May / 2002
Annual Home Improvement Issue
Creating a Media Room
by: Debra Gibson

So you've been collecting an array of electronic gadgets and equipment as technology changes every few months. And now you're thinking about making a room to house all of these items. Here's what you need to know to build a useful media room of any size.

What makes a great media room?
A big-screen, high-definition TV? Surround sound? The latest, greatest gadgets, such as TiVo or a Moxi?
It's not any of the above, not any single electronic device or even any group of components, according to Carl Schaub, a man who makes his living designing media rooms.
"The key ingredient is the design work-the integration of the components into the room, not a pile of components," says Schaub, residential design manager for Ovation, an audio-video retail business with locations in Louisville and Lexington.
"Many people will have a piece of equipment. They will buy another piece off the Internet, and buy one on sale down the road. They may see a review and buy that component or see something a friend has and buy one. They wind up with a pile of stuff. Each individual component may be great, but they may not work together or look good together. The biggest mistake people make is focusing on the components and not on the room."
Instead, Schaub says, you need to start by analyzing how you want to use the room and what your vision for that room is. (See "Start Here: Questions to Ask Yourself")
"Most people have really good ideas about what they want," Schaub says. "From there it is a matter of making the components interact with the room."

Ideal Media Room
Here are the characteristics of an ideal media room, according to Schaub:

  • A flat, drywall ceiling.
  • Padding on the wall in key spots to make the room acoustically dead. One inch of cotton batting stapled to the wall covered by designer fabric can do the job well and also look good. Schaub recommends pre-fabricated, more expensive acoustical treatments only in dedicated theater rooms.
  • Any good carpet-not hardwood or tile.
  • Dark-colored walls and furnishings: have you ever been in a white movie theater?
  • All the components tucked away in a closet or a beautiful cabinet so that all the energy is focused on the screen.
  • A single device that easily provides all control functions for the user, including lighting.
  • Comfortable seating. A key part of the ultimate media room is what you are going to sit in.
You want to watch in as much luxury as you can afford.
You may also want something that matches your family's needs.
Brenda and George "Bud" Strickler worked with their builder to create a distinctive media room when they built their home in Bowling Green two years ago. The room has a Star Wars theme-a favorite movie of son Travis, 8. Artist Phillip Holder hand-painted the mural of a spaceship across one wall. Then the Stricklers were ready to add the components into slots in the wall that were pre-cut by their builder.
Although they also have a first-floor great room, the Stricklers wanted the media room to have space for other activities. Therefore, in their media room they also included an island with a sink, a refrigerator, and bar stools. There is room to eat or to work on a project.
"When we built this house, we had not had a home theater room and knew we wanted one," says Brenda. "Our builder, Larry Smith, had done a media room in his home with a 1950s diner theme, and we wanted something similar to his. Larry and his wife really came up with the idea."
The theme was designed largely for Travis, but the location of the room was designed for the parents. The media room is located on the second floor on the opposite end of the house from the master bedroom. As Travis grows into a teenager, he will be able to entertain his friends in style without disturbing Mom and Dad.

Equipment & Trends
 Once you have a media room designed, you will probably have to purchase equipment. To help you make sense of all the options, we spoke with several other experts who provided information on the latest equipment and trends, and offered a glimpse into the future. They are Randy Sukow, principal technology editor for the National Rural Telecommunications Co-operative (NRTC); Bernardin Arnason, vice president of business and technology for the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA); and Matt Swanston, spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association.
Here is what they said about various components:
HDTV (High Definition Television): Doubles the standard color television picture resolution and incorporates compact disk-quality digital sound. Also changes the proportions of the TV picture from the nearly square dimensions of current TV screens to the wide-screen shape of movies.
Advantage: Incredible, almost lifelike picture quality and sound.
Disadvantages: A limited number of programs available in HDTV and a limited number of cable companies broadcasting HDTV programming, as it requires a separate channel from traditional analog programming. In addition, the cost of an HDTV set, while coming down, is still significantly higher than traditional sets.
Personal Video Recorder: New type of product that records broadcast television onto a hard drive much like the hard drive on a computer. Two brand-name operating systems are out right now-TiVo and Microsoft Ultimate TV-with more brands expected soon. They allow you to record television programs without the need for videotapes or a VCR, record two programs airing at the same time, pause live programs, and participate in polls. They even track the kind of programming you record and offer suggestions of other programs you might want to catch.
Advantage: Someone else does the recording for you, so you don't have to fret with programming a VCR or be concerned about the tape.
Disadvantage: A monthly fee is required to get the latest programming guide downloaded to your controller regularly.
Moxi: Resembling a DVD player from the outside, this powerful little device can perform the functions of a personal video recorder, a DVD/audio CD player, and a lot more. For example, it can hold all your digital photos and home movies in its hard drive.
The hype about it says that it "hopes to replace half your media gadgets and control the rest."
Advantage: One device for multiple entertainment needs.
Disadvantages: You get it through your satellite TV provider at a monthly fee. It is not yet available in most areas of Kentucky.
DVD (Digital Video Disk): Resembling the compact disks (CDs) that play music, DVDs play movies with digital quality in both picture and sound-a big step up from traditional tape. DVDs also typically come with other fun extras such as the original trailers that were shown with classic movies, song tracks, or inside scoops about the actors or the filming process. One manufacturer, Pioneer, recently came out with a DVD player that also lets you record your own DVDs.
Advantages: Superior, theater-like quality. Also, you can jump around on the drive like you can on a CD, eliminating the need to rewind and review to get to the correct program. You can also store or delete programs.
Disadvantage: Your videotaped movies won't work on a DVD player.
Satellite Dishes: The conventional large C-band satellite has evolved into an 18-inch digital dish. Both beam programs from a satellite in space.
Advantages: An array of channels is available, 500 or more in some markets. With the new digital dishes, the quality is like playing a DVD or CD with no snow or ghosting. Also, in some markets, you can purchase high-speed Internet access through the satellite provider as well. Available in rural areas.
Disadvantage: The monthly fee is typically more than cable.
Cable: Now a fixture in many homes, traditional cable has also gone digital. Many cable companies are also offering high-speed Internet services, allowing you to purchase both from a single provider with a single bill.
Advantages: Generally the least expensive way to get multiple channels of programming. Available in virtually all urban areas.
Disadvantages: Not available to many rural customers. In addition, if you opt to receive your cable and Internet access from one company, when the cable goes out, you may lose both your cable and Internet simultaneously.


