Hidden Installations & High Performance

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Hidden Installations and High Performance

Learn more at www.EDGonline.com ________________________________________________________________________________ Published: 1/2008

Š 2008 Electronics Design Group. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without expressed written permission from the publisher.

Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3 Considerations .................................................................................................................. 3 Space Planning..................................................................................................... 3 Equipment Locations ............................................................................................ 3 Speakers and Subwoofers.................................................................................... 5 Electrical ............................................................................................................... 5 Design Stage..................................................................................................................... 6 Drawings ............................................................................................................... 6 Wiring ................................................................................................................................ 8 Electrical ............................................................................................................... 8 Equipment............................................................................................................. 8 Installation Process ........................................................................................................... 9 Finished Product ............................................................................................................. 13 Execution ............................................................................................................ 13 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 14 Finished Photography ......................................................................................... 17 Credits............................................................................................................................. 20

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Introduction While homeowners continue to explore ways of duplicating the movie theater experience in their homes, allocating a dedicated space and staring at electronic gear hanging on walls and ceilings when not in use have become the challenge of electronic systems contractors, architects, interior designers, and various other residential building trade professionals.

Today, the emphasis is on the WOW factor and the ability to transform one room into a multifunctional room with the push of a button.

This case study shows how Electronics Design Group worked towards meeting the client’s demand of a multi-use, high performance Home Theater room with equipment that is discretely hidden when not in use.

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Considerations Space Planning In planning for this client’s dedicated Home Theater, a choice had to be made between the lower level and the family room on the main level. The lower level, which is a "walk-out" with great views and windows, would be less practical for the theater and better suited as a playroom/game room.

EDG decided to focus on the Family Room (Fig 1) as a "hidden" technology Home Theater. It's a challenge to create a room with incredible sound and a vivid picture, while maintaining the look and function of a family room and not an electronics center. The room measurements are 15' 4” (wide) x 19' 7” (length) x 8' (height), or approximately 2,500 cubic feet, with a fireplace as the focal point.

Equipment Locations 42” plasma TV for casual and daytime viewing located above the fireplace

Video Projector located at the back of the room

92” motorized screen located above the fireplace for movies and nighttime viewing

After carefully measuring and calculating throw distances for the projector and screen, it was decided to create a valance, which would hide the screen and bi-fold doors for the flat panel above the fireplace (Fig 2). In essence the fireplace remains the focal point of the room and the screen and flat panel are hidden.

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The real trick was the selection of a high quality projector that was small enough to remain unseen. The Runco CL710 DLP projector, which measures only 10” deep, was selected and hidden inside a valance (Fig 3) behind the seating wall. This valance also serves as a drapery pocket for motorized traversing shears. The shears provide a well filtered light, which will reduce glare on the screen and help prevent the sun from fading the millwork. For aesthetics and sound control, stationary draperies will be located around the windows. To further balance the acoustics and aesthetics, painted rail and style paneling will be installed around the room with wall fabric above, hiding acoustical materials for absorption behind the fabric.

The main system electronics are in a rack in the lower level, with only the DVD player and VCR located locally in the room, in a small cabinet in the bar area that leads to the library. In addition, there will be a “convenience jack” (Fig 4) located behind the couch. This jack provides a direct connection for a laptop computer, Internet access, game console, and a video camera or digital camera for photo slide shows.

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Speakers and Subwoofers Speaker technology continues to advance and manufacturers are making very specific “application” speakers. Case in point: Since this room will be “hidden technology,” Sonance Ellipse Series (Fig 5) speakers were selected. These speakers are designed for in-ceiling mounting for the left, center and right channels. The speakers are angled inside the enclosure, while sitting flush on the sheet rock surface. This allows pinpoint positioning for accurate sound reproduction.

The surround channels will also be ceiling mounted, but using dipole technology (front and rear firing), allowing the diffused sound to reflect off the hard surface of the back wall. There was no space to mount the two surround back channel speakers, so the decision was made to mount one wall-mounted surround back channel to also be hidden behind the valance, with a painted metal grill from which the sound will emanate. In essence, this system becomes a 6.1 system, to take advantage of those DVD's that offer surround back channels. The two subwoofers will be located in the right front and rear left corners behind the chair and couch. Why two? Since this room ”flows” towards the library with no door between the two rooms, a calculation of the library’s cubic feet helped to determined that some bass would be lost due to the extra space.

