2. misc-audio
  3. 185968-128813

Rant: PSA to builders, housewives, and general complaint

In our search for a new house, I’m seeing some disturbing and annoying trends, mainly, living rooms where the ONLY place to put a TV is way high above a fireplace. This leaves zero flexibility for tv placement, additional audio components etc. Most don’t even have plugs. I'm also in Texas and there's ZERO need for a fireplace.

Not to mention all the "open concepts" we’re seeing where the living room is strangely shaped and the kitchen is basically in the room where you hear all the kitchen noise and you’re 100% accessible to your spouse and their conversation (ramblings).

This isn’t a problem if you have $2m to spend but for most of us, we’re limited in where we can set up our toys and this does not help.

Thank you for listening.

dtximages
erik_squires
15,793 posts
 

Sadly not new.  It's been true since before I purchased in 2021.  The best compromise is often a converted garage or attic space.

Also hard to find around here was homes with plenty of natural light. 

vonhelmholtz
911 posts
 

We contracted to build in North Texas and have the open design with 30’ plus ceilings and forget audio, or decent theater in such a room. The echo makes it challenging to understand simple conversation. Separate rooms are needed for audio and theater. We have a TV mounted high over a large modern fireplace, but with the floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows and poor sound, it isn’t ideal.  Also, they love running lots of outlets and lights on one circuit.

dtximages OP
355 posts
 

@gdnrbob 

True and good point. But generally there are about 5 days in the winter where the effort and mess of a fireplace are potentially worth it.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,482 posts
 

Junk OSB and green ZIP tinderboxes vibrate and amplify inside and outside noise. Home construction is cheap and poor. 

christianb5s4
231 posts
 

Personally, I know there is real sonic tradeoff for doubling a listening space as a living space. However, I am a big fan of being able to use and appreciate my system as much as possible and with people when possible.

 

I could never imagine having a listening room where I'd sequester myself in order to listen. There is a huge sonic advantage for a dedicated space, though.

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