Saturday, September 4, 2010

A High-End Home Theater Room

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 14 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

AudioOne1Who says you can’t get quality work completed in less than a week? Talk to David Frangioni, CEO of Audio One Sound & Video in North Miami Beach and he’ll tell you anything is possible. He knows because he’s installed a world-class home theater with high performance AV in only three days.

“This was a retrofit installation and we were required to install all the specified AV gear with little or no additional construction,” says Frangioni. “The client was technically savvy and a connoisseur of high-end components, which included Mark Levinson amps, a Lexicon 7-channel surround preamp, a Kaleidescape media player, a Runco projector and processor, Genelec powered speakers, Velodyne subs, and topped off by the best way to view films, a Stewart 2.35 CineCurve screen.”

According to Frangioni, the biggest challenge was installing this caliber of equipment within the confines of the existing space, which already had a smaller home theater installed. Prior to Audio One’s arrival, Jim Pratt, a master woodworker had the front of the room complete, making it possible to perfectly fit the new 2.35 screen, replacing an existing 16 x 9 screen in the same place. Moreover, the current room height allowed for the Runco digital projector to be placed at the far end of the room, for a more simplified installation.

AudioOne2

Frangioni acoustically tuned the room himself with a Sencore SP-495 and TEF Room Analyzer. These tools, combined with the equalization built into the Lexicon, Velodyne, and Genelec equipment, resulted in a smooth accurate bass response with precise imaging for an audience of twelve. Pat Bradley calibrated the video and Dan McCabe, Audio One’s Installation Manager kept the half a million dollar project on track.

There was already a security system in place and Audio One did a major upgrade during this new installation to make it more functional. Prior to the upgrade, the homeowner could only see one camera at a time. Audio One used the theater’s picture-in-picture (PIP) functionality to create a whole new level of integration with the security system.

AudioOne3

There are a number of motion-activated cameras on the property. A “security mode” button was placed on the Creston controller and when enabled, if any motion activates one of the cameras, the on-screen movie will automatically pause. Simultaneously, the house’s floor plan comes up on the PIP screen, flashing an icon in the part of the house that has been triggered. The camera view at this position is also showed in another window. From the Crestron, the homeowner can quickly dial 911 with a single button press in case of an emergency. The security mode can be bypassed on the screen so if the homeowner is having a party or when the security personnel is onsite, the cameras do not pop up on screen or interrupt the movie.

Quality installation doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold for months at a time, not when you have a professional team like Audio One, with years of field experience, handling your home theater integration. Of course, not all installations go this fast, much is dependant on the specifications, the space, and the equipment being integrated. Still, a pro installer can certainly make a retrofit such as this one a pleasurable, rather than an agonizing, experience.

SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR CONTACT INFO
Audio One Sound & Video Inc.
David Frangioni
305-945-1230
email david@audio-one.com

Source: hometheaterdesignmag.com & audio-one.com


Popularity: 82% [?]

JVC NX-D2,UX-F3 get dual iPod docks

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 9 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

jvc_nxd2Each household has more or less at least one iPod, and many homes have two or more – one for each occupant. Well, this is where the new shelf systems from JVC – the JVC NX-D2 and JVC UX-F3 come in, where both of them are able to hold a couple of the portable media players simultaneously. The former features a powerful 230-watt system with three-way speaker design, juicing up the two iPods side-by-side at the same time while letting you playback your tunes from each via the dock’s speaker system. As for the JVC UX-F3, this model pumps out 60 watts of juice and is paired with two-way speakers, offering video output that lets you hook up whatever video content you have on your iPod to your TV – no high definition support here though. Other standard features for both shelf systems include USB support, a CD player just in case you want to get retro with your collection and an integrated AM/FM tuner. You can pick up the JVC UX-F3 and JVC NX-D2 for $199.95 (May) and $399.95 (January), respectively.


Popularity: 45% [?]

New Samsung HT-C6500, HT-C7530W, HT-C6730W

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 8 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

samsung-HT-C6730WSamsung has announced a new line of Blu-ray HTIBs at CES 2010, adding features like DLNA-compatibility, Samsung Apps, and Wi-Fi. Here are the details.

