Basement Theater Delivers CineWide Splendor

Runco’s RS-1100 DLP projector with CineWide lens displays movies in the superwide CinemaScope format and also eliminates the black bars.

An unfinished basement is transformed into a superwide CinemaScope home theater with an attached kitchen, pool hall and more.

Talk about a multipurpose room: This 900-square-foot Indiana basement has it all, including a pool hall, card parlor, bar, kitchen and a 7.1-channel theater that serves the entire space. The 123-inch screen from Stewart Film Screen is up to the task, displaying the image delivered by a Runco RS-1100 DLP projector.

The space started out as an unfinished basement. Then the electronics pros from Tri-Phase Technologies in Carmel, IN, took measurements, plugged the numbers into a software program, and followed the recommendations for where to place the acoustical treatments such as sound diffusers, reflectors and absorption panels. Tri-Phase engineer Ian Bryant then added his own special sauce to ensure the sound would be the best it could be.

Front-channel speakers and subwoofers were mounted on the wall behind the screen. Triad side and rear surround speakers came painted to match the room.

On the video side, it didn’t take long at the Tri-Phase showroom to convince the homeowner that a Runco DLP projector with a CineWide lens was the way to go. The CineWide lens delivers widescreen movies in the superwide CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio, without annoying black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. 

The family was originally slated for a high-end DVD changer, but Tri-Phase stepped them up to a Kaleidescape system that stores movies to a hard-drive system for instant retrieval. Once they saw it, they knew they had to have it.

For new high-resolution DVDs, the homeowners picked LG’s dual-format player that plays both Blu-ray discs and the competing HD DVD formats. The video equipment and other source components are hidden behind smoked glass at the rear of the room.

Now this is a finished basement.

Video Equipment
• Runco RS-1100 1080p projector with CineWide lens
• Stewart Film Screen 123-inch CineWide screen with electronic masking
• LG BH100 Blu-ray Disc/HD DVD player
• Kaleidescape Movie Player system
Speakers and Electronics
• B&K REF50 7.1 audio processor
• B&K REF200.7 7.1 amplifier
• Marantz DV6600 DVD/SACD player
• Crestron TPMC-8x touchpanel
• Crestron AV2 control processor
• Triad In-Room Silver LCR speakers
• Triad In-Wall Silver surround speakers
• Triad In-Room Silver powered subwoofers
Other Equipment
• Panamax 5400EX power conditioner
• Middle Atlantic ERK-40 rack
• Delvcam 2LCD monitors
• Lutron HomeWorks lighting system
• Auralex acoustical treatments
• Pullman seating

Systems and Room Design
Tri-Phase Technologies
Carmel, IN
www.triphasecustom.com