We recently worked with Pulse Cinemas to create a luxury, high-performance cinema for a new build property, and really enjoyed getting stuck in to all the different elements of their product line, to meet the performance levels needed.
Chris Leon, the lead installer here at Mediacoms, shares: “The project was for an existing customer who had recently moved to a newly renovated home and wanted to upgrade his AV system to realise his home cinema dreams. We are fortunate in that our head office is very close to Pulse Cinemas’, so we could visit there with the client and show them what was possible.
“The COO of Pulse Cinemas, Kapes Patel, provided the demos on the day and the client loved the Apartment Cinema so much that what we specified for his cinema is basically a tweaked version of this impressive room at Pulse Cinemas.”
The set up
Chosen to maximise the performance in the space available, the equipment gave the client the largest possible screen and the most immersive audio to match. All together, the equipment included:
- Screen Research 115in
- 4K projector to partner with the screen
- 3.8.2 configuration of Paradigm speakers
- CI-Pro Paradigm P3 LCRs handle the three front channels
- 3 driver, dual passive radiator
- 2-way shallow enclosure in-wall design
The equipment
The Paradigm line features many benefits. The speaker features the X-PA tweeter with in-house created Perforated Phase-Aligning (PPA) Tweeter Lens. Protecting the pure-aluminium tweeter dome and acting as a Phase Plug, the PPA prevents out-of-phase frequencies providing smoother, extended high frequencies with impressive detail and a higher output. With high-performance mineral-filled co-polymer polypropylene bass/midrange cones, along with oversized computer-optimised ferrite magnets and high-power motor structures, the line offers detail in the mid-range as well as clean, extended bass.
Surround audio in the cinema is delivered through ultra thin (1-3/4 in / 4.4cm) Paradigm Millenia LP 2s, which offer a three-driver, two-way bass-reflex array with dual passive radiators in a moulded high-gloss polymer enclosure in an on-wall model.
The bass in this room is provided by Paradigm Seismic 110 subs, which are very attractive, complementing the aesthetics of the cinema while delivering the lower frequencies for the space leveraging an ultra-low distortion split-coil driver, 850W RMS Ultra-Class D amplifier and 10-in cone.
Highlights of the range:
- S-PAL satin-adonised pure aluminium dome
- Rigid mineral-filled ABS chassis
- Perforated aluminium mesh screen
- Advanced motor structure with extruded aluminium heat sink through wide dispersion pattern
- Paradigm CI Pro P80-R-s
- In-house created Reduced Edge Diffraction (RED) technology
RED technology
Consisting of die-cast aluminium tweeter housing, RED technology reduces negative effects of diffraction while also enhancing midrange frequencies. The design features irregular edges and off-centre placement, which breaks up the standing waves often found around the woofer cone and tweeter housing of other speakers. To ensure improved power handling and less crossover frequency, heat is dissipated by the aluminium structure, which improves sound and reduces distortion.
Paradigm and Anthem together
Processing is provided by the perfectly partnered Paradigm speaker with the Anthem MRX1140 – part of the hugely popular MRX range. It’s worth mentioning that Anthem and Paradigm are developed and designed to work together, to make the perfect AV partnership. Specifying them together means that the cinema benefits from the best performance.
The MRX1140
- 15.2 Pre-Amplifier / 11 Amplifier Channel receiver capabilities
- Compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced
- 140W per channel continuous power to 8 ohms
- ARC (Anthem Room Correction) software takes room calibration to new levels
Chris explains: “We really like the Paradigm brand – it feels more exclusive for the customer and the performance really comes through. There are lots of impressive aspects of this cinema room, but it’s the audio that really brings it all to life and Anthem working in tandem on the processing takes it to another level. I particularly like the subs: I have them at home and quote them for every cinema we specify.”
Video transmission
Featuring the top of the range fixed format 8×10 HDBaseT Pulse-Eight Neo 8a Matrix, offering Ultra HD 4K video transmission of up to 340Mhz, 1080p, 3D Full HDCP 2.2 support delivering 8 HDBaseT Class B outputs, 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs. Built in Britain, it also features Bi-Directional IR Control, HDMI-CEC Bi-Directional Control and Automatic EDID Management.
Complete control
A series of Vicoustic MD55 absorption/diffusion panels behind the screen help to control the audio in the space.
The cinema is controlled through using a T2x remote control and an RTI XP-3 control processor. The XP-3 has a built-in RF transceiver and offers an impressive level in a small form factor and supports wireless bi-directional communications using ZigBee. With a built-in astronomical clock and control through Ethernet, RS-232 and relays – features usually reserved for higher priced control processors. The fifth gen T2x is the perfect partner for the XP-3. It’s a remote fully loaded with hard buttons to deliver intuitive, quick control, while the 2.8in touchscreen interface not only controls devices throughout the home cinema but can be fully tailored to users’ needs.
Chris ends by saying: “Over the past 2.5 of working with Pulse Cinemas, we have completed foru projects. The expert support and incredible product line-up on offer are just what’s needed.”
With a fine line up of products fitted by us and supported by Pulse Cinemas, we have created something truly bespoke and beyond the customers’ expectations and dreams.
Would you like your own home cinema set up? We’d love to help. Please get in touch.
