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.Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:45:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/10-manliest-man-cavesSome guys love power tools. Some love cars. Some are happy with a comfy chair, a remote and something to nosh on. Then there are those who need to go above and beyond—to create a space that most men only dream about. Today, we call these spaces "man caves." In these caves, though, the only things being fired up are amps, Blu-ray movies, video games and gigantic TVs (sometimes multiple ones). They are places where a guy can play with his toys without worrying about prying eyes or greasy kid fingerprints.Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:45:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/10-manliest-man-cavesHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/new-home-theater-pc-2In our last article The New Home Theater PC – Part 1, we explored the past failures of HTPC to attract consumers en masse, and also discussed the various deficiencies that lead to the decline of the HTPC as a viable consumer product in the CE marketplace. More importantly, however, we touched upon what consumers want and what the NEW Home Theater PC looks like in this day and age of downloadable content. In this final installment, we'll walk through several scenarios and configurations and talk about using the laptop as the New Home Theater PC to enable streaming content and fulfill the promises of the original HTPC – but without the hassle or configuration problems typically associated with the genre.Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:10:00 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/new-home-theater-pc-2Do-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/new-home-theater-pc-p1I think it's pretty safe to say that the traditional Home Theater PC is dead... at least it's dead insofar as it has completely failed to reach the mass market in an accessible and easy-to-use way. There are many reasons for this, but let's just touch upon a few before we present some of the solutions for those wishing to get Internet content on their televisions without having to incur a ton of hassle or purchase a brand new set with integrated network features.Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/new-home-theater-pc-p1Do-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/simply-speakersThere is an old axiom I love to live by, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Just because your speakers are old, doesn’t mean they can’t still perform as good and sometimes better than the models that replace them from the very same company. When I noticed my JBL Pro III speakers weren’t sounded as good as I remembered, I realized it was time to take some action. My beloved little speakers fell victim of aging so I elected the services of a company called Simply Speakers to restore them to their original working condition. Not only did they oblige, but they took it to the next level by doing a first rate job while also offering a modification to improve their performance. They proved to me that it’s hip to be vintage. If you’ve got some old speakers lying around that you’re fond of in need of a little TLC, I highly recommend Simply Speakers as your #1 choice for the task. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/simply-speakersDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/calibrate-your-system/audio-troubleshooting-101We often get flooded with emails from readers attempting to troubleshoot why their home theater systems no longer work correctly. This assumes at one point your system was operating correctly but has recently gone out of whack. As a result, we have captured some of the most common problems reported to us in this short editorial and offer real solutions to resolve them. So if you're system just doesn't sound right anymore, or you want some tips to tweak it to perfection, check out this article.Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0000/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/audio-troubleshooting-101Calibrating Your SystemTips & 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/connecting-your-system/how-ir-repeater-systems-workAn IR repeater system takes Infrared (IR) light coming from your remote controller and converts it to an electrical signal that can be easily distributed over electrical wiring to one or more IR remote controllable components. How this can help improve your system and allow you more flexibility in multi-room applications is something we'll attempt to answer and explain.Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:44:49 -0000/tweaks/connecting-your-system/how-ir-repeater-systems-workConnecting Your SystemTips & 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/get-good-bass/two-subsThe answer to this question is typically yes, assuming you’re comparing one vs. two subs of the exact same brand and model #. In almost all circumstances, installing multiple subwoofers in your theater room will yield significantly better and smoother bass response across a wider listening area due to modal averaging. When deciding on getting either a single large sub, or two smaller ones, I'd usually recommend the latter. If its a hard sell to your wife, tell her you're not doing it for yourself but for the benefit of your mother-in-law. Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:38:38 -0000/tweaks/get-good-bass/two-subsGet Good BassTips & 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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/star-wars-home-theaterIn “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith,” Chancellor Palpatine invites Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker into his impressive office overlooking the capital Galactic City. Home theater owner Steve Simon had a pivotal moment as well, though his likely didn’t involve Jedi forces and dark sides. Simon wanted to convert part of his garage into a home theater, and he thought he’d decorate it with the Star Wars memorabilia he had collected over the years.Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:45:46 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/star-wars-home-theaterDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/building-basement-theaterIt’s one thing to hire an installer to create the ultimate home theater dream room. It’s an entirely different story (and a fun one) to create that room all by yourself—for less than five grand. While many home theater creations flaunt wealth in our faces, Stephen Hopkins was all about making us jealous for what he didn’t spend. "Budget was a definite concern," Stephen says. "Since we were building the house (our first) there was very little budget available for the theater itself."Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:38:47 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/building-basement-theaterDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/two-approaches-whole-house-audioLike most home amenities, electronic systems can be as stripped down or beefed up as you want. As the owner of two adjoining brownstones in Dallas, TX, Tony Chiarello had the unique opportunity to explore both methods. That’s quite an accomplishment in a home that towers four stories tall. Add whole-house music, sophisticated lighting, a home theater and a robust home-management system, and it’s clear that Tony’s decision to go beyond the basics was a good one.Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:17:28 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/two-approaches-whole-house-audioDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/calibrate-your-system/calibration-theaterIf you’ve got a multi row theater room, you’re probably wondering what the best method of calibration would be. Setting channel trims and delay settings properly are paramount to ensuring good sound quality, but at what seated position should they be set too? This article explores how to effectively ensure good calibration across the whole listening area and not just one sweet spot. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:01:34 -0000/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/calibration-theaterCalibrating Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/digital-still-camera-typesThere is nothing like the daunting task of buying a new camera. From the number of choices to the fanboy salesman at your local big box retailer it's hard to not only commit to buying that first camera, but also to figure out the type of camera you need. The photo enthusiast may remember with fondness shooting on film and waiting patiently for those photos to be developed. Today, the work of an entire darkroom or processing machine can be recreated, albeit not of the same quality, on your desktop. Today's photographer shooting in digital can nearly replicate the quality of film productions at a fraction of the cost.Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:56:56 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/digital-still-camera-typesDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/schumakubinsAs a Do-it-yourself speaker builder I have found myself wondering many times as I perused the internet’s vast sea of home speaker builder’s selections as to what some of the DIY speaker kits would sound like. Hence I decided to check out the Schumakubins which were born on the Parts Express forum utilizing their very own Dayton drivers. The Schumakubins shined with their smooth midrange and tight bass. If you are interested in building speakers but a little reluctant the Schumakubins are a great opportunity. I recommend buying the kit with the precut front baffle. You will be on your way to getting the best sound for the least amount of money and work. Kit speakers are a great and fun way to get some really good sound enjoyment and the Schumakubins are a great way to start. Wed, 07 May 2008 21:39:16 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/schumakubinsDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/hdmi-black-levels-xvycc-rgbWhen trying to get the most performance out of your home theater, few things are more important than proper display calibration. It has come to our attention that many of you utilizing an HDMI connection might have your black levels incorrectly set. Why the sudden confusion? Options have changed with the introduction of HDMI 1.3 and its tag-along partners: Deep Color and the new xvYCC color space. Read on.Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:43:39 -0000/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/hdmi-black-levels-xvycc-rgbCalibrating Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/connecting-your-system/connecting-home-office-theaterThousands of words have been written about, and thousands of hours of labor devoted to, marrying our computers with our home theater and audio installations. On the Audioholics site alone there are 78 results from a search for "HTPC" (home theater personal computer). The problem with the concept of the HTPC is that, at its core, it’s a dedicated computer for multimedia applications. What happens if your computer is in your home office and your theater is elsewhere? What if you don’t want an HTPC? How do you combine your home office with your audio/video installation? It’s a question that’s seldom discussed in this industry.Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:12:19 -0000/tweaks/connecting-your-system/connecting-home-office-theaterConnecting Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/connecting-your-system/get-high-definition-hdtvMany people bring home a new HDTV and look forward to the excitement of viewing a true high definition picture. But is it really that simple? Well it can be - if you follow a few guidelines and understand the nature of real HD content and where it comes from. An HDTV doesn't give you high definition content - it simply means that you have the pixels to display high definition sources in all their glory. We'll take a look at four types of high definition sources most commonly received by HDTVs...Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:19:31 -0000/tweaks/connecting-your-system/get-high-definition-hdtvConnecting Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/subwoofer-connection-guideWe are always preaching the more subs the better in a home theater system. So now that you've decided to purchase two subs, its time to show you how to correctly connect them up to ensure you achieve the maximum benefits of a multi sub system. Following the guidelines set forth in this article will help you integrate a multi-subwoofer system into your home theater. If done properly, using two or more subs will yield significantly better and smoother bass response for all of the seats in your theater room. Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:05:45 -0000/tweaks/get-good-bass/subwoofer-connection-guideGet Good BassTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/in-wall-speakersIn-wall speakers are becoming more popular these days with aesthetics playing a major role in dictating the theater system components. This article explores some basic fundamentals for choosing in-wall type speaker products along with divulging some useful installation tips in efforts to realize their maximum performance and yield the best possible experience to the end users. If you’re goal is to achieve the level of fidelity previously only reserved for the finest box type speaker systems in an unobtrusive in-wall solution this article is a must read. The goal for any good home theater system is to be so connected with the experience that the equipment literally disappears. There is no reason why this goal cannot be achieved with a properly executed in-wall system. Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:24:44 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/in-wall-speakersDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & 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/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/installing-surround-sound-speakersWe know you're out there. Yes, you. The guy who bought that 5.1 surround sound system in Christmas of 2006 but still hasn't hooked up the rear speakers. It's too hard, you say! There, there, we feel your pain. But it's not really all that bad. In fact, we decided to put our money - uh, make that our bodies - where our mouths are. Audioholics takes itself up into the attic... in the middle of summer... in Florida... to help YOU learn how to install your surround sound speakers. Yeah, we love ya.Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:43:40 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/installing-surround-sound-speakersDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/basic-television-setup-tipsYou've finally done it. You saved your money and finally purchased that beautiful flat panel or rear projection television you've had your eye on for the past year. While some may look at this as the final step in the process of getting a better display into the home, in truth, you've just begun. Certainly you could open the packaging, set up the television and plug in some cables, but there’s more. With a few key tips, you can be among the top 25% of HDTV owners who really tweak out the best from their new displays. Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:07:45 -0000/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/basic-television-setup-tipsCalibrating Your SystemTips & Tricks