This might be one of our favorite home theaters yet, featuring JBL and Sony home theater components! When this family set out in search of their dream home a few years ago, one of their main goals was to find a home with enough space to build the front-projection-based home theater of their dreams. They specifically searched for a home with a rectangular-shaped unfinished area (preferably over the garage) that would allow them to customize every detail of the room. With a son reaching his teenage years, they wanted to make sure they would have a space mature enough for the entire family to enjoy together, including an adjacent billiards & gaming room.
These homeowners worked with Audio Advice several years ago to help build out a Dolby Atmos surround sound system in their living room, and that system made the move from their previous home, but they had to compromise on speaker placement to align the floorplan with the aesthetic of their new space. While the media room system still sounded incredible, having the TV over the fireplace and the compromised speaker placement due to the open floorplan did not allow for the immersive experience they desired.
Once the family got settled into their new home, they contacted Audio Advice again to get started on their new home theater. After playing around with our free 3D home theater design tool, they met with a system designer to finalize their line drawings and renderings, talk through the foundational and construction considerations to accommodate their goals, and select the perfect products for full immersion.
These homeowners truly love to experience the audio & sound effects of movies and they did not want to compromise on any aspect of the audio quality — all decisions were made with function over form.
JBL Synthesis High-Performance Home Theater Speakers
This was our first theater to have the latest JBL Synthesis SCL speakers which provide amazing dynamics for their cost. They can produce the full effect of an explosion or reveal the subtle emotions of a whisper. All of the models chosen use the exact same version of JBL’s patented D2 compression tweeter with their HDI waveguide. The SLC-6, SCL-7, and SCL-8 also use the exact same 5.25” aluminum woofers. This combination gave us an incredibly seamless surround sound experience with identical speaker drivers all around. The new design of the SCL-7 waveguide allowed us to take the surround speakers and completely cover all of the listening areas as well. We’re excited to be the exclusive online dealer for these great new JBL Synthesis speakers.
In-Wall Subs
Due to the size constraints of the room, we chose JBL Synthesis in-wall subwoofers with their two largest SSW-3 Dual 10" In-Wall Subwoofers on the front wall and two SSW-4 Dual 8" In-Wall Subwoofers in the back of the room. By using 4 subwoofers, we made the bass extremely even across all the seats. The front subs use dual 10” woofers in a sealed enclosure that is 5 ½ feet tall! When coupled with the JBL Synthesis power amps, these completely fill up the room with a very impactful bass.
Another main concern for this homeowner was noise isolation & keeping the sound contained to the theater room with minimal bleed to other areas of the house. Having the room located over the garage certainly helped, but all of the walls, floor, riser, and ceiling were packed full of Rockwool insulation to greatly reduce sound contamination. The rear wall where the room connects to the house also has additional layers of plywood behind the drywall to further cut down on the amount of sound bleeding into the bonus room. Audio Advice worked directly with Vicoustic engineers to conduct an acoustic study of the room to determine where any potential issues may arise and designed the placement of different acoustic treatments to keep reflections down without making the room sound overly damped like many basic acoustic treatments can do.
Sony VPL-VW715ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector
With its great picture and the ability to project widescreen using its lens memory feature, this new Sony projector was a perfect choice. It matches up beautifully with the selected screen size and delivers more than enough output for wonderful HDR content.
The unfinished room contained an existing window that resided on the wall where the homeowners wanted to place the screen. Since completely eliminating the window would change the aesthetic of the exterior of the home, we chose to completely cover the window & build a false wall that would provide enough depth to both hide the window and provide room for the in-wall speakers and subs.
Stewart Filmscreen 130” Acoustically Transparent Wall Screen Deluxe
For the true movie theater effect, an acoustically transparent screen was mounted in front of the speakers to allow the sound to come right out of the screen with perfect audio. Stewart’s latest G4 StudioTek 130 material was used with their patented micro-perf technology.
The customers wanted the equipment to be located in the adjacent bonus room to cut down on heat and noise while saving space in the theater room itself. However, they did not want the placement of the equipment to look like an afterthought, so we wanted to find a way to integrate the rack into the design of the bar. To achieve the desired design aesthetic, we chose a Strong Signature Series rack that features a smoked glass door. Once they knew the dimensions of the rack, they custom-designed the bar to make everything look cohesive and to make sure that there was still plenty of ventilation to keep all of the equipment cool.
