- When Dr. James Moran and his wife Brenda decided to build a second-floor addition above the garage, their plans included a dedicated home theater. Today, the award-winning "Nautilus Theatre," which was inspired by Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," sweeps you into another time and place. Modeled after Captain Nemo's infamous submarine, "The Nautilus," the theater includes a Victorian-themed design, including red velvet with gold fringe for the Acoustic Innovations Royal CinemaChairs and drapes, paisley carpeting, and green and black tinted submarine walls and columns. The theater's door even includes a porthole.
"I think the simplicity of the system is very good. We've had a number of people visit who may be intimidated by technology yet they feel comfortable with the AMX system."
A Dream Come True
- Dr. Moran first dreamed of owning a home theater during a family outing when he was a teenager. On a trip to the famous and historic Hearst Castle, belonging to newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, Dr. Moran received his first glimpse of a home theater — this one built in the 1920's and a technological marvel well before its time.
- "Of course, no one had a home theater back then. I thought instantly that this was something I wanted to have and enjoy one day," Dr. Moran explained. "It was sheer joy to see our dream come true like this - to see it fully accomplished. It was quite a process, but after dreaming about this for so long, it was worth everything put into it."
"The Modero panel sounded awesome, and it even does more than we thought it was capable of, like controlling the room's temperature and lighting. I really like having all those extras."
The Heart of It All
- The heart of the system is an AMX® NI-3000 NetLinx® Controller; yet, it is the AMX 7.5-inch Modero® ViewPoint® Touch Panel (MVP-7500) that gets all the attention and accolades. The easy-to-operate wireless touch panel offers Dr. Moran and his wife a simple, streamlined way to select music and movies.
- "At first, I just knew that I wanted to control everything with a remote that was easy enough to use, because we're not technically-oriented people," Dr. Moran said. "The Modero panel sounded awesome, and it even does more than we thought it was capable of, like controlling the room's temperature and lighting. I really like having all those extras." For example,, the Modero Touch Panel's user interface provides the Moran family, which includes two married sons and grandchildren, with a quick way to search and select movies and music from an integrated 400-disc DVD changer. Dr. Moran is a self-proclaimed movie-buff with a deep affection for science fiction. To supplement his ongoing and growing hobby, the Modero's on-screen navigation revolves around a list of movie titles that can be instantly displayed. Dr. Moran then simply scrolls the list and presses an on-screen button to activate his selection.
- The Moran's AMX control system also includes pre-programmed automation, which further simplifies the technology for the family. For example, one touch of the "DVD" icon sets a series of events in motion - the theater's AMX Radia Lighting dims, the AMX ViewStat Thermostat automatically adjusts to a comfortable setting, and the drapery opens to reveal a larger-than-life projection screen. If Dr. Moran wants to take manual control of the integrated high-definition satellite receiver, satellite radio or DLP projector, he simply selects another on-screen icon - no additional navigation needed and no delays.
- One custom rack is located behind a concealed door on the left side of the theater, a few feet from the front row of seats. The doors rest flush against the fabricated submarine walls. The rack, which is approximately six feet tall, holds all sources, receivers, power supplies and sensors, as well as the NI-3000 Controller.
- "My wife loves Disney, and I love science fiction," Dr. Moran said. "We probably went a little over our budget on this project, but it's been worth every penny. In the end, I think we got a great deal on it."
"It was sheer joy to see our dream come true like this. It was quite a process, but ... it was worth everything put into it."
