When you visit a commercial movie theater, you are looking for a true cinematic experience. That usually means a comfortable seat, a darkened theater, a big screen – and equally big sound. For home theaters, many people are focused on the screen; the size of it, the resolution, and whether to get a large flat panel or projector, etc. But you should not ignore the impact of audio in a home theater. To achieve that coveted cinematic experience, you need sound that matches the brilliant images on the screen. And to get great sound in your Lake Oswego home theater, you need a great audio installation.

Let’s take a look at three important areas that impact the sound quality of your home theater. Whether you are looking at a new installation, upgrading an existing one, or thinking about a new media room, read on to learn more.

If you’re an architect, designer, or builder, you are always looking for features that will distinguish your projects from the rest and delight your clients.  If a client came to you with a home remodel, they are looking to bring their property up to date with more current design and style. 

Nothing updates a home more than installing current smart home technology. In a recent survey by Houzz, 28% of renovating homeowners put smart home features at the top of their wish lists. Encore Audio Video is a leading smart home integration company in the Portland area, and we’re proud to be a Control4 Certified dealer.  Why? Because we feel that Control4 is the premier home automation company in the industry, continuously working to redefine what it means for a home to be “smart.” 

A renovation project offers the perfect opportunity for you to include the latest smart home features your clients will love.  Here are five ideas to consider.

To the traditional purist audiophile, digital technology is a Johnny-come-lately to the world of audio. Many of these audiophiles have resisted the onslaught of digital audio, preferring the unfiltered directness and the warmth of pure analog audio, with no digital circuits and processing in the mix. 

For these enthusiasts, A/V receivers are fine for movies, but they simply won’t do for pure stereo listening.  These audiophiles prefer separate components, to optimize every part of the signal path. For turntables, they employ high end phono preamps and cartridges to extract that last ounce of sound from every note. They will use separate preamplifiers and amplifiers with nary a digital connector in sight.  They will employ speakers that require ample amounts of wattage to drive, so that budget electronics simply won’t suffice.  And they will spend almost as much money on high-quality cables to connect it all up. 

As a designer, you understand how to draw attention to specific features in a room, be it a signature piece of art or furniture, or a focal point like a fireplace. You use furnishings, accessories, wall and floor finishes, and many other design elements to achieve the effect your client wants.

You also know how to use light, enhancing and controlling natural light via windows treatments and designing lighting plans to ensure a room has the right illumination for multiple uses.

Along these lines, we’d like to discuss some interesting features of smart lighting design that can help you bring out the best of your projects for your Portland-area clients.