Room acoustics indicate how sound waves interact within a room. Every room reacts differently to the variety of sound frequencies, primarily because of the objects in it, and every speaker sounds different when in a different room. When you partner with ACS for a home theater build, acoustics are a vital component considered as we design and engineer your space…and for good reason.

The next time you sit down to watch a movie or listen to music, think about the ways – good and bad – that your room may be affecting the overall sound of your system. A basic understanding of room acoustics (and speaker placement) can help you maximize the performance of any audio or home theater playback.

Imagine that room empty, with hardwood floors and bare drywall. That’s going to have a lot of echoes, right? Now imagine the same room with carpets, thick drapes, plush seating and bookcases or a private concession counter. Suddenly the room has a quieter, more intimate feel. The fact is, these are the extremes of room acoustics, and the perfect-sounding home theater exists somewhere between the extremes.

Every room a puzzle

ACS knows that there are few things in life more exciting than the mere prospect of having your own private movie theater at home, as well as the potential pitfalls of starting a home theater build without proper planning. Last blog, we discussed the importance of determining your (1) space and (2) display options before making any commitment to building a home theater. This time we focus on sound. 

(3 of 10) The Sound Reproduction

Many would argue that the quality of your theater’s audio capability is even more important than how clear the images are on the screen. Your options include either an AV Receiver or a Preamplifier/Amplifier combination.

An AV Receiver combines the functions of three components:

     a) A Radio Tuner for AM/FM and, in some cases, HD (Hi-Def), Internet or Satellite Radio

In our last blog edition, we discussed the challenges we faced, as well as the solutions we provided for a project that was recently given the “Biggest, Baddest Home” Integration Award at the CEDIA Expo ’13 in Denver. The most important part of the story, of course, is the results…

Overall this is an incredible, must-see project. Everyone who has stepped foot in this amazing home leaves with their jaw dragging on the floor. 

Firstly, the dedicated A/V room saves a tremendous amount of time when an issue arises. In most cases the problem is resolved within minutes. Also, ACS is monitoring the CCTV Cameras on the Crestron touch panels and iPads. From the touch panels or any TV in the home you can select your own source so that all recordings are easily accessible. As a result, the children, staff, and home owners are able to easily use the system.

The indoor pool’s 25' barreled ceiling utilizes Sonnex amplifiers and the room sounds incredible. In addition there are 3 large outdoor zones (the main Great Lawn able to hit 94db without clipping). Over 60 outdoor speakers were installed in coordination with the landscape designer, GC, electrician and landscaper.

Home Theater – the theater features a high-end Meridian 4k projector, full surround sound with multiple subwoofers and high-end audiophile speakers. Viewers can sit in the custom leather seating or in the balcony area to enjoy the featured presentation. 8 zones of lighting in this room (including a star burst ceiling) are controlled by our system.

It's our experience here at ACS that the most successful projects are engineered and documented well in advance of actual construction. Early documentation of your audio/video distribution, home integration, network, lighting, motorized shades, and security needs in the design phase ensures accurate coordination between your architect, interior designer, builder and all subcontractors involved. Initial plans specify all the build requirements your team of professionals need to know.

Before you begin a project, whether partnering with ACS or working with another integrator, it will help to be familiar with the documentation involved.

Prewire Drawing Set

“Prewire” refers to the installation of cables and wires during a new home’s construction, including the AC electrical wiring and low voltage, home systems cabling. Remember, many wireless devices still use proprietary communication protocols, making them incompatible with other manufacturer’s products. Also, prewiring is a permanent upgrade to your home, increasing its value at sale time.

With most businesses operating across multiple time zones and national boarders, the right technology is key to staying relevant in today’s global economy. Telecommunications increase productivity and collaboration while reducing travel costs and employee relocation expenses.

Whether you have associates who work remotely or business partners in multiple markets, video-conferencing systems from ACS can give your business the necessary capabilities to execute major projects and priorities, allowing you to effectively communicate with anyone anywhere.

Important Considerations when Designing a Video Conference System

Whatever the venue – boardroom, conference room, classroom and auditorium – ACS has the in-person video experience solution. With video conferencing systems, additional factors must be considered besides those accompanying traditional presentation environments.  Sharing your screen with team members in your local office and remotely requires a variety of solutions such as:

Camera Positioning - Sight lines and angles of participant interaction must be planned into the design of any system.  In many installations, multiple cameras are used to create a balanced view to the room. A camera should be located at the front of the room near the display to mimic the in-person experience for a remote presenter, while a wide angle might also be placed in the back of the room to include a view of a local presenter. In smaller rooms a voice-activated camera can be installed to automatically focus on the speaker.

IMAX, the industry leader in immersive cinematic experiences, is now launching the IMAX Private Theatre system. The program enables select custom integrators across the U.S. to bring The IMAX Experience to their most discriminating clientele, and we wanted to take the opportunity of this blog edition to announce that ACS (with locations in Metro NY, Los Angeles and South Florida) is one of the first!

