Sound Matters : Complete Home Theaters Set the Stage to Make an Authentic Event of Audio or Video Entertainment

For many, electronic entertainment equipment for the home represents a major investment--in time and energy as well as money.

Both large and small amounts have been spent creating places to enjoy movies, TV and music at home. And, because electronic equipment is being improved rapidly, more can always be spent. Cassettes are being surpassed by the better sound on compact discs and video tapes are giving way to clearer pictures on laser discs.

The good news is that a basic sound system’s speakers, woofers and tweeters have not changed a lot, so previously bought speakers can still be used and perhaps added to, according to audio/video consultant Norm Middleton of Riverside.

Among the innovations on the horizon is liquid crystal technology, Middleton said. “(It) will allow for flat television screens where there will be no limit to the size of the picture. But, no matter how much money you spend on a television set, if you have cable TV, you are tied to the quality of the picture they transmit.”

That may be changed by the development of the Thompson Electric System, which will be able to broadcast from satellites at lower altitudes than they can now, Middleton said. This system will require only an 18-inch dish to get an excellent picture, as opposed to the huge satellite dishes now needed.

Along with all this new technology comes the need for the homeowner to have a place to store the TVs, cassette and CD players, laser discs players and speakers--a place that’s both functional and beautiful.

Some prefer the let-the-technology-show style, while others prefer all their equipment stored behind cabinets. TVs pop out of bedroom cadenzas or kitchen counters at the push of the button;stereo systems reside inside antique armoires or in sleek consoles; folding doors hide wide-screen televisions. Speakers are disguised as plant pedestals or even as canvases for minimalist paintings.

Home theaters or entertainment centers range in size from a family room off the kitchen equipped with a TV and video cassette player to a custom room worthy of a professional in the entertainment industry.

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When Frank and Jeanette Villalobos added a second story to their Santa Ana home 14 years ago, they constructed a 640-square-foot room as a family theater.

The room was set up to be a place for listening to music as true as possible to that heard in a concert hall. It has three feet of insulation between the ceiling and floor, with walls containing 3-inch insulation, half-inch particle board and 5/8-inch sheet rock covered with black walnut paneling.

An ideal sound room would have no parallel walls because they reflect sound and create standing waves, but that wasn’t possible here. The Villaloboses used other methods for sound absorption: Staggered shelves contain sound-absorbing books; stones in the fireplace are randomly placed; the acoustic, cathedral ceiling is uneven; and the leather furniture and natural walnut paneling help absorb sound. Even with the sound system turned up full blast, the music does not penetrate into any other room in the house.

Most of the custom-designed audio equipment is from when the home theater was built. The system uses tubes, not transistors, because Frank Villalobos said tubes give truer musical sound. “I’ve improved and upgraded the audio system, but I haven’t really changed it that much,” he said.

What has changed is the addition two years ago of a 10-foot video screen with a front projector.

“Fourteen years ago I primarily worked with the audio system, and then two years ago I integrated the audio with the video. I needed to add speakers, because you need a channel speaker in front and surround-sound speakers.”

According to Villalobos, most movies have Dolby surround-sound, and that sends most of the talking to the center speaker. When the movie is made, there can be sounds that go from left to right, or from back to front. It’s an effect that can’t be heard properly with only two speakers.

To demonstrate, Villalobos played a laser disc of “Top Gun,” and the noise of the jets came from the back of the room to the front, with the sound getting correspondingly louder. “I have Pro Logic decoders that send the sound to the correct speaker so it comes from the right locations,” he said.

Although the Villalobos’ system is customized, there are receivers available that not only act as amplifiers and tuners but also have the Dolby Pro Logic built in with the surround-sound and center speaker.

It was Jeanette Villalobos’ father, Jean Valentino, who got them interested in a sophisticated home sound system. He came to Hollywood from Italy with his uncle--silent-film great Rudolph Valentino--and became a sound specialist.

“My father was a sound engineer for movies and television for 40 years before he retired. He did custom sound rooms for Frank Sinatra, Hedy Lamaar, L.B. Mayer and Lana Turner, among others,” Jeanette Villalobos said.

Her father was among the 18 family members who, while gathered in Santa Ana during the holidays, enjoyed music and movies in the theater.

To Frank Villalobos, who is a cardiologist, the home theater is the perfect place to relax from the stress of the day. “It’s very therapeutic. I spend a lot of time there. Sometimes, Jeanette says, too much time.”

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An audio-visual system integrated into a more traditional room setting was designed for a San Juan Capistrano home by interior designer Mary Swift of Laguna Hills, who worked with sound consultant Middleton.

In this room, which connects the kitchen and dining room, the TV and the compact disc player and VCR are hidden behind a custom cabinet of whitewashed red oak. When the doors to the cabinet are closed, interest is focused on the art objects on the surrounding shelves. At the touch of the remote control, the cabinet doors open and the TV and sound equipment come into view.

“When we got ready to do this room, we decided to put the TV where we did so that there would be no direct glare on the screen during the day. At some times of the year sun streams in, so I put the pull-down fiberglass curtains to block light,” Swift said.

Middleton also preferred the north wall position for the speakers.

Here again there is a center channel speaker and six surround-sound speakers as well as various woofers positioned around the room to give the best sound. “We had several sound demonstrations when we were in the design stages,” Swift said. “There is something very disorienting if you don’t have a front speaker centered where the picture on the TV is. You just can’t make the connection somehow. It’s a really weird feeling.”

The year-old home has cathedral ceilings, which needed to be taken into account in the design.

“With the high ceilings we couldn’t do a front projection,” Swift said, “so we used the direct screen with the picture coming directly from the TV set. You can put front projections in coffee tables, but we really were too close for that to work properly. We also discussed having a rear projection, but when you do that you need a lot of depth and you can lose some of the picture quality in a room of this size.”

Because all the sound equipment needs proper ventilation, the shelves are vented and have open spaces at the back for wires.

“Sound can be piped from this room throughout the house and even outdoors, which is really nice for entertaining,” Swift said.

How to Position Speakers

From sound system specialist Norm Middleton of Riverside, here are some basic tips for placing speakers.

“Typically a rectangular-shaped room is the best for sound. The first speakers should be one-third of the way into the room and placed asymmetrically. They shouldn’t be the same distance from the back wall and side walls. Here, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s advice, since some speakers’ sound is ruined by having them too close to the wall.

“Center channels for televisions should be all on the same level, if possible. The main center speaker should be as close as possible to the television.

“Surround-sound speakers should be mounted on side walls or even the ceiling since their sound should bounce. Generally, remember that the main speakers should be aimed at the listeners and the surround-sound should come from all over.

“Since most people’s family theater is a multipurpose room, it’s important to experiment with speaker placement to get the best sound for the area.”

Storing Discs, Tapes

Middleton offers these tips for storing videos and music:

* Compact discs are not indestructible and can be damaged. Don’t make marks on the label side, because it’s thinner there. Treat them as you did LPs by not putting fingerprints on them and by storing them vertically. Do not leave in automobiles. The same rules apply to laser discs.

* Do not store cassette tapes near magnets, which speakers are, or near strong power supplies; don’t set on TVs and keep in the 68 to 70 temperature range. Never leave in automobiles.

* Video tapes should be stored vertically.