VICTORIAN MEETS MODERN TECH

ENTERING THE oak-paneled foyer of this Victorian manor in Toronto’s prestigious Rosedale neighborhood is like stepping back into the early 20th century. Built in 1901, the expansive estate has been meticulously restored to evoke the grandeur of the period— with a fantastic secret. Hiding behind the magnificent historical façade is a fully automated state-of-the-art smart home created by Moonshot Automation (moonshotautomation.com, formerly Custom Sound and Vision) in nearby Mississauga.

“The home was acquired by our clients in 2014 and underwent an extensive renovation in an effort to modernize it to suit the family’s busy lifestyle while preserving the original feel of the residence,” explains Carmine Malatesta, Moonshot founder and president. The company was commissioned to discreetly deploy technology throughout the 10,000-square-foot estate that would provide effortless control over lighting, heating and cooling, home security, and an extensive network of audio and video systems, including a glorious theater designed to complement the home’s Victorian vibe.

It was a daunting task, made even all the more challenging because a full-on renovation was also underway at the home directly across the street. “The narrow dead-end street was filled with trade vehicles from top to bottom and around the corners,” Malatesta recalls. “It became a race to see who could get to the site first in the morning to secure a parking spot. Luckily the neighbors were patient and understanding—for the most part anyway.”

A multitude of keypads, touchscreens, sensors, speakers—you name it—had to be tastefully and inconspicuously integrated without (heaven forbid) compromising or competing with the ubiquitous solid-oak panels that give the home its old world charm. “Everything had to be carefully selected to fulfill the client’s request and honor this heritage home,” Malatesta observes.

Moonshot cherry-picked well over 150

components from the custominstallation pioneer Crestron to create the backbone of this smart home, all neatly organized in multiple head ends and equipment racks in different parts of the home, including the attic and basement. The extensive programming required by a system of this magnitude was largely carried out by programmers from Zone Automation. A double rack of gear in the back of the home theater (which we’ll get to in a moment) houses a central AV distribution hub in addition to the local components needed to bring movies to life.

A small arsenal of Creston processors preside over internal and external lighting, audio and video distribution, and sensorbased thermostats that can be controlled from touch panels, hand-held remotes, and apps—all of which are integrated with a high-tech security system featuring automated door locks that can be operated remotely and a mix of high-resolution day/night cameras and thermal cameras (with automatic recording) to protect vulnerable areas around the property.

Simplicity and seamless integration were top priorities for the homeowners. The control interface had to be dead simple to use and, in addition to operating the many audio/video systems around the

large Sony TV in the master bedroom that folds down magically from the ceiling upon command. The Future Automation retractable lift that makes this feat possible even allows the screen to swivel so the homeowners can position it however they like. When the TV’S turned off, the screen disappears back into the ceiling so as not to spoil the room’s Victorian character.

Sparing no expense to keep the family safe, the security system is equipped with commercial-grade heat-sensing Mobotix cameras that use thermal imaging to eliminate false positives caused by an animal or other non-threatening condition.

To witness the technology that subtly transforms this stately manor into a modern marvel is, indeed, a sight to behold, but it’s no match for the crown jewel of the project: a majestic 10-seat theater. To evoke the feeling of a turn-ofthe-century vaudeville theater, Moonshot chose Fortress Seating’s plush Guild recliner, featuring tufted, red velvet-like material. Arranged in two rows of three with a front row of four, each seat has a cup holder and reclines just like the seats in a modern movie theater.

Intent on replicating an authentic 4K movie theater experience, the homeowners had the basement excavated to create a more comfortable space that would accommodate three-tier seating, a built-in subwoofer enclosure in the front of the room below the screen, and a suite of cleverly concealed THX Ultra2certified Klipsch speakers arranged in a Dolby Atmos 9.2.4 layout. For seamless performance, all of the speakers feature Klipsch’s signature Tractrix horn tweeters and Cerametallic woofers.

A trio of KL- 650-THX LCR speakers, each of which mate a horn-loaded 1-inch titanium-dome tweeter with two 6.5-inch woofers, sit behind an acoustically transparent Cinecurve screen from Stewart Filmscreen, outfitted with automated masking panels to accommodate movies with 1.78:1 and 2.35:1 aspect ratios. Sony’s $60,000 pro-caliber VPL-VW5000ES LCOS laser projector fills the 11-foot (diagonal) screen with vivid 4K images. Instead of being out in the room, the projector is concealed in its own enclosure high on the back wall—the only thing you see is the port for its lens.

Moonshot opted for a curved screen because Malatesta and his team believe its wider field of view provides a more immersive and less fatiguing experience for movies—and gaming, which is important to the young homeowners.

