The Connected Life

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John Sciacca  |  Oct 03, 2024  | 
October/November 2024 is the final print issue of Sound & Vision, which, sadly, also means this will be the end of this column. For 21 years I’ve had the privilege of sharing some advice and anecdotes in this space, and for this last column, I thought I’d take a look back on some of the highlights over the years and get a bit personal. And the best place to start is at the beginning…

John Sciacca  |  Aug 29, 2024  | 
Chances are you probably don’t think about the state of your electronic devices too often. Oh, you might think about all the upgrades you would like to make and where you would put those new tower speakers, but how often do you actually think about the well-being of your system?
John Sciacca  |  Jul 29, 2024  | 
If you’re planning to make a big A/V purchase but haven’t done an upgrade in a while, here are three key things to keep in mind before you take the plunge.
John Sciacca  |  Mar 19, 2024  | 
Spring is here! It’s the perfect time to start thinking about how and where you will entertain outdoors.
John Sciacca  |  Oct 02, 2023  | 
Summer may be over but there’s still plenty of time for outdoor entertaining before the winter sets in. In Creating an Audio Oasis in Your Backyard, I discussed outdoor audio solutions. Now it’s time to add a little V to the A.
John Sciacca  |  Sep 04, 2023  | 
When you think of “entertaining” with your AV system, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is your home theater or media room. But what about your backyard? Is it setup for outdoor entertaining?
John Sciacca  |  Jul 10, 2023  | 
Ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors that can produce 100-plus-inch images when placed only a foot or so from a wall are gaining popularity. In addition to being way easier to install than traditional ceiling-mount projectors, they are suitable for daytime viewing and have become reasonably affordable. If the idea of a UST projector appeals to you, here are a few things to keep in mind.
John Sciacca  |  May 09, 2023  | 
I’ve worked in the custom business for over 20 years so I’m always looking ahead to see what’s on the horizon. I’m happy to report that there’s plenty to keep me optimistic and excited about the future of custom installation and smart home technology, though there will always be challenges along the way.
John Sciacca  |  Mar 07, 2023  | 
In the third and final part of a series, the focus is on things you should expect after the installation is completed, whether on that day if it’s a small job or in the days after a larger project.
John Sciacca  |  Jan 16, 2023  | 
If you’re looking to hire an installer for a job — or really have any trade come and work in your home — here are some suggestions to help make the project go smoother for everyone. In Part 1 of this mini-series we covered what to do and be aware of leading up to installation day. Here, we cover what to expect on the day of the installation.
John Sciacca  |  Nov 15, 2022  | 
If you’re looking to hire an installer for a job — or really have any trade come and work in your home — here are some suggestions for making the project go smoother for everyone, starting with things you should do and be aware of leading up to installation day.
John Sciacca  |  Sep 15, 2022  | 
When I began this series of columns earlier this year, I had no idea it would turn into a four-part, treatise on the evolution and current state of choosing a big-screen TV for your media room or home theater. To conclude this tetralogy, I address two additional solutions that straddle the divide between wanting a fantastic, cinematic experience in a non-dedicated/light-controlled room — options that don’t require a wallet melting budget.
John Sciacca  |  Jul 12, 2022  | 
When I started my career as a custom installer, getting a cinema-size image meant a front projection system in a light-controlled room. But technology has since developed to the point where you can now get a 100-inch flat-panel TV for well under twenty grand. Which solution is right for you?
John Sciacca  |  May 18, 2022  | 
No matter how large and thin your TV is, you have the equivalent of a giant black hole on the wall when the set is turned off. Here are five ways to hide your screen.
John Sciacca  |  Mar 08, 2022  | 
When I started out as a custom installer back in 1998, a “big screen” was a 60-inch rear-projection TV, with high-end models available from the likes of Mitsubishi and Pioneer Elite. These were 4:3 aspect ratio, cathode ray tube-driven sets with 480i resolution, and they were physically hulking beasts weighing upwards of hundreds of pounds. Boy, have things changed over the past 20-plus years.

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