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<< Previous   of   Next >> Photo courtesy of Theater Xtreme  (click to enlarge)   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008 Theater Xtreme brings full movie experience home By Andy Rathbun Herald Writer Scott Fehr's customers get excited about the butt kicker. The oddly nicknamed chair connects to an audio system's subwoofer, letting the bass line from movie soundtracks vibrate the seat. As owner of Theater Xtreme, Fehr installs the specially equipped chairs -- along with projectors and big screens -- into private homes. His six-month-old Lynnwood shop plans to showcase its home theater designs at the Everett Home and Garden Show. The screens installed by the shop aren't really big screen TVs -- they use a projector, after all -- nor are they the size of an actual movie theater screen. Rather, they fit somewhere between the two, starting at 80 inches and going past 144 inches, Fehr said. While those supersized screens are a big attraction, the company also drums up interest with its selection of seating, such as that aforementioned butt kicker. "We've got traditional furniture like love seats and sectionals, but what most people get excited about is the actual movie theater seating," Fehr said of the seats equipped with cup holders. "They're basically custom microfiber suede or leather seats." Fehr's shop is a franchise store, one of a series of Theater Xtremes dotting the country. "When I saw the concept, I thought it was an incredible idea, blending this technology at a price point the average person can afford," he said. His customers have included young people looking for a big-screen way to play Xbox and empty nesters who want to convert a spare room, he said. Prices vary widely depending on the extent of the desired system. Generally speaking, to equip a room with a screen and audio-video system, prices start around $4,000. Packages can go considerably higher, depending on elements like screen size and furnishings. Wary buyers also can purchase a warranty, although Fehr said the systems require little maintenance after installation. "It's kind of a set it and forget it type of thing," he said At the home show, the store plans to display a mock-up room. While Fehr said the systems often first draw interested looks from men, women sometimes follow suit when they realize a home theater isn't necessarily ugly. "This doesn't have to look like an industrial Radio Shack room," he said. "It can be very tasteful and decorated very elegantly." Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com. Theater Xtreme 16809 Highway 99, Suite C, Lynnwood; 425-743-3817; www.theaterxtreme.com

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