How do you get a lush home theater space like this? It helps to work with an interior designer as well as a custom electronics company. When the two work together, the results are often stunning—whether the lights are on or off. Though sometimes the needs of electronics and aesthetic concerns can … well … clash.

The family that owns this basement space wanted a rich-looking home theater room that performed well and was easy to operate. “They were low-tech and wanted a mid-priced system that had the latest in high-definition video and surround sound,” says Ian Bryant of custom electronics company Tri-Phase Technologies.

But the installation plans quickly reached a couple of snags. First, the basement had 14-foot-high ceilings that created a challenge for the placement of the front projection system. And mounting a projector on a pole that descended from the ceiling was not an option. “It was made clear that the client did not want to see the projector and would like to have it hidden inside the rear bulkhead,” says Bryant. This created several obstacles. First, Tri-Phase needed a way to vent the heat from the projector. Second, the throw distance, or the length the projector must “throw” an image onto the screen, and degree-of-tilt was a major concern. Tri-Phase needed a projector with a long throw distance of 20 feet, and the tilt could cause a keystone effect, where the top or bottom of the screen image tapers in. Third, the sound of the room was an issue because the back of the room was open, so people could sit at the rear bar and view the screen.

“Lastly, the interior designer was adamant that we use a specific fabric for the front wall to match the desired look of the room,” says Bryant. “The fabric looked great, but was not sound transparent,” and Tri-Phase had planned on concealing the front speakers behind it.

To address the ventilation issue, a Cool Cube air conditioning unit pulls hot air from the projector cavity and delivers it to an unfinished utility room. The projector issue was resolved with Projection Design’s M20 projector that has an extremely versatile throw-distance. “The combination of this specific projector unit and a larger screen [Da-Lite’s 120-inch] fixed our main throw-distance dilemma,” says Bryant. “And the projector has such a large vertical shift,” that it prevented the keystoning.

To control reflective sound in the back bar area, Auralex absorptive panels were placed behind fabric on all the walls.

“The issue of using the designer’s fabric seemed to be a bit more challenging, until an engineer on our staff suggested going with a perforated screen,” says Bryant. The Klipsch R-5650-W in-wall front speakers were placed behind the Da-Lite acoustically transparent screen. “This minor compromise was well worth making the client and designer completely satisfied with the overall look and feel of the room,” Bryant adds.

The same Klipsch speakers were used for four surround channels and are fed from a Marantz SR7001 audio/video receiver. Crestron mans control of the A/V rack, which is cleverly concealed behind an invisible door in the front of the room.

About the Author:
Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is a writer, editor, and humorist who recently completed Filthy Rich Things, a savage satire on our thirst for success and wealth. He is presently expanding his magazine work by writing more about alternative energy sources and green building.