This magnificent media room doubled in size, but the original 133-inch Slate screen didn’t budge.
The Challenge
A dramatic room transformation often calls for an AV update; when a room is stripped down to the studs, how could you not install a bigger projection screen? Although granted an amazing opportunity to upsell their client, the integrators at Elite Audio Video in McKinney, Texas, elected to stand by the tried-and-true Slate screen from Screen Innovations that previously served the room so well. “We had installed a 133-inch Slate acoustically-transparent screen in the home theater originally. Neither the owner nor our team saw any reason to replace it. He was extremely happy with the size and imaging from day one, so we kept it,” explains the owner of Elite Audio Video, Justin Dohman.
Plus, the Elite Audio Video team needed to focus on other aspects of the remodel: the entire room would be reconstructed and redesigned, adding significant square footage to the existing footprint. “The owner wanted a more open, spacious feel, with a new bar area, complemented by a 75-inch Sony display, and a third panel of fiber optic stars added to the ceiling,” says Dohman. “What he didn’t want to change is the screen or the projector! It stood the test of time; it would also stand up to all the extra LED lighting we installed during the renovation.” The SI Slate screen, along with all other AV components, was removed temporarily from the space during the remodel, reinstalled and recalibrated afterward.
The Solution
Elite Audio Video had the unique opportunity to do the same job twice, yet thanks to their “future-proof” approach to AV, most of the original equipment passed muster for the second iteration of this contemporary, cutting-edge media room. Natural sunlight and color-changing RGB lighting dominate the space per the owners’ request, making Slate’s Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) properties and high gain, a huge benefit. The Slate material is so effective at rejecting light, Elite Audio Video was able to deliver an extra visual punch by framing the screen with LED tape lighting. The owner can alter the hue on a whim from a Control4 Neeo remote, while the projected image stays sharp and crisp. The screen’s acoustical transparency further suited the owner’s sense of style. The Origin Acoustics speakers easily tucked in the wall behind the screen material, maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic and making the on-screen action totally immersive.
The screen and JVC projector spring to life at the tap of a button of the Neeo remote, while the lights adjust to the entertainment du jour. For the Buffalo Bills football player, footage from past games often takes center stage, accentuated by signature red and blue lighting. A “Party” button offers a rainbow of hues from which to choose, and “Movie” fades all but the LED tape lighting around the screen, illuminating a vibrant blue hue. No matter what the JVC projector throws at the screen or how brightly the room lights shine, SI’s Slate acoustically transparent, Ambient Light Rejecting screen delivers an outstanding entertainment experience— for the second time around.