Home Theater Design
In the past, all you needed for a home theater was two extra rooms: one for the theater and one for the live-in operator it took to run it. Now, all you need is an extra corner for the theater and an extra room for the operator. Even a small home theater can be overwhelming when you attempt to use it.
For example, the small high-definition (HD) home theater below comes with 5 remote controls, for a total of 217 buttons. You still need a live-in technician just to change channels!
Unless, of course, we designed it. This home theater includes a satellite receiver, DVD player, VCR, surround sound, and a 34-inch HDTV. The entire system uses just one remote and has only seven buttons and a touch screen. It's really a hand-held computer that we programmed with all the commands from the other remotes so that one controller can run the whole show. The VCR even sets its own clock. Everyone in the family can enjoy this system to its fullest because we designed it to fit only one family.
You might think that the most complicated thing about home theaters is using one, but you couldn't be further from the truth. The most complicated thing by far is sorting through the thousands of products on the market that are needed to design one, all claiming to be the best. For example, direct view screens range from 21 inches to 60 inches, rear projection screens range from 40 to 65 inches and front projectors can project from 60 inches to 60 feet and more. There are more that 40 brands of speakers to sort through and as many amplifiers.
The modern home theater can be as small as the corner system shown above or a special room for experiencing serious cinema viewing. We do them all.
Home theaters should be matched exactly to their users, the right size, the right brand, and in the right location. In addition, they should have the right list of equipment. That's why every design starts with getting to know you and your expectations and doesn't end until you realize those expectations.
Blair Labs … When there has to be a better way.