“Everything that can be done in a house, we can do in a condo,” says Warren Press, president of Calgary’s Holmes Theater, who advises first checking condo bylaws to see what’s allowed before putting speakers in walls or in the ceilings, for example.

“The issue is sound transfer between units,” he notes, adding it doesn’t have to be prohibitive to the condo dweller. “Sound-dampening enclosures can be built. Bass is the biggest challenge, but it can be attenuated with very good insulation behind drywall.”

Bass shakers are another way to get around the bass and subwoofer issue, with the transducers actually built into a chairs or couches for a complete viewing experience.

When talking about condo entertainment systems, maximizing what an owner can do with square footage is fundamental. Flat screen televisions, projectors and large screens are becoming mainstream, and are quite well suited for condos, says Press. “There are many solutions for full automation and light control, too, allowing for mood settings and music selection, for example, all tied together,” he explains.

For those who prefer not to have the television as a room’s focal point, motorized screens or artwork designed to fit over a screen are additional options for smaller spaces, and have become a recent trend.

But bigger is not always better, especially given that owning a condo often goes hand-in hand with shared walls, and a certain implied level of respect for who you’re sharing with.

“Small, quality sound systems are available, including the Denon micro system, the Linn Classic music and movie systems, and Arcam’s Solo series,” says Simon Wilson, manager at Audio Ark in Edmonton. “A condo owner wants a happy relationship with his or her neighbour, so don’t walk out of the store with a big subwoofer.”

Space considerations and aesthetics, and often bylaws or house rules, should always be concerns.  “People have to remember when they live in condos there are people beside, below and above them, in most cases. We want to provide clients with quality over fidelity at low volume,” Wilson says.

He says that part of their company’s process is asking customers many questions before showing them the myriad audio and home theatre options. One of the most important ones is whether they own an iPod as “iPod connectability is very important these days,” Wilson notes.  Another option for music lovers is the Linn Sneaky DS, which allows the person to access music files on their computer and wirelessly transfer music to speakers in other rooms with the assistance of a handheld PC tablet, NOKIA N810, which is “slightly larger than an iPod.”

Simplicity and ease of operation always weigh in to the electronics deliberations, especially in condos. “The Linn Classic, Arcam’s Solo series and Denon’s micro system cover all the basics without the attendant twiddly bits,” says Wilson.  “Most people just want to put in a CD or DVD without having to fiddle with it, yet have the quality of sound they expect. These systems do this.”

Bose in West Edmonton Mall offers a few options for residents in small spaces, among them the LifestyleR system which includes the ADAPTiQR  Audio Calibration System. No matter the shape or size of a room, the ADAPTiQR system is designed to adapt, delivering sound that is virtually surround sound. Bose’s Wave music system is an option for audio, combining a CD player and tuner, as well as allowing another component, such as an iPod—which no household is without—to be plugged in.

Soundsaround’s Store Manager Koh Law in Calgary’s Crowfoot store says, “Condos will not let you pre-wire and that is extremely important to know.” He, too, advises condo owners always check bylaws before any major entertainment system purchases, and also questions the accuracy of systems claiming to be “wireless.”

“They all need power and it is only wireless from front to back, not side to side,” says Law. For condo owners, he recommends the Yamaha Soundbar, which he dubs “one of the most popular items on the market.” The soundbar system gives you simulated surround sound with a front speaker and a subwoofer, and this can work with any television. “It works, to be honest, quite beautifully. It is about 90 per cent there compared to the 5.1 system.” The YSP model provides surround sound from one component, saving space in condos, which tend to be smaller than single-family homes.

“It’s tough to have a traditional surround sound situation (in a condominium or townhouse),” says Greg Torrance of Dream Theatre by Torrance Designs. For those who prefer to feel like they are in the thick of a film’s action when,  it’s not a completely lost cause for condo-dwelling video and audiophile thrill-seekers. Torrance cites as an alternative, “a sound bar that goes underneath a flat screen television (which) reproduces multi-channel sound. And you don’t have to worry about wiring.”

The ButtKicker® is another space-saving option sure to appeal to condo-owning bachelors’ manly sides, and is essentially a low-frequency audio transducer that literally shakes a couch. “It tricks your mind into believing the energy is deep bass.” They can be also used in one’s gaming chair or comfortable recliner to be accurately in tune with a person’s choice in movies, music or games, without disturbing the neighbours.

Looking to liven up the boudoir? Calgary’s K&W Audio also boasts media for smaller spaces—both Arcam and Yamaha offer “bedroom systems,” says James Aust, K & W floor manager. “They are compact, nice sounding and even have alarm clocks built in, as well as iPod ports … and are suitable for small condos.” Roth, which uses tubes and has a retro look, and Boston Acoustics’ Duo-i are other pared choices to consider, as is Polk Audio’s all-in-one unit. “It is in the same playing field as BOSE,” says Aust. “This system has four speakers—two in the front and two in the back, creating a large sound field.” Some systems have MP3 capabilities, as well. K&W’s newest media room has been designed to showcase many other options for condo owners, including the “invisible” Stealth in-wall speaker.  CL