MEDIA ROOM INSIDER: APARTMENT THEATER

This Tel Aviv penthouse apartment fits a no-compromise 7.4.4 Dolby Atmos system into a cozy 10 x 18-foot space

- BOB ANKOSKO

AN ISRAELI A/V enthusiast faced a quandary not uncommon among home theater builders: Is the space I’ve set aside big enough for a no-compromise audio solution? The question loomed large as he pondered the entertainment options for a new luxury penthouse he was planning to buy in the heart of Tel Aviv. Making the situation even more challenging, the space had to be acoustically isolated.

His concerns were understandable, considering the high-end home theater he built in his previous home was more than three times the size of what would be possible in his new digs. A die-hard lover of movies and music, he wasn’t about to settle for a run-of-the-mill setup, especially since blueprints would need to be modified to accommodate an entertainment space—and a modestly sized one at that. He wanted something special. So much so, he held off on buying the condo until he could confirm it was possible to achieve the level of audio performance he demanded.

The client (first name: Yair) reached out to Dan Nagar, owner of the high-end audio/video and home automation company Cinemart in the nearby coastal resort city Netanya. He was quite familiar with Nagar’s work, having hired him to handle a number of A/V projects over the years, including the spacious theater he enjoyed in his previous home.

The home theater Yair envisioned would be the linchpin of an elaborate whole-house audio system with more than 30 speakers. “He wanted a “no compromise, full surround solution,” Nagar recalls, but was worried that he wouldn’t be able to achieve a true cinema experience in the limited space he had to work with. “I remember his call asking me if it’s possible to have a decent cinema experience in a comparatively small room. I told him that with the right system, yes, it was possible.”