Audio Video News

I've just cut 12 columns on room tuning and system tweaking out of my Home Theater Architect series. I was going to go into some serious detail about how to use analyzers to aim speakers and optimize chair positions, how to position acoustical treatments to get the best bass smoothing and imaging, and how to use things like SPL meters and color analyzers to dial in audio and video performance. But instead, I'm going to quickly wrap up my installation of Jack and Diane's home theater in the next five issues, and start working with new clients (Sam and Janet).

Why, you ask?

Simple. Several readers have sent letters to the Guide complaining that they're sick of hearing about Jack and Diane, the homeowners featured in the Home Theater Architect for the last four years. The information is great, they say. But when is Russ gonna be finished with this dang theater and move on to something else?

Well, I want to keep y'all happy. So I'm gonna quickly wrap up my work with Jack and Diane (unless you tell me otherwise), and start working with different clients. In February 2002's Home Theater Architect, I pay a first visit to Sam and Janet, a couple who own a custom-built family room home theater. Like thousands of other theaters, theirs has lots and lots of problems. It's driving them nuts.

You say you haven't read this month's HTA? Here's a quick synopsis: The sound in Sam and Janet's room is terrible, the picture has all kinds of problems, ambient light is an issue, the room's acoustics are terrible, and the system is nearly impossible to use. I present them with two options: Do they want to keep their equipment, but gut the room and solve all the problems? Or do they want a no-remodel "quick-fix"? Here's where things get interesting.

Where I go next with the column is going to be based on the feedback I get from you.

All you need to do is send an email to me at hometheaterarchitect@yahoo.com, and tell me what you want (but please keep reading, 'cause I've got some specific things I need to know).

So tell me: Would you rather see me start from the beginning, showing you how to design and build a family room home theater from scratch? Or would you rather just learn about how to apply band-aids to a really bad room? Or would you rather I finish Jack and Diane's theater in detail?

At the end of this article is a list of all 40 Home Theater Architect columns. Please send an email to hometheaterarchitect@yahoo.com and tell me:

1) How long have you been reading the Home Theater Architect column? (The first one debuted in Feb '98.)

2) I realize that most of you haven't read every single column. But even so, which column(s) were most helpful to you, and why? (Please refer to column numbers 1-40 when answering.)

3) What are your most pressing (urgent) home theater design/build/tuning questions? Remember, I can't talk about equipment.*
*Because I'm a hired gun for a number of manufacturers, I don't review equipment, nor do I write about specific gear (which I think would be a conflict of interest). But I can talk about things like room design, construction, and tuning. So tell me what you want. I'm all ears.

4) Lastly, besides the urgent stuff (question #3), over the next two years, what would you like to see me cover in Home Theater Architect?

I won't be able to personally respond to any of your emails, but I will read each and every one. So the more time and effort you put into these answers, the better your chances are of getting your questions answered in a future Home Theater Architect column. But time is of the essence here—in the next few weeks, I'm going to lay out the topics for the next two year's worth of columns. So if you have any preferences, please email me. Thanks!

Index to past Home Theater Architect columns:

February 98	1	Man Behind the Curtain
March/April 98	2	Timbre!
May 98	3	Best Seat in the House
June 98	4	What do Audiophiles Know about Home Theater?
July/August 98	5	Chairman of Home Theater
September 98	6	Max Headroom
October 98	7	A Religious Experience?
November 98	8	Is it Golden, or Goofy? (why the Golden Ratio ain't so golden)
January 99	9	Sweet Spot?
March/April 99	10	Room For Improvement
May 99	11	A Massive Sweet Spot, Part 1
June 99	12	A Massive Sweet Spot, Part Deux
July/August 99	13	A Massive Sweet Spot, Episode III
September 99	14	Hidden Treasures
October 99	15	Son of a Massive Sweet Spot, Part IV
November 99	16	Perfect Sound with Invisible Speakers?
December 99	17	Field Trip!
January 00	18	What is THX?
February 00	19	Shadowboxing
March/April 00	20	Feel the bass! (Floor me, baby)
May 00	21	Are We There Yet?
June 00	22	Bigger, Faster, Stronger?
July/Aug 00	23	A Little Piece of Quiet
September 00	24	Lighting Strikes Twice, Part 1
October 00	25	Lighting Strikes Twice, Part Deux
November 00	26	We Don't Need No Stinking Documents! (renamed: It's No Fun To Document Fun)
December 00	27	Too Many Chefs?
January 01	28	The Phantom Center Menace
February 01	29	Audiophile Home Theater?
March/April 01	30	Home Theater on a Napkin?
May 01	31	The Rectangular Room (Napkins, pt. 2)
June 01	32	Napkin Acoustics (A return to the Burgerama, pt. 3)
July/August 01	33	The Dream Team
September 01	34	The 6 Million Dollar Theater (We Can Rebuild It...Make it Better Than It Was Before...)
October 01	35	Burn, Baby, Burn!
November 01	36	Electronics in Love... (renamed: E-relations)
December 01	37	Is This Remotely Possible? Part I
January 02	38	Remote Possibilities, Part II
February 02	39	What's Wrong with this Theater?
Mar/Apr 02	40	Configuring & Troubleshooting, part I