The CEO of Home Theatre Engineering has a long history working in the AV industry. Originally qualified in 1982 at Perth Technical College in Sound & Lighting for Theatre Film and Television, Andrew went on to work in the industry with such companies as Purvisonic Sound and Ashton Stage Lighting.
From there Andrew founded Dynamic Sound Recording Services and moved on to develop other businesses. Andrew also developed considerable business and Marketing skills when he also established Rooftop Balloons one of WA's most noticeable marketing companies. Andrew also commenced studies in Electronic Engineering and became a qualified BCE licenced data cabler and founded Cable Comms & Data which then branched out to managed so called "Smart Wiring" of homes using products such as the Clipsal C-Bus system.
A few years ago whilst trying to build his own dedicated Home Theatre in his new house, Andrew discovered gaping flaws in the Home Theatre industry. Not one to sit on his hands, out of frustration Andrew flew to the US and UK and studied small room acoustics with the HAA and display calibration with the ISF and purchased the necesary $40,000 of test equipment required to professionally analyse a Home Theatre system.
On returning to WA Andrew wrapped up all this experience and training in what has become Home Theatre Engineering with the aim of helping others overcome the frustration of creating their own home theatre system.
We have been shocked to discover that many Home Theatre Installers are unqualified and few have no training in this particular field. We have also met many people who had paid large amounts and yet had terrible experiences, wiring incorrect, sound not calibrated, even in the simplest way. Speakers incorrectly positioned and in some cases not even connected! HD Plasma screens and video systems wired up using composite signal, the list goes on and many people had no idea that their system was capable of so much more and were stunned at the results we were able to achieve.
So who do you turn to?
The choice has been made easy and there are standards. Organisations like CEDIA recognise certain training and certification. The two leading organisations world wide in this field are the HAA and the ISF.
These organisations have developed professional training and certification to existing technical standards that have long been established by professional technical bodies worldwide and are utilised by Film & Sound studios almost without exception.
Before you engage the services of a professional there are a few things you can ask them:
First of all ask if they will calibrate your Home Theatre. If he says yes, then ask the following questions:
- What will they actually calibrate on your system?
- What will they be looking for during this calibration?
- What kind of written report will they give you, before and after?
- Ask what type and brand of calibration equipment they will use.
- Ask what standards they will set your home theatre to?
- Look at the ISF and HAA websites and see if your prospective installer is listed.
If they can't answer all these questions the chances are you will not be getting the very best out of your investment and will not be maximising the full potential that your Home Theatre has to offer.
Who can you trust? Look for HAA and ISF certified calibrators.
Who are the HAA and ISF?
Their websites can probably tell the story better than we can but when their clients include the biggest manufacturers in the world including Microsoft, Pioneer, NEC, Monster Cable, Runco, Nvidia, Toshiba, Krell, Yamaha, Minolta, Bose etc then you know you are in good company.
At HTE we are experts in the science of sound and image reproduction. Artists, Directors and their technical teams struggle to produce a specific look or sound. It is our job to help you reproduce those sounds and images faithfully in your own home.
If you want the job done properly, professionally and to an internationally recognised standard then talk to us, and if for some reason you chose not to use or service, feel free to seek our advice and guidance anyway. We want you to experience the best today's home Theatre has to offer in both Sound and Vision
For more information on specific calibration look at our Audio and Video pages.