A Cinema That Disappears Into The Room

Dolby Atmos is a sound format that places effects around and above you, not just in front and to the sides. Rain falls from overhead, a helicopter moves across the ceiling, and the room feels bigger than it is. To get it, a theatre adds height speakers, usually in the ceiling, to a traditional surround setup, along with an audio processor that decodes Atmos. Most major streaming services and 4K discs already offer Atmos soundtracks, so the content is there. You do not strictly need it, but if you are building a dedicated theatre or media room, planning for it from the start costs far less than adding it later, because the ceiling speakers and wiring go in during the build. We design every theatre so it is ready for immersive sound.

It depends on the room and how you use it. A projector and screen give you the biggest, most cinematic picture, and they shine in a dedicated theatre where you can control the light. A large TV is brighter, handles daylight better, and suits a family room or media room that is used for sports, gaming, and everyday watching as much as movies. Some clients choose a TV for daily viewing and a motorized screen that drops down for movie night. During your consultation we look at the room size, seating distance, windows, and how the space will actually be used, then recommend the option that will look best in that room. Either way, it is wired cleanly, hidden where possible, and controlled from one remote.

Almost any room can become a great home theatre with the right design. Basements are popular because they are naturally dark and quieter, but spare bedrooms, bonus rooms, and open media rooms work well too. What matters most is light control, the seating position relative to the screen, and where the speakers can go. Windows can be handled with motorized shades that close when the movie starts. Hard, bare surfaces can make sound harsh, so rugs, furniture, and in some rooms acoustic treatment help the sound feel clear and full. We visit the space, measure it, and design the screen size, speaker layout, and seating around the room you actually have, instead of forcing a standard package into it.

Yes. Many of our theatres are built into existing homes, not just new construction. In a finished room we run wiring through walls and ceilings wherever possible, so the result still looks clean, with no cables along the baseboards. For a basement that is being finished, the best time to bring us in is before the drywall goes up, so the speaker wire, network, and power for the projector and equipment can go exactly where they need to be. In both cases we plan where the equipment will live, often in a closet or a ventilated cabinet out of sight, and we tie the theatre into your lighting and the rest of your Control4 system if you have one, or start one if you do not.

With one press. Your AVAS theatre runs on Control4, so a single button on the remote, a keypad by the door, or the app on your phone starts movie night. The lights dim to a comfortable level, the shades close, the projector or TV and the sound system turn on, and the right input is selected automatically. Pause the movie and the lights come up a little so nobody trips on the way to the kitchen. When you are done, one more press turns the whole room off. There is no stack of remotes and no guessing which input the streaming box is on. Everyone in the family can use it, including guests, and we walk you through it before we leave.

Yes. We built the world's first home automation trailer so people can try this in person instead of imagining it from a brochure. It is a fully working smart home on wheels with a theatre and lounge inside, all running on the same Control4 system we install in homes. You can sit down, press play, and feel how the lighting, picture, and sound work together. We bring the trailer to home and cottage shows across Ontario, and we are happy to talk through what you experienced and how it would translate to your own room. For a project already underway, we can also walk you through the design with the actual room layout before any equipment is ordered.