[Rob S.]

HI,
     Finally, we've found a house and are "in contract".  I've been given the OK from the boss to pick a room in our basement for my audio hobby.   One of the rooms is 19 x 21 x 7.5ft high.  The other is 12 x 17.5 x 7.5ft high.  The room I don't choose will become a guest/5th BR.   I've got free reign over choosing room treatments,  so which room will likely have more potential after being treated by GIK or RealTraps?

Equipment is:  Odyssey amps, tube pre, SB3 w/full mods, AVA ultra DAC,  small Magnepan speakers, plus HSU sub.

[MaxCast]

Bigger is better, baby!    It's close to a square but better than 12' wide, IMO.


Are there any posts in the big room?

[bpape]

Absolutely.  I'd take the bigger room in a heartbeat if there are no post issues - especially with Maggies and enough juice to run them.

Bryan

[Rob S.]

No poles or square posts in the middle of the room.  So the "squarish" dimensions can be corrected?

Rob S.

[bpape]

It's really not that bad.  The height isn't a multiple of either dimension so that's a good thing too.  If it wasn't such a difference in length and width, maybe go the other way but the bigger room will allow you much more flexibility, seating away from boundaries, etc.

Bryan

[Mightyburner]

The bigger room would be better for your audio.
However, as a guest, I'd be pretty uncomfortable in a 12x17 room in the basement. Something to consider...

Hey I resemble that remark!    Living in a NY condo, a 12X17 bedroom is considered a decent size, if not large.  Granted it's not in the basement.  If I had a basement, that's where I would want my guest room to be and you can bet it would be smaller than 12x17.  As much as my wife's family visits, I wouldn't want to give them any incentive to stay longer. 

[Ethan Winer]

One of the rooms is 19 x 21 x 7.5ft high. The other is 12 x 17.5 x 7.5ft high. The room I don't choose will become a guest/5th BR.

Add me to the list favoring the larger room, even if it's nearly square. Bass traps can improve that a lot better than a smaller room. And as you say, sticking the in-laws in the smaller room is a good incentive to not hang around.

--Ethan

[8thnerve]

Yeah, larger one, definitely.  You can always make a small Helmholtz Resonator out of a cardboard box and PVC pipe to help with the room modes if they are a problem.

[JLM]

I'd seriously consider using the bigger room, but I'd shrink it down to a better set of dimensions.  Like most basements you're height limited. 

First, I'd highly recommend installing a drop ceiling (keeping it high as possible) with insulation batts above (no penetrations in the ceiling such as recessed lights). 

With the ceiling height determined, here are the best ratios to work towards: 1 x 1.61 x 2.61.  For 7.5 ft ceiling height that would give you a 12.08 ft x 19.68 ft room.  If you lose 3 inches of ceiling height to install a drop ceiling you'd end up with a 11.67 ft x 18.92 ft room.  Left over space can be used for storage, built-in storage/room treatments, or infinite baffle bass.  You can even put all the equipment in a closet to isolate it from room vibrations.

Then build insulated staggered or double stud interior walls.  Replace any solid ducts to the room with insulated flex duct.  And install an insulated fiberglass door with weather seals.

Finally run dedicated 12 gauge/20 amp circuits to the audio equipment and use hospital grade receptacles.

In a room with low ceilings, I'd recommend low furniture to visually/acoustically take the low ceiling out of play.

[richidoo]

If the two adjoin, put 'em together for better sound room during 98% of the use. Then put in a bed to make a palatial suite for your guests, complete with awesome audio system for their enjoyment. Downside: Your guests may never leave. 

The squareness brings the two bass nodes caused by the similar room dimensions closer, where they can combine energy and make a larger null or peak at the listening position. You can still suck it up with absorbtion. It is not too expensive to stack 2 thick panels in each corner, then add more along floor or ceiling if necessary. Wider front wall makes for a big soundstage potential, and the farther away from the rear wall the less its reflections will bother you.

Congrats to you and your wife on the big purchase!
Rich

[Rob S.]

Many thanks so far....  Thanks for looking out for my guests' comfort.  I will point out that any adults that come visit will always get the "queen" size bed in the upstairs bedroom.  We always kick our kids out of their beds if need be.  The floor w/ sleeping bags and even a tent setup is always a treat!!!  Downstairs BR is mostly earmarked for kid overflow.

However I may give some thought to removing the connecting wall (if its not crucial...)  which connects the 2 rooms.   The remaining room would be 19 by 33 roughly.

If no combination of rooms, I can shrink the side dimension of the 19ft wall w/ some additional closets or such.  It has a partial closet protruding into the room a couple of feet anyway. 

Maybe I can post some pictures here soon.   It gets the inspection this Thursday.   I'll look more closely at electrical needs/ outlet placement. 

Thanks again for the recommendations.

Rob S.

[Red Dragon Audio]

Rob,

I concur with removing the adjoining wall so long as it is not load bearing.  You could have some custom closet or shelving done at one end for guests and general storage.  Get a high quality inflatable queen/king mattress for those times when guests actually come over (this works great for our guests and you can maximize the utility of that space when guests are not there - for us we only have guests for about 6 weeks out of the year so a dedicated guest bedroom is a bit of a waste of space).

Sounds like you are going to have a great listening room! 

[richidoo]

Sounds great Rob. Either way you're sittin pretty. If the wall is load bearing, you can still get an engineer to spec a steel girder. Might be a little dear $$, but less than a new set of speaker wires. Plus then you could have B-ball half court games>     

[Red Dragon Audio]

You just need some XXXL Real Traps, diffusors and Tri Corners...maybe a few area rugs too.

[JLM]

I did structural engineering for 8 years (and stayed at a Holliday Inn  ),  my guess is the wall is load bearing and that a steel beam would be very expensive and would have to hang down way to far.  Even if you can get by those issues, the resulting room shape (low ceiling) would look/sound crummy.

I agree that all else being equal, bigger is better.  Interestingly the room ratios I stated above are nearly identical to what the ancient Greeks considered aesthetically ideal: 5 x 8.

[richidoo]

Here's George Cardas taking the Fibonacci idea to the extreme:
http://www.cardas.com/content.php?area=insights&content_id=41&pagestring=Listening+Room+Dimensions