Articles and whitepapers

The Importance of Planning in Home Theatre Design (1/3/2004)

By Paul O'Reilly

Home cinema is still new and exciting. An ever-changing torrent of demonstrably better products demand a comprehensive skills-set of anyone involved in the process of home theatre design.

The home cinema market has developed massively recently, and is perhaps the most proactive and largest growing sector of the entertainment industry. For the first time in our lives, entertainment technology is starting to be linked. A Playstation works on TV, so why should it not work on plasma? The DVD player is a CD player in nature, and can become a hi-fi if used with an AV amp. Speaker packages with far smaller satellite sub-woofers can be linked up to TV, plasma or projector. The home theatre experience is now achievable for everyone.

If we are to consider who is having home theatres installed, then we are currently looking at two groups, namely the 'affluent consumer' and the 'aspirational consumer.'

Aspirational consumers

The aspirational consumer is an early adopter of home entertainment systems. Attracted to the latest technology and the look and feel of a home cinema system, they will dip into savings or take out a finance option to afford the latest technology that will impress friends and family. There may be some installation required, but it is highly likely that the aspirational consumer will buy off-the-shelf equipment and will seek less specialist help.

Affluent consumers

The affluent consumer will have whole rooms dedicated to the home cinema 'experience.' This is the domain of the high-end display equipment which must be installed in the home. In some cases, it may be linked to a central control system which automates lighting, heating, blinds, television, home security, audio and home appliances. At this level, a custom installer will be required to integrate various devices by developing cabling systems and programs that allow devices to be managed via a control system.

The Importance of Design

Videos, DVDs, satellite, cable, games consoles - all of these can be viewed on a television set. Once clients have made their choice in terms of the equipment, they will be frustrated if everything is not working smoothly or in a way that allows everyone else in the family to use it. As a designer, you should recommend the solution that fits the lifestyle of the purchaser, and consider what equipment is going to be used, and how is it going to be used.

home cinema design made to look simple

While the client should clearly be involved early in the design process, the audio/visual dealer or custom installer, and maybe even an electrician - especially for a room designated as a cinema - should also give an honest assessment of the best solution for the client's lifestyle. Although you and the client may initially have different ideas about what the best solution will be, by working in partnership and adapting what you are selling, you stand a much better chance of meeting the customer's requirements, ensuring that they trust your judgement, and bringing them back for future purchases.

Essential design considerations

Future proofing:
specifically cabling and control. When customers are spending a lot of money on their investment, it is worth recommending something with a degree of future-proofing, as they never know what they may wish to add later.

Speakers:
while the current trend is for 7.1 configurations, we need to determine if the room is large enough to justify it, and whether the client may not indeed be content with 5.1. If it is a purpose-built cinema, should 10.2 and its required wiring be considered? If active speakers are to be used, then power and triggers will be required. If passive, then back-boxes or sound-proofing may be required if the trend for in-ceiling and in-wall speakers is being followed.

Video sources:
is the system to be used just for DVDs, or will conventional sources such as Freeview, cable and satellite be added? Are phone lines or a dish required, will the system be linked to the rest of the house, and how are these going to be switched? Which types of games console are to be added, if any?

Type of room and orientation:
is the room light? Is it a dedicated home cinema room? Is it the main family area? How many windows and doors does the room have, and must we consider IR (infra-red) issues, blinds, screen gain etc? Will a conventional rackmount system work or will custom furniture be required?

Screen type and gain:
this is largely concerned with light in the room and the type of projector. We also need to consider if the screen is lowered in front of a window or other light source. Should the screen be motorised or pull-down? Pull-downs can go wrong, particularly if used by children or heavy-handed people. Motorised screens can be linked to a control system, but take longer to drop, and make a noise.

Projector type and specifications:
there are three types of projectors: DLP, LCD, and CRT, and each has different installation considerations. CRTs are the most difficult. They are large and noisy, generally use larger screens, require specialist test materials and generators, and specific training courses to learn how to install them. DLP and LCD projectors are the easiest to install, and much smaller images can be achieved. If the projector is to be ceiling mounted, the type of bracket and the position should be considered, as well as whether the projector is simply pulled out, manually set up and put away. In positioning the projector, access in order to change filters and more advanced setups should also be considered. We should also take into account the type and number of inputs - is an AV amplifier being used?

a desktop-mounted projector

Control System:
how will the entire system be controlled? Are all the devices IR? If so, a basic learning remote or a Xantech-type system can be used, but these may not support satellite or cable commands. We need to consider whether the controls are easy to use or whether it would be more effective to write macros. A better option may be a dedicated control system such as those by Crestron, AMX and Premise. These can be used to control devices such as blinds, screens, speakers and the projector lift, as well as the satellite box and DVD players. Such dedicated systems tend to be fool-proof and tailor-made to the client's requirements, but are subject to programming issues and cost implications.

Lighting:
clients should consider the number and type of lights they require, how many zones should be lit, what type of lights such as DMX, incandescent or fibre optic are desirable, and whether control of the lights should be integrated or linked into a macro. Dedicated cinemas must also have emergency lighting on the exit floor and steps.

Power:
this is often not taken into account. Large home cinemas in particular, use a lot of power, so we recommended dedicated spurs of 20-amp outlets plus breaker. Ventilation and cooling should also be considered.

Ancillary items:
other considerations can include refreshments, a pop-corn machine, security, and video streaming from networks and the Internet.

The Design Process

According to Ian Sutton of specialist hi-fi and home cinema retailer Audio T, the design process should involve the client from the outset. Having shown the client the varying magnitudes of system available in the demo rooms, the next stage is to roughly sketch the room, where the furniture is, and where the windows and radiators are. "Establish these key elements, then see what their existing kit is, and relative to what they fancy, suggest the best solution for their requirements," says Sutton.

Once an idea has been gained from the diagram, then a site survey may be the next best step. As Sutton notes, "When you consider the cost of a home cinema installation, we feel that the site survey should be free within reason - taking into account travelling distances. The site survey allows you to look at aspects such as the age of the property, as well as the layout and positioning. Clients appreciate an expert opinion when they are spending this amount of money."

"Next in the process is the choice of equipment and its demonstration. We always like to give our customers the opportunity to try it out. Using our demo rooms we can link up every aspect of the installation and let them experience the finished product. We can even link in customers existing products, such as their VHS or DVD. After this, we get the stock in and agree time frames for installation."

Conclusion

If you are considering having a home theatre designed, the best advice would probably be 'take your time.' The wise reseller or installer will ensure that they understand your requirements and exceed your expectations.

Paul O'Reilly is the Director of Sales for Steljes Trade - distributor of a range of display technologies and sole UK distributor for SMART Technologies Interactive solutions.

www.steljes.co.uk