The following information is courtesy of the 2008 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Designers’ Choice Awards. For more information on how to become a member of CEDIA, or information on its awards program please visit www.cedia.org or call (800) 669-5329.

2008 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Entry: Best Large Home Theater Level II: $200,001-$330,000

Date design began: 10-22-05
Date installation was completed: 01-28-08

FEATURE ESSAY:

1. Synopsis describing the project goals, special features, or nuances.

This project was for a client who was designing a large residential home from the ground up with the theater being a very important room to the homeowner as they wanted a space their grandchildren, kids, and family could enjoy together. The client was interested in creating a comfortable space with a large screen, great sound, and unobstructed views. We had an optimal size space to work with; the room was 20’ wide X 34’ long with 11’ ceilings, a great size room. The objective was to seat 10 people comfortably with a bar counter in the rear for additional seating and in room dining area.

2. Did you encounter any challenges or limitations in the design of the system or placement of equipment? Please describe the control system.

Working with the spacious dimensions available, we designed the seating layout in two rows of five seats with connecting arms. You enter the room from the rear by stepping up two steps/12� onto a 12’ platform, then two steps down to ground level which housed the front row, at an optimal 16’ from the screen. The room was treated with staggered stud construction and an acoustical wall absorption system integrated into the millwork.

3. Please discuss the acoustics including speaker placement and calibration as well as the SPL reading. Discuss the ventilation of the room.

Video is stellar with a Digital Projection Titan 1080P video projector. The projector is hidden in the rear soffit and kept cool with an Active Thermal Management cooling system. It resides quietly in a soffit 30’away from the Stewart 123â€? Luxus Deluxe wide screen with horizontal masking system. The screen was the perfect size to captivate the crowd with stunning 1080p HD video, DVD, and of course, video games which the kids can play in-house or live over the Internet against their friends. A Krell preamp processor and Krell high current amps powered seven channels. The speakers are B&W Signature 8′s for the left, center, and right channels and Signature 7’s for the sides and rears (6 total) along with two Nautilus powered subwoofers that rock the space. Because the room is such a nice size, we were able to have good distance from the sides and rears, which created a very open realistic sound field – with special thanks to legendary Krell processing. The room is controlled with a Crestron ST1700X two-way wireless touchpanel and control system which provides an easy operating experience which even the guests can use to operate the theater system by simply touching menu items and icons. In addition, we integrated a six-zone Lutron Grafik Eye system to handle the lighting control. Video source components are housed locally in the theater, they include DVD, Sony PlayStation2, and Xbox, the remaining equipment is housed in a Middle Atlantic ERK rack system which resides in a mechanical room behind the theater along with the whole-house audio system racks. Our client and their children use the room every night and say it gives them a great venue to enjoy family time together.

4. Did you calibrate the theater? If yes, please discuss the video calibration and any challenges you encountered during calibration.

The room was calibrated with ISF equipment. An Active Thermal Management system is used to cool the projector in the soffit as well as the local source equipment built into the side of the rear bar cabinetry.

EQUIPMENT LIST:

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Digital Projection
Model#: Titan HD 1080p
Product Description: 3 Chip DLP HD1080p Projector

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Digital Projection
Model#: Titan Long Throw Lens
Product Description: 2.3-3.6 Throw

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Digital Projection
Model#: N/A
Product Description: Mercury Ceiling Mount Bracket

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Krell
Model#: Showcase DVD
Product Description: Progressive Scan Videophile DVD Player

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: DirecTV
Model#: HR20
Product Description: HDTV Satellite Receiver w/built-in DVR

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: DirecTV
Model#: N/A
Product Description: HD Satellite Receiver

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Stewart Filmscreen
Model#: 123″ Luxus
Product Description: Deluxe HD Screen Wall

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Krell
Model#: Showcase Processor
Product Description: 7.1 Channel Processing w/ 8 Channel Equalizer

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Krell
Model#: Showcase 7 Amplifier
Product Description: 7 Channels X 125 Watts

Qty: 2
Manufacturer: B&W
Model#: Signature 8
Product Description: Left, Center, & Right Channel In-Wall Loudspeakers

Qty: 6
Manufacturer: B&W
Model#: Signature 7
Product Description: NT 2-Way In-Wall Speakers for side & rear EX Channels

Qty: 6
Manufacturer: B&W
Model#: BBW
Product Description: Metal Back Box for Signature 7 side & rear EX Speakers

Qty: 2
Manufacturer: B&W
Model#: Nautilus ASW850
Product Description: 1000 Watt Powered Subwoofers, 12″ Kevlar cone, Matrix Enclosure

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Crestron
Model#: STX1700C
Product Description: 2-Way Wireless Panel (for wireless global control)

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Crestron
Model#: STRFGWX
Product Description: 2-Way RF Gateway

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Crestron
Model#: CP2E
Product Description: Control System

Qty: 6
Manufacturer: Crestron
Model#: CNXIRP
Product Description: CN IR Probe without Diode

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Crestron
Model#: CNPWS-75
Product Description: Power Supply – 75 Watt

Qty: 1
Manufacturer: Middle Atlantic
Model#: ERK40
Product Description: Rack System

TIME AND EXPERTISE:

Client Interviews: 8

Electronic Design and Engineering: 64

Proposal and System Documentation Preparation: 16

Project Management: 32

Pre-wire/Rough-in: 24

Trim-out: 32

Shop Time for Racking and Testing: 32

Programming: 24

Final Installation and Calibration: 144

Client Instruction: 4

Interior Design and/or Architecture by your Company: 0

Interior Design and/or Architecture by Others: 80

Project Management by Others: 120

Other time: 0
Describe Task:

Total Hours to Complete: 580