Home Theater Options

1080i vs. 1080p

HDTV: 1080i Vs. 1080p? What’s the difference?

HDTV (High-Definition Television) offers a clearer and more detailed picture because it contains more information. Television pictures are made up of many dots or picture elements (pixels) that form the image you see, therefore by using more of these pixels, in a high-definition (HD) transmission a more clear and sharp image is available. Normally, an HD signal can contain up to around five times the information compared to standard definition (SD) in terms of the number of pixels used. SD signals are made up of approximately 500-600 horizontal lines of pixels depending on transmission system used, whereas HD transmissions use at least 700 to around 1000 lines.

1080i and 1080p? What do both i and p mean?

These formats indicate the number of horizontal lines the transmission format uses along (denoted by the number) and the picture display method being used (indicated by the letter.
• i stands for Interlaced
• p stands for Progressive Scan

Why 1080p is theoretically better than 1080i ?

Basically, 1080i — the former king of the HDTV hill, actually boasts an identical 1920×1080 pixels resolution but conveys the images in an interlaced (i) format (the i in 1080i). In a television 1080i sources get “painted” on the screen sequentially: the odd-numbered lines of resolution appear on your screen first, followed by the even-numbered lines–all within 1/30 of a second.

While, the Progressive-scan (p) formats such as 480p, 720p, and 1080p (1920 x 1080) convey all of the lines of resolution sequentially in a single pass, which makes for a smoother, cleaner image, especially with sports and other motion-intensive content. As opposed to tubes, micro-displays (DLP, LCoS, and LCD rear-projection) and other fixed-pixel TVs, including plasma and LCD flat-panel, are inherently progressive in nature, so when the incoming source is interlaced, as 1080i is, they convert it to progressive scan for display.

Today’s high-def broadcasts are done in either 1080i or 720p, and there’s little or no chance they’ll jump to 1080p any time soon because of bandwidth issues. Today’s DVD Blu-Ray players do display 1080P (the only 1080P source at this point in time).

Audio Calibration

A Professional Sound System Calibration Delivers REAL Sound.

You have the big screen images perfectly calibrated to WOW anyone, but what about the audio? Isn’t what your friends and family hear just as important? If a sound system is properly calibrated it stimulates your senses, recreating the mood of the scene and involving you in the dialog and action. It recreates a sense of realism, like you are actually there!

Why Calibrate the Sound System? What Changes Sound?

• Room construction, materials, and furnishings effect sound reflections, absorption, and decay over time, influencing the sound you hear.
• Placement and orientation of speakers and seating positions determine the effect of low frequency room modes that produce low frequency sounds that are often boomy and annoying.
• Improper factory settings within the audio equipment changes the speaker output frequency response, levels and phase of the audio, dramatically altering the sound that the producer intended you to hear.
• Reversed wiring, often inside speakers and components, change the soundstage or the ability to pinpoint where the sound originated from.
• Room noises reduce the listening range - stealing the impact of soft sounds.

These factors dramatically degrade the sound, stealing away the impact of the scenes and the movie experience.

Benefits of Professional Sound System Calibration

• You are surrounded with the sounds natural to the scene you are viewing, which gives you the REAL sense of being there.
• You hear natural lifelike clarity of speech dialog from the front channel speakers, with the soundstage pinpointed at the front center as if the character is there talking.
• Your sound system accurately reproduces natural sound movements from front to back, back to front, or side to side such as the sound of a helicopter flying over or a racecar zooming by in exact sync with the movie scene.
• You experience a wider dynamic listening range, which makes soft sounds more discernible, leaving you with a greater sense of scene immersion.
• You enjoy a transformation from boomy annoying audio peaks at lower frequencies to smooth, rich, enjoyable sounds, providing the scene impact that the producer intended.

Calibration transforms the sound system into sound so real, you’ll lose yourself in the action.

Audio/Video On Demand

APPLE TV: Provides access to a variety of free and premium media content–including movie rentals, TV shows, music, photos, podcasts, and YouTube videos–on your living room TV; streams media from networked Mac or Windows PCs; purchases and rentals can be done directly through iTunes Store on your TV; movie rentals from all major studios include some in HD and surround sound; sleek external design and elegant user interface; simple, streamlined setup; includes state-of-the-art 802.11n wireless networking; smooth, hiccup-free streaming. With its enhanced iTunes video offerings, PC-free operation, and a lower price tag, the updated Apple TV is a compelling Internet-enabled entertainment device for the living room.

