It is no secret that dealers, integrators, and installers are on a never-ending quest to find content that effectively demonstrates the full potential and power of an immersive home theater system.
Every year around this time, the industry has an entertaining and time-honored tradition that lists the “best demo scenes” that are curated from the recently released movies or streaming titles. While many of these scenes are visually spectacular and often packed with dynamic sound, they’re not purpose-built to fully exercise advanced speaker layouts, showcase nuanced sound design, or make proper use of all the channels and formats now available.
Trinnov Audio recognized a gap and decided to take matters into its own hands. The company has taken a bold, creative step by producing its own immersive trailers. These cinematic shorts aren’t marketing reels or product promos; they’re meticulously crafted audiovisual experiences designed to challenge systems, thrill listeners, and spark conversation.
Here, Benoit Muñoz, Trinnov’s marketing manager and the visionary behind the project, provides the full story behind this unique initiative.
Why did Trinnov decide to create its own trailers?
When I joined Trinnov almost 10 years ago, immersive sound was just entering the home theater space, but the majority of players had moved beyond what I refer to as the “golden age” of producing trailers. The content that existed was often tied to specific formats, and I felt that did not reflect Trinnov’s agnostic approach to audio. So, in 2020, while preparing for Integrated Systems Europe, I saw an opportunity to try something new. We were debuting our support for DTS:X Pro, and I wanted a piece of content that would show off the format in a creative, exciting way.
With limited resources and a lot of support, the first trailer we produced, Experience, was short (about 30 seconds), but it helped prove the concept, and we knew it was the start of something special. That was the beginning of something much bigger.
Who are these trailers really intended for — dealers, integrators, or end users?
The honest answer is that they’re made for us first. That’s often the case in creative work; you build something that satisfies your own standards, and if you love it, you hope that others will, too.
That said, we’ve always had the integrator and enthusiast communities in mind while producing these. We have aimed to create trailers that resonate with both groups because we know they are the people who key into every detail, who know — or in some cases want to know — just what their system is capable of.
We receive a lot of feedback from longtime industry partners, typically seasoned calibrators and integrators, but we’re always elated to hear about enthusiasts using these trailers at home to show off the full capabilities of the home theaters they have poured energy, investment, and passion into building.
Home Theater Week: The Ultimate Dual-Purpose Home Theater
Tell us about the creative process. How do these trailers come together?
Each trailer begins with a spark: a visual idea, a technology we want to explore, or a partnership with an emerging artist. For example, Les Dieux started with stunning visual work by Lucio Arese, and we built an audio experience around it that pushes the limits of low-frequency reproduction. It’s now a favorite among calibrators who want to see how far their subs can go.
All our trailers are mixed in reference-grade environments, including Trinnov-calibrated rooms and studios like MSM in Munich and Berlin, where many industry-standard Atmos titles are mixed. That gives us a solid foundation, and from there, we push boundaries.
How have integrators and dealers responded to this content?
The feedback has been phenomenal. We often hear directly from those who’ve integrated our trailers into their showroom demos and seen powerful results. We understand that integrators and dealers are constantly seeking engaging, fresh content to showcase the transformative impact that immersive audio can have, and we’re happy to provide access to trailers we feel fit that bill. As a notable example, one partner of ours in Sweden told us several of their customers upgraded entire systems after experiencing a true Trinnov demo.
While we take great pleasure in testing these trailers among our core crew and most passionate collaborators, I can say that perhaps the most gratifying response has come in the form of uptake by our industry partners. It’s validating to see our trailers integrated into Kaleidescape players within the finest home theater showrooms in the world. That is a real compliment to our team and the philosophy behind the trailer project.
How do Trinnov’s trailers differ from traditional demo clips or Hollywood scenes?
Unlike studio content, which is often visually compelling but sometimes sonically conservative, our trailers are purpose-built to highlight immersive sound design. We pay special attention to channels that are underutilized in most films — like wides and ceiling speakers — because we want to show off the full potential of an immersive system.
Our trailers are concise, standalone pieces that have been crafted to highlight audiovisual excellence, all without blockbuster budgets or star power, might I add. These are cinematic experiences designed from the ground up to elevate the home theater demo.
Do you see this concept evolving even further?
Absolutely. The reception so far has encouraged us to keep going. We’re always developing new ideas and exploring collaborations with artists and engineers alike. What started as a small experiment has grown to take on a life of its own. We’re excited to expand on this concept further, and we’ll always aim to push the boundaries of immersive audiovisual experiences.
How can enthusiasts get access to these trailers?
They’re all available at https://hub.trinnov.com/trailers, and most are offered in multiple formats: Atmos, Auro-3D, and DCP. Anyone with a properly configured system can use them to explore the limits of their setup.
We’ve seen them used by hobbyists, calibrators, YouTubers…you name it. It’s a resource we’re proud to share with the entire home theater community.
