Room Acoustics & Setup Tips for First-Time Home Theatre Users

[Swamps]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning my first home theatre build and I've realized that choosing the right gear is only half the battle - getting the room setup and acoustics right seems just as important.

I could really use some beginner-friendly advice on:

• Ideal room layout and speaker placement

• Acoustic treatment options (DIY or store-bought panels, bass traps, etc.)

• Common mistakes to avoid in room design

• Tips on lighting, furniture placement, and cable management

The room I'll be using is around 400 sq ft and rectangular in shape. I want the best audio-visual experience I can get within my budget.

Would love to hear how you all approached your setups - photos, diagrams, or links to helpful guides would be amazing!

Thanks in advance!

 

[ajuvignesh]

If you’re going with projector, choose the dark colored paint for the room. Preferably black or gray.

If you’re the only one gonna watch or listen to the movie, you can skip for the center speaker for now and can rely on phantom center of the front left and right speakers.

If possible go with an avr with 9.2 channels minimum. Because 4 channels for atmos will be much better.

Go for a receiver with Dirac Live room correction. This helps to calibrate the sound for the best poss Way.

For now you can get away with a single subwoofer and can later add one more. If you don’t have budget for a good sub skip it for now and when budget permits opt for one.

When buying a sub, don’t choose a sub that goes lower but look for a bigger driver and tuning on or above 25hz if the driver is 12 inch and similar if the driver is 15 inch. If you’re a music fan go with a sealed subwoofer than ported. But for movies go with a good ported subwoofer.

If you listen to music for more than 70% of the whole time, skip the avr route all together and go with a stereo setup and be happy with it. But if movies are primary go with avr based setup.

If you can afford go with a floor standing speaker for movies. Else bookshelves are good. For music unless your room is very big, go with book shelves.

Acoustics is important. Don’t go with foams based solution. Go with rockwool based solution. Treat the first reflection point as the starting point.

If projector you can go with diy based spandex screen and place the center speaker behind the screen. If budget permits go with branded acoustically transparent screen. Diy spandex screen would do.

As far as the projector goes, take a demo first. If dlp, look if rainbow effect is bothering you. If dlp, and if budget allows go with 4k if not 1080p will be good enough and you will be satisfied with the sharpness u less you go for a way big screen above 150 inches or you sit too close to the screen less than 8 feet.
But if you’re going with epson, 4k is must. Or atleast faux k. If budget allows, sony or jvc dila projector is the best recommendation ever.

Hdr is very important and don’t skip that. If you want to skip hdr, look for good tone mapping devices like pc running kodi or the ultimate madvr.

Mount the projector in a way that 2/3 of the screen stays above eye level and 1/3 below eye level. Go with the higher ansi bright projector but you might not require over 2000 ansi lumens if the room is dark. But if it is a living room choose epsons with 3000 lumens or higher.

These are my general tips and tricks. If you have doubts please ask below. Don’t be overwhelmed. Start good and you will stay happy for a lomger period of time. Really longer.

All the best.

 

[Swamps]

Hello,
Thank you for your valuable inputs.

I would like to provide some additional details regarding my requirements. I currently have grey-colored walls and a grey-toned background. I am already equipped with an LG C2 television and do not intend to invest in a projector; therefore, there will be no expenditure towards a display device.

I have allocated a budget of 5 lakh exclusively for building a high-quality home theatre system. The primary applications will be for immersive gaming and cinematic movie experiences, with occasional use for music playback. The dedicated room is rectangular in shape, measuring approximately 160 square feet.

In light of the above, I would appreciate it if you could recommend a comprehensive setup, including the following

considerations:

• Optimal speaker configuration (e.g., 5.1, 7.1, Atmos, etc.) based on the room size

and intended usage.

• Recommended AV receiver or amplifier suitable for gaming and movie content.

• Suggestions for subwoofers, sound treatment, and acoustic optimization for the best audio experience.

 

[Acoustician Abhilesh]

Creating a home theatre isn't just about great gear — it's about making the room work for your sound. Here's how to get started with proper acoustic treatment and layout for stunning audio quality:

---

1. Understand Your Room Before You Buy​

• Room shape and size affect how sound behaves. Rectangular rooms with fewer reflective surfaces are generally better.
• Avoid perfectly square rooms — they tend to exaggerate certain frequencies and cause standing waves.

---

2. Use REW (Room EQ Wizard) for Frequency Response Analysis​

• REW is a free software that helps you analyze your room acoustics.
• Run a Spectral Decay (Waterfall) Graph to visualize how sound frequencies decay over time (Frequency vs. Milliseconds).
  
  • This helps you identify echoes, resonances, and bass build-up.
• You’ll need a calibrated microphone like the UMIK-1 and a laptop to run the tests.

---

3. Find the Best Listening Position​

• Avoid placing the main seat against a wall — this causes exaggerated bass.
• Ideally, sit at 38% of the room's length from the front wall for balanced acoustics.
• Test slightly different positions to see where the bass sounds even and dialogue is clear.

---

4. Use Multiple Subwoofers (2 Minimum, 4 Optimal)​

• A single subwoofer creates bass nulls and peaks depending on where you're seated.
• Two subwoofers (placed in front and rear midpoints) balance the bass better.
• Four subwoofers (one in each corner or wall center) provide smooth, even bass across the entire room.

---

5. Install Bass Traps in Corners​

• Bass traps absorb low frequencies that accumulate in room corners.
• Start with the four vertical corners, and if possible, add ceiling-to-wall corners as well.
• DIY traps using rockwool insulation or acoustic panels can be highly effective.

---

6. Add Diffusers for Spacious Sound​

• Diffusers scatter sound instead of absorbing it — ideal for creating a wide, immersive soundstage.
• Place them on the rear wall behind the listening position or ceiling reflection points.
• Start with QRD diffusers or skyline diffusers — both are beginner-friendly and effective.

---

7. Treat First Reflection Points​

• Identify where sound reflects first off side walls and ceilings using the mirror trick:
  
  • Sit in your main position and have someone move a mirror along the wall.
  • Wherever you can see the speaker in the mirror = first reflection point.
• Use acoustic panels or foam on these spots to reduce early reflections.

---

8. Calibrate Your System​

• Use your AV receiver’s auto calibration (e.g., Audyssey, Dirac Live, or YPAO).
• After calibration, fine-tune settings manually — especially speaker levels, crossover points, and subwoofer delay.

---

9. Keep the Room Functional & Clean​

• Avoid too much clutter, but also avoid bare walls — mix absorptive and reflective surfaces.
• Carpeted floors + curtains help, but don’t overdampen the room.

For any assistance, reach out to me on [email protected]

 

[rainbowsong2000]

Hi, Congratulations for your journey. This is how my room is designed. 13.5ft W X 21ft L X 10ft H

I have referred Anthony Grimani suggestions for the acoustics treatment. All the best!

 

[Swamps]

That looks really great
Thank you