VUDU: Set-top box that plays Internet-delivered video content at resolutions up to full 1080p HD; solid selection of movies and TV shows, as well as adult content, for sale and rental; no monthly fees; standard-definition and some HD selections start immediately; excellent onscreen interface and scroll-wheel remote; simple setup and configuration. Vudu sets itself apart from similar Internet video-on-demand boxes such as Apple and Netflix by delivering movies at better quality–up to full 1080p HD resolution and 5.1 surround sound.

NETFLIX: Roku Digital Video Player (Netflix Player) has an affordable $100 price tag. It streams Netflix Watch Now and Amazon Video on Demand movies and TV shows to your TV. The combination of Netflix’s unlimited subscription viewing (as low as $9 per month) and Amazon’s pay-per-view offerings delivers a good range of viewing flexibility and choice. PC-free movie watching and simple setup are definite positives. It includes built-in wired and 802.11g Wi-Fi networking. It works with all TVs and upgradeable firmware allows for new features, interface improvements, and bug fixes. The one-two punch of Amazon and Netflix makes the Roku Player an enticing choice for anyone looking for a simple, convenient, and affordable alternative to cable or satellite TV.

COMCAST DIGITAL CABLE: Comcast On Demand brings a whole new dimension to home entertainment by enabling Digital Cable customers to select from hundreds of movies and other programs through their Digital Cable box*. The On Demand library is filled with thousands of movies, shows, sports highlights, music videos, kids’ programs, and even instructional programs - many of them free! Customers can rewind, fast forward and pause programs viewed through On Demand, and most selections are stored for 24 hours from the time of order, to be watched whenever and however often they like.

DISH NETWORK: The first to offer 1080P VOD. Watch movies with stunning clarity, unsurpassed detail, and resolution equal to Blu-ray Disc! Thousands of movie titles anytime. Get 24-hour access to a movie for only $5.99. The movie can be viewed as often as you like. HD programming requires HD receiver and HD capable television. Also offers TV shows on demand. The TV shows you want - when you want! Enjoy the latest in TV entertainment any time without schedules and without any waiting.

DIRECTV: With over 4500 movies, shows, sports and more to choose from, DirecTV On Demand gives you access to the TV entertainment you want — whenever you want it. This service includes tons of titles at no extra charge. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR receiver to your router. Browse titles on channel 1000 and make your selection. When you’re not at home, you can even browse and select titles online or on your mobile phone — your selection will be ready to view when you get home.

RHAPSODY: The Ibiza Rhapsody offers about every feature in the book, including Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth capabilities; podcast support with wireless updating; photo, video, and subscription music support; on-the-go access to Rhapsody; updatable themes and wallpaper; even a basic Web browser. It also comes in a variety of colors and is one of the few high-capacity, hard-drive players available. It’s easy to use, the interface is well-implemented, and the processor is powerful. The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you’re willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration.

SQUEEZEBOX: Network digital audio system includes excellent wireless remote with color screen and scroll wheel control; supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet home networks; compatible with virtually all non-DRM audio file formats, provides access to PC-based music files (on Windows, Mac, and Linux machines) as well as PC-free Internet radio, podcasts, and premium online music services including Rhapsody, Sirius, and Pandora; excellent online account integration; expandable to multiple rooms. With its excellent iPod-like remote, the Logitech Squeezebox Duet is an ideal way to stream the full range of digital music–including files on your computer’s hard drive, premium subscription music services, and free Internet radio–to your living room stereo system.

IPOD: The second-generation Apple iPod Touch has it all: music, videos, photos, podcasts, e-mail, Web browsing, Internet radio, games, Nike+, Wi-Fi music downloads, and an App Store for adding thousands of custom features. The second-generation iPod Touch includes features that are light-years ahead of the competition, its design has improved, and its price has finally come down to earth.

Blackout Curtains/Shades - Automated

Controlling the light in your home theater is very important. Custom window shades provide a number of solutions. Controlling glare and darkening a room is the major function of shade products. Each shade product is built to order. Fabric, hardware and operating mechanisms are specified to satisfy functional and aesthetic criteria. Options include motorized roller-operated shades, bead chain/clutch, and manual or motorized Roman shades.

We can supply a beautiful spectrum of fabric colors and styles. Woven mesh fabrics offer protection from heat, glare and UV rays, while maintaining the view. Opaque fabrics eliminate all visible light. Combine with a LightBloc system, and you will achieve total blackout, perfect for home theatres. All fabrics are fire retardant.