Key features of the Samsung HT-C6500:

  • 5.1 home theater system
  • Built-in Blu-ray player
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • 1GB onboard storage
  • Supports Internet@TV/Samsung Apps, which will provide content from Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, Blockbuster, Picasa, and Twitter
  • Automatic speaker calibration
  • No release date or pricing announced

Key step-up features of the Samsung HT-C7530W:

  • Nature-inspired “Touch of Color” design
  • Wireless rear speakers
  • The HT-C7530W requires a USB dongle for Wi-Fi, unlike the other two models
  • No release date or pricing announced

Key step-up features of the Samsung HT-C6730W:

  • 7.1 home theater system
  • 1330 total watts
  • No release date or pricing announced

Internet@TV and Samsung Apps are Samsung’s new proprietary content portals for home theater products. As of now, it’s not perfectly clear exactly how it will work; Samsung says that the first free apps will launch in the spring, with premium apps following in the summer. When we talked to a Samsung rep at the booth, he said that standard services like Netflix, Pandora, and Vudu would all be free; he used Tetris as an example of something that would be a premium app. We get the feeling that a lot of the particulars still have to be worked out.

From first glance, the specs look to be mostly comparable to the recently announced Blu-ray HTIBs from LG. The main difference is that Samsung hasn’t detailed if these HTIBs will have any HDMI connectivity; all of the LG systems have at least one HDMI input for an additional device, like a cable box.


Popularity: 59% [?]

Sony BDV-E570 – Bluray 3D Capable

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On January - 30 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

Sony_BDV-E770W_Blu-ray_HT_lg_610x200Sony surprised us by announcing a 3D-capable Blu-ray home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system at CES 2010, but the company also introduced several standard Blu-ray HTIBs, too.



Key features of the Sony BDV-E570:

  • 5.1 home theater system
  • Built-in Blu-ray player
  • 1000 watts of total power
  • Wi-Fi capable using the included USB dongle
  • Access to the Bravia Internet Video platform, which includes Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Pandora, Slacker, and NPR streaming capability
  • Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
  • Can control using iPhone/iPod Touch
  • iPod playback using USB
  • S-Air-ready (requires purchase of S-Air transmitter)
  • DLNA compatible
  • $550 list price; available in April

Key step-up features of the Sony BDV-E770W:

  • Wireless rear speakers (using S-Air)
  • $650 list price; available in April

Source: cnet.com


Popularity: 54% [?]

Home Theatre Bathroom

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On January - 23 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

computerized-whirlpool-bathtub-lcd-tv

I have to be honest with you. I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a home theater system because I just don’t have the time to sit around and watch TV for the evening.

However, I can easily see myself in this bathtub, watching this tiny LCD TV. Especially since the tub has 5 adjustable body massage jets, 14 whirlpool bubble path jets, 6 small water jets, underwater mood lamp, plus 15mm teak boad and handheld shower. All for about $2999. Not bad.






Popularity: 44% [?]

Home Theater Set Up

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On January - 14 - 2010 ADD COMMENTS

Home theaterHome theaters are getting to be extremely popular among American homes. This modern technology is slowly giving movie theaters a run for their money. Basic knowledge of home theater system and its basic components may be best for people who want to bring home relaxation and entertainment.

The most important consideration in the design and complete set up of your home theater is the size of the room. The home theater speakers and the other components of your home theater may need to consider the size of the room. Too small rooms for your home theater may not require so many speakers. Only three speakers may be good if the room is quite small. Do not overload your small room; you may not be able to get the entertainment and relation you want if you feel overloaded with so many home theater speakers. Because you only need three home theater speakers in your small room, you may need to acquire the high-end brand of home theater speakers to compliment the size of the room and the other equipments for your home theater.

If you have a bigger room however, the basic three home theater speakers may not be enough. You may need to put up to six speakers around the room, you may also consider complimenting your home theater speakers with subwoofer to complete the surround sound like in movie theaters. In addition to the speakers, you may also need to purchase a high-end television set which should not be smaller than 27 inches. It may not be reasonable if you buy a smaller television set because it may drown in the fineness of your home theater speakers. Additionally, the DVD player needs to be of high quality, having progressive scan your DVD Player may help provide sharp images and flicker-free pictures for your home theater system. The home theater speakers, television and DVD player are the basic components of a home theater system especially if the room is quite small. However, for bigger room, adding home theater furniture and home theater projectors may be necessary to complete the package. Again, it may be worth it, if your home theater speakers are of high quality. This is because of the need to provide a surround sound for the home theater set up. The DVD player and the television set may answer for the requirement of sight in a movie theater setup. Your home theater speaker needs to answer for the sound requirement, and if your home theater speaker is not of high quality brand, it may not be able to do the job for you.home-theater-room1

In order for you to avoid making mistakes in your choice of home theater equipments including home theater speakers, and home theater furniture, you may require the services of a home theater designer. They will be able to provide the best recommendation that will ensure you will get the most out of your home theater system including topnotch home theater speakers. Additional home theater furniture may be necessary to complete the package and to dress up the whole room. Since they are the designers, they will be able to recommend the best for your home theater system set up. If you have a properly designed home theater, you will be the best entertainment possible.

