If you don’t already have an outdoor theater and you want your family night to be the best it can be, it’s time to discover what you’ve been missing. Here are the top ways building one in your backyard or renting all the components can change your life.

3 Ways and Outdoor Home Theater with Change Your Life

1. An outdoor home theater makes entertainment more personal.
Who wants to sit with a bunch of strangers and watch a movie on family night? Outdoor media specialists can help you design a completely unique space, from the furniture and color scheme to the more technical audio and sound components. Many also offer outdoor movie screens, projectors and outdoor audio system equipment to rent for your deck or patio.

2. The sights and sounds will rival the movie theater.
Using the highest-quality equipment from innovative companies, professional home theater experts can help you design a backyard movie theater that’s optimized for the best audio and visual results possible.

3. You can customize just about every feature.
If you can imagine it, a professional home theater company can create it. You’ll experience outdoor home living like never before with your choice of:

● Multiple-screen video setup with surround sound outdoor audio system
● Smart-home automation for audio, visual, lighting and security control
● Electronics-savvy furniture design
● Small-space installation solutions
● WiFi range extension

Enjoy Luxury Home Living with Your Own Outdoor Audio System and Theater

There’s never been a better time to upgrade your outdoor home living experience. With the right audio/visual equipment and professional installation team, your family night will be more fun than ever before. Add some automation and smart technology into the mix, and you may never want to go back indoors!

The post How to Make the Most of Outdoor Home Living appeared first on Home Theatre Connection.

If you’re looking to stay on the cutting edge of home technology, check out the latest audio and visual design trends making our media experience better.

The Top Home Theater Systems of 2020

Smart Home Theaters

The top home theater systems are smarter than ever, making lives easier in so many different ways. No worries about fumbling around with a bunch of different remotes every time you want to change the channel or video input. Do it all from your centralized control panel. You can even run everything through your smartphone, to avoid learning how to work new equipment. Want more?  Dim the lights, close the blinds, start a projector, and connect to your favorite streaming device, too! You can even program all of those functions to happen simultaneously, sending your home theater into movie mode with one click of a button.

4K & 8K

4K TVs have been around for a while but the industry is finally catching up. In 2020, look for broadcasts and streaming services to upgrade their services as they adjust to smart home technology. Upgrade your hardware now, and you can expect video providers to help you get the most from it. Take it a step further with 8K, which quadruples the pixels for an even denser image.

Richer Sound

You may be surprised by how affordable it is to get the highest-quality sound experience in your home. Soundbars can deliver home theater audio that rivals the movie theaters. For instance, the Sonos Beam soundbar contains four woofers and a tweeter for the full range of home theater audio. Built-in microphones facilitate beam forming for auto-calibration and echo reduction. Plus, it can connect with satellite speakers for full surround sound.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) has already revolutionized the way people use media like video games, and its popularity will only grow in 2020. Adventurous homeowners are now starting to enjoy it, too. There’s no better place for a VR headset than with the rest of your immersive entertainment at home.

There’s plenty of other home technology out there to discover, but if you get yourself set up with some of these, you’ll see the difference. Talk to your home theater installer today!

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Tips for Designing a Home Theater Room

1. Think about the whole space

One of the most important components setting up home media is the room. Things like dimensions, surfaces, materials, and light all come into play. Maybe you have to set up false walls or use specific materials like carpet to prevent echoing. Whatever the case may be, there’s always a solution.

2. Choose the right display.

Most of home media ideas revolve around the technology. Whether it’s LCD, LED, OLED or plasma, the video display will be your first consideration. The brightest options are the LCDs and LEDs, making them perfect for spaces with natural light. Plasma creates a richer image with flexibility for viewing angles. OLED, which is the newest technology, is thinner, brighter and especially energy efficient.

3. Sound is crucial.

Built-in speakers are great, but they simply don’t compare to the immersive surround-sound system. With five speakers or more plus a subwoofer, you’ll feel like you’re a part of whatever you’re watching. In-ceiling or wireless speaker installations are great options for homeowners.

4. Hide the wires.

Speaking of wires, there are ways to hide them, especially if you start designing a home media room before the drywall goes up. Your professional home theater company can help you with those specifics.

5. Automate the experience.

Finally, you’ll want to tie it all together with automation, eliminating unneeded remotes and adding the use of various devices. Home media ideas should also include a reliable wireless network to stream audio, video, and internet entertainment.

Start Setting up Home Media Today with a Professional

There are plenty of home media components to find but knowing how to make them all work together efficiently and affordably isn’t always easy. Call your home theater company to help you start designing a home media room today.