Sonos Amp
These homeowners wanted to have their main seating row located on a riser but also wanted to incorporate a front row to accommodate guests. With the second row being the main row, the challenge was ensuring full immersion without the front row being too close to the screen or a strain on the eyes. After sitting in various rows of Audio Advice’s demo theaters, we were able to find a viewing angle that worked for both rows, while remaining completely immersive. For their main row, these homeowners chose the Audio Advice Revolution Home Theater seating — to explore them in detail, watch our full review on the Revolution Home Theater Seating. They also chose a shorter lounge-style couch for the front row to avoid sightline issues.
Revolution Home Theater Seating - RowOne
Control4 allowed us to control all of the components from one simple remote and from iPads and iPhones. This allows the homeowner to pause a movie, and the video will stop and the lights will automatically turn up.
High-performance DID fixtures from DMF were used because of their super high color rendering index and their ability to seamlessly dim down to any level while holding their color temperature.
The customer wanted the ability to bring what is playing in the theater into the adjoining billiards room. To achieve this, we connected a 55” Sony X800H TV to the JBL processor’s zone 2 output. This allows for any of the theater sources to be used with this TV and the audio to play through the in-ceiling speakers. The TV can either mirror what is being played in the theater or use one of the other sources to play independently, so if someone is watching a show on the Apple TV in the theater, the XBOX or PS5 can still be used in the billiards room. Running the zone 2 audio through a Sonos Amp also allows for music playback on any music streaming source without needing to power up the entire rack.
This area was made for the kids! The customer wanted a place for their son to be able to hang out with friends and play video games or watch TV while also still having great sound. The JBL HDI series was the obvious choice here as they share the same compression driver technology that is found in the theater and fit perfectly on the entertainment center. The gray oak finish also just looks stunning against the dark accent wall. They chose to run this gaming area separate from the main system and use it to connect up all of their legacy video game systems. There is a Wii, PS2, and even a Super Nintendo! The TV was hung using an articulating mount so that it can be viewable from the billiards room if there are multiple sporting events going on at the same time.
JBL HDI-1600 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker - Each
JBL HDI-4500 2.5-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker
We were just as delighted as the homeowners to put together the space of their dreams, ready for any Super Bowl party, family movie night, or video gaming session they throw its way!
At Audio Advice, we've been designing and installing high-performance home theaters & smart home systems for our customers in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas for decades. In fact, we've delivered more custom theaters than anyone in the Southeast! We are now offering Home Theater Design no matter where you live in the United States! If you are interested in a custom home theater or upgrading your current system, give us a call at 888.899.8776, chat with us, or stop by our Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina showrooms. We can't wait to help you build your ultimate home theater!
In this home theater showcase, we give you a behind-the-scenes look at the entire process of upgrading our existing theater inside our Raleigh showroom. From start to finish, our timelapse video shows each part of this project, along with the components we used and why we selected them. Watch now to see how an outdated room was transformed into ...
Step inside a truly remarkable home theater meticulously designed to captivate your senses and leave you in awe. With cutting-edge technology, extraordinary movie statues and memorabilia, and impeccable attention to detail, this cinematic sanctuary is a haven for film enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
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In this home theater showcase, we’re excited to share a theater we recently finished in a brand-new luxury home. Discover how we paired a Sony GTZ-380 projector with JBL Synthesis speakers and electronics from Anthem & Kaleidescape to design the homeowner’s dream theater in this incredible home entertainment mecca.
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Sony projectors are pretty simple to install for someone with some basic DIY skills. Explore our complete setup guide to get up & running fast! Here, we’ll walk you through our exclusive tips & tricks for installing your new VPL-XW5000ES, VPL-XW6000ES, or VPL-XW7000ES 4k projector.
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As with most things that can offer greater performance than the competition, going through a few steps first will help you get the most out of your new headphones. This short guide is meant to get you up and running with your Sony WH-1000XM5, quickly.
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Let’s take a closer look at active and passive noise-cancelling headphones. We’ll also dive into the benefits of these headphones and consider some of the best noise-cancelling models available today.
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When you want the best TV picture, there is no doubt in our opinion, the choice should be Sony. However the amount of light in your room can have a big effect on the type of Sony TV you should choose, be it LED or OLED. Learn how to find the best for your space with this article.