Electrical A dedicated 20 amp circuit for the local room equipment—Subwoofer, Plasma TV, Projector, and Screen—was implemented. There are two other 20 amp dedicated circuits at the main rack area for the head end and equipment.

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Design Stage With the equipment list finalized, shop drawings are prepared for the design phase of the project.

Drawings In the front screen elevation (Fig 6), a new fireplace mantel with pilasters on each side is detailed. Above the mantel, a bi-fold door system was designed to house the flat panel TV. The crown molding and fascia are designed to accommodate the motorized video screen.

The screen is physically attached to the ceiling, and can be serviced from under this fascia panel.

To improve the aesthetics (Fig 7), recessed paneling and molding were specified to go around the room with bookcases to the left and right at the same height (Fig 8). Above the panel moldings, wall upholstery with acoustical material on the underside will help to dampen the room. The rear of the room (Fig 9) shows the valance that will house a motorized drapery rail and hide the video projector, with a small cut out for the lens.

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In the floor plan options (Figs 10 & 11), the interior designer has selected a sectional couch or sofa, chair, and love seat option.

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Wiring Once the final plans are in place, EDG can begin the wiring.

Electrical There is a 20 amp dedicated circuit feed in this room. This circuit is wired to 5 locations as follows: Screen, Projector, Equipment locations, and Subwoofer locations. Since the decision was made to house amplifiers and other high-current draw equipment in the basement rack, that rack is equipped with two 20 amp circuits for a total of 60 amps for the system, including house-wide music.

Equipment Numerous cables for control signals and audio and video feeds were run to the equipment rack, including spare wires for future use. The speakers and subwoofers get additional feeds that run directly back to the main system rack location. The "convenience" jack located behind the couch has feeds for audio, video, computer and internet access. These feeds run directly back to the main system rack.

The cabinetry will be put into production. The lead time is 8-10 weeks for completion which will coincide with estimated start of the final installation.

Equipment List Video NEC 42” Plasma 42XP10 Digital Projection I-Vision-HD Projector Pioneer DVA45 DVD Player with Super Audio CD Playback Sony VHS VCR HR-10-250 HDTV/Tivo Hughes Direct TV/Tivo Satellite Receiver Recorder Microsoft X-Box Game Console Extron "convenience jack" for Laptop, Internet, Video Camera Stewart Motorized Screen 45x80 16:9 Aspect Ratio 92" Diagonal Firehawk Material Media Décor Motorized Art Frame Motorized Actuator for Projector Audio Rotel RSP-1066 7.1 Sound Processor ADA PTM6150 6 Channel Amplifier Sonance Ellipse 1.0 Speakers (LCR) Sonance Cinema .5 Speakers (surround) Canton Plus F Speaker (1) for Surround Back Channel B&W ASW2500 Subwoofers (2) Control Crestron ST-1700 6" Touchscreen Lighting and Shades Lutron Home Works Lutron Sivioa Motorized Drapery System

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Installation Process The transformation is now ready to begin! After months of design and planning, the equipment installation is complete and we are ready for the mill worker to make final measurements. The system has been tested to ensure that everything is working. Final calibrations for sound and picture will take place as a final step.

In Figure 12, the video screen is mounted to the ceiling and the plasma TV is mounted to the wall with a tilt bracket. In the next picture (Fig 13) we show the front speakers, otherwise known as Left, Center, Right (LCR) channels. Since this installation is a "retro-fit" and not new construction, there was sheetrock cut to run concealed wires and mount the speakers. Next, all of the sheetrock will be spackled and ready for final paint.

Figure 13 shows the convenience jack installed.

Notice the various ports for computer Internet, Games (X-Box etc.) and Video Cameras. This jack will get more use as digital technology expands.

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Figure 14 shows the controller. Notice the side buttons; they are engraved for the specific function, common buttons that the client will frequently use. The touch panel sits atop a docking station for charging. The rest of the control happens on the 6" LCD display panel.

