The client sought a media room that incorporated a luxury cinema set-up and a visually striking interior, wanting to preserve the townhouse’s historic charm with an opulent design. Every surface was hand-painted, requiring AV components to blend seamlessly into the décor. To achieve this, the design incorporated motorised chinoiserie screens and a concealed projector screen, ensuring the technology remained unobtrusive while delivering a premium viewing experience.

DbM supplied a Barco projector and Meridian speakers –products that were essential to achieving the room’s immersive sound and picture quality.

Projector Selection

The Barco Bragi projector was positioned behind a hand-painted motorised panel, allowing projection from the highest possible point to ameliorate the limitation of the room’s low ceiling. A specialist glass porthole isolated the projector from the cinema space, reducing noise without compromising image quality. Powered by an innovative, high lumens density (HLD) RGB LED light engine, the Barco Bragi provides professional grade optics and bright colours to enhance the overall cinematic experience. The Bragi uses CinemaScope, a complex ratio detection system scaling images to size, ranging from 1:78:1 to 2:39:1.

“A change in layout from the original design provided a unique technical challenge,” commented Rob Sutherland, Managing Director at Inspired Dwellings. “The client decided to change the wall to which the screen should be mounted, resulting in an impractical projection range. The brilliant solution was to mount the projector vertically, with a 45-degree angled mirror above it to reflect the image onto the screen on the opposite side."

Audio Selection

Audio performance was equally important. Inspired Dwellings worked closely with DbM to fine-tune the system, ensuring optimal sound quality. The set-up featured a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos configuration, with three Meridian DSP520.2 front speakers, four Meridian DSP320.2 surround speakers embedded in the side and rear walls, four Dolby Atmos speakers mounted in the ceiling, and two subs. The loudspeakers are equipped with custom-painted grilles, perfectly designed to complement the unique design of the room.

Rob explained: "We selected the Meridian DSP520.2 and DSP320.2 in-wall speakers for their sleek, compact design as it blends seamlessly into any room. Their local power capabilities deliver impressive strength, and the cutting-edge audio technology ensures an unparalleled listening experience. The loudspeakers feature built-in amplifiers, eliminating the need for separate rack-mounted amps, saving valuable space in the small room; a key consideration in this historic, listed property.”

The DSP520.2 provides lifelike and spacious sound. Powered by Meridian’s exclusive ‘CLASS-M’ DSP engine and integrated with ‘DYNAMIC’ Hi-Res amplifiers, it is perfect for delivering Meridian's renowned audio quality discreetly in any living or cinema room. Sleek, powerful, and featuring an elegant profile, the DSP320.2 offers power, accuracy and bass performance, unrivalled for a speaker of its size.

A Meridian 271 Digital Theatre Controller was also installed, allowing straightforward integration of Meridian DSP loudspeakers into a system that would otherwise be unable to access the authentic, natural sound from Meridian. Designed to work with any surround processor on the market, the 271 is a High-Resolution interface that allows you to design and build high-performance theatre systems with 20 or more channels.

Along with the technology, bespoke flooring and seating were installed to enhance acoustics and comfort, contributing to a luxurious yet functional cinema environment. By carefully balancing heritage aesthetics with cutting-edge AV solutions, this project demonstrates how technology can enhance a space without compromising its design.

For more information about DbM, visit www.distributedbym.com. To find out more about Inspired Dwellings, visit www.inspireddwellings.com.