HOT TRENDS IN HOME THEATER
Today's new technology and pricing make the
ultimate media room an inviting proposition

From the pages of the CA-Modern magazine
By Tanja Kern

Super Bowl Sunday, the nightly news, your child's little-league play-by-plays, your favorite movies -- there are a lot of reasons why families and friends gather around the big screen.

For some, the idea of a super-sized television is a bane to their aesthetically streamlined mid-century modern home. For others, it's simply a lifestyle necessity.

No matter what channel you choose, media rooms and home-theater systems are a hot ticket. With people looking for inexpensive ways to stay home and be entertained, the home movie night has become a common activity. Luckily, you don't have to take out a second mortgage (if your bank would give you one nowadays) to enjoy excellent sound and video from the comfort of your own sofa.

"You can spend as little as $2,000 for a display, a receiver, and six speakers, or even less if you wanted a little 32-inch display," says Mike McMaster, owner of Wilshire Home Entertainment, a home theater and automation retailer in Thousand Oaks.

While $2,000 is a typical budget for a media room in a 2,500-square-foot home, many of McMaster's customers in homes of that size spend closer to $5,000: $2,000 on a flat screen display; $2,000 for the audio system, additional electronics (such as a Blue-ray player) and accessories; and about $1,000 on installation.

For do-it-yourselfers who don't mind the legwork of assembling their own media rooms, a big-box electronics store or audio/video specialty store may have all the necessary components. Big boxes offer great deals on home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems that give you all the basic equipment you need for surround sound. These systems include a combination DVD player and multi-channel amplifier, five or more surround-sound systems, speaker wire, connection cables, and a remote control.

Basic models for a 5.1 (five-speaker) system start around $300, and fancier versions can sell for more than $3,000. The stores that sell these often have an installation team available that can visit your home to assist with installation, but you're going to have to figure out how to hide cables.

It's also conceivable do-it-yourselfers may be disappointed with the results of their own work over the long term. A well-equipped home-theater system takes a bit more than simply plugging a surround-sound system into a large television.

"Going to a dedicated showroom will let you experience what you will actually see and hear," McMaster says. "The difference between a 42-inch and 45-inch display in 3D can be light years apart."

Your local audio/visual specialty showroom will have recommendations for professional installers and designers, or you can find one through the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA - cedia.org). You can interview these professionals by phone, making sure that they are a good match for your project and have some knowledge of the nuances of retrofitting today's electronics into the mid-century modern design.

Typically, these professionals do an in-person site survey before making recommendations about the type of system that makes the most sense for your space. Through this systematic process, "you can have a good-looking room that sounds good," says David Hermary, owner of Hermary's, a custom audio, video, and home automation company in San Carlos.

THE DISPLAY

When choosing a large-screen display (considered any television larger than 32 inches), make sure that you have enough viewing space between the location of your sofa or chairs and the television. If you have a small space (about six feet), a 26- or 27-inch display will work nicely. If you have eight feet of space, opt for a 37-inch display. If you want a major 50- or 60-inch display, make sure to have a minimum 12 feet between you and the big screen.

This year, 3D-ready televisions are all the rage, and many of the major manufacturers launched new products to the market in June. "This [3D] is not a fad," McMaster says. "It will be here -- and consumers are adapting quickly." A lot of that drive is coming from blockbuster movies, such as 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Avatar,' and video games. Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation are releasing more 3D software, and Blu-ray is launching films in 3D formats.

To make 3D work, you need to buy a 3D-ready display, along with a 3D Blu-ray player, high-capacity HDMI cables and -- joy -- 3D glasses. "You might find that for Super Bowl parties, people will be renting 12 pairs of 3D glasses," McMaster says. "This might seem weird, but just like it was silly to clip a cell phone to your belt years ago, it'll change."

In the 1950s and '60s, TVs were bulky and in the way. Thankfully, there are solutions for those who don't like the look of a big black box hanging on their crisp white or minimal-looking walls.

Nexus 21 (tvlift.com) offers lifting mechanisms that allow you to build your flat-screen television into a piece of furniture, the floor, or the ceiling.

Mirror TVs, which are basically a two-way mirror with an LCD screen behind it, are another option. When the LCD is activated, you see the display. When it's turned off, you see your reflection. Many come framed so they take on the appearance of a beautiful decorator mirror, which looks great hanging over a sideboard or modern console. Seura (seura.com), Nu Vision (nuvision.com), and Philips (philips.com) are three manufacturers that produce mirror TVs.

SOUND

Speaker placement is an integral part in any home-theater room-design process. A home theater needs at least a 5.1 system (five full-range speakers and one subwoofer) to create theater-like sound. In these systems, each speaker plays a unique role, emitting dialog, background music, sound effects, or base from different points in the room. There really is an art and science to the set up, but here are the basic elements to creating surround sound:

• Center speaker: Installed just above or just below your television, these speakers carry dialog.
• Front left and right speakers: Should be placed on opposite sides of your television and equidistant from the center speaker. They should also be the same distance from your central viewing spot.
• Surround speakers: Best located on the sidewalls of the room, just behind your main seating position. They can be installed above, in the ceiling; or if you have a 6.1 or 7.1-channel system, the backup speakers should be mounted on the back wall, two or three feet above ear level from where you sit.
• Sub-woofer: This provides the bass you're after, so experiment with the placement in the room to find out where it sounds best, usually near a wall or close to a corner.

Speakers today have come a long way, particularly for those who want theirs to be heard and not seen -- a critical element for modern homeowners who don't want gadgets and electronics getting in the way of their home's overall appeal. There are models at every price point, starting at $99 for budget speakers, and several thousand dollars for you audiophiles out there.

