Sound Science Barrington IL

When it comes to home theater acoustics, ignorance is certainly not bliss. More now than ever, custom installers are faced with the task of bridging a living space with the technical requirements needed to make it function as a full-fledged entertainment venue while maintaining a sense of home. For custom installers, that singular challenge is caught up in such a web of factorsincluding a lack of acoustical knowledge and just plain short sightednessthat many of them will simply ignore it as an option for their clients.

This is probably the field in which installation companies fail the most, said Mark Ontiveros, president of Tustin, California, home cinema dealership, Audio Images. In other words, they put equipment sales and education on equipment far above room acoustics and proper acoustical training, when actually it should be the reverse. No matter how much money they put into the equipment, it wont sound any better the higher-end you go unless the room acoustics and engineering are correct. And there is a basic foundation you have to have for that. It is where our trade has been less educated and quite honestly, failing.

To be fair, the science of acoustics, at least on paper, can seem confusing and intimidating. But as the home theater segment continues to grow and experience fierce competition among manufacturers and sales outlets, installers need to find ways to pull up their grades and distinguish themselves from the pack. To light a fire under the feet of those who resist placing acoustics high on their to-do list, Ontiveros cites the diminishing returns the A/V industry is currently suffering due to falling prices of equipment thanks to the Internet and price wars, and recommends that installers take this moment in time to shine.

I know it is complicated and complex, but there are some great people out there teaching, Ontiveros said. Otherwise, what prevents potential clients from going to the [big box outlets] of America and just getting a loud TV? For our clients, this is where we add our experience and expertise. We have to add value as an industry or we will be out of business as an industry.

If the theories behind bass traps, diffusion, and absorption make your head spin, consulting an experienced acoustician might be best. Anthony Grimani, a well-respected acoustical designer and head of California-based PMI Industries, recommends enlisting the help of a professional, not only to do a pitch-perfect installation job, but also to give the client peace of mind about their expensive addition.

The help ends up being a perceived good to the client, Grimani said. When you bring a third party who is an [engineer], a party who just wants to make sure things work well, it gives the client comfort.

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