Home Movie Theaters

Challenges are nothing new to systems integrators. However, retrofits generally require more out-of-the-box thinking than new construction. “The creation of a home theater during construction is relatively easy,” says Ryk Schoonheim, owner of the Sarasota, Florida–based Sights, Sound and Such. “Transforming an existing space is another story.” Each retrofit offers a unique set of problems, and so it was with this Port Charlotte, Florida, home theater installation.

In today's economy, everyone is looking for high value equipment, especially do-it-yourselvers. <A HREF="http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-4B-Harmony-SA,185,70,453.asp... Audio</A> is a direct-to-consumer manufacturer. This business model allows them to cut the mighty costs of distribution and dealer support. So, what you buy is the product and not a huge chunk of the associated costs to market it. The new Intimus 4B Harmony SA system is a complete 5.1 speaker system for only $999. This is the company's most affordable system complete with center channel speaker and subwoofer. The surround speakers can be mounted virtually anywhere - ceiling, on-wall, on stands, or placed on a shelf. They are available in real cherry wood (pictured) or high-gloss piano black.

This home was a 4500sq.ft. rancher and Custom Video Audio Components (CVAC) was responsible for supplying and installing a completely automated 7.1 surround sound home theater, an elegant touch-screen audio distribution system throughout the house, a Hide-A-Hose retractable central vacuum system and, in conjunction with Hilco Systems, installed Honeywell security and Bosch CCTV surveillance systems.

Designed to serve primarily as a high performance center channel speaker for home theaters, the compact Encore TF ($499 each) from Martin Logan uses an ATF^TM (Advanced Thin Film) driver, long-excursion low-mass woofers, and sophisticated crossover engineering to produce sound with lifelike clarity and openness. The Encore TF can be discretely mounted beneath a high definition flat screen or used with the included table top stand. Additionally, the Encore TF is highly adaptable, performing equally well mounted horizontally or vertically. The Encore TF can also be used for all 5-channels in a home theater.

Meeting the client’s budget while providing the home theater of their dreams is often a balancing act that Barrett’s Home Theater of Naperville, Il. is used to. “Homeowners usually don’t realize what it takes to build out a room like this theater,” says John Wettlaufer, Barrett’s Custom Audio Video Manager. “In this instance, we were able to have an informed dialog with the client and make key decisions and compromises that made it possible for us to design a great home theater at a price they could live with.”

We recently remodeled our master bedroom to accommodate a fairly high end home theater/audiophile AV system. Since we're as much into great music as great films, we designed the system to provide optimum playback for both. We spend most our time either viewing movies or listening to music, so the bedroom is now our main living area.