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Storage Basement Becomes Theater Hangout
A projection screen, multiroom music, Control4 system and more comprise this media room, bar and billiards space now.
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FINALIST: Best Before and After
August 31, 2009
by Arlen Schweiger

It’s every home theater buff’s dream: take that old storage basement and turn it into a fully finished theater room and more.

The homeowner on this project wanted the theater, and contacted Aiken, S.C.-based WHAV Inc. to get the ball rolling. Now he’s rolling in eight balls in the corner pocket, too, to the sound of music. The resulting project included not only the big projection screen, but a bar and billiards area where a distributed audio system can route tunes.

“We went over his wish list ... he wanted a room that was very good acoustically as well as an entertainment room for family and guest,” says WHAV’s Chris Boyer. “We decided on using a 100-inch Stewart screen and a Panasonic AE2000U projector for the theater along with doing some acoustical system with the drywall. We were also a little concerned with fan noise from the projector and built an opening in the trey ceiling for it to reside to reduce this burdensome hum.”

As you can see from the pictures below, aside from the screen, no technology is intrusive in this space. That projector is barely noticeable unless you turn around to check it out. The equipment rack slides in and out of a cabinet for easy access, future expandability, and stealth.

“There was also a concern for putting speakers in the pool table area for listening pleasure and making this a ‘usable’ room for everyone. After looking at several systems, we decided on using a Control4 system to control lighting, multiroom music, and the theater at a touch of the button,” says Boyer. “With the help of some contractors on the construction of the room, the whole project really went better than expected.”

The Control4 HC-200 controller along with the SpeakerCraft architectural speakers eased any concerns about how music would flow everywhere in the space, giving the homeowners not only the home theater (with Definitive Technology speakers) but a home pool hall.


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Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine
Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!


Installer/Equipment List

Systems Design & Installation
WHAV Inc.
Aiken, S.C.
www.whavinc.com

Equipment
Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH Receiver
Panasonic PTAE2000U Projector
Definitive Technology BP7006 (2)
Definitive Technology C/L/R 2002
SpeakerCraft Aim Wide (2)
SpeakerCraft CRS-4 (2)
SpeakerCraft MT6-4 (2)
DynaBox Sound Enclosures
Middle Atlantic SRSR Series Rack
Control4 HC-300 and Wireless Dimmers
Stewart Filmscreen 100” Screen
Panamax 4300-PM Surge Protector
Audioquest Speaker Wire and Interconnects



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Comments (8) Most recent displayed first.
Posted by Lyle Alzado  on  08/31/09  at  11:24 AM

Since when did a 100 inch screen become a home theater?  My friend Ralph has a 600 foot screen and we used to watch Leave It To Beaver while shooting up.  I’m sick of seeing this junk, now any one can win a blue ribbon.  “Look at me I bought a 100 inch screen at Save A Lot and put a 12” LCD in the bathroom, ooohh, ooohh I’m a movie person now!!!”



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