A High-Performance 9.4.4
Home Cinema in Vancouver
When Pure Image Technology was approached for this Vancouver home cinema, the project was initially conceived around a more conventional system. As the client’s ambitions grew, so did the scope of the system. The decision to move to a higher-performance Wisdom Audio system called for a complete rethink of the room layout and audio architecture.
The client was looking for a high-quality audio and video experience, with performance taking priority. With a room measuring approximately 18 by 19 feet and seating for around ten people across two rows, every element had to be carefully considered to make the most of the available space.
Pure Image worked closely with Wisdom Audio and the builder throughout the project to determine the optimal speaker placement and integrate the system into the room. The result is a 9.4.4 immersive theatre combining high-performance audio, a large-format 178.7-inch-wide image and a Barco 4K projector.
Designing Around the Room
The room presented several challenges, particularly when it came to accommodating the LCR speakers within the walls while maximizing the available screen size. The position of the front speakers had to be carefully coordinated with the screen and projector, leading the team to specify a custom Barco lens to achieve the required image size and placement.
The final audio system combines Wisdom Audio Sage Cinema Line 2Ă—3 modular line sources for the front stage, six Insight P2I point-source speakers and four Insight ICI6 in-ceiling speakers. Low-frequency performance is handled by four in-wall S90i subwoofers.
The system is powered by four Wisdom Audio SA-3 amplifiers and one SA-8, with the StormAudio Elite 24 Analog at the centre of the installation. A Barco Balder projector delivers the 4K image onto a custom 178.7-inch Seymour Screen Excellence Neo screen, while AVPro Edge HDBaseT distribution handles video connectivity. Control is provided through Control4.
With the increased speaker count came the need for a processor capable of managing a complex immersive layout while maintaining the precision expected from the rest of the system. Wisdom Audio recommended StormAudio for this role.
For Pure Image, the processor also needed to perform beyond the immersive cinema environment. With two-channel music playback also an important part of the room’s use, the Elite 24 provided the flexibility to deliver both immersive and stereo experiences from the same system.
Precision Through Manual Calibration
Rather than relying on automated room correction, the system was calibrated manually by experienced audio specialists. The focus was on achieving precise tonal balance, time alignment and seamless integration between the subwoofers, main speakers and surround channels.
The StormAudio processor provided the detailed control required throughout this process. Individual channel levels, delays and parametric EQ could be adjusted independently, allowing the calibration to be tailored precisely to the room and speaker system.
The subwoofer integration was particularly important. Before calibration, the bass was described as loose and imprecise, while the overall room lacked tonal balance. The calibration process brought the four subwoofers into alignment before integrating them with the main speakers and surround channels.
The result was a much tighter and more accurate low-frequency response, with consistent tonality and improved precision across the entire sound field.
This manual approach also highlights an important strength of the StormAudio platform: integrators and calibration specialists can choose the methodology that best suits the project. While the platform offers advanced automated calibration through the Dirac Live Suite, its extensive manual adjustment capabilities provide the precision required for experienced professionals who prefer to calibrate by hand.
The difference was immediately apparent. The previously unbalanced presentation became cohesive and controlled, with tighter bass, improved imaging and matching tonality across the system.
The client was ultimately “blown away” by the result and has been enjoying the high-end theatre extensively. For a room designed around both movies and music, the combination of precise dialogue, convincing surround effects, accurate imaging and fatigue-free music playback delivers the versatility the client was looking for.
For Pure Image, the project also stood out for the level of collaboration required to achieve the final result. The team worked closely with Wisdom Audio and the builder to resolve speaker placement, architectural integration and projector positioning, rather than treating the AV system as something to be fitted into the finished room.
Founded in 2005, Pure Image Technology is a Vancouver-based smart home integrator with more than 55 team members across Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria and Calgary. Its in-house team covers design, programming, project management, installation and technical support, delivering integrated AV, lighting, shading, security and climate control solutions for residential and commercial environments.
This theatre is a strong example of that approach: a carefully engineered system where the room, loudspeakers, processing and video system were designed to work together from the outset, resulting in a highly immersive cinema tailored to the client’s expectations.
Systems & Equipment:
Audio Processing & Amplification:
- Processor: StormAudio Elite 24 Analog
- Amplification: 4Ă— Wisdom Audio SA-3, 1Ă— Wisdom Audio SA-8
- Interconnects: 21Ă— XLR, line level
Speakers (9.4.4 Configuration):
- Sage Cinema Line 2 Ă—3 – modular line source in/on-wall, 51″ high
- Insight P2I Ă—6 – compact point source planar magnetic hybrid
- Insight ICI6 Ă—4 – in-ceiling 2-way 6.5″, LCR / surround / 3D audio
- S90i Ă—4 – in-wall RTL subwoofer
Video:
- Projector: Barco Balder single-chip DLP, 4K XPR DMD
- Lens: Barco EN66 ultra-wide angle zoom, 1.12–1.7:1
- Screen: Seymour Screen Excellence 178.7″ 16:9 Neo screen, custom black border
- Distribution: AVPro Edge HDBaseT (AC-CXWP-HDMO-TB transmitter, AC-EX70-444-KIT extender)
Control & Environment:
- Automation: Control4 Halo Touch remote / Control4 Core 5 controller
- Room: Full acoustic treatment, wall and ceiling coverage
