Expert Advice
492 ARTICLES
Monitor Audio Bronze Speaker Series Overview
Now in their 6th revision, the Bronze series gives you classic British sound that is fun to listen to with great stereo imaging. The bass punch these deliver for their size is just outstanding. We love the four different finish options and how well these are put together for their price. Good looks, fun to enjoy, and a soundstage that fills the room makes these an amazing value
Widescreen Explained: What’s with the Black Bars?
Have you ever wondered why you have black bars at the top and bottom of movies? In this video, we explain everything you need to know about widescreen. If you have a home theater or are thinking about building one, this video will demystify aspect ratios and explain how to design and set up your system to get the best experience possible for news, sports, and movies.
DIY Home Theater AV Receiver Rack Best Practices
One of the best ways to house your gear is in a commercial-like equipment rack. These types of racks have been used for decades in data centers, studios, concert halls, and high performance home theaters. We like them because they are very easy to service and make changing things out as you upgrade super simple.
What is a Phono Preamp?
With the resurgence of vinyl over the last several years, a whole new generation is getting into turntables. With so much “plug and play” technology, we find that people who are younger or have never used a turntable before expect to that a turntable will just play, or at least simply connect to their existing stereo system or speakers.
What they’re forgetting is one of the most critical pieces to any vinyl playback system — a phono preamp.
JBL Synthesis Monster Home Theater with 18' Screen, 18 Seats and Five 18" Subs
When we were approached by a long-time customer in 2017 about building an ultimate home theater, we knew this was going to be a fun project. The client had a small theater we installed in 2010 and had upgraded a couple of times. The couple was building a new garage and wanted to make the room above the garage a state-of-the-art theater with as big a screen as possible. Seating for up to 18 people was also on their wish list. They wanted to try and re-use some of their current gear in the new system. We took them to hear a JBL Synthesis home theater system we had recently completed in a large room and after that, there was no question, they wanted a JBL Synthesis system!
JBL HDI Speaker Series Review
The JBL HDI speaker series gives you a lot of the performance found in their much more expensive speakers.
2021 Bluesound NODE & POWERNODE Upgrades
For over a decade, Bluesound has been synonymous with great sound for the money. For 2021, they have updated their most popular units with performance and convenience enhancements but with no increase in price which is pretty incredible. Learn how Bluesound can take your music to the next level.
High-Performance Home Lighting Showcase | Everyday Upgrades w/ DMF Lighting
In this showcase, we illustrate the result of changing out traditional builder-grade canned lights with high-performance DMF fixtures. We will show you before photos as we go along so you can see how much better the light is just by implementing good design techniques in terms of color temperature, intensity levels, and using aimable lights. In new homes, we are able to make it even better because we can design multiple lighting layers and set locations versus just replacing the current fixtures.
JBL Synthesis SCL/SSW In-Ceiling & In-Wall Speaker Overview
JBL Synthesis home theater systems help you recreate a true commercial theater experience in your home. A JBL Synthesis system is designed to perfectly match your room and budget. With new choices in their built-in speaker line, a JBL Synthesis system is now far more affordable.
Incredible 9.4.4 JBL Dolby Atmos Synthesis Sony Home Theater Install Timelapse
This was our first theater to have the latest JBL Synthesis SCL speakers which provide amazing dynamics for their cost. Paired with a Sony VPL-VW715ES projector and JBL Synthesis dual SSW-3 & SSW-4 in-wall subwoofers, this configuration gave us an incredibly seamless surround sound experience.
Home Theater Setup: Converted Attic Space to 4K Dolby Atmos Theater Room
This showcase is a custom-built widescreen theater room setup in a finished attic space. Behind-the-screen and architectural speakers, a true wall-to-wall projector screen, and Anthem Room Correction make for a truly immersive cinematic experience.
Home Theater Subwoofer Placement Options
We have some great tips for optimizing one or more subwoofers in a home theater or music system. You’ll learn how the room interacts with subwoofers, the best places to put a subwoofer in your room, and how to fine tune your subwoofer to deliver bass that has both great impact and fine detail.
Technics Turntable Comparison | SL-1500C vs. SL-1200GR
Technics direct drive turntables have been a hit with both music lovers and DJ’s for decades. Their two latest models the SL-1500C and SL-1200GR offer up great performance for the money. In our comparison we will help you decide which Technics direct drive turntable is best for your needs. If you love to DJ at home you will enjoy learning about these great turntables too!
DIY: How To Paint In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers For Your Home Theater
Custom painting your speaker grilles allows you to virtually hide your speakers in plain sight - they’ll blend in with your walls, ceiling, or cabinet for a seamless visual appeal. If you’re reasonably handy, this do-it-yourself guide will walk you through how to custom paint your in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
Bonus Room Makeover | 5.2.4 Dolby Atmos Home Theater & Gaming Room
These homeowners recently moved into a new home and wanted to design a family-friendly multimedia room for watching sports, movies, and playing video games with their kids. After designing their room in our 3D Home Theater design tool, they worked one-on-one with our system designer from start to finish to make a plan for the space that fits all of their needs. This 5.2.4 home theater & gaming room is decked out in Bowers & Wilkins in-wall and in-ceiling speakers with an Epson 6050UB projector.
How to Install Your In-Wall and In-Ceiling Home Theater Speakers
A Home Theater DIY guide on how to install in-wall and in-ceiling speakers for your home theater or media room. This video walks you through a live installation of Bowers & Wilkins in-wall & in-ceiling speakers for a home theater.
