Vegas Baby, Vegas!

Photo by Don Pye

These high rollers took a gamble with the theme of this small room -- and won big.

No need to hit Sin City to feel like a high roller. These homeowners decided to add a little excitement into this small room, which is intended for parties, movies and fun. Aside from Vegas-style slot machines, the room also houses some classic pinball machines and other various collectibles.

The homeowners figured the room already had enough flash, so they wanted to keep the electronics hidden, and not intrude on valuable space. Sonance Ellipse in-ceiling speakers were installed and painted to match the ceiling. All are aimed at the listening area. Some ceiling joists had to be re-framed to accommodate the speaker locations and the acoustic enclosures.

A motorized lift allows for the projector to be completely out of site when not in use. Accommodating the lift was a challenge as the roof above is sloping. The slope dictated how far back the lift could go which in turn was a big factor in deciding on which projector and screen to use.

Howell & Associates installed a recessed, motorized screen with a metal trap door (painted to match the ceiling). There were many factors to keep in mind when the screen was chosen; it had to be appropriate for the distance from the seating area, it had to be clear of the door on the left side of the wall and it had to work with the chosen projector.

The homeowners wanted the control system to be portable, handheld and sleek. The RTI T3 portable touchscreen fit that bill. It is activity-based, so if the client wants to watch a movie he simply chooses “Watch Movie.” The screen and projector will lower, the lights dim to a pre-set level and the equipment rack fires up.

The video system was fully ISF-calibrated and the audio was calibrated to 80db.

EQUIPMENT LIST

Audio
• B&W ASW 675 Subwoofer
• Sonance Ellipse Speakers (14)
Home Control
• RTI CM-232 Serial Communication Module
• RTI RM-433 RF Receiver
• RTI RP-6 Remote Control Processor
• RTI T3 Universal System Controller
Video
• Denon AVR-4306 Receiver
• Denon DVD-1920 VS-003
• Draper MPL ACC-009 Accessory
• Generic Cable Box
• Runco CL610 Projector
• Runco RUHK Wall Mount Kit
• Terk AM/FM-Q Antenna
• Toshiba W522 VCR
• Vutec Vision 110-Inch Screen
Other
• CHT-001 Design System
• CHT-002 Lighting System
• Liberty Audio/Video/Cat5e Cables (Various)
• Monster Power HTS 2600 Power Conditioner
• Monster Power MP HTFS 500 Surge Suppressor
• Ultralink HDMIPro-15M A/V Cable

CONTACT
Systems Design & Installation
Howell & Associates Inc.
4325 Harvester Rd Unit 1
Burlington, ON
905-632-4209
www.howellandassociates.com