Home Cinema Installation in Cambridgeshire

Installation of the Sony VPL-VW500ES projector for this 4k Home Cinema Installation in Cambridgeshire

Our client’s requirement was for a Native 4K Home cinema installation and the Sony VPL-VW500ES 4K home cinema projector was an obvious front runner, as this home cinema installation in Cambridgeshire is almost certain to be used with true 4K content in the very near future. A draper euroscreens fixed frame screen was selected with a diagonal image size of 124 inches. This texture of the screen surface is relatively smooth on this screen, making it suitable for 4K images. We use a process of laser measurement and laser geometry to ensure that the projector lens is located in the optimum position in relation to the screen. We try to avoid relying upon measurements in relation to the walls etc as buildings are rarely built to sufficient accuracy. Opposite walls are often not completely parallel to each other, so we make sure that we position the projector accurately in relation to the screen. For this home cinema installation in Cambridgeshire we used a flush ceiling mount bracket, We often recommended this type of mount because we feel that it helps to make the projector less obtrusive. We have solutions available to flush mount more or less any model of projector.

The mount must of course be fixed to a substantial joist, the area of ceiling was surveyed, to map the locations of joists which coincide with the perfect positioning of the projector in relation to the screen. if this had not been achievable we would have added a substantial timber inside the ceiling. In this case an optimum location was found with suitable fixing points to two existing joists. 100mm M10 coach bolts are an overkill for mounting today’s relatively light home cinema projectors , but we use them anyway, just to be sure.

For this project we wanted to use a top performing blu-ray player and the oppo BDP-103D was selected. This version has the Darbee video processing chipset. The Darbee processor is a video enhancing chip that provides greater clarity and is able to embed Stereoscopic depth cues within the video, resulting in an increased perception of depth and a more dynamic, lifelike experience. The Amount of Darbee processing can be adjusted , which allows the user to customise it to their particular taste. It is claimed that the Darbee processor does not alter the image in a global fashion, so it is able to reduce the amount of image artifacts that are created. Also it doesn’t affect calibrated settings such as contrast, gamma, and colour alignments in the video signal.

We provided wired ethernet to the Blu ray player as well as to the AV Processor, The Sky HD box and the lighting control equipment.

The Starscape Infinity ceiling – The finishing touch for this 4K home Cinema Installation in Cambridgeshire.

After considering several options to add a finishing touch to his home cinema installation in Cambridgeshire Our client decided to accept our quote to install a modular Starscape infinity ceiling, manufactured by Starscape star Ceilings limited.
The Infinity system consists of a light source (there are several to choose from), a set of fibre optic cable assemblies, a set of ceiling panels, and a set of metal channels which fix to the ceiling to form a support frame. The ceiling panels were each to be attached to the support frame by magnetism.  For this project we used one of the simpler light sources, a mini led 500. This can either be configured to produce a colour changing effect , or white light with a twinkle effect. We configured it during installation to produce white light with the twinkling effect.

The fibre optic cable assemblies convey the light to the ceiling panels. the light enters each ceiling panel via an assembly of optical fibres. This assembly looks like a thick cable and it’s diameter is about 12 mm. Inside the panel the assembly splits into it’s individual fibres of which there are dozens. Each individual fibre terminates at the surface of the panel creating a pinpoint of light. These pinpoints of light are distributed randomly across the black flocked surface of the panel and this, together with the twinkle effect generated in the light source, creates a very convincing night sky effect.

The light source is a small metal box, which shines light into one or more bundles of optical fibres. The light is LED generated, which helps to avoid generation of too much heat (although it does generate some). The twinkle effect is created by a small metal wheel which has a series of holes. This wheel is located in the path of the light just before the light reaches the bundle of optical fibres. As wheel rotates slowly the holes move past causing variations in the amount of light entering each of the optical fibres in the bundle.

In the case of our project there were six bundles of optical fibres emanating from a single port on the light source. We had decided to locate the light source above the plasterboard ceiling and below and the floorboards of the room above. Provision was made to be able to have access to the light source for maintenance etc.

We provided an RF remote controlled lighting relay to switch the mains source in order to allow the client to switch the starscape ceiling on and off from his i pad.  It can also be switched on or off from a wireless master wall switch in the room (this just sends commands to the relay via RF). This wireless lighting control system also controls dimming of the wall lights in room.

The Starscape infinity was a wonderful finishing touch to the room, it seems to swallow any stray light and it’s easy to imagine that you are enjoying the spectacle of the big screen experience under a clear starlit sky. Here is a link to another case study of this project on the Starscape web site.

The motorised reclining leather seats were the last addition to this very generously sized cinema room (sourced by our client).