DIY Audio and Wiring

The New Home Theater PC - Part 2

In 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.

Oddly Shaped Room is Just Right for Home Theater

These 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.

10 Manliest Man Caves

Some 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.

Paris Themed Home Theater

Home 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.

A Home Theater in Stargate Atlantis

A 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.

Inside Segway Dean Kamen's Off-the-Grid Island Home

He 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...

Using a 103-inch Plasma for Video Gaming

What 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.

Tips for a Clean HDTV Installation

We 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.

Installing a Television Over a Fireplace

Nothing 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.

Renovating a Family Room into a Home Theater

The 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.

TapouT Theater Provides Gladiator-Style Enjoyment

Punkass 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.

NYC High-Rise Eyes 18-Source Video Wall

The 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.

Apple-Based Home Control & Automation

When 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.

CEDIA Lead-Based Paint Education & Certification

The 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.

Danny Bonaduce's Lame Home Theater

Where 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.

Mounting Your Flat Panel TV on Your Wall - Part One

As 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.

Installing an Articulating Flat Panel Mount in a Corner - Part Two

Hopefully, 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.

Cayman Islands Theater Includes Real Balcony

Electronic 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.

JBL Synthesis Sports-Themed Theater

Say 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...

Largest Elan g! Control System Ever Built

There’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.

NetGear Powerline AV500 Adapter Kit Review

Why review a NetGear Powerline AV500 Adapter Kit? Well, it 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 power lines. 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.

Naples Florida Home Does More Than Golf

There 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.

Upgrading In-ceiling Speakers for Whole Home Audio with Niles

While 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."

Using a Relay Rack for Accessible AV Equipment

Many 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".

Pimp Mom's Car - How Pioneer Transformed a Jeep Liberty

At Audioholics we love audio. We love it. Wait, scratch that... we love GOOD audio. And with that said, it's with great pain that we ride in a vehicle that doesn't live up to the standards of an audioholic. And believe me when I say that MOST vehicle sound systems don't live up to those standards. But even taking into account that most vehicles will never sound as good as a well-tuned home theater system, there was one car that was absolutely horrendous. This car was the worst. It had boomy bass that didn't play low, nor did it know enough to call it quits when it received frequency content it had no business trying to reproduce. A car with high frequencies that used to attract cats in heat from across the neighborhood and cause bleeding in the ears of small children. A car who's audio system could turn even your favorite song into a poisonous cacophony of grating chord-filled agony.

AV Tip: Conceal Your Speaker Wire

We love speakers but hate seeing wire run down the wall or across the floor. More importantly, your spouse probably hates it too. Luckily, with a few tools and some guidance you can hide the wires in the wall, often times without having to do any repair work. The key is knowing how to run the wire, so we came up with a few tips. Don’t worry if these tips don’t explain everything, a more complete “How to Conceal Wire in Your Home” article is in the mix.

AV Tip: Eliminate Background Noise In Your Home Theater

Background noise can drown out soft dialogue in movies or soft details in music. Unfortunately, most people only think about blocking noise from leaving a home theater, instead of stopping noise from coming in. Here are a few tips to keep noise out of your home theater.

AV Tip: Where to Look for Home Theater Help

We know, we know...you are an expert in everything. Mounting a TV, wiring an outlet, framing a wall, programming a home automation system, or building a DIY speaker—you've got it covered. If only that were true. The truth is, we all need help. Coming from the custom install world, I can attest to the horrible mistakes that can be made when someone chooses not to ask for help. Depending on what you're doing, the consequences of guessing could be minor (having a speaker a few dB too loud/quiet) to all-out catastrophic (having a TV fall down, which scares the cat who then darts off and knocks over a candle, which then catches the curtains on fire, and then your entire home burns down, but the fire spreads over a clothes line and burns down the entire city block, which causes a local chemical factory to catch fire and explode, leading to a toxic cloud floating across the world and hurting millions of people). Seriously, don't create a toxic cloud, ask for help.

Building a Spouse Approved Home Theater Solution

My dentist was looking for a compact, reasonably priced home theater system that provided surround sound in the main family room and distributed audio throughout the home. The challenge was accommodating all of the design constraints outlined by his wife while still offering a respectable solution I could rest well at night after installing. Although this installation wasn’t perfect, I managed to take a pretty grim situation and turned it around to a workable solution. This system comprises Denon, Samsung and Panamax components with EMP and SVS speakers and subwoofers, respectively. Knowing the caliber of dentist my friend is, I asked him if the sound quality and function of the system met his expectations and he confidently told me “NO! They exceeded them!” Looking for a home theater system that you and your spouse can live with? Check out our install.

