Ideal performance is a goal. With careful attention to all aspects of construction, lighting, HVAC design, speaker placement, seating positions, audio-video equipment, interior acoustics and proper setup a room can perform extraordinarily well. A home theater, listening space or performance space designer will put the performance aspects of the room first with ascetics second. These are dedicated spaces.
On the other hand, using a practical approach, the function of the room may be shared as when the room is also a family room. The furnishings reflect other needs than the specific goal of an audio or video experience. Or, there may be unmovable objects like windows and doors that force the screen or speakers to one wall. When compromises are made the performance of the system suffers.
| ideal | practical | |
|---|---|---|
| best sound and image | good sound and image | |
| maximizing noise isolation uses | ||