The instructions were both simple and daunting. "The homeowners' only guidance was, 'I want spectacular picture sound, and I want to feel like I just walked into the Empire State Building,'" says Jason Barth, president of Premier Custom Audio & Video in Carmel, Ind.

The result was a masterpiece of form and function. From its art deco interior to its cutting-edge media closet, this $250,000 home theater is the centerpiece of a 12,000-square-foot luxury home outside Indianapolis.

Though not huge by some standards, the theater delivers a movie experience worthy of a cineplex, thanks to a Meridian Digital Sound Controller, a Runco VX-2c projector, and a 92-inch Da-Lite Cinema Contour screen. Films are served up by a Kaleidescape Movie Server and distributed via a Crestron control system. Seating features two rows of Acoustic Innovation CinemaChairs, with the rear seats built atop a D-Box Motion Simulation Platform that actually rocks in response to what's happening on screen.

Home builder Will Wright says was fascinated by how technology has advanced. "Instead of just a projector and a screen, you get a moving experience--and I do mean moving," he says. "The motion of the chair makes you feel like the pilot of the plane, not just a passenger."

The biggest technical hurdle was the amount of power needed for the system, Barth says. "I don't believe the local electrical company had any idea how large some of the homes were or how much power they would draw." Barth solved the problem using Furman and Panamax voltage regulators, line conditioners, and battery backups.

Challenge two: ventilating the theater's 12-foot square media closet. Barth put in two climate-controlled fan systems to keep everything running cool. "The equipment put out so much heat we could have expelled it into the HVAC system and heated half the house," he jokes.

Wright says the hardest part of the process was keeping up with the pace of change, as Barth and the homeowner kept adding to his A/V wish list, which also included five plasma TVs and a $75,000 outdoor sound system. "Most of the time when you have parallel contractors working together there's territorial friction," says Wright. "We had none of that."

SNAPSHOT

Home Theatre Cost: $250,000
Partial Equipment List:

• Acoustic Innovations Custom CinemaChairs--deco style
• Canton Ergo Loudspeakers
• Crestron CNAMPX-7x200 amplifier
• Crestron ST-1700c Wireless Color Touch Panel
• Crestron CNXRMC Room Control Solution with Cat-5 video
• Da-Lite 92-inch Diagonal CinemaVision Cinema Contour with Pro-Trim
• D-Box Motion Simulation Platform
• Furman SB-1000 battery backup
• Furman AC-215 power conditioner
• Integra DPS-8.3 single disc DVD player
• JVC HM-DH3000 HD D-VHS player
• Kaleidescape Movie Server with Reader and House Movie Player
• Meridian 568 Digital Surround Controller
• Middle Atlantic Equipment Enclosure
• Panamax Max5500 line conditioner
• Runco VX-2c projector w/ DHD Controller
• Velodyne SPL-1200R Subwoofers

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