How to Properly Set Up your Center Channel Speaker to Maximize Performance

No matter how good of a loudspeaker system you have, it's inconsequential to how it will perform in your room if it isn't properly placed and set up. It is imperative to ensure there is a direct path of sound from all of the drivers of your center channel to the listening seats without any obstructions such as theater chairs or people's heads. This article discusses how to tweak the positioning of your center channel speaker and also improve the base or stand it sits on to eliminate harmful resonances. We highly recommend you take the time to properly place and set up all of your speakers, and give some extra attention to the center channel as it will repay you in dividends when trying to understand what Bane is saying while crushing Batman's back.

Building a Do-It-Yourself Loudspeaker Design

Dreaming of creating your very own DIY loudspeaker masterpiece at a fraction of the cost of commercial designs? This article is an in-depth walkabout for the budding Do-It-Yourself (DIY) loudspeaker enthusiast. The world of DIY loudspeaker design is wrought with glorious stories of success and some stories of abysmal failure. Put away that credit card and read this before embarking on your own quest to design the world's best loudspeaker. We take you on a tour from start to finish to show you the challenges and rewards of building your very own speaker system.

Polk Monitor 10B Crossover Upgrade: Breathing New Life into Vintage Speakers

Upgrading the crossover in a speaker is one of the most popular tweaks in the DIY community. Other tweaks might be easier, like swapping out feet or adding extra batting, but few others can change the sonic signature of a speak as much as upgrading the crossover. Really, the audio crossover is probably the most important part of a loud speaker that you can't see. It is every bit as important to the overall speaker design as is the type of tweeter or cabinet volume. The goal of this article is to demonstrate that crossovers can be rebuilt and/or upgraded with superior parts and materials to enhance your listening experience. In order to demonstrate this point, I’ll guide you through the process of upgrading the crossovers in my beloved vintage Polk Audio Monitor 10B’s.

How to Use A Speaker Selector for Multi-Room Audio

There’s nothing more satisfying than having your favorite music available to you throughout your house. Such seemingly complex, multi-room audio setups are often features of high-end homes. Yet, how cool would it be to have the audio from your main system playing in other rooms and speakers in your home? With a simple device called a speaker selector, you too can distribute audio throughout your home to pairs of free standing, in-wall, and in-ceiling speakers.

Building A Low-Cost Audio Media Player with Vintage Computer Parts

Do you have a spare computer laying around? Odds are good that with a small investment in hardware and a bit of your time, you can give your old machine a new lease on life as an audio media player. With the low cost and high capacities of today's portable hard drives, it's possible to store an entire collection of music (and movies) on a single disc. Toss in a sound card with the right stuff, and you're ready to go. Curious to know how it all comes together? Keep reading to find out!

How to Find Studs in Any Wall

Whether you are mounting a TV, speaker, or on-wall shelf, it’s always best to anchor into a stud. Drywall anchors can work well, but you never truly know the quality of drywall. In this article, we provide differ different methods for findings studs, plus a number of extra tips. No single method will work for every situation, but using a combination of these methods should ensure that you always locate a stud, that is, as long as there’s actually a stud in the wall.

Professional Pre-wiring tips for Speakers, TVs, and Networking

In my years as a custom AV integrator, I’ve seen many homeowners placed in difficult situations because of poor pre-wiring by either themselves or a contractor. The possible pitfalls are many, but so are the tips to help ensure you run the right wires, to the right locations, properly for your speakers, TV's, AV gear and networking. The tips in this article should help save you time and money, and allow you to have a better finished product. Keep reading to learn how professionals pre-wire homes.

How to Install a Hidden In-Floor or In-Ceiling Subwoofer

Just because you don't want a big, bulky subwoofer in your room doesn't mean you have to forgo powerful bass. An in-floor or in-ceiling subwoofer will allow you to generate nauseating levels of bass without ever having to look at a hulking subwoofer. In this article and YouTube video combo, we use the RBH Sound SI-1010 subwoofer to show you how to install a hidden in-floor or in-ceiling subwoofer in your own home. Always remember to install two subs for smoother bass across all listening seats if you can accommodate it.

How To Install a Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D Speaker Setup

This installation guide illustrates how to retrofit a home theater system to support the latest Dolby Atmos / DTS:X / Auro 3D immersive surround formats using Beale Street in-ceiling speakers for the height channels and SVS Ultra series speakers for the ear level channels; all powered by a Denon X7200WA Atmos/DTS:X AV Receiver. We look at some of the prep work, challenges, and lessons learned from our installation of the audio technologies that will shape the future of music and home theater.

Building A DIY Sealed Subwoofer

Are you a serious bassaholic on a tight budget? A DIY subwoofer might just be the fix you’re after. For not a lot of cash it’s possible to build a sub that can compete with the very best manufactured subwoofers on the market. In this article, we take you though a step by step procedure on how to build a high performance DIY subwoofer on the cheap. To see how to do it yourself read on.

