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Frequently Asked Questions
General Home Theater Questions
1. What
is a THX certification and do I need it?
THX corporation has provided a certification to Home Theaters
that demands the same quality of video and audio standards
that a THX Cinema would comply with. It is not necessary
for you to enjoy your theater and does require that every
piece of equipment in your system (including cables) be
THX certified.
2. Why
do I need a home theater system? What are the benefits?
Certainly no-one "needs" a home theater system but it
sure is cool to have one. We find that families are spending
more time at home and are doing their best to encourage
kids and their friends to hang out at home instead of
the mall. Benefits of a home theater include, on-demand
showings, comfort, temperature control, no obnoxious theater-goers,
no-one crunching popcorn in your ear, no sticky shoes
when done and it is an incredible way to add value to
your home.
3. What
are the minimum requirements for a home theater system?
Custom PRO Audio/Video likes to focus on the art of "bringing
the theater home". This resonates with every theater we
deliver. To achieve a true theater experience a customer
must be willing to make changes to their room acoustics,
lighting control and space design. Clearly a homeowner
can produce terrific sound in an existing room, but we
go one step further.
4. How
to I connect all this equipment together?
You don't. That's what our experienced theater installers
are for. We handle all of the hookup and configuration
of your system so you don't have to.
5. Does the quality
of speaker wire / cables really make a big difference?
A speaker wire and all cables for that matter act like
an artery. If there is any type of a buildup or blockage,
the signal is reduced and quality will be affected. Certain
cables provide for significantly lower levels of resistance
and interference. For this reason, quality cables and
wire really CAN make a big difference.
6. Where can
I get more information about Home Theater?
Call or email us!
Audio Related Questions
1. What's the
difference between Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby
Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1? Is one better than the other?
These are decoding technologies. Dolby and DTS separates
the sound Dolby and DTS have been in a constant footrace
to provide the most popular decoding technologies. Neither
has won but it will be interesting to see which emerges
as the most preferred technology.
2. What's Dolby
Digital-EX, DTS-ES?
Dolby and DTS have released their decoding for systems
that support rear speakers. This includes 6.1 and 7.1
systems. 3. What do the numbers 5.1, 6.1and 7.1 refer
to? 5.1 includes three front speakers, two side (surround)
speakers and a sub. 6.1 adds a single rear speaker and
7.1 adds two rear speakers.
4. Will there
actually be a 10.1?
Dolby has hinted at the release of a 10.2 system that
includes 10 speakers and two subs. It is not confirmed
but you can be sure that technology will improve and 7.1
will someday be obsolete.
5. Are there
significant differences between a $1000 pair of speakers
and a $10,000 pair of speakers?
Yes and no. Some of the mid-priced speakers systems on
the market provide outstanding sound for the dollar. Systems
that are 10 times the price typically provide more exotic
technology and design but not always a "better" sound.
Every person prefers a particular type of sound. The $10,000
pair may be the only pair that matches your personal preference.
6. How important
is a subwoofer?
The sub is perhaps the single most important speaker in
your theater. It provides the greatest impact during action
scenes. Just watch the faces of your audience when you
turn up the sub on your Custom PRO designed home theater.
7. Is it OK to
mix different brands of speakers in my system?
If your goal is the perfect reproduction of the "theater
sound", we do not recommend mixing speakers. In fact,
it is important to try and use speakers that have the
same "tone effect" so that a sound moving from left to
right does not change pitch or tone but only direction.
Video Related Questions
1. What is 4:3,
16x9, and 235:1?
These are different ways to describe aspect ratios. Certainly
confusing for most people but important to take into consideration
when building a system. 4:3 (letterbox) is typically used
for standard tv, 178:1 (Widescreen 16x9) is common for
some movies and High Definition television, 235:1 (anamorphic
Widescreen) is becoming more common with new release movies.
Since all formats are still supported, Custom PRO highly
recommends a masking projection screen to cover the unsightly
black bars during viewing.
2. Is DVD the
ultimate video image?
Certainly becoming the most common but not the best. High
definition VHS or D-VHS and High Definition cable and
satellite signals can provide 1080 lines or resolution
where a standard DVD player only provides 480 lines of
resolution.
3. What is DVI,
RGB and HDMI?
Is one better than the other? These are all connections
typically found on high end televisions and projectors.
All transmit a digital signal and represent the highest
quality in video transmission. Which is the best? We suggest
you demo each of them and determine for yourself.
4. Which is better?
Satellite TV or cable TV?
It really depends on what is most widely available in
your area. Typically the signal from satellite is more
uncompressed and produces a better image but that is not
always the case.
5. What is the
future of High Definition TV?
High definition TV is quickly becoming part of the premium
package for theater enthusiasts. While programming is
still quite limited more and more major events and prime
time programs are being broadcast in HD. It is here to
stay.
6. Why do some
people need more than one satellite dish?
This is typically due to the number of tv's they have
in the house.
7. Do I need a
scaler?
If you are looking for the highest quality image displayed
on your TV or projector, most likely the answer is yes.
If everything you are watching is in high-definition.
Then the answer is no.
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