Home Cinema for open-plan family area

[admin_exported]

We have a new open-plan kitchen with a good-sized family area which would be ideal for a home cinema area. I have a few issues I would appreciate help with:

1) There is no back walls to where the sofas will be situated and I don't want rear speaker stands cluttering up the space, so I was delighted to read the first look review of the Yamaha YSP-2200 digital sound projector. Anyone have experience with these type of systems in an awkward and quite large (7m long, 6m wide into an L 3.5m wide at the tv end, plus an island in the middle)? Will this unit be up to the job?

2) We want to wall mount the tv and first fix electrics are happening next Mon. What is the optimum height for a tv to be located. Would a sound projector need to be positioned directly below the screen or is it okay on an equipment rack below? Any recommended racks for this? Should we embed the cables to and from the tv or look at putting in some trunking to allow for flexibility?

3) 3D or not 3D? Probably looking at a 50" screen and there are some good LG / Samsung products that have 3D. Is it worth it or is it a fad?

I know there's a lot of questions here, but any sage advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Big Chris]

1. Can't help there I'm afraid.

2. The centre of the screen should be level with your eyes when sitting. Mine was until I bought a new, lower suite, and I've found a few inches one way or the other isn't going to cause a problem. Don't be tempted to mount it up near the ceiling (Don't laugh, I've seen it). You're the one who's got to watch it at the end of the day, and you'll have major neck-ache before long.

3. The choice is yours. For everyone who thinks 3D is the bee's knees, there's someone who thinks it's a pointless fad (I fall into the latter category). However, if you buy a 3D capable TV which is also great with 2D, it's no problem if you never use the 3D functionality,is it.

 

[chudleighpaul]

Sound bars (projectors) rely on bouncing the sound around and off walls to produce the desired effect. As your room is open plan with no rear wall you may not achieve what you are seeking. I would recommend finding a dealer who would give you a home demo.

Another possibility for the surround speakers is to flush mount them in ceiling

 

[jarra]

If you wear specs,or a family or friend does,they may have a dominant eye, which means they cannot see in 3D. I fall in this catorgary,so 3D is out for me. I find the picture is also darker in 3D.

Dont put your screen to high up otherwise you will end with a stiff neck. I have a 50" Pioneer and the screen centre is about 4-5 feet off the ground.

If you are thinking of getting an AV amp, you can also discard the rear speakers and go for two speakers set high up.

I would demo the Yamaha sound bar,and see what you think and checkout reviews. other forums

 

[Big Aura]

I've a dominant eye too, so I get an enhanced 3d effect in the real world if I squint through my good eye!

I've not heard any soundbars, but I think they will work best with "normal" shaped rooms (depending on walls and ceilings to steer the effect). Can you get some smaller / style speakers like Kef 2005 or B&W M1s and mount them on the wall, high up?

For screen height, I prefer my eyes to be level with a point which is slightly below the midpoint (2/3 way down) the screen, but that purely preference. Just don't have it stupidly low or high, and you'll be fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the observations / advice. There are rear walls to bounce off, but they would be 4 metres or so behind the sitting position. I won't have the luxury of a dealer home demo because we need to decide between multiple speakers or a sound bar of some description before they start plastering the walls. We want all speaker cables to be hidden, if poss.

If we went for ceiling mount for rear speakers would the effect be lost somewhat and always sound like it's coming from above? Are there any 5 Star ceiling mounted speakers out there?

 

[chudleighpaul]

ads@abmiller.com:

Thanks for the observations / advice. There are rear walls to bounce off, but they would be 4 metres or so behind the sitting position. I won't have the luxury of a dealer home demo because we need to decide between multiple speakers or a sound bar of some description before they start plastering the walls. We want all speaker cables to be hidden, if poss.

If we went for ceiling mount for rear speakers would the effect be lost somewhat and always sound like it's coming from above? Are there any 5 Star ceiling mounted speakers out there?
You would not notice the sound coming from high up, it would sound OK. Kef make ceiling mounts, I think they have a white finish.