Sound

At first glance this may look like ho hum, a plasma on a wall, but where are the components? (in the closet) This is exactly what the customer wanted. A cozy theater addjacent to the pool table. Not every theater needs $40,000 seats! This room has 6.1 surround with an additional pair of speakers over the pool table.

Steve talks to clients to analyze their listening needs. In hiring Steve to design a home audio system, you're hiring an expert who will discover the correct level of listening savvy so that the speakers purchased match both the budgetary and performance needs of the rooms and the homeowners. In general, more expensive speakers do create a more lifelike listening experience but are not always necessary for the individual situation. There are plenty of good speakers on the market that won't break the bank.

In a dining room, for example, perfect acoustics are not necessary. We're simply looking for background music - placement of the speakers for appearance is very important in this room. Same thing in the kitchen - the room will not have a single sweet spot but will be filled throughout with good sound. In contrast, the main listening room - the family room, the great room, the living room - needs more thought. The goal of this room is to have prime listening and viewing locations where the furniture will be located. This room should capture you, surround you and thrill you.

The types of speakers will vary from room to room - in-wall speakers can be used very effectively for any and all listening conditions. The bonus is that they are esthetically pleasing. In-wall speakers won't output the best possible sound, but will be more than sufficient for most people's needs. Premium speakers have what's called a better 'sound stage' or 'presence'. To tell the difference you need to hear decent speakers and premium speakers side-by-side - preferably in your own home. An analogy for this difference is listening to a concert on CD, then going to the concert hall itself - there will be obvious difference in the sound. The difference between refinance the house priced speakers and simply good speakers is the same as shooting a bullet from a gun and throwing it! The lesson here is don't skimp on the speakers. You will ultimately be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is home theater?
Home Theater combines a good size display, 32" or larger, and a surround sound system. Just like the word implies, surround sound is supposed to surround you in sound. Minimum for a surround system includes a front left and right speaker, a center channel speaker and left and right surround speakers which go on the side or behind the listening position. Most will include a separate sub-woofer for booming bass. This type of set-up is called 5.1 surround. There are 6.1 and 7.1 systems which add more surround speakers for an even more encompassing experience.

Large or small speakers, what's best?
Depends on the situation. Large speakers produce sound that small speakers can't duplicate, but there are other factors. This is why I do custom home theater design - the system must fit the room.

Should I use separate systems for theater and music?
No need. If I know how you want to use your system I can design it to perform to your needs.

Can I add outdoor speakers to my system and control the volume from outside?
Sure, there are many ways to do this, depends on your existing equipment. There are only a small number of situations where this would not be feasible.

Steve DuBos - Owner
Home Theater Works
1425 4th St. SW
Suite A212
Washington, DC, 20024
413-687-9255 Cell