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Sony’s latest front projectors take light output to new levels with their new laser light engines. These are all far brighter than the models they replace, but Sony did not stop there. They all have a special video processor called X1 Ultimate for Projector that is shared in their top-of-the-line model. New 4K SXRD panels and an improved optic...
Sony’s new 2022 Bravia XR TVs provide an immersive picture with brighter, more vivid colors & finer detail that really pops off the screen like nothing else we’ve seen before. This year, along with new QD-OLED, OLED & full-array LED models, Sony introduced their first-ever Mini LED televisions. In our overview, we’ll dive into al...
Sony has once again raised the bar for best-in-class surround sound with their new HT-A9 Home Theater System, HT-A7000 7.1.2 Channel Soundbar, and HT-A5000 5.1.2 Soundbar. Watch our full overview where we dive into these new home theater offerings & our top recommended Sony TVs to pair them with to experience the best immersion for music, ...
Enter your room dimensions, audio, and video preferences while it designs your theater in real-time. Receive optimal screen size, seating locations, speaker locations, and receive precise measurements for your room layout. Work with our system designers via chat, email, phone, or in-store for expert advice, product selections, and more.
Explore some of our most recent custom install projects. From DIY to full custom install, our design and install teams are here to support you every step of the way.
In this home theater showcase, we give you a behind-the-scenes look at the entire process of upgrading our existing theater inside our Raleigh showroom. From start to finish, our timelapse video shows each part of this project, along with the components we used and why we selected them. Watch now to see how an outdated room was transformed into ...
Step inside a truly remarkable home theater meticulously designed to captivate your senses and leave you in awe. With cutting-edge technology, extraordinary movie statues and memorabilia, and impeccable attention to detail, this cinematic sanctuary is a haven for film enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
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Building a Home Theater in a non-traditional room can be difficult. In this Home Theater showcase, we toured a room with angled ceilings, a bar in the back, and other design challenges. We walk you through how we used our Free Home Theater Tool and other design practices to overcome these challenges and build a killer, immersive 7.2.4 theater.
Scott Newnam, the CEO of Audio Advice, takes us on a tour of a luxurious smart home that is equipped with state of the art automation and entertainment technology. In our video, we tour the basement, which is an entertainment mecca, complete with a Full Swing golf simulator, JBL Synthesis High Performance Home Theater, Custom Home Gym, and much ...
In this home theater showcase, we’re excited to share a theater we recently finished in a brand-new luxury home. Discover how we paired a Sony GTZ-380 projector with JBL Synthesis speakers and electronics from Anthem & Kaleidescape to design the homeowner’s dream theater in this incredible home entertainment mecca.
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Audio Advice recently crafted a one-of-a-kind, multi-use home theater basement buildout. Learn more about our approach as we walk you through the design of the home theater and home automation systems throughout the home office, bar & entertainment area, and an incredible home theater.
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Tour this incredible home theater that also serves as a high-performance stereo music system at its core. We think you’ll enjoy seeing how we pulled off such a cool system in an open living room without using a dedicated home theater room or listening room.
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In this home theater showcase, we’re excited to share a new theater we recently finished in a brand new home. We will cover everything in the theater itself and discuss the room, equipment and acoustic treatment. We also give special attention to how we calibrated the theater, including showing you some tricks for getting the most out of your ...
If you are in the market for a new home theater system or improving part (or all) of the one you already own, you’ve probably figured out that the options can be more confusing than advanced algebra! Explore our guide to understand the available options and how they might work or not work in your particular situation. If you need help customizing a solution for your space, reach out - we're happy to help!
There are so many great options when it comes to choosing sources for your home theater or media room that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Should you use a streaming device like an Apple TV 4K or Roku Ultra? Do you still need a cable box or Blu-ray Player? Do you want the very best option with a Kaleidescape? We answer all these questions and m...
A guide on how to design your ideal home theater or media room so all your friends and family experience a beautiful picture with great surround sound. Learn about how the dimensions of your room can impact the sound, finding the ideal screen viewing height, and how to design a home theater riser so everyone has a great seat.
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If you’re building a home theater or media room, a common forgotten element is planning for your electrical needs. Audio Advice shares their best practices so you can have a powerful entertainment system!
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A guide on how to get the best sound out of your home theater room. We have some tips and tricks to greatly improve the way your home theater sounds. You’ll learn about how to use some basic things around the house to enhance your acoustics and how to choose aftermarket acoustic treatments.
