home cinema installation – multi room audio – multi room video - cctv - systems - control - projection cinema - plasma cinema – high definition plasma tv
 
 
   
   Overview
  This subject is a contemporary new single storey wing of a 16th Century Gothic Mansion located in Weetwood, North Leeds.
 
   The Brief
  The client required simple access to high definition video and high quality audio in the kitchen, lounge bedroom and en-suite. Their preference was to control everything through the TV interface so an iDyl server was the obvious choice.
    Budget :
  Approximately £25,000 - £50,000
High Definition throughout the Home

Two Sky HD boxes located in the main lounge cabinet allow the kitchen, lounge cinema room and bedroom to watch different Sky channels at the same time.

The property is cabled so that the High Definition signal is sent around the home providing beautiful high definition pictures in each room but without the intrusion of a Sky box. The client can then control any Sky HD box from any room - no need to walk between rooms to change channels.

The CCTV cameras around the property are accessible on every screen in the house by simply pressing "CCTV" on the remote. Finally a VCR was added to the system so that the family can still enjoy their classic video collection.

Access Hundereds of CDs and DVDs

The heart of the entire system is the iDyl media server. The iDyl stores all the family's DVDs, CDs and digital photos on the network storage device and allows browsing of their entire collection on-screen with a very simple interface. (see DVD interface to the right)

Think of it as an iPod, but with a video interface and super high quality audio and video. This removes the headache of hunting for CDs and DVDs, only to find them scratched or the cases empty. The video "nodes" allow each room to watch different DVDs or listen to different CDs at the same time, or to play the same music throughout the whole property in party mode.

  Share HD between the Breakfast Room and Kitchen

The stylish 32" Samsung LCD with piano black bezel in the kitchen provides stunning High Definition images. The iDyl interface is accessible in here as well as in the bedroom, again providing access to all the shared media stored in the lounge. The iDyl also has access to hundreds of internet radio stations and provides a simple video interface to enable you to browse through them.

The screen is mounted on a 'clever' 180 degree rotational bracket meaning that it can be swivelled to face the kitchen or breakfast room as required. When not in use the screen can be pushed back to sit flush against the wall.

Audiophile Quality In-ceiling Speakers

Combining HD with high quality in-ceiling speakers produces some dazzling results. In the kitchen the speakers are positioned so as to ensure the best possible sound for those using the food preparation/ cooking area as well as for those seated at the dinner table.

The main hallway area was added as a subzone to the kitchen. This means that whatever the kitchen is playing, the hallway can also play, great for parties.

The master bedroom ensuite was also added as a subzone allowing the client to listen to the breakfast news in the mornings whilst using the bathroom, or to choose from the many different digital radio stations.

  Easy to Use Touchscreen Remote

Nevo touchscreen remotes were provided in the Kitchen and Bedroom to provide very simple operation of the system. This gives full control of everything (Sky, DVD, CD, CCTV, Video) in each room without having to walk back into the lounge to control the equipment.

Using a single remote one press on the ON/OFF buton will control all the equipment. This would usually require 7 remotes in each room.

The Nevo remote also controls lights throughout the home and the 15 sets of blinds across the south side of the property.

 

42" High Definition Bedroom Cinema

The 'piece de resistance' in the bedrom is the 5 channel surround sound system combined with a 42" Fujitsu Plasma TV.

Monitor Audio Gold directional in-ceiling speakers were selected to create a surround sound effect within the room, whilst keeping all speakers out of sight. This provides a truly immersing experience when watching movies from the bed.

Electric blinds were incorporated into the room so that with a single press on the remote, the blinds can easily be raised and lowered.

  Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The beauty of the system, is that each room has full access to High Definition content and high quality music, but without the eyesore of unsightly equipment in any room.

All the source equipment, as well as the amplifiers for each room are located within the main lounge cabinet. Because all the remote controls work over Radio Frequency (RF) the cabinet doors can remain closed.

A customised cooling system has been added to the cabinet so that two silent fans turn on automatically when the equipment is in use. This ensures that all the equipment can operate at optimum performance level without overheating.

   
The specification
  2 x Sky HD Boxes

Fujitsu P50HTS51ES 50" Plasma Screen

Custom designed and built Bernard Hobson cabinet
1GB iDyl Server Fujitsu P42HTS51ES 42" Plasma Screen Philips TSU9600 Remote Control
3GB Netgear ReadyNAS Mass Storage device Samsung 26" LCD 2 x Nevo Remote Controls
Harmon Kardon AV360 Amplifier 3 x Monitor Audio Gold in-wall speakers Goelst Electric Blinds
2 x Marantz SR5600 Amplifiers 11 x Monitor Audio Gold in-ceiling speakers