Need Help Designing a Dream Room


The company I work for got acquired and I'm moving to the new headquarters in Charlotte. We're having no luck finding an existing home meeting our unusual needs (smaller house since we are almost empty nesters, but big listening room on the first floor), so we're building a new home. Hot dog! I finally get to design a dream room!

I'm not an audio engineer, so all I know (and it might be wrong) is that one should use the 1.618 ratio rule. Therefore, I am planning on a family room which is 11x18x29 (nothing is set though). The floors will be hardwood (my wife, who is generous, gracious and loving enough to go through this process instead of buying a perfectly fine regular house, insists on the flooring). I have very large speakers: Montana KAS's. I love many kinds of music: Jazz, blues, classical and rock.

How should I design this room? Separate electrical box? Dimensions? Materials? Rounded corners? This will open into the kitchen and eating area (separate rooms) so we can enjoy the music there as well. Thanks in advance. I look forward to your advice.
ozfly

Showing 1 response by macdonj

Ozfly,

I won't comment on Albertporter's or AVDcreations' recommendations on what to do. From previous posts, Albertproter has a room envied by many AudiogoNers, past and present.

However, both Sean and Albertporter have good thoughts on HOW. It is way cheaper to do things now than to put in something that is only half of what you want with the plan to "make it right" later. Besides, you never will. Most of the construction improvements will cost hardly more than the material upgrades if planned for now. Things like 1-1/2" thick subflooring or conduits run through the slab will be prohibitively expensive or impossible if not done now.

Also, please listen to Albertporter when he suggests that you carefully supervise the plans. Supervise the construction closely, also. There will be plenty of places for a contractor to cut corners with the unusual specifications that a sound room like this wil have. From the new construction I've seen recently, contractors cut corners on normal stuff already. For example, if your final design calls for laminating three layers of sheet rock on all the walls, you'll have to make sure that the contractor uses glue between the layers. If he's not watched, chances are he won't.

I hope I haven't offended any members who are contractors. This has been my previous experience.