Home Theater Geeks 525: Deco Dream

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Host: Scott Wilkinson
Guest: Andre Sinclair
Date: April 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Home Theater Geeks dives into the meticulous journey of Andre Sinclair, a Canadian home builder and home theater enthusiast, as he constructs an Art Deco-inspired home theater from the ground up in his own home. With deep technical insight blended with design creativity, Sinclair shares the practical, aesthetic, and acoustic considerations that drove his ambitious DIY project. The episode is a goldmine of lessons and inspiration for anyone considering a similar home theater adventure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Andre’s Home Theater Passion

• First Inspiration:

  • "I was 10 years old in 1977 when Star Wars came out and had such a big impact on my life..." (01:34, Andre)
  • Early bond with movies, home audio, and tinkering, evolving from a small five-channel system in an apartment to a dedicated room in his later homes.

• Progression:

  • Gradual upgrades in equipment and ambition, including his first CRT projector and Mirage speakers.
  • Transition from integrated receivers to separates set a new standard for performance (“Going to separates from an integrated just absolutely blew me away.” 03:57, Andre)

2. Selecting and Designing the Room

• The Space:

  • Located outside Calgary in an acreage; original 1996 house with a walkout basement.
  • Conversion involved removing a wall between an office and a vestibule, maximizing both function and footprint. (04:55, Andre)
  • Final room dimensions: ~17 ft x 16.5 ft with 9 ft ceiling. (05:33)

• Design Goals:

  • Priorities: Sound quality (especially bass), in-wall speakers, seat count (limited to four), and aesthetic integration.
  • "We kind of went back and forth between art deco and a space theme... kept going back to kind of the art deco. I like the King Kong, the old movies." (05:33, Andre)

3. Planning & Construction Process

• Approach:

  • Andre admits to “just starting things without planning” but relies on sketches, ongoing research (especially AVS forums), and hands-on adaptation. (06:54)
  • Extensive photograph documentation helped both with planning and sharing the process with the AVS community.

• Framing & Sound Isolation:

  • Modified room framing to accommodate speaker placement, acoustic treatments, and equipment racks.
  • Focused on isolating the back wall to minimize sound leakage; less concern about the ceiling due to ongoing upstairs renos and the futility of "soundproofing" against significant bass. (13:35)

4. Speaker & Subwoofer Design

• In-wall System:

  • Chose Monoprice Monolith THX speakers; experimented with box volumes for best acoustic integration.
  • "The main planning was probably just a couple months...in your mind, you always have something that's just crazy. And then when you think of building it, it's like, is that going to take two years?" (06:54, Andre)
  • Landed on 1.5 cubic feet per speaker enclosure as the best balance for frequency response. (12:48)

• Subwoofers:

  • Designed and built dual 18-inch B&C subwoofers, tuned to 17 Hz, hidden within cabinetry for both aesthetics and performance.
  • "I'll tell anyone if you're stressing over it. Like you said, I don't think you can go too big. You just, you don't crank them loud, you know, you just have them do what they're supposed to do." (18:24, Andre)
  • Balance and control, rather than sheer bass volume, highlighted. “The bass blows them away in there...it's there when it's supposed to be there.” (19:12)

• Bass Shakers:

  • Cautious integration for occasional (not constant) tactile bass: "I have them turned down so low that they really only kick in when there's a lot [...] it just accentuates the bass." (20:08, Andre)

5. Acoustic Treatment

• Research heavily influenced by “BigMouthinDC” (an AVS Forum member) and others in the community.
• Used Linacoustic and Owens Corning insulation, combined with strategic reflectivity (alternating exposed and foil/tape-covered areas) to balance a lively yet controlled acoustic environment.
• Custom bass traps made from triangles of rockwool, carefully mounted with grill posts for flexibility. (35:33)

6. Art Deco Décor and Room Aesthetic

• Columns & Lighting:

  • Early vision for art deco pillar-style columns, originally attempted in birch plywood with laser cutting. Faced difficulty until he found a local Hutterite colony to laser cut the panels in metal for an affordable price. "Persevere. Don't give up." (27:16, Andre)
  • LED backlighting behind the metal panels, dimmable for fine control (29:01).

• Ceiling:

  • Faux copper tiles for a classic deco look, with ATMOS speakers artfully integrated (30:24).