Four PRO-7800-L-THX speakers, each featuring an 8-inch woofer, are flush-mounted in the ceiling and work in tandem with two pairs of PRO-7800-S-THX speakers concealed in the rear and side walls behind acoustically-transparent fabric that matches the seating. Each

“S” model is positioned about 5 feet off the floor and uses two vertically-stacked tweeters to create a diffuse sound field; the speaker grilles were painted to match the fabric to further conceal them. Together, the four height and four surround speakers produce a huge surround bubble to add you-are-there realism to movie

soundtracks.

To ensure proper acoustics, Moonshot installed an Auralex Prism sound diffuser with a beautiful staggered cork design in the middle of the room’s hardwood ceiling.

A pair of KW-120-THX subwoofers, featuring 12-inch drivers and powered by a pair of 500-watt KA-1000-THX amplifiers, add deep bass (down to 20 Hz) and lots of oomph to action-adventure flicks from that custom enclosure in the front of the room.

“The rationale behind the Klipsch speakers was the THX accreditation, which is not simple to obtain,” explains Malatesta, alluding to the rigorous testing speakers must undergo to get certified. “We have used them in past projects with great success. If you’re not content with these speakers, there aren’t many other choices that will make you more content.”

The electronics behind the theater comprise the award-winning Yamaha Aventage CX-A5100 preamp/surround processor, which feeds a Crestron PROAMP-7X400 seven-channel power amplifier. Everything runs through a pair of Middle Atlantic Powercore 15-240-U2 electrical subpanels, which provide back-up power in the event of an outage, surge protection, and filtering to remove 60-Hz noise from incoming power.

A Kaleidescape Terra Movie Server with 40 TB of storage is the primary source for the theater but the homeowners also have ready access to Apple TV and cable TV. And to extend TV and movie enjoyment across the home, the server supports six DV700 Disc Vaults, each of which hold up to 320 Blu-ray discs for importing, three Kserver-5000s, two Kplayer-m500as, and two Kplayer-m300as; video distribution is handled via a Crestron Digitalmedia (DM) matrix switcher which feeds Sony TVS throughout the home.

In case you might be wondering what the cost is to assemble an automated home of this caliber, Malatesta remarks, “Let’s just say it’s a million plus (Canadian).” When asked what his client likes most about living in a cleverly disguised smart home, he responds: “They love their classic home and the amenities it offers— which is all the modern conveniences of a state-of-the-art home.”

Eor the Expert Imaging and Sound Association, is an organization representing 61 special interest magazines from 29 countries across the globe that cover Hi-fi, Home Theater Video, Home Theater Audio, Photography, Mobile Devices, and In-car Electronics. Each year, EISA expert group members, including editors from Sound & Vision and its sister publications Stereophile and Shutterbug, receive previews of the latest products, typically in-person, but for 2020-2021 via online presentations due to international travel restrictions and safety concerns. This extended process culminates in a vote on which products are worthy of the prestigious EISA award. The following award-winning products, some of which have been previously reviewed by S&V such as the LG OLED65GX Ultra HDTV, Zappiti Pro 4K HDR media player, and SVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofer, represent the state-of-art for their respective categories. When a product receives an EISA award, you get the assurance that its excellence has been validated by a global network of experts.

LG’S ‘Gallery Series’ OLED takes a new approach to TV design, utilising an ultra-thin articulating mount to create a flush-to-wall finish – add the super-slim panel, and you have a screen that commands your attention. The OLED65GX’S premium ethos continues when it comes to features and performance. The black level, colour and contrast strengths of OLED technology are in full evidence, refined by LG’S AI Picture Pro processing, while class-leading HDMI v2.1 connectivity targets gaming setups through 4K/120fps playback, VRR technologies and ultra-low latency, and external sound systems through EARC. A lengthy features list also includes hands-free voice control, Dolby Vision HDR, LG’S WEBOS, Bluetooth headphone support and much more.

Whether you’re a cinephile, gamer or sports fan, LG’S

75NANO99 8K TV is sure to please. A high-performance flatscreen designed to finesse playback from any source through advanced sound and image processing – courtesy of LG’S new Gen3 AI chipset – it also provides future-proofed HDMI 2.1 connectivity (with 8K/60fps and 4K/120fps support) and handles all popular 8K codecs. Key to its dramatic picture quality is the Nanocell IPS panel and Full Array Local Dimming LED engine, which combine to deliver a wide viewing angle, refined colours and rich contrast, while upscaling yields superb sharpness from HD and 4K content. This is a technological tour de force, yet remains intuitive and enjoyable to use.

