tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44869153398219905572024-03-13T18:54:42.904-07:00Grimani Systems CEDIA 2018 Show ReportAnthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-89517868067905693312018-07-17T18:18:00.002-07:002018-07-26T11:10:14.741-07:00What happened this time?! EQ With a Healthy Side of Hum.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="text-align: center;"></b><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What happened this time?! </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">EQ With a Healthy Side of Hum.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So I was on this job site the other day, with the classic set of challenges. The client had bought a high-end 2-channel system from the integrator: Wilson Duette speakers, Linn preamp, Moon/SimAudio power amplifier. After it was all up and running, the client complained there was "not enough bass". So, the integrator sold him a couple of JL Audio subwoofers and asked me to come along and make the whole thing work - setting crossovers, time-aligning the speakers, balancing levels, equalizing the response, and voicing. We used a trusty Ashly ne4400 DSP audio processor; it’s a pro-grade digital audio processor with EQ, crossover, delay, level - the works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG_QcwC8zPuHIZimsMqK03whDQwzm7ugnvTC1Ac7qKANdp-sOeXz737uh5n6Mm3TfGrllscHgOqrgv0JzEvdLW-or8KlDIxa0C8NvdmEJWhAV7nL9TIQunzgmlybZS21v1qF9BmxhbiL0/s1600/IMG_0824_1200Pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG_QcwC8zPuHIZimsMqK03whDQwzm7ugnvTC1Ac7qKANdp-sOeXz737uh5n6Mm3TfGrllscHgOqrgv0JzEvdLW-or8KlDIxa0C8NvdmEJWhAV7nL9TIQunzgmlybZS21v1qF9BmxhbiL0/s400/IMG_0824_1200Pix.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I got to the location, things were a far sight worse than just "not enough bass". The installation of the EQ hadn't gone quite right; they had no audio signal, but a *lot* of hum. Client was steamed. So in I dove.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In cases like this, there's rarely just one thing wrong. First up the hum: The subwoofers were on different circuits. One sub was at the back of the room, and one at the front of the room to help with modal distribution, so we couldn’t magically get them all on the same circuit. My AC polarity voltmeter told us that one of the subwoofers had a power outlet wired in reverse, with the hot to neutral and neutral to hot, so we quickly remedied that. There was still hum in the speakers, but we decided to get the signal flowing before tackling that monster.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It seems in all the confusion that the audiophile cable company who custom made the interconnects to and from the EQ either didn't understand what we needed or didn't know how to wire a single-ended to balanced connector. They got some pins wrong and wires shorted, which led to the whole no-signal thing. Further complicating matters, someone thought the Ashly had XLR connectors, but it has Euroblock/Phoenix. So connectors had been hacked off and maybe there was some incorrect tie-down of the wires to the contacts. Regardless, signal wasn't flowing due to badly made wiring. We fixed that and got the signal back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But there was still hum... In pro audio, the shield of a balanced cable is usually not tied to ground on both sides as a matter of practice to avoid hum loops. It is usually tied to the source side only. However, on these mixed signal systems, I typically leave the shield drain connected on the Ashly EQ side for both input and output. We did that, and it helped, but the hum was not gone (Like I said, there was a lot of hum).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At this point it had been a few hours, and the client poked his head in to inject, "WTF is going on in here? You guys are still at this?" Yes, sir; it's complicated!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After some more head-scratching, we discovered that the Linn was not properly earthed through the power connector. Attaching a ground wire from the Linn chassis to a ground pin on the Ashly Euroblock took care of the remaining hum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">OK, now I could start running some speaker and acoustical measurements. The room was big and reverberant (0.8s of reflection decay time), the speaker spectral balance was wrong and the soundstage imaging wasn't even close. The pair of speakers on their own displayed no significant bass below 400Hz (See the chart). The client was right; there was no bass, even in the speaker range, above the subwoofers!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb2_TfAsnYBMSL9oPMiTzvgICaZ3T0dlXLjzz9gRDl1LGJHEngJH-is5qg4dqYy9sbsTmSWlZfF8AaP0Wm2tohcSgSC837cbeFHyhyphenhypheni_NfwMB-OY-coPPq9zwxlPottkd3vPnj34FiOqe/s1600/180719+First+Graph+of+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb2_TfAsnYBMSL9oPMiTzvgICaZ3T0dlXLjzz9gRDl1LGJHEngJH-is5qg4dqYy9sbsTmSWlZfF8AaP0Wm2tohcSgSC837cbeFHyhyphenhypheni_NfwMB-OY-coPPq9zwxlPottkd3vPnj34FiOqe/s640/180719+First+Graph+of+Blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">EQ can do wonders for spectral balance in live rooms, and it did here. See the resulting chart:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYKkhi9B3z2Ay70bkZXiyTdPsAgrfv0mj5i07W3w-g0GxCqe_dzwnPeKid0X8WS5SOL6ysMMSVD2fz8LZq0Y6dMczeIPY1900s_pwgFp-hRYKpTMe7MKHpOgrtJKV3BuTZ-0SvWHNrkYF/s1600/2nd+Graph_Left_Right_L%2526R%2526Subs+EQ1_PN_3Mic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYKkhi9B3z2Ay70bkZXiyTdPsAgrfv0mj5i07W3w-g0GxCqe_dzwnPeKid0X8WS5SOL6ysMMSVD2fz8LZq0Y6dMczeIPY1900s_pwgFp-hRYKpTMe7MKHpOgrtJKV3BuTZ-0SvWHNrkYF/s640/2nd+Graph_Left_Right_L%2526R%2526Subs+EQ1_PN_3Mic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the end, we got it sounding pretty good. There still wasn't strong imaging, but it was improved, and at least there was nice, strong bass. We played some known program material with good quality bass, and confirmed that the system had all the bass we wanted. So we expected a happy client (finally).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nope. The integrator got basically the same complaint a short time later. Not enough bass. Except this time the client was really pissed because of all the extra money and time we'd spent (not) improving the bass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back to the site. We put on some food music for the client, and asked if he heard the bass. Yep, he loved that. "So what's the problem?" we asked. Then he pulled out what he'd been listening to...some old rock 'n roll records from the early 70s. *Sigh*. Sorry, but James Taylor recordings don’t have the same bass levels as Cold Play or Daft Punk!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Talk about compounding errors! No bass from the speakers due to room acoustics; no bass in the music to start with; and an expectation of thunderous dynamics from having spent so much money. With some education and some tuning, we fixed all that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFZ30C3HB5NGPaaFx8x2nVORJOShum48o7PIiWyAcv7q6ZGfZ_O7FtLJUYxzJcH5e_UuFWGRHiZrTxujtxjSPWBCxdLTO_WLirjDhQMdfnaFl6cTTc50z8hRSKqi3k2ucGMZ89NfQJw_w/s1600/IMG_0824_1200Pix.jpg"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-17307365215913930332018-03-26T18:53:00.003-07:002018-07-17T14:39:17.399-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Calibrate it All!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Is it worth doing a specialty audio calibration in areas of a residence outside the dedicated theater? Absolutely! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Getting the spectral balance, bass management, and time synchronization of audio systems tuned for each and every environment is a pretty simple and cost effective way to upgrade the sonic experience. You can get good dialog clarity, smooth bass, and a reasonably good spatial rendition with an hour or two spent in every space. You do need to have some digital EQ functionality in the system, and that is getting pretty easy these days. I am not talking about auto-EQ, which I contend still doesn’t work right (unfortunately). I mean some number of bands of EQ for each channel that you can adjust while monitoring an analyzer application running on a laptop. That function is available in a number of multichannel amps (Sonance, Ashly, Powersoft, to name a few), in a number of receivers and decoders, and of course, as stand-along EQ devices placed between the switcher/preamp, and the amplification stage. Even in environments that acoustically very live, the end result is well worth the time invested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blogger.g?blogID=4486915339821990557" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Here’s a grab bag of pictures of projects I tuned in the past month using EQ, time, and care. You’ll see a specialty “fun room” with Atmos immersive audio and 4K video, but also a kitchen with ceiling speakers, a large backyard with bollards, a few simple media rooms and a bedroom. In all cases, the clients clearly heard a vast improvement, stating that the dialog was clearer, the sound more dynamic, warmer, more engaging, and a number of other plain English adjectives. Bottom line is that all were happy with the results and with the invested dollars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A very nice "Fun Room" with 4K UHD Video and Atmos Immersive sound!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1sr2qShThyZV0A2Qjb_DxqU_-UjehfWKT_h5u77FD3lq9t_3LbWtnGIH_U256WJl8rYWovlf5_NBpY1ruN4G_NlyY7RDpC9MPcTm7ij1ZV9F54LLL-cmJB7YngBdtZL31ftgrI205JJS/s1600/P1080916_Adj_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1sr2qShThyZV0A2Qjb_DxqU_-UjehfWKT_h5u77FD3lq9t_3LbWtnGIH_U256WJl8rYWovlf5_NBpY1ruN4G_NlyY7RDpC9MPcTm7ij1ZV9F54LLL-cmJB7YngBdtZL31ftgrI205JJS/s640/P1080916_Adj_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_TIR4v1Aoul2y1ej1w_Sr0rUeaAM93MV7LePZWbS_ITZA1b48YHQsspUc4TB47VPi4O68xKPePHtquSx3CD4hk5iF_kxj0z3H7uF0MSQWWdw0X7IT9oPqxPVDIdZ1wEWgdc21nrXEUXT/s1600/P1080913_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_TIR4v1Aoul2y1ej1w_Sr0rUeaAM93MV7LePZWbS_ITZA1b48YHQsspUc4TB47VPi4O68xKPePHtquSx3CD4hk5iF_kxj0z3H7uF0MSQWWdw0X7IT9oPqxPVDIdZ1wEWgdc21nrXEUXT/s640/P1080913_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UB1xEPwxyAFl-t0Bm73m2_JDWB-p5ZyHyTYGooByN_ziw9jFPZVei3ElxGHXhTvmTDmxeS0yF0GKbukt6GoeMWr3VcB_5omtWJEPBFy-LuWPWZ80_VeFbSKVTSVDmFaOmy4O-1X8jaY/s1600/P1080919_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UB1xEPwxyAFl-t0Bm73m2_JDWB-p5ZyHyTYGooByN_ziw9jFPZVei3ElxGHXhTvmTDmxeS0yF0GKbukt6GoeMWr3VcB_5omtWJEPBFy-LuWPWZ80_VeFbSKVTSVDmFaOmy4O-1X8jaY/s640/P1080919_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3arTWzhmJClWt4jkMyMgRmtBuOHssxEF6xT6wOC-h-KXfd_1_MNTe3P-v6o3hcpTYsyESaFjtYQFdXsfR0i_0bEE-S181bPsNzYNf9THRecDbWpAp-0YZdkxhzbpzE2stZ9h0Hq7KaPM/s1600/P1080926_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3arTWzhmJClWt4jkMyMgRmtBuOHssxEF6xT6wOC-h-KXfd_1_MNTe3P-v6o3hcpTYsyESaFjtYQFdXsfR0i_0bEE-S181bPsNzYNf9THRecDbWpAp-0YZdkxhzbpzE2stZ9h0Hq7KaPM/s640/P1080926_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">A simple 5.1 channel TV room. Dialog and effects sound a lot better after calibration!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLUI_v4rGCmk-mBTLjO9TbOj5J47tFzg-4F_GoLG6Zp5e-R_XZmd8R_E3ZKQe797WGSIiuzF7pmuJ49uD7RFD3_9geC1YpNI99FtXxvRiGQZWMHPSwLLIvF4ODwsPAEEsVIg5idcT2GPS/s1600/P1080857_Adj_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLUI_v4rGCmk-mBTLjO9TbOj5J47tFzg-4F_GoLG6Zp5e-R_XZmd8R_E3ZKQe797WGSIiuzF7pmuJ49uD7RFD3_9geC1YpNI99FtXxvRiGQZWMHPSwLLIvF4ODwsPAEEsVIg5idcT2GPS/s640/P1080857_Adj_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHlq79TLj4q7GWSKW_sLOFlfGeidHd25q8gZdrzILVS4ff5lq3x-TNw4JTZYX39xYnbbgweXy19B0d4oedF5YeRwvU7GgKg6A04SYi-LBHVjLJXHY9WO3foec7m3Opy33dMF_vBQPcPZC/s1600/P1080860_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHlq79TLj4q7GWSKW_sLOFlfGeidHd25q8gZdrzILVS4ff5lq3x-TNw4JTZYX39xYnbbgweXy19B0d4oedF5YeRwvU7GgKg6A04SYi-LBHVjLJXHY9WO3foec7m3Opy33dMF_vBQPcPZC/s640/P1080860_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUuNagpfSd8jZy5i3Fj3zwTuV6a7kyjMFNg64eL0MAvtzOmVFyW_joXvCZK19jQImtM04Qe1dQqyMge0Z0RG4_e4DjI6P2wDQqyhKiPChd9KWASxB7uG-_nQd1hP6PlTLcNmFtoabW19q/s1600/P1080864_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUuNagpfSd8jZy5i3Fj3zwTuV6a7kyjMFNg64eL0MAvtzOmVFyW_joXvCZK19jQImtM04Qe1dQqyMge0Z0RG4_e4DjI6P2wDQqyhKiPChd9KWASxB7uG-_nQd1hP6PlTLcNmFtoabW19q/s640/P1080864_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">The kitchen: center of all home life. Music and broadcasts come alive after tuning the ceiling speakers!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuomFq979mIq5PWwV1wTT0PFNsUIRJlhB_xRGoN6M5doBQYoU1_3TrPFCicfgvr6baK4_o-gPNv4IcdK01nakNSLsid5Cvg12ttFLVraAsKnHjkNBmOcCI2_bpyjFcOYe0xKAiTc3iiOFT/s1600/P1080927_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuomFq979mIq5PWwV1wTT0PFNsUIRJlhB_xRGoN6M5doBQYoU1_3TrPFCicfgvr6baK4_o-gPNv4IcdK01nakNSLsid5Cvg12ttFLVraAsKnHjkNBmOcCI2_bpyjFcOYe0xKAiTc3iiOFT/s640/P1080927_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">The backyard sound system went from edgy to smooth in less than an hour!</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlS5jnw_S07pFD4E4-M0YNRajG01CerI-4Cs2UbKBvUdTlwL2y2hEnkLY0cnVdRQXNfmSFpqZ9jW8BJJjr3JKXx1VcnJqAX00YvDsWwLO1emRYedCgD8FoPV_QyigG2OlYFYMldZ1AcQ_/s1600/P1080958_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlS5jnw_S07pFD4E4-M0YNRajG01CerI-4Cs2UbKBvUdTlwL2y2hEnkLY0cnVdRQXNfmSFpqZ9jW8BJJjr3JKXx1VcnJqAX00YvDsWwLO1emRYedCgD8FoPV_QyigG2OlYFYMldZ1AcQ_/s640/P1080958_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Voice clarity and sonic envelopment are much better thanks to EQ and proper delay settings!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfmcP7I73jH675orBQuX1GAdrFh6fLXgsYe1l_4fMsqfeBiFPXs-gXOMOi2U4SnngSvCpZgnfAzLrDdMQb2iZoE8muDBAaB_whprnZBaJy22MM0pRI6uWvy6jMixHbjhsGhGrtMT1-ZrT/s1600/P1080959_Ad_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfmcP7I73jH675orBQuX1GAdrFh6fLXgsYe1l_4fMsqfeBiFPXs-gXOMOi2U4SnngSvCpZgnfAzLrDdMQb2iZoE8muDBAaB_whprnZBaJy22MM0pRI6uWvy6jMixHbjhsGhGrtMT1-ZrT/s640/P1080959_Ad_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">These small media rooms went from mid-fi to hi-fi thanks to calibration work!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1S4IfQ_GArEZLVKwuOLI2fxTSzI66pM5iQSZU4pzE3ltBAnB63ZJf2QTvffBCUufhG9-ms7Pb2gkcovg8ZmnIj3tC597hKbyT-e5NBtmO3QdH1N4DuI8CEg-itzYEI8KwoMpIYjl4Dm5/s1600/P1100109_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1S4IfQ_GArEZLVKwuOLI2fxTSzI66pM5iQSZU4pzE3ltBAnB63ZJf2QTvffBCUufhG9-ms7Pb2gkcovg8ZmnIj3tC597hKbyT-e5NBtmO3QdH1N4DuI8CEg-itzYEI8KwoMpIYjl4Dm5/s640/P1100109_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu_43GVeFyJpF9KlFeqxKYbChoWkN9D7KsMIscLOGU3AufBhaTt0NEl-oRx7E6CiYws1b7OJomOTKbed_PTDah3cy5LkKOwJMinHoQVuBOYvXfFPxez3AsTndhB_XWA2GnHwLrfKFW2KO/s1600/P1100118_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu_43GVeFyJpF9KlFeqxKYbChoWkN9D7KsMIscLOGU3AufBhaTt0NEl-oRx7E6CiYws1b7OJomOTKbed_PTDah3cy5LkKOwJMinHoQVuBOYvXfFPxez3AsTndhB_XWA2GnHwLrfKFW2KO/s640/P1100118_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWdFpPECDIkYlZxVUM9G2dVC3Kvi8hebT1pUKgUqY8khOA5eY3hpzjgm21hi7j1bwzj6LeujG7waTwBsLZijvehTV16h20Pfc-kQ1NCaAoJoFjkh1_DeJXHU4_KgqQygAoGZHsKWFnvy/s1600/P1100119_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nWdFpPECDIkYlZxVUM9G2dVC3Kvi8hebT1pUKgUqY8khOA5eY3hpzjgm21hi7j1bwzj6LeujG7waTwBsLZijvehTV16h20Pfc-kQ1NCaAoJoFjkh1_DeJXHU4_KgqQygAoGZHsKWFnvy/s640/P1100119_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bx_Z4ndSWRSk6FBFAKG8Gu_Z7sBRcV8HeOePiRiO8GuYH1rigNmGQdkuuV1i2TIdbTY0wFv9hd6Mz61d13Sf174auKLJIEUq1fw4AaGDSPCyo53hzcKwLIiXQX1dtpBsUbojA2rOXJPz/s1600/P1080900_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bx_Z4ndSWRSk6FBFAKG8Gu_Z7sBRcV8HeOePiRiO8GuYH1rigNmGQdkuuV1i2TIdbTY0wFv9hd6Mz61d13Sf174auKLJIEUq1fw4AaGDSPCyo53hzcKwLIiXQX1dtpBsUbojA2rOXJPz/s640/P1080900_1000pix.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcstb3cXKcycKoYMz1bQyK7tjUhJu5TMkrdiWDUZDV5okWNlVnQX-3UXEj9c2c2anflX4RHx_6bV78BaeGGe1O8amOC5sQeqxj3_w1-Sb4_uGUK5diNpk2Lms5bu5aOpgqZXkWlqs0UBKj/s1600/P1080904_1000pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcstb3cXKcycKoYMz1bQyK7tjUhJu5TMkrdiWDUZDV5okWNlVnQX-3UXEj9c2c2anflX4RHx_6bV78BaeGGe1O8amOC5sQeqxj3_w1-Sb4_uGUK5diNpk2Lms5bu5aOpgqZXkWlqs0UBKj/s640/P1080904_1000pix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>All above pictures are from installations by Audio Images</b></span></span></div>
</div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-53987690885963082132018-02-01T14:50:00.000-08:002018-02-01T15:55:00.799-08:00Fun Room Details<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
In Deep</span></h2>
Thank you for reading the high level article, now we will go into a detailed explanation of this project. This blog expands on the details from the "<a href="https://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2018/01/home-theater-has-come-out-of-cave.html" target="_blank">Home Theater Has Come Out of the Cave</a>" article.<br />
<br />
The integration firm responsible for building this masterpiece is <a href="http://www.audioimages.tv/" target="_blank">Audio Images</a> of Tustin California. Our designs and engineering is only as good as the implementation and AudioImages came through on every detail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjj_-OsRWQ1VriHaZvntehDarYzbXmFUsoyD8vLFhqorl8g1dNzCYL8doV9Gz3BrDY9RQecxr36PUF47aGF-zV5ULbPiaOkXzuwAVd2YI6yz53Ob1PEwrvyx3WQPNLXSLY93ycZRCYECx/s1600/PMI-theater-proscenium-with-award-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjj_-OsRWQ1VriHaZvntehDarYzbXmFUsoyD8vLFhqorl8g1dNzCYL8doV9Gz3BrDY9RQecxr36PUF47aGF-zV5ULbPiaOkXzuwAVd2YI6yz53Ob1PEwrvyx3WQPNLXSLY93ycZRCYECx/s640/PMI-theater-proscenium-with-award-a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
The Room Shell</span></h3>
The physical issues that needed to be dealt with to accomplish these goals dictated a few design solutions:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToNPopVYPX8OaWMSalxnYLyUHmfzPY54Fq_FiFUUZEyj1sdx22obNpyYoU-zF-BZf4DzX7jwxdNs4Eo5kV-3h01JmjJYTEWxlPCC4e5kYZvbUAb4iMk8Frm932uwzmlidgW6IPzrGjEma/s1600/Room+Shell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1104" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToNPopVYPX8OaWMSalxnYLyUHmfzPY54Fq_FiFUUZEyj1sdx22obNpyYoU-zF-BZf4DzX7jwxdNs4Eo5kV-3h01JmjJYTEWxlPCC4e5kYZvbUAb4iMk8Frm932uwzmlidgW6IPzrGjEma/s400/Room+Shell.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Sound Isolation</span></h3>
The room had to be decoupled from the Great Room that is located directly above it. This prevents the sound leakage from disturbing the adults. Decoupling loosely means to build resilient wall and floor-ceiling structures with little to no connections to the house’s framing structures. The purpose is to limit every contact point that could mechanically transfer sound energy and interfere with daily use of the rooms.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ceilings </b>in a room like this are critical because they cannot leak noise upstairs and must also deliver great experiences. The homeowner also wanted every inch of ceiling height, which negated the standard spring-isolated construction techniques for decoupling the ceiling from the Great Room floor. The design used a new isolation bracket that performs more like a leaf spring rather than a coil spring. This new bracket saved 4” in the ceiling construction. While the trade-off meant a little less sound isolation for the 4” of additional room height, it was the right compromise for this project. Other details that reduced sound leakage upstairs included: insulation between joist bays, “Quiet Rock” drywall, closed cell foam at the walls junctions, and a myriad of additional construction details. Even the gaps between the sheets of Quiet Rock were caulked to prevent sound leakage upstairs.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatFZvP_2aIAPsrLXdr6PNJAff03FIZGw3dPaUew1ctimR46krI9FP7QERbH10yFwUjdLuAMYrHI9mbdgiDo_nTIL9N5QRsYsvQuPc_xEAy7dpK8jTnkjLk_IT1VG_tFUX9hEb07fnDnuQ/s1600/Ceiling-construction-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="792" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatFZvP_2aIAPsrLXdr6PNJAff03FIZGw3dPaUew1ctimR46krI9FP7QERbH10yFwUjdLuAMYrHI9mbdgiDo_nTIL9N5QRsYsvQuPc_xEAy7dpK8jTnkjLk_IT1VG_tFUX9hEb07fnDnuQ/s640/Ceiling-construction-detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ceiling Construction Detail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Walls in this Fun Room included: two concrete walls, one wood stud wall, and one glass wall. The concrete walls would seem easy to deal with, but sound travels through concrete at over 10,000 feet/second. These concrete walls support the Great Room and will easily transfer unwanted sound upstairs. However, the right rubber bushing decoupling brackets, Quiet Rock, and closed cell foam gaskets, met this challenge well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVTyWF5brs5ZV70pShsM88IInthH3cnJSmQetCu4ZnjbUtBAc-tOFgDEED0T-NogA3GqyFFS384q_eWJFBK3YDvW-qN6zgt4NTEBb9QinqfoCGlrf75uzahKaYHg1weMKlm9DkfI6lAF4/s1600/All+Walls+Floorplan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="697" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVTyWF5brs5ZV70pShsM88IInthH3cnJSmQetCu4ZnjbUtBAc-tOFgDEED0T-NogA3GqyFFS384q_eWJFBK3YDvW-qN6zgt4NTEBb9QinqfoCGlrf75uzahKaYHg1weMKlm9DkfI6lAF4/s400/All+Walls+Floorplan.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The front wall is a wood stud wall that has a hallway behind it and is open to the areas upstairs. This wall also had to prevent noise from the adjacent mechanical room from getting into the Fun Room. Therefore, the front wall needed isolation brackets, insulation, Quiet Rock and proper sealing solutions.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTsOm5hipF-m94k3GxV8Uoo29XfpK0RWdJPeayXBvhOHmgaePwbOkJpbF_vSB4F1aVhCZ7EHZeTGyPOLzIMZ03Z-DHeinkl5gh9NRhbP7L9VNoIChRAJCY57zy8e67OLsVCGoTeIlCM4r/s1600/Isolation+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="765" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTsOm5hipF-m94k3GxV8Uoo29XfpK0RWdJPeayXBvhOHmgaePwbOkJpbF_vSB4F1aVhCZ7EHZeTGyPOLzIMZ03Z-DHeinkl5gh9NRhbP7L9VNoIChRAJCY57zy8e67OLsVCGoTeIlCM4r/s400/Isolation+detail.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now, we move on to the glass wall. Most theater designers will fight glass at all cost. This client made it clear that this glass wall was important to visually connect the space to the courtyard outside. The client also made it clear that a heavy drape was not acceptable. The sound isolation was addressed by the simple fact that no one outside the glass cared about the leakage. This may sound silly, but it is important to identify the lack of a problem before attempting to fix it. We will address the acoustics of the glass later in this article.<br />
<br />
