Ginky Weeds Home Theater

[Ginky Weeds]

Latest update...got my backer boxes cut out and assembled. I'm fortunate to have a good friend across the street with a wood shop. We collaborated on the boxes after I designed them. They are cut from 5/8 particle board and I'll be lining them with 5/8 drywall and Green Glue over the next few days.

[Ginky Weeds]

Backer boxes finished. Good first experience with applying Green Glue. Toughest part was cutting and fitting the drywall in the boxes.

Ceiling speaker boxes



Ultrathin recessed light fixture boxes:



Combo boxes. These will accommodate both a speaker and a recessed light placed next to each other in one box .



The sealant isn't pretty, but won't be visible. I plan to use the approach of mounting them with supports fastened to the ceiling channels. After doing the small replumbing job, I'll install DD + GG under the two HVAC supply runs and be ready to locate the backer boxes and finish the ceiling insulation. Then on to building one last bulkhead before running speaker wiring. I also need to run a LAN cable from my upstairs modem to the theater. What do you recommend? CAT 5, 6, 7, 8? I'm totally unfamiliar with network cabling and will appreciate your advice. It will be about a 50' run.

[Ginky Weeds]

PS: Should I put insulation in the tops of the boxes to add dampening? Inside the boxes, not outside.

[Tom Bley]

PS: Should I put insulation in the tops of the boxes to add dampening? Inside the boxes, not outside.

I would put a square of insulation at one end of the box for some absorption so that is not completely hollow.  That is really all you need. 

[Ginky Weeds]

A bit of progress to report. All of the electrical wiring is done except what will be installed in the false soffits after the drywall is hung on the ceiling and walls. The bulkhead has been built around the plumbing pipes on one wall.



I've installed a short conduit for the HDMI cables to the projector.



I've also provided for a Romex cable power connection to the projector. The white wire coiled at the middle of the wall will be wired into the outlet box in the soffit above and the coiled cable will have a 110 V plug installed that will be plugged into a Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner/Surge Suppressor. This will provide double surge protection for the projector. Also provided power for a dead vent fan in the area underneath the stairs directly behind this wall. And ran a thermostat cable between the furnace room and the dead vent in case I decide to run the vent fan from a relay that triggers when the HVAC fan starts.


Today I installed the recessed lights and backer boxes in the two bulkheads. Took me awhile, but I got them installed and tested. Love the small footprint of the entire light assembly and the ability to select light temperature. And they are bright! I think I'm going to really enjoy the dimmers on the switches. Thinking about starting speaker wire runs tomorrow afternoon.

[Ginky Weeds]

Question on speaker cable runs. I know at the speaker ends, holes in drywall where the cables go through are sealed with acoustical sealant. What's best practice at the rack end? All of my cables will be run in soffits (except where the Atmos speaker cables traverse the ceiling from the soffits to the backer boxes). The rack will be in an alcove that will be hidden from the rest of the room by the rack itself and by fabric panels on either side of it. There will be two bundles of speaker cables, each coming from a side of the room. To preserve the soundproof shell, I think the speaker cables should drop into the rack area from the soffit above rather than penetrating the double drywall shell. How to finish this entry into the soffit? If I use a low voltage bracket, it will create a pretty large opening into the soffit. Or should I drill a hole in the "ceiling" of the soffit just large enough for the bundle to pass through, then seal with acoustical sealant? Then finish with a wall plate designed to accommodate wire bundles? I've seen them both open and with what look like brush bristles or even a rubber panel that the cables pass through. Other options? Guess I'd better think this through before running the cables. Advice is appreciated!

[Ginky Weeds]

After more thought, I've settled on strategy for cable runs. Since the rear alcove where the rack will be located will be hidden from view except when working on the equipment, I'm going to essentially treat it as an electronics closet. So I'm going to move the conduit in the above picture from inside the wall to on the surface of the wall to avoid that opening in the soundproofing envelope. And my speaker cables will be in two separate bundles that will run in the false soffits with two holes to drop them to the rack, finished with recessed cable access wallplates. In the riser, I'll install a conduit that will poke through the top of the riser near the rack and run to the front of the riser for HDMI, USB, RCA and LAN cables. They'll be terminated in the appropriate keystone inserts for each cable. I'm toying with adding speaker cables as well, but not really a fan at this point. They would be for Buttkickers if I chose to use them, but think it's very unlikely that I'll add them.

With those decisions made, I'm getting ready to run the speaker cables, finish insulation, install clips and channel on the ceiling, install remaining backer boxes and be ready for drywall.


.

[bmoney]

looks great!  really coming along!

[Ginky Weeds]

Got the insulation finished today. Will take a break over the weekend as we'll be visiting family. I'll be ready to restart on Monday. A great weekend to all!

[Ginky Weeds]

Making some progress.  Clips and channel installed on the ceiling.  Backer boxes installed and lights wired.  Really like these new ultrathin recessed lights and their selectable color temperature. Played with that a bit and found at this point I like the light on the warmer spectrum.  But they'll be accessible after installed in the ceiling and soffits, so I can adjust if I change my mind after the room is finished.  Insulation is completed in the theater.  I'm finishing insulation in the hallway and then will be ready for drywall.  Hoping to order drywall today.  Going to take a break to enjoy some unseasonably warm temperatures here in Michigan to get everything ready for winter.


Just bought a batch of Blurays and 4K UHD discs, so getting prepared to enjoy the theater when finished.

[Paul Heroy]

Looking good. What are the recessed lights? I couldn't see a specific brand/model mentioned - are they a smart light (i.e. Philips Hue) or just able to be controlled via dimmer that's smart?

[Ginky Weeds]

Hey Paul,

These are not smart lights, just thin LEDs.  They'll be controlled by Lutron Caseta smart dimmer switches that will integrate with the Harmony Elite remote.  I'll also be adding a motion sensor to automatically turn them on and off when entering/exiting the theater.

[Ginky Weeds]

Finished insulation and drywall will be delivered tomorrow. So hoping to get to that milestone of hanging and finishing the drywall soon. I was going to hire the hanging out and have a friend in the business do the finishing. But he's not working right now, so I'm planning to do the hanging with him to provide some additional income for him.

The next update should include pictures of OSB and drywall covering the bare studs and insulation.

[Ginky Weeds]

86 sheets of drywall delivered.  Will start hanging it next week.

[bmoney]

I have a love hate relationship with theater building. It’s fun and exciting yet long and tedious at times. Yours is looking great!!