Media Room: Need your input! (Plano, Howe: how much, new house, buying)

[nepali]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here!

My first home is going to be built pretty soon. I went for the media room upgrade. The media room will be on the 2nd floor. The upgrade price only covers the flooring costs and other costs associated with adding a room. The cost also covers 7.1 wiring.

However, the cost DOES NOT cover wall insulation for sound or the equipments. Should I pay the premium price and have the builders insulate the walls? Or is that something I can do later myself? The builders say that I would have to pay $250 pricing fee just to even know how much the insulation would cost. Very ridiculous!

Another thing, should I buy their equipments or would I be better off buying my own equipments from, say, Bestbuy?

Your inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

[Korel]

Good grief! $250 just to find out how much. This is why I dislike production builders.

Q; Can you sub it out yourself?

Sound insulation is just not adding batts between the studs. There is a sound absorbing wall board available. Also, we normally do a double staggered stud arrangement when WE build a Media Room. Also a stagger ceiling joist arrangement. What is your media room over? Hopefully the Garage.

Google "sound absorbing materials" and look at your options. Maybe your best option is just to install sound absorbing materials over the drywall.

Good luck buddy!

[nepali]

Originally Posted by Korel

Good grief! $250 just to find out how much. This is why I dislike production builders.

Q; Can you sub it out yourself?

Sound insulation is just not adding batts between the studs. There is a sound absorbing wall board available. Also, we normally do a double staggered stud arrangement when WE build a Media Room. Also a stagger ceiling joist arrangement. What is your media room over? Hopefully the Garage.

Google "sound absorbing materials" and look at your options. Maybe your best option is just to install sound absorbing materials over the drywall.

Good luck buddy!

Sadly, the media room will be over the family room. Not a great plan but we are stuck with this option. I will try your suggestion. Thank you very much.

[loves2read]

you do need the soundproofing
you should read up on what type of soundproofing works and what it costs
this is something that anyone who fairly knowledgeable/handy can do BEFORE the sheetroock goes up because it should be done between the studs

there are media room specialists who design/build/install equipment and work after the fact in homes already built
you can find lot of information (lots of it contradictory) on line and in magazines about different systems...
sometimes you don't need to spend a ton of money IF you are not that knowledgeable
what I learned from researching when we bought this house about a year ago and needed/wanted some new tvs and upgraded media system--even though we don't have dedicated media room--
is that people who are trying to sell you something rarely care about what you really need or what is the best for how you will use it--they are just trying to sell you something--
whether it is a tv to meet quota, or because they get discont from mfg if they buy/install so many sets this month---
do some investigation before you start shopping--Super Bowl is usually good time to buy new tv and you can save 20% or more sometimes if you are willing to order on-line and have it shipped --and run the risk of damages/sending back
some online dealers places WON'T let you return a large screen tv---so make sure you read the fine print...
we used someone to help install our tv and new house and install a speaker system in house and on patio...we got 4 different bids--the one we took was someone who did work for someone who works with my husband--part of the system he put in is fine but the brand of amp/receiver he promoted did not have the feature that keeps commercials from blasting out your ear drums--
the system that did he said was troublesome--what I came to find out was that it was a complication component--more difficult to set us than he wanted and because of complexity people would call him back when there was a glitch in the system...
basically it was troublesome for HIM--not a worse unit for performance...
my husband did not want to argue with the guy because he did not really investigate any aspects of buying new big screen tv and the system parts...

but now every time we have the tv on--like for football game--and hte commercials come on, he is hitting the volumn button to turn them down...
first few times he did it, I rubbed in his choice--but that gets old...

I guarantee you that the people the builder will use will be less motivated, more expensive, and maybe screw things up

some things are happening in audio systems that makes it seem people won't have to use wired speakers--there will be fairly inexpensive systems that run through electic lines or just from main hub i house to other remote/wireless speakers--
there are systems like that now--but they are fairly expensive for most people and speakers might not be as good as the others...

I would try to find someone to add the insulation, and check the wiring/cables to make sure it is being done right...

You can buy from Best Buy--that is kind of a crap shoot--we got our two new Samsungs there because we wanted a local contact if there were problems initially--but we let the installer buy them--mistake--should have just had him pick them up after we bought them...he did not get any better price (he said)...

[pappy97]

Originally Posted by nepali

Another thing, should I buy their equipments or would I be better off buying my own equipments from, say, Bestbuy?

I just set up my dedicated HT (7.1 audio as well!!) and as to this issue, I bought my own equipment. Did not buy everything from BestBuy, but I prefer buying my own stuff since I can go to sites like avsforum.com and get insight on what to buy.

