Have you ever watched a commercial and thought “they must think I am an idiot.”  That happens to me every time I see an ad about electronics – TVs in particular.  There are some pretty ridiculous ones out there.  (Exactly how can I tell  that your brand of TV has a sharper picture and better color when I am watching the commercial on my different brand of TV?   Holy Carp!  That TV has a 7 million to 1 contrast ratio with supra in-plane pixel switching and a 690 Hz motion refresh rate.)  This has been going on for a lot longer than we care to realize.  Here is the commercial for the very first flat panel TV from Phillips.

In their eagerness to sell you something, advertisers tend towards three approaches.  1.  They over simplify the product to highlight a single feature.  2.  They exaggerate or make overboard claims about what the product can do for you.  3.  They include too much information about the product.  Most of it being technical jargon that means nothing to the average consumer.

In the case of the Phillips TV commercial, they chose number 1.  “The TV is flat like a picture.  It can hang on the wall like a picture.  So let’s show some cool young hipsters hanging it on a wall like a picture, and then enjoy watching a flat TV hanging on a wall like a picture! Cool!  Totally Awesome!” 

I see the commercial and think there is no power on the wall for the TV.  There is no cabling for the TV.  There are no video sources in the room for the TV.  Where is the mounting bracket for the TV?  That window is going to cause some wicked glare off that TV.

The coolness of the TV being flat is lost on me because the commercial does not depict the TV in a realistic way.  Am I expected to believe that I can take the TV, hang on the wall and start watching TV?  Really?  C’mon!  Advertise the TV in a real world application and then I might say “Awesome!”

Brian Mitchell at eCoustics.com wrote an article titled “Ten Reasons why 3-d TV May Fail“ about the problems with 3-D technology in the home.  Are people really going to want to put on 3-D glasses every time they watch TV?  Are existing systems compatible with 3-D or are we going to have change every component?   What about the lack of content?  While he is not saying that it will fail, he makes several valid points as to why it could. 

Stephen Hopkins over at CEPro.com feels that Mitchell is blaspheming and counters with the article “Ten Reasons Why 3d Will Succeed.”  He argues each of Mitchell’s points such as stating that 3-D glasses are temporary until auto-stereoscopic technologies develop, but he does not really say why  3-D will succeed.  Hopkins subtitled his article “Why 3D will find an important niche in the home theater experience” but fails to address this at all.

Take a moment to read through the articles.  Both Mitchell and Hopkins make good arguments, but they missed a few.  Here are my top 5 reasons why 3d could go either way.

1.  Avatar looked amazing in 3-D on a giant screen. It was very realistic and totally immersive.  At times I had physical reactions like motion sickness and vertigo because of what was happening on the big screen.  I do not think the move is going to look the same or even come close to achieving the same effect on my 47″ TV.  So how big a TV do you need to have until a 3-D movie or program gives you the same feeling it did in the theater – 50″, 65″, 80″, 100″? 

2.  I already wear glasses to watch TV as do millions of people.  I hate having to put on a second pair to watch a movie in the theater.   Doing that at home just to watch TV?  No way!  If I only had to wear one pair?  Maybe. 

3.  Right now content is limited but that will change.  The bigger question is will 3-D strive to be the standard format or is it going to become a feature used for special events and movies?  Is everything I watch like the local news eventually going to be in 3-D or will only programs like the Super Bowl or the Olympics be broadcast in 3-D?  I think 3-D will be adopted more quickly if only certain programs are in 3-D.   

4.  Gamers will be among the earliest adopters and will become the biggest proponents for 3-D technology.  Gaming, even more so than movies, is all about achieving an immersive experience.  Gamers want to lose themselves in the Game and that is what 3-D does the best. 

5.  The novelty might wear off quickly.  3-D movies have come and gone for decades.  We stand at the cusp where 3-D moves from being a gimmick to a legitimate story telling tool, but for every “Avatar” there will be a dozen “Clash of the Titans.”  Home technology fads come and go – it is too early to tell if 3-D will work in the home.

Here is the before shot. This is a common problem. Notice the large CRT TV that has it’s own base that goes down to the floor. If you wanted to put a flat panel in its place, it would be impossible to find a base that would match.

Above is the after picture. We created a bottom piece that would match the existing cabinet and we mounted the flat panel to a floating false wall. Everything matched  very nicely even though the existing cabinet was a manufactured cabinet with  a weird stain. In the end the cabinet modification we did was seamless and looked like it had always been like that.

Over the past year I have worked with many clients to modify their cabinets. The story is usually the same and it goes something like this. “Ten years ago we had this beautiful cabinet custom made for this specific big screen tube television. Now we want to update to a new flat panel HDTV, but our cabinet was not made for a flat panel. What can we do?” Sometimes the solution to the problem is simple and other times it is not. The above picture is an example of a simple problem. So let’s walk through the solution.

Before any installation takes place we need to come to the job site and take measurements so that we can find what fits just right. Sometimes we will even borrow an existing cabinet door to match paint or stain color. All the preliminary work is done and now it’s the day of installation. First we need to get that beast of a tv out of it’s hole. Next we put up a “false backing” that will match the existing cabinet. Third, we run the necessary cables and set the mount in position. At this point we also install custom trim work, caulk and do touch up painting. We really have an attention to detail at this stage.

