Going Beyond Speakers And Projectors For A Truly Immersive Experience

Movies contain powerful magic: the dancing of light off a screen and the manipulation of sound draws us in and transports the soul. From film's earliest days in the 1880s in Paris, a theater's decor, fabrics, and furnishing were used to invoke wonder and awe. 

Whether your aesthetics lean towards the 1920’s atmospheric movie palaces of John Eberson or a more modern minimalist design, lighting is a vital element. The placement, fixtures, brightness, and color create drama and a sense of anticipation. The newest entry Light Walls has the potential to become a revelation in home theater installation. 

Today, our understanding of the psychological effect of illumination and LED technology allows us to bring the experience to new heights. Are you intrigued by the possibilities for your Charlotte, NC, home? Then continue reading below to find out more.

We Have Just One Word for You: Acoustics

In a famous scene from the 1960s classic The Graduate, a young Dustin Hoffman gets some advice from his father’s friend for his future: “I just want to say one word to you. One word. Plastics.” No, this blog isn’t about plastics, and that secret is out anyway. But we do want to talk about one word that can’t be ignored when it comes to home theater – acoustics.

Home theaters present some unique challenges for audio performance. Today’s theaters have many speakers, as many as 16 when you count surround speakers, subwoofers, and height speakers. Each one of these needs to evenly cover a certain area, blend with the overall soundtrack, and not cause sound imperfections that don’t belong. The layout, finishes, and furnishings of the theater also significantly affect the sound. It's not just a matter of choosing excellent equipment and calibrating it correctly, and sometimes the space needs acoustic help.

If you are a builder or designer, it’s wise to consider acoustic treatment early in your plans for residential projects in Charlotte, NC. Why? We’ll get into it below. 

Add Immersive Sound to Your Home Cinema Experience

Surround sound is prevalent these days in just about every kind of video entertainment. For broadcast TV, Dolby Digital has been the standard sound format since the transition to digital in 2009. If you have a compatible soundbar, home theater receiver, or other audio processor and the right speakers, you can enjoy surround sound on many shows, from broadcast to cable to streaming. How well those shows use the extra channels of audio, however, varies greatly.

But you may already know all that. What you may have heard of but not know as much about is Dolby Atmos and another competitive surround format called DTS:X. These are often called immersive surround formats because, well, they are more immersive! While regular surround sound is great, a good Dolby Atmos (or DTS:X) soundtrack might blow you away. So, what is immersive sound, and why is it a great upgrade for your Charlotte, NC home theater? That’s what we’ll get into below!

Cabinets and Theater Seating to Top Off Any Home Theater or Media Room

You can have an impeccable 4K screen, a UHD projector, and a high-tier speaker system, but if the atmosphere isn’t right in your home theater or living room, you won’t be compelled to spend time there. The right furniture can make all the difference. But if you’ve checked out the local big box store, you might be less than impressed by their audio/video furniture offerings.

For a specific product, it’s best to let the experts step in. And Salamander Designs is an expert in all audio/video-oriented furniture, from home theater seating to sleek cabinetry. Read on to see if Salamander Designs is what you’ve been looking for in your Cornelius, NC, home.

The Audio & Displays to Enhance Your Movie Showings

Every fall and winter, serious Oscar-contending movies start to hit theaters. Yearly we can expect beautiful cinematography, vibrant sound mixing, and well-written dialogue. Whether you’re watching winners from last year like Green Book or The Favourite or this year’s nominees like Marriage Story, there’s a good way to do it—and then there’s the best way. Want to experience the best way?

Continue reading to learn about the latest home theater technology for your Lake Norman, NC home. With a home theater system that looks and sounds this good, your local cinema owners will be green with envy.  

Perhaps you’re considering a home theater for your Charlotte, NC area property.

Where do you begin?

There’s plenty to think about when it comes to what you want out of your private cinema.

But if you want the best cinematic experience – regardless of however you might want to customize your space – there’s an obvious route you should take: Opt for a dedicated home theater.

How can a devoted space for your private cinema improve the overall viewing experience?

So you’re ready to bring your own customized cinema to your Lake Norman, NC living space – but now you have to deal with the actual installation!  Any type of smart home project can feel a bit overwhelming at first.  That’s why we recommend working with a quality home theater company like The Integrated Home team.  We’ll ensure you receive the best service around for your home cinema installation.

But what does our process look like exactly, and what can you expect from working with us?  In this blog, we’ve put together a list of steps that show from start to finish what our installations entail.

Want to find out more?  Just keep reading below to see what teaming up with us will do for you and your home theater.

SEE ALSO: WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A DEDICATED HOME THEATER?

1. Assessing Your Project Goals

The first step in the installation process is to determine what type of home theater you are looking to get out of your project.  The sooner this is established, the sooner everything else can get underway and on the journey to perfection for you.

