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New Place - What Would You Do?

Caution: Epic novella.


Just as I was about to downsize, I’ve decided to move back to a larger place. I will be getting my gear/software back from my ex in about a month or so. What I need to do is plan where I’m setting up, and how. I need to budget to tame the rooms sound-wise (curtains, rugs, panels if needed...). The house layout is insanely open, great for your feng shui, terrible for sound.


Here's a link to the floor plan of the house. with measurements and a few photos to give you an idea of what I'm up against. These are old photos. The place has zero furniture at the moment and all of downstairs is now hardwood (you'll see carpet in living room photos).


The house is a nightmare for audio. I’m familiar with this floor plan from a former life, and this is the worst version possible. You’ll notice there’s markings for speaker cable access as well as built in speakers (JBL I think). This can all be accessed by the coat closet next to the downstairs bathroom. I think the original owner had his gear rack in there. At one point I was considering using the master bedroom – which would be perfect, but I’ve been domesticated so I think I’ll keep it as a bedroom. Anyway, I’ve got 3 potential listening rooms.


1) Family room. It includes the kitchen, and really, entry area. Besides the kitchen and catwalk, it’s a 20’ ceiling. The upper rooms form a circle around the perimeter. While it’s the largest room, it’s also one I don’t think I can tame, even dedicating more money than I’d like for sound treatment. Additionally, the idiotic placement of the office doors, and almost floor to ceiling windows on one side make placing a tv a daunting task. About the only thing I’ve figured is just put it in front of the window. Sadly, it’s a room I’ll hang in a lot, so maybe the TV will still be there and some stand-mounts.


2) Living room. I’m 90% sure this is the room to use. It’s relatively contained, although about 70% of one wall is open, to the dining area and the 20’ entry ceiling. The guy that built the place fancied himself an AV buff, so there’s speaker wire running to the green X’s. The living room is where he’d obviously set up his screen and projector and “surround” system. The ceiling is tiered, and 12’ high in the center. Same w/dining. Also the room that sadly makes the most sense for a screen.


3) Bed 2. In my old similar layout, I had this room extended over the wasted space entry, it was about 12x19, with reinforced joists and dedicated panel. It was awesome. This room however is about 10x12, has 2 poorly placed doors, but is at least carpeted and contained with a 10’ ceiling. So, tiny. Welcome to the SF Bay Area!


As mentioned, my ex has had my gear for 5 years, but I’m getting it back – woo-hoo! Plus, about 2k LPs and 1.5k CDs. I’m assuming it’s all in working order but who knows. Fingers crossed!


Current Gear:
- BAT VK-220 amp
- BAT VK 3Xi pre
- Oppo BDP-105? CD/DVD (Been so long I don’t remember)
- Music Hall MMF 7.x turntable
- Thiel 2 2 speakers
Also:
- Adcom GFA-555 II amp
- Adcom GFP-585 pre


Yes, it's all just mid-fi but might start building as I put my life back together again. I'm 20 years behind the curve. I'm also really a 2-channel music person first and foremost. I'd like to get my digital collection on an NAS, but not a priority. I'd also like to figure out this streaming thing. I'm 100% clueless. I'd love to keep my current gear and just add on. 5 weeks ago I was looking at getting some bookshelf speakers for my townhouse, but now? I'm considering some KEF R700/7's, as I'm not sure what shape the Thiels are still in.


So, you can recommend what you think I should do, or what you'd do for you! There's a lot of things I'm just not aware of on the market. I'd love a 75" TV but where would I put it? How?  Feel free to ask questions, this already got too long! I appreciate any of your thoughts on this.
128x128uncle_monkey
kudelka8
34 posts
 
Sounds like a good time to upgrade you power supply. Hospital grade wall outlet (Furutech or Wattgate), perfect path contact enhancer (and a PPGate, if you’re flush enough)" , dedicated lines. That is what I’d do first if I was moving to a new house. No time like the present.
A big room you can always adjust, there’s less you can do to solve a small room’s acoustics. So I’d put it in the larger room.

