What is a media room?
A media room is a home cinema that has other uses too. It might have a bar, a games area, or a pool table at the back. It almost certainly has windows. You'll want to socialise in here, not just watch films in the dark.
It's a useful term to know because it points your designer in the right direction. The design challenges are different - not lesser, just different.
Sound in a media room
Acoustic treatment is still essential, but the approach adjusts. In both room types the goal is a controlled RT60 - reducing reflections so the sound system can do its work cleanly, without the room sounding dead. In a media room we'll typically head to the more lively end of the range, so conversation feels natural and the space has some warmth when the screen is off. Treatments need to work visually too - blending in rather than dominating.
The fundamentals don't change: seating still needs to be in positions where the acoustics work, and bass still needs to be even and controlled across the room. A wider seating area with no fixed rows means off-axis performance matters more than ever - everyone needs a good result, not just the person in the middle.
Get the picture
You'll probably want to use the room in normal light conditions some of the time, which changes the display equation considerably.
A projector in a media room needs to be significantly brighter than one in a darker cinema room just to look equally good. Options for managing this include high-brightness projectors, ambient light rejecting screens - which give remarkable results even in brighter conditions - and careful control of the room itself: blackout blinds, avoiding bright white walls and ceilings, keeping high-gloss finishes out of the field of view.
Or, a flat-panel TV. In smaller rooms, a large high-quality display works very well and costs less than a projector setup.
Monday Afternoon
Friday Night
Dual display is worth serious consideration - it's something I'm really keen on.
A flat-panel TV for everyday viewing, plus a projector and screen for film nights, immersive gaming, and the box set you've been saving. TV shows are made for a smaller screen; films are made for a bigger one. Having both means you can match the experience to the content rather than compromising on either.
What does it cost?
The same principles apply as for a cinema room - the design work is what makes the budget perform. The range for a given room size is wider than for a cinema room, partly because the display options vary more, and partly because a dual display setup costs more than either option alone - though it might just be worth it.
What does a home cinema cost? covers the detail - most of it applies equally here.
Not sure yet whether you want a media room or a dedicated cinema room? That's a conversation worth having before you decide - a lot of the best rooms sit somewhere in between. Start here.
Or come and hear what well-designed sound actually feels like at our showroom in Redland, Bristol.
WRITTEN BY
Owen Maddock
Owner & designer, Cinemaworks
I've spent twenty years looking for ways to make films feel more real in people's homes.
CEDIA® Member of Excellence, award-winning designer, podcast host, and the one you'll actually work with.
