Lynn's Audio Video
gets home theater
By Tamber Weston
Things look different at Lynn's Audio
Video in Logan. Since May, owner Bret Hancey and employees
have been busy remodeling the place.
"After 17 years it [the look]
became stale," said Hancey. "We wanted a high-tech
look."
Hancey explained that when the store
moved from its 527 South Main address to its current
1655 N. Main location in 1987 the demand for big screen
televisions was low and customers took more interest
in speakers and sound systems.
Consequently the big screen TVs were
put into a small room and the audio equipment in a larger
room. Times have changed.
"Now big screens are much more
popular," said Hancey. For this reason the rooms
were swapped. What used to be the audio room is now
the big screen room and vice versa. Along with this
change the store move its service desk, re-framed several
doors and repainted several rooms. But the changes don't
stop there.
The store is converting an entire
room into a home theater, complete with the latest in
home entertainment.
When customers are considering building
such a room in their homes they will first want to explore
and experience all their options. In Lynn's Audio Video's
newest addition they will be able to do just that.
As they enter the theater room the
plush carpet, dark colored walls, and cherry crown moldings
may make them feel as if they walked out of the store
and into someone's living room. When seated in the $999
black-leather theater seats they will notice discreet
cup holders in the arms.
As the lights dim, twinkling lights
from above will cause customers to look up to a ceiling
of fiber-optic lights designed to look like a starry-night
sky and with a careful study they may spot the big dipper.
Next, a 10-feet-wide projector screen
will lower from the ceiling on the opposite end of the
room and a hidden projector in the ceiling behind them
will project a movie like Finding Nemo.
As the most dramatic scene approaches
they will feel as if they are in the movie because they
can feel the ground shaking. Eventually they will realize
that it's not the ground that is shaking but their chairs
that are designed to shake with the intensity of the
movie.
Throughout the event an employee will
point out, not one, not two, but three surround-sound
stereo systems installed in the ceiling, walls and bookshelves
of the room.
With the push of a button customers
will experience the differences between a 5-1, 6-1,
and 7-1 surround-sound system. They will also see the
difference between a projector in the ceiling and one
between their seats, as well as the difference between
a motorized drop screen and a screen that is fixed to
the wall.
"We want the room to be an experience
for people," said Hancey. "When they walk
out we want them [to be] grinning [from] ear to ear;
and they will be."
Even before the equipment is in the
room Hancey will have spent more than $12,000 on the
project.
Hancey explains that the cosmetics
of the room are for the women.
"With the living room environment
they can see what it looks like in a home," said
Hancey. "We want to show people what can be done,
that you don't have to see all the speakers and equipment."
Furthermore Hancey said once someone
has a home theater room it becomes "the most used
rooms in the house." He said "it's functional
and still looks nice, so the whole family can enjoy
it."
Hancey said he envisioned doing something
like this ever since he bought the store from his father,
Lynn Hancey, two years ago. He said he just "didn't
have the money."
This year he felt like it was time
and four months ago he gutted the stores old theater
room to make room for the new one. Then about two months
ago he hired D.L. Weston Construction Inc. to finish
what he had started.
Hancey said he expects the building
to be done before the end of the month and hopes all
the equipment installation will be completed shortly
after.
When the remodeling began, salesman
Casey Hibbard said that business at Lynn's slowed down.
"Customers would come in and
ask, 'Are you guys going out of business,'" said
Hibbard. "But lately we've been getting good comments."
And soon everyone at Lynn's hopes
to be getting good comments about the home theater room.
"We're trying to 'wow' them,"
said Hancey. "When they leave we want them to have
something to talk about."
But he hopes their not just talking
about the store's new theater room but also about the
store's service. Many years ago the store began as a
small repair shop.
"There were only black and white
TVs then," said Hancey.
Today, Hancey said his store specializes
in services.
"Most electronic stores don't
service their own products . . . we do."
Hancey assures that when his store
puts in a home theater system, customers can rest assure
it will be installed properly with the best acoustics.
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