Your home theater designer may take on the huge responsibility of choosing the most suitable home theater speaker to attain the best design for your home theater.

Bring home relaxation and entertainment right in your own living room, home theater system can provide this to you and your family.


Popularity: 47% [?]

Build A Home Theater System and Bring Hollywood To Your Room

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On December - 29 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

how-to-build-a-home-theater2Nothing says modern status symbol like a quality home theater system. Having the gear to provide a movie theater quality viewing or gaming experience instantly tells visitors to your that you’re a person who has arrived.
There’s a lot of home theater systems out there though, and choosing the one that will provide the best quality and impress your visitors can be confusing. To help you get an handle on which home theater system best suits your needs, here’s a few basics:
Choosing the display type is the first step in selecting your home theater system. Flat panels, such as LCD and plasma displays, and rear-projection televisions can produce large, wide-screen, high-definition pictures. Front projector televisions can produce razor-sharp images in even larger screen sizes.
A good trick for choosing a television for your home theater system is to measure the distance between your couch and where you’ll be putting your television. Then, when you get to the store, stand that distance away from the television you’re looking at. This will keep you from buying a television that’s too large or small for your home theater needs.
Also remember that for home theater screens 30-inches or larger, you’ll get the best picture quality from high-definition broadcasts and DVDs if you buy the HDTV model. The display resolutions of HDTV sets vary; typical examples include 720p, 1080i or 1080p, 1366 by 768, and 1024 by 768. The display resolution of your new television may not matter much unless its screen is relatively large and you sit unusually close to it. The difference between 720p and 1080p resolution, for example, isn’t very noticeable on a 50-inch screen unless you sit within about 10 feet of it.
Good sound is key to a good home theater experience. However, getting your home theater’s audio just right can be tricky. Basically, you’re going to want a home theater stereo that has 5.1 sound. This means five speakers, center, front left and right, back left and right, and one subwoofer. Proper positioning of your home theater’s audio gear is key to ensuring quality sound. Your front speakers should be at least two feet behind the television, the center speaker should be either on or near the television, the subwoofer should face forward toward the center of the room with the mesh side open and the back speakers should be positioned in an area that maximizes their ability to add to the ambient sound quality of the home theater system.

how-to-build-a-home-theater1Once you get all of this snazzy gear, making sure you install it properly is vital to ensuring all that money didn’t go to waste. Improper installation of a home theater system can result in crackling sound an unclear picture and looking like a tool when your friends come over to watch. Avoid embarrassment by picking up a few good do-it-yourself manuals before trying to make sense of all those red and yellow cables or by hiring a pro to set up your new home theater system.
A home theater system can literally project your status and taste to guests. Don’t make a mess of your chance to impress. Choose the right gear, put it in the right place and get the right people to set it up.


Popularity: 45% [?]

100 inch laser 3D HDTV from HDI of Los Gatos

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On December - 18 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

HDI_3D_laser_HDTVIn a few years, you could be watching 3D laser TV. This week, a Los Gatos startup unveiled the world’s first 100-inch 3D home theater powered by lasers.

There is a tree that looks so real you could touch it. It’s being displayed on the first 3D home theater powered by lasers — from HDI of Los Gatos.

The new 3D is all the rage in entertainment around the world. Most videogames come in 3D versions. A new 3D movie will be released every month in the coming year. It’s all being driven by new technology that has replaced the old red-blue glasses with stylish models designed for digital.

Now comes the next step, in this 100-inch screen. The colors are richer than anything else, because they come from lasers. The lasers are cheap. They’re low power, consuming just 1W each. Try that with your plasma. And it’s true HD. Not just 1080p, but 1080 Hertz.

“This device is unique in the fact that it’s extremely fast,” says Chief Technical Officer Edmund Sandberg. “It will do over a thousand frames a second. That allows you to integrate all the color and everything into one device.”

It also means the picture no longer needs to flash from one eye to other. You know that we can’t show you how good the 3D is, because you watch a 2D television set. But, take it from me. We’ve seen RealD, Dolby, film, all kinds of 3D. And this is the smoothest yet. And smoothness means no headaches.”

