Once you have decided to have a home theater installed, you will likely be working with your audio/video installer to determine which components you need. There are a multitude of different audio/video components at a wide array of price points and with various features. The projector is arguably one of the most important components of a home theater but most people do not know what to really look for from a projector.
While the screen you choose is also incredibly important in the ultimate picture quality, we will just be examining home theater projectors for the purposes of this article. There are two ways you can install a projector – it can either be mounted on the ceiling or placed on a shelf. The first thing that will influence which projector you buy will be the size and layout of your room. The distance from the projector to the screen will impact the size of the screen and the type of projection you will be capable of in your space. Digital Trends elaborates on the importance of choosing the right projector for the available space you have, “There are two distance points you need to think about for a projector: Throw distance, the distance between the projector and screen, and viewing distance, how far it is from your seat to the screen. Thanks to “short throw” projectors, you can reliably get a 100-inch diagonal widescreen image from just a few feet away, but many projectors require at least 10 feet for the same-size image. Ultra-short throw projectors, like LG’s ProBeam UST, can achieve a 100-inch image from as little as 4-5 inches away, but are significantly more expensive. You’ll want to use a throw-distance calculator online to determine if you have enough space for the projector you are considering.Viewing distance has to do with how far you should sit from an image of a certain size, and there are online calculators for this as well. Typically, experts recommended that you sit 10 feet from a 110-inch screen.”
The next consideration will be projection technology. Some of the most common types of projects include DLP (Digital Light Processing) Projectors and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Projectors but there are other things to consider as well like aspect ratio, resolution, brightness and contrast. One of the major influencing factors in projector choice will be whether or not you have control over the lighting in the room. For example, if the room has no windows you can achieve total darkness and have more options when it comes to projectors. If your room has windows and you cannot completely darken them, you may need a projector that can adjust for the ambient light. And, because we know it can be confusing to know what aspect ratio or resolution you want, we highly recommend consulting an experienced audio/video installer who can help you determine which projector is right for your home theater application.
When you want the true movie theater experience in your home, the only way to achieve it is with surround sound. You can install a huge television or projector and screen, get comfortable movie theater seating, movie theater popcorn, the lights can dim, but in the end it won’t be like you are at the movie theater unless you have surround sound.
Surround sound is what draws you into the story and makes your movie experience immersive. Sound engineers carefully design movies to be able to reproduce that movie theater sound. It can really sound like a airplane is flying overhead from left to right, it can really sound like a bomb went off behind you, it can really sound like the rain is falling all around you. When you feel like you are in it and not just observing it, then you have had a true movie experience. A television with speakers is only going to provide sound coming from right in front of you so it cannot deliver that same experience.
Not only it is important to have surround sound if you want to improve your audio experience, it is important that it is professional designed and installed. This is because there are many different surround sound products on the market but they do not all have the same features or quality. An experienced audio/video installer can point you towards quality equipment and help design exactly where your surround sound speakers should be placed in your unique room. Further, an audio/video installer can flush-mount speakers or other components so that they don’t stick out like an eyesore. All of the cords and wires will be hidden so that there are no distractions – only excellent audio. When you want to enhance your home audio experience, residential surround sound is the way to go.
Have you always dreamt of having that movie-going experience, right in the comfort of your own home? Do you dream of having the ultimate home theater? Whether you are obsessed with outstanding home audio and video or not, a home theater is an amazing investment for any home! Below we take a closer look at 3 reasons a home theater would be an amazing investment for your home.
3 Reasons a Home Theater Would Be an Amazing Investment
1. Movie Theater Experience at Home
There are few things as fun as a night at the movies. The comfortable seats, the popcorn, the huge screen, the surround sound – you can just get lost in a movie! But, movie prices and concession prices have gone up significantly and sometimes it can be inconvenient to go to a movie theater. Rather than going to a movie theater, an investment in a home theater allows you to have that professional-quality theater experience, right in your own home. Professional home theater installation will optimize audio and video quality for your unique room so that all you have to do is press play, lean back, and enjoy.
2. Add Value to Your Home
While purchasing a custom home theater does require an up-front investment, it is an investment that adds real value to your home. This is particularly true of a professionally-installed, custom home theater. The audio and video components, the furniture, the wiring, the screen – it all adds value. And, should you ever decide to sell your home, not only will the equipment and quality installation add value but having a home theater will add extra incentive for buyers to make an offer.
