Movie Magic at Home

Aug 06, 2023

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Home theaters are recreating the experience of viewing a film in a commercial movie house down to every detail, from illuminated concession stands and door pulls fashioned out of authentic film reels, to sophisticated sound systems and professional-style screens.

In recent years, affluent homeowners who became isolated during the pandemic spent hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars to create a memorable movie-watching space for their families and friends.

Here are some of the latest—and most sophisticated—A-list products that are getting star billing.

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Start With the Screen

Seymour-Screen Excellence's film-screen systems are often found in the most luxurious home theaters, including those of Hollywood celebrities and network-TV executives. Key to these systems are their reference-grade performance and automated masking panels that properly frame the screen to accommodate different aspect ratios.

Available in a variety of designs, these systems allow the front loudspeakers to be mounted behind the company's flagship Enlightor Neo acoustically transparent film-screen surface. This enables dialogue and action to emanate directly from the screen as it does in the commercial cinema—without compromising audio or video.

The company's latest innovation is the Adjustable Ratio Theater (ART) system. ART's unique built-on-wall design allows for a film-screen and masking system up to 20 feet tall by 30 feet wide, and with unlimited aspect-ratio masking-panel positions, creating a commercial-size film-screen system.

The system was recently used in a $1 million home theater in Texas that was built to the specifications of Los Angeles’ Capitol Studios Dolby Atmos Music Studio C. ART sells for $44,000 to $166,000, depending on size and control options.

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Getting the Best View

Sony's GTZ380 projector, which is $80,000, makes everything picture-perfect—even in a space that's well-lit. It produces a 100% DCI-P3 color range without compromising the brightness of 10,000 lumens and has three channels of light sources (a red light laser, a blue light laser, and a phosphor light). That's the kind of tech cred that enhances the viewing experience. The projector's pictures are exactly what the filmmaker intended.

Supercharge Your Sound

The British audio pioneer Meridian, established in 1977, offers a variety of high-end products suitable for the bespoke home cinema. The brand's DSP8000 XE loudspeakers, £75,000 per pair, deliver authentic, natural, and lifelike sound, and also serve as a design statement. They are available in several finishes to complement the style of the room.

The high-tech, high-style DSP750 in-wall loudspeakers, which retail for £8,500 per pair and are designed to make no visual impact, feature a grill covering that can be painted to match the decor. And a Meridian DSW600 in-wall subwoofer, £4,000 each, can be installed with an in-wall loudspeaker to deliver an unparalleled listening experience for movies and bass-heavy musical compositions.

Let's Get Loud

Kharma's handcrafted loudspeakers, which range from $21,500 to $1.6 million a pair, are aural and visual masterworks whether you’re listening to a single piano note or an entire orchestra.

The custom-fitted systems, which are as beautiful as works of art, can be configured in a variety of ways to fit any home theater. They also can be wrapped in leather and suede, studded with diamonds, and set seamlessly into walls.

The brand, based in the Netherlands, has several collections. The Exquisite Collection, for example, has seven selections with prices that range from about $105,000 to $420,000 per pair. They feature solid-state amplifiers, and their cables have silver anodized parts with gold details and sleeves made of black leather. Kharma products are available in the U.S. through 20/20 Evolution Systems in Potomac, Maryland.

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Don't Forget the Snacks!

HT Mart Home Theater's concession stand with a candy case retails for $6,299 and amps up the at-home cinema experience. The wooden stand, which has glass shelves, a lockable door and interior lighting, is available in a choice of finishes. It plugs into a standard electrical outlet.

Pull Out All the Pops

And, of course, no home cinema worth its salt is complete without a popcorn machine. Gold Medal's latest, the ReadyPop Jr., not only pops the corn, but self-serves it in Hollywood style with the push of a button. The eight-ounce popper, which sells for $1,675, has a stainless-steel E-Z Kleen kettle, a control that automatically turns off the heat after 15 minutes of idle time, and a heated deck to keep the popcorn warm. Find the nearest distributor at gmpopcorn.com.

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Now Get Comfy

At your home theater, you are always guaranteed to get the best seat in the house, and with Elite Home Theater Seating, the comfort comes in the customization. The Canadian manufacturer, whose seats are in home theaters all over the world, allows clients to configure everything from the motion actuators and adjustable headrests to the underglow lighting.

The over-155-pound modular seats, which more than live up to their brand name, are made of steel and premium wood, so there are no joints or nails to weaken over time. They’re filled with high-density foam for cloud-like comfort. Arm styles, foam densities, and backrests are designed to be mixed and matched and even customized. Incliners are equipped with an industrial-strength, whisper-quiet German-engineered motor that allows the user to precisely set the position for the optimum film-viewing angle.

The chairs, which may be upholstered in the three types of upholstery that Elite offers or in the client's own fabric, can be embroidered or embossed.

They have a base price of $2,990 to $7,190, depending on the model, customization, and the arm style and upholstery. Custom seating styles include theater beds that resemble chaise lounges and cocoon-like sofas called cuddle couches.

This article first appeared in the Winter 2022 issue of Mansion Global Experience Luxury.

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