IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Home Theater, Inc. (AHT) today rolled out a new way to throw a house party.
"For a mere $99.95 per day equipment rental fee, party hosts now can easily and instantly convert their living or family rooms into a full-fledged movie theater, complete with a nine-foot giant screen, surround sound audio, ultra-bright projector, built-in karaoke machine and more," said Gary Logue, president of the Irvine, Calif.-based company.
Starting this week, AHT is introducing its new "Giant Screen Party" or "party-in-a-box" rental system throughout Orange County, Calif. using a network of neighborhood retail party planning centers that are listed and mapped at www.AHTrental.com.
More than 10,000 retail centers are planned as part of a nationwide expansion beginning early next year, Logue added.
Each center features colorful signage and a creative "Party Planner" in-store display and take-home party magazines with more than 100 party themes for all age groups. "Party hosts can easily create new ways to weave games and activities together with the giant screen entertainment," he said.
AHT's party system consists of an ultra-bright, 3,200-lumen video projector, the large theater-like screen and a multi-functional audio-visual Tru-Theater Sound System (TTSS), a compact and mobile unit containing a DVD player, VCR, TV tuner, karaoke machine, powerful amplifier, subwoofer and stereo speakers with SRS surround sound.
"Little children, gathered at a birthday party, really become wide-eyed watching the latest animated DVD while older kids can become totally absorbed in the over-sized action of hot new video games," Logue said. "Teenagers can scream at a fright-night film. Adults can 'attend' the Academy Awards, enjoy 'front row seats' at the Super Bowl or sing in a group to karaoke lyrics shown on the giant screen.
"We drastically reduce the cost and complexity usually associated with rental and setup of A-V equipment. Professional audio-visual dealers often charge $500 to $1,000 per day to rent a full home theater system," he said, adding that AHT eliminates the need for an experienced technician to configure and set up the equipment.
However, he said AHT retail centers will deliver, set-up and pickup the system for $25, "a welcome convenience on a busy party day."
Founded in 1997, AHT is a partner with Eastech, one of the world's largest original equipment manufacturers for consumer electronics industry leaders, including Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Dell and others.
Logue said AHT seeks to become a household name as a leading supplier of home theater equipment in the fast-growing home theater industry.
"Our rental locations will direct millions of home-theater shoppers to visit our website to make purchases, saving them 15-20 percent on prices charged by retailers for projectors, screens, sound systems and other components," he said. "Consumers will be able to rent equipment in advance to determine its suitability for the intended application or environment."
AHT is headquartered at 18662 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, Calif. 92612. Phone: 949-797-9100. Fax: 949-797-9150. Website: www.AHTrental.com.