my own attitude is that for heaven’s sake I live in this room. I read here, I entertain here, I nap here, and so on, besides playing music here. So I’ve made sure my speakers are perfectly located, and put a lot of thought into antivibration techniques, and I’ve placed furniture and bookcases and carpets to make the best of the space acoustically, but beyond that, I try not to obsess too much   over acoustics. 
Try placing a box of record albums in front of your component rack between the speakers. I stumbled onto that tweak, and was shocked by how much it improved the soundstage (in this room, with this system). Simple as that. 

kudelka8
34 posts
 
Sounds like a good time to upgrade you power supply. Hospital grade wall outlet (Furutech or Wattgate), perfect path contact enhancer (and a PPGate, if you’re flush enough)" , dedicated lines. That is what I’d do first if I was moving to a new house. No time like the present.
A big room you can always adjust, there’s less you can do to solve a small room’s acoustics. So I’d put it in the larger room.

my own attitude is that for heaven’s sake I live in this room. I read here, I entertain here, I nap here, and so on, besides playing music here. So I’ve made sure my speakers are perfectly located, and put a lot of thought into antivibration techniques, and I’ve placed furniture and bookcases and carpets to make the best of the space acoustically, but beyond that, I try not to obsess too much   over acoustics. 
Try placing a box of record albums in front of your component rack between the speakers. I stumbled onto that tweak, and was shocked by how much it improved the soundstage (in this room, with this system). Simple as that. 

bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
Looking at the plan and video, my initial thought would be the living room too. Personally I would want my listening room downstairs close to the other areas I will be using on a normal day/evening. The windows are a bit tough, as will be the large opening to the entry hall. But, that could/may also be a bit of a ‘plus’, especially if you could put the speakers on each side of the fireplace. Problem is, to move your speakers into the room 3 ft or so will begin to ‘push you out into that opening as far as seating (12’ will diminish fast). Or, speakers on the front wall with the window behind (with window treatment), but then the open ‘side wall’ will be a challenge while being more closed on the other (fireplace) wall.
The two story family looks like a nightmare for sound/acoustics, especially with all the other glass, openings, and kitchen beyond.

Good luck.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,586 posts
 
*S* First, congrats on your new home! Bigger than I’d contemplate, but I’ve always been ’big’ on smaller...;)

Instead of 2 cents, here’s my 2 bits...bytes, actually...;)

Master Bdrm - Nothing, save it for dreams of where you might go, system-wise...

Den/Office - Pair of small bookshelf units, perhaps with a small sub. It’s an office, a place for Deep Thoughts....*G*

Family ’Cavern’ - With the kitchen komplex at hand (which is where most gatherings flow about)...IMHO...I’d go for a flat screen in a ’lift’ cabinet, with the ability to rotate the screen 180. Flank it with a decent pair of omnis’, your choice of type. Placed between the X’s , somewhat below the balcony’s edge.
General good entertainment area; not so SOTA. This assumes the Dining is where group dining occurs...

Living Area - The SOTA Space. Flank the Fire with ’firepower’ (the main speakers); if back units are desired the wires are there. The ’X’ mid-side wall is where one could park the TT, CD, and whatever will float your future fancies...

Of course, this hinges on your....’scuse me, spouse’s dreams of furnishings. ;) *L* SAF in any new home is very important to you. Makes procuring later equipment potentially easier....not guaranteed, but... well, you know the drill....*G*

As for any ’room treatments’....let the Rx flow from the needs, the ’former’ living room would take precedence.

(IMHO, the above would be my approach in the same scenario...to each, and happy music to all...)


terry9
2,333 posts
 
Room size has been investigated scientifically, and I can tell you that it works. I've built my own room to conform to scientifically determined specifications, 1/8" (3mm) tolerances, and it's the best room I've ever heard.

Precise room dimensions were obtained by conducting nearly a quarter million simulations. It turns out that most rooms are just plain bad. About a quarter are OK, and a few percent are good.

If you prefer science to snake oil, I suggest that you look up Salford University Acoustics. Among their subheadings is 'room dimensions'. Try to build to 1/8" tolerances, accept 1/2" errors, and enjoy. I used a superior acoustic drywall, Quietrock 545, which contains a steel sheet between 5 distinct layers of drywall, and elastomeric glues from Chemlink. Joints glued and screwed. It's worth it.

Good luck!
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