Do yourself a favor and review your history of speaker selection. It’s akin to examining one’s choices in past haircuts – a bit perplexing/scary. What was it about those hefty black box speakers that was so awesome? They were half the size of your couch.  Alas, bigger was better. It meant greater sound, or so we thought. Then again, we thought big hair meant big living, too. Let’s learn from our lapses in judgment.

Having a home theater is a great way to bring the family together and to add value to your home. Creating a home theater is an investment you'll cherish for a lifetime. Therefore, it is crucial to make your purchases count. Here we discuss styles of home theaters that fit any home.

Searching for the perfect flat screen TV? David Katzmaier, Senior Editor at CNet.com, released his choices for top flat screen TVs of 2012. David writes:

Best picture quality overall
Panasonic TC-PVT50 series

We are always looking for new favorites in technology, and we bet you are too. In this article we point the spotlight towards Bose's VideoWave II entertainment system for its superior quality and space-saving genius.

 Hey Knoxville, want the best in home audio? Then get excited about Sonos's upcoming release of the Playbar - an exclusive soundbar system. The Playbar is a stand out product that is both pleasing to the ears and eyes and a pleasure to use. Many of you may already be Sonos fans. For those of you whom are new to the brand let us explain what makes Sonos products fan favorites. First, simply put, they are stylish. They have a hip look and their products sound great. They have an Apple-esque allure. Second, Sonos can stream music from nearly every source under the sun. Imagine having Pandora, Spotify, Amazon cloud, Rhapsody, and your personal music collection at your beckon call. Pretty great, right? Now imagine incorporating that technology with a product that enhances movies with surround sound-like technology in a slick, stylish product. You have imagined the Playbar.

For those of you that saw our ad in the most recent edition of Cityview Magazine, you may have noticed we referred to our custom theaters as Home Entertainment 10.1. We finally decided to give our practice a name after 25 years of specialized service in East Tennessee.

iSS is thrilled to now offer Stewart Filmscreen. You may have not heard of Stewart Filmscreen before, but we guarantee you’ve probably seen one. Used widely in Hollywood for movie screenings and at the Sundance Film Festival, Stewart Projection Screens are a crowd favorite. They are also used on set by many leading television networks such as CNN, ABC, and CBS.

Want to simplify your life, but not sure how with a house full of electronic devices and countless remotes lying around? You don't have to get rid of your devices, but instead just take control of them. The RTI T2X remote control allows you to take charge of all your A/V devices, lighting, security, and more with one sleek universal remote control. The T2X remote features a flush edge-to-edge LCD touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Lithium-Ion battery, and its own personal docking station.

Our latest upgrade project featured a five-year-old manual pull down basic grey HD outdoor screen. It was great when it was first installed in 2008, but its age was really starting to show. The screen housing was rusting and the bottom of the screen was beginning to unravel. With so many advancements in outdoor projection screens, it was time for an upgrade and we had the perfect solution: The Stewart Oasis outdoor screen with Firehawk G3 material.

 This week I am so excited about the new software update from Sonos. Just when I thought the Sonos Playbar Soundbar couldn’t get any better, now the update can turn it into a 5.1 surround system by allowing the Connect Amp to drive two rear channels turning the Soundbar into a 5.1 DTS surround sound system. Before, users would be limited to using the Play:3 speakers, but now you can use other options. I used my existing Sonance Invisible Series speakers for the rear channel and it worked out perfectly. I love that this update gives you complete control on rear channel type and placement. Now the options are truly endless. The software update, which released this month, is quick and only takes about two minutes. Other features with the update allow the mute button to function as play, pause, or skip.

Whether you use a projector for work presentations or in a home theater to unwind and watch movies, you can agree that a burnt out projection bulb never happens at a good time. Not only can replacing a projector bulb be an inconvenience, it can also be expensive.

Have you recently decided to install the home theater of your dreams? Before you get started, we have some design tips to ensure the final product is exactly what you hoped for.

