CAI Vision clients / projects
- Project: Home Cinema. Retractable cinema screen, multiple motorised speakers, automated black out window, DVD server, SKY HD, LED mood lighting, Control module and receiver.
- Client: Darren Wright
Rather than approach this with the typical (and now pretty common) ‘stick up a plasma’ type solution, we felt that something special was needed in order for this project to have that real WOW factor.
We pitched the idea of a ‘James Bond’ room (yes we used this terminology) describing a room that would at first appear contemporary and fairly normal but would transform into a full blown home cinema at the touch of a button. The client was clearly excited by this idea and wanted to know more.
The room had an unusually high ceiling compared with the rest of the property and was boxed in at the window end as part of the building structure. Our suggestion was to disguise this entirely by extending the ‘boxed out’ section all around the room to create a recessed ceiling (which was actually NOT recessed, but the original ceiling) into which we would install 2 fibre-optic ‘star-field’ lights. This would then be complemented with a DMX LED colour change lighting solution around the perimeter section. This area of the ceiling would also house the majority of the AV equipment namely the Projector, Electric Screen, Speakers and various Rako home automation and lighting control modules.
The final solution comprised of a projection based cinema solution featuring hidden 7ft electric 16:9 screen, Kef motorised ceiling speakers, automated blackout window treatments, Idyl DVD server , LED mood lighting, SkyHD all controlled in a simple and intuitive manor via a macro heavy Philips pronto NG with RF receiver.
Home cinema screen
Hit ‘WATCH’ on the Pronto’s touch-screen and the perimeter lights would immediately turn a warm red. The projector would fire up, black-out blinds would begin to lower, as would the three front Kef motorised speakers. The main event would be the 7ft electric 16:9 screen lowering from a ceiling aperture lit up by two single low voltage down lights. The mood is set! The screen of the pronto would then present two options “SKY HD” & “DVD”. Selection of either of these would immediately fire up the Denon amplifier (selecting the appropriate source input), dim the front screen lights and turn the room from warm red to a cool blue – creating an experience very similar to that of a large multi-plex.
DVD selection is a breeze also, thanks mainly down to the Idyl’s simple user interface. This really is the icing on the cake presenting an overall solution that could give even more expensive solutions, a run for their money.
The Installation
As well as creating a smart looking feature within the room, the boxing out of the ceiling recess, acted as the ideal conduit for the routing of the many cables that were required to make this kit all work. However, we did have to build into the design, a number of access panels that could be removed should any of the equipment require attention in the future (not that anything EVER goes wrong!)
Our biggest headache however was where to position the head-end source equipment that would be driving this kit. Various cabinet and stand options were considered before we came up with the idea of housing it all in a location at the opposite end of the house. This unused cupboard area was almost made for the job and what’s more, we were able to squeeze in a small 19” rack cabinet with lockable door.
As this cupboard was some 20 meters or so from the Cinema room, we went with the increasingly popular ‘AV over CAT5’ option as we did not want to lose ANY signal quality through long cable runs. A Philips Pronto RF extender adequately handled the control element, despite the distance (and walls) involved.
A dual gang Rako 13 button keypad gives local control of the screen and blackout blind and allows easy colour change fading of the LEDs (just in case the Pronto goes AWOL)
As with the projector screen and blackout blinds, the three KEF motorised speakers are controlled via a Rako curtain/blind relay. It works really well with the rest of the system and even has it’s own page on the Pronto for manual control, should the need arise.
Clients verdict:
Both Mr. Wright and his girlfriend were extremely happy with the finished room.
“I NEVER expected it to look this good” and “I Just can’t believe the transformation” were two of the many comments that were expressed numerous times.
In fact the Mr. Wright was so happy with the finished room, that they expressed they would have no problem should we wish to show round future potential clients etc.
Mr. Wright wanted a use for the room……… what he ended up with was a room that gets used more than any other and a fantastic party centrepiece to boot!
