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Help / Comments - New Construction - Sort of...

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you are... It is a bit bittersweet for me, but the wife and I have put an offer in on a new home and it has been accepted. It is a bit sad after years of hard work into our current home, however situations with her business really dictate we move and build custom.

Now with the sweet of the bittersweet... The "better half" has also allowed me to use the "bonus room" as my dedicated listening room. It measures roughly 15'8" x 21'9" with a ceiling height of 9'. I have made some "minor" requests to the builder at this time. There is to be a "coffered ceiling" which consists of 6" wide by 8" deep beams... square pattern to consist of nine roughly 5'x7' rectangles. I am hoping this will help with diffusion. I have also requested the entire room be hung with double layers of sheetrock. The room is located on the second floor. Also to have 5 dedicated 20 amp lines ran to the room. On the short wall (behind my listening position) is the "chute" for the chimney from the greatroom below. This is approx 18" deep by 3 feet wide. I have made arrangements for cabinets (waist high) and bookshelves to the ceiling (for vinyl) to flank either side of the chimney chute. Only other option at this point was a solid door as well. I am planning on providing the cryo'd romex and duplex' and plan to have the breakers all on the same leg at the top of the box...

All else is yet to be determined. I have a wife that does not want *any* type of "tacky" sonic correction stuff anywhere... the best I have gotten so far is my Eighth Nerve room pack up...

So any suggestions, must do's... let me know. I am not certain I want double drywall, but was told that the stiffer the wall, the better the bass, and livlier the room, as well as help to isolate the sound.

At this point, we just signed the contract this evening, thus all *could be* changed... however budget is about zip, zero, zilch, nada, you get the idea... thus I worked the above into the room with the builder at this point. However, they estimate it will be 6 to 7 months until closing so if there ARE any "MUST DO" suggestions (afraid there will be many...) I do have time to react.

All help is greatly appreciated. My system link has all my gear, minus my TT that is on the way... Nottingham Spacedeck with Ace Space Arm, ZYX Airy3-S-SB with the Whest phono stage...
audiofankj
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Make sure you get a good electrician that understands that he is not paying you to do the job...some of these guys like to do it their way.

Your dedicated room will make you a very happy audiophile...congrats.

Dave
tburn
35 posts
 
Being on the second floor, I would give some special consideration to the rigidity of the floor system. This can be greatly enhanced by doubling up all the floor joists under this room - we're talking an extra few hundred bucks for lumber. In addition, the best scenario would also include T&G 3/4" plywood, glued and screwed (they'll probably be using nailers, so just go back on your own and screw it down w/ one foot spacing. The builder will probably insist this is all overkill, but it makes a substantial difference in the strengt of the floor, and can be accomplished for the price of a cheap "tweak" (and this is the only logical time to do it). Perhaps someone will suggest the best means (materials) for sound isolation to the lower level. Have fun, and good luck ... Tom
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
"I have also requested the entire room be hung with double layers of sheetrock"

Double layers of drywall may not be a good idea unless you are going with a double wall. The added drywall will reflect bass back into the room I would think.

Short of a double wall construction I would think that 2x6 or more stud thickness will allow more insulation to be packed in behind the sheet-rock to absorb bass.

Dave
bignerd100
515 posts
 
Tburn's advice is dead on. Cost is small rellatively speaking and reward is high.

As far as the walls and insulation it may be a good idea to type in room dimensions into an in-room frequency response Excell spreadsheet to find the problem frequencies and then read the appropriate chapters in Master Handbook of Accustics to fight the problematic frequencies. It is impossible to build the perfect room but you can build a damn good one.
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