Blackout Shades are compact when drawn up, requiring little space in their open position. When the shade is down, the deployed fabric is uncluttered by any structural elements. Blackout Fabric is attached to a roller tube from which it can be drawn up or down using either a manual or a motorized lifting system. Cost effective.

For complete darkness in your home theatre, ask for the LightBloc Shading System. In either motorized or manual options the system includes an aluminum headbox, side and sill channels. The motorized option can interface with your home automation system.

Blackout Curtains are 100% blackout. Light cannot penetrate through material. The fabric is black on one side and white on the other. You can also order black or white on both sides. They can be flameproof for your safety. Blackout Curtains put you in total control of the light in your home theater. They are versatile and can be moved, unlike shaded window stickers.

In many cases these shades and curtains have positive acoustical value. They can serve the dual purpose of blocking light and creating a better sound environment.

Chair Riser Platform

You’ve got your whole dream theater planned out. You know exactly what gear you want to use, where it will be located, the wiring, etc. But what about the most important part of the theater? The one that is almost always forgotten, or put on the sidelines during your planning - the chairs. After all, if you aren’t comfortable while sitting, what good is it?

Most medium-sized theater rooms require at least two rows of seating. But the problem with a second row is it can be visually blocked from the display screen by the front row if it isn’t properly elevated. Because of this, it’s essential to place the second row of seats on a slightly elevated plane from the first row. Unless your room is already constructed in such a fashion, you will need to build a riser platform.

It’s important to consider the placement of the riser before construction, or you will be in for a world of hurt if you later decide to move it. Placement is strictly a function of where the best location of your seating area is in relation to the soundfield.

DVD Server

Whether your music arrives via ripping, streaming, or downloading, it’s not difficult to see that hard drives have won the music-storage battle — and it’s easy to see why. Once music has been rejiggered into handy data files, so much more can be done with it beyond being able to carry 10,000 songs in your pocket. For that reason, and many more, digital content delivery has been an incredible boon to audio enthusiasts and custom installers alike.

But when it comes to movie watching, things are pretty much the same as they ever were. While CD sales are tanking, people continue to snap up DVDs every Tuesday when the new releases roll out.
Most of us manage our movie collections by placing the discs on shelves or in a megachanger. With shelves — or a cabinet or rack — you browse through your collection one disc at a time whenever you want to watch a movie. This approach can make it hard to explore your collection, especially if you just want to quickly find a disc so you can check out a favorite scene.

The other common option is to get a megachanger that can hold all of your DVDs. Of course, throwing your discs together into gen-pop can be like giving them a life sentence without the possibility of a “now playing” parole. Because unless you’re Rain Man or happen to have a spreadsheet of your DVD library handy at all times, it can be hard to remember which disc is in Slot 1, let alone Slot 286.

None of these solutions can do anything about a disc’s biggest shortcoming: If it ain’t there, you can’t play it. Let’s say you have a daughter that has a favorite DVD disc and you need to take it with you whenever you travel. And whether it moves into a laptop, a portable player, or a Yukon, every time that disc leaves the sanctity of the changer, there’s a good chance it will get scratched.

Using a hard-drive-based server solves all of these problems. Collections are automatically cataloged by title and genre and easily managed, and you can jump almost instantly between scenes or even movies. Also, once a disc has been ripped, you don’t need it anymore. And because it’s data, simultaneously playing multiple movies from your collection is a breeze.

Sadly, video servers haven’t caught on as ferociously as their music counterparts. Whether you chock it up to Hollywood’s over-protectiveness, the DVD’s Copy Control Association (CCA), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), or opportunistic lawyers, the fact remains that movie delivery is languishing in the past.

That’s not to say there aren’t any video servers. The best known is Kaleidescape, and while I’m an unabashed fan, the $13,980 cost of an entry-level Kaleidescape system puts it outside the realm of affordability for 99% of the population.

Kaleidescape was taken to court for violating the CCA, but a ruling was handed down in the company’s favor last year. It wasn’t exactly a landslide victory, though, and the CCA is appealing it. Many industry insiders were hoping that a decisive ruling would pave the way for similar systems, likely at more reasonable prices. But video servers continue to exist on a slippery legal slope that has kept many companies sitting on the sidelines.

Some manufacturers sell systems that include everything but the software you need to actually import copyrighted discs. One company’s Web site offers this pearl of wisdom: “Users are free to download DVD decryption utility software at such time as they feel the legal environment in their jurisdiction permits such activity.” This “wink/wink,” get-the-software-yourself technicality has yet to be challenged in court.

