In the heart of Putney, in southwest London, a masterful fusion of architectural elegance and acoustic excellence has transformed a distinguished 7000-square-meter residence. What began as a vision for a single 5.1 media room evolved into an ambitious whole-home audio solution, expertly crafted by premier home integration specialist Cinergy, and built exclusively on professional sound systems from L-Acoustics.
The journey began when Cinergy introduced its audiophile client to the world of L-Acoustics at the brand’s Highgate showroom. The demonstration proved transformative — what started as a focused brief expanded into an inspiring vision to create an unparalleled sonic environment throughout the property.
The result is a harmonious blend of luxury and technology that spans 80% of the residence. From a sophisticated media room with an integrated recording studio on the top floor to the reimagined living spaces below, each area has been thoughtfully designed to deliver an exceptional audio experience. This comprehensive solution gives the family the flexibility to pursue individual musical interests, gather for shared listening experiences, or host elegant soirées.
“From day one, it was very apparent that the owner had a huge appreciation for music,” says Tom Jarvis, founder of Cinergy. “His main media room is an audio-only space, without even a TV. What also became clear to us was that he cared about creating a consistent sound, so having one brand throughout the home really appealed — across private living spaces, areas for parties and socializing, and through into the garden. He was inspired by the authentic richness and detail of the L-Acoustics sound and wanted that everywhere.”
To ensure flawless execution, Cinergy employed L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D sound design and mapping tools to optimize speaker selection, placement, and performance. “Designing the right system can be carried out by L-Acoustics with the Soundvision software. It’s able to tell you precisely what you need, eliminating all the guesswork from our job,” Jarvis explains. “It gives me a predictable system that delivers the exact same sound performance that the client experienced in the showroom.”
The installation showcases the finest in L-Acoustics technology. In the main living room, 1.5m-tall Syva colinear loudspeakers with Syva subwoofers create a striking visual and acoustic centerpiece. These medium-throw colinear source systems, which are capable of delivering levels up to 137 dB, are complemented by an artfully integrated network of five X4i in-ceiling speakers, two surface-mount X4r speakers, and two SB10r subwoofers, one in the ceiling and one in the wall.
“It’s set up as a 2-channel zone with the main Syva speakers, and then all of the others can be paired in or out to fill the rest of the space with music, according to taste and the function of the room” adds Jarvis.
The sophisticated audio experience on the ground floor continues in the library with a refined 2.1 setup using Syva and including an ultra-compact SB10i discretely housed within the joinery. Adjacent spaces include a 5.1 system in the TV room with X4i in-ceiling rear surrounds as well as an SB10 also installed in the joinery, while the kitchen benefits from four X4r in-ceiling speakers along with one SB10i subwoofer.
The crown jewel of the installation is found on the top floor where a professional-grade media room and studio space are configured in a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup featuring seven X4 speakers, which serve as the LCR channels behind a fabric wall, while four X4r provide the surround and height channels, supported by one SB10r subwoofer. Two LA2Xi amplified controllers power this sophisticated configuration.
The integration of the recording studio required particular ingenuity. “The rear rights needed to be moved as they were in the space where the client wanted the desk for the recording studio,” Jarvis recalls. “We made the desk leg 150mm thick so that we could fit the speaker into the edge of the desk while keeping it in the right location. The recording studio has also got a 2.1 L-Acoustics setup, with its amplifier also mounted in the same leg.” This creative solution exemplifies the attention to detail required when integrating professional-grade audio into multi-functional spaces.
Seamless control was paramount, achieved through integration with the Control4 platform, allowing intuitive management of this comprehensive audio ecosystem.
“He’s loving it, as are all the family who spend so much of their time now playing and listening to music,” concludes Jarvis. “The L-Acoustics sound quality is off the charts, and consistent everywhere you go in the property. We’re now taking the project one step further, bringing L-Acoustics outside as the key component in a spectacular garden entertainment system.”
For more information, visit www.cinergy.ltd and www.l-acoustics.com.
