How Torus Power, Elliston Systems & Design, and Paradise Theater Delivered an Uncompromising Private Cinema
A Texas homeowner’s 30-year dream private cinema realized with high-performance home theater design, expert power solutions from Torus Power, and the craftsmanship of Elliston Systems & Design and Paradise Theater.
For a Dallas, Texas homeowner with a lifelong passion for music and movies, building a dedicated private cinema was more than a dream — it was a 30-year aspiration finally realized. Inside a sprawling 15,000-square-foot residence designed as a place to share moments with family and friends, this cinema would become the crown jewel: a place to escape, immerse, and be inspired.
Challenges
Unlike most projects that adapt existing spaces, this homeowner wanted a true purpose-built cinema — designed from the ground up to exceed even commercial theater performance. The Van Cave Theater itself spans approximately 1,000 square feet and sits below ground level. That, in and of itself, was a challenge to overcome but that allowed the teams involved to achieve the best possible acoustic isolation and structural stability.
To do that, the teams designed a room within a room within a room. This, of course, introduces complexities. For instance, during construction, as each room level was built, the theater space got smaller. When the structural room was visible, it had a volume of 15,333 cubic feet. The floating room (with the suspended ceiling) shrunk to 8,666 cubic feet. At 5,331 cubic feet, the visible room is only about one-third of the volume of the structural room.
Beyond the technical design challenges of integrating massive high-performance speakers and amplification, power quality and system protection were critical. Voltage fluctuations, electrical noise, and surges can degrade performance and damage expensive equipment — a risk that was unacceptable in this no-compromise project.
Solutions
To make this vision a reality, the homeowner partnered with Steve Elliston of Elliston Systems & Design, whose reputation for deeply personalized, high-performance solutions made him the perfect fit. Steve collaborated with Paradise Theater, known for its engineering-driven, performance-first approach to private cinema design.
Steve Elliston described the process as both challenging and deeply rewarding:
“This wasn’t just a room with some gear in it — it was a fully engineered environment designed for the absolute best performance possible. Every detail, from acoustic treatments to cable routing and equipment location, had to be perfect to meet the client’s vision.”
Sam Cavitt, founder of Paradise Theater, echoed that sentiment:
“When you invest in these high-performance systems, if you don’t do power correctly, you’re missing a huge part of it. That’s why Torus Power is such an important part of what we do.”
Torus Power’s advanced isolation transformers were integral to the system design, delivering clean, stable power and protecting sensitive components. By eliminating noise and mitigating power anomalies, Torus Power ensured that the audio and video systems performed at their highest possible level — unlocking the full potential of the massive amplifiers and finely tuned speakers.
Final Outcome & Experience
The finished theater is more than a room — it’s a fully immersive experience that transports its audience into every scene and every musical performance. The subterranean design delivers unparalleled acoustic isolation, while luxurious finishes, thoughtful lighting, and precision calibration create a cinematic environment that feels both grand and intimate.
Reflecting on the final result, the homeowner says, “I’ve been dreaming about having a room like this for over 30 years. I wanted to create a space where I can listen to music, watch movies, and feel every detail exactly as it was meant to be experienced. It feels like you’re in the movie, not just watching it. The sound is incredible, the picture is beyond anything I’ve ever seen, and the room itself is just beautiful. It’s exactly what I always wanted.” He was so pleased with the process and outcome, he created an oversized coffee table book to celebrate it.
Today, this private cinema stands as a testament to what is possible when a visionary homeowner collaborates with leading design, build, and integration experts and invests in the very best power foundation and products available.
Featured Worldwide
It’s not just the homeowner and their family who gets to enjoy the space. This private cinema has captured the attention of more than 80k viewers online through an exclusive tour captured on the Youthman | Obsessed Home Theater YouTube channel (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvID0xQmf14, inspiring homeowners and enthusiasts to rethink what’s possible in residential entertainment.
This exceptional project also won two prestigious industry awards, including a Best Home Theater Over $100K in the CE Pro Home of the Year Awards and a Technology Designer Magazine 2025 Performance Home Award winner in the Best Design category.
By sharing the story with a global community, Elliston Systems & Design has helped highlight the importance of power management, precise system design, and expert installation — all essential ingredients for a truly world-class home theater.
Ready to bring your dream theater, cinema, or listening space to life? Visit toruspower.com to explore how our power isolation solutions can power, protect, and transform your system.
To learn more about Elliston Systems and Paradise Theater, visit Elliston Systems & Design and Paradise Theater.
Additional Project Details
*Photo credit: All iImages provided by Elliston Systems & Design*
System Design, Installation, Integration, and Ongoing Service & Support
Elliston Systems & Design — Elliston Systems & Design
Home Theater Design
Paradise Theater — Paradise Theater
Home (and Theater) Builder
Custom Homes of Texas — Custom Homes of Texas
Carpentry & Millwork
C & B Woodworking, Inc. (Chris Glorioso)
Technology Brands Included
Audio
- JBL Synthesis — JBL Synthesis Website
- Harman Luxury Audio Group — Harman Luxury Audio Group
Speakers & Subwoofers
- (3) JBL Synthesis SCL-1 (LCR) — SCL-1
- (10) JBL Synthesis SCL-6 (Surrounds) — SCL-6
- (8) JBL Synthesis SCL-6 (Atmos) — SCL-6
- (5) JBL Synthesis SSW-1 (Subwoofers) — SSW-1
- (2) Ascendo SMSG24 (Infrasonic Subwoofers)
Amplifiers
- (3) ATI AT542 (2 × 500W)
- (3) ATI AT526 (6 × 300W)
- (5) JBL DSi 2.0 MA4-D (2 × 2,600W)
- (3) Ascendo Internal Amp (6,000W)
Altogether, there are 46,400 watts powering 28 speakers with 111 individual drivers.
Components
- Sony VPL-VW5000ES 4K Laser Projector
- JBL Synthesis SDP-75 32-Channel Audio Processor
- MadVR Envy Extreme Video Processor
- Kaleidescape Compact Terra Prime movie server
- Kaleidescape Strato S Player
- Oppo UDP-203 Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc player
- Apple TV 4K
- Autonomic MMS-3E 3-source Mirage media server
- Crestron CP4-R Processor with TSR-310 Remote
- Cisco SG350X-24P-K9 24-port managed switch
- Isolation Power Transformers, Surge Protection & Voltage Regulators:
- Torus Power AVR 90 Bal
- Torus Power AVR Elite 15
- Torus Power AVR-2 Elite 90 Bal
A dedicated 200-Amp electrical service panel was installed just to serve the theater’s A/V equipment room.
Seating
- (8) CinemaTech Ferari Incliners — CinemaTech
Isolation
- Sorbothane Isolation Rings — Sorbothane Isolation Rings