The door into the room was an issue. A normal door would leak sound like a sieve into the hallway and upstairs. To make matters more challenging, a hinged door was not going to be acceptable due to the space requirements. Unfortunately, a pocket door was not going to work either. The solution was a bi-fold glass door with coatings that delivered a relatively high STC (Sound Transmission Class) sound isolation rating. The glass also allowed the homeowners to check in on the Fun Room without disturbing the movie/game.<br />
<br />
The Great Room TV created a challenge in the Fun Room. The floorplan for the Great Room was optimized around a phenomenal view. All the seating faces a spectacular view of the ocean. This is also where the TV should be located. The solution was a motorized lift that lowered the TV below the floor in the Great Room (revealing the views) and into the wall of the Fun Room. Every detail of this lift, the enclosure, and the lid/floor had to be built with sound isolation in mind. If not, then the lift would become a funnel for noise to go upstairs. The interior of the lift cavity inside the Fun Room walls did most of the work. It is almost a room, within a room, within a room. Whether the TV is up or down, there is very little sound leakage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7KxMiUurWElzlUUz_MAz08jQ4bgOUKQYbXRrUHGvQGKMco_0MsL5j1CmDk2MU3jBJWDBEu2-Q8sqqlrxV8xWHjqb4_0_1X9VgQb3GeCkHaQRorKQgCy_5zBUPovWkttbwVCMVbQGi_J7/s1600/theater1_mod_tv-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7KxMiUurWElzlUUz_MAz08jQ4bgOUKQYbXRrUHGvQGKMco_0MsL5j1CmDk2MU3jBJWDBEu2-Q8sqqlrxV8xWHjqb4_0_1X9VgQb3GeCkHaQRorKQgCy_5zBUPovWkttbwVCMVbQGi_J7/s400/theater1_mod_tv-a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Great Experience</span></h3>
There is science behind understanding the way our eyes and ears collect information and how our brain interprets that data. This area of research is formally known as Sensation and Perception. Get this wrong and the experience in the Fun Room would be between average and bad. This client wanted a great experience.<br />
<br />
Video has come a long way in the last two years. 4K HDR video displays can deliver near life-like images. Any display above about 100” diagonal is going to be a projector and a screen. This room has a 130” diagonal screen that can be sized for most aspect ratios. Our calculations looked at seating locations, viewing distances, ideal illumination at the viewers’ eyes, and the typical brightness of the room (including light colored interior design and open window) to determine the right projector/screen combination. Knowing how our eyes process information and the environment allowed us to design a very powerful image in this room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTesbXAlJ02JGP10zSom4l1pyIF6D-ex94cWEkqDorVxPhbqm8SzZFiz42gRXOQy1Byog0z94_AIYo4RvSjjxxGUZsDPkJ2FcYVkThrjbNybmSkAmEE6p25XkXl8WK9fw5BrFrEGClqVt/s1600/seated-elevation-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1391" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTesbXAlJ02JGP10zSom4l1pyIF6D-ex94cWEkqDorVxPhbqm8SzZFiz42gRXOQy1Byog0z94_AIYo4RvSjjxxGUZsDPkJ2FcYVkThrjbNybmSkAmEE6p25XkXl8WK9fw5BrFrEGClqVt/s640/seated-elevation-view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sound is a critical part of a movie/gaming experience. Our brains have been connecting sound to visuals for many centuries, and we subconsciously expect a certain correlation between the two. To get this right, we must manage the way sound travels through the room, and make sure to deliver the correct sounds to the listeners.<br />
<br />
Managing the way sound travels in a room is called Acoustical Engineering. This room has various treatments all over the walls, ceiling, and even the floors that will either absorb, reflect, or scatter the sound, which manages how it travels in the room. We spent enormous amounts of time modeling the room and understanding how the sound will travel. The result sounds great, but acoustical treatment modules require placement of materials that are ugly and detract from the aesthetics in the room. Most interior designers will hide these treatments with materials that, in effect block the functionality of the sound treatment. We walk that fine line with acoustically transparent fabrics that “read” like drywall to the eye. Stretching this fabric in a track system allows for a clean looking room that sounded great.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC-ugxX04hOptLmRTjX8IiP3KcRejwlR8KV-upJ3-lP7on95vYrOpaB7MANL3Xvx3eIU00O9xhbEH-5GoZNuvdlAlrh0HL2jajPVbIvdijN8Qd8Ci1SYnNHGzqimNmux_8OJA3zkJ4F0E/s1600/Acoustic+treatment+peel+out+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="704" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC-ugxX04hOptLmRTjX8IiP3KcRejwlR8KV-upJ3-lP7on95vYrOpaB7MANL3Xvx3eIU00O9xhbEH-5GoZNuvdlAlrh0HL2jajPVbIvdijN8Qd8Ci1SYnNHGzqimNmux_8OJA3zkJ4F0E/s640/Acoustic+treatment+peel+out+view.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Acoustic Treatment - Peel Out View</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The Sound System for this space is a Dolby Atmos™ system that places speakers on all walls (except the window) and ceilings. An Atmos sound track will deliver the sound precisely in the room that creates a very lifelike experience. We went a few steps further and specified a sound system that has focused ceiling, rear, and side speakers. This allowed us to address the glass wall by keeping as much sound off the glass as possible. The problem we solved is that we could not put treatments on the glass; therefore, we minimized the glass’ ability to reflect sound incorrectly. Quite frankly, we are very proud of our innovation that solved this problem and gave the clients exactly what they wanted.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Interior Design</span></h3>
A typical home theater will have staggered rows of theater seating and a fairly dark color palette. But this is a Fun Room and the client was having none of the man cave type of colors. Light and bright colors make this room feel larger than it is, while making the room inviting and fun. The seating is more sofa and love seat style seating with ottomans to encourage social interaction and a family environment. The homeowners tell us that they use the room often, partially because the design is open and inviting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Technology</span></h3>
This is not an article for the technology industry, so we will skip the technobabble. What is important to understand is that the advancements in technology allowed us to design and deliver this Fun Room. We do not have to strictly conform to older design techniques because we can deliver these great experiences in non-dedicated rooms.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Video Projector – 4k video and brighter projectors can overcome ambient lighting and deliver larger images that look stunning.</li>
<li>Projection Screen – Screen technology better aims the projector’s light to the audience while rejecting other light sources in the room. The net result is the room doesn’t have to be dark.</li>
<li>Audio – Dolby Atmos adds many more speakers to produce a great soundfield without being too loud at seats near the speakers and too quiet in other areas.</li>
<li>Fabrics – Our options for acoustically transparent fabrics have expanded drastically. We can even print high quality images on fabrics, and create nearly any design style you want.</li>
<li>Sound isolation – More sound isolation products have recently been introduced to the residential market that require less space while delivering great results.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Service and upgrades are also significant issues with these systems. Most of the equipment is in a remote equipment rack in a closet that has its own cooling system. The rack can be accessed for service and upgrades very easily. We always specify more power than we need for the system being installed so that more gear can be added without bringing an electrician back in. The pivotal point to future upgrades is conduit. This system has conduit access between key equipment locations allowing new wires to be pulled as new products are installed without cutting holes in the finished rooms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIufBQPg5Q4WC37YWX8aq4WWTCFobpZXEPQg0N9lsMZfFW3BERoGTbJV5l2NuQzZnm-awa0QDrvyXeqPGt7iVHUDgQL3J_0xJe0L60uEwy1aM9ztRLz2aq9wPJmCVSGC-5T0gAhCmxX6yD/s1600/PMI-rackfront-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIufBQPg5Q4WC37YWX8aq4WWTCFobpZXEPQg0N9lsMZfFW3BERoGTbJV5l2NuQzZnm-awa0QDrvyXeqPGt7iVHUDgQL3J_0xJe0L60uEwy1aM9ztRLz2aq9wPJmCVSGC-5T0gAhCmxX6yD/s320/PMI-rackfront-a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Fun Room</span></h3>
We are finding more people want a "Fun Room" instead of a dedicated home theater. Our lifestyles have evolved to include multiple entertainment uses. Technology and engineering have progressed enough in the last five years to allow us to deliver fantastic experiences in more Great Rooms, Living Rooms, Bedrooms, and even outside.<br />
<br />
We encourage you to engage PMI Ltd during your design phase. Think of us as an engineering firm that creates the means for you to have great experiences in your home that fit your lifestyle. <a href="http://pmiltd.com/contact.php" target="_blank">Contact us here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-62707038768117393822018-02-01T14:48:00.000-08:002018-02-01T15:54:44.448-08:00Home Theater Has Come Out of the Cave<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br />
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Welcome to the Fun Room</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIh0dGAOtgKptTr8-juClT2TryPdR7feSUVwAtufgfpuOZmVmEo7cNQ2DmCHmUTaIbmw-Ub9u8h5Y-RHW8h6huYE4wWxdrhlgPKpKwyFgn4f5-wKnvH6496cEMWsWNW3ftOLdKKxJgdQ6/s1600/PMI-theater-proscenium-with-award-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIh0dGAOtgKptTr8-juClT2TryPdR7feSUVwAtufgfpuOZmVmEo7cNQ2DmCHmUTaIbmw-Ub9u8h5Y-RHW8h6huYE4wWxdrhlgPKpKwyFgn4f5-wKnvH6496cEMWsWNW3ftOLdKKxJgdQ6/s640/PMI-theater-proscenium-with-award-a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Light, bright, and inviting. Walls & Ceiling look like drywall</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aKOmOwoPqlnJ-plviPQDtRMJEc7MBm5i4VZ3qKaJTbLE7Ig5nevACCjOfxSaN_FZwGHu7TzVfYZauiX3FWgMLwIoSsd8w79lZm6Gn05_8N8XFsLfnmJ9e0N4Li-N6RWlD0m47_KhBwnh/s1600/PMI-theater-rear--with-award-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aKOmOwoPqlnJ-plviPQDtRMJEc7MBm5i4VZ3qKaJTbLE7Ig5nevACCjOfxSaN_FZwGHu7TzVfYZauiX3FWgMLwIoSsd8w79lZm6Gn05_8N8XFsLfnmJ9e0N4Li-N6RWlD0m47_KhBwnh/s640/PMI-theater-rear--with-award-a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Comfortable seating for friends and family.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcQisVqERqxmW6-AaGraTEroSCn-zCbOON6BOkVZ5ItMnIq-UwPXyCEcm-ai8X_2Sjqxu8hbLHcoHctcjlNpN1BqeOLFTM1ZvIIXvKAxIrOKwZQ69gHl00nmoNOrTc3AYwyjRnGmxszpT/s1600/PMI-theaterexterior-with-award-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcQisVqERqxmW6-AaGraTEroSCn-zCbOON6BOkVZ5ItMnIq-UwPXyCEcm-ai8X_2Sjqxu8hbLHcoHctcjlNpN1BqeOLFTM1ZvIIXvKAxIrOKwZQ69gHl00nmoNOrTc3AYwyjRnGmxszpT/s640/PMI-theaterexterior-with-award-a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Glass wall visually connects the Fun Room and Courtyard</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</h2>
<h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">
</div>
</h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> High Points</span></h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Think beyond the theater box</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Great entertainment can be in nearly any space</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">New technology provides more flexibility</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">New design solutions open the door for Interior Designers</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Overview</span></h2>
Good news! With the latest technologies, we can move past the dark and secluded home theaters of the late 20th century! No more man caves isolated from the rest of the house. No more rows of theater seats formally lined up, as if ready for battle with action heroes. Imagine even having a glass wall or window so we can stay connected to the rest of the world? Instead of just a "Home Theater", we want a "Fun Room". But, and this is a big but, can we still have all of this and a great cinematic experience?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The answer is Yes</b>, and this article demonstrates how to deliver on these requests. The project in this example won Best Home Cinema Level II at the 2017 CEDIA Expo. Most people are not familiar with <a href="http://www.cedia.com/" target="_blank">CEDIA</a> (Consumer Electronics Design and Installation Association); suffice it to say this is the extreme high-end trade association for residential technology. Winning this award is a big deal, globally.<br />
<br />
The integration firm responsible for building this masterpiece is <a href="http://www.audioimages.tv/" target="_blank">Audio Images</a> of Tustin California. Our designs and engineering is only as good as the implementation and AudioImages came through on every detail.</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
The New Normal Desires</span></h3>
<div>
The design constraints for this project (which are becoming very common desires):</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The couple wanted their house to be the fun destination for children and grandchildren</li>
<li>Capacity for 10+ people</li>
<li>They are not technology people, nor are they movie buffs</li>
<li>The space could not be secluded from the rest of the house or the central courtyard just outside</li>
<li>The entire wall is glass in order to connect the Fun Room with the rest of the house</li>
<li>The interior design is to be light, bright, and clean</li>
<li>Blend the technology and the design so as to see as little technology as possible</li>
<li>Accommodate the Great Room, directly above the Theater:</li>
<li>Playing video games or movies without disturbing the people upstairs</li>
<li>Using the Great Room TV, which is motorized and recessed into the side of the theater below; therefore it requires a lift and mechanical capacity</li>
<li>Future upgrades as technology changes</li>
<li>A fantastic experience</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
From a lifestyle standpoint, this is how people really live. Historically, we had to build dedicated theaters because the technology required those solutions. However, very few people want to live in those caves. Don't get me wrong movie buffs and audiophiles that truly want a phenomenal experience will build a dedicated room. The rest of the world has lifestyle compromises that will bring this type of project to the surface.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Solutions (at a high level)</span></h2>
</div>
</div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Without getting into the nitty gritty of the technical details,<br />
here is how we met these goals.</h4>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKtUYK-63Lxj13ty4Da3-8TNOEHIZIZuN32JryzXEp5bpM7E5_2sUvls921sUjC71PbjS41CmpC_Ps5u9DROtKiuJEThYTaCgkEiAytu1kS6Fw3AvDfFj-sI1jWiEPgM6NYwe_31ktVh4/s1600/PMI-theater-proscenium-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKtUYK-63Lxj13ty4Da3-8TNOEHIZIZuN32JryzXEp5bpM7E5_2sUvls921sUjC71PbjS41CmpC_Ps5u9DROtKiuJEThYTaCgkEiAytu1kS6Fw3AvDfFj-sI1jWiEPgM6NYwe_31ktVh4/s320/PMI-theater-proscenium-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Fun Destination – We worked with the homeowner and interior designer to understand how the people will use the room. The space planning and the human factors drove our design.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU5Qe73PfTfBsDirW8xmA0PuEcPR-WwUSYH8TSZzLN2Jgp1cTWyCLrS2E0iT5ENqj9pLAlOCjFx0gILo3dtedF57fuzpSmZsCQeYlHnhZdPATj2UZeYKjjX5GxhjCprS9Agx0acF3b2cm/s1600/PMI-theaterexterior-with-award-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU5Qe73PfTfBsDirW8xmA0PuEcPR-WwUSYH8TSZzLN2Jgp1cTWyCLrS2E0iT5ENqj9pLAlOCjFx0gILo3dtedF57fuzpSmZsCQeYlHnhZdPATj2UZeYKjjX5GxhjCprS9Agx0acF3b2cm/s320/PMI-theaterexterior-with-award-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Stay Connected – The glass wall and a glass door were used to keep the room visually connected to the rest of the house.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3baCzKzLt8OUkoqmxpZ6bW9GeEErmwDHqWHKlvGs7Iu4OvgbfzYgJrV9S0Wfn2w83peOXnbVu8Ia7LW930ibNMQqwkRWcQ7YYSYKO21Rgotdu7tzwflYB1ZU8dtPa8lPouA-0FiROwyDn/s1600/PMI-theater-rear-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3baCzKzLt8OUkoqmxpZ6bW9GeEErmwDHqWHKlvGs7Iu4OvgbfzYgJrV9S0Wfn2w83peOXnbVu8Ia7LW930ibNMQqwkRWcQ7YYSYKO21Rgotdu7tzwflYB1ZU8dtPa8lPouA-0FiROwyDn/s320/PMI-theater-rear-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Light and Bright – This is usually a no-no, but we used new screen materials, brighter projector, and lighting control to make it work.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6aHeK1qL0jQSwH_1p3lZvnEGt6QAJL9XvOs5Vh4JmSbnMnLVBBgV_yVwVwg_MCeO6UkM9EnfdBUUWU6LnhdZvOaZhw7rFHLVvoIANPh8SqY947re1OmcoEGfubPrw9-BCnNoHb6PrxL4/s1600/PMI-Fabric-details-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="466" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6aHeK1qL0jQSwH_1p3lZvnEGt6QAJL9XvOs5Vh4JmSbnMnLVBBgV_yVwVwg_MCeO6UkM9EnfdBUUWU6LnhdZvOaZhw7rFHLVvoIANPh8SqY947re1OmcoEGfubPrw9-BCnNoHb6PrxL4/s320/PMI-Fabric-details-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Hide the Technology – New wall and ceiling fabrics that allowed the loudspeaker technology and acoustical treatments to be hidden, make the room look like a “normal room”. The fabrics “read” like drywall, tricking the eye.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTsOm5hipF-m94k3GxV8Uoo29XfpK0RWdJPeayXBvhOHmgaePwbOkJpbF_vSB4F1aVhCZ7EHZeTGyPOLzIMZ03Z-DHeinkl5gh9NRhbP7L9VNoIChRAJCY57zy8e67OLsVCGoTeIlCM4r/s1600/Isolation+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="765" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTsOm5hipF-m94k3GxV8Uoo29XfpK0RWdJPeayXBvhOHmgaePwbOkJpbF_vSB4F1aVhCZ7EHZeTGyPOLzIMZ03Z-DHeinkl5gh9NRhbP7L9VNoIChRAJCY57zy8e67OLsVCGoTeIlCM4r/s320/Isolation+detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Sound Isolation - Engineering the construction details of the room to keep unwanted sounds from entering the room AND to keep the fun sounds inside the Fun Room.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyYHRCrHVIO6IODLnr8Ai70bbO3SmMASxC-wYHI9fPF1cRvQfrArDHEyLVwFMjTvQZ0QC64Mp0eqOlaIQKVZPHGu9acGlmah8Hf7ZM8ZLkuqUE6N1ifo6KTGqfHAULSTRBNDPKjFOk1OB/s1600/PMI+HVAC+duct+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="813" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyYHRCrHVIO6IODLnr8Ai70bbO3SmMASxC-wYHI9fPF1cRvQfrArDHEyLVwFMjTvQZ0QC64Mp0eqOlaIQKVZPHGu9acGlmah8Hf7ZM8ZLkuqUE6N1ifo6KTGqfHAULSTRBNDPKjFOk1OB/s320/PMI+HVAC+duct+detail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Noise – Reducing the native noise level in the room as low as possible ensures the best sonic resolution, and lets the Fun Room be fun without having to be a really loud room.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1SI85Rsd1MKP_RbXtv_pAz3rIW1xuEIo_pAFmuPecMky5dg_i8sdFOA_0jMxxZmrT8cN9hbdXveP1eru8aQkbZjqKODJG52Mg_by0qucJQEwwxFuIAp884udHnfIQIJyeKmRcNhhy-Dx/s1600/PMI-Acoustics-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="1006" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1SI85Rsd1MKP_RbXtv_pAz3rIW1xuEIo_pAFmuPecMky5dg_i8sdFOA_0jMxxZmrT8cN9hbdXveP1eru8aQkbZjqKODJG52Mg_by0qucJQEwwxFuIAp884udHnfIQIJyeKmRcNhhy-Dx/s320/PMI-Acoustics-detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Acoustics – Managing the way sound travels in the room and bounces around the walls and ceiling to deliver a great experience.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIufBQPg5Q4WC37YWX8aq4WWTCFobpZXEPQg0N9lsMZfFW3BERoGTbJV5l2NuQzZnm-awa0QDrvyXeqPGt7iVHUDgQL3J_0xJe0L60uEwy1aM9ztRLz2aq9wPJmCVSGC-5T0gAhCmxX6yD/s1600/PMI-rackfront-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIufBQPg5Q4WC37YWX8aq4WWTCFobpZXEPQg0N9lsMZfFW3BERoGTbJV5l2NuQzZnm-awa0QDrvyXeqPGt7iVHUDgQL3J_0xJe0L60uEwy1aM9ztRLz2aq9wPJmCVSGC-5T0gAhCmxX6yD/s320/PMI-rackfront-a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">The Future is Bright – Smart planning and wiring to let this room be the Fun Room for decades, without having to tear it apart.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="350"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wBRNRxy4tATcJELLjnB4ibDkmBWuA5xZz0JARKJ_5QjlPHX_mMctJKQzVTQyRXyWaWZW4cu38Iu8GGnQ6Himy6XbzAdZfgD518V5cwRylb_2aIwRpdRKK3oitqPppKiCDOdsUiHuqdXH/s1600/PMI-Screen-Detail-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="753" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wBRNRxy4tATcJELLjnB4ibDkmBWuA5xZz0JARKJ_5QjlPHX_mMctJKQzVTQyRXyWaWZW4cu38Iu8GGnQ6Himy6XbzAdZfgD518V5cwRylb_2aIwRpdRKK3oitqPppKiCDOdsUiHuqdXH/s320/PMI-Screen-Detail-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="450">Fantastic Experience – New tech makes a substantial difference with: 130” high-contrast screen, 4K video, and the latest Dolby Atmos sound system.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
In Deep</span></h3>
If you want to drill down to the details beyond the high level, <a href="https://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2018/01/fun-room-details.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. We promise not to be geeks, but we do love what we do.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Wrap-up</span></h3>
If you get one thing from this article, it should be that we can deliver great experiences in more places. Our industry has grown significantly in the last few years. New technology has opened many more ways to have fun. Stop thinking about a box, and think about how you want to live and we will design a solution.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pmiltd.com/contact.php" target="_blank">Contact us</a> for your next project.<br />
