John Sciacca

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Ask S&V
How Should I Power a Home Theater Setup with Only 5 Ceiling Speakers?
John Sciacca  |  May 30, 2024
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I am installing my first home theater setup and using five ceiling speakers that were already pre-wired into the house when we bought it. Should I buy a receiver with Dolby Atmos or a better quality non-Atmos receiver? I do not want to add any more speakers, so I’m wondering if the Dolby Atmos is worth it or would I not notice the Atmos effect using only the ceiling speakers? — Mark Miller

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The Connected Life
How to Avoid AV Information Overload
John Sciacca  |  Jul 29, 2014
One of the most disappointing things I face is spending time going over different options for someone’s new home’s entertainment and automation system and having them leave my showroom saying, “Wow! Now I’m even more confused than when I started!” (More disappointing is the, “Oh, I wish I’d come to you to do my system!” regret that comes when they can’t get the other guy/company to come back to finish or service the system.)
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Other Tech
How to Buy HDTV
John Sciacca  |  Jan 02, 2005

Whether it's because of newspaper ads, TV shows saying they're being broadcast in HDTV, or the buzz from co-workers, relatives, and friends, you've probably been thinking about testing the HDTV waters. And now is a great time to buy a high-definition set.

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Other Tech
How to Calibrate Your HDTV
John Sciacca  |  Jan 03, 2007

Like a tune-up on your car, a few tweaks can have your HDTV running better than ever. But unlike an auto overhaul, you can make these adjustments yourself.

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How to Choose a Custom Installer
John Sciacca  |  Oct 03, 2006

You've finally done it: You've decided to hire a custom installer to ensure your project goes off with nary a hitch. So now what? Where do you begin, and how do you find the installer who's right for you? If your install is relatively simple - like mounting a flat-panel TV or connecting an existing audio system - it shouldn't be too hard.

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The Connected Life
How to Maximize Your Network Performance
John Sciacca  |  Mar 01, 2017
The number-one service call issue at my custom installation firm used to be cable TV related—generally resolved by rebooting the cable company’s crappy set-top box. But as people increasingly “cord cut” away from traditional entertainment means, the majority of calls we receive now are internet and network related, specifically of the, “My Wi-Fi sucks. Can you fix it?” variety.
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The Connected Life
How to Plan Your AV Budget Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Mar 16, 2021
In my previous blog, I considered areas in your A/V budget where you should consider splurging when building a system. If you’re fortunate enough to have the budget for a high-end home entertainment system, then absolutely pursue the best gear available. Premium gear does offer premium performance — plus pride of ownership — and it’s hard to put a price on the joy a top-notch system can deliver. But for the bulk of us who need to carefully allocate our A/V budget, here are some suggestions on where to consider saving, or even scrimping.
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The Connected Life
How to Prepare for Your Next Big A/V Purchase
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.
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The Connected Life
How to Set Up an Outdoor TV for Fall Football
John Sciacca  |  Sep 13, 2016
As football season gets underway, it’s inevitable that I’ll get phone calls about mounting TVs on a porch, deck, or some other outside area as people prepare to watch their favorite team while enjoying the fall weather. And, I have to say, after spending a long weekend lounging by my swimming pool, sipping a beer, and watching The Masters golf tournament, I get the allure of outdoor video.
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The Connected Life
How Well Can You Hear Audio Quality?
John Sciacca  |  Apr 06, 2016
Last summer NPR posted a story entitled ”How Well Can You Hear Audio Quality?” that let users “blindly” compare six different tracks recorded at identical volume levels at three different qualities: MP3 at 128 Kbps, MP3 at 320 Kbps, and uncompressed WAV. The goal was to see if listeners could discern the quality difference and then correctly pick which version was WAV.

After thousands of results it turns out that people can tell the difference. But just barely.

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