“Ambient lighting” is a term used frequently in the AV industry. It is the light that is present in a room before additional lighting is added, including sunlight, ceiling lights, and fireplaces, as opposed to task lighting or complicated, multi-layered lighting design.

Though it is an essential part of our everyday lives, ambient lighting should not be a part of your home theater experience. Ambient light rejecting screens combat this glare-causing nuisance with unique technology that we’ll discuss today. Read on to find out why you should use one in your next media room installation in Lake Norman, NC!

SEE ALSO: Tips for Media Room Installations in Your Next Design or Build Project

Types of Media Room Installation Screens

There are three types of reflection screens used in your Lake Norman media room installation. Regular screens use diffuse reflectors or reflectors that reflect incoming light in all directions uniformly. Most flat-panel televisions use diffuse reflectors, which is why when you watch them on a sunny day, you’ll see on the screen. Matte white screens are the perfect diffusers since white screens are designed to reflect light evenly across the display. In a dark room, projected pictures do not compete with ambient light. However, it is challenging to create a completely dark room when completing a media room installation.

Ambient Light Rejection Screens -Specular and Retroflective

Ambient light rejection screens are a recent trend in media room designs that reflect the image to the audience while reflecting any extraneous light away. There are two types of ambient light rejection displays: specular and retroreflective.

A dedicated home theater can transport an audience to a brand-new world entirely, whether it’s screening a beloved action movie franchise or a new binge-worthy TV show.  Regardless of what they’re watching in their home theater, homeowners are more open to installing an upgraded cinema in their smart home.

So as a builder or architect, your task is to create oppurtunities to incorporate the best smart technologies possible.  But where do you even start when you are faced with creating a space for your client’s theater installation?

No matter if you’re building a new construction or upgrading an existing house, having a trusted team of professionals on your side is crucial to the success of your building projecy.

One way to ensure you bring superior home cinemas to your Charlotte, NC projects is by working with a home theater company like The Integrated Home. Your next project will run smoothly and effectively from start to finish.

Keep reading below to see how we keep any installation plan on track and give your clients the home theater they’ve been dreaming of.

Have you been wanting to invest in a home cinema for your space, but just aren’t sure where to begin with the initial steps of an installation?

Not to worry – our team of theater experts can handle the technical aspects of this detailed process and guide you through everything you need to know.  But first, you’ll need to decide a few things and learn exactly what is required of you, so that in the end you get the home theater of your dreams.

You might be new to everything home theater systems have to offer, but this beginner’s guide will explain everything you need to know about what a setup entails and what an installation would look like at your Charlotte, NC property.

Keep reading below to learn more!

SEE ALSO: DIY VS. PROFESSIONAL HOME THEATER SYSTEMS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Have you been wanting to invest in a home cinema for your space, but just aren’t sure where to begin with the initial steps of an installation?

Not to worry – our team of theater experts can handle the technical aspects of this detailed process and guide you through everything you need to know.  But first, you’ll need to decide a few things and learn exactly what is required of you, so that in the end you get the home theater of your dreams.

You might be new to everything home theater systems have to offer, but this beginner’s guide will explain everything you need to know about what a setup entails and what an installation would look like at your Charlotte, NC property.

Keep reading below to learn more!

SEE ALSO: DIY VS. PROFESSIONAL HOME THEATER SYSTEMS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Perhaps you’re interested in adding a home theater setup to your property. You’re ready to enjoy the ultimate home on-screen entertainment system, optimized for delivering the best viewing experience possible.

So, where do you begin the process?

As a homeowner in the Lake Norman, NC area, you have two likely options: You can build home theater systems on your own, or you can have a professional craft your setup for you.

In this post, we explore those two choices so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Just keep reading to find out more.

You might be a huge movie buff or simply want a way to relax while enjoying a film with friends and family.  A custom home theater system can give you both the comfort and enhanced fixtures commercial theaters simply don’t have.  Impress guests – and yourself – with a new viewing experience like no other.  Installation and design might seem overwhelming, but there are three key features needed when planning your theater.  Read on to learn how a perfect home theater design for you will amaze every viewer in your Charlotte, NC home.

1. Stellar Screen and Surround Sound

If you want to recreate the amazing visuals of a commercial theater, you need a 4K Ultra High-Definition projector. Even on a screen large enough to fill the entire wall, you won’t be able to see any pixelation or blurriness. Instead, you get a crisp, clear picture.

SEE ALSO: HOW TO PAIR UP A PROJECTOR AND SCREEN FOR YOUR HOME THEATER

Second, you’ll want a surround sound system that gives you the feeling of actually being in the movie. With surround sound, the speakers are strategically placed overhead, to the sides, behind, and in front of you to create a fully immersive listening experience.

2. The Right Seating

The style, material, and position of your home theater seating will make a big difference in the overall experience. As your home theater installer, we’ll be able to provide recommendations on the perfect seating based on room size and how many people you want to accommodate seating for within the space.