<br />Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-53463124951548539272017-03-17T11:35:00.002-07:002018-01-22T14:00:27.665-08:00THE GRIMANI FILES: Bringing Life to a Comatose Home Theater<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This client was referred to us by the integrator, who completed this installation about 10 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The room was a dedicated three-row home theater in an upscale neighborhood of Detroit. All the gear was state-of-the-art for its time - from the studio-grade speakers, to the professional HD video projection system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But the surround decoder finally gave up the ghost after several years of faithful service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The client heard that Dolby Atmos® was the latest thing, so he sourced a new processor. He expected it to be an automatic upgrade, but wasn’t aware that he also needed to add speakers for the Top and Wide locations. At any rate, it was time to install, configure, and tune the system for the new processor. I took the job and carved out two days - right before Christmas - for a quick jaunt from my temperate San Francisco Bay Area home to frigid Detroit. (Who doesn't like a little cold for the holidays?) While planning the trip, I found out that the system didn’t include any equalization. It's impossible to properly tune the frequency response, levels, time alignment, and phase relationships of the various speakers without a digital EQ, so I asked the client to add one. I specified a very good, cost-effective unit from Ashly, which was shipped to the site along with a few XLR M/F snakes to patch it into the system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The end user was definitely a movie buff. He had a large collection of discs, a PRIMA Cinema server, and a good collection of source devices. He had set up a classy and comfortable dedicated environment to enjoy his movie viewing, and he had a lot of passion for proper presentation of the filmmaker’s intent.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iFqnBpjZDE6VqP8mRRjtB2s89yxaYH03Aq4UHltU7IU4lKlqmb7I4uqPG8gPyJAfMQjhc8DbLCmGsRRzJnP6EBFHDWAjxscIM6HmwPdvJE84dvMPCOzKqyzlD2VubsvdkXncrQcvLFuO/s1600/P1060517_1500Pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iFqnBpjZDE6VqP8mRRjtB2s89yxaYH03Aq4UHltU7IU4lKlqmb7I4uqPG8gPyJAfMQjhc8DbLCmGsRRzJnP6EBFHDWAjxscIM6HmwPdvJE84dvMPCOzKqyzlD2VubsvdkXncrQcvLFuO/s320/P1060517_1500Pix.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">But, as David Attenborough often says in the PBS series </span><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Planet Earth</span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, the room and system had a few implementation issues that made it harder to achieve the optimal experience. I list these here not, so much, to criticize and point fingers, but to provide an opportunity to learn and improve the deployment of future systems.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Acoustically Dead. The acoustical designer hired for the project specified that all the walls should be lined with two inches of high-density insulation, and he even showed some predictive calculations for the effect. Well, it has been known for a while now that a room should have a proper balance of reflection, scattering, and absorption. For typical residential home cinemas, the appropriate balance is about 20% absorptive surfaces, 25% scattering surfaces, and the rest reflective. The layout for these various types of surfaces needs to be strategically engineered so the sound reflections support the speakers' sound radiation. For a room this size, the resulting reflection decay time should land around 0.35 seconds across the full frequency range from 60 Hz to 10 kHz. In reality, the impulse response measurements for this room demonstrated it to have 0.15 second decay time down to 1 kHz, rising up to 0.3 seconds below 500 Hz. That's pretty much what you would expect from a room packed with too much fuzz. The room sounded weird just walking into it; the sound was inconsistent from seat to seat, and the speaker interactions produced clearly audible comb filters. The solution is to peel back the decorative wall upholstery fabric that conceals the insulation, remove at least 60% of it, install some scattering diffuser panels at strategic locations, and retune the frequency response and levels - as they will clearly change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Seat Locations. The room was a bit too small for three comfortable rows. The back seats were up against the back wall. Bass was thick back there, and it was hard to get a proper immersive envelopment that far from the front speakers and so close to the back speakers. The solution is tough, here, since the room is already built. But every half foot of distance to the back wall helps. Scooting up all the rows a bit and reducing the aisles between them would probably help. Realistically, this would probably not happen given the high design values built into the existing room. It would have been better to properly lay out the room in the first place. Additionally, the left seats of each row were right up against the left wall, rendering them inappropriate for proper soundfield perception (although just OK for casual viewing of media).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Subwoofer Placement. The two subwoofers were in one corner. Bass standing waves, tightness, and coverage uniformity are all a major challenge in rooms under 50 feet long. Placing the subwoofers in one corner of the room is generally the worst option for good grades in the above performance areas, although you do get more sound level from this arrangement. Like they say, it’s junky but loud. Room EQ can somewhat mitigate the issues of amplitude response and resonances, but it won't ever solve the seat-to-seat uniformity issues. The solution is to place the two subwoofers in different locations, preferably across the mid-points of the room. Better yet, conceal four smaller subwoofers in the four corners of the room and tune them each with a channel of digital EQ. This reduces the response errors with judicious use of relative delays, levels, and frequency response tailoring. With a bit of time, you can get to tight, punchy, loud, and consistent bass that puts a smile on the face of anyone sitting in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Surround Speaker Placement. The surround speakers were too low. Because of the location and size of the side wall lighting sconces, some of the side surround speakers were placed about a foot too low. This yielded insufficient immersion, and it called attention to the speaker locations since they drilled right at your ears. Turning them down a bit, reducing the higher frequencies, and delaying them a bit are all work-arounds, but the right solution is to reduce the sconce dimensions and place the speakers properly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>LCR Speaker Coverage. The LCR speakers were too beamy. The studio monitor-grade speakers used for Left/Center/Right were, in fact, a bit too inconsistent in dispersion across frequencies. As a result, the sound changed quite a bit from seat to seat, and it was hard to tune the room for reference-grade sound at all the seats. The solution is to replace the speakers with more current versions that have broader horizontal directivity and smoother sound power (the net spectral response throughout the room). The sweet spot would get wider, and the overall sound quality would be smoother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Missing Equalization. As mentioned above, I requested that an equalizer system be added before I conducted the room calibration. I got half my wish: An EQ was sourced, but I had to install it into the rack and wire it up. The EQ had detachable three-pin screw connectors (Phoenix/Euroblock), and the decoder and amps all had balanced XLR connectors. So I had to create interface cables to go from XLR to Phoenix, cutting the newly acquired XLR cable snakes in the middle. A few hours later (which I spent in a cramped space at the back of the rack, equipped with my trusty cutters, strippers, utility knife, zip ties, headlight, and a bunch of patience and vigilance not to hit my balding cranium against the sharp corners of the projector base plate), I had taken care of this phase of work. Lacing up a rack cleanly and effectively is a matter of both art and science. You have to pre-think the best routing for all the runs, but you also have to consider noise interference, hum fields, ground loops, and much more. It takes a well-trained technician to do a good job. Even then it can require a few iterations to get right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VOGGqhGARLhtlZJ5O814tnclRHFx6aBinH2tU3vk940DNC5wttFHcNPXrywOsPnZHPVAFZ8DKGN6RWTjSg3m5yUFaTrhJRIbxXhcZ7yzgPDQ4jLXiuLrCkwpjnywrRpK-BHx3NoRPoFV/s1600/P1060537_1500Pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VOGGqhGARLhtlZJ5O814tnclRHFx6aBinH2tU3vk940DNC5wttFHcNPXrywOsPnZHPVAFZ8DKGN6RWTjSg3m5yUFaTrhJRIbxXhcZ7yzgPDQ4jLXiuLrCkwpjnywrRpK-BHx3NoRPoFV/s320/P1060537_1500Pix.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">7.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Polarity Error. One of the surround speakers was connected out of polarity. The right side soundfield had both spatial and spectral errors as a result. It’s not unusual for a wiring error to creep into a system; this room, for example, had 15 speakers, and it’s understandable that a mistake can happen. The solution is to painstakingly verify each speaker output with an acoustical polarity tester. Use the pulse test signals in the <i>5.1 Audio Toolkit</i> test disc with a polarity checker like the Gold Line APT2. Remember to check the polarity of <i>all</i> the drivers in each speaker (one may have been wired wrong internally at the factory).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">8.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Reference Level. Film soundtracks are designed to be heard at predetermined sound pressure levels. In cinemas, there is a reference detent setting for the volume control - often called “Fader 7” (position 7 out of a max of 10). The same should apply to home theaters; the clients should have a way to set volume to reference if they want. In THX-certified decoders, this is known as 0dB reference. You can turn the level down or up from this baseline, and it is very cool to have the guidance of the target level. If you look at the on-screen or front panel volume display of one of these decoders, you will see values in dB +/- from reference. However, once the volume control is left up to a touchscreen, the user often sees a value that is not correlated to the reference scale. Feedback from an automation scheme (Crestron, Savant, Control4, etc.) should show the user the exact value on the reference scale - not some random number with a bar graph or % value. This is easy to say, but not always easy to do. Products don’t always report the volume control numbers in terms that correlate to the dB of attenuation or gain around reference level. Hmm. Food for thought for future iterations of products, firmware, and automation coding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Despite the above issues, 15 hours of wiring, configuring, EQing, listening, and tuning finally yielded a sonic perspective that came close to ideal reference performance. I listened to my usual collection of music tracks and movie clips, and I tweaked a number of parameters until the sonic bubble came together. I also set up four presets in the digital EQ processor so that the user can listen to tracks in these modes:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">a)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Reference – The Way the Director and Sound Designer Heard It in the Film Mix Stage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">b)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Dialog Enhance – Level and Mid-frequency Boost in the Center Channel to Allow Dialog to Punch Through the Mix<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">c)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Enhance 1 - Added Bass and Surrounds to Sweeten the Track<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">d)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Enhance 2 - A Lot More Bass and Surrounds for When the User Really Wants to Have Fun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The four modes are recalled from a control pad on the Crestron touchscreen.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXzK5ZIDyaH_y2inbZL1_T_vgt-56ygREwinFlNDRqGIvZxrtPTnqNADC5lxx1uXrOnM0VC_PI5haQLkt-fcYrB5ERPAF0vqD22Wfr35HxHuIYyei6Nnq5aYY7izpH13osiQN3ucNz92r/s1600/P1060504_1500Pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXzK5ZIDyaH_y2inbZL1_T_vgt-56ygREwinFlNDRqGIvZxrtPTnqNADC5lxx1uXrOnM0VC_PI5haQLkt-fcYrB5ERPAF0vqD22Wfr35HxHuIYyei6Nnq5aYY7izpH13osiQN3ucNz92r/s400/P1060504_1500Pix.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvfzcCAj3jxxcWmBKNTCqYelU6Q4Mo3q6ElHHHoHh1rVyKiYkFP2f5-0v3YOPAaGAlxRLSJaV0ojGXfA5kxNtWh9RuIcOSp_mRjJRW4o1heQyFARMllX3sVsnKPR4m1hszoCbhnqn-rbU/s1600/P1060514_1500Pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvfzcCAj3jxxcWmBKNTCqYelU6Q4Mo3q6ElHHHoHh1rVyKiYkFP2f5-0v3YOPAaGAlxRLSJaV0ojGXfA5kxNtWh9RuIcOSp_mRjJRW4o1heQyFARMllX3sVsnKPR4m1hszoCbhnqn-rbU/s400/P1060514_1500Pix.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-63215573822916935132016-09-22T15:11:00.000-07:002016-10-12T19:55:07.127-07:00A Techie's Dream Cinema - CEDIA 2016 Design Awards Winner<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The
life of an audiophile is driven by a relentless and unending pursuit of the
idealized audio experience and the feeling of being transported to concert
venues all over the world at the hit of the Play button. Sometimes this hobby
also consumes the family living quarters and clutters them with large
equipment, unsightly wiring, and seating arrangements that aren’t conducive to
afternoon tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A living room in a luxurious
Tuscan-style Southern California home was to be converted into a dedicated
listening room and home cinema for an uncompromising audiophile client. It
houses a concealed set of large Wisdom Audio LS4 speakers, matches the
classical interiors of the residence, and serves as a soundproofed retreat.
Exceptional picture quality with 4k UHD resolution and 2.35:1 projection
screen, Dolby Atmos immersive audio playback, and fully integrated automation
for access to the extensive collection of jazz, classical, and rock music,
complement the stellar audio-video package.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our
client tried on his own to reach his dreams of audio excellence, swapping out
several brands and models of speakers and amps, adding in tuning accessories,
ultra-premium cabling, acoustical modules, changing rooms, and eventually
throwing his hands up. When he reached out to our team, it was clear that he wanted
it all: top-of-the-line audiophile sound; fully concealed loudspeakers that
would give him back the beautiful ocean view from his living room window and
the rustic Italian décor that permeates the whole residence; integrated and
simple control; home theater functions with UHD video and Atmos immersive
sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DScYqXHPDEPDwO71CU-NPl-JY2n2NI_W2dxp3XilNS1URFhoPo9Upc9YhSDyQsdu5yaJ_kBZtX2z8VSrRWMZsBMSmfH3RaTNOEUMkc9vQDavtToKvnea-KNsE_gO0XgQ6ohkdoyy2TUr/s1600/ABATE_2+awards+Cedia2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DScYqXHPDEPDwO71CU-NPl-JY2n2NI_W2dxp3XilNS1URFhoPo9Upc9YhSDyQsdu5yaJ_kBZtX2z8VSrRWMZsBMSmfH3RaTNOEUMkc9vQDavtToKvnea-KNsE_gO0XgQ6ohkdoyy2TUr/s400/ABATE_2+awards+Cedia2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our mission was to design and engineer
an environment that could support and enhance the very sophisticated audiophile
audio system, and instantly switch to movie studio-grade AV performance. The
client wanted to spend a lot of time enjoying his passion for music and films,
so the interior feel had to be comfortable and warm.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The project started with extensive
engineering and planning six months before construction until all elements were
carefully thought through. First off, the room itself was engineered for the
right sound isolation and for interior acoustical sound reflection
optimization. The room was closed off from the dining area with a resilient
staggered stud sound isolation wall structure in the original archway. A front
soffit system was built into the coffered ceiling in order to conceal the
motorized screen and ductwork. We established the idealized speaker locations
using computer modeling during the engineering phase and confirmed the
locations of the front speakers and subwoofer with in-situ testing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The
theater was built as a remodel of this one wing of the home, and we had to do a
lot of discovery and demolition to determine all the design and engineering
parameters and specifications. Pre-wire from the equipment room to all the
speakers had to include control of sound isolation leaks, vibration and
rattles, and timing logistics. The project required some creative thinking from
all in the team to figure out how to incorporate the drop down screen, conceal
all the speakers, and apply acoustical tuning where there wasn’t stretched
fabric. The front and back sections of the coffered ceiling were re-dimensioned
so as to incorporate the screen mechanisms. A wideband absorber placed in front
of the fireplace hearth is in fact dressed up as a fire screen. Artwork over
the fireplace is in fact a <i>LivingSound</i>
absorber module with custom artwork printing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aesthetic
integration created the usual challenges for speaker placements, acoustical
materials placements, etc. But the largest issue in this project was that the
orientation of the room prevented easy integration of a Center speaker. The
client wanted to be able to look out at the view at the front of the room
between the Left and Right speakers, when listening to music. Also, the client
picked a very large and effective speaker system, and concealing was tricky. We
formulated the idea of recessing the L/R speakers in coves carved into the wall
structures lateral to the large sliding glass doors. With proper baffling,
acoustical damping of the cove surfaces, and carful tuning, we were able to
achieve audiophile sound out of the pair of speakers, despite their location.
Also, we were able to achieve a soundstage with a solid phantom center sound
character and wide enough sweet spot, so as to forego the use of a Center
speaker. We did prewire for a motorized unit in case it is decided to add it in
per the plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The engineering team then specified a
Dolby Atmos 6.4.2 speaker package, with large planar array LR speakers
concealed behind stretched fabric coves flanking the acoustically transparent
screen. The surround array consists of matched Side speakers along the lateral
walls, two matching Back speakers, and four matching Top speakers to complete
the immersive effect. Four highly efficient yet compact subwoofers were laid
out in the Welti "four corner” configuration for smoothest response and
maximum gain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The
display system features a 4K projector along with an acoustically transparent
2.35:1 screen. The projector was picked for appropriate light output and
picture quality. The speaker package features a pair of large planar magnetic
Wisdom Audio LS4 speakers, carefully integrated into acoustically damped coves
and toed in for best imaging results. The speaker coves were essentially
“carved out” of the false walls originally built out for the sliding section
patio door system. We blocked out a portion of the slider travel limits, and
appropriated the resulting space for the L/R speaker coves. A drop-down center
speaker was planned into the design, and it was agreed that the client would
first evaluate if he was happy enough with the phantom center character of the
Wisdom LS4 speaker pair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A
Dimension4 Sonata acoustical tuning package was engineered, with the goal of
achieving a target reflection decay time of 0.3 seconds across the audio
spectrum - including appropriate 2D and 3D diffusion in the 500 Hz to 5 kHz region. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In
this industry we often cater to clients that want nice audio and video, and
understand the value of hiring a boutique operation. However, they don’t often
have a reference of what is high performance sound or picture. So it is a
thrill to work for real enthusiasts, and watch them be amazed at results that
are so far beyond what they had ever expected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The client now has a home cinema and
audiophile listening room that rivals the best in the world and spends several
hours a week enjoying it. </span>He
was so happy with the outcome, that he invited us to stay for an enjoyable
evening of music listening paired with fine wines. Yum!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-41617460965769916072016-09-20T15:04:00.002-07:002016-10-12T19:55:28.949-07:00Dedicated High Performance -- CEDIA 2016 Design Awards Winner<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In this industry, we regularly
cater to “enthusiast” clients who are very enthralled with the idea of a fully
engineered and commissioned private cinema. They may have played wit<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>h speakers and receivers in their spare time. They may have
preconceived notions about what makes speakers work or not work. They may even
want to tell the crew how to go about doing the wiring and installation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This client just built his
Tuscan dream home in the rolling hills over Newport Beach, California. He
wanted a great place to enjoy concert videos and movies from all around the
world. He got that and a lot more in an acoustically treated and tuned room
with appropriate sound isolation, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, 4K video, and a
luxury-grade interior finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The room was to be laid out as
a formal dedicated two-row theater, without many design frills, and with
maximized return on investment for the equipment. The client decided not to
adopt the customary stretched fabric dress in order to put more money into
engineering, gear, and installation quality. In other words, budgets were very
tightly controlled. There was no room for error in the engineering and
commissioning.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja78eidBrp_GxXFhvvmRc-TzcMK74h4T6z2uVKGLy5ec5x67V3xCNMkX_31ce3ANY1KDZ95Q9SDmAnZ5-W831LXawzJQp711IseHyO1zzy7Bj6YzoFOm3tbTZMCdDzOZi5ExQRCimbkclz/s1600/KHOI+cinema_1+award_Cedia2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja78eidBrp_GxXFhvvmRc-TzcMK74h4T6z2uVKGLy5ec5x67V3xCNMkX_31ce3ANY1KDZ95Q9SDmAnZ5-W831LXawzJQp711IseHyO1zzy7Bj6YzoFOm3tbTZMCdDzOZi5ExQRCimbkclz/s400/KHOI+cinema_1+award_Cedia2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Interior design was conspicuously
absent. The client decided to focus all the available funds on engineering,
equipment, and installation, so he did not budget in a stretched fabric wall
decorative system. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Since the room had an acoustical treatment package, we paid
attention to laying out the absorbers and diffusers in a relatively even and
consistent pattern, while preserving an optimal acoustical tuning balance. The
walls, along with all the acoustical materials and speakers, are all flat black
so as to disappear from view once the lights are dimmed.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Since the client is a techie,
it was only appropriate to give him the latest technologies. The room had to
have a very large 4K display and immersive audio for Dolby Atmos playback.
