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.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/connecting-your-system/basic-home-theater-setup-guideSo, you bought a home theater system? Great! Watching a movie on a properly set up surround sound system, or listening to your music through a new set of speakers can be an amazing experience. But, the key to a great home theater isn't just spending a lot of money. Setting up the system correctly is just as important as what you buy. This guide, very simply, walks through the basics of speaker placement, bass management setup, how to hook everything up, and how to change a few settings to really make your system shine. Throughout this article are links to other more advanced articles that go into more depth on each topic.Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0000/tweaks/connecting-your-system/basic-home-theater-setup-guideConnecting Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/haa-turbocal-training-courseIf you have read any of our past HAA articles (there are two on Level I and Level II training) then you'll know that we eat and sleep acoustics. You will also know that we have a great deal of respect for the HAA organization. They have a unique perspective on acoustics for home audio and home theater which is to apply concepts, measure, listen and adjust. Now the HAA has come out with a new training course and I was privileged to be able to attend the pilot class. The course is called TurboCal and it is designed to provide a high value calibration process that is affordable to the consumer and efficient for the calibrator. Most TurboCals are completed in less than two hours.Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 -0000/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/haa-turbocal-training-courseCalibrating Your SystemTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/relay-rack-av-equipmentMany readers of our website know that we're avid fans of getting your flat panel TV off the furniture and onto the wall. In fact we've written several different articles about this in the past. But what may not be so obvious, because we haven't yet made a big enough stink about it, is that we also love to make those flat panels seem almost "magical". How do you do that? By hiding the source components and equipment that make them work and send them their signal. Now, you may not want to do this with truly high-end gear and if you take lots of pride in your assortment of amps, pre-processors, flagship Blu-ray players and other equipment, but, if you're like most people, that doesn't describe you. If you're like most people, you've got a mainstream AV receiver and some source components that get the job done, but don't rise to the level of "glamorous" or "high-end".Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:35:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/relay-rack-av-equipmentHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/upgrading-in-ceiling-speakersWhile many of us would love to spend the majority of our day locked in our man-caves or home theaters listening to music on our big audio rigs, the reality is that we don't. In fact, most of our time at home is spent in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or family room. This being the case, whole house audio should be a part of your home if it is not already. And it shouldn't be an afterthought. Many newer homes, especially in tract-housing developments, come with pre-installed systems, but many times these consist of cheap speakers with paper cones that have been installed by the alarm guy who "specializes in home audio."Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/upgrading-in-ceiling-speakersHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/naples-florida-home-golfThere are home theaters that focus on luxury, some that focus on high-end equipment, and others that are themed. This latest, from Electronic House's "Cool Homes" section, is all about golf. And that's not a description of the home or the theater itself, mind you. It's just that, while some people have to load up the car and drive to get their golf on, John and Pamela Blakely just look right outside. This is because they live inside the well-regarded Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Fla. Surprisingly, however, the couple’s favorite hobby does not involve shooting 18 holes or even carrying bags for the other homeowners. Instead, the two have been fixing up houses since the mid-1990s. And when we say fixing up houses - we mean fixing up BIG houses.Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:53:03 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/naples-florida-home-golfHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/netgear-powerline-av500-videoIt seems these days everything requires an Internet connection - at least for anything having to do with home theater. So what do you do if you don't have your house wired for Internet? What if you want to stream movies and your wireless connection can't quite cut it? Well the HomePlug Powerline Alliance got together a ton of companies and created a standard for networking over powerlines. You can use your home's existing electrical system - the regular power outlets you have all over the place - and transmit networked audio, video and data. And it's not expensive to do. Devices like Netgear's Powerline AV500 Kit are set to revolutionize the way we connect our homes and our gear. You should check it out, because our testing shows that it beats wireless hands-down - it just may forever change the way you look at networking.Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:55:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/netgear-powerline-av500-videoHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/largest-elan-g-control-systemThere’s a lot you can do with a home control system. They are so smart and powerful that if you wanted to automate the dog you probably could. Not quite, but there’s no limit—other than your budget—to the amazing setups possible when you’ve got the right system, the right professional installing it and a really creative mind. The Elan g! system programmed by AudioVideo Specialists for a 10,000-square-foot suburban Chicago home epitomizes the extent of a well-executed home control plan. The g! system accomplishes these and other feats by seamlessly integrating a variety of electronic systems under one main control processor. Tied together in this home are a whole-house audio and video system, lighting, heating and cooling, security, surveillance cameras, motorized window treatments, irrigation and pool and spa controls.Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/largest-elan-g-control-systemHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/jbl-synthesis-sports-themed-theaterSay you're an avid sports fan and you want the biggest and loudest theater possible. Check. Home system design and installation company Audio Video Interiors (AVI) of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, will tune up a rockin' JBL Synthesis speaker system that will make you feel every bone-crunching gridiron hit. Say you want the best HD video possible, with superwide CinemaScope capability and the ability to produce an image that will pop even when the room lights are on? Check. AVI will mount Digital Projection's monster Titan Reference 1080p projector with an anamorphic lens to produce those superwide pictures. On the other end of the room will be a 14-foot-wide Stewart Filmscreen CineCurve display to show those CinemaScope movies in all their glory. Say you want a multi-screen theater, but don't want to compromise on the size of a big screen... Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:20:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/jbl-synthesis-sports-themed-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/cayman-islands-theater-balconyElectronic House has an article about a pretty cool home theater located in the Cayman Islands. The theater room was built from teh ground up and includes 19 custom-designed theater seats and bar stools in the main seating area and a dozen more in an elegantly styled balcony behind the back row of chairs. Suggested by the homeowners, the balcony was a first for many of the contractors who designed, configured, installed and programmed this one-of-a-kind home cinema. We've seen a lot of rooms, but never one with a real balcony - kudos to the designers and the thought process that went into it. Mobile Technology, an Alpharetta, Ga.–based firm, was hired to program the Crestron system that runs all of the equipment inside the theater and in the main house.Thu, 12 May 2011 07:40:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/cayman-islands-theater-balconyHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-articulating-mount-cornerHopefully, you've read some of our others articles on mounting flat panel displays on the wall. In either case, most faithful readers know that around here, we're very passionate about yanking people out of the 80's, ditching their built-ins and wall units and putting their televisions up on the wall, nice and tidy. But what about corner locations? Not as easy, right? Perhaps, but there are some simple tricks and tips you can employ to make sure you have a successful time of placing your flat panel on the wall, even if it means positioning it in a corner-mounted location. Once again we teamed up with MonoPrice to locate and implement a solution.Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:10:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-articulating-mount-cornerHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/mounting-flat-panel-tv-wallAs many of you know, we are proud advocates for getting that flat panel off of your furniture and onto the wall. In our opinion, what's the point of having lightweight, flat televisions if you're not going to put them up on the wall. Suspending in the middle of a vast open space unlike anything previously possible with CRT-style TVs? I mean seriously, if I see one more person trying to jam that new 42-inch flat panel TV into their stupid 1980's-era wall unit I'm going to start knocking heads around. It's electronics sacrilege.... there should be a law... or something.Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:46:08 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/mounting-flat-panel-tv-wallHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/basic-subwoofer-setupAnytime I see a book on a complex topic that attempts to disseminate the subject material in layman terms for the average reader using the word “Dummies” in the title, I cringe. I’d love to learn a foreign language or how to setup a complex home network but I absolutely refuse to pick up a book whose author assumes I am a “dummy”. Realizing a large portion of our readership are essential enthusiasts when it comes to home theater, but also intelligent readers, I conjured up this article for those wanting to get a good grip on how to properly setup and integrate a subwoofer into their new home theater system. Learn how to place and configure your sub and A/V receiver in layman's terms to ensure you get the most out of your A/V system.Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:30:00 -0000/tweaks/get-good-bass/basic-subwoofer-setupGet Good BassTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/danny-bonaduce-home-theaterWhere can you watch reruns of "The Partridge Family" in style? An article at CE Pro says In Danny Bonaduce's Hollywood-area home. But given the lame layout, difficult room configuration and lack of any real advanced technology showing up in any of the photos, we'd have to respectfully disagree and say that Danny should definitely consider spending a bit more money next go-around. The child star from the classic 1970s TV show, now a famous disc jockey, has listed his Spanish-style home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles for $4.2 million. According to the L.A. Times, the 1926 four-bedroom, six-bathroom home is new fully restored. The 8-seat dedicated theater in the home isn’t exactly lavish. In fact, it's a bit of a joke. The small projector sits in "the money seat" at armrest level in the front row of the theater. There are freestanding tower speakers that act as the front left and from right speakers, as well as the rear surrounds. The subwoofer is placed conspicuously in front of the screen.Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:55:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/danny-bonaduce-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/cedia-lead-paint-certificationThe Custom Electrons Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) is offering, in cooperation with National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), a simple way for individuals to become educated and certified in dealing with lead paint issues according to the EPA and HUD guidelines and rules. Since lead-safe certification became required as of April 22, 2010, there is a new urgency to have companies become compliant.Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:30:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/cedia-lead-paint-certificationHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/apple-home-control-automationWhen your living quarters are as large an airport hangar, simple tasks like turning off the lights before bedtime can be exhausting. That’s part of the reason the owners of this newly built Idaho estate invested in a sophisticated control system. But operating hundreds of lighting circuits is just the tip of the home control iceberg for this slick management system.Mon, 17 May 2010 11:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/apple-home-control-automationHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/nyc-18-source-video-wallThe pictures say it all. Three 65-inch Panasonic plasma HDTVs, flush-mounted side-by-side, form a video wall that can display content from 18 different sources. Look even more closely, and you’ll find that all the TVs in this Manhattan apartment are not only flush-mounted in the walls, the walls even cover the TVs’ bezels so only the screens remain visible. The skyline views out of the windows are pretty nice, as well.Tue, 11 May 2010 10:15:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/nyc-18-source-video-wallHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/multiple-subwoofer-setup-calibration-1The goal of any serious home theater playback system should be even bass, plenty of dynamic range and smooth natural frequency response for the most seamless blend. This is achieved by reducing the modal peaks and nodal dips by utilizing multiple subs, and active equalization. Multiple subs ability to reduce standing waves is achieved by proper placement and setup to reduce the guess work and minimize chasing your tail to find the best settings that yield the most optimal measurable performance. This article discusses tactics and methodologies for achieving the best measurable and audible results for your entire listening area, NOT just the money seat! Tue, 04 May 2010 21:00:00 -0000/tweaks/get-good-bass/multiple-subwoofer-setup-calibration-1Get Good BassTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/get-good-bass/bass-management-basics-2013-settings-made-simpleIs your bass management set up properly on your processor? If you wish to optimize the bass performance of your home theater, read this article. Learn how to configure speaker size, crossovers, delay and more in this basic guide to bass management. This guide is designed to address the numerous questions we receive from new home theater owners who purchase a new system component and don’t quite understand the How’s and Why’s of bass management. More advanced home theater folks may wish to peruse our more in-depth guides available on the site that give a more thorough explanation of this complex and often misunderstood topic.Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:00:00 -0000/tweaks/get-good-bass/bass-management-basics-2013-settings-made-simpleGet Good BassTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tapout-theaterPunkass is how Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans know him. He's also known as Dan Caldwell, co-founder and CEO of TapouT, a company embedded in the MMA industry. The fighter/executive set out to have an elaborate theater built at TapouT's Grand Terrace, Calif., headquarters and enlisted San Bernardino, Calif.-based Audio Video Evolution (AVE) to install the electronics. (Click here to view additional photos.) Why does a corporation need an elaborate theater? Well, TapouT — which says it manufactures a "countercultural" clothing line and produces a "raucous" reality show — isn't a typical corporation.Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:35:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/tapout-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/renovating-family-room-home-theaterThe owners of this 22-by-18-foot theater had no intention of updating their 1970s-style basement rec room. They were going to leave it as is, and focus their remodeling efforts on main living areas of the house. Their remodeling plan would include adding a Control4 control system to automate the lights and thermostats, and spread music and video to speakers and TVs throughout the house. The contractors and interior designers hired for the job couldn’t help but bring up the outdated rec room, though.Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:14:16 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/renovating-family-room-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-television-over-fireplaceNothing has come up in local conversations with friends and family as much as what it takes to mount a flat panel television over a fireplace. Be it plasma or LCD TV, the big contention is that having a room with a centrally-focused fireplace results in a dilemma: Where do you put your flat panel TV if not above the fireplace? While some have stuck them off to one side or the other, either corner-mounted or placed within clunky built-ins, the best place, aesthetically-speaking is to mount the television over the top of the fireplace. This brings up a unique set of questions, concerns and choices, however, and we'll attempt to address each and every one of these in this article and practical how-to guide.Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:10:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/installing-television-over-fireplaceHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/hdtv-installationWe have reached a marvelous time where HDTV is not only affordable, but also low profile enough to get the green light from our wives to hang on a wall in the comforts of our own bedrooms. This article provides useful tips on how to hide cabling connected to your HDTV to ensure the cleanest looking install possible. This is a quick and easy method for cleaning up that cable mess for a more aesthetically pleasing installation that will also improve the enjoyment you get out of your system.Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:25:00 -0000/tweaks/do-it-yourself-diy-topics/hdtv-installationDo-It-Yourself (DIY) TopicsTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/103-inch-plasma-video-gamingWhat happens when you have three grade school kids and want a whole home audio video system that can handle a variety of entertainment needs, with ease-of-use and durability? Simple - you call in the pros. Patrick Calderone is the owner of Audio Video Experience (AVX), the custom electronics design and installation firm hired to rig a home with a variety of family-friendly electronic systems. At last count, the home had: two Microsoft Xbox 360s, two Sony PlayStation 3s, two Nintendo Wiis and one Nintendo Game Cube.Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:55:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/103-inch-plasma-video-gamingHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/dean-kamen-off-grid-islandHe calls himself Lord Dumpling, and his island "nation" has a zero-tolerance policy for incandescent lights. In fact, he claims to have the first fully self-powered nation. He is Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway electric scooter and other devices, some of which are responsible for making his island home self-sustaining—along with a lot of LEDs (light emitting diodes). All was well between the "countries" until a couple of years ago, when the U.S. Coast Guard decided to cut the undersea cable that powered the lighthouse. Kamen's island would have to be self-sustainable, with solar panels powering the lighthouse...Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:40:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/dean-kamen-off-grid-islandHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/home-theater-stargate-atlantisA home theater can be a great escape, but how about escaping all the way to the planet Lantea, the fictional home of the TV series Stargate Atlantis? Jacob Yarmuth’s very cool theater in Louisville, Ky., has the Stargate — or at least a replica of the one used in the Stargate TV series and movie to commute across the universe. It surrounds a 10-foot diagonal circular screen that shows a 96-inch diagonal image. The circle within the Stargate can also light up blue, mimicking the water that appears in the show’s Stargate prior to transport.Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:20:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/home-theater-stargate-atlantisHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/paris-theme-home-theaterHome theater designer Donny Hackett has always wanted to visit Paris but had never gone. So he decided to bring Paris here. More specifically, to Tennessee and the attic of Jason Crist’s suburban Nashville home. A walk upstairs brings Crist to the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame cathedral—and a screen that could take up a wall in the Louvre.Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:25:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/paris-theme-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Trickshttp://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 08:45:00 -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 22:35:00 -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 21:07:01 -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 06:00:00 -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 13:00:00 -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 12:00:00 -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 14:19:21 -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 01:00:00 -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 06:00:00 -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 12:44:49 -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 13:45:30 -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 13:29:00 -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 09:00:00 -0000/tweaks/home-wiring-construction/solar-panels-power-home-theaterHome Wiring & Custom InstallationTips & Tricks