What would you change if you were to rebuild your Home Theater?

[NBPk402]

If I was to rebuild my HT, I would do the following:

1: Eliminate the hallway leading to our HT
2: Have the HVAC be dedicated to the HT instead of as an additional zone
3: Have a lower stage with the equipment inside it
4: Install 4 subs with each centered on each wall.
5: If I was to use my current amps, I would install them in a different room to eliminate the fan noise, or go back to fan-less amps.

[HomeTheaterGuy]

How about not storing the equipment behind a perforated screen, with all the lights shining through. (This was done at the first home theater company I worked for!)

[HomeTheaterGuy]

If I was to rebuild my HT, I would do the following:

1: Eliminate the hallway leading to our HT
2: Have the HVAC be dedicated to the HT instead of as an additional zone
3: Have a lower stage with the equipment inside it
4: Install 4 subs with each centered on each wall.
5: If I was to use my current amps, I would install them in a different room to eliminate the fan noise, or go back to fan-less amps.

I love the Idea of #4, putting the subs on the center of each wall. I've done this and measured the room response with the subs in different places, and the center-wall locations measured the flattest. This was the best sounding location, too.

[NBPk402]

I love the Idea of #4, putting the subs on the center of each wall. I've done this and measured the room response with the subs in different places, and the center-wall locations measured the flattest. This was the best sounding location, too.

I read somewhere before that Harmon Industries did testing and found that the center of the wall was the best location. We went with one in the front and one in the rear, and hindsight is we should have went center of the wall left and right as I believe we would have better bass than we currently have.

[NBPk402]

How about not storing the equipment behind a perforated screen, with all the lights shining through. (This was done at the first home theater company I worked for!)

LOL
We built a wall to the side of our screen (about 8' long) with all the equipment facing forward, then we put our first reflection panels in, and they block all the lights from the equipment. I still think it would have been better to be below the screen with black GOM covering the front.

[HomeTheaterGuy]

LOL
We built a wall to the side of our screen (about 8' long) with all the equipment facing forward, then we put our first reflection panels in, and they block all the lights from the equipment. I still think it would have been better to be below the screen with black GOM covering the front.

I actually like equipment at the rear of the room so I can't see it.

[NBPk402]

I actually like equipment at the rear of the room so I can't see it.

That is the way I have always had it in the past too. As I recall we put it on the side because there was a support beam that was in the way if we moved the speakers over more.

[jlanzy]

I actually like equipment at the rear of the room so I can't see it.

I have it next to me so I can see what speakers are active in my 9.2.4 setup and to see how far we are into a bluray movie without using the on screen info banner, we always take an intermission break for bathroom break and to get dessert    The equip lights are outside of my peripheral vision so unless I look at them I really don't see them.

[AVSMike]

Bigger room. The sound and image in my room is very good, but Seating and throw distance are limited. Problem is, I would either need to build on or buy a new house.

I have my equipment outside my room and if I had it to do all over again, I would go this same route. In fact, I would probably put the projector outside the room also.

[NBPk402]

Bigger room. The sound and image in my room is very good, but Seating and throw distance are limited. Problem is, I would either need to build on or buy a new house.

I have my equipment outside my room and if I had it to do all over again, I would go this same route. In fact, I would probably put the projector outside the room also.

How big is your room? Ours is 25' x 19' x 9', and I also would like more space... I am thinking about 5' larger all around would be great.

[NBPk402]

I have it next to me so I can see what speakers are active in my 9.2.4 setup and to see how far we are into a bluray movie without using the on screen info banner, we always take an intermission break for bathroom break and to get dessert    The equip lights are outside of my peripheral vision so unless I look at them I really don't see them.

Good point... I usually use the on screen info to see what is going on, but then again my rack is 100% hidden too.

[AVSCraig]

About the only thing I would change would be a longer throw distance so I could install a somewhat bigger screen. Just like Mike, that would require adding a 2 story addition to the house - something that will never happen. So, perhaps I'll move the seating forward a little more, if my wife won't call me on it !

[NBPk402]

About the only thing I would change would be a longer throw distance so I could install a somewhat bigger screen. Just like Mike, that would require adding a 2 story addition to the house - something that will never happen. So, perhaps I'll move the seating forward a little more, if my wife won't call me on it !

I am lucky...when we bought the house as I negotiated with my wife. I can do whatever I like with my HT, and our pond. I consult her though when I have ideas and listen to what she suggests, but ultimately it is my decision.

[idratherbeflying]

Well,

#1 I'd make errors that were less expensive (fingers crossed!)
#2 Absolutely subs on each of the left and right walls and/or front and rear walls
#3 Skip messing with a Lumagen and anamorphic lens and simply zoom
#4 Use an easier system for attaching GOM fabric and ridged fiberglass panels to the walls, what a nightmare it was.. I basically ended up "upholstering" my living room 
#5 I'd get a video calibrator out WAY sooner next time, what a change!
#6 In a dream world I'd have the equipment and projector in a booth at the rear, instead of the projector hung above the rear seats (noise) and the equipment rack in another room (50' HDMI runs suck)

[NBPk402]

Well,

#1 I'd make errors that were less expensive (fingers crossed!)
#2 Absolutely subs on each of the left and right walls and/or front and rear walls
#3 Skip messing with a Lumagen and anamorphic lens and simply zoom
#4 Use an easier system for attaching GOM fabric and ridged fiberglass panels to the walls, what a nightmare it was.. I basically ended up "upholstering" my living room 
#5 I'd get a video calibrator out WAY sooner next time, what a change!
#6 In a dream world I'd have the equipment and projector in a booth at the rear, instead of the projector hung above the rear seats (noise) and the equipment rack in another room (50' HDMI runs suck)

#1..good luck on that one. LOL
#2.. I did my subs front and rear and now wish I would have went with the left and right walls instead. I think front and rear in my setup is only good if you have left and right already. I say this because in my room we have a null that is right in the front row. We moved the row as much as we can and it is better, but not quite as good as it should be.
#4..I hear ya, we have a fabric room too. LOL
#6... We have our equipment in the HT, and I wish the amps were in a different room due to fan noise.

We all have experiences that can help others. I regret not listening to others when they  said "Do not install any equipment until the room is 100% completed" 3 years later the room is still not 100% due to us watching movies in it all the time.