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Perfecting Room Acoustics the Easy Way with Professional Installers!

Perfecting Room Acoustics the Easy Way with Professional Installers!

Why Room Acoustics Matter

Before we go into the nuts and bolts about room acoustics, first, we have to explain why it matters so much. Yea, room acoustics give you better sound, but what does that mean?

With a well-thought-out speaker setup and good acoustics, you'll be able to immerse yourself more into the content. So, if you're watching an intense film, the sound will have you feeling like you're a part of the experience. If you don't have good acoustics that balances the direct to reflected sound, you'll miss out on hearing clear and well-articulated sound in the way the creators intended you to hear it.

Minimize Reflections

Reflections are the first things your professional custom integrators will consider. Minimizing reflections is essential because they can cause sound waves to bounce off surfaces and create an echo. If the reflection separates from the sound signal by a single second, that's enough to cause a reverberation or an echo.

And because sound covers a large spectrum, from the tinkling of glass to the rumble of an explosion with human voices in the middle, finding all the reflections is a tough job — especially if you're dealing with a smaller room. But a professional installer knows how to keep the room dimensions and reflections into account and strategically use acoustic paneling to minimize the reflections.

Sound Absorption

Sound absorption is another crucial element of room acoustics. Absorption and diffusive materials regulate how much sound penetrates through the walls and ceilings and help control the noise.

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Backyard Movie Night: What you Need for Your Outdoor Theater

Projectors

Though you could take your TV outside for a movie night, it won't have the same "wooow" factor as a projector. So finding the perfect projector should be your first step in planning your backyard movie night. The important factor to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all projector for every use.

Instead, consider where and how you'll be using your projector. Is this simply for your backyard, or do you want something to take camping with you? It'll be best to choose one that is small enough to take outside and set on a table, but not so little that it won't provide enough light to illuminate your screen. Some portable projectors also include a built-in battery, but a long garden extension cord could also do the job.

Media Player

Another thing to think about is the source material. What will you be watching? Or, more importantly, how will you watch it? The days of bringing a DVD or Blu-ray player out to the yard along with the projector are virtually gone. Sure, you could do it, but there are way more convenient solutions.

You can find projectors with built-in streaming apps or you can use streaming sticks or your laptop. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a good HDMI cable or reliable and strong WiFi, so you can view your movie with no lagging.

Speakers

Some video projectors have a built-in amplifier and speaker, but the output level is designed for small rooms, such as conference rooms and classrooms. However, if you have a large yard or any kind of background noise, it may be difficult to hear. But with outdoor speakers connected to your home projector, you can have incredible sound to match your huge screen!

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From Outdoor Hangout to Backyard Bash — Which Waterproof Speaker Do You Need?

From Outdoor Hangout to Backyard Bash — Which Waterproof Speaker Do You Need?

Which Waterproofing is Which

Before diving into the different types of speakers, you first need to understand the terminology. Weatherproof speakers and waterproof speakers do not mean the same thing, nor do waterproof or water-resistant speakers. But it's vital to understand which you’re looking to determine which will suit your outdoor audio needs.

  • Waterproof Speakers: Are covered or treated with materials to prevent the permeation of water so that they can come into contact with water without damage.
  • Water-Resistant Speakers: Provides lower protection against water, with coated or treated materials that don't allow water to pass through easily.
  • Water-Repellant Speakers: Offers more protection than water-resistant speakers because they are covered in thin-film nanotechnology.
  • Weatherproof Speakers: Made to withstand the elements, whether that means humidity, steam, rain, or light sprinkles, and come with tough casings and sealed cabinets.

Pro Tip: To survive submersion, waterproof speakers must have an IPX level of 7 or higher.

Wired vs. Wireless Speakers

Deciding whether you need wired or wireless speakers for your outdoor audio is essential since you need to keep the possibilities of wires in mind.

With wired outdoor speakers, you'll have more capacity and control over your musical setup and speakers that outperform any day of the week. These usually have underground wires and an omnidirectional design so anyone can listen to crisp audio from any spot in the yard. But you would need to find more outlets to plug in every speaker.

Wireless weatherproof speakers are designed to be relatively invisible with enclosures meant to blend in the background like rocks, animals, lanterns, flowerpots, etc. You can make your music appear from out of nowhere and have your guests solely focus on the good times!

