When an avid movie enthusiast came to SONA with a transformative home cinema brief, we could not have imagined that it would be shortlisted for Best Home Cinema at the 2018 CEDIA Awards.
The challenge
We were approached by the client with a unique challenge: to create a home cinema experience that would incorporate the benefits of a media room. Specifically, it would feature several small and one larger picture window – eschewing the traditional windowless design. The setting was an under-used music room with a basic surround sound system, but the client wanted much more.
They were also discerning about the technology: it had to be Dolby Atmos, known for its superior audio compression. We would combine this with a super-widescreen projection system to offer unparalleled viewing and listening.
Bringing the vision to life
We started by measuring the room, calculating where exactly the speakers could be positioned to fit the client’s desired 7.2.4 arrangement. This involved shrewd testing, including projection throw calculations to determine which areas would offer the best sound.
After deciding that a 13-channel speaker system would work best, next it was time for us to focus on comfort. The client wanted a relaxed feel – more of a ‘media room’ to suit their varied collection of movie and other viewing memorabilia. This involved accurate height measurements to keep the screen within viewers’ sightlines. We suggested a tiered seating layout, akin to modern cinemas.
Using computer-aided design, we ‘drew’ the room with the proposed technology in situ. For an even more immersive experience, we created a 3D layout and animation. This helped us to comply with Dolby specifications, and assured the client that all tech would fit the brief.