This new home theater system utilizes the same technology that IMAX uses in commercial multiplexes: a curved floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall screen; a high-resolution, dual-projection system that can accommodate 2D and 3D formats; and an audio system with laser-aligned loudspeakers and microphones that perform daily calibrations to ensure the highest quality sound possible. Altogether, the package is modeled after the relatively small screening room IMAX built in Santa Monica for filmmakers to see their movies in the immersive format before a general release.

Homeowners who can take advantage of this opportunity will have a team of IMAX specialists playing an integral role in the entire process, working alongside ACS to ensure everything is built to IMAX’s exacting performance standards while catering to your specific design preferences.

In addition to the main theater space, there must also be space for a projector room large enough to accommodate at least two projectors (5 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide and 4 feet deep) in an area separate from the screening room, and an equipment rack.  Each room is then custom-designed to IMAX specifications and engineered for perfection.

With ACS and IMAX, you’ll receive a peerless level of service and support to guarantee the best presentation every time:

Audio Command is a leading provider of complete turnkey solutions for audio/visual integration, including Security & Surveillance options. We take pride in offering cost-effective, user-friendly security services to ^the New York area that directly address your needs. 

You install a security and surveillance system so you don’t have to worry about your property, possessions and loved ones. But the greatest peace of mind comes when you don’t have to worry about the operation of your system either. That’s why ACS offers home security.

Audio Command designs, installs and provides ongoing support for all your security needs, including camera systems with integrated access control, CCTV integration, entry systems support, remote system monitoring and more.

Video Surveillance

We provide centrally managed Closed Circuit Television Systems as well as Internet Protocol Camera Systems so that you can monitor various points from anywhere in the globe from a computer or smartphone. With cameras in and around your home or office you can monitor your residence while at work, or your business while on vacation … or the nursery while in the other room!

At ACS, we’re committed to providing the level of professional service that makes a home or business owner a client for life. For example, we were given the opportunity to work with a particular client again after proving our abilities on their previous home, which ACS integrated more than a decade ago. Even after so much time had passed, our relationship included a comfort and confidence that was invaluable with all the unique challenges and requests which were brought to the new project.

The Challenges: The new home is 42,000 sq ft in beautiful Greenwich, CT. There were considerable differences in the two projects. At the first home we integrated for the client, our racks were shoe-horned into a small room along with the alarm vendor, pool controls, thermostats, and an existing (and not very-well designed) infrastructure. While in the previous home the client perceived that, when a piece of electronic equipment wasn’t working, a simple “power cycle” could fix the problem 99% of the time. He requested that we design the system so that anyone could easily access the backs of all the equipment. (In the previous home this was not possible due to equipment being housed inside custom cabinetry).

Additional challenges included:

•  Ensuring multiple people could use the control system in a home this large

•  Client requested the large V15 touch panel to be utilized as a TV monitor in a number of areas

Last time, we discussed the importance of finalizing your audio and component choices before making any commitment to building a home theatre. This time we focus on the finishing touches.

(6 of 10) The Components

When IMAX bought ownership stake in Prima Cinema recently, it was like watching two good friends become a couple in your favorite romantic comedy: A match made in Hollywood!

Separately, Prima Cinema and IMAX are brands in which ACS have collaborated for some time. Prima allows subscribers to screen theatrically released films in their own homes, a popular option for many ACS customers in New York, Southern California, and the South Florida regions, while the IMAX Private Theatre solution began offering 2D and 3D systems (with floor-to-ceiling screens and state-of-the-art sound) for individual ownership just this year, and we’ve been a Certified Technology Partner since the beginning.

The agreement with Prima Cinema enhances IMAX’s ability to deliver a premium, end-to-end in-home entertainment experience, combining the best of IMAX’s immersive images and sound technology with the opportunity to view current theatrical titles.

While screening a new release at home has long been a wish for many film buffs, studios have hesitated to deliver first run films to the home due to concerns of privacy. However, Prima has recently signed deals with Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures as a direct result of their encryption technology to prevent illegal copies of movies.

Prima also provides exclusive at-home opening premieres for movies such as "Lone Survivor" starring Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana, "About Time" starring Rachel McAdams, and "Dallas Buyers Club" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

Welcome back to the ACS Blog!

After almost 40 years of providing audio and video solutions throughout the U.S., ACS understands that there are few things in life more exciting than the mere prospect of having your own private movie theater at home. Whether you are building a new home from the foundation up or converting an existing space into the home theater you’ve always imagined, ACS will walk you through the entire process. As anxious as you may be to get started, however, there is a lot to consider before beginning the build.

In this and future blogs, we want to offer 10 specific considerations; things you will want to have determined (or at least considered) to minimize your frustration throughout the process.

1. Your Space Options

Where do you plan to put it? Keep in mind, the size of the room will determine how large your video display can be, what projection system will work best, how many guests you can assemble, etc. The specifics of the room you choose are going to dictate quite a bit of the work. Such as: