HOME CINEMA OF THE YEAR LEVEL III WINNER BOUTIQUE AV

Boutique AV’s extraordinary home cinema is immediately notable for a couple of features — firstly the high-end Pro-Ject Signature 12 turntable in the middle of the room, and secondly the room’s extensive use of sound-to-light LEDs controlled by integrated pixel map lighting. The owner is a music-loving client on a two-week fly-in fly-out schedule, which gives him an abundance of time spent in the house during ‘off ’ fortnights. To enjoy this time to the fullest, the client and his wife requested a bespoke audio system “as loud as a rock concert” but without compromising fidelity. Boutique AV demonstrated some of the finest speaker brands and models on the market, but none matched their expectations, and ultimately the clients decided on a ‘pro’ solution in the PMC MB3 XBD-A speakers, capable of achieving 129dB SPL at one metre without noticeable distortion. The turntable was a must, as the clients still possess a love for the classics, and own many records.

After exploring the concepts of what the sound room could be, Boutique AV drew their clients’ attention to how amazing live concerts on Blu-ray can sound — and only then was it decided to make this a multi-channel system, along with projector and screen. Meanwhile the LED lighting allows endless scenarios — oh, and yes, that is an iPad in an iPort providing control over everything including the turntable.! (Other than changing LPs.) This room also won CEDIA’s ‘Life Lived Best At Home’ award.