Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home audio and Video Services in Matthews, NC.  TV installation, Surround Sound, Home Entertainment Systems
Don’t Underestimate Your Installation Costs
 

C.I.S. : Charlotte NC's Source for HDTV setup, Installation & Questions!

C.I.S. : Charlotte NC's Source for HDTV Setup & Installation!

Big-box installations may wind up being pricier than you think, so here are some suggestions and questions to keep in mind.

It’s become cliché to talk about $99 TV installs from those big-box guys. $99? Where did that come from?

Let’s take Best Buy’s Geek Squad, although the offerings are similar for Zip Installation and other national installer networks. The price for mounting a 42-inch-or-larger TV starts at $350.

For that, the Geeks will unpack the TV (!), mount it, conceal the wires in a wall (assuming a single stud bay and no insulation), hook up two video components, “neatly dress” exposed wires, program a satellite or cable remote to operate the TV, and teach you how to use it.

Add $50 to connect to the home network, and $99 each for anything special, like an additional component, unusual mounting surface, motorization, multiple-stud bay, remote control programming … you get the picture. 

So that ends up being, oh, maybe $600 or $700 for a modest install. You bring the mount and the cables. And although they might be able to “neatly dress” your power cords, the Geeks certainly can’t plant them behind the walls. For that, you’ll want to hire an electrician at $100 per hour, bringing the installation to at least $700.

Now, $700 is a great deal for mounting a nice TV, as long as it is done well. It should be a two-hour job for the pros and possibly a four- to eight-hour job for the uninitiated do-it-yourselfer.

If that price works for you, why not give your local A/V shop a call?

Asked to review pricing from Geek Squad and other national providers, custom electronics pros say their own fees are on par or slightly higher. Often, they’re more capable, better trained and more committed than their mass-market counterparts. Plus, many of them have electricians on staff.

While the national guys usually can only “neatly dress” your power cables, “We would likely install an actual electrical outlet,” says CE pro Michael Philpott of MultiMedia Interiors, San Diego, Calif. “We’re licensed to do it, it’s less expensive, and it looks better.”

10 Questions to Ask the Installer

With all that in mind … what started out as a $399 job may end up to be much more than that. Here are some questions to ask to keep the price in check:
1. Do you supply the mount? The cables?

2. If the components you hook up don’t work (HDMI issues, for example) will you troubleshoot the system?

3. Do you use finish plates where the wires go in and out of the wall?

4. Do you patch holes made for fishing wires?

5. What if my interconnects are not CL-2 rated for a behind-the-wall installation?

6. Does your “consultation” include the placement of the television for optimal viewing?

7. How long are you willing to “train” me on how to use the system?

8. What happens if something goes wrong in six months, like glitches with cable service? Will you come back out?

9. What if one of my components is an A/V receiver? Will you establish the proper connections and volume controls?

10. If you charge for hooking my TV to the home network, will you guarantee that it will work?

 by Julie Jacobson

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/dont_underestimate_your_installation_costs/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte NC ’s Home Theater & Technology Experts!

Posted in 3D TV, Flat Panel TV's, Home Theater, Media Rooms, News, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


Twists and Turns on the Road to Perfect Viewing

mounts_omni_Lifestyle300The right television mounts can enhance your viewing pleasure.

It’s cool to hang a flat-panel TV on the wall. It saves space, puts your prized possession out of harm’s way and lends a clean, modern appearance.

In order to attach your TV to the wall, you’ll need to invest in some type of mounting hardware.

Prices range from $50 all the way to a few thousand dollars, depending mainly on how much weight the mount can hold and its functionality. You’ll find styles to accommodate any size, make or model of TV, as well as the viewing environment and your viewing preferences. 

Manufacturers, including Chief Manufacturing, OmniMount Systems, Premier Mounts, Sanus Systems, and others, offer mounts that can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.

“We include all of the hardware you’ll need, even a drill bit to make sure you drill the right size hole,” says Erick Valkingburg, sales operations manager at OmniMount. Additionally, many DIY mounts have helpful post-installation features that allow you to adjust the position of mount up, down, left or right slightly after the TV has been attached.

One common installation snafu, says Ryan Hagberg, marketing manager at Sanus Systems, is a misaligned mount. “The wall plate of the mount might look perfectly level after you’ve installed it, but once the TV’s on it doesn’t look right.” A feature like Sanus Systems’ Pro technology, lets you tweak the alignment of the mount without having to remove the TV or redo your work. 

Still, most manufacturers admit that in many situations the installation of a wall-mounted TV is best left to a professional. “Big, heavy TVs are particularly hard to handle,” says Valkingburg, “and some wall surfaces, like masonry and stone, require special anchors.”

Plus, there’s all that cabling to contend with. “People tend to forget about the fact that the TV will need to plug into a power outlet and be connected to source components,” says Elliott Wier, custom installation director at Gramophone, Timonium, Md. “This is why it’s good to bring in a professional.”

