Insights & Innovations: The Integrated Home Blog

We Have Just One Word for You: Acoustics

In a famous scene from the 1960s classic The Graduate, a young Dustin Hoffman gets some advice from his father’s friend for his future: “I just want to say one word to you. One word. Plastics.” No, this blog isn’t about plastics, and that secret is out anyway. But we do want to talk about one word that can’t be ignored when it comes to home theater – acoustics.

Home theaters present some unique challenges for audio performance. Today’s theaters have many speakers, as many as 16 when you count surround speakers, subwoofers, and height speakers. Each one of these needs to evenly cover a certain area, blend with the overall soundtrack, and not cause sound imperfections that don’t belong. The layout, finishes, and furnishings of the theater also significantly affect the sound. It's not just a matter of choosing excellent equipment and calibrating it correctly, and sometimes the space needs acoustic help.

If you are a builder or designer, it’s wise to consider acoustic treatment early in your plans for residential projects in Charlotte, NC. Why? We’ll get into it below. 

The Sonance Landscape Series Makes Your Outdoors an Aural Delight

Spring is in the air, with temperatures climbing and the sun shining. It's the time when everyone's thoughts in North Carolina turn to enjoying the many outdoor pleasures of the state. And you can do that right in your Charlotte home with the right accouterments in your backyard. 

If you have a pool, extensive patio, firepit or fireplace, or outdoor kitchen – or maybe all of the above – you have all the fixings for a great time outdoors at home. But you might be missing one part – truly great sound from your outdoor audio video setup. Great sound brings your outdoor spaces to life, from entertaining friends and family to just relaxing with a good read. Keep reading to learn more about the Sonance Landscape Series, a sound system that will transform your outdoor spaces.

Color Us Impressed with Sonance’s Incredible Array of Architectural Speakers

One of the fun things about being a technology integrator is seeing all the new technology and products coming down the pike. And when we see these things at the source as we did with Sonance, it's even more fun! Don't worry, it's not all fun and games – it's all in the name of offering you better products and solutions. 

Founded in the early 1980s, Sonance is one of the true pioneers in architectural audio. Today, their line consists of a full set of speakers that hide discreetly inside homes and gardens while providing the type of audio performance that belies their size. Recently the company joined forces with James Loudspeaker, another industry pioneer, bringing a new level of audio performance and customization to architectural speakers.

Our Charlotte, NC, team visited the Sonance speaker studio at their beautiful Southern California home base. We’re excited by what we saw, and we want to share more with you about our experience below. 

New Features Make Golf Simulation More Realistic and Challenging than Ever

If you’re a golf addict – or should we say aficionado – you can never get too much golf. That’s why a golf simulator is such a great addition to your home entertainment options. Simulators like Golfzon let you sharpen your game, play courses you may never otherwise visit, and have a great time with your favorite pastime.

Now, how serious a golfer are you? Do you love to dig into every detail of your stroke, analyze all sorts of data about your game you never thought possible, and challenge yourself to the hilt? If you want more from a golf simulator, the new Golfzon TwoVision system may be just the ticket for that extra space in the basement of your Charlotte, NC, home. Keep reading below to check out how the TwoVision system can level up your game, so you’ll be ready for the golf season this spring!

Here’s Why You Should Trust Your Technology Integration Projects to HTA Certified Companies

As a designer, builder, or architect, you want to work with other trained and certified professionals in their specialties or trades. When it comes to audio-video installers, you might be wondering: what is that certification? How do I know that this company has the skillset and resources to see the project to completion? As you know, partnering with the wrong company can lead to unhappy clients and problematic projects. 

Fortunately, there is a way to distinguish which audio-video companies have made the investments to stand out from the rest. HTA certification is a mark of quality that means you are working with a professional company that has met a high bar of standards. Let’s explore what HTA certification means and the benefits a certified partner – like The Integrated Home – brings to your Charlotte, NC, residential projects.