Rant: PSA to builders, housewives, and general complaint

@dtximages--best of luck on your move. Nashville was not booming like it is now when we were initially looking- we wanted no winter, a university where I could teach part time (I'm retired) and a good rowing culture-- my wife is into competitive rowing. Since we never had kids, we had a little flexibility but if you are patient and have access to the multi-list, targeted by zip code and price, you can exclude a lot of houses and maybe luck out. I was up in Dallas the other day to visit one of the known audiophiles here- it was 10 degrees cooler than Austin, but was told it was just an anomaly - they had a break in the weather. The hardest part of Texas for me is the summer heat- I like the people, I like getting out into Deep Texas and exploring.  

I live in an older house that thankfully has walls and doors - large open spaces would drive me crazy trying to 'tune' a system.

I have a 65" wall mounted TV above the fireplace and like it - no issue at all.  I suppose that it could be a problem if the mantel was unusually high.

I also have a similar TV wall mounted above my equipment rack in another room, and again, no problem viewing it.

Maybe get a recliner so you don't have to stretch your neck for viewing....?

@whart yeah we had a couple of days under 100deg and it felt great with no humidity!

Anyway, my angst about the fireplace isn't so much with mounting the tv too high, it's the total lack of options it allows.. No place for my "spread" if you will (media cabinet full of sparkling equipment, center channel, etc.)  

I swear it all started with a magazine and a woman (or man I suppose so i dont get banned) saw it and had to have it. 

Unfortunately, I can't say NO to a house based only on "theres not enough room for my stereo" haha. 

That’s why four years ago I bought a sixty year old ranch house.  Three bedroom, separate living room, dining room and a 16’x22’ family room, which is where my main system is.  There’s also a 15’x15’ bonus room in the full basement where my old system lives, 6’ from the breaker box.

All the best.

@stuartk 

I prefer actual rooms -- I like being enclosed within a discreet spaces. My idea of a living room is not simply furniture grouped on an area rug, like an island floating within a large, undifferentiated space. The "open space" concept actually results in lessuseable spaces, whether one is an audiophile or not. Walls are good!

Agreed!!

When my wife and I built our current home we both knew that a floor plan with distinct rooms with walls and doors was preferable to the popular open space designs. 25 years later, I can say that we made the right decision. Much better utilization of space with separate rooms. 
 

I have a finished basement with 8.5 ft ceiling that’s served as a wonderful listening space for my audio system. I can listen any time of the day or night without disturbing others.

Charles