AV System ***

Good post. AV gets fairly overlooked around these parts...

I'm actually - literally - a work in progress with all this...I will post some pics later on of the construction so far (just in the middle of building a false wall for the plasma to be recessed into, as well as the required cabling etc)...

One things for sure - it's always damn hard getting a 5/7.1 AV system to look as good as product brochures with all that magic invisible wiring etc...!

Steve.

I think you meant unfairly overlooked Steve!

What No Pics?

Well, probably not what you were hoping for Yetizone but as I say, it's in progress....!

This is a upstairs room of an old cottage I've recently moved into being converted into a entertainment room - basically where all the Naim kit and a 5.1 system will be going. Should be well sound insulated too, as one of the benefits of a 300yr old cottage is seriously solid and thick stone walls...!

Here's some guy pretending to look workman like and skilled whilst cementing in chased trunking..




A recessed aperture has been made for the 50" Kuro to fit into. This particular wall is incredibly thick as it actually backs onto the old (unused) 2nd chimney breast, we're talking about 18" of stone! - fantastic for speakers to be placed up against. I didn't want to loose this asset too much with a hollow false wall, so the lower half has been filled in flush with 4 layers of plasterboard and a final skim of bonding whilst the upper half is a high density fibre insulation...




The final surface boards are then cut and fitted, joints filled and sanded and ready for paint. Draw wires have been left in the relevant conduits for the Kuro mains and system cables (longer versions have been ordered) as well as a centre speaker cable, lower down below the screen recess...



That's as far as I got last week, as we then got distracted downstairs with plastering dining rooms and preparing bumpy floors for solid oak floors to come.

Next, is a new ceiling (probably with some recessed lighting), finish of the conduits under the floorboards for the 5.1 speakers as well as various remaining electrical prep - A new separate mains spur/radial is to be fitted (just as soon as I've decided exactly what I'm going to do!)

More to come...!

Steve

I should add, I'm aiming to finish this in time for the (high street)release of the Naim Dac, a disk-less HDX, good looking speakers and, most importantly, a new HD AV3.......Soooo, I have plenty of time !

Good work Steve! But if you're waiting for the AV3 I suspect your project will never be completed...

I know, I know, I know.....I just jest ! Sad though isn't it...

I think the same applies for the rest of the list also !

I think I have the plans sorted sans AV3...

Nice work Steve - keep posting the pics as this looks like its going to be rather good

James

Cheers James!...and I will - seems a bit more fun than all those boring stylus pictures in the other room !

Hopefully all will work out OK and the final aesthetics meet my aims (no PB pink walls here ! ...Just have to hope the money doesn't run out..!!

Steve.

Hi SC - Thanks so much for posting the pix, very much appreciated indeed - this is exactly what I was hoping for

I was starting to think this thread was a 'tumbleweed city' thread LOL..!

Its great to see pix of either 'works in progress' to see all of the structural prep involved as you are providing, or images of completed working finished set ups with all of the necessary every day furniture items around the installed equipment.

You're welcome. I'll keep them coming as long as it's progressing ! Hopefully you will get to see a completed installed look also...fingers crossed!

Here's the latest of the screen wall, with one coat of paint just to allow me to see any areas requiring extra filling/sanding etc...The door in the corner will be changed and altered in due course...

Here's my setup. I'd normally have the electric blinds down for watching a movie though.

My Naim Axess centre speaker very handily sits on its side in the fireplace behind the main speakers -

Looks great Tony !

Where's the electric blinds - external ?

Kind of makes me think I should have gone for downstairs for my room, where I have the original timber beams thing going on also, but I was (for once) persuaded otherwise..!

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
Here's my setup. I'd normally have the electric blinds down for watching a movie though.

My Naim Axess centre speaker very handily sits on its side in the fireplace behind the main speakers -

Strewth - I'd never go out...

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
Here's my setup. I'd normally have the electric blinds down for watching a movie though.

My Naim Axess centre speaker very handily sits on its side in the fireplace behind the main speakers -

Great choice of Blu-ray concert!

quote:

Originally posted by SC:
You're welcome. I'll keep them coming as long as it's progressing ! Hopefully you will get to see a completed installed look also...fingers crossed!

Here's the latest of the screen wall, with one coat of paint just to allow me to see any areas requiring extra filling/sanding etc...The door in the corner will be changed and altered in due course...

How are you going to stop the door hitting the left speaker SC? How big is the room overall?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveBk:
How are you going to stop the door hitting the left speaker SC?

Dave, as I've said, that door will be altered: Firstly, it's going to be changed to a flush, hardwood fire-door (for the extra solidity) then ; At the very least it will be hung on the opposite side of the frame, hence opening outwards, or I may go for a sliding door arrangement or finally, I'm considering moving it altogether...

Anything is possible when your old man is a joiner by trade and general handy-man..

Steve.

@ garyi - Seen this pic before, looks great!

Thanks SC, sorry I missed any earlier comments on the door. My room is also upstairs in what would have been the second bedroom if we used the rooms conventionally. I never bothered to recess the plasma, but spent ages chasing out the walls for various cables!

No problem. Sounds like we have a similar arrangement upstairs. I started doing the wall as a easy way to hide the cables in it's depth, but then got carried away and thought I'd go for the aperture...! Oh for a wire-free AV room...and office !!

Steve.

Mmmm, Hutter...I'm very tempted to go with these on the side wall...haven't decided yet. Whilst I'm sure the Fraim is best, I'm just not a taker on it's looks...

Nice looking room DaveBk - do you put the fronts through the Guru's also, or just use the satellites...?

Fronts go to through the Naim gear to the Gurus, the front sats are now removed. I'm mainly 2 channel rather than serious AV, but it's good to get some decent sound when playing a DVD.

The biggest difference to sound in AV is the centre speaker, rears not so important. Don't skimp on the centre speaker it makes all the difference to AV.