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5 Tips to Make Your Speaker Last a Lifetime [+1 Bonus!]

5 Tips to Make Your Speaker Last a Lifetime [+1 Bonus!]

1. Dust Be Gone

Dust is possible the most destructive enemy of any speaker. It infiltrates your wire connectors where the wire and metal meet, disrupting the electrical signals and adding annoying noise to your system's sound. Not to mention dust can also damage your wiring and ruin the effectiveness of your speaker.

So how do you fight off dust? Regular cleaning using dust pads, dry cloths, air canisters, and vacuum cleaners. Just make sure to avoid damaging the cone drivers or tweeters, and never, EVER, use any liquids.

You can also place your speakers in a room with minimal dust or store them in a protective case when not in use.

2. Heat, Go Away

Another danger to your speakers is heat, which primarily comes from exposure to the sun. If left in direct sunlight, your speakers can overheat and damage the electromagnetic voice coils and totally ruin your sound.

The best way to avoid heat is to keep your speakers away from any windows and avoid direct sunlight. Don't forget to keep your speakers away from any hot areas in your home like fireplaces, heaters, and vents. And if your speaker has vent holes, make sure to keep them free of obstructions.

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In-ceiling Speakers: Are They Any good? 5 Reasons You Need Them

In-ceiling Speakers: Are They Any good? 5 Reasons You Need Them

How In-Ceiling Speakers Benefit You

 

In-ceiling speakers aren’t intended to replace floor-standing or mounted speakers. It’s just a way to add some flair to your audio while also limiting some of the clutter. No one is staring into your ceiling arrangement, after all. Apart from decluttering, in-ceiling speakers are beneficial for a variety of reasons, including:

1. Not Costly

The majority of low-cost ceiling speakers provide excellent sound quality and value for money. So, if you’re trying to stick to a strict budget while adding to your home audio, there’s no need to worry about it taking up the entire budget.

2. Impressive Sound Quality

Despite their relatively small size, ceiling speakers can transmit beautifully detailed music from above and even help enhance the surround sound of your speakers. Even theaters use them to add to the surround sound experience, so why not add a couple to your home. 

 

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How to Find the Perfect Sound System for Your Space

What is Your Ideal Speaker Placement?

So, what is the ideal placement for your sound system? In a perfect world, you'd have a square room with minimal obstructions between you and the speaker. But that's not always possible, and so you'll have to accommodate for what is in each room. Remember that you want enough space for each speaker to have individual audio fields without getting echo-y or otherwise distorted.

What Does That Actually Look Like?

To find the correct placement for your space, you need to do some trial and error to place each type of speaker.

  • Front Left & Right Speakers: Place these far enough apart to distinguish sounds coming from either direction. If your room is asymmetrical, you may need to tinker with the channel's panning and volume levels.
  • Center Channel: Equalize with your front speakers in mind to get a smooth range of sound, especially with dialogue. Most setups have this speaker above or below the screen.
  • Surround Speakers: Space them apart from the same distance as your front speakers or a little wider and face them towards you. Or place them behind your seating position and angle them toward you.
  • Subwoofer: Work in any spot, ideally in a corner with no X-factors like furniture, carpeting, or thick wall construction to interfere. Clean, punchy bass is the goal with no rattling of windows or dishes, so try placing them near your seating locations for the best impression.

What About the Room Size?

Of course, the size of your room is another crucial factor in finding the perfect sound system. You might think that the larger the speaker, the better, but if you don't have enough space for the sound to move, even the best quality speakers will leave you disappointed with your sound system. Instead, you'll need to choose the sound system that fits your space.

Small Rooms

A small room is typically a bedroom-sized room with an 8-ft. ceiling. You'll need to place your speakers about 6 to 8 feet away from the listener. But which speakers should you get? Giant floor speakers will be too much power for this setup, so you're better off with a two- or three-channel system instead. Don't forget to consider on-wall speakers to free up floor space and tweak your sound with acoustic panels.

Pro Tip: Remember that desktop speakers are designed to provide sound at close distances and aren't ideal for a full-room setup.

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How to Integrate Technology with Interior Design

How to Integrate Technology with Interior Design

TV

Have you ever noticed how many TVs get installed over fireplaces? It’s not because people necessarily wanted to put the TV there. It’s because the fireplace is typically designed as the focal point of the room and it just ends up making sense to put the TV right above it. Many are fine with that, but some others think that having a big black rectangle at the room’s primary focal point is not the most desirable aesthetic choice!

