One of today’s increasingly popular high-end amenities among homebuyers is the media room.
It began, humbly enough, as one of those “mid-century modern” innovations during the dawn of the home movie era. That’s when visitors were often sentenced to an after-dinner ritual of watching their hosts and their kids cavorting on some cheap package holiday.
It began in the 1950s with the Kodak 8-mm film projector back when projector equipment was reasonably affordable. Remembering Uncle John’s trip to Blackpool and cousin Maria’s first birthday party were moments that could be shared over and over (albeit without sound) with the family, and the first home-made version of theatre viewing was on its way.
Cue the spotlights and fast forward to today. The contemporary media room has burst into our IMax sensibilities with all the garish glory of opening night.
Not only is it replete with standard, flat-screen television viewing for the adults and the kids’ Xbox playing, but it also has the capability to advance the basic visual concept into another dimension that includes wide-screen viewing, coupled with intricate audio surround sound and numerous other gadgets.
And, that’s only the hardware.
Custom-built cabinetry with motorised mountings can even hide your screen behind artwork or a tasteful facade until you decide to press a button and begin screening something.
Did we mention the seating?
Think multiple-position leather recliner multiplied by six, eight, or more.
Increasingly, these media rooms have the look, feel and ambience of real, extremely plush and invitingly comfortable theatres.
Just think: Now you, as the homebuyer, can anticipate the sort of baronial private screening room that Howard Hughes shared with absolutely no one. If you are in the mood for popcorn and fizzy drinks, it’s easy enough to install commercial versions of both machines in the media room, too.
Sticking the big wads of gum under the seats is up to you.
It’s the cool, dark space where “home cinema” debuts in your finished basement.
Viva, Hollywood!
The concept of a mandatory media room is creeping on to many “must-have” lists across the real estate nation.
While home cinema viewing did begin with those dinosaur 8-mm in-house nickelodeons, film shortly thereafter moved on to bigger dimensions, including 16- and 35-mm projection capability. The very wealthy, especially those in the movie industry in the 1950s and ’60s, advanced the concept and put a name on their cinematic viewing experience: They were named “screening rooms”.
Over the years, advancing technology continued to focus on and develop new ways to enhance visual electronic communications, and soon the 8-mm consumer market began to shrink in light of the newest and latest advancement: the VCR. Throughout the late 1970s and into the late 1980s, this was a hot ticket item designed to implement video viewing right through any conventional television.
Following hard on the heels of the VCR, technology took no rest, and in short order the advent of multi-channel audio systems along with laserdiscs created a whole new emerging paradigm for home entertainment.
Today, it’s a multi-billion dollar business that has the capacity to keep adding new product just as fast as it can be introduced at the big trade shows every year.
Basically, a home theatre/cinema set-up is just a collection of a few parts that include: a television set, DVD or HDTV receiver and a set of speakers. Referring to a home theatre versus a set of components, the former would comprise more high-quality audio and video output with surround sound added.
Capturing the home cinema experience is the equivalent of going to the movies without the blocked view from the guy in front of you, as well as the crunching sound from the popcorn lover behind you. Unless, of course, you happen to know people like that, in which case you can invite them over.
Anyone can make their den or bedroom into a fully-functioning media room, theatre-like experience.
An inexpensive home theatre could cost £500 for the television, £100 to £200 for the receiver and £150 for speakers.
There are so many options to consider when creating a home media room that the specifics depend entirely on your needs or preferences. Electronics technology is not unlike computer systems; components are now easier to make and getting better with each upgrade.
Consumer electronics is the hottest thing going. At one time analog devices were quite expensive, but now digital has claimed that market as the front-runner. Input devices, such as HD DVD or Blu-ray, are also the preferred way to go, and audio speakers for a typical home media room can start at just two speakers and can move up to 11 with additional subwoofer, if necessary.
The atmosphere can duplicate or surpass the experience of your local multiplex. In addition to the luxurious seating and equipment that’s available, you can come even closer to a theatre feel by installing specialised wall treatments that are applied to keep the sound balanced and within the room. Many consumers aren’t even aware of the wrap-around quality this relatively simple feature can provide until or unless they’ve had the chance to sample with and without.
The popularity of a media room within a home is taking hold to such a degree that home builders (yes, they still exist) are considering the advent of blueprinting such a room right into the floor-plan, just like the library, study, or spare room – all of which were once considered special, costly add-ons.
While there’s still the thrill of opening night at the debut of Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, on the big screen in the city, the personalised media room holds growing appeal.
Today a homeowner can assemble audio/visual components within the 1970s-era family room and re-define the recreational space while transforming it into a 21st-century media centre.
The only downside to furnishing a media room and equipping it with state-of-the-art video accoutrements is that by next year or even next month, the latest devices have the potential of becoming obsolete.
