This month's feature theatre is a marvel of unusual proportions!!

Having only 15 feet by 15 feet to work with, Acoustic Smart created maximum entertainment using minimum space.

Read the incredible story in the words of the homeowner.
The requirements of my particular home theatre were somewhat unusual in that we had only a small space to work in (and it was a fight at getting that since I had to have my wife give up some of her gym to give me extra space). I had been reading about home theatres for several years and had gone to several theatre shows in New York and the major industry convention in Indianapolis. I heard the most awesome top of the line sound and watched the highest of high quality video and sat in home size rooms that made you feel like you were in the best theatre. I was convinced that this is what I wanted, but I would have to fit it into a space in my current home. We looked at many different spaces, including building out a room above a living room, and digging under my garage area. But we finally determined that we would be able to carve out a 15' x 15' area adjoining a gym.

I spent 8 months interviewing theatre designers and A/V equipment vendors to discuss what we could accomplish in this small space. After listening to everyone and going back and forth with questions, I knew I was going to be happy working with Acoustic Smart of Merrick for the acoustics and physical theatre design and Audio Command Systems of Westbury to put together an awesome sound and video system appropriate for the size room we were working with.

Acoustic Smart brought us samples of all sorts of acoustic materials in a range of colors that could be used for wall covering and curtains. We all agreed that to take advantage of the theatre when we are on the treadmill, yet get the highest quality of sound when we are watching a movie, that we would install a heavy curtain along a track so as to enclose the theatre. The last issue the audio installation crew addressed when everything else was completed was to bring in a special microphone/computer system, to close those curtains, and to have the sound equipment acoustically adjusted to perfectly tune the room. Saying that the resulting audio is awesome is to put it too mildly. I can never sit in a commercial movie theatre again after listening to a 7.1 system (30 individual speakers) washing you in a sea of perfectly attuned sound.

Acoustic Smart also provided us with many sample rooms as a starting point in thinking about the theme we would like and what type of visual effect should be brought forward. But we knew that there is no "standard" room because there was an equipment closet to work into the design and a two-door existing closet to fit in. But we started with one of the layouts and sketched up modifications that suited our tastes. Acoustic Smart was totally accommodating using the resultant design and assured us they would accomplish the desired look despite the fact that the wall was flat on one side and with 3 doors on the other.

They also sketched out the necessary details for our carpenter to create the stage and platform for the rear stairs. And they taught us the "tricks of the trade" in how to increase the effects of the sound by creating a "floating floor" and by using special heavy rubber in the ceilings of the theatre. They know what's necessary to bring out the most of a room.

After spending a long time taking tons of measurements, they went away for a few weeks and arrive one morning with an erector set of parts that make up our theatre. For several days we watched them install panel after panel (there were over 125 separate wall segments to make up the full theatre) and the look and the sound baffling effect became clearer and more exciting each day. We were amazed how they hid the closets to where you don't even realize they exist and how they ended up balancing the flat wall perfectly with the wall of doors.

Once everything was installed al of us got together to take in the full effect of the room and the perfect video and audio being projected. We were all more than amazed that a 6 seat 15' x 15' theatre could match the look and sound of any large size home theatre. We made the right choice of the firms we hired and they proved that they could work their magic no matter how tight the space to work in.

The entrance to the theatre is down the basement stairs. The walls of the stairwell are lined with movie posters including an autographed copy of the 1956 movie poster of Forbidden Planet. A 3D sign announces the name of the theatre as THE MOSKOPLEx. The candy counter and popcorn machine are located outside of the theatre area in the art studio. Robbie the Robot, Gort and Klatuu, characters from the Sci-Fi Movies in the posters, adorn the top of the Popcorn machine.

Article written by the client, Jay Moskowitz