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Top Smart Home Products

Home Automation

There are many smart home products available today, but you can’t experience the true magic until they all work together seamlessly. Whether it’s a handheld remote for your videos, a touch-screen to browse and play music, or a keypad to manage lights, shades, and audio, products like Control4 home automation offer many interfaces and voice prompts that allow you to interact with your home however you prefer.

Wireless Home Sound

A rise in technological advancements has transformed how we experience music and movies—especially in the realm of wireless audio. Consumers are choosing to alleviate strain caused by buffering, missed beats, and freezing, with sleek and powerful wireless access points are placed around the home.

Online Streaming

More than 49 million Wi-Fi-connected homes in the U.S. are driving the binge-watching craze, making streaming content a crucial component of the latest home theater systems. Share your entire movie library, streaming video and satellite channels in every room—with no need for set-top boxes and multiple video sources.

Voice Control Integration

Voice control will continue to be embraced, with 50 percent of all searches expected to be conducted via voice by 2020. Advancements in home sound and voice will play an integral role in the adoption of even more smart home products.

Wearable Theater & Virtual Reality

As products like Control4 home automation make things easier in the real world, virtual reality (VR) and wearable technology are finding their way into our homes. Manufacturers will continue developing and refining smart and networked home-theater speakers that support VR.

Make Your Home Sound and Perform Better

If you dream of having more smart home products, make it a reality. Many of the latest home theater systems can be had on any budget.

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How to Harness Hometech

Picture this. You’re ready to watch a movie, and with the sound of your voice, your lights dim, your blinds close, your Blu-Ray player turns on and the surround sound engages. Or imagine you’re about to leave for a trip, and your voice commands engage your home security and surveillance system, which you can view on your smartphone anytime you want. This and more is possible with smart home technology.

You can turn your house into a home automation hub with features like Control4 technology, one of the best smart home system options. Hometech not only enhances audio and visual experiences, but it makes everything work together for a more comfortable, convenient and enjoyable lifestyle.

There’s never been a better time to enhance your home with the power of technology and automation. Here are just some of ways you can do it on any budget.

• Tying together the lights, climate control and music under one master control system that works on its own.
• Setting up multiple-screen video with surround sound, all controlled with a smartphone or tablet.
• Incorporating electronics-savvy furniture design, along with hidden screens, wiring, and speakers
• Utilizing the best smart home system technology for security and surveillance systems that can be easily integrated with home or business automation options, controllable from anywhere.
• Streaming music from room to room through Bluetooth, WiFi and other audio capabilities
• Extending the WiFi range so that you’re never disconnected
• Adding an outdoor media room using smart home technology to create the ideal entertainment for the backyard enthusiast and added benefit to any gathering of family or friends.

Partner with a Local Hometech Professional

Connecting your lifestyle with smart home technology offers the best of luxury, time-saving efficiency and safety in one dynamic resource. It also enables you to go green and save money by reducing your energy use. Whether you travel frequently and want to know and control what’s happening at your home while you’re away, or simply adjust lighting and temperature controls to enjoy your favorite movie, you can find exactly what you’re looking for with a professional media company.

Partner with a professional installer of smart home technology, and you can relax and entertain in a home that’s enhanced with automation—indoors and out. With one touch, or the sound of your voice, you can dim the lights, play music, turn down the heat, lock your doors and even arm your security system. Your house will become the home automation hub you always dreamed of.

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What You Need for a Small Theater Room

A small home theater system doesn’t have to be expensive or extensive. All you need is an HDTV, a few electronic devices, great speakers and the right lighting—all working together in harmony. Let’s take a closer look at the basics.

Flat-Screen, HDTV and Receiver
You probably already have this crucial component of a small theater room, but if your TV needs an upgrade, now’s the time to do it. It doesn’t just have to have a huge screen either, though the bigger it is, the better your viewing experience will be. The latest models are light and thin, and come with “smart” features like built-in internet streaming, Wi-Fi connectivity to your other devices, reminders, and more. For the best experience, mount the TV with a mounting bracket on the wall studs, concrete or brick wall. Professional media room installers can help you minimize space usage with small flat-panel displays and motorized screen options that hide the video display when you’re finished using it.

You also need a solid receiver to be the hub that handles the system’s video and audio. Your consoles, streaming set-top boxes, game units, and most other inputs will be plugged into it, giving you one device that connects all your gear.

Speakers
The biggest benefit of setting up a home cinema system is having surround sound. A decent set of speakers that suits your space will make everything you watch become an immersive experience. You can find speakers at all sizes and price points, so no matter how big or small your room is, you’ll find a way to enjoy great audio. A professional home theater company can even help you hide your speakers from view.