For my HT, I already had a projector, PS3, 360, DirecTV HD-DVR, screen as well as two HT recliners. I needed audio stuff.

So I bought an AVR receiver from overstock.com.

Speakers (a total of 7 of them, 2 of which were free) from BestBuy.

Subwoofer from Amazon.com (Actually buy.com selling products via amazon.com).

Speaker wire (For me, 16 gauge), cheap ethernet cables, a wireless network bridge, and a switch all from Plano Fry's.

and HDMI cables from monoprice.com.

This way the equipment was cheaper than if I used an HT installer (but then again, my wife and I did everything ourselves and did not do anything to the house besides paint the walls of the room).

[Korel]

So your media room is over the Family Room. Hmmmmm.....

Not knowing how willing your builder might be but there are resilient furring strips that could go on the bottom your the floor trusses then the wall/ceiling board fastens to that. The trick is to slow down if not eliminate the vibrations from the floor above. You could also apply 1x4s perpendicular to the bottom of the floor trusses.

But really, your best bet here is to just lay an extra thick foam padding below the carpet in the media room.

Many people think adding FG batts between the studs is a good way to sound insulate a wall. Thermal insulate maybe but the sound vibrates the wall board on one side travel through the studs then the wall board on the other side then the sound continues into the next room. You got to stop the physical vibration. That's the only way to sound proof a wall.

Thought I would add this link: http://www.homasote.com/products/440-Soundbarrier.aspx

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by nepali

The builders say that I would have to pay $250 pricing fee just to even know how much the insulation would cost. Very ridiculous!

Seriously, they want to charge you to give you a quote? They didn't build a house with a media room before? They must not want your business! I can't think of a single reputable builder in DFW that would do that.

Naima

[Mr.Bungle]

Depending on your budget, I could refer you to some sound contractors I used to work with. However, since you're mentioning Best Buy, I don't think your budget will allow for a contractor. One thing I can suggest is to consult someone familiar with sound proofing and buy some of this stuff: Auralex Acoustics - World-Class acoustic foam sound control products at real-world prices! You can get it in different colors and make it look stylish while having the sound proofing.

example:

[nepali]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bungle

Depending on your budget, I could refer you to some sound contractors I used to work with. However, since you're mentioning Best Buy, I don't think your budget will allow for a contractor. One thing I can suggest is to consult someone familiar with sound proofing and buy some of this stuff: Auralex Acoustics - World-Class acoustic foam sound control products at real-world prices! You can get it in different colors and make it look stylish while having the sound proofing.

example:

Mr. Bungle, that's a really nice suggestion. I am going to look into it. Thank you!

[tyanger]

If you're the do-it-yourself type or just want to research specific models of equipment, with input from actual owners/users of the equipment, I recommend:

AVS Forum

I built my own dedicated home theater (100" screen/front projector, Lexicon processor, Martin Logan speakers, 2 risers/platforms for seating, wood columns with sconce lighting, acoustic wall treatments, etc) with the help of people on that site. Many very helpful people there.

IMO, unless you're a true audiophile or videophile (and you'll know if you are one), you don't need to spend a ton of money to create a setup that you/your family/your friends will enjoy immensely. I actually did my theater first(many years ago with now-outdated equipment), then more recently upgraded my main living area with a hi-def 52" flat panel display and surround receiver. I had to do it this way due to the timing/availability of equipment and technology, but if I were doing it over again right now - I would do my main living area first.

Another thing to consider - the technology available now is so amazing that (again unless you really are a audiophile/videophile/movie buff) you might find that the main living area media equipment may be all you need. At the time I built my theater, to get an excellent movie experience (video and sound) it made more sense to have a dedicated theater. I know it's become the 'must have' cool thing to have a dedicated theater, but I'm finding that with the current technology my family uses the main living area much more and I'm thinking of turning the theater into a library or exercise room (remember - my theater equipment is about 10 year old technology.) Also, I have several friends (at least 2 that I've spoken directly about this topic with) that built their theaters after seeing mine, and wish they hadn't because they don't use it as much as the big flat panels in their main living area or secondary living area.

In the end though, I do love my theater - it's not hi-def, but when all the lights go down, the DTS frame comes up, and the speakers/subwoofer blast off so you feel it in your chest ... awesome! Anyway, it may suit you better to go with the dedicated theater, I'm just saying think it through carefully before blowing a ton of money - and decide what you're going to get the most use out of the most quickly. Good luck, and most of all have fun - if it's not fun you're doing it wrong

p.s. I would not pay anyone to get a quote. That's b.s. anyday, but especially in this housing and retail market.