Tips To Create Your Home Gaming Room

A room dedicated to home gaming has become an almost vintage concept, but it remains as good an idea as ever. If you play a lot of games, be it card and board games, conventional video games, or the latest in virtual reality, it’s nice to have some space set aside for the activity. This article clues you in on some great ideas for decking out your gaming room with an audioholic flare.

How to Set Up a Home Studio for Beginners

Creating your own home recording studio will save you time and money in the long run if you do it right. In this article we go over the basics of what is needed for an awesome home studio. From room selection and acoustic treatments to studio monitors and microphones, this article gives you a good idea of where to get started in your home studio for beginners.

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.

DIY Absorbers for the Less-than-Handy Man: Part 1

I don't profess to be an acoustical engineer or some sort of sound guru. I'm a normal guy, married with a kid, who has recently purchased my first house. I've been an audio nut for years with very little money to invest.

DIY Absorbers for the Less-Than-Handy Man - Part 2

So the big question - How do they work? In my opinion - great. The difference in my room is dramatic. I don't have any fancy measuring devices (only my SPL from radio shack) so I can't do a before and after room measurement (though if someone would like to come over and do one for me I'd be happy to oblige). My wife is happy with how they look, I'm happy that I successfully built something, and the sound in our home theater room is much improved.

Whole House Wiring Basics Part 2

In 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.

Building a Windows MCE 2005 PC - Part 1

This is Part 1 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.

Whole House Wiring Basics Part 3

In 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.

Building a Windows MCE 2005 PC - Part 2

This is Part 2 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.

Building a Windows MCE 2005 PC - Part 3

This is Part 3 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.

Heat Buildup and Your AV Components

If 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.

Building a Windows MCE 2005 PC - Part 4

This is Part 4 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.

Whole House Wiring Basics Part 4

Welcome 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....

Custom Install Tech System (C.I.T.S) First Look

Ever 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.

Building a Multifunction Home Theater Seat Riser

As a home theater enthusiast, there can be nothing more exciting than planning out your theater room. It’s more than just a place to indulge in sonic and visual bliss. It’s a sanctuary - a place to escape the real world, at least temporarily.

Installing Surround Sound - A Primer

I 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.

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iPod tools

Advances in Custom Install Technology

In 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.

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A Tale of 5 Installs Part 1 - Frank's 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!

iPod Mini Hard Drive Upgrade

All right, I confess: I don’t go anywhere without my iPod Mini. Because it holds my contacts, calendar, and other work-related information, I carry it like a PDA at work everyday. Of course, the fact that it holds nearly every favorite jazz tune I’ve ever heard (not to mention all of my Steely Dan) doesn’t hurt.

A Tale of 5 Installs Part 2 - Surfer Dude Gets Surround

"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.

Powerstrip Program Guide - A User Manual

Powerstrip is indeed "the killer app" of the HTPC world. It is possibly the most important program today in the "convergence" market between computers (PC only unfortunately!) and the high definition television (HDTV) or Projector marketplace. With it you can craft a custom resolution and sync timings to enable the best possible display of your computer Desktop, DVD's and other video sources from an HTPC to an HDTV or Projector.

A Tale of 5 Installs Part 3 - Best. Attic. Ever.

What 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.

Let's Build a Home Theater PC (2003)

Not that long ago, having a full featured, cinema-quality home Theater in your home was a new concept. This hobby has expanded and become more popular over the last several years.

A Tale of 5 Installs Part 4 - A Basement? In Florida?

This 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.

Building a Home Theater PC - A Targeted Guide

I have always had a fascination with computers - I think it started in second grade when we were allowed to design simple ASCII art programs on a Commodore Pet. With the advent of current technology, and the inevitable merging of the computer with the entertainment system, my fascination has recently manifested itself into a near-obsession with the Home Theater PC, or HTPC. The idea for this article came from talking with lots of people who weren't familiar HTPCs and what they meant in terms of entertainment devices.

A Tale of 5 Installs Part 5 - Almost Easy

We 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.

Building Do It Yourself Loudspeakers

Through the years I listened to as many speakers as I could in the area and what I found in general was that I didn't like hard dome tweeters. Although there were a few speakers with hard domes that I did like I decided to stick to building speakers with a soft dome tweeter. So after studying speaker design books through the years I was ready to build speakers with Dynaudio drivers. I don't claim to be an expert at speaker design but I learned that it is a combination of science and art.

Eli Manning's Automated Condo

In 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.

Madisound Solist DIY Speaker Kit

In this article it is hoped that some of the risk factors of building speakers is removed (i.e. investing time, effort, and money without ever knowing how the speakers will turn out.)