Fortunately, the industry has come up with several ways to dress up or hide the TV completely:

  • Digital Art ‒ Some TVs have a “digital art” mode that can make your TV look like a painting, family portrait or whatever image you want to show off. Some even come with a light sensor to make the art respond to your room’s lighting in a way that makes the art look more natural.

  • Mechanized Lifts ‒ There are dozens of options that make clever use of automated lift mechanisms that can hide your TV in a myriad of ways. An Art Lift allows you to hide the TV behind a real piece of art that can slide up or sideways to reveal the TV when you turn it on. Other motorized lift mechanisms can raise your TV up out of a cabinet or have it descended from a hiding place in the ceiling. You can even have the TV pivot left or right towards the viewer.

  • Recessed TV ‒ You may not really care about completely hiding the TV, but you would like the installation to be a little sleeker. In that case, you can have your builder frame out the wall so that there is a pocket for the TV to be installed into. This creates a clean and flush appearance from the front and side.

Speakers

Having the ability to play music anywhere in the house or yard is one of the most requested features we get. While a set of floor standing speakers might make sense in a home theater or media room, other rooms can have great sound too without the speakers being a prominent visual feature.

  • Architectural Speakers ‒ Most people are familiar with in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. What you may not know is that you can get them in a smaller form factor that closely matches the size and shape of your recessed lighting. This makes the speakers really blend in. There are even in-wall and in-ceiling subwoofers that can provide some added bass without the big black box on the floor.

  • Invisible Speakers ‒ If you really don’t want to see the speakers at all, invisible speakers can be installed during the construction phase that perfectly blend into the wall. They are mudded and painted over, just like the drywall, so even the sharpest eye can’t see them.

  • Custom Soundbars ‒ Adding a soundbar to enhance TV audio is extremely popular these days. But a lot of soundbars look like an afterthought rather than part of an integrated system. But they don’t have to. Many manufacturers provide soundbars in custom lengths that perfectly match the width of your TV for a clean, purposeful look.

Lighting Control

A smart lighting system isn’t just for convenience. It can enhance the look of your home as well. Lighting control systems can be programmed to remember lighting “scenes” that recall specific lighting levels for a room or the whole house. You can have all your lights set to just the perfect level for whatever mood or activity you want and recall it with a simple button press.

“Centralized” lighting control systems take things even farther by reducing your banks of light switches (sometimes four, five or more in a row) and consolidating them into a single, elegant keypad. Often these lighting keypads are available in a variety of designer colors and textures to perfectly complement your décor.

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Checklist: Is Your Backyard Tech Ready for Summer?

ci-backyard-tech

Summertime backyard barbecues are a blast, but tech-powered backyard entertainment centers are even more exciting. 

There’s no better way to celebrate the summer than by dedicating some time to revamping your outdoor area. Custom integration isn’t bound by the four walls of your home, and there are a lot of options to bring your favorite tech into the wilderness of your backyard.

Keep reading to make sure you’ve checked off each item in this list so your summertime backyard entertaining is as convenient and satisfying as it should be. 

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5 Questions to Answer Before Buying Hi-Fi Speakers

psm-hifi-speakers

After the dust has settled on the rest of your smart home installations, there’s probably still a spot left in your heart for something that really makes your home pop, your 4K home theater content sing, and your vinyl and hi-fi audio really rip. That’s what new speakers are for.

And not just any speakers – speakers that blow your friends’ minds. Speakers that make your crew want to come over to watch every new movie at your house, even if they weren’t invited. Speakers that your whole family love, but your neighbors don’t. Speakers that are just that good.

But buying new speakers – especially expensive ones – can be tricky, and it isn’t something that you want to do on a whim. To help you and your ears out, we here at AV Design Consultants put together some tips to guide you through the process. It’s time to get listening!

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How to Choose a Quality Floor-Standing Speaker

speakers-1

At AV Design Consultants, people often tell us here that because they aren’t an “audiophile,” they don’t have the ear to appreciate the differences between a good audio system and a great one. However, when we ask if they can hear the difference between streaming or music on a CD versus a live performance, they always say that they can. Most people’s ears are a whole lot better than they think they are. 