3. Save Money on Going Out
As aforementioned, going out is very expensive, especially if you are going to a movie theater. Ticket prices have skyrocketed, concessions are expensive and you have to actually get ready, go out, etc. With a home theater you can save that money you would be putting toward the cost of seeing a movie at a theater and see one in your own home theater instead!
Businesses Need Reliable Power Distribution
There are virtually no businesses today that do not rely on some level of power to conduct their day-to-day business operations. Whether it is a minimal reliance on power or power is a critical component of your business operations, you need a reliable source of power. What would happen if your business suddenly lost power? Would your customers need to leave the store, resulting in loss of sales? Would the server racks that house all the equipment that keeps your online fashion boutique up and running crash, leaving your website down for an unforeseen length of time? Would patient records become unable to be accessed, slowing down treatment time and potentially jeopardizing patient safety? Would you have to send employees home for the day, wasting time and money? Reliable power starts with reliable power distribution.
But, How Big of a Deal is It If a Business Loses Power for a Short Time, Really?
Schneider Electric elaborates on the importance of reliable power distribution for your business and just how big a problem power interruptions are for a wide array of businesses, “For many organizations, electricity is mission critical. A power failure or a problem related to poor power quality can mean an expensive disruption to operations…For operations like data centers, hospitals, airports and manufacturing facilities, a loss of power is more than a nuisance, it represents a significant financial risk and can even be responsible for loss of life. With so many risks related to a facility’s electricity supply, it’s surprising that so many organizations aren’t adequately managing it. As with most commodities, the value of electricity is a balance between cost, reliability, and quality. With the right information, insight, and decision making, it’s possible to maintain a healthy, reliable electrical distribution system that delivers high quality power to the assets that are connected to it, while keeping your electricity costs to a minimum.”
Professionally-Installed Power Distribution Is Best
Most modern business not only use a little power – they use a lot. Between powering computers, lighting, audio/video systems, WiFi network, and all other electric components that businesses depend on, power needs to be distributed to a number of locations and devices while remaining stable and reliable. Reliable power distribution is not a series of extension cords connected and distributed throughout an office. It is safe and reliable power distribution utilizing things like power distribution units and uninterruptible power supplies to ensure that even if there is a power disruption or surge, your power supply remains stable and reliable. Ensure that your business always stays up and running effectively and efficiently with professionally-installed power distribution that is safe and reliable.
From the moment a customer steps through your business doors to the moment they leave, you want them to have a positive experience. You want to not just meet but exceed their needs and that only happens when you think about every detail of their experience. Whether you operate a medical practice, run a home improvement store, operate a nail salon, or stock the latest fashions in your department store, your customers’ experience will be enhanced by a custom video system. Forbes explains the effect of video on customer experience, “Customer experience, or CX is pretty much everything today…And today retailers are finding that the new competitive landscape has nothing to do with price or even product selection. Instead, winning has become all about the customer experience…Video marketing has been pegged as one of the most engaging ways to create an effective customer experience, especially when more consumers state they like watching videos…Assisting retailers with how to best leverage video advertising in places like supermarkets, Impax Media is offering solutions that can boost the overall in-store customer experience with digital video intended to draw in-store customers to their visual messaging. The company uses 32-inch high-definition screens that are mounted just above the product displays in every checkout lane, creating a dramatic “video wall” across the front end of the supermarket.” Below, we explore 5 ways a custom video system will improve your customers’ experience.
1. Music Videos
One of the simplest ways to incorporate video in your store and enhance the ambiance at the same time is to utilize music videos. A curated selection of music videos that fit with your business’ theme and brand identity can elevate your customer’s experience.
2. Product Advertisement
Want to draw your customer’s attention to a new product, special sale, or product details? Utilize video to advertise your brand, products, and specials and not only make shopping easier and more exciting for your customers, but boost your revenue as well!
3. Keep Customers Informed
Video monitors can be used to keep customers or patients updated about wait times, instructions to make their experience more efficient, directions about actions that need to be taken, etc. While audio announcements are effective, the hearing impaired may not be made aware of important instructions but with video they can read and stay informed.
4. Safety Instructions
Do you operate a business that tends to have long lines, a theme park, airport, or other business where customers want to have a positive and safe experience? Video instructions that explain and even demonstrate safety instructions help ensure people understand what they need to do to remain safe.
5. Immersive Brand Experience
Unique video marketing campaigns, graphic design, movies, music videos, and more can help the customer become truly immersed in their positive experience with your brand. When a customer experiences an immersive brand atmosphere they are far more likely to remember your unique brand and revisit it in the future.