Crestron Home Theater and Dance Lounge

There'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.

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."

Revamping a Vintage Yamaha T-80 Tuner

Recently I acquired a Yamaha T-80 tuner. This tuner was manufactured in the mid 1980’s, probably in 1985 from what I can tell. I proceeded to put the unit in my system and connected it to a standard FM dipole antenna. My initial impression was that this had some potential, but was going to need a lot of work. This appeared not to be your usual consumer toy tuner.

Apple Computers Provide Whole Home Control

Stunning 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?

Reducing HVAC Noise in Theater Rooms

HVAC noise is usually the #1 problem in home theater rooms. Minimizing the source of the noise is one of many steps in the pursuit of a state of the art theater room. These external noise influences have deleterious masking effect on the audio reproduction much like light pollution does with display devices. A simple tweak such as replacing the bi-fold doors that contain your HVAC air handler with an acoustically treated solid core door is about the easiest and more noticeable sonic upgrade you can make to your system. This in turn can extend listening sessions at reduced SPL levels which lessens the susceptibility of listening fatigue.

Solar Panels Power Home Theater

The “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.)

Renovated Loft Home Theater

In 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.

Terminator Home Theater

When 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.

Home Theater AV Cable Prewire Basics 101

Pre-wiring homes for today’s complex home theater systems can often times be a very frustrating task even for the highly skilled A/V professional. There are many factors that need to be considered before a home is wired for video and sound. This basic tech tip article may help guide you through the rigorous process, thus turning this project from daunting to fun and educational. We will give you guidance on how and where to route your cables, as well as tips on the proper cables to use for your installation. Get your home ready for tomorrow's state of the art home theater systems today. Read our article and watch our Youtube video.

2009 Home of the Year is all Hollywood

Electronic 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.

Converting a Storage Space into Home Theater

Unless 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.

Building a PC as a High Performance Digital Stereo Source

With the CD as we know it today starting to go into obsolescence, I figured it was high time to build myself a back up media to store and playback all of my music. Most PC's simply aren't up to the challenge sonically for delivering high performance playback on a serious hi-fi system. This article details the process I took at building a PC suited for this purpose while at the same time not breaking the bank and satisfying the needs of a critical music lover like myself.

LED Accent Lighting Gone Wild in Multi-purpose Theater Room

Like 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.

Control4 Demos v2.0 at CEDIA

Control4 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.

Video: Installing Surround Sound Speakers

We 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.

In-Wall Speaker Selection & Installation Basics

In-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.

Audiologic Schumakubins Loudspeaker Review

As 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.

Overview of Digital Still Camera Technology

There 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.

Two Approaches to Whole-House Audio

Like 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.

Building a Budget Home Theater for Under $5k

It’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."

Star Wars Home Theater

In “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.

JBL Vintage Speaker Restoration Done Right by Simply Speakers

There 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.

The New Home Theater PC – Part 1

I 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.

Arylic Up2Stream DIY Boards: Build Your Own Media Server

Arylic now offers what they call a DIY line of audio equipment that can serve as the basis of a low-cost home stereo system. In this review we'll be looking at a series of products from Arylic that will help you configure an economic multi-zone media server. How does it sound? Read on.

Audioholics’ Guide in Getting Good Sound From a Desktop Audio System

If you think you can't get a good, high-fidelity sound from a desktop system, think again! Audioholics has put together a guide that can help you take your desktop sound system from "meh" to "mind-blowing." We address the acoustics, equipment, and set up issues that may be holding back your desktop sound from greatness. Read on to find out the tips, tricks, and guidelines to follow in order to achieve audio nirvana at your desktop.

Entertainment Centers: Destroyer of Good Sound Systems

A great way to ruin a good audio/video system is to place it in those large entertainment centers that are so popular these days. In this article, we go over some of the ways that fancy entertainment centers can wreck an otherwise good system. Read on to learn what to avoid when shopping for cabinetry for your audio/video system.

The Most Important Tool in AV Might Just Be the Drywall Saw

Running cables is the perfect DIY project for even the less-than-super-handyman. Today we'll talk about the proper way to run your cables neatly inside your walls along with some tips and tricks that the pros use.

A Guide to Turntable Isolation Platforms: Materials and Benefits

Who does Audioholics president, Gene DellaSala call for help with an isolation table he had just received in for review? "Captain Analogue" Xavier Burgos of course! While achieving effective isolation comes with costs and complexities, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks for those who are dedicated to the pursuit of sonic purity.

What are the BEST Isolation Materials for Turntables?

If you want the best performance no matter what level of quality or price you have invested on your beloved turntable, selecting the right materials for isolation feet and platforms is essential for maximizing your turntable's performance. We'll help you find the BEST ways of isolating your turntable for better performance.