Home Theater or Living room Theater

So i'm possibly moving soon and in looking at houses there seems to be either a fireplace where the TV would go which means a mounted tv above or a dedicated theater room upstairs. My brother had a theater room and said he didn't really use it as much as he would have liked, which means not using the speakers i like so much. I really don't think I can do the mounted tv and enjoy it. Any thoughts? What about kids, don't have them yet but probably pretty soon and that seems to mean no loud noices after bed and if I game in the moring i'm not sure what that means, esp since the wife likes to sleep in. I know i'm think out a bit but i'll live in this house for at least 5-7years +.

If looking at a fireplace mounted set, ensure that you have enough space for in-wall speakers.

no its a big room, enough for floor standing fronts, the cente on the mantle (i know, dont like it but have to) and good area for side bookshelf or FXi's and good room for surrounds to be mounted.

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Originally Posted by myke

My brother had a theater room and said he didn't really use it as much as he would have liked, which means not using the speakers i like so much. .

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I've found this to be true. I love my HT, but I had to put together a 2-channel rig for music listening in the living room when I moved the HT from the living room to a dedicated room. If you're not going to have a projector in the HT, and you like listening to to music on your system I'd say keep it a living room HT for now.

If by living room, you mean the main activity room for the family, you may want to think twice about passing up your chance for a man cave. Kids tend to take over the main room leaving you no place to retreat to. Being able to close the door is a big plus for controlling noise. Unless your HT room is right next to a baby's room. Also, I've never personally liked the viewing angle for TVs mounted too high over the fireplace. In my old house I just put the TV on top of a cabinet right in front of the fireplace. WAF wasn't very high, but it was definitely a more comfortable viewing angle.

I have a dedicated HT room in the garage. It was a 2-car garage but now, only one. I built a room in the garage for my HT rig. I use the room so often, any chance I get for movies and music.

Nothing beats a dedicated room if you can swing it. Not light issues, no people issues, no outside noise issues. Take the room while you can.

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Originally Posted by PSOVLSK

I've found this to be true. I love my HT, but I had to put together a 2-channel rig for music listening in the living room when I moved the HT from the living room to a dedicated room. If you're not going to have a projector in the HT, and you like listening to to music on your system I'd say keep it a living room HT for now.

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A HT is NO HT withouth a PJ. I agree, leave the TV in the living room, that is where it belongs. A dedicated room for a TV is a waste :wink:

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Originally Posted by myke

What about kids, don't have them yet but probably pretty soon and that seems to mean no loud noices after bed and if I game in the moring i'm not sure what that means, esp since the wife likes to sleep in.

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Another thought, no one's sleeping in anymore when the newborn comes...and they get up pretty early when they get older. Headphones are your friend, and not just to keep your HT sounds under control...:wink:

I have a HT setup in the main Family Room. I also setup (well, in the process of setting up) a dedicated HT room with a PJ-It's been in use, just not finished. I also setup a dedicated 2 ch rig (but I could integrate that into the ded HT room if I wanted to-still considering it.)

My point is, I have two young boys and its never been an issue to watch TV or game late at night on the Family Rm. HT setup. The Ded. HT setup and 2 ch rig are in the basement and I can crank it up as loud as I want and never disturb anybody.

I'm not putting a TV in the boys room when they get older, so they can watch TV or game in the HT room when my wife and I want to watch something different on the Fam Rm. Having a separate HT room is also good when having a party or something where the boys can play with thier friends without disturbing the main party.

I don't have a mounted TV, and I honestly think I would have an issue with a high mounted TV as well. I think they make some mounts that allow it to come out fromt he wall and 'swivel' down to a more comfortable viewing level--something to look into. You also have to consider where all of the gear will go (cable box, AVR/Amp, etc).

So far I really appreciate the insight, everyone is being very helpful. Just to add in some more info, the HT would be in the upstairs loft(no door and open some) in some houses and in the bonus room (closed off) of the other houses were looking at. I figure the bass and loud noice wil wake a baby and/or young kid at night since everything is either open or on the same floor. The wife :rolleyes:will probably be the one who sleeps in since i'm always up early adn i'm sure she'll take advantage of that. Me and my friends try to game a little on weekend mornings if not at night when we can and i have to have it pumping:biggrin:. And I can't see gaming on a tv mounted above a fireplace even if tilted down......aside from being wierd feeling it would probably ache a little.

As far as kids go, a separate room for your main speaker setup is a good idea. As kids get older and start crawling/walking, they'll start getting really interested in your speakers. Especially when they see a floorstanding speaker with a fun hole in it to stick things into!

When the baby is an infant, noise is an issue when they're sleeping. Once they get to crawling/walking, they start sleeping a lot heavier than most adults. It would take a lot to wake them up.

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Originally Posted by myke

The wife :rolleyes:will probably be the one who sleeps in since i'm always up early adn i'm sure she'll take advantage of that. Me and my friends try to game a little on weekend mornings if not at night when we can and i have to have it pumping:biggrin:.

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Seems like you're boxing yourself in with all these requirements. Unless you can find a house with a good basement or a large enough house where the living room won't transfer sound to the bedrooms, it probably isn't possible to just blast your rig at all hours and not wake somebody up...

Your right, I think i'm screwed, thats why i'm brainstorming now ahead of anything else. Unfortunately the homes around here are just like this unless i get an older fixer upper. I'm not quiting either so we'll see.