CE Pro May 2023 - 46

HOME THEATER
a giant Samsung microLED. According to the Deep Dive
survey, 95% of integrators are willing to use a microLED as
the basis for a dedicated home theater, despite the fact
that a video wall can create limitations in terms of speaker
placement for audio. More than one in five (21%) says they
would absolutely install a video wall in a dedicated room,
while 42% say they would do it if the application called for
it. Another 33% of integrators say would install a microLED
home theater, but would try to convince the clients to go
with projection first.
According to the survey, last year 58% of home theaters
utilized traditional 4K TVs as the central video component,
while 34% used projectors. MicroLED video walls accounted
for 8% of installations last year. That is up from virtually zero
in 2021.
Some other equipment trends of note include:
71% of theaters use architectural speakers, with 14%
of the time those being small aperture or invisible
speakers
39% of theaters use freestanding speakers
20% of theaters use a motorized screen, while 11% had
a motorized mount
26% of installations include a Blu-ray disc player, and
34% have a media server, showing that physical media
is not dead
In 27% of theater installations, dealers are also able to
sell home theater seating
Most Important Home Theater Elements to Clients
1. Cinema-like experience
2. Easy to use and control
3. Clean design/aesthetics
4. Price
5. Powerful bass
6. Multipurpose capabilities (i.e., movies, gaming, music)
7. Support for high-resolution audio formats
8. Equipment brand name
Recreating a similar experience to a commercial movie
theater is what clients deem to be most important,
according to integrators. Ease of use and aesthetics leaped
over price as the next most desired features.
As noted, the supply chain problems have subsided
mostly, but dealers still offered a list of home theater gear
that has been somewhat hard to obtain. Not surprisingly,
microchip-based products such as media servers, preamps/
processors, and AVRs top the list.
In terms of the average size of home theaters, there
has been no change from last year. The average number
of loudspeakers (including a soundbar and subwoofers if
applicable) remains seven. The average number of seats per
theater is five.
KEF: In-Wall Speakers for Building the Ultimate Home Cinema
The idea of building my own home
cinema had been in the works for
years, but the project itself broke
ground in August 2020 and finished
after just one year. Having been an
installer in the industry, I had the
know-how to do this all on my own.
Preparation such as 3D modelling
and configuring the projectors to
make sure everything was in the
right place, was several months of work. Next came
gutting the room and bringing the ceiling down. Paint,
flooring, audio proofing came next, but where the room
really shines is the speaker selection. The theater hosts
a 7.6.4 surround-sound format, completely consisting of
KEF in-wall speakers.
The flagship speaker of the theater is the in-wall CiReference
speaker, the Ci5160REFM-THX. It is KEF's first
in-wall speaker to be THX Certified
Dominus and among the very few
that can achieve this ultimate
standard worldwide. With a 12thgeneration
Uni-Q driver array with
Metamaterial Absorption Technology
(MAT), Ci5160REFM-THX delivers an
immersive, high-fidelity soundstage
with unmatched sonic excellence
even for the most extensive home
theatres and living rooms.
But there are options for everyone when choosing your
KEF In-Walls, even on a budget. The Ci4100QL-THX is a
fantastic option as well, at $599.99 each. Without the KEF
in-walls, the theater would not be as immersive as it is. The
KEF speakers are vital to creating a sound experience that
matches the ultimate home cinema experience.
-Adam Hauser, KEF Regional Sales Manager
46 | CE Pro May 2023
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CE Pro May 2023

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