Beauty and brawn in Minnetonka den
This project features:
A 65” LG OLED TV with 4K and HDR
Streaming and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc players
Dolby Atmos surround sound with Bowers & Wilkins and SVS speakers
State-of-the-art signal processing and sound amplification
Specialty A/V furniture by Salamander Designs
A custom-programmed, universal remote control
Designed and installed by Halsten Entertainment
At the end of a winding drive in Minnetonka, Sandy and her enthusiastic golden retriever, Sully, live a private life surrounded by trees and foliage. When their days of swimming pools and dog parks are over, they retreat down into their basement, where Sully climbs into Sandy’s lap and rests while Sandy enjoys a movie. “It’s not the most comfortable for me, but he just loves it so much!” she says.
Sandy came to Halsten Entertainment for help when she and her husband underwent a long-term overhaul of their basement. They were hoping to build a multipurpose space, where work, exercise, and entertainment could all coexist. When it came to the entertainment part, they knew they wanted something with firepower. Sandy’s friend pointed her to Halsten. With an existing LG OLED TV as the starting point, designer Mike Rasque worked with Sandy on building a system that looked great and sounded even better.
Beautiful puzzle pieces
Immediately, an all-white system was a must, to keep the basement feeling light and neutral, rather than dark and cozy. A low-profile stand by Salamander Designs and 700 Series speakers by Bowers & Wilkins became the focal point. Surround speakers, also by B&W, are encased in the ceiling just behind the loveseat, and mounted above the TV are two SVS Prime Elevation speakers. An SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer brings the boom and thud of the system. At the heart of it all is an Anthem MRX 740 receiver, with a Roku streaming box and a 4k Blu-ray player as the primary sources, all controlled by a single TRX1480 remote control by URC.
All of the above manufacturers make great products at many different price points, but Sandy’s decision to step up from entry-level means most of this system could stay in place for years to come. "Speakers are by far the best investment you can make in a system,” says Mike. “TVs and receivers are constantly getting replaced by new models with more features, but good speakers are good no matter how old they are.”
Bowers & Wilkins began as a boutique speaker brand for British music studios, but have been well-regarded in consumer audio for decades. The 702 floor speakers, along with their matching center and ceiling surround speakers, deliver classic B&W sound, and the distinctive “rocket” tweeter on the towers means you hear every detail in the audio.
The room’s the thing
Like most systems, not everything is ideal. From an acoustic standpoint, a corner is the last place you want to put a high-end piece of audio gear. Sound waves hate asymmetry, and placing your gear in such tight quarters can create all kinds of strange sonic behavior.
Enter the Anthem MRX 740, with their industry-leading ARC (Anthem Room Correction) Genesis. The receiver plays a series of tone sweeps from the lowest to highest frequencies in the human hearing spectrum, measures the peaks and valleys of the room’s natural acoustics, and compensates for them automatically. The correction data is saved and applied to anything you listen to from any source running through the receiver.
This process is especially important for low frequencies, letting you get the clearest, most balanced performance out of your subwoofer. In the case of the SVS Micro 3000, that’s a lot of punch. Though chosen primarily for its petite size and glossy white finish, it outclasses almost any other sub of this size we’ve ever heard. “SVS subs are where it’s at,” says Mike. “Everything they make, at whatever price point, for whatever setup, SVS makes a sub you’ll be happy with.”
Forward-thinking immersive audio
With Dolby Atmos trickling its way into more and more content, adding a pair of SVS Prime Elevation speakers was a no-brainer. “We know and love SVS not just for their subs, but their speakers,” says Mike. “The Elevations make it so easy to add Atmos to your setup, without a huge cost or cutting too many holes in the ceiling.”
However, most cinema and home theater professionals will tell you that the best way to design any system is to have all of your speakers be as identical as possible. Usually, this is best done by sticking to a single brand for maximum cohesion. “It’s a compromise, but it’s a good one,” admits Mike, “and once you calibrate the system, you’d hardly notice that they sound slightly different.”
What a difference a system makes
Sandy has certainly noticed the difference her new system has made in her life. “The other night, I was reading in bed, and I could hear my son’s movie through the floor!” says Sandy. “Sometimes when I’m watching, it looks and sounds so good I forget to pay attention to what’s happening.” Whether it’s the latest blockbuster or a rewatch of a favorite sitcom, Sandy’s basement is now a much more enjoyable, pleasant place to spend time.