First off, the room itself was engineered for the right sound isolation and for
interior acoustical sound reflection optimization. The engineering team then
specked in a Dolby Atmos 9.4.4 speaker package, with matched LCR speakers
behind the huge acoustically transparent screen, Atmos Wide speakers brand-matched
to the LCRs, dual Side speakers along the lateral walls, two matching Back
speakers, and four matching Top speakers to complete the immersive effect. Four
highly efficient yet compact subwoofers laid out in the Welti "four
corner” configuration were selected to belt out the bottom octaves at the
requisite peak sound pressure levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The picture end of the design
was to present an image large enough to fully express what today's 4K Ultra HD
video is meant to show, while not breaking the bank with a Digital Cinema-grade
projection engine. Through careful matching of the screen gain, along with very
dark colors in the room, we were able to achieve the maximum contrast ratio in
that room - along with deepest blacks and satisfying peak white levels. The
display system features a 4K projector along with an acoustically transparent
2.37:1 screen. The projector was picked for appropriate light output and
picture quality. The screen was carefully evaluated for acoustical and optical
performance so as not to lose any sonic or visual quality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The speaker package features a
matched set of Triad speakers. The Triad InWall Gold LCR speakers up front were
baffle-mounted for better control of the bass response. The Wide channels in
the Dolby Atmos format are handled by a pair of Triad InWall Silver LCR
speakers, appropriately aimed back to the seating area for best coverage. The
Side and Back channels are all handled by custom bipole Triad OnWall Bronze
Surround speakers for best spatial integration and envelopment. The Top channels
are handled by custom bipole Triad OnWall Silver Surround speakers for best
coverage and immersion. The bottom octaves are handled by a set of four Triad
InWall Bronze/6 subwoofers arrayed in the four corners of the ceiling for best
balance between standing wave performance and room gain. They were resiliently
mounted on rubber bushings in order to reduce sound transmission and rattles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A Dimension4 acoustical tuning
package was engineered with the goal of achieving a target reflection decay
time of 0.3 seconds across the audio spectrum - including appropriate 2D and 3D
diffusion in the 500 Hz to 5 kHz region. All the speakers were optimized
through 15-band digital parametric equalization, carefully and lovingly tuned
and voiced by a professional audio engineer - using a combination of impulse
response measurements with spatial averaging, time varying windowing, and
psychoacoustic smoothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the end - after much
patience and collaboration - it's a real thrill to witness the client's
amazement at results that are so far beyond what they had ever experienced or
expected. We spent several hours listening through every part of the Dolby
Atmos demo disc, along with several of our favorite Blu-ray Disc demo sections.
This project shows that - with careful engineering, equipment selection,
optimized installation, and calibration - you can realize the full potential of
the client's investment and produce a very exciting cinematic experience on a
modest budget.</span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-40622643860686053072016-07-29T16:06:00.003-07:002016-07-29T16:07:40.181-07:00The Mysterious Case of the Turntable Hum<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So there's this project down in SoCal; the
client is a huge vinyl rock 'n roll and blues fan with what you'd call a
multi-use media room. After the initial commissioning of his system, everything
was groovy (pun intended) save for some serious hum and noise issues with the
high-end turntable rig. Unfortunately, scheduling required us to knock off
before we could track down all the issues.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOTINGFGJUSSfWW_5G3y2ClTkC9XmWvBBymA3nnJENTXtAB9hyphenhyphen96a9ZldM4Edz9j4hyn2PKwgQ0CNKMjFGURTTZ39OOONbXHW1OwsVMbACfmY9bQ2COob0SpvzbGK2qwEeqWFOuu1iXrA/s1600/IMG_7366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOTINGFGJUSSfWW_5G3y2ClTkC9XmWvBBymA3nnJENTXtAB9hyphenhyphen96a9ZldM4Edz9j4hyn2PKwgQ0CNKMjFGURTTZ39OOONbXHW1OwsVMbACfmY9bQ2COob0SpvzbGK2qwEeqWFOuu1iXrA/s320/IMG_7366.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Over the next while, the installer's guys
and some outside consultants gave it their best shot - to no avail. Eventually,
I said, "Enough is enough; we've got to get this guy squared
away." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, I loaded up my test
gear, tossed in my trusty Technics SL1200 turntable with a basic preamp of my
own, and headed south.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After a good bit of head banging (the bad
kind) and hair-pulling, I replaced his turntable and phono pre with mine.
Presto! Hum/noise gone. Taking systematic approach of slowly inserting the
client’s gear into the scheme, I found a “perfect storm” of issues that caused
the unacceptable levels of hum and buzz.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">First off, a (much) closer look at his turntable
revealed that the connector box that took the cartridge lead-in wires to the
RCA connectors was powder-coated. Uh-oh. The ground lug, barrel connector for
the lead-in, and the RCA connectors were all touching a powder coat finish
instead of actual metal, and there was no ground contact anywhere. So there I
was for an hour scraping off powder coat from the contact points with a tiny
screwdriver. Good times! A reasonable person would expect that to fully fix all
the issues, but no such luck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22kGNbtYNvFzzTjeLiE98yNnu0KxNg_fxFa1py88w98TMvpVMePgrsV9lA2671EeZmRXOngaMLhHtqVSDYXLc6zpQe_4hR3lIoSPGx2uMUBEnaEX2jN9majaNLCpJvTbVMNKAwuGLaNiZ/s1600/IMG_8386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22kGNbtYNvFzzTjeLiE98yNnu0KxNg_fxFa1py88w98TMvpVMePgrsV9lA2671EeZmRXOngaMLhHtqVSDYXLc6zpQe_4hR3lIoSPGx2uMUBEnaEX2jN9majaNLCpJvTbVMNKAwuGLaNiZ/s320/IMG_8386.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I then observed that the lead-in wire that
looped up and out of the tone arm wasn't shielded and picked up RF
interference. Also, we still had some oscillation and hum with his phono pre,
but not mine. It was a vacuum tube device; lo and behold, one of the tubes was
probably bad! We replaced the preamp with a fresh one from stock, thanks to
some forward thinking on the part of the installer. Better, but <i>still</i> not perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That's when I noticed the single-ended link
between the phono preamp and the main pre-processor - a distance of about 25
feet - ran near lights and other EMI/RFI-spewing electronics. I don't want to
point fingers, but that's kind of a no-no. Such a run needs to be <i>balanced</i> in order to reject the noise. Luckily,
the wire used for the connection was actually a twisted pair with shield. So we
upgraded the connection by inserting a Jensen transformer-based balanced
converter after his phono pre and running the other end of the wires into a set
of XLR balanced stereo inputs of the main system pre-processor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There was still a tiny bit of noise audible
when listening at a few inches from the tweeters, attributable to the
non-shielded lead-in wire and noise floor of the tube-based phono preamp. The
shield issue is simple enough to fix with a very flexible braided shield
connected to the main ground lug. The quiescent phono stage noise floor is then
probably low enough not ever be heard at the seating position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The end result was a great improvement in
the hum/noise problem - also some renewed lessons learned about verifying that
gear actually comes from the factory working right!</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-39124597807563348902015-11-18T12:36:00.000-08:002015-12-03T12:37:17.103-08:00Room Within a Room in Singapore<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMuN6q7C3WdzpL3loFbgnN4ZHEUVsO1EuBfbR4QMJz6yw5Qt3nJ-zm3RhRGIUR4r8yjaSpvebVVeMPsCtZVTCjcNzlf3yZDyvvQBkFbqHoIDbU4D-zqtQ0es4FGtAc7qw7uaGKfwjfeaV/s1600/Awards_Finalist_4+Lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMuN6q7C3WdzpL3loFbgnN4ZHEUVsO1EuBfbR4QMJz6yw5Qt3nJ-zm3RhRGIUR4r8yjaSpvebVVeMPsCtZVTCjcNzlf3yZDyvvQBkFbqHoIDbU4D-zqtQ0es4FGtAc7qw7uaGKfwjfeaV/s200/Awards_Finalist_4+Lines.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second place CEDIA Awards
winner this year is a room in a new luxury high-rise condo which was converted
into a dedicated listening room and home cinema for an uncompromising
audiophile client. The design <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>brief included (1) housing the
client’s five very large Meridian 25th anniversary edition DSP8000SE speakers, (2) matching the modern, slick and artsy interiors of the residence, and, (3) serving
as a fully soundproofed retreat from Singapore’s hustle and bustle. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNyauhN10QeXUy5nZXFdjbV57U9NoV_ubN3p0jFJhOsaKZ-4z4_ZMEyYubKoCiQvJt5E1NazYZ7UI2GieYgSq1GxIalkrlA0NNk50UUwJ8YHMctuB3AZEWKL1oJm0ynJ3qP_AA9D43Rm-/s1600/Singapore-Skyline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNyauhN10QeXUy5nZXFdjbV57U9NoV_ubN3p0jFJhOsaKZ-4z4_ZMEyYubKoCiQvJt5E1NazYZ7UI2GieYgSq1GxIalkrlA0NNk50UUwJ8YHMctuB3AZEWKL1oJm0ynJ3qP_AA9D43Rm-/s320/Singapore-Skyline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our mission was to design and
engineer an environment that could support and enhance a very sophisticated digital </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">audiophile audio system, with
full soundfield quality expectations, and instantly switch to movie
studio-grade AV </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">performance. The client
wanted to spend a lot of time enjoying his passion for music and films, so the
interior feel had to be comfortable and clean. This is probably the only room
in the world with five of the large special edition Meridian </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">speakers, and the resulting
looks, sound and picture are all truly stunning. It is rare to be given the
opportunity of creating a world-class dedicated room in a high-rise luxury
building for a very exacting client. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNT3qo9oFE5iLU3VoQ5WvBk_yKubEUZZ0MXGd7sTxbY_TRCUeIV4MFQ8S0XYhCJA3vjbM6tAkhVSPUKDMHTfVBlS9JlOkXk-ngDzmH1xVJes8E9rM0s0esgtESlPKPZ8Gan4glVI52qel/s1600/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-7360+x+4912-20150519-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNT3qo9oFE5iLU3VoQ5WvBk_yKubEUZZ0MXGd7sTxbY_TRCUeIV4MFQ8S0XYhCJA3vjbM6tAkhVSPUKDMHTfVBlS9JlOkXk-ngDzmH1xVJes8E9rM0s0esgtESlPKPZ8Gan4glVI52qel/s640/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-7360+x+4912-20150519-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">It all started with extensive engineering
and planning a year before completion of the condo, with several planset
iterations (eight to be exact) until all elements were carefully
thought-through. A “room-within-a-room” structure with suspended ceiling, and
resilient shock-mounted walls, along with floated floor was constructed by a
builder team and supervised by our project managers. The interiors were
precisely tailored to the speaker system and maximized the available dimensions
of the room. The lighting was carefully selected for neutral colors and proper
control of spill onto the screen. The list of minute elements goes on and on.
Suffice it to say that every detail was considered in the design and
implementation of this state-of-the-art room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The combination of full sound
isolation, low noise ventilation, clean power, ultra-high end audio gear,
anamorphic projection, along with meticulous acoustics integrated into a slick
décor, were all a challenge to assemble. The hallmark of CEDIA members is to
deliver the level of service and planning that internet and box-mover stores
can’t do, and this </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">project is a stellar example
of that exercise in a part of the world that isn’t yet used to investing in
design and planning at </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">such a high level. The client
now has a Home Cinema that rivals the best in the world and spends several
hours a week enjoying it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">When we heard that our client
wanted to showcase his set of 5 gorgeous limited edition burgundy-colored
anniversary </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">edition Meridian 8000SE
speakers in a dedicated theater in his new condo in Singapore, we knew that the
first step was </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">to ensure full-on sound
isolation! Not a whisper could be heard in his daughter’s room next-door, or in
his neighbors’ </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">daughter’s room below. We
brought in a world-renowned theater consultant and acoustician and designed a
room with the right proportions, the right wall structures, the right acoustics
and the right optics to support an ultra-high end experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The building’s wall-to wall
window scheme had major flaws: All the supporting metalwork was connected from
top to </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">bottom. A light knock on the
aluminum framing could be heard three stories up and down. And there were 1”
gaps in the termination between the perimeter beams and the window frames,
where sound leaked. This is obviously not a good thing at the extreme price per
square foot of this high-rise, and much less for the development of a listening
and screening room! Then we painted the window framing with
visco-elastic damping compound, we sealed all the gaps were sealed with special
gasketed brackets, and we installed a secondary window was planted 8” in front
of the original window. After all this meticulous work, we verified that no
sound leaves the room by running tests at 110 dB SPL inside the room, and
verifying residual sound levels in all the adjacent spaces, using standardized
ASTM methods.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The sound isolation envelope
had to fit within the structural load limitations of the building. The room
size is also a bit </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">limited, so we needed to
implement systems that didn’t reduce available space too much. We worked the
building </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">architect and structural
engineering teams to establish the parameters and specifications. Extensive
materials </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">optimization eventually led
us to the right design that wouldn’t cause a collapse of the residence! The
floor system in a 2” deep Kinetics RIM scheme with mass-loaded layers for
lowest resonance frequencies. The ceiling is a Kinetics ICC </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">spring-based resilient scheme
with multiple damped layers, and a 3Hz resonance frequency. The original
concrete walls </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">are amended with resiliently
secured metal-stud framed walls in order to stop transmission of sound
vibration through the vertical boundaries. The framed walls are finished with
visco-elastic damped sheetrock, which offer higher impedance to bass sound
waves, and therefore reduces bass standing wave resonances.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of the specialty
materials had to be shipped over from the USA via boat and air, including a
very special STC 55 sound-rated door. This door had to be sized and dressed so
as to look like all the other ones in the hallway of this meticulously
decorated condo. The homeowner is an art lover and collector, and he worked
with a top interior design firm to select all the furnishings and finishes to
complement his art collection. The client wanted leather seats, which we have
found in the past to pose some problems with high-frequency reflections near
the listeners’ ears. To avoid any issues, we micro-perforated the headrests to
ensure proper sound absorption of reflected sounds!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The room proportions and
materials were optimized for standing wave patterns with best distribution over
the frequency range of 20 Hz to 150 Hz. A wall, floor and ceiling construction
system was designed for an overall STC of 70 or better. The speaker and seating
locations were optimized for best frequency response and soundstage. Two of the
DSP8000 speakers were dedicated to the Back channels of 7.1 channel audio. A
set of two on-wall Meridian Side speakers were added in, and a motorized Screen
Excellence acoustically transparent screen was selected for its optimal picture
and sound qualities. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The DreamVision projector was concealed in a soffit at the
back of the room that also served a ventilation plenum scheme. The picture shoots
through an optically pure port glass so that noise and heat are all well
controlled in the soffit. </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecgBeLNgmRZiX-rqGemkmT_MqUkdZTFkkqq3fWbfdUlffJm0n7jEM0rbcY8p-XeQ257DIvFEmpcRl5w7J64aFrtc1C52WIRAFIgGg90lPKjyVZAMU5sv_ZsGYvTWJfWTrqPMJVgWx1FlQ/s1600/ngo_screen.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecgBeLNgmRZiX-rqGemkmT_MqUkdZTFkkqq3fWbfdUlffJm0n7jEM0rbcY8p-XeQ257DIvFEmpcRl5w7J64aFrtc1C52WIRAFIgGg90lPKjyVZAMU5sv_ZsGYvTWJfWTrqPMJVgWx1FlQ/s640/ngo_screen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A full complement of MSR Dimension4 Sonata Symphony
acoustical tuning modules including deep absorbers, tuned bass traps and solid
wood deep 2D and 3D diffusers, bass traps, etc. were engineered into the room
for the proper target reflection decay time of 0.28 sec, and concealed behind a
deep stretched fabric wall decorative scheme. The fabric colors are all dark
and neutral in the areas of the room close to the screen, so as to ensure best
picture quality and contrast ratios. Brighter colors were used in other areas
so that the room doesn’t feel to obscure for the client’s guests. The bright
areas are also out of primary field of view during “screening” mode, so as to
avoid any perceived color errors. All the lighting in the room is chosen for
proximity to D65 color range. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A set of tight-beam LEDS are over the seats to
illuminate them with adjustable low level in case the client wants to preserve
some visibility of drinks, remote controls, etc. A custom Eclipse acoustical
diffusion drape controls the main speaker back-waves without over-damping the
room, while ensuring total blackout from the bright tropical sun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa1ohAiAPxDazFjGvHL411Qw9kcjJN43Km-3QGWTm-lg2uBeM5LLzu-C1oequQafmh5Xk50K9sjlh6-pAboas25KyW-0R5Ese49h2lWlu_YGB06VYC4_kYmT-32H-R-2afz02dhZ50jaJ/s1600/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-1000+x+667-20150519-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa1ohAiAPxDazFjGvHL411Qw9kcjJN43Km-3QGWTm-lg2uBeM5LLzu-C1oequQafmh5Xk50K9sjlh6-pAboas25KyW-0R5Ese49h2lWlu_YGB06VYC4_kYmT-32H-R-2afz02dhZ50jaJ/s640/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-1000+x+667-20150519-4.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speaking of tropics, an NC15
ventilation system able to cool down the room without adding any noise had to
be engineered and retrofitted into very tight quarters. We installed an
isolation transformer system for the power supply to the room so as to protect
the sensitive digital electronics and ensure reliability. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The AV equipment is split
into two racks. The Meridian gear that needs to be near the digital speakers
and to the user is </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">all mounted in a
Sistrum-brand rack to the side of the seating area, while all the other
components are neatly tucked away in a rack in the main equipment room of the
residence. A Savant automation system integrates all the functions for ease of
use. A Sooloos music server holds the client’s extensive music collection, and
the occasional CD can be played </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">through the local Meridian
unit.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj9ByK4UG7aYkOFt8DwDkHYdws264DdIQl8qJWfRoK75BALhvMK86-8FkKmCtRCbe62NtTw8vLtK9LY5_u-wH5HHmr3jHZ4M1AXuU301uopR6K0JnGVYVvDxPQKo2268gugxgj4phe9z9/s1600/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-1000+x+1498-20150519-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj9ByK4UG7aYkOFt8DwDkHYdws264DdIQl8qJWfRoK75BALhvMK86-8FkKmCtRCbe62NtTw8vLtK9LY5_u-wH5HHmr3jHZ4M1AXuU301uopR6K0JnGVYVvDxPQKo2268gugxgj4phe9z9/s320/nicographicc-ILCE-7R-1000+x+1498-20150519-6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The ventilation system design
and construction was a real chore, as it had to be squeezed into the limited
soffit space </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">between the top of the entry
door and the concrete structure, and snake its way cleanly around the projector
hush box and the room while ensuring the NC15 background noise specification
required for this grade of audio performance, and </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">cooling down the steamy
Singapore ambient conditions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Since the room is tightly
sound-isolated from the residence an alarm annunciator was installed in the
room, and was tied </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">into the building fire and
safety systems. From the photos submitted, the room does look small because of
the combination of sound isolation and a deep stretched fabric dress. In fact
the acoustical boundaries are 18” wider and 24” longer than the photos show.
Also, the sheer size of the 5 Meridian DSP8000 speakers further tricks the eye
when it comes to available space. However the actual audible character of the
room appear much larger because of the space behind the fabric, and strategic
use of high-quality sound scattering and diffusion modules on the walls and
ceiling. Also, through the careful use of color work and lighting, the actual
sense of space and comfort is again more ample than the photos would reveal.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We had to place the Back
speakers further apart than ideal due to their size and space limitations.
While a distance of about 4 feet would have been more ideal, the existing
corner placement resulted in good overall soundfield results, once the bass
build-up was equalized out of the speakers. Also, while we firmly believe in
completely concealing all audio and video equipment in the room, the client
wanted to showcase his beautiful red Meridan DSP8000 Special </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">edition speakers. These are
clearly a statement piece and we organized the décor, colors and lighting to
properly show </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">these amazing pieces of audio
sculpture.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AJuAfnsKg98cvbvkADfjm0TRPLIDeK_zOds2tqi2PZXIU815Y0TLOJkpAhqTpkbU-45egD86NC8HKyLqo7ThJgBq9YsptOSveXrNX87LHYUMsAeEyIkDc_M1jMcftzvcQBvOPEAVDDr-/s1600/ngo_30smaller_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AJuAfnsKg98cvbvkADfjm0TRPLIDeK_zOds2tqi2PZXIU815Y0TLOJkpAhqTpkbU-45egD86NC8HKyLqo7ThJgBq9YsptOSveXrNX87LHYUMsAeEyIkDc_M1jMcftzvcQBvOPEAVDDr-/s640/ngo_30smaller_back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Meridian system includes
an automated calibration system, but it was found not to perform adequately in
this particular situation. There were several errors in bass response, and in
the time-of arrival, based on the manual </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">measurements and listening
test. Bass management was set so that the five Meridian 8000 speakers handled
the low frequencies in concert, to reduce standing wave effects. The room was
then carefully measured using both impulse response and FFT analysis with
spatial averaging. With the right setup you can override the set of biquad
filters called up by the scheme, edit their frequency, gain and bandwidth, and painstakingly
get to proper measured and results.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One annoying challenge is
that spectral tailoring scheme only operates from 20Hz to 300Hz, and only in
cut mode. That’s because Meridian conceived it as a device for only attenuating
standing wave resonance peaks, based on an analysis of decay time of peaked
signals. That was nice, but it ignores the fact that there are dozens of other
elements in a room that affect the amplitude and time response of a speaker (
in my humble opinion). A strategic game of chess had to be played between the
limited EQ range, the availability of bass and treble controls, and some degree
of placement equalization of the speakers. Each iteration also took a
“Save-and-Reboot” process of the decoder, making any cause-effect confirmation
very tedious (are you laughing, or screaming yet?! Be patient Grasshopper; all
good things take time, and who needs sleep anyway?) Extensive tests were used
for fine-tuning of the room and speaker voicing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Exceptional picture quality
with 2.37:1 anamorphic projection, and fully integrated automation for access
to the extensive collection of jazz, classical, and rock music complement the
stellar audio package. The Dreamvision projector was carefully tuned to Rec709
standards, with gray scale at precisely 0.313. / 0.329 (D65). Video standards
were SMPTE, ISF and CEDIA best practices. The gray scale was compared against a
reference broadcast B&W monitor (Sony PVM96), and we made sure that our
eyeballs actually liked the results by watching several known test patterns and
movie clips. Black and white levels were carefully set for the balance of
maximum dynamic range while avoiding clipping in either direction. Color
settings were of course set to all the color bars standards (blue-filter
method), and also by careful and extensive viewing tests. The resulting picture
quality is stunning and makes the homeowner very happy to have invested in all
the work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The final touch was to
perform a thorough and painstaking commissioning and calibration of the audio and
video. No </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">automated
“push-the-button-and-pray” was allowed for this meticulous project.