If maintaining the minimalist look is important, Onsia manufactures in-wall speakers that are actually installed behind drywall. No wires or speaker boxes are visible, and they are a relatively simple retrofit for many homes, with prices starting near $150 (at Lowes).

As an alternative to built-ins, Orb Audio (orbaudio.com) offers small, round speakers that look very modern and fill a room with sound, starting at around $239 per pair. Hermary recommends BG Radia speakers for MCM homes, which can be adjusted to best fill a room with great sound. They're a bit pricey, however, with their latest in-wall speakers starting at $1,000 apiece.

A current trend in home theaters is digital room correction. This calibrates a sound system to the exact room of installation, since no two rooms are alike.

"In simple terms, it is electronic equalization of the loudspeaker and room modes done through a calibration process where the acoustic response of each loudspeaker is measured with a microphone at the listening seats," says Dr. Sean Olive, director of benchmarking and acoustics for Harman International, an audio products manufacturer.

Some equipment comes with software and instructions that allow the homeowner to make the calibration, while higher-end manufacturers oftentimes send out an audio expert to the home.

"It really makes a difference," Olive says. "Although some people are quite satisfied with fairly low fidelity (like ipods and MP3 players), we are finding that now that the recession is over, high-end sales are taking off. Measuring sound is a fairly scientific process, and people like accurate sound."

An A/V receiver is required for optimal sound. The receiver has two functions: it amplifies the sound so it can be fed to your speakers, and it allows you to select the audio and video you wish to watch. You can use it to switch from a DVD to cable or dish with a touch of a button.

No matter which surround-sound setup you choose, the open floor plan and hard surfaces of MCM homes provide significant challenges to creating great sound.

"It's a challenge all the time because you're dealing with a lot of acoustical issues, but a lot of manufacturers recognize that most modern homes are lousy for acoustics," points out David Hermary.

Hermary's most common approach to solving this problem is using high-density fiberglass insulation panels, which are placed on the walls and on the ceiling. "It's generally something that is not used in a formal environment, but there can be ways to build it into the wall," Hermary says. Auralex (auralex.com) and Accoustical Solutions (accousticalsolutions.com) are two manufacturers of sound panels.

CONTROL SYSTEMS

Today's smart-home technologies are changing the way we interact with all of our gadgets. New systems allow us to turn on television, movies, thermostat, lights, and window coverings from one central control panel or remote control.

Gone are the days of endless switches, dimmers, and remotes -- your entire room or home can be integrated into one system that controls multiple devices and has the ability to create pre-set 'scenes.' You can have as many or as few controls as you like, with as many or as few options at each station as is suitable to your needs.

Smart home control systems can be scaled to any size dwelling and almost any budget. The Control4 HC 300 controller lets you automate many home systems starting at just $699.

Energy savings is pushing homeowners to adopt automation technologies. BlueBolt, for example, is an energy management system that allows for monitoring and timing the lights, TIVO, DVR, and other electronics in your home. PDA-enabled, the BlueBolt is equipped so each element can be turned off or on remotely. For approximately $2,000, homeowners can install a basic system from Lutron that lets you control all the lights in an average size dwelling with one remote.

WHAT TO WATCH

Blu-ray is the new DVD, so every media buff should consider making it a vital part of his or her upgraded home entertainment center. It's also smart to purchase a player with the capability to access online video and audio services, such as Netflix for movies or Pandora for Internet radio.

Another option is to look for systems that are integrated into your gaming system, so you have fewer electronics to corral within a console. TiVo and other digital video recorders are today's VCR, and they easily record your favorite television shows.

Gain access to a lot of media through the Apple TV digital media receiver. With this gadget, iTunes syncs wirelessly to your television, so your entire iTunes music collection can be played through your media room speakers.

The system lets you create mixes, visit Internet radio stations, and browse and purchase music and videos at the iTunes store. In addition, the receiver allows you to access movies, podcasts, and YouTube videos on demand.

Before investing in a home-theater system, do your research to find out what's new, what's coming out, and which electronics will work best for your home. A trip to your local electronics and home-theater stores will help you match your needs with your lifestyle and budget, and help ensure that what you buy today will still be entertaining you for a few years to come.

NEW PRODUCTS
ON THE HORIZON

Philips 9000 LED Series 3D TV Energy-efficient and with an ultra-slim screen, the Full-HD, 3D-ready 9000, with a dark brushed-aluminum frame that makes an assured design statement in any modern home, was created with cosmopolitan living in mind. The display has Amblight Spectra 3 that identifies dominant colors onscreen and projects perfectly matched ambient lighting onto the wall behind it to create a cool effect. philips.com

BG Radia Speakers BG Radia new planar ribbon surround speakers can be used for in-wall or in-ceiling applications. By carefully adjusting mounting angles and studying how the adjacent speakers interact as they form a series of coherent sound waves, both speakers have very wide dispersion to fill the room. Prices start at $1,000 each.bgradia.com

Orb Audio 5.1 Home Theater System If you don't want a built-in system, Orb Audio offers these little round speakers that practically disappear into your décor. The complete home-theater package includes Orb speakers and your choice of Denon and Yamaha receivers. Speaker wire, subwoofer, and HDMI cables can also be added to this package at discounted prices. Starts at $1,139. orbaudio.com

The Control4 Home Controller HC-300 This unit makes it easy for everyone to add intelligent control to their home at an affordable price. The HC-300 allows users to automate their entire home, including home theater, multi-room music, lighting, temperature, security, and more. Starts at $699. control4.com

Photography: courtesy product manufacturers

RESOURCES

Mike McMaster (Wilshire Home Entertainment): wilshirehe.com
David Hermary (Hermary's): hermarys.com
Dr. Sean Olive (Harman International): seanolive.blogspot.com and harman.com

See other 'Spotlights on Home Improvement'