In today's hurried world, most people don't have the time or money to waste taking the entire family to the movies (up to $50 to $60 per shot) so why not build out a Home Theater in your garage, basement, or spare bedroom? The construction and soundproofing of a Home Theater is much the same as building a soundproof music studio in your home. The only major difference is that with a Home Theater, you are less concerned with sound coming into the Theater than you would be if you were doing recording or voice-overs.
The most effective method for building your Home Theater is to actually construct a room within a room. Basically this means framing out new walls within the existing room.
This is a lot simpler than it sounds. If you possess tool skills and are better with them than "Tim Taylor" on "Tool Time", then you most likely are qualified to undertake this project. You will want to frame out new walls within the existing room, this is pretty easy in a basement situation, where at least 2 of the walls are most likely poured concrete or concrete block, and are generally Earthen backed. They need no soundproofing whatsoever. By framing out the room within a room, you are taking all of the negatives in the room that were working against your soundproofing endeavor, and now making them more friendly in the form of "dead air space".
Dead air space (if it is sealed) is good soundproofer in itself, but you will still need a little more soundproofing horsepower if you plan to watch Star Wars or The Matrix (cranked up) in your new Home Theater. Once the new walls are framed out, it is time to soundproof. We have found that good batt insulation such as Roxul AFB or Roxul Safe which are very effective when placed in the stud or joist cavities. If you are unable to find the Roxul products, then use a good quality rock wool or mineral wool to fill the cavities. The next step would be to adhere a layer of American Mass Loaded Vinyl directly to the stud structure. Attaching the MLV directly to the studs or joists allows the vinyl to resonate or move with the sound. If the MLV is able to resonate, it will work to it's full potential and will give you the sound blocking required for a well-soundproofed theater.
The MLV will be stapled (industrial air drive stapler) or nailed (using roofing nails with the large plastic heads) to the studs or joists. If you are able to over lap the seams that would be better, however, if that is not possible, you will want to butt the seams together tightly and caulk both the butted seams as well as the entire perimeter of the newly installed MLV. You want the MLV to act as a soundproof membrane on your walls and ceilings. Caulking and taping the seams is essential for to seal the MLV membrane. The caulked seams will also need to be taped with a quality MLV sealer tape before installing the new drywall. I recommend installing 2 layers of ?" drywall for all of the walls as well as the ceiling. Now if this becomes too costly then a single layer of 5/8" fire code drywall will be sufficient. This should complete the soundproofing portion of your home theater.
Finally, if you are installing 2 layers of drywall to your home theater walls, it is highly recommended that you apply at least 2 tubes of the Green Glue damping compound to the second layer of drywall. Simply lay out the second layer of drywall on saw horses and apply 2 tubes of the Green Glue to the back of the drywall and then simply screw in your new layer of drywall to the existing drywall with the Green Glue sandwiched in between.
The Green Glue will dampen both layers of drywall and will also stop the sound of the home theater from flanking onto the walls. Once this is complete, you with then need to acoustically treat the room to give it the look and the acoustical properties of a real theater. We will discuss this in our next article.This is Dr. Bob....Out!!
Home theater has been a tremendous boon for visual and sound enthusiasts in recent years; the idea of sitting back in your favorite chair, surrounded by a familiar environment and viewing your favorite movie or sporting event from the comfort of your own home has a decidedly nice feel to it, don't you think?
In the United States, the number of basements being re-modelled to include a home theater room has increased significantly and why not, in many instances they are just used as storage areas or partially renovated. It seems they are the ideal environment to house the family "cinema."
Selecting Your Home Theater System
For many prospective buyers, finding the right home theater system can often be a little confusing. Where do I start? How much do I spend? What brands should I look at? These are are all common questions and all form the basis of any due diligence performed in searching for the ultimate system. A good place to start is deciding on an appropriate budget. Price varies enormously and if you're not careful, you could over capitalise and spend unnecessary dollars which could amount to thousands. Decide exactly where your system will be housed. Is it a large area or is the room limited? Is there a capacity to include a projection facility? Many a buyer has been overwhelmed by an over zealous salesperson who has pitched a terrific presentation, however, unless you have the space and the budget to accomodate all the "bells and whistles" that go with the basic unit, it could be money "down the drain."
It's not hard to imagine getting carried away with what a home theater set up actually comprises when the term is first pitched at you. Basically, a television with additional speakers, preferably surround sound and a DVD player and you are good to go. How much you are willing to spend is going to be governed by what budget you have set yourself. There are two trains of thought here. Stick to a moderate budget first up and only purchase the basic set up. As money and room allows at a later date, then you can add or upgrade on your existing system. Or, spend a little extra first up and to hell with the budget; I want it now. Many a consumer has got into trouble by adopting the latter, not just financially, but through feeling the full wrath of "you know who." All I can say is, be diligent, sensible and work within your budget.
Installation
The question of installation is very real for most consumers. By and large, installing a home theater system is not that difficult but for the technically challenged, it's always good policy to check with the seller as many offer installation as a paid service. In some extreme instances, free installation could be sought as a trade-off for purchasing something extra but this is your call. If you have the extra money to spend, go for the paid installation.
When Should I Buy?
Now is always a good time to buy. Depending on your level of diligence, there is always a good deal to be had. Let's face it, waiting for the right moment can be likened a little to procrastination. If you truly are in the market for a system and you have a budget set aside then the present is always a good time to buy. Granted, the price of televisions for instance such as plasma are still high but with the advent of LCD, these are coming down in price quite alarmingly. In my case, I desperately wanted a particular brand of television and made concessions to be able to afford it. It was an award winner and the "ants pants" of televisions in it's category. It was money well spent. Do you know that same set was available for $1000 less only a year later. Firstly, I could have waited a year but wasn't to know it would come down in price and secondly, I would have been without it for another 12 months.
So if you are "still sitting on the fence" regarding your home theater system, all I can say is consider joining the revolution!
Both Dr Bob & Dean Caporella are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr Bob has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sound Recording, Home Improvement and Family. Dr. Bob O.Soundproofing Expertwww.soundproofingamerica.comCall Toll free (877) 530-0139e-mail bob@soundproofingamerica.comalternate URL www.massloadedvinyl.com. Dr Bob's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
Dean Caporella has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Golf Guide and Surveys. Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Get tips and reviews on therevolution at:. Dean Caporella's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.