Multi-microphone analysis using FFT and Impulse response showed us what the
room was doing to the speakers, and with override of the Meridian setup
software we neutralized standing waves and boundary conditions. The stereo soundstage
now extended at least two feet beyond the left and right speakers, and the
multichannel music and film experience transcended the walls of the converted
bedroom of this high-rise luxury private cinema!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-83777998008733972792015-11-12T09:58:00.000-08:002015-12-03T09:59:29.241-08:00Modern Luxe Home Cinema in Nantucket<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOKSiax_GVcVjTI2pPyytrZhqVzQQQcZ75Xub8KhIqi8ZetkQjL3efs8gz-D5jZCUIb-rg5x2r1trHpdgzgEVPkPttzyTQKUXHd7eX4clN-rajxHoCSKEcPXSYfGdApJlMu1X6YdxqI98/s1600/Awards_Winner_4+Lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOKSiax_GVcVjTI2pPyytrZhqVzQQQcZ75Xub8KhIqi8ZetkQjL3efs8gz-D5jZCUIb-rg5x2r1trHpdgzgEVPkPttzyTQKUXHd7eX4clN-rajxHoCSKEcPXSYfGdApJlMu1X6YdxqI98/s200/Awards_Winner_4+Lines.jpg" width="195" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first-place winner at the
CEDIA Home Technology Professional Awards this year was a basement-level,
ultra-high-end home cinema in a new house in Nantucket, Massachusetts. This
project took two years of development as part of the overall construction of a
gorgeous villa nestled among pine forest. The client is a detail-oriented
audiophile and videophile who owns an aerospace engineering company, and
demands nothing but the best. He had owned several systems before, and was
familiar with the products and brands of our industry. He wanted absolute
perfection in picture and sound reproduction, and after intently studying all
the options, was willing to take the time it took for thorough engineering and
project management; a rare privilege! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The interior architecture and
design of the theater was to be “clean, slick, and modern”, and we completed
the design work and lighting design in-house. After several months of
deliberations and listening tests of various sound systems, we set to work on
the design and development of the project, following an exact set of
agreed-upon specifications and rules. Quite a rare process for this industry
that really needs more of this type of exacting work flow. We learned a lot
from the rigor of the aerospace world, and had great fun along the way!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHkxEARLiT3MoHRq7FWmLxR2Bk451OP1HEgIYcQAv-HO1Ij_U80UhAMaqJXOE2d4bmfhLIDpBhKUCJEVmdP1l0SgwtXFH8vRUaiLqjIOmj5inRl1hm8M-Rl4xok2IBZ7IuBLcUYqmENlY/s1600/2015-04-26+09.30.34_ADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHkxEARLiT3MoHRq7FWmLxR2Bk451OP1HEgIYcQAv-HO1Ij_U80UhAMaqJXOE2d4bmfhLIDpBhKUCJEVmdP1l0SgwtXFH8vRUaiLqjIOmj5inRl1hm8M-Rl4xok2IBZ7IuBLcUYqmENlY/s640/2015-04-26+09.30.34_ADJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The engineering, design, and
integration effort for this project was outstanding, as was the meticulous
wiring of the racks, and the programming of the fully automated house and
cinema. Also, the fact that absolutely everything had to be brought in by ferry
to this idyllic island location added challenge and complexities to this
world-class project. We even commissioned a full electrical ground analysis
since the soils in Nantucket are all sandy, causing us to fear high ground impedance.
Proper grounding practices ensured low noise and low hum. And finally,
state-of-the-art PMI 2.0 projection system with fully configurable aspect
ratios and viewing angle selections, all property automated are still rare in
this industry, but are essential for rooms with large screens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The original architectural
plans called for a flat floor for a two-row cinema. Of course that wouldn’t
have worked for sightlines with a huge screen, so we re-configured the room
entrance area, adding an elevated transition deck outside the room, to a
re-positioned doorway in the middle of the back wall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The room is fully
sound-isolated and even at 115 dB you do not hear nothing anything anywhere
else in the residence. We didn’t need to build heavy concrete walls/foundations
to achieve these results – we developed innovative lighter weight materials and
solutions expressly for this kind of application. The combination of properly
engineered decoupled structures with resonance frequencies below 5Hz, along
adequate visco-elastic damping ensure that the sound track sounds stay inside
the theater.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An NC15 ventilation system
able to condition the room without adding any noise was engineered and fitted
into tight </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">passages of the hallway and
soffits. We installed a huge Torus isolation transformer system for the power
supply to the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">room to protect the sensitive
digital electronics and ensure reliability – this not only ensures very little
variation in </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">voltage but reduces noise,
and lowers both signal and ground impedance to very low numbers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The projector was located
outside the room, hidden in a soffit above the entrance atrium, and it now
shoots through an optical port glass in the back wall. The projector is
suspended from vibration isolation springs and mass-loaded with a heavy metal
plate, all tuned for a 3Hz resonance. We had to do all this just because the
projector was set to be installed directly below the laundry room, and we
needed to prevent any vibration effects of the washer spin cycles upon the
floor ceiling structures – the last thing you need is your image vibrating
during each spin cycle! Ventilation for the projector is timed to continue the
cooling cycle well after the power-down command. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1Op-9KDCax3fBYnjQJqKIB6mwj8FnCKtNE_sqXhkWbHFX2ycNjf4f3PYbmENJEhHJ6_amJS2LcrwH5ubeCAe2BLiN4eiPNxbj5PJoy20cOSvUBWHmafa7w6_d4oP63RfzQw6tbsYsR7U/s1600/2015-04-26+09.32.33_ADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1Op-9KDCax3fBYnjQJqKIB6mwj8FnCKtNE_sqXhkWbHFX2ycNjf4f3PYbmENJEhHJ6_amJS2LcrwH5ubeCAe2BLiN4eiPNxbj5PJoy20cOSvUBWHmafa7w6_d4oP63RfzQw6tbsYsR7U/s640/2015-04-26+09.32.33_ADJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PMI engineered and designed a
room with the right proportions, the right wall structures, the right internal
sound reflection patterns, acoustics and the right optics to support the
requisite ultra-high end experience. The room proportions and materials were
optimized for standing wave patterns with best distribution over the frequency
range of 20 Hz to 150 Hz. A wall and ceiling construction system was designed for
an overall STC of 65 or better. The speaker and seating locations were
optimized for best frequency response and soundstage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A carefully engineered
combination of Wisdom Audio front speakers, Triad bipole surround speakers, and
ProAudio Technologies subwoofers produce clean and dynamic sound pressures. The
audio package includes a Crestron Procise PSP-HD surround decoder, Ashly
NE24.24 digital audio processor, and a full complement of LabGruppen
studio-grade amplifiers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The entire house is driven
though Crestron for lighting, climate, security, and of course AV control. So
it was only natural to also automate and outfit the cinema with Creston gear. All
switching is conducted through substantial Crestron DM matrix units for
flexibility of program sources. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A large Screen-Research woven
acoustically-transparent screen was selected for its optimal picture and sound
qualities, with PMI 2.0 4-way masking variable aspect ratio, and viewing angle
adjustments. The Clearpix2 surface offers an acoustical transparency that is
less than 1 dB attenuation across the entire range from 20 Hz to 10 kHz, and is
barely 2 dB down at 16 kHz, so it behaves like a speaker grille cloth. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The video performance is also
excellent, fully resolving the interpixel area of a DLP 1080x1920 projector,
which corresponds to a resolution that is 10 times higher than what HD video
requires. The Digital Projection Titan projector includes multiple lens zoom
and focus pre-sets programmed for several aspect ratios including 2.35, 1.78,
1.33, in both high-definition and standard-definition viewing angles. All of
this is automated through a Creston intelligent remote control system to help
the client pick the best picture option for each movie with ease of use. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A full complement of MSR
Dimension4 Sonata acoustical tuning modules including thick and deep absorbers,
2D and 3D diffusers, and bass traps, etc was engineered for the proper target
reflection decay time of 0.3 seconds, and concealed behind a deep stretched fabric
wall decorative scheme. We chose all dark and neutral fabric colors to ensure
best picture quality and contrast ratios. The lighting in the room is chosen
for proximity to D65 color range. A set of tight-beam LEDS are over the seats
to illuminate them with adjustable low level in case the client wants to
preserve some visibility of drinks, remote controls, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lighting scheme included
the obligatory sconces and step lights, along with a set of tight-beam lights
over the seating to illuminate them at low level without any spill onto the
screen. The sconces were selected for both style fit and absence of rattles in
conditions of loud bass sound pressure levels. Although this was designed as a
dedicated 9.4 theater with multichannel sound, the 2-channel stereo performance
of the aesthetically integrated speakers is absolutely stunning, and the four
subwoofers crank up to 118 dB of clean bass with barely any variation from seat
to seat. Imaging is deep and clear, and the sound stage clearly extends well
beyond the Left and Right speakers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0wtliCnav1TEz1tUczIk-n8y_MhMRpZ-HancjG4-AhbZYj7ntQTrxbAPPe3Yw09MeGASGXgOjt-tfmfvZmUo3-wBrathk3O768JZZi5Do4KW_CWGmCVwdGPTwWLCbNDncIdLELT_2ebu/s1600/2015-04-26+09.38.03_ADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0wtliCnav1TEz1tUczIk-n8y_MhMRpZ-HancjG4-AhbZYj7ntQTrxbAPPe3Yw09MeGASGXgOjt-tfmfvZmUo3-wBrathk3O768JZZi5Do4KW_CWGmCVwdGPTwWLCbNDncIdLELT_2ebu/s400/2015-04-26+09.38.03_ADJ.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since the room is
sound-isolated, an audible alarm annunciator was installed in case of
emergencies. The automation system relays emergency conditions to the room as
detected through the whole house Crestron system. The ventilation system is
integrated through ducting, soffits, and plenums to keep the noise down to
NC15. The supply is two long rattle-proofed vertical diffusers flanking the
screen, and the return is a plenum silencer scheme built under the seating
platform.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The final touch was to
perform a thorough commissioning and calibration of the audio and video. No
automated process </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">could be allowed for this
meticulous project! We implemented speaker control externally using the Ashly
8x16 digital audio processor. Settings in the surround decoder are all zeroed
out; all delay and level settings are instead implemented in the Ashly EQ. This
way, a change of decoder later is just an easy drop-in replacement, after
enabling bass management. Any future replacement of the Ashly EQ would simply
require a reload the configuration and settings program. We verified impedance
and rub/buzz and distortion of the speakers. We initially found a few issues,
and these were corrected after a factory replacement. The Ashly processing unit
also ran the Wisdom Audio bi-amplified speaker crossovers and full room
correction equalizations.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The final result is truly a
marvel of premier picture and sound quality. The client’s comment after
watching <i>Flight of the </i></span></span><i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Phoenix</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on
opening night was “I loved it; I had to hold my breath through most of the
movie!” Note that the client is a fully licensed IFR private jet airplane
pilot, so the choice of movie was ironic!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YZFzDXpm_lgKq2utZb0wu8ogOp99WsjlxNdfM3IWYVLxlcJcFLO5hrUA-BAwMim4rllVQ6ZEy24w9dS_m1LZKLEkR5xn-C3APjutP8XzjeJfA4bRKRGow_evA8zSy_rm0yjUaNCvyOx2/s1600/2015-04-26+09.24.16_ADJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YZFzDXpm_lgKq2utZb0wu8ogOp99WsjlxNdfM3IWYVLxlcJcFLO5hrUA-BAwMim4rllVQ6ZEy24w9dS_m1LZKLEkR5xn-C3APjutP8XzjeJfA4bRKRGow_evA8zSy_rm0yjUaNCvyOx2/s640/2015-04-26+09.24.16_ADJ.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-49449174624158202172015-09-21T18:46:00.003-07:002015-09-21T18:59:07.528-07:00Tips for Optimizing Your Listening Room for the Best Audio Experience<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out this video of Anthony Grimani's seminar from this year's T.H.E. Show!</span><br />
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1bbmWd00HYM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1bbmWd00HYM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-90224707731373395472014-06-26T14:16:00.000-07:002014-08-22T14:51:50.854-07:00Evangelizing the Audiophiles<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anthony
Grimani was invited to speak to the <a href="http://sdmag.org/" target="_blank">San Diego Music and Audio Guild</a> on the
importance of acoustics for listening rooms and home theaters; more than 50
audio hobbyists attended. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In a thank-you note, Guild organizers B. Jan Montana
and Jim Lindstrom said, “Your presentation was entertaining, logical,
progressive and comprehensible by neophytes. It removed all doubts about the
importance of acoustics. We’ve been advocating room treatment and EQ for years,
but they keep wasting money on wires and turntable stands, rather than dealing
with the real problems. You've brought God's honest truth home to them. You're
doing more for accurate sound reproduction than any audio magazine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWtmnHQC0xDbpJ8NxYIU3fbV72V6wFUbfPje2lL_OZtooEcry2Nu630j69CMIAhruzjXAR-y6uWpx3Ha3InDWQe0JS9cyfGtHe__neJZzAWBYJGpfYQUjyL8YObcgCjAMsrOjk6ZcMm6l/s1600/SDAudiophileSociety_DSCF0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWtmnHQC0xDbpJ8NxYIU3fbV72V6wFUbfPje2lL_OZtooEcry2Nu630j69CMIAhruzjXAR-y6uWpx3Ha3InDWQe0JS9cyfGtHe__neJZzAWBYJGpfYQUjyL8YObcgCjAMsrOjk6ZcMm6l/s1600/SDAudiophileSociety_DSCF0456.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-74979853186511166752014-06-10T14:39:00.000-07:002014-08-22T14:54:11.203-07:00On the Road Again - China Dealer & Press Tour<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Working
on another great project with Karl Mautner and <a href="http://www.integr8.com.cn/main.html" target="_blank">Integr8 in China</a>, Anthony
Grimani flew to Shanghai to do the final calibration on a world-class home
theater. The home </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">is marvelously appointed with the finest materials. Located
next to an indoor lap pool, the theater is a fusion of classical and Chinese
design form, and is dressed with Cine-Living fabrics. The Triad Cinema Plus
speaker package is driven by a set of Theta Dreadnought amps, all controlled by
AMX. The system includes a 16 channel Ashly digital audio processor to
fine-tune the nine speakers and 12 subwoofers. An awesome dual-stacked Runco
D-113d projector lights up the 180” wide 2.39 screen. Wow! World class!</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn9U1xI5oqvm1RQSLuxmXd1wdqFVVCQt66noOrzG1Rv2IwzjE_lbDPNLcTgKojvvCIIg2dR_7J8e3Edl6W7Znr08WAy24_73z6X1u9qeqL-dnapwHDHi7RR_zOZw6h-_7438yHALpPmQm/s1600/shanghai+world+class+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn9U1xI5oqvm1RQSLuxmXd1wdqFVVCQt66noOrzG1Rv2IwzjE_lbDPNLcTgKojvvCIIg2dR_7J8e3Edl6W7Znr08WAy24_73z6X1u9qeqL-dnapwHDHi7RR_zOZw6h-_7438yHALpPmQm/s1600/shanghai+world+class+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwR4gmc-DIhHyIp6UbCGQjwomNNC_EkFJByDBbNkAXUUUmeFspJ8cuwaikRjkE3Uq4Hh7hCk32vE47a0DtnASyznSiMd-7NExuEjF9DUHjKHF9FBj1DJA4NsyCRL7mj8yeIzrcHndai3u/s1600/shanghai+world+class+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwR4gmc-DIhHyIp6UbCGQjwomNNC_EkFJByDBbNkAXUUUmeFspJ8cuwaikRjkE3Uq4Hh7hCk32vE47a0DtnASyznSiMd-7NExuEjF9DUHjKHF9FBj1DJA4NsyCRL7mj8yeIzrcHndai3u/s1600/shanghai+world+class+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While
in China, Tony also met with several AV technology, design
and architecture press, including <em>Insider</em> and <em>LP</em> - click
the links below to see these articles.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn9a5HdOBxsIRKsOu2mFJShgT-wp0LM4QPB_Dt4Iaf1mm8LlPQXFwNxlu1jNQYSnkqwJs-0mzZ0Z4heUx5OkBFZVol8_XcmSjOWQfbPZTTa4mK6x8ZAsTE5JieTqFdOcuASekQmLgddDi/s1600/_DSC6765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn9a5HdOBxsIRKsOu2mFJShgT-wp0LM4QPB_Dt4Iaf1mm8LlPQXFwNxlu1jNQYSnkqwJs-0mzZ0Z4heUx5OkBFZVol8_XcmSjOWQfbPZTTa4mK6x8ZAsTE5JieTqFdOcuASekQmLgddDi/s1600/_DSC6765.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.evolife.cn/html/2014/75365.html" target="_blank">http://www.evolife.cn/html/2014/75365.html</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://dh.yesky.com/hometheater/336/35896836.shtml#top" target="_blank">http://dh.yesky.com/hometheater/336/35896836.shtml#top</a></span>Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-91048724685019691332014-05-28T12:02:00.000-07:002014-08-22T14:51:02.678-07:00Grimani Trainings in Europe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anthony Grimani was on
the road this month, training distributors, integrators and commercial contractors
in Denmark, Sweden and the UK on Acoustical Tuning Techniques for home theater, featuring MSR's Dimension4 line of acoustical tuning modules. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More
than 100 enthusiastic trainees attended sessions hosted by HTP in Copenhagen, Elektronik in Stockholm, and Anthem AV in East Sussex, England. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6xUdf2PwhzmbLAilWI_ZKdK9FVTuYsByOQlD5ZogoyW8x6ugG-HenDQF2gmHDycgYUw9ur6ANaD2atC7RNwryrev6sOPUkqTuvDzDmeIaWoXg8s7lyaibnU3wZO-PW32KwZ7q6w3zUzZ/s1600/140513_TomGarretts+tweet-UK+training.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6xUdf2PwhzmbLAilWI_ZKdK9FVTuYsByOQlD5ZogoyW8x6ugG-HenDQF2gmHDycgYUw9ur6ANaD2atC7RNwryrev6sOPUkqTuvDzDmeIaWoXg8s7lyaibnU3wZO-PW32KwZ7q6w3zUzZ/s1600/140513_TomGarretts+tweet-UK+training.png" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">According to Tony, "Both groups had
lots of great questions and many stayed long after the training to soak
up as much knowledge as they could. They were even tweeting what they learned after the session!"</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQURNQTxMtYAxjv3tSFbWhXK8VHnMLFjF_Tdbqcq2lkG-_zObhc4DlPSR113Q2Hs5HJ0uww5CbyHy2ybowGKLyIMcOapP5YEN0GzghO43H9RtM533AspmCL9xCm__p9eER4eJGNKLLQli/s1600/140513_VanessaBradys+tweet+UK+training.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQURNQTxMtYAxjv3tSFbWhXK8VHnMLFjF_Tdbqcq2lkG-_zObhc4DlPSR113Q2Hs5HJ0uww5CbyHy2ybowGKLyIMcOapP5YEN0GzghO43H9RtM533AspmCL9xCm__p9eER4eJGNKLLQli/s1600/140513_VanessaBradys+tweet+UK+training.png" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-46010071933561640102014-02-13T10:12:00.000-08:002014-03-28T10:34:13.593-07:00KTVU: Taming a Noisy Newsroom<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">KTVU
in Northern California recently implemented a remodel of its newsroom,
going from a closed office space to an open environment. While this kind
of space is more collaborative, it can also be pretty noisy as the
sounds of each department blast through the air and bounce off the
walls, floors and ceilings. In this space, loud police scanners, raging
phones, and live broadcast monitors created a noise level that
negatively impacted working staff's concentration.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
enough was enough, Jim Haman, KTVU's director of broadcast operations,
contacted MSR's engineering division, PMI, to see what could be done. "We're
certainly familiar with acoustic baffling in studios and announce
booths, but within a larger room with multiple sources of sounds, it was
more complicated to find a single solution," explained
Haman. "Scanners, audio from computers and overall room noise was
combining to a level that was affecting individuals and their tolerance
of 'noise.' Short of installing Sonex squares on all the walls, we
didn't know the best way to isolate the sounds and then damp the room
effectively."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PMI ran a series of acoustical tests, and created a set of remediation steps including:</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Application
of MSR Acoustics' SoN absorber modules on the walls and ceiling to soak
up the excessive echoing (modules were spec'd in grey to match KTVU's
logo)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Custom
engineering a series of directional loudspeakers for the police
scanners so that they focus sound toward the news gathering team, and
away from the rest of the news departments</span></span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.260" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/260.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As
soon as the acoustical tuning solutions were installed, the newsroom
was significantly quieted, allowing everyone to better focus on their
work. Note to architects, interior designers, contractors and
installers: If you're designing open-floor spaces you are most certainly
going to run into acoustical issues - call us first to save time and
frustration - we are experts and we can help!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <img border="0" height="298" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.261" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/261.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /> <img border="0" height="299" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.262" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/262.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /> </span></div>
</div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-61346909903744405532014-01-14T10:20:00.000-08:002014-03-28T10:30:19.038-07:00High Performance Installations: Self Storage Listening Room<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our
client has a large self-storage unit for his collection of classic cars
and wanted to add a top-of-the-line 2-channel audiophile environment to
the space. The storage space is approximately the size of a small
airplane hangar, and is located next to the Monterey Regional airport
that services major 737 carriers. As you can imagine, jet noise and
audiophile music could have been a combustible combination. PMI
Engineering was hired to design a complete sound-proofed room, and MSR
supplied specialty sound isolation materials along with a Dimension4
Symphony acoustical tuning system. The end result was music to the
client's ears!</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.257" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/257.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC2j4tzKfvSSl7_1G5o13OD7X5vQtF__9LwCkGlgDp5rdCNIuy3c8TxLEEzs7kioEacxdlXi_iqrXWxJSCutHR5FXr2au_Cwh_gvZxTEJoIoCC5rNzMAtgJE6fabnebNR0Kh4NihV7mwy/s1600/pmi_Steel-pix_800pxw1486600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC2j4tzKfvSSl7_1G5o13OD7X5vQtF__9LwCkGlgDp5rdCNIuy3c8TxLEEzs7kioEacxdlXi_iqrXWxJSCutHR5FXr2au_Cwh_gvZxTEJoIoCC5rNzMAtgJE6fabnebNR0Kh4NihV7mwy/s1600/pmi_Steel-pix_800pxw1486600.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrCx5zkh-043Aymvb8lKGy9I8BAHGSRKE_t6_8Je_Tx4gpJoGfuXb3jfuUoV9hPvxF-sN7LaNGZHJklrigHZKV3sv-io7Mm0nwVPNiHqnt42GKq1mdw0LJiLWsqBlMNxtEWXJipfN7lXz/s1600/pmi_Steel-pix_800pxw_1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrCx5zkh-043Aymvb8lKGy9I8BAHGSRKE_t6_8Je_Tx4gpJoGfuXb3jfuUoV9hPvxF-sN7LaNGZHJklrigHZKV3sv-io7Mm0nwVPNiHqnt42GKq1mdw0LJiLWsqBlMNxtEWXJipfN7lXz/s1600/pmi_Steel-pix_800pxw_1495.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more info on MSR's innovative acoustical solutions, please <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001b8tO3T1mnQFLI6QIAbxk8IOoJR60b8huUxKzKtRbZGpOcYGSX4_s-0hsGJmDyRVZ6VRJlT291-QsqOtpEwrcB5sVn6a499_0dayguterQIo=" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">visit our website</a>.</span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-4181480509977214522014-01-10T10:31:00.000-08:002014-03-28T10:33:04.962-07:00MSR Acoustics at 2014 International CES<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">At the 2014 International CES we participated in the Elite Home Entertainment Experience, lauded as an "over-the-top, killer home theater demo experience" by reporter John Sciacca from<i> Residential System</i>s magazine! </span></span></span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MSR supplied a Dimension4 Symphony 550 acoustical tuning system to control the room's internal acoustics. PMI engineered the room acoustics, optics, room and audio system layout, and screen specifications. In a matter of a day and half, our group created a world-class private screening room inside a basic ballroom of the Venetian congress area. <br />
</span></span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="217" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.253" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/253.jpg" vspace="5" width="469" /> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In partnership with the fine people from Triad Speakers, ADA, BitWise, Digital Projections, Screen Excellence, D-BOX, Fortress, Kaleidescape, PPC, and Torus Power, we set up the speakers, lighting, video, programming, source material, etc. Great picture, great sound, motion seats, easily controlled; a dream come true for any discerning AV client.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We ran demos every 15 minutes and people were lined up to get in. Although we were located on the lower level of the Venetian (which is not usually well- traveled), the demo was so popular people came from all over to experience it! </span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="273" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.254" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/254.jpg" vspace="5" width="469" /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more information on MSR acoustical tuning solutions, please <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001b8tO3T1mnQFLI6QIAbxk8IOoJR60b8huUxKzKtRbZGpOcYGSX4_s-0hsGJmDyRVZ6VRJlT291-TBGq7IBnlqTFYuE6aUIxEosbXuihJUdnHbM4gYkFepVfHs4pGCW0u4qXB3VrXV-A8=" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">visit our website</a>. </span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-14240942835797134352013-11-29T10:28:00.000-08:002014-03-28T10:33:51.914-07:00High Performance Installations: San Jose Audiophiles<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An
audiophile family dedicated the living room of their single-family
home in San Jose, California to the pursuit of high-quality sound and
picture. They had already purchased top-of-the-line electronics and
loudspeakers, and after attending a presentation by Anthony Grimani at
Century Stereo last fall, decided it was time to upgrade the acoustics
of their listening room. Anthony measured the space, ran acoustical
tests on the room, and determined the needed corrections and upgrades.
