The Monochrome Cinema

This CEDIA award-winning project (Best Home Cinema Level I) was described by CEDIA’s judges as “an incredible installation for the price.” The project began as a media room with a large TV, but after several meetings, the integrator convinced the client that a dedicated cinema would better satisfy their needs. Once the team at The Digital Picture showed the client the benefits of a dedicated cinema with a 16:9 screen and a 4K projector, the deal was closed. The consultation process was critical in this instance: an original budget of $20,000 AUD soon doubled as the client became more and more educated regarding immersive audio and other equipment. Acoustic treatments were key to the room’s success, as was power management. The client is away on business for extended periods, and the room’s “isolation mode” will prolong the life of the equipment. Working with other contractors on the job site of this retrofit was also helpful for the integration team. For example, instead of reworking the room’s HVAC system entirely, the integrators worked with the heating and cooling contractor to use sound-absorbing ductwork and add length and bends to reduce noise. Creative thinking such as this kept the project well within the customer’s ultimate budget. Now that the job’s finished, the client uses the room much more than they’d initially thought.