The project – Build a dedicated home cinema in a unused attic storage room. We fully managed this turn key installation from the interior design and build through to acoustics (treated to 40Hz), lighting design and control. We utilised an Epson LS12000 projection, Anthem MRX 740 processing and REW + ARC calibration.
We delivered a turn key home cinema build in Wales — from interior design and manufacture through to air conditioning, lighting design and control, AV installation, control system integration, decorating, and final calibration.
The aim was to create a room that felt genuinely cinematic and luxurious, keeps the technology visually discreet, and delivers controlled, powerful bass with clear dialogue and an effortless user experience. Acoustics were designed and verified with Room EQ Wizard (REW), with treatment designed to be effective down to 40Hz and the main seating position optimised before final calibration.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Location: Wales, UK (private residence)
Project type: Dedicated home cinema
We managed: Interior design, AC, lighting design + control, AV, integration, decorating, manufacture and build
Acoustics: REW modelling/measurement, acoustic treatment design (targeted to 40Hz), seating position optimisation
Screen: 3.0m wide, 16:9, woven acoustically transparent (AT)
Projector: Epson LS12000
AV receiver/amplification: Anthem MRX 740
Subwoofers: Perlisten R8s + SVS SB-5000 (one concealed behind fabric wall)
Front speakers: Sonus faber Sonetto (G2) L/R + Sonetto Center (G2)
Surrounds: Dynaudio in-walls in custom resonance-damped in-wall cabinets
Finishes: Red acoustically transparent fabric walls (Camira), Farrow & Ball Off-Black ceiling, carpet by Unnatural Flooring, Infinity Seating red velvet sofa
Completion: [Month Year]
THE BRIEF
The client wanted a cinema room that:
Looks intentional and premium (not a temporary “black box”)
Keeps speakers, treatment and equipment visually discreet where possible
Delivers real cinema impact at sensible listening levels
- Could be used as a social space for watching sporting events, films and music
Included space for the mandatory cinema snacks!
ONE TEAM, END-TO-END DELIVERY
Because we managed the entire job, the room could be designed as one system rather than a collection of disconnected trades. That included:
Layout, sightlines and speaker positions coordinated from day one
Lighting design planned alongside finishes to support screen viewing and room atmosphere
Custom manufacturing and build to support concealed speakers and treatment
Air conditioning specified and integrated to maintain comfort without compromising the room’s noise floor
Decorating and final detailing completed to a consistent impeccable standard
ACOUSTICS AND SEATING OPTIMISATION (REW-LED)
Low-frequency behaviour is where most cinema rooms succeed or fail. We used REW measurements and modelling to:
Optimise the seating position before finalising the build
Confirm and improve low-frequency behaviour in-room
Design acoustic treatment intended to remain effective down to 40Hz
Control reflections and support clarity without making the room feel “dead”
The objective wasn’t just better graphs — it was bass that hits hard, stops cleanly, and stays consistent at the listening position, with a sound stage that feels cohesive and believable.
FABRIC WALL SYSTEM (HIDDEN TECH THAT STILL PERFORMS)
A key part of this build is the fabric wall system, which allows the room to look clean and designed while doing real acoustic work behind the scenes. The red acoustically transparent fabric walls:
Conceal acoustic treatment
Hide in-wall speakers and infrastructure
Allow a concealed subwoofer (SVS SB-5000) to sit behind the fabric without disrupting the interior design
This approach keeps the room visually calm while protecting performance.
LIGHTING, FINISHES AND ATMOSPHERE
This cinema was designed to feel like a special place to spend time — even before the projector turns on.
Finishes:
Walls: Red acoustically transparent fabric by Camira
Ceiling: Farrow & Ball Off-Black
Carpet: Unnatural Flooring
Seating: Infinity Seating sofa in red velvet
Lighting was designed in layers and integrated into the control system, so the room can switch instantly between scenes such as:
Arrival / cleaning
TV/Sports
Movies
Music
SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
Video
Projector: Epson LS12000
Screen: 3.0m wide, 16:9, woven acoustically transparent (AT)
Processing and amplification
Anthem MRX 740 AV receiver
Speakers
Front left/right: Sonus faber Sonetto 2 (G2)
Centre: Sonus faber Sonetto Center (G2)
Side and surround channels: Dynaudio in-wall speakers installed in custom resonance-damped in-wall cabinets
Subwoofers
Perlisten R8s
SVS SB-5000 (concealed behind the fabric wall)
CALIBRATION APPROACH: REW FIRST, ARC WHERE IT WORKS BEST
Calibration was completed in two stages:
Manual optimisation using REW
We used REW to improve integration and in-room behaviour as far as possible before any automated correction. This included optimising the fundamentals that matter most: placement, integration, crossover behaviour and controlling dominant low-frequency issues.Anthem ARC for targeted low-frequency optimisation (40–200Hz)
Once the fundamentals were right, Anthem ARC was used with a specific goal: optimise the frequency response between 40Hz and 200Hz. This range sits below the room’s Schroeder frequency, where room modes dominate and careful optimisation typically delivers the biggest gains in both measured and perceived performance.
This approach produced the best balance of subjective impact and clean, repeatable measurements — with bass that feels powerful, controlled and properly integrated with the front stage.
THE RESULT
The finished room delivers:
A premium, design-led cinema aesthetic with hidden technology
Clear dialogue and a coherent front stage behind an acoustically transparent screen
Deep, controlled bass performance all the way down to 10hz, with treatment designed down to 40Hz
Lighting scenes and system integration that make the room effortless to use
Comfort and atmosphere that encourage long viewing sessions
FAQ
Can fabric walls be acoustically transparent?
Yes — when the correct fabric is used and the wall build-up is designed properly, fabric walls can conceal speakers and treatment while allowing sound to pass through cleanly.
Why design acoustic treatment down to 40Hz?
Because this is where room behavior dominates what you hear. Improving control this low increases impact while reducing boominess and uneven bass across the listening position.
Why use both REW and Anthem ARC?
REW helps us understand what the room is doing and optimise the fundamentals manually first. ARC then refines the response in a targeted range where correction is most effective and repeatable.
NEXT STEPS
If you’re planning a dedicated home cinema (or want to upgrade the performance of an existing room), we can manage the full journey: concept and interior design, manufacture and build, acoustics, lighting/control integration, AV installation, and final calibration.