No matter how you plan to tackle the project—by yourself or with the help of a pro—it’s up to you to decide which type of mount to use. Here are your options:

Fixed mount: Generally the least expensive type of mount, a fixed mount attaches the TV permanently to the wall. It’s a good choice for rooms where watching TV is the main activity and where bright lighting won’t interfere with the picture. A fixed TV is ideally mounted at a height that’s directly at your eye level when you’re seating on a couch. The seating arrangement should be one in which you’ll be able to view the TV from nearly straight on, as once the TV is affixed to the mount, it can’t be turned, swiveled or pulled out to be viewed from the side.

mounts_omni_Lifestyle_500

Low-profile mount: This is a type of fixed mount, designed to complement newer ultra-thin flat-panel TVs, places the TV nearly flush with the wall surface. Mounts in Chief Manufacturing’s Thinstall Series, for example, protrude less than a half-inch from the wall. Keep in mind, however; most low-profile mounts aren’t able to carry the weight of TVs larger than 70 inches. “A TV this big will probably require the bigger brackets of a standard fixed mount, says Wier.

Recessed (in-wall) mount: A low-profile mount maximizes the thin lines of a flat-panel TV, however, with limited space between the wall and the TV, it can be difficult to stuff all the necessary cabling behind the set. For this reason, some professional installers prefer to use a recessed mount. This type of mount requires the construction of a wall cavity between the wall studs. This cavity affords room for cabling, outlets and power/surge conditioners, as well as the mount itself. Attached to the mount, the TV sits completely flush with the wall surface.

Tilting mount: Some fixed mounts (as well as articulating mounts) have this feature which allows the TV to be tilted up or down slightly. It’s a feature that can minimize glare and improve the viewing angle if the TV is mounted high on the wall—like above a fireplace mantle. “It provides some additional flexibility without adding a lot of cost,” says Valkingburg. A tilting mount costs 10 to 20 percent more than a fixed mount.

 mounts_omni_ULP_Black_500

Articulating mount: In addition to being tilted, an articulating mount can be extended from the wall by several inches and swiveled to face any direction. These capabilities make it an ideal choice for environments where there is more than one viewing location. In a great room, for example, the TV can be rotated toward the kitchen, later angled toward the dining area then placed back on the wall for viewing from the couch. Additionally, an articulating mount allows you to place your TV in a less than ideal location—like a corner—and still be able to view it perfectly by moving it into a better position. Expect to pay about twice as much for an articulating mount than a fixed mount, says Hagberg.

mounts_sanus_XF228-B_R_500

Motorized mount: Operated by remote control, a motorized mount may sound like a lazy-man’s solution, but it can be helpful if your TV is mounted high on the wall or you’d like to be able to extend and swivel your family room TV from the kitchen, for example.

Other important features:
• Cosmetics: This is particularly important if you’re buying an articulating mount. When the TV is extended you’ll be able to see the mounting hardware, so be sure you’re happy with the cosmetics.

• Cable management: A mount should make accommodations for cabling. For example, the extension arms of Sanus Systems’ mounts are hollow so that the cabling can be hidden inside. Also, you may need cable accessories such as right angle adapters (pictured) for HDMI so the cables don’t impede the mount’s ability to be closer to the wall.

 mounts_premier_RightAngleA_

• Accessories: You might want to attach speakers or a Blu-ray player to your flat-panel TV. Make sure brackets can be added to your mount for these and other components.
mounts_chief_FUSION_HT1_500

by Lisa Montgomery

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/twists_and_turns_on_the_road_to_perfect_viewing/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Theater, Audio and Video Services, Automation  in North Carolina and South Carolina

Posted in Audio Systems, Blu-ray, Flat Panel TV's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


Blu-ray Releases on Dec. 1, 2009

12.01.2009
I remember being really scared seeing Gremlins in the theater. Of course, I was only 10, but man, when the evil Gremlin started wielding a chainsaw that was my cue to run out to the concession area.

There were plenty of campy movies to come out of the 80s, but Gremlins was good enough to be scary, entertaining and overall a pretty decent flick. So it should be interesting to see how well it holds up 25 years later, when we can watch it in high-definition as one of this week’s Blu-ray releases.

Tom Hanks and Ben Stiller find their way onto more Blu-rays with The Green Mile and Night at The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, respectively. Or you can catch Brad Pitt and try to figure out what the heck he’s saying through his thick accent in Snatch.

For something completely different, especially on the music side of things, take a look at The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter. It’s far different than your average rock documentary, with a bulk of it focusing on the Stones as they watch footage of the Altamont concert disaster of 1969. It’s engaging throughout, that’s for sure.

Here are all of this week’s Blu-ray releases, courtesy of Blu-ray.com:

Ben 10: Alien Swarm
BluScenes: The Classic Fireplace
BluScenes: Coral Reef Aquarium
BluScenes: Journey Through Space
A Christmas Tale
Deadline
Death Warrior
An Evening with il Divo: Live in Barcelona
The Green Mile
Gremlins
The Legend of Zorro/The Mask of Zorro
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
The Mask of Zorro
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Paper Heart
Ride Around the World
The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
Secondhand Lions
Snatch
Terminator Salvation
The Wizard of Oz (3-disc Emerald Edition)

By Arlen Schweiger

http://www.cepro.com/article/blu-ray_releases_for_dec._1_2009/K294

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Entertainment Audio and Video services in North Carolina.

Posted in Blu-ray, Flat Panel TV's | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


Custom Installation Services, LLC | P.O. Box 132 Matthews, NC 28106 | 704-400-8701 | dmiller@cis-nc.com
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