Home Cinema Case Study in Bath

HOME CINEMA IN BATH

Overview

This case study outlines the installation of a beautiful home cinema system designed to deliver a cinematic experience. The system includes a 150-inch Screenline Audio Transparent screen, high-fidelity Klipsch THX speakers, a Sony 4K projector, and advanced smart lighting and control systems. Designed for a family with a passion for both sports and movies, the setup accommodates multiple viewing formats, and delivers powerful immersive surround sound performance.

Client Brief

The client wanted a home cinema that would be capable of providing a true theater experience. They were looking for a system that could handle sports events in a 16:9 aspect ratio, as well as movies in an immersive Cinemascope 2.35:1 format. Key goals included excellent sound quality, room comfort, easy control, and flexibility for different viewing experiences and gaming. lighting control was also important to ensure the full cinema experiance.

System Components

Audio System

Speakers:

Front Left, Center, and Right: Klipsch THX-8000 in-wall speakers were selected for the front channels, delivering high-output, precise sound to complement the large screen. These speakers provide excellent clarity for dialogue and detail, matching the high-performance nature of the video system.
Surround and Surround Back: For the surround channels, Klipsch THX-8000-S in-wall speakers were chosen. These speakers ensure a full-range surround experience with excellent sound dispersion, creating a seamless soundstage across the entire room.
Subwoofers: Two SVS PB3000 subwoofers were installed in the front corners to deliver deep, dynamic bass. The PB3000 subwoofers are capable of reproducing low-frequency effects with great power and precision, providing the full-bodied impact that enhances both movies and music.

Amplification and Processing:

The entire speaker system is powered by the Integra DRX-5.4, a high-quality 9.2-channel AV receiver that offers excellent amplification and decoding for immersive surround sound. The Integra also features support for high-end formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS, giving the client the flexibility for future upgrades.

Audio Configuration:

The system was configured as a 7.2 home cinema setup with a focus on clear, dynamic front sound channels and an enveloping surround experience. The front left, center, and right channels are matched with the subwoofers to ensure even and impactful bass reproduction, while the surround and surround back speakers ensure a three-dimensional listening environment.

Video System

Projector:

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES 4K SXRD Laser Projector was selected for its exceptional picture quality, brightness, and 4K resolution. The projector is capable of switching between 16:9 and 2.35:1 aspect ratios via lens masking, providing optimal coverage for both sports and cinematic content.
The projector's superior HDR performance and vivid color reproduction ensure that the home cinema delivers vibrant images with depth and clarity, making it perfect for both sports and film enthusiasts.

Screen:

A 150-inch Screenline Audio Transparent screen was chosen to accommodate the 2.35:1 aspect ratio and provide high-quality image clarity. The audio-transparent material allows the in-wall Klipsch speakers to be positioned directly behind the screen, ensuring that the sound comes from the action on screen for a more immersive experience.

Smart Control and Automation

Control System:
The entire home cinema is controlled by a Nice Elan ELA HR40 Smart Remote, which provides seamless operation for all components in the system, including the projector's aspect ratio switching, lighting, and AV equipment. With the press of a button, users can change between 16:9 for sports and 2.35:1 for movies, adjust volume, manage lighting, and even control the climate.
Lighting Control:
The room features advanced smart lighting, with low-level lights built into the floor in front of the steps to help people navigate without disturbing the viewing experience. The lighting system also includes wall and ceiling spots with dimming controls, allowing users to create the perfect mood for each viewing session, from bright lighting for sports games to near darkness for immersive movie experiences.

Room Design and Acoustic Treatment

Room Layout:

The home cinema room is designed to seat 12 people comfortably, with three rows of sofas arranged to provide an optimal viewing angle. The first two rows are elevated 180mm above the row in front to ensure that everyone has an unobstructed view of the screen. The seating is arranged to maximize comfort and ensure a good line of sight to the screen from every position in the room.

Soundproofing by contractors:

To ensure that sound does not leak into the rest of the house, the cinema room was thoroughly soundproofed with insulated soundproof stud walls that prevent sound from escaping the room.
The ceiling was treated with hat channels to decouple the ceiling from the structure above, reducing sound transfer to the floor above. Additionally, the ceiling was lined with two layers of soundproof plasterboard.
These measures ensure that the client can enjoy their home cinema experience without disturbing the household or neighbours.
Further sound treatment is needed in the room in the form of absorbtion, this will improve the sound quality by redusing reflections making the sound feel tight and crisp, and will be added at a laterdate. However concideration has been taken in the materials used such as soft fernishings to great afect.

Installation Process

The installation process involved several phases:

Room Preparation:

The room was prepped by the building contractor and soundproofed the stone walls by builing a stud wall seperated from the stone wich significantly reduses sound leaving the room. The ceilling was fitted with hat channel to reduce the low frequency sound traveling to the floor above. The sud walls and ceilling were then lined with a double layer of soundproofing plasterboard.

Speaker Placement:

The Klipsch THX-8000 in-wall speakers were strategically placed for optimal sound coverage. The center, left, and right speakers were positioned behind the audio-transparent screen, while the THX-8000S surround speakers were installed to ensure an immersive surround experience. The SVS PD300s are placed in the front left a right of the room and deiver exceptionally deep powerfull bass for a true cinema experiance.

Projector Mounting and Calibration:

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES projector was ceiling-mounted on a custom ultra slim bracket and calibrated for perfect alignment with the 150-inch screen. The lens shift and masking system were set up to allow seamless switching between aspect ratios.

Integration and Tuning:

The system was fully integrated with the Elan Smart Remote for easy control. The room’s acoustics were tuned to ensure optimal sound quality, balancing bass, midrange, and treble frequencies for a lifelike and engaging listening experience.

Results and Client Satisfaction

The completed home cinema system exceeded the client’s expectations, providing a truly immersive entertainment experience. The client has experiance with highend home cinemas and was amazed by the proformnce for this system compering it to much more expencive options. The ability to switch between aspect ratios with a single button press, combined with high-quality sound and video, makes the space versatile and enjoyable for different types of content.

Visual Performance: The 150-inch Screenline Audio Transparent screen combined with the Sony VPL-XW7000ES projector provides stunning image clarity, color accuracy, and detail, delivering an immersive movie-watching experience.
Audio Performance: The Klipsch THX-8000 series speakers and SVS PB3000 subwoofers deliver dynamic, lifelike sound that rivals the best theaters. The surround sound system wraps the viewer in a 360-degree sound field, enhancing the overall immersion.
Comfort and Convenience: The room’s smart lighting and advanced control system make operation effortless, while the comfortable seating and excellent acoustics ensure a pleasurable experience for everyone.

Video System

This home cinema installation represents the perfect balance of cutting-edge technology, luxurious comfort, and high-performance audio-visual equipment, tailored specifically to meet the needs of discerning entertainment enthusiasts.