Work together with installers and the interior designers. Installers want the room to function and sound great. Interior designers may focus more on the design of seats and furniture placement. By working together, everyone will be on the same page and reduce the risk of miscommunication about the design. What may look best to an interior designer may not be optimal for home theater sound to an installer. By working together, both sides can achieve a beautiful and fuctioning home theater.

 It’s finally warming up and if you’re anything like me you are beyond ready. After being stuck inside the last several months, I can’t wait to spend some time outdoors with friends and family. If you’re also anything like me, you probably have a little work to do before you’re ready to host that first BBQ of the year. Aside from the usual post-hibernation yard duties, I’ll bet your outdoor living space could use some other upgrades. If you like to stay up-to-date with new technology, then you’ve probably noticed there are tons of great products for outdoor living. From landscape speakers to projection screens, there are plenty of options to create an outdoor space that will give your indoor living area a run for its money. Even if you just want a new portable music streaming device to put out on the deck, the options are truly endless.

Home automation can take movie watching to an entirely different level by integrating your home automation system and a/v system to create a seamless home theater experience. Whether you have a specific room for the home movie theater or just a great living room with cozy couches, we can bring the grand cinema experience to you!

Last week we blogged about what screen and projectors would look best in certain home entertainment areas. This week we would like to take a look at what audio systems would be best in those home entertainment areas, too.

Media rooms and home theaters are an increasingly popular feature within a home. Two major benefits are that they boost a home's entertainment value as well as its potential resale value. A media room is designed to be a multifunctional space, and most media rooms are an upstairs family room or the basement man cave. What is great about a media room is that it is a wonderful way to spend time with your friends and family and yet showcase what your home can do. Between audio, video, and possibly having some home automation in the mix can create a fantastic entertainment area.

4k TV is the future of television. We're here to explain what it is and why it will replace your HD TV one day.

First, what does 4k mean?  PC Mag says that 4k, "Refers to approximately 4,000 pixels of horizontal and 2,000 pixels of vertical resolution used in several digital formats for shooting high-quality video and scanning 35 mm frames. The 4K refers to horizontal resolution in contrast to standard digital TV resolutions, which are stated in vertical lines. "

So, how does that technology compare to the norm? Christina Bonnington of Wired.com writes,  "Previously the stuff of high-end projector, [now makes] inroads into televisions of late." She also cites YouTube videos to give you a taste of the 4k experience.

If the resolution wow factor isn't enough to turn your head, then note that Sony's 4k boasts  "virtual" 5.1 surround sound on a detachable 10-speaker system. Built-in wifi supports your every Pandora and Netflix whim. Oh, and 3-D is included on the 85" screen.

With so many different companies offering security systems, home automation, sound, lighting control, and custom home theaters...it can all be a little overwhelming when you begin your search for an installer.

You may have found someone to do the audio, but you still need someone to do security cameras. Or maybe you found a company that does media rooms, but you still need to get a fire protection system. You will probably feel like you are getting pulled in so many directions that you will want to abandon your projects altogether.

Fortunately, by selecting one company that is licensed and trained to do all of the above home upgrades, you will be saving yourself time, money, and lots of headaches for several reasons.

Time

In this day and age time really is a precious resource. When you choose one company that is experienced in all aspects of audio, sound, lighting, and security; then the help you need is only one call away. You also only have to worry about setting up one appointment.

Shark Week has begun and we want to make sure you have the best gear to maximize your shark-viewing experience. Let's start with the basics and get you going with a sweet TV.

The Sharp 1080p 240Hz 3D LED Smart TV (LC70LE857U) provides 70 inches of crystal clear viewing with enhanced features such as Quattron color technology and Aquomotion 960 reduces blur by quadrupling the refresh rate during those action-packed scenes.
What's a great TV without a great sound system? The Sonos Playbar and Sub make the perfect choice for your sound upgrade. This easy to set up system provides high fidelity sound without sacrificing style. Control your new playbar with your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

So you've got the perfect TV and sound system for Shark Week, but you're going to need some snacks. May we suggest a watermelon shark fruit salad?

Now you are well on your way to throwing the perfect Shark Week party, but you're going to need something to wear. Don't worry, we've got you covered...

Happy Shark Week!