08/27/2026
Is it about the result or the journey on your path to home theater/AV perfection?
Today we are reviewing My HT, a small space full of mismatched gear and love for the journey itself.
"I've been into home theater since the late 1990s, back when I purchased my first Pro Logic system with a VHS player and a chunky 28” tube TV. I never really built a highly expensive system because I never had the budget for it. However, as an engineer, I have always been fascinated by acoustics and how a room interacts with speakers. I hold a master's degree in mechanical engineering and took an acoustics course at university, which I absolutely loved. Looking back, I probably should have aimed for a degree in acoustics instead!
For a long time, I played around with DIY absorber panels. When my wife and I decided to build a house, I made sure to secure a minimum of 15 sqm for a dedicated home theater. It's quite small, but floor space is expensive, so I didn't push for more.
During the planning phase, I read up on the studio forum Gearspace (formerly Gearslutz) on how to treat a bare room. I aimed for a dead-end/live-end setup, filling the entire front wall with deep (250-450mm) insulation, while the other three walls featured SMT S-Wing paper diffusers. Unfortunately, I never really liked the sound; it felt too dead.
For "Design 2.0" of the room, I wanted a longer decay time, so I sold the Wings and purchased a few second-hand Skyline diffusers. I also gave the room a cozy new feel by hanging loose fabric on the walls. It looks and sounds much better now, and even my wife likes it a little more than before."
Need help with your "Dream Home Theater?
Whether you are converting a small spare bedroom or building a dedicated room from the ground up, everything has to come together to make that experience enjoyable. Ben and Ryan can help design, source, and calibrate the perfect system for your exact space. Get in touch using the links at the bottom of the description.
Ghadyani Theater:
Projector - Sony VW95 (soon XGIMI TNM)
Projector Screen ~111” DIY, Dreamscreen V5 material, Gain: ~0.6
LCR Speakers - Magnat Cinema Ultra LCR 100-THX
Surround Speakers - Magnat Cinema Ultra RD200-THX
Atmos Speakers - Dynavoice Magic FX-4 EX v.3
Subwoofer - DIY sealed 95L, Scan Speak 30W/4558t00
AVR - NAD T777v3 (Dirac Live full range)
Atmos Amp - Marantz SR5006
DSP (Sub) - Minidsp 2x4HD (EQ with MSO)
Sub Amp - Behringer A800
Want Your Room Reviewed?
If you have a room that you would like reviewed, please fill out the form at the link below.
https://forms.gle/jCXnJJAEohyyiCBbA
Ryan Charpentier (Host)
Owner of Ascend Audio Video and founder of The AV Experience focusing on removing snake oil and subjectivity from the AV space and setting objectivity at the forefront.
Want a new turn key theater/AV space, have general questions, or need to purchase some equipment for your theater? Contact Ryan at Ascend AV.
https://ascendav.net/
Ben Goff (Co-Host)
Technical Director at Cinema Buro, specializing in high-performance turn-key private cinemas.
Need a design or guidance with a build? Contact Ben for engineering-led design, room acoustics, and system optimization & performance consultancy aligned to CEDIA RP22 / RP32. Contact Ben at Cinema Buro.
https://cinemaburo.com!
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