• Star Ceiling:

  • Included as much for 'wow factor' as personal taste, more appreciated by guests and kids than the home theater purist in him: "For me, I never have it on because it casts too much light on the screen." (31:56, Andre)

• Fabric Panels:

  • Over 30 custom-built, removable maroon panels both for acoustics and period aesthetics. (37:51)
  • Lighting fine-tuned to cast elegant shadows across panels; swatch testing led choice of burgundy over gold fabric. (29:48)

• Lobby Design:

  • Inspired by vintage theaters; King Kong mural (custom wallpaper from Sweden); faux 'Manubric' bricks for a 3D effect.
  • Secret brick-lined equipment room door with an authentic art deco bakelite handle: "I kind of thought it'd be neat to have at least one piece that was real from back in the day." (48:24)

• Marquee and Porthole:

  • Brass porthole sourced from India; vintage photo inside as a "movie within a movie" detail for the door. (41:09)

7. Technology & Gear Choices

• Projector:

  • JVC X590R (Canadian labeling, approximates RS540?). Emphasized importance of true black levels: "JVC is the only way to go in that category if you want your blacks." (50:15)

• Screen:

  • Seymour 140-inch, 2.35:1 acoustically transparent. "There's two things. There's what you see and what you hear. So that was kind of at the top and then, then the decor kind of fell down below that." (53:01)

• Audio Chain:

  • Anthem AVM60 processor; two legacy EAD Powermaster 1000 amps, Parasound Halo A23, Tice Power Block 3, Behringer NX6000D, and Dayton SPA250 for bass shakers.
  • Speaker layout: 7 Monolith THX365i in walls + 4 RSL C34E MKII (Atmos) = 7.2.4.

• Sources:

  • Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray, Apple TV with Infuse streaming via QNAP NAS.
  • "Get it when it came out. And I pry for my cold dead ends." — regarding the Oppo 203 (46:36, Andre)

8. DIY Philosophy and Execution

• Hands-On:
  • Nearly all work performed solo over weekends; admitted to months-long breaks and fatigue but found satisfaction in learning new skills (veneer, finishing, design).
• Challenges:
  • Converting vision to reality, especially fabrication of custom details like the marquis and panels.
  • Mounting and hiding equipment and treatments without compromising aesthetics.
• Most Rewarding Moment:
  • "When I got the Owens corning up and I had most of the treatment up and I just had to listen to it and I had to subs and I dragged the amps out and kind of jerry rigged it...I was kind of blown away. That was, that was one of the best feelings.” (54:12)
• Biggest Advice:
  • Prioritize what you see and hear; with research and persistence, even ambitious builds are possible for passionate DIYers.

9. Budget

• Estimated Total:
  • ~CAD $30,000 for audio, projector, speaker components; another ~$10,000–15,000 for the room (carpet, seats, decor, materials); total approx. $40,000–45,000 CAD. (55:59)
  • "Had a lot of blood and sweat."

10. Impact and Family Reception

• "My wife, you know, you always talk about the wife approval factor. She prefers to watch a movie down there and go into the theater now...it just sounds actually better than a theater." (57:01)
• Theater serves as gathering space, family entertainment hub, and source of pride: "I love going down there and just being blown away when a new release comes out." (57:01)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On design realism:
  "In your mind, you always have something that’s just crazy. And then when you think of building it…is that going to take two years? Is that going to cramp the room?" (06:54, Andre)

• On perseverance:
  "Persevere. Don't give up." (27:16, Andre—regarding sourcing the deco panels)

• On acoustic priorities:
  "Every single thing I painted black whether I thought I could see it or not." (17:16, Andre)

• On balancing the perfectionism trap:
  "I've learned after this build to kind of let go of certain things … that analysis paralysis. You can sit there and waste six months trying to chase that little tiny bit." (21:11, Andre)

• On user experience:
  "Certain things…you'll pass on to your kids, like amplifiers and things like that." (55:59, Andre)

Segment Timestamps

• Andre’s Home Theater Roots & Early Systems – [01:34–03:57]
• Finding and Transforming the Room – [04:17–06:54]
• Design & Planning Approach – [06:54–09:09]
• Speaker/Subwoofer Decisions & Acoustic Testing – [11:49–19:22]
• Bass Shakers & Room Modes Discussion – [19:37–22:05]
• Art Deco Decor Sourcing & Panels – [24:31–29:17]
• Ceiling, Lighting, and Star Ceiling – [29:46–33:22]
• Acoustic Treatment Details – [33:22–37:51]
• Lobby Design, Secret Brick Door, Marquee – [38:25–42:22]
• Equipment Rack and AV Chain – [44:26–46:56]
• Room Tour (Video Narration) – [47:10–49:43]
• Projector & Screen Choice Rationale – [50:15–53:01]
• DIY Process, Challenges, & Final Reflection – [50:50–54:12]
• Budgeting – [55:38–56:42]
• Family & User Experience – [57:01–57:43]
• Final Thoughts & Community Invite – [57:54–58:46]

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive, real-world blueprint for creating a high-end, themed home theater—from foundational choices and technical pitfalls, to the importance of aesthetics and DIY perseverance. Andre’s journey is equal parts cautionary and inspiring: a testament to thoughtful research, persistence in the face of obstacles, and the lasting joy that comes from a well-executed, personalized home cinema.

For further info: The link to Andre’s detailed AVS Forum build thread (with more photos and community discussion) is provided in the episode show notes.