Fortunately, Blu-ray Disc offers a glimmer of hope here, thanks to its Mandatory Managed Copy. This lets you make a digital copy of any discs you buy so they can then be streamed around the house or loaded into a portable player. But with dual-layer Blu-ray Discs clocking in at 50 gigabytes, storing a library of HD films chews up hard-drive space like never before. Of course, with terabyte drives dropping in price daily, movie lovers won’t have much trouble solving that problem.

Floating Floor

It’s essential to have the right acoustics in your home theater. There are many advantages to floating the floor in your home theater. The first is that your floating floor will act as a bass absorber covering the entire bottom of the room. One of the other good reasons is if you set the subwoofers on this floating floor, the bass from them will translate through the floor, the seat and into your body — totally enhancing your home-theater experience.

We believe that installing a “floating floor” or acoustical floor is the first place to start. There are two popular acoustical floor materials on the market today. Kinetics makes a version with rubber “feet” at 16″ apart with batt insulation in between. A plastic sheet membrane holds the batt insulation and rubber feet in place. Owens Corning makes Quietzone acoustical floor mat that is 3/8″ thick and made of lightweight, closed-cell polyethylene foam.

Both floor materials are used in the same way. They are spread out over the entire floor surface. Then the first layer of plywood is place horizontally and the second layer is placed vertically so none of the seams overlap. Certain interior design elements can drastically improve the sound. This is why it’s critical to use the right carpet on top of the floating floor.

Game Console Controls

Video game console upgrades can be as simple as adding a game controller to your system or as complex as adding game features and functionality to your automated handheld remote that turns on your game system, switches video to correct input, and turns your amplifier on to correct audio input. The latter is very important considering most game systems today have Dolby Pro Logic II audio and HD video outputs. We can program your game console power functions and audio/video inputs into your audio/video system. This eliminates the need of guessing and toggling for your game’s audio/video inputs.

Most of the latest game consoles serve as DVD players, letting you watch movies on them. So, you need a decent remote control for this purpose also. Most game consoles ship with a basic remote, but there are even more robust remote controls out there that let you control not only your console but the rest of your home entertainment center as well.

Room Setup and Calibration Recommendations for Gaming Systems

It used to be that video games received no respect in the sound and video department, and for good reason. Times have definitely changed. Chances are that gaming consoles are among the most advanced source components in your systems, and they’re capable of delivering top-drawer sound and picture quality, as well. If you’re not a gamer, then you may have no idea what constitutes a good gaming experience, or how to set up a room to achieve maximum gaming potential.

Let There Be Light
Be prepared to design a room that operates effectively with a relatively high amount of ambient light. There are things that you need to see while gaming—everything from an instruction booklet, to a guitar, to a keyboard to access online “cheats” and walkthroughs. Plus, gaming is a social activity, so people in the room will need to move around and interact (think Wii Sports). Gaming sessions also tend to last for quite a while, screens are bright, and you must focus intently on the screen with less blinking than normal. In a completely dark room, your eyes become fatigued, and video game induced eye fatigue is not fun.

Get The Picture?
Picture size and quality are important for gaming, but not in the same way that they are for movies and TV. For example, in a screening room, you would ideally like a screen size up to 50 degrees wide. Believe it or not, some gamers prefer a 42- to 46-inch screen for a 10- to 12-foot viewing distance. That’s not big by anyone’s standards. By the same token, many games feature addictive multiplayer action that divides the screen into two or more parts when all the players are using the same system. A gigantic projection screen suddenly becomes just about right when each player only has a quarter of the total image area.

Then you have picture quality. Keep in mind that video games are objective-based. You watch a movie to enjoy acting, directing, writing, and cinematography. You play a video game to kill things, accomplish missions, win points, score points, or perform some other act that demonstrates your superiority over man and machine. How the picture looks is important, but it’s more important that it enhances your performance while playing the game. For example, lots of games are dark, because dark is an easy way to make a game hard. If your black level is too low, then you may miss something important, like a barely visible box hidden in shadows that holds the key to unlocking your way to the next level. I’m not pushing for blown-out blacks, but you have to see what you’re doing.

