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.