In Figure 15, the rear view of the room is shown. Notice the placement of the projector (tight to the ceiling and back rear wall, just above the valance). The idea is to hide the projector in the new valance that is being built. Also notice the left and right surround channels that are mounted in the ceiling, Figure 16 shows a close up.

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Figure 16 shows a close up view of the Dolby Surround EX for commercial cinemas (Fig 18) Notice the "rear surround." As a result, sounds can envelop you, planes can fly directly over head and rain can pour down, all which provide the most realistic experience ever.

The "surround back" channel is located on-wall between the existing draperies.

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Figure 19 shows the 1st of 2 subwoofers located in the front left corner of the room. In the final room design there is a bookshelf cabinet in the corner. Most likely the sub will be installed in the bottom of the bookshelf, or if a chair is placed in the corner, the sub will sit on the floor behind the chair.

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Figure 20 shows the second subwoofer located in the right rear of the room. In the final design this will be behind the new sofa.

Finished Product The transformation is complete. Elegance, earth tones, wood floors, architectural details, great fabrics and Total Hidden Technology truly makes this a "Gentleman's Lounge."

The Challenges:

Tight tolerances for throw distance, projector size, ventilation, and concealing all of the equipment

Creating pockets for motorized shades, video screen and projector

Not compromising placement of equipment

Keeping the fireplace as a focal point

__________________________________________________________________ Execution With no room for error, the CAD drawings had to be perfect so the electrical contractor and mill worker could perform their magic. As for hiding the technology, we chose to place the Sound Processor, Video Processor, Power Amplifier and HD Receiver in the main system ERK rack located on the lower level. The DVD and VHS were adjacent to this room in a cabinet for convenience of loading media. The cabinet is also the main software storage for the house.

To hide the displays, we designed extensive motorization: Loudspeakers were placed in-ceiling, faux painted, with the exception of the mounted and faux painted surround back channel. Two subwoofers are completely hidden behind the furniture. The Buttkicker is attached to the main couch frame, adding extra punch to movies.

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Operation is simplified using extensive Crestron programming. Choose the display, projector or plasma, then the source. If the projector is selected, the screen lowers, lights dim, shades close and projector door opens. If the plasma is selected, only the art frame is affected to reveal the plasma. No other changes to the room lighting or shades are made.

__________________________________________________________________ Conclusion Creating this high-performance room that is completely hidden is the most challenging concept to achieve. The design and implementation has little room for error and coordination among trades is most complex. However, when executed properly, it is truly a great experience visually when the room is "off," and even more exciting when the dedicated theater is in use.

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Figure 24 shows a close-up of the pockets for the motorized shades.

In Figure 25, the video screen is revealed and in use.

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Figure 26 shows the plasma television located above the fireplace with the motorized artwork discreetly hiding the television and also with the artwork retracted when in use.

Figure 27 shows the unique hidden positioning of the projector - both hidden and revealed for use.

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Credits This project was a team effort, and we would like to thank the following firm for their exceptional contributions in making this project a success:

1. Leslie Hyans of Oakleigh Interiors for the Interior Design, Fabrics and Furnishings.

(191 Washington St, Morristown, NJ 07960-3756 · 973-984-5600)

2. Sean Benetin of Millwork and More for the Millwork and Cabinetry.

(42 Vail Rd., Blairstown, NJ 07825 · 908-362-9920)

Electronics Design Group, Inc. 60 Ethel Road West, Suite 4, Piscataway, NJ 08854 732.650.9800 • www.EDGonline.com

About Electronics Design Group Founded by Bob Gullo in 1987, EDG is a pioneer in the custom residential electronics industry. Considered by its peers and industry magazines as one of the top residential system integrators in the country, EDG continues to innovate spectacular systems using the latest software and control system technology to bring its clients simple and easy to use solutions. Providing expertise in all aspects of residential environments, EDG is known for: audio/video systems, acoustics, media room design, lighting, HVAC, telecommunications and motorized control of shades, lifts and other devices. EDG is a one-stop solutions provider in the Hi-End residential marketplace.

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