Hayi Mansoor asked:




Now that you have bought a home theater system, it needs to be installed as well. Instead of doing it yourself, it is advisable to opt for professional home theater installation services. But the important question here is: how do you find professional theater installation services?

There are several aspects that you need to consider when looking for a professional installer and some of them include:

Expertise: A home theater system consists of several components and not to mention the wiring, which includes the speaker cables, the video cables, and the network and automation cables. It is a complicated wiring procedure that can only be done with precision by an expert in this field. So you need to start looking for a home theater installation company who has a lot of experience in handling both residential and commercial theater installation as well as single room and multiple room installations. You need to check how long the installation company has been in the market and the number of clients they have handled. Experts in home-theater installation will also ensure that you have a trouble free experience for the next couple of years.

Reputation: Reputation is an important criterion when it comes to choosing the right home theater installation services. There are two ways to check the reputation of the company: one is over the internet and the other is by speaking to some of the clients they have installed for. The internet is easily accessible and you can Google the company name to find more about the company, their services, their reputation in the market, and feedback or complaints if any. Secondly, you can request the installation company to provide you with at least 3 references. Speak with the 3 customers and enquire about the installation and their levels of satisfaction. Make sure that these 3 customers have different types of home theater systems installed. The main reason is that different types of installations mean higher levels of expertise.

Cost: The pricing is also an important factor and different installers will charge differently. The pricing of installation depends on several aspects like the type of television or project screen, type of audio systems, type of video systems, type of audio, video, and networking cables, types of lighting, type of connectors, wall plating, in-wall or wall hanging fixtures, active or passive splitters, power systems, ups or voltage regulators, cable assembly, audio patchbays, and much more. The cost will also increase if you require a custom theater installation where a plan needs to be chalked out and certain other aspects to be considered like space, type of system, lighting etc.

Location: Most people would oversee the location factor but it is important as well. The professional home theater installation services that you choose should be located in your vicinity, city, or state so that if any problem arises post installation then they can take care of it with ease and in no time.

The bottom line is that choosing professional home theater installation services can ensure that your installation is done based on your requirement and to perfection.

Alma

Ben Anton asked:




With over 500 models of home theater speakers available through a generous number of high and low-end brands, many consumers rely on salesperson to lead them in the right direction. Consumers with only a limited budget will undoubtedly flock to the cheapest option available to suit there needs. This however, nearly always results in a less than ideal sound system that fails to meet the expectations or needs of the owner. It is therefore a good idea to educate one's self on the best brands, speaker styles and specifications that will fit a home's needs before making a choice.

A home theater speaker system is typically made up of a front speaker, left and right speaker, a center-channel speaker, a pair of surrounds, and a subwoofer. A home owner may mix-and-match components but help from a professional is advised to make sure the speakers are all compatible. These speaker types come in varying sizes, sound output and design. The following are the types of styles in which these speakers may be found:

Floor-Standing speakers are the largest home theater speakers available. They can be shifted around the theater area or be moved to another home.

Bookshelf or Cabinet speakers stand independently, just like floor standing speakers, but are smaller and can be placed on or in entertainment centers or shelving to save space.

In-Wall speakers require no floor space, and can disappear if matching the walls. Their quality is usually very good, but they need professional installation and wiring.

On-Wall speakers are recommended for use with a flat-panel television. They provide exceptional sound as well as a pleasing aesthetic component.

Home theater owners or designers must determine the listening requirements and preferences for a specific room in order to create a quality home theater space. Room size and layout are important factors as this will dictate the speaker configuration. Logistics like electrical outlet placement, room size, and usable room space strongly affect the type of equipment that can and should be put in the room.

Home theater speakers are available in many sizes. However not all sizes are meant for all rooms. Large speakers are not advantageous for small rooms because they will need to be played at a much lower volume. This may cause distortion to the audio. Lower quality small speakers used in large spaces may produce a tinny or thin sound if they are unable to produce enough sound at a decent output level. Speakers of similar size may differ greatly in their sound output or reproduce different levels of sound unequally so it is very important to listen to various speaker brands and sizes and compare them before buying.

Speakers are available in a variety of encasement types - natural or laminated wood, metal, and occasionally plastic, but often preferences may be limited by brand or model. Speakers are as varied as tennis shoes so make sure you try on several and know how they fit into your home theater before making a purchase.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

Tyrone