Custom Installation How-To

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Custom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Hitting All the High Notes
Jamie Sorcher  |  Jan 23, 2009

These days, home theaters serve many purposes. They can be dedicated cinemas, game rooms, or entertaining environments. This homeowner from Long Island, New York, is a music lover and admitted audiophile, so his theater had to be a place where he could relax and enjoy his music.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
Home Theater and the Real Estate Advantage
J. Makin  |  Dec 28, 2007
Your home theater could hold the key.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
Home Theater Builder Part 1: The Beginnings Of Budgeting
William Clark  |  Aug 22, 2007
How do I build a home theater or media room? The question is a complicated one that every reader wants answered. That's why we created this new, ongoing column in AVI. Whether you're going to build the room yourself or hire a custom installer, there's information you can use in Home Theater Builder. We'll discuss all facets of building a home theater here—from construction, to equipment selection, to room tuning. Our first column is devoted to budgeting. How much can I spend, and how do I allocate my budget? Building a theater is a personal experience, so how far you want to go and the design of your system and room will determine your budget. This overview will help you start to think about how to spend your hard-earned cash.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
Home Theater Builder, Part 2: Selecting Your Room
William Clark  |  Aug 28, 2007
Which room is right for you?
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
Home Theater for Tight Settings: Redux
Mark Elson  |  Dec 03, 2007
A pair of real-world theaters get a makeover.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Home Theater Loft
Kim Wilson  |  May 08, 2012
Photos Chris Woolman

What do you do with an underused loft space? Why, turn it into a dedicated home theater, of course! That was the challenge entrusted to Wilshire Home Entertainment of Thousands Oaks, California. The open, 400-square-foot loft required an enclosure and special acoustical materials to prevent sound leakage. The project included a new, custom staircase and the preservation of a large bay window that extends from the bottom floor to the ceiling of the second floor. It wasn’t possible to just remove it in the loft area, so it is still located behind the drop-down screen. When the theater is in use, Lutron motorized blackout shades block the light.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Home Theater On the Plains
Thomas J. Norton  |  Feb 01, 2005
Lawrence, Kansas, about an hour's drive west of Kansas City, is an unlikely spot to start a loudspeaker company. But it's the home of Kansas University, and in 1979, former KU students Gayle Martin Sanders and Ron Logan Sutherland (now you know the origin of the MartinLogan name) teamed up to design and build electrostatic speakers.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Home-Brewed Happiness: A Multipurpose Home Theater
Kristopher Nelson  |  Aug 10, 2011
Since purchasing our home over five years ago, we wanted to put a home theater in the basement. I was faced with the challenge of dealing with the space I had (a uniquely shaped 32-by-12-foot room with a fireplace) or create a dedicated home theater by adding a room. Ultimately, my wife and I decided to take advantage of the existing space and create a multipurpose room. With two girls and frequent visits from family and friends, this seemed the most appropriate.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
How to Choose A Custom Installer
Mark Elson  |  Apr 18, 2010  |  First Published: Apr 19, 2010
It’s no surprise that consumer electronics have become increasingly dependent upon professional installation. Consider the following categories: satellite antennae, A/V distribution systems, projectors and screens, wholehouse control, lighting and dimming systems, content-sharing DVR networks, and of course wall-mounting and wire-pulling for flat-panel TVs. Want to talk about remote access to media servers and CCTV cameras via Ethernet? A system’s operation is programming intensive and depends on physical installation, which requires construction expertise. There’s so much going on behind your walls and in your attic. I wouldn’t want to take responsibility for all of it at my house, and I know my wife wouldn’t want me to, either. I bang up my walls enough, schlepping a retractable ladder from the garage up three flights of stairs to the master bedroom just to change a 9-volt smoke alarm battery. Drill holes in my walls? Me? Are you kidding? In this article, I’ll help you find your closest local professional installers and provide an easy method to help you make the right selection.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-To
Humax DRT800 DVD/TiVo Recorder
David Ranada  |  May 10, 2005
The latest DVD recorders have so many advanced features that they can be daunting to use. Just pick up the instruction manual, and you'll likely find yourself slogging through pages of editing commands as well as countless rules for recording on different disc formats.
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToThe Connected Life
iControl Your Life
John Sciacca  |  Jul 13, 2011

Some people immediately get that the iPad can become the controller for an automation system, allowing them to control not only their audio/video gear but also their lights, HVAC, security, and irrigation systems.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
InFocus Projector Gets Ultra Affordable
Kim Wilson  |  Oct 21, 2008

The remarkably low-priced $1099 InFocus X9 makes high definition projection a no brainer. This latest DLP projector offers native 720p resolution, 1800 lumens, and 2500:1 contrast ratio with a maximum image of almost 30 feet. The projector also features DLP's BrilliantColor™ image processing technology to improve optical efficiency and provide a wider color gamut.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToThe Connected Life
Installations: A Higher Power
John Sciacca  |  Nov 05, 2007

Cathedrals are almost preternaturally quiet havens where even the softest whispers, shuffling in the pews, or footsteps across marble floors can seem blasphemously loud.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToThe Connected Life
Installations: Let Us Entertain You
John Sciacca  |  Oct 04, 2007

While it might take a village to raise a child, it takes an army and lots of time to build an estate! Custom Theater and Audio (CTA) in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where I work as lead system designer, was recently involved in all aspects of the A/V design and installation for Phil and Janet Pate's new home in North Myrtle Beach.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Integra Enters the Blu-ray Fray
Kim Wilson  |  Oct 31, 2008

There may be plenty of Blu-ray players out there already but Integra believes they have something special to offer their dedicated customers. Known for their premium performance products, Integra releases the DBS-6.9, their first Blu-ray player, which delivers full 1080p video at 24 frames per second, the native frame rate for most original motion pictures and HD content.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X