M.E.G.A AV Brings Joy Division Dream to Life at Audiophile's Penthouse

London-based integrator, M.E.G.A. AV recently completed a unique media room within a two-floor penthouse apartment close to Tower Bridge, London. The client’s brief was to turn an open plan living area into a captivating, high-quality media room. The homeowner, an audiophile, music, and movie fanatic, wanted a space where he and his wife could indulge in these passions via an immersive, top-of-the-range sound system.

Having worked with M.E.G.A. AV previously, the client once again reached out to them to help achieve their bold creative vision – a space that would reflect their love for music through the installation of a dramatic sculptural wood ceiling depicting the famed album artwork from Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’.

Sound Treatment and ‘Isolation’

The large open-plan room serves as a living space, library and media room. The space presented significant challenges for M.E.G.A. AV. Given that two-thirds of the room is made up of glass windows, effective acoustic treatment was essential. Critical to the project’s success was ensuring excellent audio quality and making the space dark enough for daytime viewing through hidden tech solutions, including discrete in-wall loudspeakers and a motorised projector.

Following a tour of the Bowers & Wilkins factory in Worthing in search of an exceptional listening experience, M.E.G.A. AV specified a selection of Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers from exclusive CI distributor, AWE Europe.

“Seeing the making of the speakers and hearing them firsthand was a really good experience and cemented why we really wanted to use these speakers,” comments Zak from M.E.G.A. AV. “They’re just amazing. The client wanted top quality audio in every room of the apartment, so we suggested using Bowers & Wilkins throughout as they had suitable options for every space.”

‘This is the Way’

M.E.G.A. AV proposed using various Bowers & Wilkins as a multi-room audio solution, as well as within the media room. This multi-functional space includes a 7.2 surround sound configuration, and throughout the master bedroom and kitchen, plaster-in kits were used for in-ceiling speakers with custom made back-boxes to perfectly fit the walls and complement the sleek, modern interior design.

“When I was looking for surround speakers to fit between the ribs in the media room and library area, they had to fit within a 175mm gap. I could only find one model that would fit, and that was Bowers & Wilkins due to its thin profile,” Zak explained.

The client opted for a Sony VPL-XW7000 4K projector in the media room sourced from AWE, due to its extraordinary brightness and crisp, lifelike colours even in well-lit spaces. This was paired with a custom 130” projector screen that could be hidden way when not in use.

The audio system is powered by a Marantz AV10 and AMP10 duo.

“When I heard about the Marantz pre-power combo, it was a no-brainer,” adds Zak. “The room couldn’t be Dolby Atmos white-paper configured due to the large windows, , however it still sounds amazing. The Marantz processor also allows you to have a subwoofer outlet for cinema use and audio output at the same time, which gives the client multiple listening options.”

A custom-made bulkhead overhang houses the front, left, centre, and right speakers, three subwoofers, a 130” motorized projection screen, and four blackout roller blinds. Weighing in at a hefty 450 kilos, the bulkhead was decoupled from the building structure to prevent reverberation, ensuring no noise disturbance to neighbours. High-density acoustic foam was used in the gaps above and behind this structure and placed between the ribbed panels on the ceiling.

Strategically positioned lighting between the wooden ribs accentuates the curves of the album artwork design. And, the whole ceiling diffuses sound beautifully, absorbing the higher frequencies to dampen the reverberation, as well as looking like a work of art.

(Un)known Pleasures

The resulting media room is striking and comfortable. Every component has been designed or selected with excellent acoustics in mind. The space remains minimalist except for the custom-built library shelving across the back wall, which displays a range of books and records and acts as a natural sound diffuser alongside the two semi-circle modular sofas in the room’s centre, all facilitating the perfect environment for the sound system.

The apartment also features two Sony TVs from AWE, a Sony A95 50” and 55”, one in the kitchen and one in the office.

This project is an excellent illustration of high-quality AV components seamlessly integrated into a living space, without compromising on design or functionality. The acoustically challenging space is a distant memory and in its place is a stunning media room that serves both as a living space and an audiophile’s dream.

The client is delighted with the outcome, stating, “The room not only looks magnificent but sounds incredible. Music is a big part of my life; from the moment I wake up every day I enjoy playing music here until I go to bed. This space is everything I hoped for and more.”