyway - Some pics:
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...0_113723_1.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_113728.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_121934.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_121922.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_113720.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_121938.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_135100.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_204313.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_204316.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_204323.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_204328.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...520_121927.jpg
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Awesome pics, great progress. You're going to have trouble getting those front speakers coming to life that close to the walls. Really recommend getting onto one of the AV forums and reading up about how to use Room EQ Wizard before you start slapping acoustic panels about the place.
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
They are currently 98cm from the walls. How far away should they be? I don't really want them sitting in the middle of the room with me haha
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
That should be plenty, it's hard to tell in your picture. The side distance is important though.
As to how much, it depends on the room and speaker. You either have to experiment or use complex modelling! But I'd definitely put some acoustic treatment on the walls either side of the speakers and bass-traps in the corners behind them.
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
I will be making the panels and then try to put them in good positions. I don't have the equipment to do it right but getting that done in the future is a possibility.
In regards to corner bass traps. Would I just put one behind each floor stander or all 4 corners? And should they take up the whole corner or just part?
Likewise, is foam okay? Or not worth the money?
I don't really want to spend much as the amount I have spent so far has left me with little :P So I'm not intentionally being tight haha.
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Look on ebay for them. Acoustic panels are basic open-cell foam, the sound waves bounce around and get diffused and convert into heat energy.
How much you need in terms of bass traps, again, that's down to the specifics of your room. You may as well start off with none - and play it by ear or use measuring tools. The problem with corners are they're are 90° cones, which reinforces bass and makes everything boomy. Bass should be clear and precise (although still deep and powerful). Which corners? All, top to bottom - but that might be overkill. Start with the ones with the speakers in at around listening/speaker level.
Early reflections are the walls against your speakers where sound comes out, reflect and then interfere with the primary soundwave. These really mess up vocals and speech (centres help massively with speech).
There is a degree of taste to all this though. At the extreme, if you kill every reflection (not going to be done on a home budget) and stop all ambient noise the room will be lifeless and thoroughly uncomfortable to be in for any length of time.
Re: Home cinema ideas/questions
Any idea in terms of foam width etc?
I have found these:
http://www.thefoamshop.co.uk/
You can pick your own shape and dimensions. but unsure if it would work or not for corners?
It would appear there are many kinds of foam :D
Thanks for your help Dashers. It is appreciated a lot!