Both evolution and revolution, Philips’ new mid-tier OLED TV carries over the Android smart features and universal HDR support of its previous generation but debuts extensively upgraded image processing. The result is a 4K HDR display that pushes the picture envelope and gets the best from disc and digital sources, with Ai-based enhancements to the company’s P5 processor delivering a boost to sharpness, colour vibrancy and motion clarity. The 55OLED805 is a true all-rounder too, with features including Ambilight illumination and DTS Play-fi multiroom audio, and an unobtrusive design that will grace any environment. It’s a brilliant TV at an eye-catching price.

EISA

Zappiti’s flagship media player is designed for home theatre owners with extensive film and music collections, replacing the traditional disc library with a graphically rich interface that grants instant access to content. The beautifully designed full-width chassis houses twin bays for up to 32TB of HDD storage, plus inputs for local USB drives, while networking functionality enables streaming from NAS devices and PCS. Format support covers 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for movie playback, plus hi-res audio to 192khz/24-bit. Backing up these AV credentials is the Pro 4K HDR’S flexibility – from running a multiroom 4K system to letting users customise its GUI, this is a machine with a can-do attitude.

EISA

The Citation

Multibeam

700 stands apart from the soundbar crowd thanks to its brilliant blend of slick design, user-friendly features and sonic prowess. Google Assistant integration brings the voice interaction and wireless music benefits of a traditional smart speaker, while Harman Kardon’s seven-driver array and DSP knowhow ensures a refined, spacious and punchy performance. The icing on the cake is the full-colour touchscreen interface, which makes EQ adjustment and source selection a breeze, and will display album artwork from Chromecast streams. This is a soundbar that offers both style and substance.

EISA

EISA

Arendal Sound’s new entry-level range leverages technology from its flagship 1723 Series, but adds tricks of its own, including the company’s first height channel speaker and a new Avalanche IQ amplifier platform with parametric EQ on its sealed and ported subwoofers. System builders are well catered for by a choice of floorstander, monitor, centre, bookshelf and ‘Triaxial’ surround models, and performance across the range showcases a detailed, energetic but neutral approach, equally suited to dramatic movie mixes and nuanced music. Styling and build quality impress too – it’s a speaker series that outshines its price tag.

Designed to partner TVS 55in and above, and featuring the premium build quality and aesthetic the company is known for, Bang & Olufsen’s soundbar debut was worth the wait. Each of the Beosound Stage’s eleven drivers (including four 4in woofers) are independently amplified, and the resulting performance is effortlessly largescale, cohesive and immersive – Dolby Atmos content plays out with precision steering and overhead impact, while music tracks enjoy a wide, revealing soundstage. Connect via HDMI, Bluetooth, Apple Airplay 2 or Chromecast, and get ready to be impressed.

EISA

EISA

The AVC-X4700H is

8K/60HZ and 4K/120HZcapable, ensuring this mid-range receiver ideally suited to next-generation sources – but it’s the nine-channel power plant, 11-channel processing functionality and wideranging format support that make it a sure-fire hit in any home theatre. Film soundtracks benefit from its well-balanced, engaging and dynamically capable delivery, with system fine-tuning handled by Audyssey’s Multeq XT32 platform, now with the option of dual presets. Extensive and useful connectivity – including HEOS multiroom/ streaming, MM phono input and Bluetooth headphone support – ensures all-around appeal, as does the competitive price tag.

EISA

An innovative alternative to a speaker-based setup, JVC’S XP-EXT1 system offers immersive 7.1.4 audio via wireless headphones. Able to decode native Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstreams, and upscale stereo or multichannel movie and music content to a 3D soundfield through proprietary EXOFIELD technology, this brings a personal element to your home entertainment. A supplied wireless transmitter with 4K-capable HDMI connectivity acts as the hub between your sources and TV, and offers preset sound modes tailored to different genres. Up to four individual calibrations can be taken via JVC’S smartphone app, so family members can also enjoy the enveloping performance of the XP-EXT1’S 40mm-driver headphones. Consider this home theatre, reinvented.

EISA

In the world of home theatre, rapid technological change can leave a product playing catchup in just a few years. Not so the Altitude series from Trinnov, where upgrading is built into the DNA of its 16-channel and 32-channel processors. Most recently these premium models have added DTS:X Pro support to their 3D audio arsenal, and a revised HDMI board to enhance connectivity and streamline operation. Performance remains best-in-class, too, thanks to professional-grade speaker calibration and bass management, while system designers benefit from remote access and control. State-of-the-art today, but designed to evolve with your needs tomorrow, the Altitude platform is worthy of high praise.