Cables and Power
Whether it’s HDMI, Ethernet cable, composite video, component video or plain old speaker cable, you’ll need the best wiring for your small home theater design setup. Take the opportunity to buy some new power strips to keep everything organized, or better yet, hire a professional to help conceal all the wiring in decorative wire-track molding.

Furniture and Lighting
While entertainment is the core element of your small theater room, the layout and lighting add to the experience. Focus on how you want to experience the room before wiring or setting up speakers. The TV is best mounted on the wall or in a corner—someplace where there won’t be a lot of glare or light. Then set up the furniture in a comfortable watching position. For the ultimate customization, consider installing ceiling lights with dimmers.

Hire a Professional Home Theater Company

Keep in mind that a home cinema system company offers complete packages that bundle all the necessary equipment together for one price. Ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand, there’s a small home theater system to fit needs.

The post How to Set Up a Small Home Theater System appeared first on Home Theatre Connection.

5 Ways to Boost Wifi Signal

Dealing with wifi connection issues can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have kids. While you gotta love them, hearing their voices yelling, “Mom, I got knocked off my tablet,” or “Dad, the wifi is down,” every couple of hours can get pretty old. Plus, losing your wifi signal when you run a business can have disastrous effects on client relationships and experiences. Good news is, there are ways to ensure a wifi range increase in your home. Here’s how.

1. Find the best spot for the router. This little unit is the biggest issue when you’re looking to boost wifi signal. While it’s not the most attractive thing to display in your home, you need to keep it out in the open. Don’t go hiding it in the closet. Instead, try to find a logical central location for it. 

2. Look into wifi extenders. You can achieve a huge wifi range increase by investing in extenders. Working with a professional company, you can have your signal repeated over a longer distance, or better yet, take advantage of powerline networking, which uses the electrical wiring in your home to transfer bytes to and from your router. The latter is a bit more expensive than repeating the signal, but it’s still affordable and way more effective. Plus, you’ll no longer have to feel strapped to your router. 

3. Control the quality. When it comes to good wifi, quality is key. Today’s routers are accompanied by Quality-of-Service tools which limit how much bandwidth your apps use. Do you stream a lot of video or use voiceover IP often? Don’t let downloads drain your wifi experience. Take the time to specify which services and apps get priority. The Quality-of-Service settings usually reside in the network’s administrator interface under advanced settings. Many routers eve offer gaming or multimedia settings, which helps a great deal toward having a strong wifi signal in all rooms.

4. Avoid interference with other devices. Did you know that microwaves and cordless phones can cause wifi connection issues? Improve your signal by purchasing a dual-band router or another band for your cordless phone. If you’d rather not buy new hardware, move the router farther away from any interfering appliances.

5. Prevent wifi thieves. Even if you’ve set up what you think is a strong wifi password, hackers may be able to figure it out and their usage can affect your signal. If you’re looking for ways to boost wifi signal, a professional IT company can help you find out if someone is stealing your wifi. However, an even better tactic is to install better security to lock them out. A professional can offer security recommendations to help you fully protect your network.

Whether you want a better connection at home or require good wifi to make your business run its best, taking a proactive approach goes a long way in preventing wifi connection issues. There are many affordable options out there that will provide a strong wifi signal in all rooms – all you need to do is partner with a professional to make it happen.

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A Successful Move Night with Home Theater Setup Service

Each and every family is unique, and so are the ways to accomplish a successful movie night. However, there are some general tips and guidelines to follow to boost your chances of success.

Forgo the movie theatre.

Looking for the best way to save some money and have a lot of fun? Skip the movie theatre and have your movie night at home. Movie ticket prices have skyrocketed, and add to that the high costs of drinks and snacks, and your night out can really break the bank – especially if you have a large family. Save some money and stay at home. You could use the money you save to work with a home theater setup service to make your movie night just as action-packed at home. 

Get technical.

No matter how young or old each family member is, everyone is sure to enjoy a film that’s displayed on the highest-quality screen with the best-quality audio. Working with professional home cinema installers, you can have a movie theater in your own home. Once you sit with the designers of a home theater setup service, they’ll help you conceptualize the possibilities from your furniture, colors and overall feel to the technical components like home theater audio setup and high definition.

Choose the right movie.

If you’re going to end up with a movie that engages all viewers, you’re going to want to do some upfront planning. After all, the best theatre room setup and theater audio setup won’t do much good if nobody’s watching the film. It can be difficult to find movies that are appropriate for the youngest viewers but also engaging for adults. Reaching consensus can be nearly impossible, so consider taking turns. Adults have the power to nix choices that are age-inappropriate, but overall, each family member’s choice should be respected.

