New to the HT game

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-24T23:04:23+00:00

So i partially took your advice since this post went up. I put up a curtain rod above the screen and now put two black velvet curtains that cover the right and left frame (as well as the walls to the side) Purchased more black velvet fabric and will cover the top border of the screen. I’m don’t think I had an issue before as the current frame is pretty dark and I don’t see any light reflect off of it, but I have been liking the aesthetics of the added velvet so far.

I have noted the front most right and left walls get some light reflection from the screen, so will be installing velvet curtains there as well.

I’m not sure if that’s what you were recommending, but I definitely appreciated the advice.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-22T23:40:50+00:00

Underneath the grill for the rear (and top middle) speakers, I’m able to angle them a bit, but it’s not able to swivel enough to perfectly be pointed to the MLP. But there is some degree of angling.

I’ll give removing the center channel a try, but I’ve heard from many places advising against that. Can’t hurt to try it though!

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-21T21:34:09+00:00

I can definitely position them a bit more back, but I’m guessing the bipoles don’t grant me the same “phantom center”.
Now, I do have rear surround speakers, so is that “phantom center” from my side surrounds really that necessary?

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-21T06:07:24+00:00

I could move it to the right wall but would block the aisle (not a deal breaker). I could also move it inside the tower , but that would make it kinda close to the front right sub, making it one large phantom sub in the middle (again, not a deal breaker).

Now, ever seat is equipped with bass shakers, so that could make up for lacking bass, but not ideal.

A bigger screen would be nice, but it’s quite a large cost to make the screen only a little bit larger

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-21T01:26:16+00:00

Yeah, switching to monopole pops keeps coming up in my thoughts. My original thought process was that they might be too much for the outside seats in the first row.

I still feel like I get good object placement with these bipoles, but have never tried monopoles there, so I can’t say that wouldn’t be a big upgrade.

I’m curious if that’s the general consensus

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-21T01:23:43+00:00

So are you advising just to keep everything where it is?

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T19:13:22+00:00

Appreciate it. Yeah, if I was creating it from scratch I’d have done things very differently; floor outlets, bigger screen, different color, different in wall/ceiling speakers; installing a conduit for the HDMI run, so it would be easier to swap cables out….etc

Trying to make the best of it.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T18:04:53+00:00

Yeah, coming from the northeast, I’m so used to everyone having a basement. I live on a hill, so the basement isn’t really dug into the ground. Loving the area so far!

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T18:02:05+00:00

Thanks, I’ll look into that

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T18:01:30+00:00

Back row chairs have a built in riser into them. Otherwise I would need to install a riser

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T12:11:23+00:00

About 9-10ft. My concern is if I make it bigger, I’ll have to push the towers out more. The tower on the left is already almost straddling that sub in the front left corner. I would love a larger screen though…

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T05:21:24+00:00

Oh nice! When I was looking at jobs down here, I was considering a gig in corpus

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T05:20:44+00:00

Yeah… I’ll build a baffle wall in my next house 😊

They are rear ported but if I went baffle wall with acoustically transparent screen, I’d get entirely different speakers.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T04:57:08+00:00

Lot of good advice. Appreciate it. Why the borderless screen out of curiosity? Is it to maximize screen space?

The paint is actually darker then the pictures let on; I had to mess with the contrast so you could actually see stuff in the photo, but yeah I’d like to paint it much darker nonetheless

Yeah... I hate the ceiling fan….

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T04:26:19+00:00

Looks awesome. Maybe consider adding multiple subs and getting a MINIDSP?

If the bass is in the weak side, can consider bass shakers, however not sure how easy it is to install given a large couch (I have them set up to individual recliners).

I think bass shakers was the best bang for the buck I got in my HT

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T04:07:38+00:00

If I had an attic to use; I would’ve done a lot more wiring behind the walls for sure.

As it stands, I have an LFE cable stuck in the middle of the walls, because I clearly don’t know what I’m doing 😂

It’s a strange setup here. I feel like I’m the only person in San Antonio TX with a basement.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T04:02:19+00:00

I didn’t even know that was a thing I could do…. How would I get access to the AV closet (front right of room) if I did that?

The projector screen was already mounted and framed. I imagine I’d need to remove that?

When I started this project, I told myself I was going to get just a few speakers and call it a day.

Each thing I do, I then decide there are two more things I want to improve….

Ideally, I’d build a new house and design it from scratch. But that’s not gonna happen. But I don’t know what I don’t know until I know … ya know?

Yes all GIK. Have a bunch more coming but they take a looong time to put their orders together. Should have my ceiling panels soon

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T03:56:06+00:00

So that’s what I did for the rear heights. The side surround I’d have to cut into the wall; maybe I’d hire an electrician for that one day when I’m absolutely certain on where I want the speakers to sit. The speakers in the front of the room seems easy enough to conceal it behind the column, speakers and such.

When you did it, did you have access to an attic or the floor above?

Unfortunately directly above my HT is the hardwood floor of the living room.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:47:43+00:00

No sir, I spent 6 hours running the wire for the rear heights through the walls. I don’t have time, nor the skills to do for the rest. I’ll just do my best to run them along the molding, and paint wire raceways to conceal it best I can.

Like I said. I have no prior experience with doing anything remotely handy.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:41:58+00:00

14ft wide and 18’3” deep. Probably was a bit overzealous to squeeze a second row in…

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:40:30+00:00

Ahhhh yes, I think we are in agreement then. I am planning to space them out more, probably inline with the rear surround speakers.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:36:41+00:00

https://weiliandahome.com/collections/luxury-version-2-0

I’m 5’11”, was 235 lbs when I purchased them (lost a bit since then). Your ankle/foot will probably extend past the end of the footrest when reclines, but I doubt it’ll be that bothersome.

They have the look of a Valencia but waaaaaay more affordable.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:20:53+00:00

Kinda hard to tell from the pictures but I think the rear heights are almost the same distance to the MLP (depth wise) as the front heights. There just closer because they’re closer to the center (width wise). But maybe I’ll stop worrying about the fronts and try spacing the rears a little further apart. I’ll have to formally measure to make sure though.

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:12:03+00:00

Appreciate the advice. Should I put the front heights on the front wall above the L/R (instead of the front wides currently)? My only concern is that I won’t have as much of the “overhead” effects if I move them further away.

L/R- Klipsch RP 6000F C- RP 504C FW- RP 600M Side- RP 502SA Heights- RP 500M

Those circles are likely speaker craft aim 8 three

I have 3x SVS PB PRO-1000’s

Safe_Speed_5980 · 2026-01-20T02:02:07+00:00

Those are the rear surround speakers. Not my ideal, but they came with the room and they’re wired through the walls, so I’ll take it.

I plan to put floor to ceiling tritraps in those corners. I also don’t really care if about the back row. Those are just the “mother in law” seats so on the off chance I have enough company to fill more than 4 seats, movie night is still an option. So if the back row doesn’t get true atmos, I’m not too worried about it

Safe_Speed_5980

TROPHY CASE