MSR supplied an acoustical tuning system mainly composed of Dimension4
Symphony modules and coordinated the installation.
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This
is one of the first installation of MSR's new Eclypse Drape - it has
the look of a rich velour fabric, but is actually
acoustically-transparent fabric on top of blackout vinyl with thick
strips of flannel absorptive material. This drape provides the correct
balance of absorption and diffusion, while avoiding the common effect of
a solid drape over-absorbing a room.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span><a href="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.258" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/258.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PMI Engineering dispatched chief engineer, Manny LaCarrubba, to calibrate
the electronics and loudspeakers in the room. Manny used the digital
equalization functions inside the Classé ultra-high-end surround
processor to tune the speaker responses to the room's character. After
extensive listening tests to 2-channel and multi-channel audio and film
program material, the clients were pleased as punch and gave great
kudos to MSR's acoustical tuning systems!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.256" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1103559742801/img/256.jpg" vspace="5" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more info on MSR's innovative acoustical solutions, please <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001b8tO3T1mnQFLI6QIAbxk8IOoJR60b8huUxKzKtRbZGpOcYGSX4_s-0hsGJmDyRVZ6VRJlT291-QsqOtpEwrcB5sVn6a499_0dayguterQIo=" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">visit our website</a>.</span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-50972481118653755272013-10-17T09:58:00.000-07:002014-03-28T10:17:53.020-07:00PMI and Audio Images Sweep CEDIA's 2013 Electronic Lifestyle Awards<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PMI and integrator Audio Images won five of the top awards for Home Theater Technical Design excellence at this year’s CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® Awards, more than any other company in this year’s Home Theater category!</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Winning the <b>Best Overall Home Theater</b> and a <b>Gold Technical Design</b> award (in the $1M & up category) was an opulent theater that is part of a drop-dead gorgeous entertainment wing of an extravagant estate in Irvine, California. In addition to a state-of-the-art home theater, the entertainment wing includes a pizzeria, nightclub, and vintage arcade. A monumental project like this needed an equally monumental team which included TK Theaters (designer) and SH Acoustics (engineering design). This project was also featured on HGTV’s “Million Dollar Rooms” where Theo Kalomirakis gave a personal tour of this amazing space.<a href="http://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2013/08/cinema-paradiso.html"><u> Click to read</u></a> the full story on this project. <a href="http://theosroundtable.com/features/watch-theo-on-hgtvs-million-dollar-rooms-featuring-the-paradiso-theater/" target="_blank"><u>Click here</u></a> to see the HGTV video.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3JzMYxYw23o-I4SFbSGSzvvKpfACE2Yq-bWdVUwJN-aYEXZ0SqFnXyD1FHbNF7h3ReJGCCkYcimR7ghbYzA3phVAVnicZWPhcHlGC-woS7CuuwSRPb6AXq8r30NuOvH4znpbwPJN_nJY/s1600/tsubota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3JzMYxYw23o-I4SFbSGSzvvKpfACE2Yq-bWdVUwJN-aYEXZ0SqFnXyD1FHbNF7h3ReJGCCkYcimR7ghbYzA3phVAVnicZWPhcHlGC-woS7CuuwSRPb6AXq8r30NuOvH4znpbwPJN_nJY/s400/tsubota.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Winning a <b>Gold Technical Design</b> award (in the $251-350k category) was a refined high-quality Orange County, California, dedicated home cinema features full-on sound isolation, carefully engineered AV, acoustics, ventilation and noise control, along with an interior style that matches a modern-whimsical interior décor in the rest of the artistically conceived house. The homeowner is a fan of high-quality products, but couldn’t tolerate any level of product failure or control system uncertainties, so the project had to yield a dedicated home cinema room with high quality sound and picture, proper sound privacy, carefully crafted esthetics standards, and ease of use. <a href="http://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2013/09/whimsical-showcase-cinema.html" target="_blank"><u>Click to read</u></a> the full story.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive7nPxVgS_E_X3w8CSJ9UW8Iz90kqew002SFC4v-I7Cxz9nRklDOF2u6nOAfm4LnBLsq9eAvLjF1wu7_nczTHpkgD31aHYmZEDn8hw9YFCaj0MMNwvSwDh-unB3gL8U-9PkWDBHZvwyEw/s1600/hsu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive7nPxVgS_E_X3w8CSJ9UW8Iz90kqew002SFC4v-I7Cxz9nRklDOF2u6nOAfm4LnBLsq9eAvLjF1wu7_nczTHpkgD31aHYmZEDn8hw9YFCaj0MMNwvSwDh-unB3gL8U-9PkWDBHZvwyEw/s400/hsu.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A <b>Gold Technical Design</b> award (in the $151-250k category) was given to a project where the main objectives were to create a 10-seat home cinema with outstanding picture and sound, privacy from the main living spaces of the residence, and a design style that flowed naturally into the rest of the home. The client wanted the basement cinema in their new custom beachfront home in Dana Point, California to follow the traditional architectural look of the house. It had to retain the classical decor while being comfortable and delivering high performance quality. <a href="http://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2013/09/beachfront-basement-theater.html" target="_blank"><u>Click to read</u></a> the full story. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc3czeBBr1YLA_vcRlAQdFpeEpG39Q0rcPTCQAnZrtNiDF854FPY_rX-TO-iSq77QcbtXCORrCh6xgnfMFUJKsZIG3uQ-gVxNTrlGmT-o_g4FoewcDv157Jvj-TE2ipEwW0n7M-95hYUg/s1600/jafari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc3czeBBr1YLA_vcRlAQdFpeEpG39Q0rcPTCQAnZrtNiDF854FPY_rX-TO-iSq77QcbtXCORrCh6xgnfMFUJKsZIG3uQ-gVxNTrlGmT-o_g4FoewcDv157Jvj-TE2ipEwW0n7M-95hYUg/s400/jafari.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rounding out our winning streak was a <b>Silver Technical Design</b> award (in the $151-250k category) for a high-quality home theater on a waterfront property in Newport Beach, California. This client wanted a dedicated theater that could open up into the rest of the house for a variety of entertaining options. We created full sound isolation while using a side archway to open up the room to the rest of the house. <a href="http://avspaces-grimani.blogspot.com/2013/10/versatile-cinema-with-full-sound.html" target="_blank">Click to read the full story</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm5FAElNVKDpPfapHGSTzU-wAl5EU_czQHJfuwYGJ2R5-t2r4G2q8KjvASWBzp2FNO410j_R3G9bJz-0K6BMd3LC0FJGx_k6fLgIs9d-Q-nyaTdCIbdEYusR7Ejlq4MvNlj7iYdFxxzv9/s1600/higby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm5FAElNVKDpPfapHGSTzU-wAl5EU_czQHJfuwYGJ2R5-t2r4G2q8KjvASWBzp2FNO410j_R3G9bJz-0K6BMd3LC0FJGx_k6fLgIs9d-Q-nyaTdCIbdEYusR7Ejlq4MvNlj7iYdFxxzv9/s400/higby.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Congratulations to <a href="http://audioimages.tv/" target="_blank">Audio Images</a> and all of our partners and vendors who worked on these extraordinary projects. We are thrilled and honored to be part of these winning teams!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cedia.net/awards/#theater" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see the complete CEDIA award list. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>For more info and photos on PMI portfolio projects, please <a href="http://pmiltd.com/" target="_blank">visit our website</a>.</i></span></span></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-18571605377508568432013-10-02T14:50:00.000-07:002013-10-17T13:43:40.943-07:00Versatile Cinema with Full Sound Isolation<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With this Newport Beach, California project, the client wanted a dedicated home theater that could open up into the rest of the house for a variety of entertaining options. They wanted a rustic look to match the rest of the entertainment area of their waterfront property, evoking a comfortable feeling with a soft, light décor. </span>In the lifestyle uses of the room, sometimes it would be open for entertaining and sometimes it would be closed down for private screenings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A large opening with sliding door was a huge challenge for the sound isolation and the acoustical reflections in this room. A door system was designed with acoustic absorbers built into the panels and seals all around the frames. The room had limited height so the sight lines had to be very carefully studied. A layer of resiliently suspended sheet rock was added to the concrete structure in order to reduce standing wave resonances. Structural posts in the right concrete wall were enclosed in resilient wall structures and concealed behind the stretched fabric dress.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj9TnaIhO1XEa37EZ3P9cqWrYjua215vHJebK_wBvu6sUZoku2496wlTQ5XDUetzNnWIH0QjO8GAlGqEmCpySjFFFRCzCVwCOEi4xOTradYs5Xw2PnYOcvdhNXgjos5eUFtauh5rg4uYM/s1600/higby_600pxw_547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj9TnaIhO1XEa37EZ3P9cqWrYjua215vHJebK_wBvu6sUZoku2496wlTQ5XDUetzNnWIH0QjO8GAlGqEmCpySjFFFRCzCVwCOEi4xOTradYs5Xw2PnYOcvdhNXgjos5eUFtauh5rg4uYM/s320/higby_600pxw_547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G2zXCb4peUWIrEQ6wd-TVldDFtPzbdzeXs1lh-qzXa-R96pdxNqs-4L6PiP4uWsPY5QOlZWctJkGUVAKw3WncK4igezW7JlC9SrCqBf23RCAUBcgqfvmzfY9naGGchzqr78VHEIWrbO9/s1600/higby_600pxw_057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5G2zXCb4peUWIrEQ6wd-TVldDFtPzbdzeXs1lh-qzXa-R96pdxNqs-4L6PiP4uWsPY5QOlZWctJkGUVAKw3WncK4igezW7JlC9SrCqBf23RCAUBcgqfvmzfY9naGGchzqr78VHEIWrbO9/s400/higby_600pxw_057.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We installed a 110” wide 16:9 acoustically-transparent screen, along with a high definition projector. High-quality Triad front speakers were baffle-mounted and the center speaker was behind the AT screen. A system of four custom Triad subwoofers are distributed through the room in a way that eliminates standing waves. Four side surround speakers and two back surround speakers were deployed at strategic locations to guarantee optimal audience immersion. This full 7.1 channel system was tuned with a digital equalization processor.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJy3PAdvu2qFPHuhyphenhyphenIVLXfSAOGTzfLuANGk03DoZ0TODaTq697hSyc5LzHEOaAPneIqUotxR-PPrO_y8sxQtE5JCx4JDx1tvn1Ew4-teUvZPrcxK52ceLUIYWuyLDrywPGPB0j7MqPnfB/s1600/higby_600pxw_552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJy3PAdvu2qFPHuhyphenhyphenIVLXfSAOGTzfLuANGk03DoZ0TODaTq697hSyc5LzHEOaAPneIqUotxR-PPrO_y8sxQtE5JCx4JDx1tvn1Ew4-teUvZPrcxK52ceLUIYWuyLDrywPGPB0j7MqPnfB/s320/higby_600pxw_552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkacV8xXL3-sqidToJtYUm6b9wjT3DpBRFFgjidcBreZnddaO-mRHpbMEZZgIpHfn2MfulFGPaBwICdTDXvw-HV7g7_fKgIGvkXdQQlqc665s_rD23IWJPjHK0qk8sNhpTmOiFrhFhd2HN/s1600/higby_600pxw_047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkacV8xXL3-sqidToJtYUm6b9wjT3DpBRFFgjidcBreZnddaO-mRHpbMEZZgIpHfn2MfulFGPaBwICdTDXvw-HV7g7_fKgIGvkXdQQlqc665s_rD23IWJPjHK0qk8sNhpTmOiFrhFhd2HN/s400/higby_600pxw_047.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Acoustical tuning package includes deep absorber and diffuser modules, bass traps, and ceiling treatment units. The top of the wood riser was custom perforated so as to form the Helmholtz bass absorber. All were carefully engineered and placed following latest findings from research into psychoacoustics. Equipment racks were concealed in a dedicated room down the hallway.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8w4hGaU9LtKay9gxE6pXPbeEGe9LSiyj071_M-mKSzKoKI_4o2ffcC2wzk81M_MJho0FwynU-HtW0NsSEPJANpkRuDnCpHgwl_u50miYVpthzMLInuTknAEP92qKOdK_JZMXAp-ZkQK9/s1600/higby_600pxw_050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8w4hGaU9LtKay9gxE6pXPbeEGe9LSiyj071_M-mKSzKoKI_4o2ffcC2wzk81M_MJho0FwynU-HtW0NsSEPJANpkRuDnCpHgwl_u50miYVpthzMLInuTknAEP92qKOdK_JZMXAp-ZkQK9/s400/higby_600pxw_050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ultimately, this project met all of the client's needs and desires, delivering a versatile, high-quality presentation, in a comfy environment. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 7.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9yiri9mGUsTC75Vpx69mdWS_QgSAitCONwMkmNglg43Tygw5K9rAe6_LtbAGFSwd57CjKIA6yH_DXFW7R91JOOfPaWnn5wm_i7czKU49mZbNcfPr_nwRrd0oGH48uJf2zy9pslagrs_-/s1600/higby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9yiri9mGUsTC75Vpx69mdWS_QgSAitCONwMkmNglg43Tygw5K9rAe6_LtbAGFSwd57CjKIA6yH_DXFW7R91JOOfPaWnn5wm_i7czKU49mZbNcfPr_nwRrd0oGH48uJf2zy9pslagrs_-/s640/higby.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: right 7.0in;">
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-29341360312304604642013-09-27T14:54:00.000-07:002013-11-13T15:15:58.615-08:00Delivering Ultra-High Definition<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a jewel box dedicated theater in an ultra-modern home. Sleek décor and lighting with comfortable seating. The objective was to give a really small room the feeling of a big-sound, big-picture screening room, with high-quality styling and equipment. The clients wanted a sleek and elegant look to match the luxurious aesthetic of rest of their modern home, with high-end architectural values. They wanted a room with a warm vibe, with styling that departed from the traditional theater with columns and proscenium.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW0QVACd4_OuKfo_lKu62S5hkLPoFYXtNufYWE3yETpofupME0vrY-v3dRH0LGKQuY17usJSf1wA7JfOLpOdildQukpNiW3E8Sax3XmhoM7e125ojrjpti89UKuYeCd-BplcdJRFBbGzc/s1600/120102_Joy_pixforblog__3318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW0QVACd4_OuKfo_lKu62S5hkLPoFYXtNufYWE3yETpofupME0vrY-v3dRH0LGKQuY17usJSf1wA7JfOLpOdildQukpNiW3E8Sax3XmhoM7e125ojrjpti89UKuYeCd-BplcdJRFBbGzc/s320/120102_Joy_pixforblog__3318.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnXrpbApRHny-P2lNQpPVhkE-ypi6cWrzZID7Bve4d4SHHsOhrLOyA1v7RJdwkxx-F-9pWV-cUIDa7mx0eASsG3hy2NUyhUO1Ek_yumH6h9jHaYR4eVA-fhHPG8ot_li-NC__Lwd75x8J/s1600/120102_Joy_pixforblog_DSCN0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnXrpbApRHny-P2lNQpPVhkE-ypi6cWrzZID7Bve4d4SHHsOhrLOyA1v7RJdwkxx-F-9pWV-cUIDa7mx0eASsG3hy2NUyhUO1Ek_yumH6h9jHaYR4eVA-fhHPG8ot_li-NC__Lwd75x8J/s320/120102_Joy_pixforblog_DSCN0215.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The left wall door was at a critical acoustical location and we placed an absorber panel on it. The entire back wall was originally hard wood cabinetry, so we cut out some of the doors and installed fabric panels, both to conceal wideband absorbers and to take advantage of diffusion from inside the cabinets which contained shelving, CDs, gear, etc.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVCeiA6vsYYA0dkJp0qsZsprr7CsKBrsA6UKK0UlP8HZteSO35nCv05kVNkc9BV0VZP1_e64bkMcRsVAvjc7kzDj4rA5y4CNShghpp2QAS1gAnVHQ9LWLPM0AOAf6JYgGgPf1J1T7opFt/s1600/Joy_webrez_extra2_cabinets.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVCeiA6vsYYA0dkJp0qsZsprr7CsKBrsA6UKK0UlP8HZteSO35nCv05kVNkc9BV0VZP1_e64bkMcRsVAvjc7kzDj4rA5y4CNShghpp2QAS1gAnVHQ9LWLPM0AOAf6JYgGgPf1J1T7opFt/s320/Joy_webrez_extra2_cabinets.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMnm-0NtPqBzJe85YOFnUhCsBX3WfYGcV_nF1SUmuV43XkgNzPrAPbHpzJOJoeICxiH4VR7d-rWVhKcLZokiCnRAaTk2q1na1xnxGmZ4IhxyVxY30ESWa6wGrOnAQpxkGXrcJap23giP7/s1600/120102_Joy_pixforblog_DSCN0178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMnm-0NtPqBzJe85YOFnUhCsBX3WfYGcV_nF1SUmuV43XkgNzPrAPbHpzJOJoeICxiH4VR7d-rWVhKcLZokiCnRAaTk2q1na1xnxGmZ4IhxyVxY30ESWa6wGrOnAQpxkGXrcJap23giP7/s320/120102_Joy_pixforblog_DSCN0178.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We specified a 153” PMI 2.0 acoustically-transparent screen with 2:1 aspect ratio, along with a 4k projector. All three top-of-the-line Meridian speakers were placed behind the screen at reference angles. A system of four JL Audio subwoofers are distributed throughout the room in a way that eliminates standing waves. We installed a full Meridian digital 7.1 channel system with HDMI switching, and using digital equalization in the Meridian processor. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GTCdghXuNnmXmNRbxXt2tqWz-tl6SeBGL3cwKLJQX5FsLuGTfElQEzPAT-RkJQedMeAK7x9gF3O8LoaKBPBGCEAcpnIqdsS5xvqLk0-vWi63xn-ULiF4yF4_qBdnk7OzzK7xu5SUc4Lo/s1600/Joy_webrez_1_front+view-proscenium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GTCdghXuNnmXmNRbxXt2tqWz-tl6SeBGL3cwKLJQX5FsLuGTfElQEzPAT-RkJQedMeAK7x9gF3O8LoaKBPBGCEAcpnIqdsS5xvqLk0-vWi63xn-ULiF4yF4_qBdnk7OzzK7xu5SUc4Lo/s320/Joy_webrez_1_front+view-proscenium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVLPPisPeHhIgMmupZgZymnQ2TkOfSblC78xzpMrErjwG04BSucxIu-DdGKHgfLUWi-F1pshKittL_juDhwyX31JVPb6mAmTVfBjKb1_GL_53VF0LYHEkX0ziTV3C5655LiFvletlt8RK/s1600/Joy_webrez_speaker.