Home Theater Showcases Film and Art

Mar 19, 2007 12:00 PM

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The following information is courtesy of the 2006 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Designers' Awards. For more information on how to become a member of CEDIA, or information on its awards program please visit www.cedia.org or call (800) 669-5329.

2006 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Winner
Gold Technical Design: Large Home Theater
Level V ($250,000-399,000)

All Around Technology

The contractor's goal was to create a small theater within the new residence of a very discerning videophile and art collector. While the client wanted the most current acoustic technologies and highest quality audio and video systems, his most challenging requirement was actually design related: The room was also to function as a gallery for his collection of autographed Hollywood photographs. All Around Technology faced the problem of creating a legitimate audio/video performance space in a room full of acoustically reflective artwork. Moreover, since the client enjoys rearranging and exchanging his photo collection, it had to be displayed in a way that allowed for such flexibility.

The contractor had to find a creative way to house the equipment with accessibility from the theater. The solution was to poach a small space from an adjacent powder room for the equipment closet. A second blind door was included to allow easy service access to the gear.

Given the display requirements of the various sizes of photographs, All Around Technology proposed that they be placed in a symmetrical arrangement on both long sides of the room and toward the back so that they could ensure that the room acoustics could properly handle first reflections from the front speakers and not reflect light from the screen.

The contractor had the notion that the photo display could hang or float in front of the acoustic fabric finish of the wall, but the client had great concern that his toddlers might find it a challenging climbing wall instead. They therefore brought in a museum display specialist who developed and installed a structural cable system, which nicely solved the problems and included custom forged hangers and cable locks. The client can easily make his own changes with the installed system, and it won’t come down with the added weight of an adventurous four-year-old child.

All Around Technology engaged the services of a theater acoustics consultant to develop a detailed acoustic plan for the room, which recognized the acoustically reflective nature of the photography collection. The acoustic plan included treatments for all surfaces including the floor. The elegantly sculptural Revel speakers selected for the room would definitely be left exposed and offered the opportunity for the acoustic consultant to detail a short plinth for the speakers as a clever bass trap.

The residence's HVAC system is a four-pipe design with a constantly on chiller. The theater is separately zoned and comes on line whenever the theater equipment is fired up. Supply and return air is delivered and returned through a slotted limestone border in the floor, which surrounds the room. Thermostats in the equipment closet control airflow and temperature and provide a shutdown feature if the HVAC system should fail.

Outside consultants were flown in to handle both audio and video calibrations. The video calibration was performed by an ISF certified technician who encountered no obstacles to achieving the appropriate standards. Speakers and subwoofers were specifically located in accordance with the room acoustic design. The resulting room response was well within the adjustment capability of the Behringer DSP equalizers. An acoustical calibration expert performed all room analysis and adjustments. Everyone was all surprised, in fact, to find how little adjustment was actually required.

EQUIPMENT LIST

1 ADA Cinema Reference Mach II

1 ADA ISO-CAT II

1 ADA ISO-2

1 ADA MPA-701

1 ADA PP-1200

1 Behringer DEQ2496

1 Crestron STCP-2E PAK17

1 Custom mount

1 Denon DVD-3910

1 Dish Network Dish Player-DVR 921

1 Furman Sound PL-8

1 Middle Atlantic Products Slim 5

2 Middle Atlantic Products DVDP

3 Middle Atlantic Products RSH4A

1 Middle Atlantic Products RSH4S

1 Middle Atlantic Products SSL

2 Middle Atlantic Products TD-2

4 Middle Atlantic Products TD-4

2 Monster Cable HTS5000 MKII

1 Niles Audio LS1

1 Panamax Max 8 DBS+5

2 Revel Ultima Gem Pedestals

1 Revel Ultima Voice Pedestal

2 Revel Performa B15a

4 Revel Ultima Embrace

2 Revel Ultima Gem Speakers

1 Revel Ultima Voice

13 RPG ABFFOBLS(96)2U

6 RPG ABFFOBLS22U

1 RPG ABFFOBLS42U

2 RPG ABSPOBLS(96)(18)4S1

1 RPG BAD0BLS(56)(24)3S1

1 RPG BADPOBLS(56)(36)3S1

2 RPG BADPOBLS(56)(42)3S1

1 RPG MDX0ABLS225(50)

3 RPG MDXM0ABLS227(50)

1 RPG MDXMOABLS225(100)

3 RPG MDXMOABLS227(80)

5 RPG SKYLC-2

1 Runco VX-2c

1 Runco RUHK-004100

1 Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2100

1 Stewart Filmscreen 4WSN92HFHWXC

Time and Expertise Worksheet
Task	Hours
Client Interviews	20
Electronic Design and Engineering:	52
Proposal and System Documentation Preparation:	22
Project Management:	116
Pre-wire/Rough-in:	16
Trim-out:	28
Shop Time for Racking and Testing:	60
Programming:	64
Final Installation and Calibration:	120
Client Instruction:	4
Interior Design and/or Architecture by your Company:	108
Interior Design and/or Architecture by Others:	0
Project Management by Others:	0
Other time: builder's interior designs, drawings done on paper:	16
Total Hours to Complete:	626