The Next Generation of Star Trek Home Theaters

[VaBeachGuy 12]

 

(More pictures at the bottom)

 

 

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/nex...ek_home_theater

 

November 06, 2007 | by Rachel Cericola

If we were ranking the many “Star Trek” theaters that we’ve seen over the past few months, this Palm Beach County, FL home has what would be considered to be “The Next Generation” of the lot.

 

This anonymous owner is without a doubt, a sci-fi buff, but being a “Trekkie” is only one aspect of his interests—the one that created a killer home theater.

 

The owners had originally envisioned a traditional home theater. However, Jay Miller, president of Acoustic Innovations, noticed that their client was a collector of “vintage” video games. An idea was born, and they ultimately opted for something that expressed their sci-fi interests. “It adds a lot to the experience because you are introduced to the ‘theme’ when you enter the bar and ready room area,” says Jeff Hoover, dream maker and president of Audio Advisors. “It sets the mood that something cool, fun and exciting is about to happen next.”

 

Something exciting did happen. Discussions on how to handle the theater began back in 2002. “We initially considered the original Starship Enterprise, NCC-1701,” says Hoover. “With a more updated look, Enterprise NCC-1701D was selected as it depicted a grander version of the ship.”

 

Completed in 2006, the three areas took a total of six months. The end result was a theater, bar and ready room, measuring a total of 70-by-22 feet.

 

After a few belts at the intergalatic bar, there’s the main attraction, the theater. In the back of the theater is a hidden closet. It doesn’t contain aliens or even captains’ costumes from series past; it contains most of the theater’s main equipment. “If you don’t know it’s there, you wouldn’t have an idea that it existed,” says Hoover.

 

Source gear as well as the A/V distribution stuff is located in an adjacent room. This is also where you will find what Hoover claims is “one of the largest Kaleidescape hard-drive based storage systems that I’ve ever heard of in a residential installation.” How big exactly? Think big bang, baby—at last count, there were eight servers with 3,816 DVDs.

 

The equipment list is extremely impressive—and it’s got even got award to prove it. In 2007, CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) chose this room as its top theme theater. However, they weren’t the only ones that were impressed with the outcome. “The homeowner was, to quote him directly, ‘blown away’,” says Hoover.

 

The theater experience may be out of this world, but it’s the little slice of sci-fi that gets our pointy ears tingling with delight. “The client has amassed a very large collection of original props, models and drawings from “Star Trek,” TV series and other sci-fi movies,” says Hoover. Highlights include motion-activated air-lock doors with series sound effects. There’s even a “Red Alert” button on the Crestron TPMC-10 controller to turn all of the LEDs bright red and flashing, along with the actual sounds from “Star Trek” blaring. “If you don’t know it’s coming it scares the pants off guests.”

 

You may argue about our “Next Generation” proclamation, but there’s certainly no denying that this theater is a sci-fi spectacular. Hoover says that the homeowner is already plotting his next project; there are no details, but something tells us it’s going to be out of this world.

 

 

[ddillard 2]

Ok, I want one of these, lol.

[Kor37 9]

Woooow!...I wonder what that all cost?.......

[VaBeachGuy 12]

Woooow!...I wonder what that all cost?.......

My guess would be in the $15,000 to $20,000 range but I could be way off.

[Wishfire 2]

Hey Kev, can I borrow $15,000 to $20,000?