Back-to-Basics Media Room Plays Well
By Arlen Schweiger
Collaboration between custom electronics pro, interior designer, builder and homeowners made this "basic" room special for this family.

Sometimes basic is best. At least, what a custom electronics professional might refer to as basic.

The result could still be looked upon as very special by the homeowners, especially when it combines ease of use, uncluttered and visually appealing TV installation and attention to what the rest of the room design is like. That’s what these homeowners received, and it makes for a sweet spot for them to relax with television and full surround sound.



“The homeowners specified the equipment to be hidden when not in use. They also specified the cabinet that holds the TV should match their decor. This is a pretty typical request from our customers,” says Ryan Herd of New Jersey-based 1 Sound Choice. We wanted to install a back-to-the-basics, fundamentally sound, bulletproof audio/video system that is extremely easy to use.”

Here it is, with the system consisting mainly of a Pioneer 50” plasma TV, Pioneer receiver for the family room and Sony Blu-ray player. On the audio end, a 5.1 system consisting of a Pinnacle front LCR soundbar, Emphasys in-wall rear speakers and a Pinnacle subwoofer serve up the surround sound. The front soundbar was neatly installed just below the plasma TV.

The control system is Control4, which also allows the homeowners to command the lighting, an important part of watching movies and TV shows in this space with all of its curtain-laden windows. Again, all the equipment is proven to be basically bulletproof for simple operation and navigation for anyone in the house or guests.

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