Inside the AWE Dolby Atmos home cinema showroom

The AWE Dolby Atmos equipped home theatre has opened its doors, allowing installers and clients to experience the latest in surround sound technologies. The facility is the latest edition to AWE’s showroom at its new Alexander House HQ, intended to be a real world example of the fully integrated smart home.

The theatre itself is scalable in nature and has been built to fit projects priced between £15K - £50K, the most common of price points. It features loudspeakers from KEF, amplification and source electronics from Denon, URC control and Philips Dynalite lighting. 

The room was designed and installed by AWE’s in-house team. “We couldn’t be happier with the end result” enthuses Stuart Tickle, managing director of AWE. “Our customers are regularly installing home cinemas and we wanted to be able to provide them a cinema room demonstrating what can be achieved using the brands we distribute. This exciting new space is now open to our dealers to visit and also to bring their clients for a truly inspiring home cinema experience.”

The room utilises a 7.5.4 Dolby Atmos configuration, chosen says the distributor for the smoothness of its delivery. Driving KEF in-wall CI speakers is a Denon AVR-X5200W AV receiver. The 7 channel speaker layout features KEF Ci5160RL-THX as L/C/R and Ci3160RL-THX as the surrounds, supported by five matching Ci3160RLb in-wall subwoofers, installed with two at the front, two on each side and one on the centre of the back wall. Four Ci200RR-THX in-ceiling speakers providing the front and rear height channels, painted black to match the design of the room.

Stuart Burgess, from just add Popcorn, comments: “The cinema room demonstrates just what can be achieved without breaking the bank. Let’s face it, the majority of clients do not have millions to invest in a cinema room, so this solution is realistic and therefore achievable for our clients. The main observation from having experienced the cinema room is that you wouldn’t ever question the budget spent - it sounds tremendous!”

The cinema features both a fitted 4K panel, and a projection screen. A Samsung 85HU7500 85-inch UHD TV is mounted on the wall; in front of this drops a Draper projector screen. As the office space upstairs has a mezzanine floor, it wasn’t possible to fix the Epson projector to the ceiling, so instead the projector is mounted to the firewall at the back of the room.

Philips Dynalite LED lighting control and URC Total Control has been used to provide AV and lighting control. Seating is from Front Row. The acoustic treatments were custom built by AWE and are a cosmetic match for the carpet. Additionally, acoustic panels with printed graphics were designed and installed in the outside room around the apartment, reducing reflections in the open plan apartment.

Stephen Toal, from Technocat, describes the cinema room as “an absolutely awesome experience,” adding: “I was very impressed with demonstration. It would be my first choice for a high end system and would unreservedly recommend it to my customers who were looking for the very best of what available today.”  Zak Vracevic, from M.E.G.A AV Installations was won over by the audio performance in the room. “It is crisp and controlled with tight bass and has great performance from in-wall subs. The KEF THX speakers are doing a great job!” 

AWE says the cinema room will soon form part of its Smart Home Academy training courses. For more on AWE’s portfolio of products and services, visit our partner page today.

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