Home theatre construction guide

Want to add comfort and ambience to a room as well as acoustic and visual qualities close to those found in a movie theatre?
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Visual comfort
Acoustical comfort
Floor coverings
Soundproofing and sounddeadening
Physical comfort

Visual comfort

Start by choosing the size of your screen in keeping with the depth of your room. The distance between the first row of seating and the screen should be two and a half to three times the screen's diagonal measurement. In other words, a 53" screen (134.6 cm) needs to be set back 12' (3.66 metres), and a 61" screen (154.9 cm), 15' (4.57 metres). In order to accommodate more of those increasingly rare seats in the front, place them in rows.

A wall unit blends easily with your decor, adding warmth and style to your room. It supports any combination of audio-visual equipment. Download the complete project plan of the wall unit shown on the picture.
Take care that lighting isn't too harsh on the eyes once you turn it on after screening a movie.

Use a dimmer to soften lighting during viewing time. Incandescent lighting, whether recessed, set back or camouflaged with originality is best for this purpose. When installing it, be sure it doesn't reflect off the screen.

Acoustical comfort

Speakers, which usually come in sets of six, each work on one of the channels channels of your digital videodisc (DVD) decoder (front speakers, centre speaker, sub-woofer and rear speakers). Here's how you can arrange them in such a way as to obtain balanced sound without knowing precisely from what source. Place the centre speaker above or below the television set, which should be flanked by the front speakers. Place the sub-woofer in a corner at the front, and rear speakers at the back of the room, 3' (1 m) behind the seats, or on each side of the room along the seats. If possible, all speakers should be installed at ear level of sitting spectators.

Let an expert guide you in the choice of equipment that will meet your needs. There are two types of technologies for DVD decoders and they are not compatible. The most popular work with Dolby Digital. The others rely on DTS technology, for which a smaller selection of records and videos is available.

Floor coverings

While carpeting is ideal to muffle sound on a concrete floor, wood floors are ideal for the home theatre. Hence, it will be necessary to build a raised floor if your home cinema is to be located in the basement. To do so, first lay 15-lb. asphalt felt on the concrete floor, overlapping edges by at least 2" nail or screw 2 x 3" wood studs to the floor, on the flat, every 16", centre to centre, and cover them with standard 5/8" spruce tongue and groove plywood, screwed every 12".

Wood and carpeting are the most popular floor coverings for this type of room.

Soundproofing and sounddeadening

Acoustic panels installed on walls and ceilings provide fine soundproofing. Install acoustic batts between wall studs and ceiling joists, then cover them with Sonopan acoustic panels. Add two 5/8" layers of gypsum with offset joints, fastened to resilient spacers every 16".

Drape your windows to absorb sound that would normally reverberate.

Physical comfort

Choose a simple decor. Attractive elements that could distract spectators do not have their place in a home theatre.

As much as possible, avoid using heavily contrasted wall-paper. Choose textured, plain or paintable wallpaper.

If you wish to camouflage your speakers, recess them into the walls.

Your lighting fixtures should be so simple as to virtually disappear in your decor. Try recessed ceiling pot lights or cornice lights. Plug small night lights in low wall outlets during viewing time for soft lighting.

Avoid too many adornments or distracting paintings.

Choose comfortable armchairs, loveseats or couches. Simple furniture is best suited for a home theatre.

Finally, cover your windows and half-glass doors with simply textured or plain curtains. Warm textures will play a important role in making you feel comfortable.
Now, choose a good movie, put your slippers on, sit comfortably and enjoy your new home movie theatre.
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