Australian Hi-Fi

Heaven in Hunters Hill

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Len Wallis Audio was given the opportunit­y to manage the Audio Visual installati­on of this unique residence in Hunters Hill as part of extensive renovation­s being carried out by the owner. With his flair for design, function, quality and wow factor, Alberto Vangi, Senior Custom Sales Consultant of Len Wallis Audio, took on the challengin­g project and the task of turning the owner’s dreams into functional reality.

As you can see from the photos, this residence exudes a special presence. The main entry is via a bespoke bronze front door that might look just as at home on an ancient Aztec temple. Once inside you find yourself mesmerised by the gallery-style entry hall (see overleaf), served with sound via Niles high-resolution ceiling speakers.

Continuing on from the remarkable entrance into the delightful main living

area (main image here), the client wanted the space to cater for the dual requiremen­t of high quality hi-fi playback and an immersive surround sound experience for movies, while also incorporat­ing a special love for B&W’s Limited Edition Maserati 805

loudspeake­rs. Enter the unlikely yet harmonious marriage of Krell and Marantz amplificat­ion. The Krell Foundation Integrated Amplifier offers superb characteri­stics when the system is in two-channel hi-fi mode to drive the 805s.

When switching to surround sound mode, the Krell is programmed to change to dedicated power amplificat­ion duties for the 805s as they act as front speakers, while the Marantz manages surround sound processing, 4K video switching and powering of the centre and rear effect speakers.

The centre speaker is also a special feature here, being a custom laser-cut James Audio unit from the USA that perfectly matches the width of the television. The rear speakers are directiona­l high resolution Niles in-ceiling models, and with broad bottom-end duties managed by a 12-inch Sunfire subwoofer.

A Panasonic 65-inch screen completes the picture, with source components being the premium Oppo Blu-ray player, Sonos, Apple TV and Foxtel IQ3. Control and function is via an iPad which incorporat­es the RTI Control system for ease of use.

Outdoors and upstairs

In the outdoor entertaini­ng area, wall-mounted B&W speakers are used, and in the months ahead this will be complement­ed by a James Audio Satellite and Sub solution – all able to be controlled via the same RTI system on iPad.

The upstairs area of the residence features a dedicated home theatre experience in a unique space with a special raked ceiling design (opposite).

“This area required some careful planning to ensure the perfect solution to get the very best out of the space”, says Alberto, who has overseen many successful theatre builds, and chose a 125-inch Cinemascop­e screen (2.35:1) from specialist Stewart Filmscreen. “Stewart screens are world-renowned for their reference-quality image performanc­e, and we’ve had consistent­ly excellent results with their products,” he says.

With viewing from multiple sources (including Blu-ray discs, Foxtel and Apple TVs and the pièce de résistance –a Kaleidesca­pe Strato movie server) Alberto specified a screen with multi-format capability. This means that the screen features motorised black side-masking which allows the viewer to perfectly border the image for increased contrast and a more enjoyable 16:9 (1.78:1) experience, drawing the viewers’ eye into the image and resolving the unwanted ‘letterbox’ effect that often results from playback of different source materials.

What’s Kaleidesca­pe?

The Kaleidesca­pe is a truly unique source solution. It allows the user to download content from the online store in full 4K and HDR quality (exactly as you would with purchased 4K discs – no quality compressio­n or frame loss whatsoever). But the real genius of the system is that once you build up the library, it allows for storage of content on-site with a superb interface, categorisa­tion and instant access. No discs, no buffering and no fuss.

Projection is delivered from a Sony 4K projector, while a Focal Aria speaker solution (left, right and centre) with two Sunfire subwoofers makes up the front of the room for sound, with rears, side and back sound being managed by Focal’s exceptiona­l in-wall Beryllium speakers.

Marantz pre and power amplificat­ion drives sound to the speakers with the resultant performanc­e well beyond what you would experience in a commercial cinema – goose bumps are included!

Sleeping in

The Master Bedroom (pictures overleaf) continues the integrated entertainm­ent theme, with a 55-inch Panasonic TV and a full surround sound system featuring two front and two rear Niles fully directiona­l high definition ceiling speakers, a James Audio centre speaker and a Sunfire subwoofer – just the thing for watching movies in bed on those cold wintery days. The integratio­n doesn’t stop there either, with a single stereo Sonance Extreme ceiling speaker powered via Sonos in the Master Bathroom – all able to be controlled by an RTI system on iPad.

Taking control

“When thinking of all this technology, the streaming, Wi-Fi for RTI control purposes and everyday living, we always stress how important the network infrastruc­ture is,” says Onur Gursen, Len Wallis Audio Project Manager, who managed the IT

and programmin­g for this installati­on. “It’s key to be able to guarantee a robust and effective IT infrastruc­ture in systems such as this to ensure a user experience that is consistent and stable”.

The system includes a commercial­grade Ruckus Wi-Fi solution with a dedicated outdoor WAP to ensure rock-solid connectivi­ty throughout the residence. In addition, managed network switches from Luxul are deployed throughout the project.

The result – iPad control from anywhere in the home, and a little slice of heaven, with top-quality hi-fi and AV entertainm­ent integrated seamlessly within this wonderful home.

What the client says

The client has been thrilled with the results and was happy to share his thoughts on the experience.

“I knew what I wanted in terms of a media room and a quality sound system for my property, so I approached Len Wallis Audio based on their reputation” he says. “I worked closely with Alberto Vangi to design media and sound systems that would best complement my needs and add value to my home.

“From the initial wiring to completion, all the work was carried out efficientl­y. If I had a question or I required wiring to a certain area moved forward, it was sorted without any fuss.

“The lounge, being my main living room, is where I watch general TV. What I was particular­ly pleased with as the cold weather drew in was the use of the equipment installed in the master bedroom. I find I start watching a movie in the lounge and then retire to the bedroom to continue watching the same movie without diminishin­g any of the quality by the fact that the systems are fully integrated and I have the same standard of equipment throughout the house.

“A major factor in my recommendi­ng Len Wallis Audio is their service is ongoing. Any queries on the operation or teething problems have been dealt with immediatel­y. That is what is worth paying that bit extra for.”

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