The owners of this lovely estate in The Woodlands, Texas, turned to the home systems integrators at Lighthouse Technologies to provide outdoor A/V for a new $600,000 pool pavilion. In addition to TV and streaming music, one of the homeowners’ highest priorities was simple, intuitive control over the entire system. To accomplish this, Lighthouse Technologies […]
Get the GuideArchives for July 2015
Dedication Theater
DIYer pays tribute to a friend with the creation of a built-from-scratch entertainment space.
If you walked into a theater room and saw a marquee that read, “Greg Williams Theater,” you’d think that Greg was a pretty lucky guy. Well, he was. That’s because he had a friend like Ed Zarick. Ed dedicated his theater room to his childhood friend and cousin, who passed away about 15 years ago. […]
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Music Buffs Branch into Home Automation
Whole-house audio, thermostats, and lights synchronized through a URC Total Control system.
Relative newbies to home technology, the owners of a traditional-style 6,000-square-foot home in Lower Gwynedd, Penn., decided to incorporate a few high-tech touches after seeing a whole-house audio system running at a friend’s home. Like their friend, they were avid music listeners, and could clearly recognize the benefits of putting a control system in charge […]
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Say Goodbye to Backyard Boredom
Create an outdoor living space that is entertaining, high-performance, and stands up to the elements.
Outdoor living spaces are more popular than ever. Just flip through the pages of any shelter magazine to see how homeowners are taking their living rooms al fresco. According to the 2014 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, consumer demand remains strong for attractive residential landscapes that are […]
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The 2-Channel Listening Room
Great option for those who want their audio pure, pristine, and to sound as if they were sitting in a concert venue.
You’ve conquered the setup of a surround-sound system. Those five or more speakers and a subwoofer or two have made movie watching so much more engaging and realistic. Your music sounds great powering through this multi-speaker arrangement, too. But there’s an even better way to listen to your song collection: A two-channel stereo setup is […]
Get the Guide4 Best In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
Winning phones for on-the-go, wire-free music listening.
The wireless nature of Bluetooth in-ear earbuds might make them a super convenient way to listen to music, but they can suffer from both aural and functional issues. Sonically, just as the Genesis Effect in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn replaces a living planet’s ecosystem in favor of its own matrix, Bluetooth overlays an inferior codec called SBC (sub-band coding) over your compressed (or not) tunes, which degrades the sound. (Also, the aptX sonic solution to SBC only works with Android phones, not iPhone.) For the best functionality, you have to continually make sure your earphones are paired with your mobile device. Also,the earbud’s batteries barely last a day; you’ll get between six and 10 hours of listening.
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Top 3 Ways DIY Home Security Products Might Put Your Home at Risk
A home security professional says DIY security systems may actually be putting your family at risk.
By Richard Soloway, NAPCO Security Technologies The stunning growth of “smart home” security systems at big box retailers has made it easier than ever for anyone to install home surveillance cameras, alarms, and the like. Many electronics manufacturers now offer home security products with Do It Yourself (DIY) installations, smartphone interfaces, and, most notably, low […]
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Electronic Locks Hold Key to a Smarter Home
Learn which features make your home safer and more convenient.
If someone asked you to name the electronic device that has undergone the most dramatic transformation over the last decade, you might be tempted to say the cellphone. You may be right, but if you said the lock on your front door, you’d make a pretty compelling case. The fact is, the last 10 years […]
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8 Must-Have Devices for a DIY Home Security System
Looking to build a DIY security system? Here are some important things to consider.
Looking to build a security system? Here are some things to consider to help you monitor and protect your home.
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LightFreq Rocks Out Speaker-enhanced Smart WiFi Light Bulbs with Bluetooth
LightFreq Square2 smart WiFi light bulbs deliver multicolored lighting, HD audio and intercom features.
LightFreq Square2 smart WiFi light bulbs deliver multicolored lighting, HD audio and intercom features.
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