In Sight & Sound
Home Theatre Editorials
Photo courtesy Sunshine Coast Daily
Click below to view Sunshine Coast Daily Revive cover story, July 17
"It's a lifestyle choice"
It used to be that home theatre was the exclusive domain of men - it was the ultimate "big boy's toy". But now, home theatre systems are part of the total home package - and more than likely it's the women who are organising their home's automation.
Years ago, only top-end users and prestige home owners were looking to pre-wire and
fit out with the latest in home technologies and home theatre set-ups. Now, home automation is being integrated into more modest four bedroom constructions - and your average $250,000 home is being fitted out with some sort of "smart wiring".
Peter Southern established In Sight and Sound on the Sunshine Coast 10 years ago before "home automation" and "smart wiring" were the catchcries they have become today.
Peter said more and more home owners were looking to include home automation and entertainment systems in their homes, whether they were building, renovating, or adding features to existing dwellings.
He said a new home tended to be a whole lifestyle upgrade and people were spending more on plasmas and other large screens and wanted the infrastructure to support them.
"It's a misapprehension that a projector and big screen won't work in a conventional room. Correct design and installation of a projector and screen can give you excellent results in a light environment.
"In my home theatre-come-rumpus room, the kids press a button and the screen comes down out of a bulk head in the ceiling. The surround sound is amazing - we had Master and Commander on the other night and you could hear the ship creaking and groaning.
"A quality home theatre system and a couple of rooms of data cabling can start from $20,000 fit-out - that's a big screen and decent audio system. Of course, the sky's the limit.
"Some people are really serious and are doing a totally dedicated room as a home theatre room. Others are utilising the family or rumpus room and including home theatre features.
"And often it's the women who are organising the home theatre set-up. It used to be that home theatre was the 'ultimate big boy's toy' but now a home theatre room is part of the total home package."
Peter said it was important to explain the features of home theatre and automation in simple terms so the customer could understand what they were getting for their money.
"Usability is a big factor," he said. "The very best audio-visual systems can be too complex for many people - if you don't want that we can still design a quality system with the convenience of 'one button' operation."
In Sight and Sound will run double RG-6 video cable from all rooms back to a central point allowing the installation of equipment to distribute signals throughout the home from, for example, a DVD player or Pay TV set-top box. Infrared extenders can be added to give remote control of the source from wherever it is being watched. Hidden cabling is installed for speakers throughout the home as well as ceiling-mounted video projectors or wall-mounted or built-in plasma panels.
"People want music in their dining room, their kitchens, music out by the pool, and in their bedrooms and bathrooms; they want internet access in any room - not just the office, an integrated phone and intercom system, and security features like video cameras going back through the TVs in the house to keep an eye on the kids out at the pool, or to find out who's knocking on the front door," Peter said.
"With a home theatre package 'smart wiring' means the kids can be watching a DVD in the rumpus room, a teenage son can be watching the footie on another TV in his bedroom, and mum and dad can be listening to their favourite CD in the parents' retreat."
Peter said it was important when building or renovating to do the pre-wiring at the construction stage - and to consult an expert. "We understand that the budget with building often gets blown - but as long as the cabling is in, we can always come back to do it later," he said.
"If we run Cat 5 cable to every room, this gives us flexibility in locating phones and computers, and is very cheap to install at the time of building, but can be expensive to retrofit.
"It's a specialised field and not everyone is up to speed with the current regulations. Don't be fooled that any cable will do - it's specialised cable required which is matched with government regulations. Also check to see that the installer is licensed and has the necessary ACA (Australian Communications Authority) licenses."
Peter said the demand from builders, architects and clients for design, supply and installation of infrastructure for home automation and entertainment systems had increased greatly over the past two years. "We do work for a number of developers and builders - forward-thinkers who are marketing homes on the basis that they're pre-wired for technology."
In Sight and Sound also offers the complete package including the sound-proofing of floors, walls and ceilings and block-out curtains or blinds for home theatre rooms.
For design advice or to visit In Sight and Sound's show house, contact Peter on 5445
7799 or 0418796277.