http://www.audioholics.comWhere audio and video equipment undergoes rigorous objective and subjective tests by our staff, ensuring that marketing slogans aren't the only guidelines for your home theater choices.Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:35:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/oddly-shaped-room-home-theaterThese homeowners had an odd shaped room, one that wasn’t built to be a dedicated theater like a basement ... but an old entertainment system that really needed an upgrade. After finding custom electronics pro Union Place, of Excelsior, Minn., they turned it into a gem of a theater, complete with constant image height screen setup for really immersing in CinemaScope aspect ratio films. The challenge was to create a room that functioned as a cohesive theater, without giving up space and in needed to blend with the other rooms of the home it was open to.Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:35:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/oddly-shaped-room-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/control4-demos-v2.0-at-cediaControl4 is probably most well known as the company that woke up the industry and said "Um, why are you guys killing yourselves over this horrendous AMX/Crestron programming lnguage?" Serious, in an industry where time is money and competition is fierce, Control4 has brought the Apple computer to the Windows convention. And you can see it, While the booth may not be as big as Crestron, the attitude and makeup of the people are different. Control4 installers are curious, excited and energetic... Crestron's booth seem filled with beaten down old-timers who are so entrenched in an outdated obsolete system that they have no choiuce but to cntinue to pay exobitant pricing and allow the gaint freighter to turn slowly towards a future that Control4 brought several years ago.Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:07:01 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/control4-demos-v2.0-at-cediaHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/led-accent-lighting-theater-roomLike a lot of installations we see, the homeowner in this case wanted the technology hidden. In this case, though, there’s a fantastic light show that does often take center stage, so who would want to see other technology? Well, OK, that might be saying a bit much, seeing as how there’s a 61-inch Runco plasma TV in this great room ... but it only pops up when called upon to deliver its great images. The team at Ohio-based Audio Video Interiors made sure that this elegant open-floor great room itself was the center of attention. The artistic LED lighting on the ceiling and framing the centerpiece cabinetry only enhances its design showcase.Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/led-accent-lighting-theater-roomHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/converting-storage-space-home-theaterUnless you can build your home theater from scratch, it’s likely that you’ll have to jump a few hurdles to get a room into shape. Often, it’s a choice of the lesser of two evils. The owners of this theater had originally planned on converting a lower-level guest bedroom into their media area, but after a chat with the custom electronics pros at Audio Video Interiors in Medina, Ohio, they decided that the larger storage area was a better choice.Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:19:21 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/converting-storage-space-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/2009-home-year-hollywoodElectronic House's 2009 Home of the Year sits among the Hollywood Hills, where the stars shine as brightly inside the homes as they do in the night sky. We’re familiar with some of the A-list technologies here—CinemaScope theater, 7.1-channel surround-sound, intricate TV concealment, extensive automation—but we don’t often see them shine together in such a spectacular location, with equally stunning results. This home can't settle for anything less than red-carpet treatment.Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/2009-home-year-hollywoodHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/terminator-home-theaterWhen Mortensen first thought about creating his own home theater, he wasn’t working as a Christmas elf; he was a respiratory therapist, specializing in acute cardio-pulmonary support and trauma. A noble profession is no match for the home theater bug, however. Soon Mortensen found himself designing a nice room with a built-in CRT TV, A/V cabinets and a hidden door for access to A/V components. As the project progressed, so did Mortensen’s plan.Thu, 21 May 2009 12:45:30 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/terminator-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/renovated-loft-home-theaterIn this Cleveland-area loft, the more people, the bigger the party. And what a party it is: Along with the usual nightclub suspects, like a bar, billiards table and blaring music, the loft has a TV around every turn and two theater areas. Yup, this 1,800-square-foot space packs ’em in and packs a punch. The loft truly wows visitors upon entering, especially because the exterior landing area is so unassuming. While the ground level probably will not change much, there’s a good chance the interior craziness will migrate to the rooftop.Fri, 01 May 2009 12:29:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/renovated-loft-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/solar-panels-power-home-theaterThe “Guiltless Green Home Theater,” which has a 100-inch screen and 5.1 channels of surround sound, uses energy collected from four roof-mounted solar panels. The 175-watt Sharp solar panels collect up to 700 watts per hour during the day, which the HTSA says provides about 22,000 watts per week, enough for 19 hours of off-the-grid home entertainment per week. (The figures are based on an average of 4.5 hours of sunlight per day in the Northeast and the theater’s 1,150-watt-per-hour draw, at full capacity.)Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/solar-panels-power-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/apple-computers-whole-home-controlStunning is about the only way to describe this 6,500-square-foot home overlooking Portland, Ore. Its three stories combine contemporary elements with swirling soffits, magnificent rock walls and plenty of state-of-the-art elements—from a new kind of home control system to high-res media systems to hidden speakers and Euro styling. Did we mention that the views are stunning as well?Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:44:44 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/apple-computers-whole-home-controlHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/purple-haze-diy-home-theater‘Scuse us while we kiss this DIY guy. After all, Don Kellogg deserves the accolades. Even though he spent most of his days working around the globe, Don still managed to sneak in the time to create this purple haze - the perfect mix of color and cool home theater. "My high school colors were purple and white (black as well), and it’s my wife favorite color," Don says. His second choice was red. However, Don says many theaters follow that color palette, and he wanted to try something new. "Anyone that knows me knows I’m a little different, so I felt it was a good fit."Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:05:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/purple-haze-diy-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/crestron-home-theater-and-dance-loungeThere's a "game room" with four plasma and LCD TVs and a video gaming array that allows for side-by-side play on separate screens. There's a "dance lounge" with fiber optic lights, a professional sound system and dueling drop-down plasmas. And that’s just scratching the surface in this 40,000-square-foot home brimming with technology.Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:14:34 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/crestron-home-theater-and-dance-loungeHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/eli-mannings-automated-condoIn Eli Manning’s day job as quarterback for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, control is an elusive thing. Being at home is a much more accommodating experience for the Super Bowl MVP. He and wife Abby have complete control over all their home electronics systems—the motorized shades, the lighting schemes, the multiroom audio, even the stealth motorized pillar that unveils the top-shelf bar selections—at the press of a button. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:52:46 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/eli-mannings-automated-condoHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-5-almost-easyWe conclude our five part series with "Mitchell" who is married with a teenage son. Mitchell never actually pursued surround sound in his home but enjoys playing the Nintendo Wii and watching movies. We had access to an older, but high powered, Denon AVR3300 AV receiver (which has on-screen display, Dolby Digital and DTS) and were fortunate enough to be able to install a new Mod 4 system from Orb Audio.Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-5-almost-easyHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-4-basementThis installation is truly unique. I found a basement in Florida. I know, I know, typically they are referred to as "swimming pools" but this one was actually a basement. And it was under a concrete slab of sorts. Don't ask, but it was cool to run into a totally new situation and stretch my troubleshooting skills to their limits. This job entailed integrating a new 5.1 audio system from Aperion Audio (using their new 4B speakers and Bravus 8D subwoofer) into a one-of-a-kind Florida room. The bar was set high, so I grabbed "Tim" the homeowner and inquired about the best way to place the speakers and design the system.Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:18:24 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-4-basementHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-3-best-atticWhat happens when a musician who is very much into music and live performance decides to finally step up his home to the world of 5.1 surround sound? "Adam" lives in a beautiful historic home and has to decide what kind of system to install - and more importantly - where to put it. His priorities are movies and the ability for him and his wife to be able to crank up the movies and enjoy feature films when the kids go to bed.Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:42:03 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-3-best-atticHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-dude"Joe" is a single guy who has youth group meetings at his home and watches movies with friends. He used to have a roommate who had a decent TV and speakers but now it's time to replace the system that "moved out". Joe is a bit of an enigma. He's actually quite "metro" and concerned with aesthetics - much like... well, your typical girl, particularly the kind that always seem to be married to the average audioholic. OK, that's enough Joe-bashing. The good news is that Joe already owns a Sony home theater-in-a-box, complete with subwoofer (bass module). The only thing left to do was make it actually be usable by buying ceiling mounts and wiring up the living area for a full 5.1 system.Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:18:45 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-dudeHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-franks-pad"Frank" is a married guy who would love to have surround sound in his home. He makes a modest living so his budget is wisely limited to around $500 - which lands him squarely in the home theater-in-a-box crowd. The good news is that Frank is very handy and is completely into assisting in getting his surround sound system up and running in the best way possible. His wife is also very cool and isn't holding back his choice of products - the room and budget are going to dictate the limitations. Let's install!Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:55:39 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tale-5-installs-franks-padHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/advances-in-custom-install-technologyIn case you were wondering, CEDIA stands for Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association. With that in mind, we hit the show floor this year looking to see what was new for custom installers. From in-wall speakers and subwoofers, to media servers, flashy universal remotes, video scalers & esoteric gear, the Colorado Convention Center in Denver was filled with high margin items for integrators to supply clients with.Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:22:05 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/advances-in-custom-install-technologyHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-surround-sound-primerI love surround sound. I love it so much I want everyone else to share my love for it. But how do you do that? Well, for starters you can help others get surround sound in their home. You know the people I'm talking about. They've got a little of everything - from TV speakers, to a stereo mini system, to a home theater-in-a-box (HTiB) whose surround speakers have never seen the light of day. It's your friend… your pastor… your buddy who works in construction… This guide should give you some of the basic tools, tips & tricks to be well on your way.Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:54:43 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-surround-sound-primerHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/custom-install-tech-system-citsEver wonder how, as a custom installer, you could make your business more profitable? More organized? The Custom Install Tech System (C.I.T.S, pronounced "kits") was designed specifically for Custom Install companies that install residential and commercial A/V, automation, security, lighting control and structured wiring systems. To date, the C.I.T.S. distribution site has been positioned exclusively to CEDIA members, however Custom Install Supply has since expanded their reach to similar companies all across the country. These days many companies’ ideas and worries about the housing slumps have got them thinking more about inventory control and reordering procedures. While some companies have tried to develop something in-house, many are unable to due to lack of time, money or both.Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:13:28 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/custom-install-tech-system-citsHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-4Welcome to the fourth installment of our continuing exploration of signal distribution for the residential installation. In part one, we explored various aspects of multi-room and/or multi-zone media design and implementation. Part two expanded our examination to include quality transport of analog video signals. Part three explored the distribution of digital video signals; HDMI and DVI-D. In this installment, we’ll examine one of the oldest of the distribution disciplines – and one that can give you the most trouble....Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-4Home Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/heat-buildup-and-your-componentsIf you want to ensure that your expensive electronic components enjoy a long and full product life cycle, you must make sure to keep them operating at a comfortable, cool temperature. The number one factor that kills electronic components is overheating. Even short of an outright meltdown, excessive heat causes electronic components to function less reliably and reduces their overall life span.Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:57:27 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/heat-buildup-and-your-componentsHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-part-3In part one of Whole House Wiring Basics we explored various aspects of multi-room and/or multi-zone media design and implementation. Part two expanded our examination to include quality transport of analog video signals such as component, s-video and composite from point-to-point. There are three more disciplines we must master if we are to be able to create a useful, high-performance audio/video installation; digital video distribution, control system infrastructure and MATV/CATV design and installation. Let’s save the best for last, shall we? In this installment we’ll focus on the burgeoning need for digital video signal distribution.Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:58:05 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-part-3Home Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-part-2In our last installment of Whole House Wiring Basics we explored the hottest business sector in entertainment electronics today: the implementation of multi-room and/or multi-zone media functionality in the home or office. What is multi-room? Simply put, it is a system that can deliver one source to multiple locations simultaneously. In contrast, then, a multi-zone installation is a system that can deliver more than one source simultaneously to multiple locations.Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics-part-2Home Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basics One of the hottest business sectors associated with consumer electronics today is the distribution of audio, video and control signals throughout the home or office. Multi-room multi-zone is a mantra that is heard from the architect's offices to the builder's model, from electricians to data network specialists. As with so much in life, there are several levels of distribution from "bare bones" functional to extravagant touch-panel control, from background music to multi-room discrete surround sound.Tue, 15 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/whole-house-wiring-basicsHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Tricks