Idea showcase
Take a look at some of the extraordinary systems we've recently completed
Curve appeal
A longtime ListenUp client wanted to upgrade his theater to high-definition, and so we designed this system with a Runco 1080p DLP projector. Runco’s CinemaWide™ technology produces a 2.35:1 image on a 2.35:1 screen with maximum resolution and without those annoying black bars. Runco’s Autoscope™ system expands on this by allowing viewers to enjoy 16:9 (the HDTV aspect ratio) programming and widescreen 2.35:1 DVDs while still maintaining the same image height.
The projector is just part of the picture. The client wanted a real cinematic experience, and to deliver that we turned to Stewart Filmscreen for its CineCurve screen. This unique screen has a slightly curved shape to enhance the super-wide image, creating a sense of total immersion in whatever is being watched. The CineCurve screen also includes Stewart’s masking system, which creates the correct viewing area for any kind of image — widescreen, 16:9 HDTV, or even traditional 4:3 analog images.
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Next generation solutions
ListenUp owner Walt Stinson helped dedign this whole-house entertainment system for a prominent Denver couple. One of the first things a curious visitor might notice is that there is no CD player. The Sonos Digital Music System gives the homeowners plug-and-play access to millions of songs — from music services such as Rhapsody and Pandora, Internet radio, satellite radio and their own personal digital music collection, which is stored on a 1-terabyte NAS (networked attached storage) drive. With simple click-wheel navigation similar to that of an iPod, Sonos Controllers are located throughout the home, providing instant access to a cornucopia of entertainment.
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Stunning flat-panels in the family room, office and bedroom offer plenty of places to enjoy TV, too. The networked video system features TiVo® HD, which combines the clarity of high definition with the smart, easy-to-use TiVo service, so the couple can easily choose from their favorite TV programming or a vast library of movies and other content.
When they're up for serious movie-watching, they retire to their dedicated home theater and enjoy a picture measured in feet rather than inches. |
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Bringing it all together
This longtime ListenUp customer recognized the importance of optimizing his room’s acoustics, so he opted for a Rives Audio Level 2 design. After visiting the home, the Rives team specified bass traps to tame unruly low-frequency waves as well as a combination of absorption and diffusion panels for the walls and ceiling.
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Because the client and his wife wanted a streamlined, built-in look, ListenUp salesman Bill Rollin recommended B&W Signature 8NT in-wall speakers, which were to be oriented vertically for the left and right front channels and horizontally for the center channel. Upon learning of this proposal, Rives owner Richard Byrd became concerned that the Signature speaker’s driver configuration, when placed horizontally, might produce a phase-shift that would adversely impact performance.
In a serendipitous turn of events, both Byrd and B&W’s John Dibb, who designed the Signature speakers, were attending the CEDIA Conference in Denver in September 2007. ListenUp’s Rollin brought the two together to discuss Byrd’s concerns, and Dibb explained that the phase-shift could occur only in seating positions so far off-axis (away from the sweet spot) that no one would ever be sitting there, anyway.
His concerns alleviated, Byrd was once again in Denver for the Rocky Mountain Audiofest in October 2007. He took the opportunity to visit the client's home and persoanlly conduct the final acoustical measurements for the installation. Needless to say, our customer has been extremely happy with this level of personalized service and commitment from some of the top people in the A/V industry. |
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