Minimum AV/"server" room size

Amp34 · 23 Jun 2015 at 23:01

I'm designing a floor plan at the moment and want to fit in an AV storage room next to a large room I'm going to be using for a home cinema/recreation room. What sort of minimum size should I be looking at?

My current design includes a 4.8x4.4ft (approx 18sq ft) room that would be perfect, I'm just not sure if it will be big enough due to any heat issues.

Things that will probably end up in there:

AV Amp
Blu Ray player
24 port switch
Wireless Router
Synology DS414 (or similar)
Sonos Connect Amp or two
Random other small home automation control boxes
Possibly another couple of things

Not much I guess but I'm sure an enclosed room may make it quite warm!

Amp34 · 24 Jun 2015 at 15:20

My plan was to have a couple of vents on the door as mentioned and then to have an extractor fan as well, if needed. Just trying to work out if I'd need it running at all times, basically the standard design for this type of room. I guess a thermostatically controlled switch would be the best bet?

Amp34 · 24 Jun 2015 at 15:25

With the current plan I'm working on I'd just be boxing in a corner of another area (essentially a utility room) for neatness more than anything else, that area will be where the network cables throughout the house will terminate. It would also reduce the amount of noise as well.

I'm going to try and recreate the paper plans in Google sketchup tonight, if I get it done I'll dump it in here to show the design.

Amp34 · 25 Jun 2015 at 20:50

I basically want the main room to look as little as possible like a home cinema. Obviously the TV and speakers will be on display but, for example, if I decide on a projector i'll get a motorised one that is hidden in the ceiling.

That does mean I have to compromise the room slightly for HC use, for example I'm not going to get away with a dark ceiling and (probably) back wall. I may have to hide a couple of acoustic panels behind canvas (I won't be allowed loads!) but I'll hopefully be able to get a good overall experience.

I think a vent at the bottom of the door, plus a vent just below the ceiling may do the job. There seem to be kits to use 120mm computer fans in vents as well so if I have too much issue with heat I can buy one of those. This one comes with a thermostat so only goes on when the temperature is too high.

Amp34 · 25 Jun 2015 at 20:54

lude1962 said:
other possibilities , louvered door instead of solid, no av room (i'm guessing av room is next to cinema room) house all kit in a server cabinet...= bigger cinema room

This is the current plan

Excuse the mats... I just haven't found the right colour yet..

So essentially the AV room will be a bit of the "utility" room but needs to be neat because the main bathroom is down there.

Not sure about rear speaker placement yet either, I think the front and side speakers are in reasonable positions (?) at the moment though. The will be from 75-100" depending on whether I get a projector or a TV.

EDIT: having said all that, any recommendations about how to get a better experience would be appreciated, whether that be wall locations* or room layout or equipment layout would be appreciated.

*There are caveats to that, i.e. existing plumbing and structural supports!

Amp34 · 25 Jun 2015 at 23:40

I stated my reasons but on the other hand having a PS4/Xbox in the cupboard may not be a great idea. If that is the case I may end up with some kind of unit beneath the TV!

I'm also wondering if the AV cupboard could go in the top left hand corner of the Hobby room, it doesn't really need to be that big, although a central location would be better in terms of networking... Decisions decisions...!

Amp34 · 30 Jun 2015 at 10:20

The plan is to use the Logitech Smarthub as mentioned above. That in turn will be attached to a home automation hub, probably a Smartthings Hub which should mean I can control lights, blind, TV/projector screen all with one remote (or my phone).

Edit: I don't think the Smartthings hub is available in Europe, this house is in Canada.