Many games include black level (brightness) test patterns and adjustments within the game itself. Some games, like Halo 3, go so far as to include patterns for aspect ratio, contrast, color, tint, and sharpness. You need to use one of these games to calibrate the display’s input for the gaming system. Keep in mind, too, that gaming systems are often flexible in terms of the color space (RGB, YCbCr, etc.), reference black/white levels (16-235, 0-255, etc.), and resolution/frame rate that they output.

Listen Up, Stay Alive
Superior sound design played back through a system with precise imaging increases your chances to “stay alive” in a game and in position to accomplish your objectives. You may not know this, but a number of games feature a true 7.1 audio mix. The game’s internal mix engine routes sounds on the fly, so that you know where the baddies are hiding, regardless of which direction your character is facing. Gamers may be picky about imaging for movies, but they get fanatical about it when their virtual survival is at stake. Hearing everything on the map around you is often times just as important as seeing it. Sound localization gives you an advantage over people who are listening on TV speakers, and advantages are what gaming is all about.

Lighting Control Systems

When it comes to energy efficiency, homeowners have plenty of options. However, many overlook a key energy-saving opportunity—lighting. Lighting accounts for almost 20% of the average homeowner’s monthly electric bill.

Today’s energy-conscious homeowners are also environmentally aware. They want to do more than just save money—they want to go “green.” With Entertainment Technology, homeowners can do both. We specify whole-home light control systems that are the industry-leaders in controlling energy-efficient light sources. We specify companies that have been making energy-saving products for almost half a century.

Dimming saves energy: With lighting control systems you can dim all the lights in your home with the touch of a button. Dimming incandescent and halogen lights 25% saves 20% electricity and makes light bulb last 4 times longer. Dimmers are also good for the environment. Longer-lasting bulbs mean fewer are going into landfills, significantly reducing our waste stream.

Fluorescent and LED dimming: Dimmers can work with almost any type of light—LED, fluorescent, halogen and incandescent. Fluorescent and LED lighting are highly efficient, and we can control and dim these lighting sources flawlessly down to 1% with certified fluorescent dimming ballasts and LED drivers.

Occupancy sensors: Occupancy sensors provide light when needed and save energy when rooms are unoccupied. Occupancy sensors are perfect for interior pathways and exterior lighting areas that require illumination only when someone is present.

Daylight sensors: Daylight sensors control the lights and shades in the home by taking advantage of the available sunlight. The sensors balance the amount of electric light and daylight, saving energy and maintaining a constant level of light in the room.

Fan-Speed Controls: Complement your system with ceiling fans, which can reduce cooling costs. Fan-Speed Controls provide local quiet speed control of your ceiling fan, and can be controlled as part of the whole-house lighting control system.

Shading solutions: By controlling window shades, drapery tracks, and skylight shades, homeowners can reduce glare and solar heat gain, which reduces cooling costs—all at the touch of a button.

Green button programming: With the Green setting, you can program keypad buttons to reduce lighting zones by a specific percentage. For example, a green button that is programmed to trim 15% off the light output will save nearly 15% in energy with only a minimal change in the perceived light level in the room.

Automated lighting: Some lighting systems have an astronomic time clock feature that turns lights on at sunset and off at sunrise—or at any preset time. Homeowners can use this feature to create safe pathways and automate dramatic lighting of landscape and architecture. Automated lighting gives you the right amount of light when you need it and energy savings when you don’t. Save energy—even while away an enhanced Vacation Mode records the way lights and shades are used, playing it back while you’re away. This feature creates a powerful crime deterrent by simulating occupancy. Our lighting control systems can offer Vacation Mode Trim, which can be programmed to trim back lighting by an added amount—reducing energy use. It also allows playback of lighting events that happen only at night.

Remote Controls

Universal remote controls can be great for integrating the control of a home theater system. However, all infrared (IR) remotes suffer one significant drawback: they must be pointed at the component they are controlling, with a clear line of sight. If components are hidden and/or located in several different areas of the room, it’s difficult or impossible to operate them in an integrated manner. There are IR repeater systems that solve this dilemma; however, they are not reliable 100% of the time.

We believe a more effective solution is a universal remote that emits radio-frequency (RF) signals that don’t depend on line of sight and can even pass through walls.

All remotes we carry are designed to be programmed and installed by experienced custom installation professionals. Our remotes are powerful and quite advanced, and in the hands of a trained programmer they can be configured to exploit all of the rich features that provide maximum consumer benefits. While it may be possible for an advanced hobbyist to derive satisfactory results, it is our strong conviction, based upon extended experience, that our products will not deliver their maximum potential unless they are professionally programmed.

Next Page »