Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the network a critical aspect of a typical system and or home in general?
An efficient robust network is the spinal cord of your system. The network routes, controls, communicates and interconnects all applicable devices on your network. Ultimately, allowing you and your families to be productive with work, intertainment and information transfering. Building and implementing the appropriate network devices to alow the proper pipeline to handle the speeds & allocate Wifi in preferred living space is hypercritical. The more efficient the network is, the more efficient & fast your devices will perform. Why is the upload speed just as important as my download speed? What type of cables do you recommend to future proof at the TV location?
Depending on distance and application. Minimum type(s) of cables we recommend are 1 HDMI highspeed w/Ethernet 2.0, 2 Cat6 and 2 Cat5e. Certainly 3 Cat6 should be sufficient for most applications even without the HDMI cable. HDMI over fiber is an option for long distances over 5m-7m. Fiber optics (siamese) is the best option to prepare for 18Gbps data rate and beyond; especially for longer runs. Can I share multiple audio/video sources among a number of TV's?
We offer a wide range of speakers for the, “nowhere to be seen” application. Stealth Acoustics and Leon speakers offer different formats that best fits these types of applications. The speakers can be completely plastered, textured and painted-up to 3 coats of paint. We can also digitally wrap the speakers with custom artwork. You can use your own personal artwork and or personal photos for the wrap or canvas for the Stealth Acoustic Cover Art. Our selective speaker manufactures have a large database of high-resolution artwork to choose from as well. Creating a piece of artwork and listen to your music without the cosmetics of traditional speakers; simply stunning. It would be challenging to pin point where the sound is coming from. What are some of the benefits of Audio/Video calibrations? What is the difference between ISF Video Calibration and basic set-up? So what is calibration? Calibration vs. Setup If you want to get the best and most accurate performance from your investment then hiring a trained ISF Calibrator is the way to go. All trained and certified ISF calibrators have the same basic training but not all have gone beyond that. It take more than the initial ISF class, in fact it takes years of training and experience to become an expert in the field. What goes on Only a trained ISF calibrator, using a reference level test pattern generator, goes through all the TV’s settings to make sure it looks its best. This includes correctly setting the contrast and brightness controls to make sure the TV is as bright as it should be for your viewing environment, and has the best black level possible without obscuring shadow detail. Now onto the main reason you want to have your TV calibrated by a trained and skilled ISF calibrator. Adjusting a TV’s color temperature correctly isn’t something you can really do with your eye. Sure, you can think you picked the correct temperature just by looking at it, but it’s nearly impossible to do correctly. Instead, the calibrator uses a measurement device to measure the color or as the professionals call it Chromaticity to measure the color temperature of the display. The goal is to get this as close as possible to the D65 standard used throughout the film and TV world. This ensures that your TV looks as close as possible to what the director of the movie or TV show intended. Some TVs also allow the adjustment of the actual color points, meaning a calibrator can make all colors more realistic. Not all calibrators can adjust color points accurately, as it depends on the measurement equipment used and your TV’s available controls. Once again not all calibrators are trained or experienced at the same level. Thus most do not have the right meter for the job. The meter of choice is a Konica Minolta CS200 and is calibrated annually to ensure our clients get the best calibration possible and can tackle any TV ever made and future TV’s to come. So to sum it up, with calibration you’re getting a trained professional to check over your TV’s settings, setup, a fine tuning of its color temperature, color accuracy and don’t forget optimizing the resolution. The result is that your TV performs and looks the best it possibly can. All TVs can benefit from calibration. Just because a TV is accurate with bright images, doesn’t mean it’s accurate with dark images or colors. In most cases, they aren’t. This can only be fixed with calibration. What can I do to help dampen a bright room? Can I play multiple audio sources in conjunction with whole house audio distribution? Can you mount a flat panel TV above my traditional fire place or non-standard sheet-rock wall? Do I have to purchase all my equipment and accessories from you? Can I run an extension cord/power cord in the walls or ceilings? Move an AC outlet?
Today’s world of remote access, controls & communications with your local network, whether it’s your doorbell camera, security cameras or zoom meetings, these devices need to UPLOAD information to the internet. The faster the information is received to the internet, the faster your computer(s), smart devices, phones and or tablets can obtain and see the data. Your upload speed should be as fast as it is offored in your area. As of 2023, minimum upload speed recommended is 5mbs-10mbs.
Absolutely! HDMI matrix switches. The matrix can be controlled via IR,IP & RS232. You can share any A/V sources to any of the TV’s at any given time.
Cables do matter in respects to the application. Cable manufactures have many levels of their product line. There are factors to take into consideration i.e length, signal path, indoor-outdoor, plenum, and fire rating. For in-wall/ceiling, attic and crawl space installations the cable must be minimum UL/CL2 rated (all A/V types of wiring). A rule of thumb, always use true balanced a.k.a. directional audio cables. This will assist in guiding noise out of your system. Planning to run RG6 coax through out the house-quad shielding is best. Please contact us for additional information in respects to your application.
Intelligible dialogue, life like clarity, subtle details at low volume and full smooth sound which envelopes you. Movie makers and recording engineers follow specific industry standards to capture and record the sound (Dolby, DTS, SMPTE, and THX). If your sound system and listening room are professionally calibrated to accurately reproduce that industry standard sound, you will be overwhelmed with the experience and sense of “being there.” You will hear the soft rustle of the leaves in the distance, helicopters will fly right over your head directly in sync with the movie, and voices will be crystal clear. You won’t have to turn it up louder in the quiet parts of the movie to hear what they’re saying, and then turn it back down again during the action scenes anymore! If your home theater isn’t calibrated, you’re being robbed of the full experience the director and audio engineers intended.
From TV salespeople to TV reviewers, you’ll often hear the word “calibrate” thrown around. It is said that getting your TV calibrated will improve its performance, increase its accuracy, and even make it less power hungry.
Often the words “calibration” and “setup” are used interchangeably. This is incorrect. Real calibration requires specialized test equipment, while setup is what you can do with the basic TV controls by eye or even better, with a Blu-ray setup disc.
If you haven’t done anything to your TV, a calibrator’s first job is usually ensuring the TV is set up correctly. This can include checking you have the right cables connected, that sources are outputting the correct resolution, and so on.
There are many ways to dampen or “diffuse” a bright audible room. The conventional and inexpensive solutions are area rugs, books shelves, pillows, heavy curtains and cushioned furniture. We highly encourage a professional audio calibration performed in order to provide the best solution/product for your specific environment. Please contact us for additional details.
Yes. We have options for audio distribution with simple functions of remote (local) sourcing for any of your listening zones. This allows you to play your own audio source in your respective listening zone while the whole house audio is playing another audio source. Sources include Pandora, internet radio, rhapsody, itunes library and many more audio content. Cover art and full control of all zones can be controlled by your smart devices via control apps.
Anything is possible. This type of installation will be a time and material basis. A site survey is a must in order to provide a good faith estimate. There are factors we must take into consideration i.e. power, cables and wire path (route). Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible and or liable for the integrity of material of the wall. We will do our best to take steps to predetermine the real estate before performing any type of alteration. Please give us a call to schedule a site survey.
No. We will integrate your existing equipment to its best capability. We will also use your cables in respects to the application. Our installer will inform you and offer recommendations shall there be any unforeseen circumstances. Part of our service is to make sure we use the best connection to each device (electronics). We feel the selected brands we carry simply provide the best value and performance.
As the homeowner, you are welcome to do as you please. DC Connections will NOT participate in that request. Please understand it is not to the electrical code of the state Oregon. We have certified electricians that can assist in placing a new receptacle and or move an existing AC outlet.
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