What most people don’t realize, however, is that they can get near concert-quality sound right from the comfort of home. A great home audio system with a nice set of speakers can make it feel like you are somewhere else, listening to your favorite musicians play live. Hearing your favorite song reproduced in a way that brings out all the subtlety and soul that the artist intended can feel almost magical. 

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A QUICK GUIDE TO CONFERENCE ROOM EQUIPMENT PLACEMENT

A-QUICK-GUIDE-TO-CONFERENCE-ROOM-EQUIPMENT-PLACEMENT

Whether you’re starting a new business or upgrading an existing building in The Woodlands, TX area, one room that definitely deserves your full attention is the conference room. It’s a space for meeting important clients, conferring with stakeholders, and communicating with your team, so it makes sense to ensure it is provides everything you need for business success. Keep reading to learn about the best conference room equipment placement and design strategies.

SCREEN

A common mistake is getting a huge screen that practically covers an entire wall, then not leaving enough space between the screen and your conference table. You can actually calculate the best size screen for the room based on the amount of space you have available between the closest seat and the screen’s desired location. Double that distance, and you have the optimal height for the screen. This height/distance setup keeps the people closest to the screen from having to crane their necks or shift to a different spot in order to take in everything on display.

 

PROJECTOR

Nothing says disorganized like a conference room table cluttered with cords and equipment. You should never treat your conference table as the permanent location for your projector. Not only does the projector take up needed space and create a messy look, but it’s also probably not height and distance for screen clarity. Instead, invest in a ceiling projector rig, in which the projector is completely hidden until you need it. At the push of the button, the projector lowers from the ceiling into the perfect spot for lighting up the screen.

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IMPROVE YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES WITH AN UPGRADED SOUND SYSTEM

IMPROVE-YOUR-OUTDOOR-SPACES-WITH-AN-UPGRADED-SOUND-SYSTEM

With the weather getting warmer in the Lone Star State, many of us are itching to get outdoors to enjoy the sunny climate. From lounging in the pool while listening to your favorite tunes to watching your favorite shows outdoors, you can do it all in your Memorial, TX backyard.

An outdoor sound system elevates your entertainment beyond simply bringing a Bluetooth speaker outside to enjoy while the family hangs out by the firepit at night. Keep reading to learn how an upgraded audio system can elevate your outdoor time, well, in no time!

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ADD DRAMA WITH LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

ADD-DRAMA-WITH-LANDSCAPE-LIGHTING

A great home design incorporates many ideas. There’s the exterior view; how it looks from the street and its curb appeal. How do the windows play, letting light inside, but also how they look and balance the outside look. What unique exterior finishes or features distinguish this home and makes it stand out?

As a designer, architect, or builder, you know these things better than we do. But we do understand home technology and the role that lighting can play in differentiating a home, highlighting its best aspects, and creating the right ambiance for a home. Any good photographer knows the role that light plays in capturing an image. With the proper lighting, what could be a mundane photo can turn into a spectacular and memorable picture.

Landscape lighting can have that effect on the exteriors of a property. Let us postulate this: if you include the effect of landscape lighting from the beginning on your next home project in the Woodlands, you will multiply the impact of your imaginative designs. Intrigued? Read on for some ideas.

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SMART HOME CONTROL VS. AUTOMATION: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

SMART-HOME-CONTROL-VS.-AUTOMATION--WHATS-THE-DIFFERENCE

“Smart home control” and “smart home automation” are terms that are often used interchangeably, but are they the same thing? Short answer: no. Although both technologies are part of the same overall smart home system, they are very different ways of achieving a desired result. Below, we break down the definitions of these terms and what sets them apart from each other. If you’ve been considering adding smart technology to your Houston, Texas home, then keep reading.

DEFINING SMART HOME CONTROL

A smart control system allows you to manage certain aspects of your home, like light fixtures and window shades, remotely via smartphone, tablet, hand-held remote, or a voice control device like Amazon Alexa. Instead of having to walk into every room to open the window shades, for example, you could just open an app on your phone and close them all instantly. As you leave home for the day, one voice command could cause all of the lights to turn off, the window shades to lower, and the thermostat to adjust.

Home control can be as simple as adding a remote for your lights or as comprehensive as a total solution that manages your home’s audio, video, security, climate, lighting, window treatments, and more!

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