Ed Sandberg has been designing 3D displays for 20 years. He and his partners at HDI developed their new system practically from scratch. They have their own lasers, their own glasses, ginormous screen, and high-speed liquid crystal on silicon.

HDI_3D_laser_HDTV-2

“1920 by 1080 lines all the time to your eye, and in parallel,” Sandberg assures us.

The company faces many challenges. Others are experimenting with lasers, and 3D capable televisions already exist. But no one has quite managed to combine everything in a package with 3D flash without all the flashing.

 

Source: abclocal.go.com


Popularity: 50% [?]

Home Theater and Music Room

Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On December - 3 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

TwoRooms-Theater-Home Theater | Audio Video | Wireless Speakers | FULL LED LCD HDTV | BluRay | Remote ControlsIt’s the perfect situation – a dedicated home theater and a completely separate room for critical music listening. Yes, it is a home theater and music room. One homeowner in Massachusetts was able to realize his dream of the ‘perfect’ audio system, and still provide the rest of the family with their own home theater.

The advantage of new construction is you can design your home any way you like, including dedicated spaces for each of your passions. Each room required its own designers, one an acoustical engineer with a background in no-compromise projects, and the other a highly skilled, yet, budget-conscious systems integrator.

Alan Goodwin of Goodwin’s High End created a room within a room to isolate the listening room from the rest of the home. For instance, there is space between the ceiling and the floor above and the rear wall has 12″ of space behind it with a built-in baffle and edge bands to tune base resonance. The room has perfect acoustical dimensions– 24′ 8 3/8″ long, 17′ 10 5/6″ wide, and 9′ 6″ high – due to the special foundation that was excavated from solid granite to achieve the appropriate height.

For the acoustical treatments, Goodwin recommended Performance Acoustic Lab’s (PAL) Danish-built diffuser modules and bass traps, augmented by Acoustic Sciences’ acoustic wall panels. The 300 lb. PAL modules took 4 movers to get into the basement music room, and Tom Fredericks of PAL flew in from Denver with a special carpenter to spend an entire week installing the modules.

TwoRooms-Music1-Home Theater | Audio Video | Wireless Speakers | FULL LED LCD HDTV | BluRay | Remote ControlsEvery aspect of the room was considered with great care and effort, including the electrical supply where only hospital grade outlets with isolated grounds were installed to ensure low electric noise and eliminate any motor interference. Since the room is sound proof, a fire strobe was installed to alert the homeowner if a fire should break out elsewhere in the home.

The homeowner already had the gear – Spectral Electronics and custom colored Wilson WATT Puppy speakers – he just needed the perfect room, which cost almost as much as the equipment. The lesson learned is that the acoustic qualities of the room are at least as important – if not more – than the quality of the audio system.TwoRooms-Music2-Home Theater | Audio Video | Wireless Speakers | FULL LED LCD HDTV | BluRay | Remote Controls

Separated from the music room by acoustic doors and 8″ walls filled with acoustic insulation, the basic acoustic properties and dimensions of the home theater were identical to the music room. The architect recommended Larry Shulman of Huntington TV, who helped balance cost with quality. He suggested a system that included a JVC 1080p projector, Triad in-wall speakers, a Velodyne 15″ subwoofer, B&K separates, a Sony Blu-ray Player, and Crestron control. The front speakers were set into cavities constructed by the builder and covered by acoustic wall panels. The center channel was placed behind a 100″ Stewart microperf screen.

TwoRooms-Theater2-Home Theater | Audio Video | Wireless Speakers | FULL LED LCD HDTV | BluRay | Remote Controls

The homeowner was very much involved in every phase of the dual rooms, from researching each and every component, designing the equipment closet and all lighting details, including the special LED stair lights in the theater.

While the house construction took 16 months, the construction of the two special rooms took less than two months, even with the almost catastrophic flooding due to torrential rain that seeped into an open electrical conduit..

The home theater is a social magnet, providing an opportunity to bring together friends and neighbors, for events such as watching the presidential debates or just having quality time with the family to watch a movie, football game, or some TV.

TwoRooms-Library-Home Theater | Audio Video | Wireless Speakers | FULL LED LCD HDTV | BluRay | Remote ControlsThe best part of all for the homeowner is when life gets hectic and he needs time to relax and slow down, he escapes inside the enchanting sounds of Monteverdi, Bartok, or Mahler, in the music room of his dreams.


Source: hometheaterdesignmag.com

Sytem integrator: goodwinshighend.com


Popularity: 100% [?]

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