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVLPPisPeHhIgMmupZgZymnQ2TkOfSblC78xzpMrErjwG04BSucxIu-DdGKHgfLUWi-F1pshKittL_juDhwyX31JVPb6mAmTVfBjKb1_GL_53VF0LYHEkX0ziTV3C5655LiFvletlt8RK/s320/Joy_webrez_speaker.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The acoustical tuning package includes Dimension4 Sonata absorber and diffuser modules, bass traps, and ceiling treatment units. All were carefully engineered and placed following latest findings from research into psychoacoustics. Equipment racks were concealed down the hallway.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dvAX4RKdmrkw2ViozmFHO9UvkZRa5zFcupDXwA4X1Hca5e9CGsM19p-yAYctwtCp8krBAiKsLBCgBhyphenhyphenUyWXATXJDBrcuxl2FyP6EEtOYBucWeuSjT8wNeNRakcZafa3cIKDR9XnCrHUt/s1600/JOY_planset_foldout+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dvAX4RKdmrkw2ViozmFHO9UvkZRa5zFcupDXwA4X1Hca5e9CGsM19p-yAYctwtCp8krBAiKsLBCgBhyphenhyphenUyWXATXJDBrcuxl2FyP6EEtOYBucWeuSjT8wNeNRakcZafa3cIKDR9XnCrHUt/s400/JOY_planset_foldout+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGoVbpIy2BlaWKXaFgESYUt2QcyXqH_cRLJYCfz2rKf0rIZ7VoS65lj1KMIsEIDxTWsZfjswj8b-Hbla2UeuaNnL-rdZu_9oAafKu9jDbJNcDW_JrQuPktuCiyijxxmjDP5Y2Sm8Rh3hS/s1600/joy_planset_acoustLayout-rightwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGoVbpIy2BlaWKXaFgESYUt2QcyXqH_cRLJYCfz2rKf0rIZ7VoS65lj1KMIsEIDxTWsZfjswj8b-Hbla2UeuaNnL-rdZu_9oAafKu9jDbJNcDW_JrQuPktuCiyijxxmjDP5Y2Sm8Rh3hS/s320/joy_planset_acoustLayout-rightwall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ5z5S02g7cnVeMR8QSrECQZ_ofydpqotB3TOuBipH97Ed3q4wmwDkK7ldZ_PYjGwhOdLG3BzEpw-zoJtmNFidsPrS5DwD8ed1lVJu8Re0Ee0jvodHqua3NHSi0gSRrCHEii_EYlNiV5x/s1600/Joy_planset_acoustLayout-leftwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ5z5S02g7cnVeMR8QSrECQZ_ofydpqotB3TOuBipH97Ed3q4wmwDkK7ldZ_PYjGwhOdLG3BzEpw-zoJtmNFidsPrS5DwD8ed1lVJu8Re0Ee0jvodHqua3NHSi0gSRrCHEii_EYlNiV5x/s320/Joy_planset_acoustLayout-leftwall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> In the end, this is a small room that produces an immersive picture with really big sound without ever feeling cramped. We call this result “ultra high definition.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvDdgTPMGg1TOLh8-UUtyPBvFSjI6bOSLX4iy9lN2-YIf0AMtfW-a_bw-oCvlV8A7Lq_wp_MkEgDqDuR4jUk_p9kvlNk4dBT8AlJ2S5ncM1ATOSyhuHmrwRuFjQdwyHKImyRLXeEB6VFc/s1600/Jafari-webrez_2098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-26637063024666201012013-09-24T14:47:00.000-07:002013-10-17T13:22:18.236-07:00Beachfront Basement Theater<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The main objectives for this project were to create a 10-seat home cinema with outstanding picture and sound, privacy from the main living spaces of the residence, and a design style that flowed naturally into the rest of the home. The client wanted the basement cinema in their new custom beachfront home in Dana Point, California to follow the traditional architectural look of the house. It had to retain the classical decor while being comfortable and delivering high performance quality.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Located underneath the Great room, the initial plans for the cinema made no effort to provide sound isolation or noise control. So we redesigned and reconstructed the wall structures, ceiling structures, and floor layouts to provide STC65 sound isolation, proper sightlines, and proper sound reflection decay times, all while respecting the original architectural style.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPem7VTiTkFptIRuVzju9mrqo4nP4jbRECj5-LWE8Q-4T2hKFhNGwq89Y_9h7ZANOhmCpbzbjXhkFaJ0iJT7sQ9ycHgD-GwVM9Mhqp6I-YDsKCzbX2ykDRHwfvaH-ABhwsJaCymTIr_ToD/s1600/Jafari-webrez_0316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPem7VTiTkFptIRuVzju9mrqo4nP4jbRECj5-LWE8Q-4T2hKFhNGwq89Y_9h7ZANOhmCpbzbjXhkFaJ0iJT7sQ9ycHgD-GwVM9Mhqp6I-YDsKCzbX2ykDRHwfvaH-ABhwsJaCymTIr_ToD/s320/Jafari-webrez_0316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A ventilation supply duct for the Great room transitioned through the top right corner of the cinema, so we had to fully insulate the duct in order to prevent sound leakage.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> All plumbing in the vicinity of the cinema was mounted on isolation bushings to prevent water noise and sound vibration transfer. Additional supply and return ducts were installed in order to reduce the background noise of the room. </span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdKH17eaIq3XDZ7zltqbBnyqFqTHxtRdKXauFZHmt4ZuwOIz2dmzanrLR8jK-SmUyWPmSSXT-n3hrYONsmaXr016scUkc4hZFTb8nrilAs1FOzsMZ3l233OOuItzoJwW9M-eKKxftlR95/s1600/Jafari-webrez_0806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdKH17eaIq3XDZ7zltqbBnyqFqTHxtRdKXauFZHmt4ZuwOIz2dmzanrLR8jK-SmUyWPmSSXT-n3hrYONsmaXr016scUkc4hZFTb8nrilAs1FOzsMZ3l233OOuItzoJwW9M-eKKxftlR95/s320/Jafari-webrez_0806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlyZbxymmtZJixuDsKJczBgc3FcHvh-w-5EqaZO4tMlBpRENdSGDSD_gKGjzbfbwq_rpUtNb0boV4o64yWuiUqFv5gE1I_XOQAn93R24E2VtWkxVwf9EJoZxVHk61WUFkz6Py_FoVPQNh/s1600/Jafari-webrez_0777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlyZbxymmtZJixuDsKJczBgc3FcHvh-w-5EqaZO4tMlBpRENdSGDSD_gKGjzbfbwq_rpUtNb0boV4o64yWuiUqFv5gE1I_XOQAn93R24E2VtWkxVwf9EJoZxVHk61WUFkz6Py_FoVPQNh/s320/Jafari-webrez_0777.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the back of the cinema, there was a fireplace slab floating into the structure of the room which would have caused a serious sound leak; we did extensive retrofitting which included rebuilding the wall frame resiliently, dropping a sprung ceiling, installing a resilient floor system, and adding a sound-rated door.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The client insisted on an entrance toward the front of the room even though the floor layout did not lend itself to retrofitting a riser at the back of the room.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2rAhlgnTZrxKf8BHx4xTspRjB-wVzzDrValLskeLQTKyftyc2Bbxf5OoLAIQxdD15IwpyQMvzZylaEm_ISP1muFH5ozgWIGeOxZR6n9Xf9h-iDNS8tVRXgKRWVuuC32oRsiA5PO84z0/s1600/jafari_2up_door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu2rAhlgnTZrxKf8BHx4xTspRjB-wVzzDrValLskeLQTKyftyc2Bbxf5OoLAIQxdD15IwpyQMvzZylaEm_ISP1muFH5ozgWIGeOxZR6n9Xf9h-iDNS8tVRXgKRWVuuC32oRsiA5PO84z0/s400/jafari_2up_door.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The original design called for tall wainscot, but we recommended all fabric treatments instead, and in the process the homeowners decided on a rather wild fabric design!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35hnn33T74fWtfZOPtEP1KpQjafWFU53pS21AaRa72NOmY5JmVDse-5NKSNCnKJLQH1zoCs7ACDXhSsNKVeOWCHlmoh1ojhFnOO5AnASqaeaD0Xw16Em1KYwBcIcBUeB5feSNA-s3jgxz/s1600/Jafari-webrez_2069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35hnn33T74fWtfZOPtEP1KpQjafWFU53pS21AaRa72NOmY5JmVDse-5NKSNCnKJLQH1zoCs7ACDXhSsNKVeOWCHlmoh1ojhFnOO5AnASqaeaD0Xw16Em1KYwBcIcBUeB5feSNA-s3jgxz/s320/Jafari-webrez_2069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Baffle-mounted Wisdom Audio line source speakers were installed across the front of the room, hidden behind an acoustically transparent screen. A high-quality video projector was built in a noise-reduced enclosure.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Four custom Triad dual 10-inch subwoofers - placed in the four corners of the room - are driven by four channels of equalization for tuning out detrimental standing waves. Four carefully-located side surround speakers and two back speakers provide a consistent, immersive experience across all the seats of this world-class room.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The system includes a 16-channel digital audio processor/equalizer to fine-tune all of the speakers to the room's acoustical characteristics. Four of those channels were for the subwoofers alone in order to work out the standing wave resonances.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The existing one-inch acoustical material was removed and replaced by a thicker Dimension4 Sonata acoustical tuning system from MSR, which includes absorbers, diffusers, and bass traps.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a room where the original architectural plan could have been a complete failure from a sound, picture and background noise point of view. Through diligent work by the integrator and acoustical consultant, the client and architect were educated on the benefits of proper engineering and accepted a reconstruction of portions of the room. As a result, this is now a world-class home cinema.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-cT7bFNVIxUnt7VuQ9uDB6IU-DWe9KZ7JEAxUjl2sC4kb1OKEnPnxbYz6jBzLGc0Snod8q5L_5T_vYWHAXvSKi2XLJZG5UqVqyO_TGr6i3IiGOMnlW2OZ_ND7IqVQ9EPu8P0FYIJli95/s1600/jafari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-cT7bFNVIxUnt7VuQ9uDB6IU-DWe9KZ7JEAxUjl2sC4kb1OKEnPnxbYz6jBzLGc0Snod8q5L_5T_vYWHAXvSKi2XLJZG5UqVqyO_TGr6i3IiGOMnlW2OZ_ND7IqVQ9EPu8P0FYIJli95/s640/jafari.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-74727448416499534322013-09-12T14:40:00.000-07:002013-10-17T13:13:06.141-07:00Whimsical Showcase Cinema<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This refined high-quality Orange County, California, dedicated home cinema features full-on sound isolation, carefully engineered AV, acoustics, ventilation and noise control, along with an interior style that matches a modern-whimsical interior décor in the rest of the artistically conceived house.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The homeowner is a fan of high-quality products, but couldn’t tolerate any level of product failure or control system uncertainties, so t</span></span>he project had to yield a dedicated home cinema room with high quality sound and picture, proper sound privacy, carefully crafted esthetics standards, and ease of use.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The original framing scheme in this basement room tied the wood structures to the joists of the ceiling system. We had to rebuild the framing to isolate it from the joists, in order to reach the requisite sound isolation. The traffic flow and ergonomics required a rework of the doorway, and the size and location of the equipment closet on back right of room.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The original ventilation duct passages were very undersized and ran in tight quarters. We had to re-engineer the duct passages in order to get enough air in and out of the room, while ensuring very low background noise.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A network of wood pilaster with backlit corner lights provide the panache while a full dress of stretched fabric conceals the loudspeakers, acoustical treatments, and all the wiring that drives signals through the AV system.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_Rc7sJdnVOw6JQBBVuKrzUWLP16q5LfqZ9oOCuEzUi2o-5ZJX9uDjsRcT3CQ_8ZsOx0qDUCq_uDYi4BqKtGcb-IHdES__Vd76NbsVPEzKsSi6n1QeyRnXhtG9itcO7Qsz3kn3CHTDOP6/s1600/HSU_webrez_P1110145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_Rc7sJdnVOw6JQBBVuKrzUWLP16q5LfqZ9oOCuEzUi2o-5ZJX9uDjsRcT3CQ_8ZsOx0qDUCq_uDYi4BqKtGcb-IHdES__Vd76NbsVPEzKsSi6n1QeyRnXhtG9itcO7Qsz3kn3CHTDOP6/s320/HSU_webrez_P1110145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaqRPOjA89FQbp4npq4RhYO-xAIhLluViEQwXmwOn5FMzCPPjZbIl0kIhm04i9KYnzkSRfCdJWIGYNGGYRlFb82T-b5krSO2Qx0FyRa7_o3nuBrjKYWzqfr_-oS_7S9YAhNS1MdmCmgsD/s1600/HSU_webrez_P1110146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaqRPOjA89FQbp4npq4RhYO-xAIhLluViEQwXmwOn5FMzCPPjZbIl0kIhm04i9KYnzkSRfCdJWIGYNGGYRlFb82T-b5krSO2Qx0FyRa7_o3nuBrjKYWzqfr_-oS_7S9YAhNS1MdmCmgsD/s320/HSU_webrez_P1110146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sound levels had to reach 105dB per channel while not being heard in the great room above. The dialog intelligibility and signal clarity needed to be top level. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Triad Gold 9 speaker and 4 subwoofer sound system creates the immersive sonic experience at all of the seats of this two-row cinema. An HD projector lights up the 140-inch screen to high-resolution cinematic brightness levels. An ten Fortress-brand seats invite the customers and their guest to come in, sit down and enjoy a visceral movie experience.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkJSYkGcYEThgp6tOcwnsFC7lOJ9zck35HYE-UtbyUfkLNDzvCPs6_7ckCaKQmc73Mby6YCU9hEth5FaFFLKAFIXxhAGXXsmA1vshPbfxu4guy2mlb-XIqre6jmiQ68x68vxnpsWQ1p3J/s1600/P1110165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkJSYkGcYEThgp6tOcwnsFC7lOJ9zck35HYE-UtbyUfkLNDzvCPs6_7ckCaKQmc73Mby6YCU9hEth5FaFFLKAFIXxhAGXXsmA1vshPbfxu4guy2mlb-XIqre6jmiQ68x68vxnpsWQ1p3J/s320/P1110165.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLdt9Y729FUBzxoTkZQI5xRlmEoU55QkS7-6wrbX9ICykp7o4Ni26wiQwcFCNsP4ZN6lY6IggxBBRfufkV4z_-lRxi-euKfTVp_nZlV_pTIAlnyA84pDTkClIMUQiMiwIeR2D8TagQ0if/s1600/HSU_webrez_P1110165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The picture illumination needed to be around 20 Ft/Lamberts. The picture resolution and clarity needed to match the highest level of HD 1080P ratings.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All products were carefully engineered and chosen for optimal integration of value, quality, and reliability. Simplicity of operation was also key to client satisfaction so advanced and careful system automation programming was key!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The client rewarded the design, construction and AV team's efforts by stating "It's the room we use the most in the house; it is great!"</span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnYgAltiHl_5jfBIO7SkCEiCnJb5J_Sw7wA-vLlZXOyBO1fBLhzJdMLpKIpAcvf0jFMLVQZgNTT6gwGjfVtPmGpU6rj-gHqiadIoqB0dyAtJuS5cZu1ZTyl3rgV76l6FSt6CIGcc9trTR/s1600/hsu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnYgAltiHl_5jfBIO7SkCEiCnJb5J_Sw7wA-vLlZXOyBO1fBLhzJdMLpKIpAcvf0jFMLVQZgNTT6gwGjfVtPmGpU6rj-gHqiadIoqB0dyAtJuS5cZu1ZTyl3rgV76l6FSt6CIGcc9trTR/s640/hsu.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-14873469266597172392013-09-05T16:33:00.000-07:002013-10-16T14:45:39.296-07:00White-Glove Service for Garage Conversion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PMI
offers a whole range of services, from acoustical layouts of the simplest
entertainment space, to interior and lighting design, full space 3D renderings,
and concierge service. This is an example of a project where we helped a small
integrator by providing a full suite of services including complete project
management.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
a small town in Virginia, this was the first large-scale project for a local
integrator who called upon the experts at PMI to not just engineer the space,
but to roll out white-glove concierge service for his discerning client. What
the integrator also realized was that bringing in a higher level of expertise
and big-picture thinking enabled him to build increased revenue into the budget
by getting the client excited about the additional value and functionality he
could achieve with the space. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MfO_KULdjsD5SLNDfNUJsD9THWjjfsVPih03OS4gKVTjhg_SVjb-TAYJfF1FuIAm0krezcxbcMkl9CrwkoMkK3HgaZjAqD7-SHnt3iB-rJsGgn7xb9NziiNdvUGzumeURc0cieACfqbn/s1600/crutchfield_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MfO_KULdjsD5SLNDfNUJsD9THWjjfsVPih03OS4gKVTjhg_SVjb-TAYJfF1FuIAm0krezcxbcMkl9CrwkoMkK3HgaZjAqD7-SHnt3iB-rJsGgn7xb9NziiNdvUGzumeURc0cieACfqbn/s400/crutchfield_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
homeowner is CEO of a large coal mining company and he had very clear ideas
about what he wanted for his dedicated – and not at all prototypical - home
theater. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">While working
on a previous project for this client, he informed the integrator – Rick
Ratliff, owner of Alpine Audio - that he was remodeling the house and wanted to
include a “world-class home theater.” That was when Rick contacted PMI to
partner with him on this project. We were given the space of a one-car garage
to transform, and we </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">started by
creating the highly detailed 3D rendered planset that is our specialty. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">We discovered the client had no
concept of what a world-class theater really was, but the team brought him
along nicely. One of his first comments was “that projector costs more than my
first house!” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">ENGINEERING</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Since this was a garage, we had to compensate for the
sloping concrete floor and the close proximity to the laundry room and kitchen.
