ElectronicHouse.com has featured more than its share of over-the-top theaters and their associated A/V gear, but few rival the “Real Total Horn” listening room of Italian design firm Royal Device, at least not in terms of size (or obsession).
True, this story has been around for a while, but it’s surfaced again (thank you MAKE) to the amusement and astonishment of home theater junkies everywhere.
It starts with audio designer/owner, Roberto and his desire to build a system that focuses on the output capability of his speakers as opposed to the electrical power output of the amps. From there it delves into a world of ratios, ratings and fuzzy math that quickly outpace this writer’s ability to thumb up or down. Suffice it to say, Roberto walks the walk and builds his dream.
In a nutshell, the subwoofers consists of two horns placed into a subfloor cavity approximately 3 feet deep. The horn walls are made of brick and lined with an anti-resonating material. To keep the entire enclosure from moving about (important for compression) a 1500 pound slab was place atop. Wall and ceiling treatments assist in delivering the horn’s full impact to the listening position.
In all, an impressive feat if only for its DIY nature, and of course, the scale of Roberto’s vision.
Check out the slideshow for a construction walkthrough or Royal Device for a more blown out explanation of the project.
Home theater, automated lights and a high-tech fish tank.
Home theater, automated lights and a high-tech fish tank.
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