The fourth step is to prep the flat panel for the bracket. During this step we align the position so that the gap around the flat panel is even all around the edges. Next, we hook up all cables to flat panel and mount it to the bracket. It is important during this step to work with “kid gloves” because the new HDMI cables are very sensitive to bends and it is easy to scratch or damage the surrounding cabinets while mounting a flat panel. We want everything to look beautiful, so we take great caution mounting any tv.  Finally, we train the client on their new set up and answer any questions they might have. We really work had to make this whole process as painless as possible. The goal is to do the modification in such a way that it looks like it has always been apart of the cabinet.

Now that you have a general idea of the process I will be posting some before and after images from future cabinet modifications. If you have more questions, or you would like me to come to your house to look at your cabinet, just email David and I will get back to you asap.

Not many things can be as frustrating as sitting down to movie night with the family or watching the big game with friends only to discover your system is not working. Over the years of helping clients with their systems, I see the same problems come up again and again. Here are the top five most common problems encountered and some tips to fix them.

1. Problem: “I can see a picture but do not hear anything” or “I can hear the game but can’t see it.”

Solution: Your TV or Surround Receiver is on the wrong input. Check the source input on your TV and your surround receiver. The inputs need to be on the same source. If you have sound and no picture then slowly cycle through the inputs on your TV until the picture appears. If you have a picture but no audio, do the same with your surround receiver.

2. Problem: “My satellite receiver is stuck on one channel.”

Solution: Your satellite receiver is frozen and needs to be reset.
Some Sat boxes have a reset button on the front. If yours does not, unplug it from the wall outlet for about a minute then plug it back in. This can be applied to any device even your DVD player or surround receiver. If a source is not working properly, always unplug it first and reset it.

3. Problem: “My surround speakers are not working.”

Solution: You are watching a program that does not have surround sound or your receiver is not in the proper surround format. Not everything you watch will have a surround sound mix. DVDs heavy on dialogue and low on action will not have a lot of sound coming out of the rear speakers. The same is true of analog TV channels. HDTV broadcasts will usually tell you if the audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1.

If you still think there is a problem, listen to an action DVD that you know has a lot of surround effects or play a CD in 5 channel stereo. The best way to check all your speakers is to use the Test Tone feature built into your receiver, but only do this if you are comfortable with using the receiver’s menu system. Also listen for crackling, a hum, or any kind of distortion as this could indicate interference or a damaged speaker.

4. Problem: “My universal remote won’t work my system.”

Solution: The batteries are dead or the IR emitters have fallen off the front of the components. Always check the batteries first. If you have a rechargeable remote, check the charge. Remember even rechargeable batteries can go bad. If you have an IR or RF system, check the IR emitters attached to the front of your components. If they have fallen off, your remote cannot talk to the component.

5. Problem: “I think the projection lamp in my TV is out.”

Solution: Check the indicator light on the front of the TV or the top of the projector. Most rear projection TVs like Mitsubishi and front projectors have a lamp indicator LED that will flash when the lamp is burned out. Even if your TV or projector is working you should check the hours on the lamp. If the lamp is at or over 1000 hours then it is time to get a new one. Most projection lamps are estimated to last 1000 – 2000 hours, but only have a warranty of 6 months. The actual life of a lamp can vary depending on its environment, how often it is used, the pictures it displays, and the brightness settings of the projector. I strongly recommend that if your lamp is at 1000 hours or over 6 months old, you should get a new lamp and use the old one as an emergency back up.

You can buy just about anything on the internet these days; books, music, DVDs, brides, clothes and even cars are a few things you find while shopping on the web.  But does it make sense to buy electronics online?  Not always.  Here are a few things you need to know when shopping for Audio Video equipment on the internet.   

First, many manufacturers do not have authorized internet retailers.  If you search for an item online you can usually find a dozen websites purportedly selling that product. But that does not mean they can legally sell it or that they even have that particular product.  Always go to the manufacturer’s website and check.  They will have a list of their authorized retailers both local and online. 

Second, the biggest problem with buying something from an un-authorized dealer is that you do not get a warranty.  The one from the manufacturer is not valid because the item was not purchased from a legitimate dealer and extended warranty companies won’t warranty a product that does not have one from the manufacturer.

Third, if you do order a product from one of these non-authorized sites, there is no telling what you will get.  The product could be refurbished, “B” stock or even gray market product.  A lot of these companies “sell” new products but send you a re-boxed or slightly damaged product.  They may not even have the product in stock, and then try to sell you something else.

Fourth, shopping online does not always save you money.  An authorized online dealer sells electronic equipment at the same price that your local dealer does.  More often than not your local retailer can offer discounts that the online seller cannot.  What about sales tax, you might ask.  By the time you figure in shipping and set up costs, you end up spending more than you saved on the sales tax.

Finally, an online retailer simply cannot give you the support that a local retailer can.  Local retailers have well-trained sales people that know the product and know how it will work in your particular environment.  We can also provide certified installation and authorized service for all our customers.

Sure, you can always find a lower price on the internet, but is it worth the risk just to save a few extra bucks?  What is more important to you, no warranty, no guarantee of new stock, no installation or service support, and maybe a few extra dollars in your pocket or establishing a relationship with a local dealer who will provide you with a warranted product, installation and service to back it up, and the time of a knowledgeable and caring salesperson?

Ok, its getting kinda crazy, but it seems that the price of flat panels are countinuing to fall. There is really no better time to get your hands on a flat panel. We carry a lot of the same brands that you find at Best Buy, Costco, Sams and Conns. In fact, we price match those stores, so why go through the hassle of fighting the traffic and loading? We can bring it to your house, mount it on the wall and teach you how to use it all with just a simple call (817)346-4500