 A Networking Future
 Few people are brave enough to predict trends since so much is occurring on so many fronts. All our experts agreed on one point, however: the future is in networking-the ability to connect multiple components together in the home.
"People think of home networks in terms of PCs now," says Matt Swanston, spokesperson for the Consumer Electronics Association, an independent association representing hundreds of electronics manufacturers. "In the future, a home network can turn on and off the lights from a remote location or help you watch the kids in a different room. Electronic 'plumbing' will enable you to pull entertainment from whatever device you are using."
Bernardin Arnason with the National Telephone Cooperative Association (NTCA) agrees.
"One of the trends we're seeing is the idea of networked homes, not just with computers but other entertainment devices and other appliances," he says. "We are already seeing washing machines and refrigerators with Internet access. They monitor themselves. If they need service, they can communicate with a service organization without you even knowing. In some areas, techies are already using technology to monitor their air-conditioning systems at home while they are at work. It is futuristic stuff, but it is here. It's just too early to see if it will become mainstream."
All our experts believe the biggest boon for consumers will be more choices.
"Technology is empowering consumers with more choices, giving you the ability to dictate what you want, when and where you want, to improve your quality of life," says Arnason. "Right now, your only choice is whether to take advantage of what is being offered. In the future, you will have more of an ability to dictate how things are presented to you."
And of course, the idea is to have fun.
"The fun thing about consumer electronics is that companies take risks," says Sukow. "Sometimes an offbeat idea takes off, and the thing everybody thought was a trend flops. There's always some new idea to watch."

Start Here:
 Questions to Ask Yourself

  • How many people are going to use the room?
  • Is the room just for movies, just for sports, or will it be a multi-purpose room?
  • Do you have the ability to control the lighting-in other words, to have the room completely dark?
  • What are the dimensions of the room?
  • What is the ceiling like? This is a key question. If you have a cathedral ceiling or the ceiling is vaulted, it changes the acoustical qualities.
  • What is the floor covered with? Carpeting? Hardwood? Tile? Each resonates sound differently. Carpet is by far the best.

TechnologyTerminology
 We've provided a listing of terms and definitions, available online at www.KentuckyLiving.com/techterms.htm.

Media Room Online Help
 For a list of Web sites on various equipment for media rooms, go online to www.KentuckyLiving.com/mediaroom.htm.


Equipment List for Media Rooms
A good media room doesn't have to be expensive, just well thought out. Here's a list of equipment Carl Schaub of Ovation recommends for three levels of media rooms.

Basic Media Room-$4,000-$10,000

  • Large 36-inch TV or small 45-55-inch big-screen TV with wide-screen shape
  • Surround-sound receiver
  • DVD player
  • VCR
  • Satellite receiver
  • Touch-pad control system
  • 5 speakers plus a subwoofer

Moderate Media Room-$8,000-$20,000

  • Big-screen TV (65" very popular)
  • Surround-sound receiver plus lighting control device
  • DVD changer that stores DVDs
  • VCR
  • Satellite receiver
  • TiVo
  • Touch-pad control system
  • 6 speakers plus a subwoofer
  • Cabinet that hides all the components

Ultimate Media Room-$25,000- $100,000
(Cost depends on the chairs and the projector selected)

  • TV projector on the ceiling
  • TV screen on the wall or coming from the ceiling or floor (as large as 12 feet)
  • Surround-sound processor
  • DVD changer that stores DVDs
  • VCR
  • Satellite receiver
  • TiVo
  • Wireless, computer-controlled touch pad that operates all the components and the lighting for the room. The pad has TV menus with selections programmed for each family member
  • A variety of speakers to fit the room
  • Theater seats from conventional seats to rocking theater seats. The ultimate is motorized, leather reclining theater seats with cup holders
  • A large amplifier
  • A voltage stabilizer and power conditioner

Media Room Online Help
www.techhome.org
A must-see site when purchasing equipment. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association, the site is divided into five sections: lighting and window treatments; voice and data communications; environmental control/energy management; audio/video entertainment; and security and access control. Each section includes an extensive list of related sites and products.

www.ce.org
Home site of the Consumer Electronics Association. Includes news from the telecommunications industry as well as tech topics on subjects such as market research, teleworking, home networking, accessories, etc.

www.dsldigest.com
Mainly designed for industry insiders, this DSL (digital subscriber line) site also has some valuable information for consumers, including a buyer's guide, related sites, drawings for equipment, and a free newsletter.

www.dslreports.com
Allows you to determine if DSL (digital subscriber line) is available in your town by typing in your zip code. Other useful functions include a section called "About DSL," directories, and reviews.

www.tivo.com
Perhaps more than you ever wanted to know, this site includes product information, support, and resources that are useful for consumers.

www.direcpc.com
Includes information on how the system works, tools and resources, and systems for home and business.