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This article is part of our home theater design series, and we will cover how to mount your front projector to your ceiling. If you are thinking about a DIY home theater, mounting the screen and projector may give you some pause, but there is no need to worry. With the right knowledge and some of our tips, you will be able to install your projec...
This article is part of our home theater design series and we will cover how to mount your front projection screen. If you are thinking about a DIY home theater, mounting the screen and projector may give you some pause, but there is no need to worry. With the right knowledge and some of our tips, you will be able to install your first screen li...
For the home theater enthusiast looking to upgrade their picture in a family or media room, the choice between a large, flat panel tv and an ultra-short throw projector can be a daunting one. Watch our latest video where we dive into the pros and cons of each display!
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In this article, we will go over all the things you need to consider when trying to find the best front projection system for your home theater or family room. We have put together a pretty straightforward decision tree to help you quickly determine your ideal front projector choice!
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Learn how to choose the best size for your TV or front projection home theater system. We’ve culminated in the advice of the movie industry and our years of experience with real-world home theaters to take the guesswork out of helping you choose the perfect screen size. You’ll just need a tape measure and a calculator.
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While this is one of the most common questions we get, the answer is something pretty hard to pin down. As we’ve heard from thousands of customers over the years, a well-designed home theater room will quickly become your favorite room in the house. As with anything, the devil is in the details. Let’s take a look at what it will take to get ...
Learn about technologies and features you should look for in a new audio-video receiver for your home theater. We will make it easy to decide which features are important for your system and which ones you may not need to worry over.
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Today’s home theater receivers come with so many features, they can make your head spin. Just take a look at the specs on any brand’s website and you’ll probably see more than 50 features listed in the long list of advantages the brand is pitching you. Sure you want all of the latest and greatest, but in the end, room EQ optimization i...
Follow our home theater AV receiver setup to greatly improve the overall sound of your home theater system.
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Whether you’re researching for a future home theater installation or exploring ways to enhance your current home theater, we’ve created a series of videos to walk you through upgrades to make optimizing your setup easier — including everything you need to know, from tweaking your picture to improving the acoustics in your room. In this par...
If you are a home theater enthusiast, you are probably aware of how important a role the center channel speaker plays in a great home theater experience. Here, we will give some basic set up tips and hopefully even a couple of suggestions for experts that will help you get the most out of your center channel speaker.
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Check out our free tips on how to improve the picture performance of your home theater’s TV or front projector. We go over some simple steps that will allow you to fine-tune your picture like a pro. Whether you have a new home theater or yours has some age on it, these tips are sure to make you smile when you see the improvements.
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Imagine you are really getting into a great action movie, the spaceship lands, and all of a sudden, you hear this terrible buzzing or rattling sound coming from somewhere in your room. The effect of the movie has just been totally ruined. This tip breaks down how to find and eliminate noises your room might be making due to vents, furniture, li...
Follow along in our guide where we help explain how and give you the right tools to perfectly set lip sync in your home theater.
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This tip is designed to help you nail down the right contrast and brightness settings on your television or projector. If you have not yet watched our Top 5 Tips for improving your Home Theater video, we would suggest you watch that first as it covers all of the major items you want to adjust in order, including brightness and contrast.
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This tip is designed to help you perfectly focus your projector and is part of our Top 5 Tips For Improving Your Home Theater Video series. You can follow these steps using your projector’s pattern or we show you in this video. Make sure your projector has warmed up for at least 20 minutes before running this test.
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If you follow these tips, you can substantially improve your home theater or media room. This tip breaks down how to get the perfect sharpness settings on your television or front projector.
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Although hanging acoustic panels in a home theater or listening room is not too difficult, it does require a little thought & planning. In this video, we show you two effective methods we use here at Audio Advice that are easy for the average DIYer.
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A guide on how to design your ideal home theater or media room so all your friends and family experience a beautiful picture with great surround sound. Learn about how the dimensions of your room can impact the sound, finding the ideal screen viewing height, and how to design a home theater riser so everyone has a great seat.
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Adding a subwoofer to your home stereo system or home theater system can make a huge improvement in your sound if you know how to properly position and adjust the settings.
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As more original Dolby Atmos movies continue to come to streaming platforms, you will not want to choose upgrades for your home theater system until you watch our next video. Since you already own most of the key parts, you won’t even have to change that many components! We will cover essential tips & tricks to get great-sounding uncompre...
