Flat panel TVs look great hanging up on the wall, but what do you look for in a TV wall mount? Are they all the same? Yes, and no (you expected a simple answer?). First, you need to figure out how and where you want to mount your TV. If your TV is going to […]
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Understanding New TV Tech: OLED TV, Nano Crystal Technology, Quantum Dot and What It All Means
As new televisions arrive in electronics shops, custom installers and online stores, TV buyers are faced with an assortment of new technology terms and decisions: OLED TV or nano crystal technology or quantum dot. One of the most important questions buyers always ask is what’s the best flat panel TV. If you had asked me […]
Get the GuideConceal Your A/V Gear With Custom Cabinetry
Tech-friendly furniture combines form and functionality to conceal your A/V gear.
Tucking A/V equipment into stylish cabinets has been a common approach of many design-conscious home systems integrators and homeowners. It’s still widely practiced today, and thanks to the development of prefabricated tech-friendly cabinet designs from companies including Sanus, BDI and Salamander, many of the issues traditionally associated with stowing gear inside the tight confines of a cabinet have been largely mitigated. If you’re in the market for a new piece of furniture, you’re sure to find a prefab style to complement your home’s interior, prevent your electronic components from overheating, keep the cabling neat and organized and accommodate future additions of components.
Get the GuideA Gadget Lover's Domain
A gadget fanatic learns that it's important to stay practical when picking out electronic systems for your home.
“Yes, I’m a gadget guy,” admits Marc Pinto. His home in Castle Rock, CO, is a testament to his obsession with all things electronic. In his family room, Marc proudly shows off a huge world map peppered with pinpricks of light. The dots are actually the ends of fiber optic cabling that Marc has poked […]
Get the GuideTop TV Display Technologies
What kind of TV should you buy? LED, LCD, OLED, or Quantum Dot? This guide spells it out.
In the good old days, buying a TV was easy. Often the decision on which model to buy was determined by the color of the wood finish on the TV’s cabinet. Today, things are different. Aside from the bewildering number of options when it comes to screen size, built-in features, apps, and even remote controls, […]
Get the GuideAlmost Everything You Need to Know About Ultra HD 4K TVs
What is 4K TV? Do you need Ultra HD? What's on in 4K? These and other issues about Ultra HD TVs explained.
What is 4K TV? Do you need Ultra HD? What’s on in 4K? These and other issues about Ultra HD TVs explained.
Get the GuideNot Ready for a 4K TV? Try These Top 1080p Smart TVs
by Phil Lozen Ultra HD or 4K TV is here, but is it really ready for prime time? HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 are just coming into view, so if you’re wondering should you buy 4k right now, you’re not crazy. 99 percent of the TV content available is for HDTVs, and you can get […]
Get the GuideNew TV Tech: OLED and Quantum Dot
When the new 2015 televisions start to arrive at electronics shops, A/V showrooms, and online stores, TV buyers will be faced with an assortment of new technology terms and decisions. One of the most important questions buyers always ask is “what’s the best flat-panel TV?”
Get the GuideGaming to the Extreme
Imagine the ultimate game room. Is it the one portrayed in the movieÂ: BigÂ: with Tom Hanks? Maybe it’s a Dave & Busters sports bar in your living room. For me, it’s Tony Stark’s basement in Iron Man. With today’s technology and collaboration between home systems integrators and interior designers, game rooms are no longer just a big-screen TV and a pool table.Â: They have evolved, as have the architecture and technology that go into them. And they serve a vital purpose for families, entertainers, and even collectors.
Get the GuideUnique Media Spaces
A home theater shouldn’t be boring; nor should it always abide by the book. Of any room in your house, it’s the one place where you should feel free to express your creativity, to unleash your imagination, to create something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Sometimes it’s the stumbling blocks you encounter while installing a certain piece of A/V gear that inspires innovation; other times you simply strike on a really interesting idea that’s a bold departure from the standard theater design. Whatever the impetus, whatever the reasons, the owners of these five theaters have, with the help of a professional home theater designer, created some truly unique, and a few completely unconventional home entertainment spaces.
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