Custom Sight & Sound launches ’˜CSS Cinema’ division

UK-based custom installer Custom Sight & Sound has announced that it has launched a separate division purely dedicated to delivering home cinema projects – billed ‘CSS Cinema.’

A stalwart of the UK’s installation community, fronted by chairman and founder, Ian Bolt, Custom Sight and Sound officially unveiled the sub-division of the wider, 26-person company last week.

HiddenWires caught up with the company’s sales executive, Damien Smith, who outlined the installer’s motive behind the decision. “CSS has just surpassed the 25-year hurdle, and all throughout that time we have done hundreds of high-end cinema projects, but they’ve always been part of a bigger project,” says Smith on the launch. “So we decided to launch a separate cinema division to deal with any requirements for people that just want someone to take care of their cinema and don’t want all the other bells and whistles.”

system design of CSS home cinema project in luxury Mayfair homeHe adds that although many may associate CSS as delivering and integrating across various different technologies for the home, from lighting to full-home automation systems, this allows the company to better work with clients and developers just looking for turn-key home cinema options. He continues: “We’ve got really good relationships with all sorts of people that can work with us to deliver cinema projects."


CSS is also optimistic having a separate cinema-dedicated entity will allow them to connect to prospective partners more easily and frequently. “Obviously lots of companies do cinemas, but there are very few that have that as its only function, or have a dedicated division for cinemas,” states Smith.

Key manufacturers likely to be involved with upcoming projects for CSS Cinema include the likes of Trinnov, Kaleidescape, Barco, Bowers & Wilkins, Crestron and Lutron – allowing the company to cater for the high-end clientele it has built a reputation serving. “We try and use British brands where we can, like a lot of people, and products that we have a strong belief in and are familiar with.” Smith adds that customers will still vary from those looking for large-scale cinema projects and to those involving “a room that someone’s looking to convert.”

Smith does fully expect central London to continue to make up a significant proportion (“around 85%”) of the company’s work due to the huge amount of opportunities available here in collaboration with contractors and property developers.

“It’s been a few years in the making, but we wanted to make sure that we get it right,” says Smith. “There are still some things to add, but we’re really happy with it following the launch,” he concludes.

Recent accolades received by the integrator include ‘RIBA South Award Winner’ 2017, as well as back-to-back wins at the Crestron EMEA Integration Awards in 2017 and 2018 in the “Best User Experience” and ‘Best Incorporation of Crestron Pyng’ categories, respectively. Its 2017 win came for its work integrating ex-Harry Potter stuntman David Holmes fully-automated home, followed by being commended for its work with Pyng at Bishops London housing complex in Hampstead.

More information can be found at: https://www.csscinema.co.uk/






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