Often we are asked by many clients ‘what is the best or what is possible’ in terms of the many aspects of home entertainment design.

In our opinion it is closely representing the original intended delivery of music or movie material by the talent. Our scope was to create in our own retail environment a luxurious cinema design with the best possible experience of sound, light and vision available to us. To be able to inspire. To be able to re-create the experience for prospective clients to enjoy in their own home and to create a point of difference.

We aimed our sights on an original tiered home theatre in the centre of our showroom. Attached to our smart home, the theatre had served well for many years, but was in need of an upgrade. Our plan centred on a complete re-build from the ground up of this room with only one original load bearing brick wall remaining in the design. Along with the Surrounds team, the concept was given to Perth Interiors company, Butler Interiors whom have a quality reputation for design and construct of Home Cinema cabinetry and interiors.

We’ve partnered with each other for over 10 years so we pretty well gave them free run to create whatever they liked with no boundaries apart from those at a visual and acoustic level. In collaboration with our own CEDIA Electronic System Designers and supplier network, the teams set about conceptual plans modelling both acoustics and visual sightlines along with lighting research and aesthetics .

With the common goal of ‘studio reference performance’ in mind, the team relied on choosing hardware and design techniques based on what many “Hollywood’ film and music mastering facilities utilise. At the core of the cinema design, a full 7.1 Professional Genelec Active speaker monitoring system was matched to the room along with central Crestron 7.1 Surround and control processor. The Genelec speakers were to be installed behind the screen and the acoustic axis were calculated so that imaging and tonal balance was correct.

Visually the design features a film grade Stewart 158” Anamorphic Cine V Microperforated screen teamed with a 3 chip Sim2 C3X DLP projector and Schneider-Isco lens / Cineslide sled system. With a pedigree of these two products having won Academy Awards for technical excellence wreaks credibility.

The projection system is housed into a ‘projection box’ that is ventilated and accessible from the rear for maintenance saving protrusion into the room. A concealed B&R 40RU equipment rack at the rear of the room allows a simple demonstration point without detracting from the client’s experience. Cavity sliding doors cover the AV rack and an adjacent neat confectionary bar.

Each component of the system was carefully selected on merit for reference performance, reliability and also the ability to be replicated, and on sold into on-going projects from a custom install point of view. The chosen equipment allowed the interiors of the room and related cabinetry to be customised to make the best out of these components. This was integral to the experience and each aspect of the design took into consideration acoustics, visuals, equipment access, lighting concealment, client comfort factor and the overall ‘wow’ factor.

A motorised ‘Star Trek’ style door activated by a C-bus DLT switch leads you through organza curtains into a luxurious culmination of light, sound and vision. A large curved custom made sofa at the rear of the room and two ‘out there’ body hugging permanently reclining burnt orange Spanish leather seats invite you to relax. In the meantime during warm up, the wireless Crestron touchscreen has activated a “Lenny Kravitz’ style lighting sequence using the combined power of Clipsal C-bus and DMX control. It takes charge of 180 metres of RGB LED professional strip lighting that can at the touch of a button create over 16 million colours. The LED lighting covers ceiling troughs, floor filling and step lighting. Twenty unique Italian made LED RGB pin spot lights illuminates the timber wall feature panels which also act as acoustic diffusers.

Throughout the room fabric padded panels isolate sound reflections, which includes built in bass traps. As the system features 3 x 15” 3 way LCR speakers and a single 4x 12” Genelec Subwoofer along with the flush mounted 2 way surround speakers, controlling bass for tight definition was a priority. Every wall and floor cavity is packed with acoustic insulation. An isolating plinth for the subwoofer separates it sonically from the main cabinet.

The walls and ceiling were double lined with both High Density Fibre board and Gyprock for isolation decoupling from the rest of the showroom. Every solid non-visible surface in the room including the timber floor riser, ceiling feature panel mounts and padded fabric panels were perforated like Swiss cheese to let acoustic energy through to the insulation behind to minmise resonance.

A variety of sources from the Kalidescape movie server system, Sony’s PS 3 for gaming, Blu Ray DVD, Foxtel HD, High Def free to air TV and Apple TV provide a myriad of media to choose from.

The feeling of the room immediately is so comforting; you’ll wish to be enjoying it for hours.

Performance is one of jaw dropping enjoyment, and people are astounded by the incredible experience. It more than satisfies 2 channel music, 7.1 movie, and gaming formats. Revealing is one of the most commonly overheard comments.

Systems are very well balanced for the room and the interiors /lighting design truly compliments these. Sound melts around you with ease, but can also move you reaching sub bass with amazing SPL. The 2:35 anamorphic screen which also reverts to 16:9, offers superb clarity, definition and depth. We surpassed our expectations with the accuracy of what we intended and indeed the aspirational expressions shown in our clients has been one of desire.