Home Cinema Choice – September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

Known as 'Le Petite Garnier', this plush premium
home theatre apes the aesthetics of the Le Palais
Garnier opera venue in Paris.
Michael Robinson, Project Director at Perfect
Integration, the company that designed the room,
reveals the owner wanted to enjoy the experience
of the cinema as much as they'd enjoy watching
a movie. However, neither were they willing to
sacrifi ce when it came to technology.
'Our brief evolved into delivering a high-
performance, technically accurate, reference-grade
cinema, without any compromises and with all
technology blending seamlessly into the design.'
The kit specifi cation includes a high-end
Barco Balder CinemaScope 4K projector used
with a motorized masking screen (hidden
when wanted by a retro-style red curtain);

INSTALL 31

A. Behind the mask

A Screen Research X-Mask projector screen,

measuring 3.3m, is the canvas for the cinema's

4K HDR visuals

B. A place for bass

Four B&W subwoofers are used to give the

soundfi eld a deep, even low-end. Two are housed

at the front, in this under-screen cabinet

Kaleidescape and Oppo Blu-ray sources; a 7.4.4

Bowers & Wilkins speaker array; and Rotel and

Storm Audio separates. Touchscreen control comes

via a Crestron system that also automates the rest

of the house.

An eye-catching feature of the room is its curved

ceiling, which helps disperse sound in an irregular

fashion, bringing an acoustic benefi t. Amidst the

detailed soffi t design lurk the four height channel