Once you’ve partnered with home cinema installers and achieve the right home theater setup service for your family, movie night is sure to become a blockbuster hit. Just don’t forget the popcorn!

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Getting the Best Outdoor Sound Systems

Recently, in response to a demand for more high-tech outdoor living ideas, portable Bluetooth devices and adapters have flooded the market. Marketed as an easy and affordable way to bring your indoor music outside, these devices get the job done but rarely provide the same sound quality as your indoor A/V system. The trick to quality sound outdoors is the installation of quality outdoor speakers. Outdoor home electronics installation by a professional is the only way to achieve the quality you have come to expect from your sound system.

For those hesitant about the cost of upgrading their outdoor sound system, take solace in the fact that outdoor speaker systems come in a number of models at a variety of price ranges. Whether you opt for a wall-mounted speaker for your enclosed patio or choose a rock shaped or in-ground model, a professional A/V installer will understand the unique factors that need to be considered with outdoor sound systems and help you determine which model fits your needs and budget. Given that most patios and backyards are small and neighbors are close by, homeowners need to be careful in ensuring that there is not an overload of sound projection in the area. Therefore, most professional installers suggest facing the speakers towards the house, rather than projecting the noise outward.

Creating Outdoor Video Capabilities

The key to quality outdoor television experiences lies in purchasing the right equipment. Resist the urge to grab a set of bunny ears and stick them on top of a portable TV. Today’s market is full of outdoor television sets. Families can choose whether to opt for HDTV sets or save money and get a basic outdoor television. Today’s models are water, wind and humidity resistant and are specifically designed to stand up to the elements.

There are a few additional factors to be considered when installing backyard movie theater systems. The first is size. Keep in mind that most people will not be dispersed around a patio and not seated directly in front of the television. Therefore, anything smaller than a 46-inch set will be too small for outdoor use. Secondly, consider the sun and the glare. In order to mitigate the effects of the sun’s changing position, install your outdoor television on an adjustable mount that allows for a few different configurations. Lastly, consider lighting. Be sure that your outdoor patio has dim enough lighting to allow for viewing but enough to permit safe movement for guests. A professional home theater installer can help you navigate these considerations.

Hiring an Audio/Video Installer

Installing audio video capabilities outdoors is an investment. Rather than risking subpar quality or faulty installations, hire a professional. These technicians know the unique electrical and aesthetic considerations that need to be weighed before starting installations and will work with you to create a safe, affordable and beautifully high-tech outdoor entertainment area that works for your family’s needs.

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How to Deal with Too Many Remotes

The amount of connected devices installed in American homes will increase 30-fold by 2020, from 900 million in 2009 to 26 billion units by 2020, according to Gartner. This staggering number doesn’t even include some of our favorite gadgets such as computers, smartphones and tablets. The reason for this big jump in devices has everything to do with one thing: the connected home. With home sound systems entertaining our family and friends, home theater wiring taking our entertainment to new levels and the all in one remote connecting it all, there’s very little reason to ever leave home at this point! Here are just a few highlights of controlling your home with a remote.

• When you feel you have too many remotes, one single remote control can do the job all on its own. Now, you can turn off all the lights in the house from your bedside or turn them all on in case of emergency. You can let visitors in without getting up, or do it from your office by smartphone if you’re not home. You can even set equipment to go on and off automatically by time or by occupancy, turn on/off lights, adjust temperature, turn on your home sound system and more.
• Do you travel frequently and want to know and have control of what’s happening at your home or office while you’re away? Many you have to work late and don’t want people to know you’re not home. No problem. An all in one remote can be set to address your security and surveillance options with plenty of options…and peace of mind for your entire family.
• If you’re like many families, you can spend a lot of money at the movies to please the kids when the latest animated feature hits the screens. With home theater wiring, you can use the same remote to control a giant flat-screen television right in your own home. Hooked up to your home sound system and everything else you’ve already got connected, your home will become a true palace of entertainment. And if it’s just the kids watching, you can set up the movie and take the remote with you so there’s no worry about losing it!

It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re dealing with too many remotes, but the decision to rewire needs to be made with some serious research. Not all electronics contractors are created equal, and while they many claim to offer high-quality design, installation and service, you could end up with a costly and dangerous new setup if you don’t go with a reputable company. Once you choose to go with an all in one remote, go with a home entertainment solution company that offers all the technology you need with highly experienced electricians on staff. That way, you’ll know your home theater wiring, home sound system and security is affordable, safe and enjoyable!

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