Another consideration was ventilation for the projector which had to live in
the garage. After more than two months planning and
engineering work, the homeowner decided to rotate the room 90 degrees, so we
then had re-configured the plans to accommodate. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMo2q7eKdfdjelnkEtRIS4dYf3e1HPYW04jfU7RP9t9udw5NHZL1jPWIgiJXu9YhWdu2jRJlpvFOLzjm9CrSJlsaJxccUuG1NuyhzyIki8EaJDtcf-0tWzWFH5-yeXxh3WfGOCZAazWFY/s1600/crutchfld_planset_ElectroAcousticPlan_pg4.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMo2q7eKdfdjelnkEtRIS4dYf3e1HPYW04jfU7RP9t9udw5NHZL1jPWIgiJXu9YhWdu2jRJlpvFOLzjm9CrSJlsaJxccUuG1NuyhzyIki8EaJDtcf-0tWzWFH5-yeXxh3WfGOCZAazWFY/s400/crutchfld_planset_ElectroAcousticPlan_pg4.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9vx9JRoqQBed4HcIr7ETWSO-uD91AMC9AMWEP1dlK8Fuhyf94UsZ8TMH4rsh0mZwriYvuX1zg6tfoFORIhAeYVDeKOntzZOMKNjKuLJF4XORvjQ2gpl0Y8lqBYUsMfsYKGcqCtmEY6Yv/s1600/crutchfld_planset_AcousticalTreatmentLayout_pg49.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9vx9JRoqQBed4HcIr7ETWSO-uD91AMC9AMWEP1dlK8Fuhyf94UsZ8TMH4rsh0mZwriYvuX1zg6tfoFORIhAeYVDeKOntzZOMKNjKuLJF4XORvjQ2gpl0Y8lqBYUsMfsYKGcqCtmEY6Yv/s400/crutchfld_planset_AcousticalTreatmentLayout_pg49.jpg.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhxegCwhT7hrkLTOike68c-34LSHs0tG6rwHXop2tgCc-_f2i_x-7Csrr7DXa74ZGC9pTn2wndXdo6caIgvAkJsWW2Ap7Zlf4Dc_GjxzOa_QhBDtGuBnpiG6x4IrXyxBx2ylwVBpHsHXS/s1600/crutchfld_planset_TheaterLightingPlan_pg33.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhxegCwhT7hrkLTOike68c-34LSHs0tG6rwHXop2tgCc-_f2i_x-7Csrr7DXa74ZGC9pTn2wndXdo6caIgvAkJsWW2Ap7Zlf4Dc_GjxzOa_QhBDtGuBnpiG6x4IrXyxBx2ylwVBpHsHXS/s400/crutchfld_planset_TheaterLightingPlan_pg33.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUDIO
& VIDEO</span></b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">The audio system was original budgeted at $30k but when we
described to the homeowner the level he could reach for extraordinary
presentation, he bumped it up to $90k!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We
installed Wisdom Audio P38i, a point source loudspeaker that radiates its sonic
energy outward in an expanding sphere, as though from a point in space; this
model was specifically designed for in- and on-wall applications. We also
specified JL Audio Fathom powered subwoofers – the combination of dual ultra-long
throw W7 12-inch drivers and a very powerful switching amplifier give these
jaw-dropping performance capabilities at any listening level. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQUPH85x_1VaQ_GP-u8cmro96Fc1UkTp9GU0OUE7R3fTtGzLzoNa5KsIUPjpJOahii9kCITf584FQ6A2jOG9yRuypfkkcP7ptBjG_sIxUQmBtMKJaq1ywnyhPrQh2kEel6BO26s9-t4N8/s1600/crutchfld_planset_ScreenWallElevation_pg7.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQUPH85x_1VaQ_GP-u8cmro96Fc1UkTp9GU0OUE7R3fTtGzLzoNa5KsIUPjpJOahii9kCITf584FQ6A2jOG9yRuypfkkcP7ptBjG_sIxUQmBtMKJaq1ywnyhPrQh2kEel6BO26s9-t4N8/s400/crutchfld_planset_ScreenWallElevation_pg7.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q0d_0AENy9cBhbnIWXemca_UwaS3OojuDC-4vJA-RF15LJcWgzaXo7rXXhyphenhyphenb14EiHux9ghE8aAUf_YxBAMpOEm0QLBhW4PpYWR5uwYOqkehk8BYDPvlDM6m3NGorWMtw92T-bt-eUtbj/s1600/120620_P1100414_500pxh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q0d_0AENy9cBhbnIWXemca_UwaS3OojuDC-4vJA-RF15LJcWgzaXo7rXXhyphenhyphenb14EiHux9ghE8aAUf_YxBAMpOEm0QLBhW4PpYWR5uwYOqkehk8BYDPvlDM6m3NGorWMtw92T-bt-eUtbj/s200/120620_P1100414_500pxh.jpg" width="156" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf6IXSo0A91QwXkzIef01nwsh2kFKp_kIlfksBhjaxMBa53PRI713_I8FlET9D8ieam2dk1eucT7hD6Jk_HVmzhPvfFPvfDh_t8O7qXPAnNZBgnHHial0i5BXDoVmhl2EMcjk3L_DzbnD/s1600/crutchfld_planset_ProjectorEnclosure_pg36.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf6IXSo0A91QwXkzIef01nwsh2kFKp_kIlfksBhjaxMBa53PRI713_I8FlET9D8ieam2dk1eucT7hD6Jk_HVmzhPvfFPvfDh_t8O7qXPAnNZBgnHHial0i5BXDoVmhl2EMcjk3L_DzbnD/s320/crutchfld_planset_ProjectorEnclosure_pg36.jpg.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="309" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We installed MSR’s Dimension4™ Sonata Plus
system which is their premier acoustical tuning system for fabric covered
walls.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQtptzDcT-8p4kdCwVmTmYx_WwRi7bwLPFKufhYPAMCvoXhcQG5mvXumYU3AbWedraFkJ_ZztvxvQ_MjxSoBnpTs422YFcsPph7peHbICCfahEtkEJe7AdytCDjfc5q08FPPok6uz1Esa/s1600/crutchfield_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQtptzDcT-8p4kdCwVmTmYx_WwRi7bwLPFKufhYPAMCvoXhcQG5mvXumYU3AbWedraFkJ_ZztvxvQ_MjxSoBnpTs422YFcsPph7peHbICCfahEtkEJe7AdytCDjfc5q08FPPok6uz1Esa/s400/crutchfield_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The 120”
acoustically-transparent woven screen includes a PMI 2.0 screen format and
4-way remote-controlled masking system. A Titan 3D digital projector was
installed to deliver a truly state-of-the-art presentation; this projector is
robust and extremely quiet.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS648ZdLv9mvqDK28qxg0zzMZQRVNlZxOVmuXzbotbVIQ0ztlsfldWdsGMjpyGwNPJ8SlmtKpjMByQgtMYLrgGatZjCSf3gvzVmCDy_uBHljT_0x-LKAsXcVlgiw7l0bzdAGRbTHzjVmCX/s1600/crutchfield_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS648ZdLv9mvqDK28qxg0zzMZQRVNlZxOVmuXzbotbVIQ0ztlsfldWdsGMjpyGwNPJ8SlmtKpjMByQgtMYLrgGatZjCSf3gvzVmCDy_uBHljT_0x-LKAsXcVlgiw7l0bzdAGRbTHzjVmCX/s400/crutchfield_2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWqVwYqaqvKnDmrVURapw2oBXj4woea5STS0CF9KEOHkfgJ7DxqstCiN2xiWqAx7TNTQWcyEg8w_bKWazWskOkK_fEBBSHBFjHGPqHInMAE8EsmAfAOhB4L51Q2tq3nQONgwVypTHuu-b/s1600/crutchfield_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWqVwYqaqvKnDmrVURapw2oBXj4woea5STS0CF9KEOHkfgJ7DxqstCiN2xiWqAx7TNTQWcyEg8w_bKWazWskOkK_fEBBSHBFjHGPqHInMAE8EsmAfAOhB4L51Q2tq3nQONgwVypTHuu-b/s400/crutchfield_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Beyond engineering the space and specifying the
equipment, this project involved many hours of creative and detailed
problem-solving, as well as complete project management from beginning to end -
from the big-picture level, down to the smallest detail. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Presented</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> with the finished
product, the client and his family were thrilled, exclaiming that we had
exceeded his expectations!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ57EEOZtbeJZnhmq7Xb50CwAQ1Rj5Bn-HEEkZQDknnjA1GDLzPjsYBUVaCPpBV8YvSSeng2TwEzytah8diVxHINunDmtJ8l-iqtM-wywI3AtcnlNueqPehR-Dt6AIxWMMbEqsOkMpeRPS/s1600/crutchfield_finalpix-1_500pxw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ57EEOZtbeJZnhmq7Xb50CwAQ1Rj5Bn-HEEkZQDknnjA1GDLzPjsYBUVaCPpBV8YvSSeng2TwEzytah8diVxHINunDmtJ8l-iqtM-wywI3AtcnlNueqPehR-Dt6AIxWMMbEqsOkMpeRPS/s400/crutchfield_finalpix-1_500pxw.png" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWJ2vM6URoArbtQrPJ33CB-_0AscYqeifJ4ZuByZIkKdlcUMlOp0McQeSV2FdmwTyJhQOC5gGBB84I8Cfd-WZ6gRtLDDpj6Gy8iwOzPPMneDJpLET0O4nVeH7cMhbWtmRzXEnlSBpvpKv/s1600/crutchfield_final-backview_500pxw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWJ2vM6URoArbtQrPJ33CB-_0AscYqeifJ4ZuByZIkKdlcUMlOp0McQeSV2FdmwTyJhQOC5gGBB84I8Cfd-WZ6gRtLDDpj6Gy8iwOzPPMneDJpLET0O4nVeH7cMhbWtmRzXEnlSBpvpKv/s400/crutchfield_final-backview_500pxw.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9i60q_twSGNuWnbJ1MJFOj3Pf6gXX0sHWj8F6R6SdNSjFORlMHlSmRGdBd7hBoeAeR9fFNsYlFTxiuPnBDd4-2tGowXfMDuZxioAUa2lr5ygMJEjkP7vFWkf3BeCJBoWBiX09MpJs3-e/s1600/crutchfld_automation_500pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9i60q_twSGNuWnbJ1MJFOj3Pf6gXX0sHWj8F6R6SdNSjFORlMHlSmRGdBd7hBoeAeR9fFNsYlFTxiuPnBDd4-2tGowXfMDuZxioAUa2lr5ygMJEjkP7vFWkf3BeCJBoWBiX09MpJs3-e/s400/crutchfld_automation_500pxw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1uG1kwjyfXEDBNMlh7muZ5e617XHJFtOVlUchQ_VxxQba1kx9iApzWxLJvbxHCBAiwAzhLyqdvLRyyv2R9suYCe0esJg42lbxK72dNEolsjN2tfWN9oRuRhWAYwrn1x92jtV96BIoppn/s1600/crutchfld_rack-front_500pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486915339821990557.post-10450302665514677072013-09-04T15:05:00.000-07:002013-10-17T12:57:20.882-07:00Project Case Study: South of Market, San Francisco<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PMI is a team of highly organized and seasoned professionals who sweat the details. In fact, we’ve been known to spend dozens of hours on wiring diagrams alone! Our services run the gamut from room design and layout through to audio + video commissioning and calibration. We offer excellent project management to orchestrate any level of process, from the simplest project to the most complex.</span></span><br />
<div class="Section1">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having designed and engineered more than 500 purpose-built and multi-purpose entertainment spaces, we've pretty much seen it all, and yet we continually encounter new challenges along the way. Our expertise lies in the detail with which we approach each project, and the many tools and resources we’ve developed to fulfill our mission of “doing it the <b>right</b> way.”</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PROJECT BRIEF</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This project is a sleek, modern home with an industrial flair in the trendy South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. The interior of the home feels cool and spacious, not what you’d expect from condensed city-living. The bones of this home are a highly complex, high-end commercial-grade infrastructure. Even though it’s a residence, it has a very organized and mechanical structure – perfect in every way.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The homeowners love to entertain and wanted to create a space that would include everything from a screening room, a live performance space, an art gallery and workshop, a recording studio, and dance club. Giving new meaning to the term “multi-purpose room,” the space has been designed to go from a sit-down banquet to a raving disco with remote-controlled ease. We call it NASA meets rave! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bZDYM09tSg-g0U2s8juLF8QM8ywvVaONyjoRNab9UOZd8blHTNcS4ePAoLYQDrKjU57d3KWC7nNa0QzYAfNSy_ZHZRJWUksajbdDg03Bn2sf_vl7qpUKdWL_goNIWKotSvseCPd7X9ik/s1600/bryant_2up_outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bZDYM09tSg-g0U2s8juLF8QM8ywvVaONyjoRNab9UOZd8blHTNcS4ePAoLYQDrKjU57d3KWC7nNa0QzYAfNSy_ZHZRJWUksajbdDg03Bn2sf_vl7qpUKdWL_goNIWKotSvseCPd7X9ik/s400/bryant_2up_outside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE CHALLENGES</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because the house is basically a steel and concrete structure. That means that any sound hitting sheet rock that's attached steel radiates throughout the entire building structure. The first challenge became how to take turn the building a great sounding entertainment space that can also maintain sound comfort in adjoining rooms. Another challenge was sound containment from the outside area, as well as keeping the rather noisy outside traffic from seeping into the space. Achieving high level of sound isolation and creating an extraordinary environment involved a multitude of painstaking details.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE ENGINEERING</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Working with builder Larry Christiani, PMI created a highly detailed plan set, and four drafts later, we were ready to start the build-out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ63bu0vABnXyyJbkkD8-LwKSUxcPe9xLUqOQEMyAoTf-gw7H7UagWjzqlxTzgJjm2F7VlHOJXnXMypBNdxGVpBDGQyOHqAVkdPzY15fGctcXC-39tQ3Qnrk25OX_eFafMY4GX7KKqAsS/s1600/speaker+layout+-+bryant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ63bu0vABnXyyJbkkD8-LwKSUxcPe9xLUqOQEMyAoTf-gw7H7UagWjzqlxTzgJjm2F7VlHOJXnXMypBNdxGVpBDGQyOHqAVkdPzY15fGctcXC-39tQ3Qnrk25OX_eFafMY4GX7KKqAsS/s400/speaker+layout+-+bryant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the many structural materials used in this building – including corrugated aluminum pan deck, red steel beams, tension cable – the visible eye cannot really see that the finished architectural ceiling is actually flown several feet below the structural lid of the room – and it’s done so with a resiliently mounted sound isolated ceiling. Painstaking care was taken with each and every one of the penetrations into the ceiling, including the down-lighting, sprinklers, cables, and large format speaker mounts.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTFcmKRD5VjcHTztgiGUAiViYBvtnN1yi46CkNVAAxUSVBDXKiwU1rXdDi02R4w_DTQ2LOs2gxjpEbccvs5dkp5CNsSbp_9uyMT5_GfECoqAq6cVF3fbBlPh8eKoDR_wyiK93lnjbiEmc/s1600/bryant_2up_structural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTFcmKRD5VjcHTztgiGUAiViYBvtnN1yi46CkNVAAxUSVBDXKiwU1rXdDi02R4w_DTQ2LOs2gxjpEbccvs5dkp5CNsSbp_9uyMT5_GfECoqAq6cVF3fbBlPh8eKoDR_wyiK93lnjbiEmc/s400/bryant_2up_structural.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdk8e66BgVnMDH6tNSWQep_2_ZSIhaeiQZVl5BBGQKzzHog2Yhviz9SBLBUSiqc7-H6-lULwoRBFu04O2e3U7tYFCpKxPWN4Utki-kq8ULxzvYsV7Tm1YIPk4ly2lw6CGxt4tYgJHbeaH/s1600/bryant_planset_peelaway+wall+construct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdk8e66BgVnMDH6tNSWQep_2_ZSIhaeiQZVl5BBGQKzzHog2Yhviz9SBLBUSiqc7-H6-lULwoRBFu04O2e3U7tYFCpKxPWN4Utki-kq8ULxzvYsV7Tm1YIPk4ly2lw6CGxt4tYgJHbeaH/s400/bryant_planset_peelaway+wall+construct.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURDNeeTu4Fkf3FpCjox44diTNyRY_RduwTCu2FMA77ZjWkr2neQY2lsDFrNStNhQqpxEFgXMwIHaUPLyhTPXBvcR3_ohrr0o-GaHMOnomrRsyS-s0tLiLefZgpRIRTvzXjtZgo251_UIu/s1600/bryant_2up_framing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURDNeeTu4Fkf3FpCjox44diTNyRY_RduwTCu2FMA77ZjWkr2neQY2lsDFrNStNhQqpxEFgXMwIHaUPLyhTPXBvcR3_ohrr0o-GaHMOnomrRsyS-s0tLiLefZgpRIRTvzXjtZgo251_UIu/s400/bryant_2up_framing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WHERE FORM MEETS FUNCTION</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <span style="color: black;">client wanted a clean aesthetic and we settled on a wood paneled look; had we used regular wood it would have created a giant echo chamber. We specified Murano acoustical wood paneling which is porous to sound and allowed us to install combinations of four-inch-thick absorption panels and diffusion strips behind some of the areas to optimize the reverberant field.</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-unCITXu45aOjT-sNuqjOCynpdgunGgPvx3-zIUV9htVlsLEmhj6yWZ8CvRgHCMrn8Laqp_GMAPc470yDHmZJuBmZn1FFpmvFWk0AsulQn0aFkoFYS_OMbYuG_FAxdEHgF16SJ5eeULN4/s1600/120305_webrez_P1090342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-unCITXu45aOjT-sNuqjOCynpdgunGgPvx3-zIUV9htVlsLEmhj6yWZ8CvRgHCMrn8Laqp_GMAPc470yDHmZJuBmZn1FFpmvFWk0AsulQn0aFkoFYS_OMbYuG_FAxdEHgF16SJ5eeULN4/s320/120305_webrez_P1090342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The windows are double layer three-quarter inch plate glass</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRDfNA9xItSaXux1KbT6Oso8DFyc21qRHHKId3lFGAAHJI2ahbdzSQRP4oNmTIKdXr7yZ8sJKQQZrCzxNa3yIrWp0aslcDz9-WxcQXafWNIsjENuUn2vcZ-Ei8Y5sJBcDcIs7MkV2OaQ4/s1600/blog_425bryant_120305_334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRDfNA9xItSaXux1KbT6Oso8DFyc21qRHHKId3lFGAAHJI2ahbdzSQRP4oNmTIKdXr7yZ8sJKQQZrCzxNa3yIrWp0aslcDz9-WxcQXafWNIsjENuUn2vcZ-Ei8Y5sJBcDcIs7MkV2OaQ4/s320/blog_425bryant_120305_334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plumbing isolation columns were used throughout inside the walls in order to reduce rattling from vibrations in spots where metal touches metal - it’s all in the details!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtNi9LSQU2oupmJRuAKbyRV5SoCA-b9E-ebE8KZ_JhYcM3zGHZcisukreY_ayoPvHNGB3AOQmrOmfETArBnYhhXG0TsKVkgTDrN79wqa2fLlfxjKf_LMrOOU4hHfY_3Eu5Y4sppgPGqpB/s1600/bryant_2up_plumbing+iso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtNi9LSQU2oupmJRuAKbyRV5SoCA-b9E-ebE8KZ_JhYcM3zGHZcisukreY_ayoPvHNGB3AOQmrOmfETArBnYhhXG0TsKVkgTDrN79wqa2fLlfxjKf_LMrOOU4hHfY_3Eu5Y4sppgPGqpB/s400/bryant_2up_plumbing+iso.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Acoustically-rated ductwork is installed throughout, in order to reduce sound transmission through the HVAC system. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbpskxWhL0ign5pv31c9PH-YT2jWdwnVRUK30_ScOhj7Ub4znjvCyNSiMKU1XPGy4hA5zKuDuaViK4j-WVNxS19dMno6qAfGPQgtWb2p-3jxUSdEpcSELC4F3wMSrCRu9W8EG0ajwl6Vu/s1600/bryant_2up_ductwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbpskxWhL0ign5pv31c9PH-YT2jWdwnVRUK30_ScOhj7Ub4znjvCyNSiMKU1XPGy4hA5zKuDuaViK4j-WVNxS19dMno6qAfGPQgtWb2p-3jxUSdEpcSELC4F3wMSrCRu9W8EG0ajwl6Vu/s400/bryant_2up_ductwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PERFORMANCE + FLEXIBILITY</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">In this room, speakers play at an incredibly high level of sound pressure. </span></span></span>The surround channel speakers are housed at ceiling-level, attached to a truss that motors up and down on flown cables, which <span style="color: black;">can be lowered to approximately seven feet off the floor so they’re positioned at the optimum position during a film presentation. There are also sound reinforcement speakers in the corners for dance music/nightclub speakers.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Directivity of the speakers – given their different functions – was carefully selected to ensure that the direct and reflected soundfield ratios were optimized for the overall acoustical character of the perforated wood wall schemes. Because of the range of uses for the multi-purpose room, digital signal processing and channel routing were implemented with a multichannel BSS Audio processor. The sound system configuration and performance flexibly convert to adapt to the room usage, all seamlessly controlled by the Crestron automation system. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The ceiling area conceals deep absorption for broadband control of the sound reflection decay time.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu35bTvuG9_A6K606dueBVGB0vVTn6tuaIVNSP_KpaRqOb_upvmccOyjMnsIUJB8ZNl-ji1bRj_aC7aeytxt6K-PQnAc6hfEXslywlgla5SA7zUNzSkQvHeeTP08YfV-EA0YXr1nGaOpXT/s1600/blog_425bryant_120426_032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu35bTvuG9_A6K606dueBVGB0vVTn6tuaIVNSP_KpaRqOb_upvmccOyjMnsIUJB8ZNl-ji1bRj_aC7aeytxt6K-PQnAc6hfEXslywlgla5SA7zUNzSkQvHeeTP08YfV-EA0YXr1nGaOpXT/s400/blog_425bryant_120426_032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Multiple subwoofers were installed in the ceiling to distribute multiple points of bass radiation for smoother standing waves. </span>Shallow profile subwoofers were flown from the ceiling on vibration isolation spring hangers.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi65QV8-53wOySJE-hZNyf_HSDEqB-7DGpQsarJ7nziIxb-TuQK0JVkDecmujTmKZ0MNEV9AfnOFfjgrUykwp5JiQpPvZ9AN-oUtMZJ6JPkQlwC9rRCNPINtJu2i6P3-lCXKZ68zFBLWkz/s1600/bryant_2up_subwoofers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi65QV8-53wOySJE-hZNyf_HSDEqB-7DGpQsarJ7nziIxb-TuQK0JVkDecmujTmKZ0MNEV9AfnOFfjgrUykwp5JiQpPvZ9AN-oUtMZJ6JPkQlwC9rRCNPINtJu2i6P3-lCXKZ68zFBLWkz/s400/bryant_2up_subwoofers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THEATRICAL PRESENTATION </b> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">PMI commissioned Triad CinemaPlus speakers behind the screen. The screen has 2-way masking plus a fabric cover that comes down to protect the screen when not in use. Wood is Murano Acoustics paneling, wood which is acoustically open to let sound go through it and into the absorptive materials behind it.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzXxcPCAUeavQhWcFhxgBtck7FP1rU_0-MuZJB7Ue2-Wr23wHk0uJSOM-zGndtLMId0i4DpTqTGdHrEvMG5AgQstarxmJPEOPfyct73matsTs7VjYo78zB3xfBWauUomu8DWzZIhXIcZ0/s1600/425bryant_projector_19_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXcZI5YaLLaZc8p9fhWzvZhqibtIqpqnp6-EM4Ac00TXncoX8b8XY93uxfR4WmNRodocDvBuY1Qa-WHrjiG1IuXbmyUGG5ndCvjQIxFIMLdDobcvTJcV-BNV3748fuy9U2NrGybA3QeM3/s1600/425bryant_view+from+back+left_1_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXcZI5YaLLaZc8p9fhWzvZhqibtIqpqnp6-EM4Ac00TXncoX8b8XY93uxfR4WmNRodocDvBuY1Qa-WHrjiG1IuXbmyUGG5ndCvjQIxFIMLdDobcvTJcV-BNV3748fuy9U2NrGybA3QeM3/s400/425bryant_view+from+back+left_1_600pxw.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvVW2bezuq92k8TNECu6wE1-rLS9bCK6P7ooO9EpmMwpP1PSIz6mpOx1wWzTq6x5J-rHK638b7ohMuhW0wjQ5jd_q6R30dfjFN5CVWzAySLgZZuV-YDD5Aogr1F0Rtnvj7pRdHQKDWG0l/s1600/425bryant_projector_19_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvVW2bezuq92k8TNECu6wE1-rLS9bCK6P7ooO9EpmMwpP1PSIz6mpOx1wWzTq6x5J-rHK638b7ohMuhW0wjQ5jd_q6R30dfjFN5CVWzAySLgZZuV-YDD5Aogr1F0Rtnvj7pRdHQKDWG0l/s400/425bryant_projector_19_600pxw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">LET’S PARTY!</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;"></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Inside the big window that faces the street outside, we engineered a motorized set of vertical blinds that are all black on one side to shut out the light, and are all white on the other side so the client can project still or moving images onto the window.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmZNPa6bRxBuDOmW0aHx_8PuNzOScmd-m_n4qkvEyTs6NtTmdRXT0MEEkaSjJGhYn8f3QuE4zOCoOqurCOtA3-N-a8oeV_geD5bP7KvPTDRMBZ8P_pS4GCI2od22ZhuRZ8dpH3BLc69Sw/s1600/bryant_2up_vertical+blinds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmZNPa6bRxBuDOmW0aHx_8PuNzOScmd-m_n4qkvEyTs6NtTmdRXT0MEEkaSjJGhYn8f3QuE4zOCoOqurCOtA3-N-a8oeV_geD5bP7KvPTDRMBZ8P_pS4GCI2od22ZhuRZ8dpH3BLc69Sw/s400/bryant_2up_vertical+blinds.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0ydwzvn7a9-np9IdUSO0_dw1FeM9eGBSfOVMxGfwqHLq3740UdEk4aXV7N9TBq9Qb55B36kKsX5SfgNEDi9mGQcbkTLhv7BBNfGoJbd10Z1QhZs_lea0KiUg7eRdFtjdzt2O3EvFF3Lq/s1600/425bryant_shades-black_18_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0ydwzvn7a9-np9IdUSO0_dw1FeM9eGBSfOVMxGfwqHLq3740UdEk4aXV7N9TBq9Qb55B36kKsX5SfgNEDi9mGQcbkTLhv7BBNfGoJbd10Z1QhZs_lea0KiUg7eRdFtjdzt2O3EvFF3Lq/s400/425bryant_shades-black_18_600pxw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">PMI also designed the rest of the home to include audio-video playback in all of the indoor and outdoor spaces so it was important to acoustically design and tune these rooms, as well. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ultimately, this project gave the client exactly what they wanted: a truly multi-purpose entertainment space with a high level of function, flexibility, and style!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_wpPNtbxC67_gVziDPhdLtx9r3P22i3TfRplH6MJTmvCi7NOcGqLdOI6lr4OzQqXByElMxOuS4dDC6kh7EQlnEw1n631vIu9Es3gWFBxNRlrJSbm9zh3WeHpdzzA-wUc-QC4PrjbE6pM/s1600/425bryant_view+from+back+right_6_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_wpPNtbxC67_gVziDPhdLtx9r3P22i3TfRplH6MJTmvCi7NOcGqLdOI6lr4OzQqXByElMxOuS4dDC6kh7EQlnEw1n631vIu9Es3gWFBxNRlrJSbm9zh3WeHpdzzA-wUc-QC4PrjbE6pM/s400/425bryant_view+from+back+right_6_600pxw.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsrjKdIzAwzNJ5cOvofDF0JzRfRplvDvFkpnF5g9lC5QNBsIW_rkXxAQPUjH7TkROh_gmYjsj3z6mdQGx0RWt114Ahx5wV35FYk1EqaumS6GP-Nz-3It-W8a3146_GEC3lwTuLjZVlfP-/s1600/425bryant_right+wall_4_600pxw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsrjKdIzAwzNJ5cOvofDF0JzRfRplvDvFkpnF5g9lC5QNBsIW_rkXxAQPUjH7TkROh_gmYjsj3z6mdQGx0RWt114Ahx5wV35FYk1EqaumS6GP-Nz-3It-W8a3146_GEC3lwTuLjZVlfP-/s400/425bryant_right+wall_4_600pxw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Anthony Grimani & PMI Ltd.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15466757128183432025noreply@blogger.com0