Hey everyone, my buddy ask to help him w his home theater. So I figured I'd add a thread to keep all the construction and acoustics related to it in one spot. This isn't my project so I don't have any control other than the power of suggestion, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn some stuff as this process goes on, and also have a documentation of some of the inevitable hangups, so maybe somebody else in a similar circumstance could have a resource. This is just at the brainstorming phase overall. Anyway here's the basics:

We're in the planning phase of a basement home theater/kitchenette,in a 7'2x15x30 and 7'2x12x20' (rough) area. It's a walk in basement, 2x8 12"oc, 2x4 walls, and foundation in some areas.

This is the 'front'.

That is the 'rear' walkout part of the basement

That is looking a little left from the rear door.

The plumbing you see is for the existing bathroom/shower, that will stay.

Ill attach some shots of the place so you can get a better feel. Anyway.

The ISO requirements/expectations would be met if a person could comfortably go down with an acoustic guitar and sing along at an average folk style volume. When 5 cizek speakers and 2 15" custom (it'll be a first for me) subs, powered by haflers, its gonna just get loud down there when the audio video mayhem happens, and it'd be absolutely ridiculous to have expectations of doing much against that, and with around 10k budget for the raw materials, it's gonna add up fast, although the existing physical space limitations, are really the determining factor in the overall design. So the overall idea is to just make a nice comfortable place that offers privacy, and as much isolation as possible, given the existing conditions.

Since there's a fireplace (see pic) that runs right upstairs, and a fairly low ceiling height, it's seeming that the best option is basically similar to the example build in rods book, with a channel system for the ceiling, and double walls, stains concrete floor/area rugs. My thought was to use RSIC-1 clips and hat channel, in place of the RC channel as described in the book (ed1). After a lot of thought, that seems like the best compromise, as they can support 3 5/8" layers of drywall, and with the possibility ofgreen glue in between it seems like the direction to think towards. If the fireplace was going to be removed, the house jacked up 4 ft, and the windows all custom built, then the semi independent ceiling resting on the walls would be the way to go. but working that type of ceiling design in this just seems too elaborate, and unnecessar, although I'm of course open to any suggestions. Even though relative to the rsic-1 clips it's cheaper, I think the ceiling height would be the limiting factor anyway, as space is premium, especially the ceiling.

I found http://www.pac-intl.com and they seem to have a lot cool variations on the rsic-1. They got back to me after about 3 days, when I asked them about spacing/pattern for 12" oc as it's not listen on the site, they responded w a graphic, and saying to use the figures for 16 oc. I would obviously have to figure in the extra clips.

Does anyone have or know anyone who has had experience with this company? They have a thorough website and offer test data from riverbank laboratories.

Also they have a putty to put over outlets, this could prove very useful as there is an outlet that protrudes through the floor deck above. Seems kinda pricy, but what isn't, when the words studio or custom are involved. Are they/ that putty type in general effective, even if overpriced? We only would need a few. Are there better alternatives?

Anyway, now that everything is down to the studs, we re gonna do a sound test w some amps and some speakers to see what we got going on, especially regarding the fireplace. Again do to the limitations it's not expected that a bomb shelter is gonna be there, but it should be a fun project overall, and a great chance to try my brand new makita 12 sliding miter saw and stand! Gonna get the best blade I can afford for my new (very heavy) baby, thinking forrest chopmaster. Got the stock blade which got good ratings as a 'useable' blade, for any rougher everyday tasks, and a freud (researching better) big box blade for the good old framing lumber. After years of borrowing, I finally pulled the trigger, w the makita being the far more practical choice for my weekend warrior self, than the uber saw the festool kapex. (I drool over well engineered things :)) ramble over.

Random Problem areas I can see right now are the beam, which would prob be buried in a soffit used for trapping and lighting. Also the staircase to the left (which I hope I have a pic of). Maintaining ISO in a similar staircase is in that chapter, but this one is a little different, as is the overall design. And def a very questionable area of the project.

Any thoughts and suggestions are very much appreciated, the pics of the finished theatere are of one I found on line that was similar in shape and size, so something of a rough template, but w the doors wide open. Thanks!