Podcast Summary: Home Theater Geeks 510 – The Kipnis Studio Standard

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Host: Scott Wilkinson
Episode: Home Theater Geeks 510: The Kipnis Studio Standard
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Scott Wilkinson, dives into what he calls "the most extreme and most expensive home theater I've ever seen": Jeremy Kipnis' legendary Kipnis Studio Standard (KSS). Scott walks listeners through the awe-inspiring details, equipment, and philosophy behind this one-of-a-kind home theater, while reminiscing on his interviews with Kipnis and reflecting on what made this installation so remarkable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Jeremy Kipnis & His Home Theater

• Background: Jeremy Kipnis was a passionate audiophile, consultant, and home theater aficionado who built the Kipnis Studio Standard, once recognized as the most outrageous and expensive home theater globally (03:00).
• Purpose: The KSS served as both a demonstration lab for clients and a personal playground for pushing audio-visual boundaries (03:32).

“He called his system the Kipnis Studio Standard, also known as the Greatest show on Earth. It was actually a laboratory to advance the state of the art.” — Scott Wilkinson (03:32)

2. The Room & Equipment Breakdown

Floor Plan Highlights

• Original Speaker Setup: 9 Snell THX Sub 1800 subwoofers (later upgraded to 16); 8 Snell THX Music and Cinema Tower speakers; 3 Snell THX LCR 2800 speakers for center channel duties; 10 Murata ES103A super tweeters for ultrasonic frequencies (04:10).
• Room Specs: 33ft (L) x 26.5ft (W), with a sloping ceiling from 8ft to 16ft (04:51).
• Seating: Central couch and coffee table.

Amplification & Power

• Amplifier Arsenal: 30 McIntosh MC2102 tube amplifiers, 2 Mark Levinson No.33H, and 3 Crown Macro Reference Gold power amps (05:29).
• Lab-Grade Screen: 18ft x 10ft Stewart Snowmat unity gain screen (05:44).
• Speaker Matching Philosophy: KSS featured identical side and surround speakers, underscoring the importance of timbre and model-matching for immersive sound (07:46).

“Jeremy subscribed to the philosophy that... surround speakers should be the same as the front, right and lefts. And he had the room to do it.” — Scott Wilkinson (07:46)

Source Components & Technology

• Sources Included: Sony 4K projector, early Sony/Toshiba HD players, Pioneer Laserdisc, JVC D-VHS (digital videotape), Sony PlayStation 3, Mark Levinson No.51 DVD/CD player, and a SATA drive with “a whopping 72 hours” of HD content (13:28–14:33).

"That was sarcasm right there because 72 hours is nothing these days. But, you know, that was 15 years ago." — Scott Wilkinson (14:33)

Power Demands

• Electricity Needs: Over 11,000 watts of amplifier power, necessitating two General Electric 13,000V 800A step-down transformers just for the theater (15:10–15:56).
• Audiophile Cabling: All cabling was premium, with each component protected by a "cryogenically treated 40amp circuit breaker" (15:56–16:10).

3. The Experience & Impact

Extreme Frequency Response

• System Capabilities: Played from 10Hz (infrasonic) to 100kHz (ultrasonic), far exceeding human hearing (16:35).

"His system went from 10Hz – infrasonic for sure – to 100kHz – ultrasonic. And I would love to have heard that system with high resolution audio." — Scott Wilkinson (16:35)

• Debate: Speculation on whether audio above 20kHz is perceptible, and is it worth the money? (16:35–18:29)

Cost & Recognition

• Total Cost: $6 million — certified by Guinness as the world’s most expensive home theater for multiple years (18:29).
• Uniqueness: Recognized not only for the gear but the passion behind it.

"It's one man's passion, no question about it. And a lot of us have that passion. Very few of us have the resources to indulge it to that degree." — Scott Wilkinson (18:33)

Legacy

• While widely published and discussed, Scott notes it’s unlikely we’ll see another home theater of this extremity again (19:03).

4. Listener Engagement & Community

• Call for Submissions: Scott invites listeners to share their home theater setups for possible feature segments (19:39).
• Contact Information: Email submissions (HTGWIT TV) with photos and descriptions are encouraged (20:10).

“If it gives you pleasure, I want to hear about it. Send me some pictures and a sentence or two about your room and what makes it special.” — Scott Wilkinson (19:39)

• Potential Guest Appearances: Selected listeners might be invited to Zoom in and showcase their systems on an upcoming "Home Theater of the Month" episode (20:10).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On obsession vs. practicality:
  “Is it worth the amount of money he spent? Well, I don't know. He spent $6 million... which I believe the Guinness Book of World Records cited it as the most expensive theater in the world, home theater.” — Scott Wilkinson (16:35–18:29)

• On legacy:
  “Will we ever see anything like this again? Hard to say, but I would guess not. Jeremy and his Kipnis Studio Standard were one of a kind.” — Scott Wilkinson (19:03)

• Audience encouragement:
  “It'll... if it gives you pleasure, I want to hear about it.” — Scott Wilkinson (19:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00 — Introduction to Jeremy Kipnis and the KSS home theater
• 04:10 — Detailed overview of initial equipment and room design
• 05:29 — Power amplification and screen details
• 07:46 — Philosophy on speaker matching for surround environments
• 12:45 — Projection booth and vintage source devices
• 15:10 — Power demands and unique electrical infrastructure
• 16:35 — System frequency response and high-fidelity discussion
• 18:29 — System cost and world record mention
• 19:39 — Listener submission invitation
• 20:10 — Information on “Home Theater of the Month”

Episode Tone & Style

Scott’s tone is passionate, respectful, and slightly wistful as he memorializes Kipnis and the grand experiment KSS represented. The episode is highly informative and technical, but accessible with Scott’s warmth and stories, inviting all enthusiasts to share in the passion regardless of resources.

For Further Exploration:

• Watch Scott's 2010 full interview with Jeremy Kipnis (episode 39 of Home Theater Geeks; link in show notes).

End Note: Contact Scott at HTGWIT TV to share your home theater and potentially be featured!
“Until next time, geek out." — Scott Wilkinson (20:31)