Everything You Need to Enjoy Your Favorite Video Content in Style

If you’re going to invest the time and money required for a custom home theater, you want to know you’ve created the best possible experience possible. But creating an ideal home theater environment requires more than just a big screen. The type of TV or projection matters, as does your choice of sound system, even your choice of décor.

Trying to sort through all the available options for your home theater can be overwhelming, which is why Pacific Audio & Communications is here to help. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the essential elements of a high-end home theater installation for Maui homeowners. Read on to see what you really need for your home theater.

SEE ALSO: Getting the Most from Your Home Audio-Video System

YOUR DISPLAY

While there’s some room for debate as to which manufacturers have the best TVs and projectors around, in broad strokes there’s a simple answer to what you should want for your home theater: A 4K home theater system. While 8K TVs are available for purchase, there’s almost nothing in terms of native 8K video content.

However, not all 4K TVs or projectors are created equal. You also want to look for a TV or projector that has includes High-Dynamic Range imaging, or HDR. HDR allows for a broader, more intense range of colors than regular 4K displays, giving you greater contrast to make those images really pop off the screen.

One recommendation is to pair a 4K HDR projector with an ambient light-rejecting screen or a screen that can reflect ambient light and instead display the truly stunning image your projector delivers. Similarly, look for OLED 4K TVs. In contrast to other 4K TV models, OLED TVs light pixels on screen individually instead of with bigger backlighting panels behind the screen. While that may not sound like a big deal, it’s crucial to separating brighter and darker tones on screen and gives you that true black color for a sharper image.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re going the 4K route: Every part of your video system must be 4K compatible. That means you need a 4K receiver, the right kind of cabling and a sufficiently fast network to handle 4K streaming.

YOUR SOUND SYSTEM

If you want the best in class when it comes to home theater sound, there’s only one answer: Dolby Atmos. While other home audio and surround sound systems deliver impressive sound in their own right, Dolby Atmos is the most immersive system currently available.

Surround sound systems typically work by channeling sound through different speakers spread out around the room. These are the center, left, right, and rear channels you’re likely familiar with. Dolby Atmos works differently by featuring two or four overhead speakers, as well, and rendering each sound as an individual object that can be placed in a 3-D soundscape created by a network of speakers throughout your home theater.

This allows for an incredible sense of immersion, though it only works if the content you’re watching or listening to has been mastered for Dolby Atmos. Even if it’s not strictly Dolby Atmos compatible, however, you’ll still get powerful, quality sound from your speakers while enjoying other content.

ALL THE REST

Your video and audio systems are your primary concerns when it comes to home theaters, but there are other aspects to consider as well. For instance, there’s your choice of furniture and décor.

As far as furniture goes, you actually should spend a lot of time making sure that you find the right seating for your home theater installation. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your home theater, you want comfortable seating that will remain in top condition after several months or years of usage.

When it comes to your décor, don’t be afraid to add your own sense of style. Give your theater a theme based around your favorite movie genre or genres, throw up some theater-style posters, add a popcorn machine or even stylish acoustic treatments.

Your home theater represents a significant investment on your part, so don’t be afraid to make it your own. To see what Pacific Audio & Communications can bring to your home theater installation, call our Maui office at (808) 870-1619 or contact us here to get in touch with our team today.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn About a Brilliant, Voice-Controlled System and Its Many Benefits

To provide the best services for your Honolulu, HI home, Pacific Audio and Communications constantly looks for cutting-edge products. As soon as we heard of a new smart home tool that uses the most intuitive, AI-learning based software, we had to look closer.

What can this revolutionary product, which won CEDIA 2017’s Best Product and Res Tech Editor’s Choice in 2018, do for you? Josh AI is a new player in the smart home automation game that we can’t wait to introduce to our Hawaii customers. Keep reading to see why we love Josh.ai!



SEE MORE: Our Company Wins Coveted HTA Luxury Distinction
 
What Does Josh Do?
Josh.ai is a full-service home automation tool that you can control with your voice. It can operate lighting, security, A/V systems and anything else you’ve added to your smart home. Just like similar devices, you can remotely access every room in your house from your mobile phone -- and even pan the room to double-check that devices have turned off after your command.

Worried about integrating something shiny and new with your existing systems? Josh.ai collaborates seamlessly with almost any brand used in smart home automation, including Control4, Crestron, Sonos, Savant, Lutron and countless others. Chances are, if we’ve installed something for you, some of this hardware lives in your house, but Josh complements all those functionalities to create one, integrated smart home. Pacific Audio and Communications can add it to both older and newer homes.

Place on Wall and Play
The device mounts to your wall and looks flawless with virtually any decor style. Pacific Audio and Communications can flush-mount your device so that only the screen shows if you prefer. The screen lights up with different colors, depending on the nature of the command.

Josh Micro’s far-flung microphone capabilities mean you can speak from far away, and the device picks up your voice and accurately interprets your request. Because its programmers enabled Josh to understand commands contextually, you’ll hardly ever need to repeat yourself to get the device to comprehend you. Its intuitive technology even grasp phrases like, “It’s too bright in here!” and respond by lowering the shades. Similarly, you can say “Turn it off!” If the last device Josh activated were the lights, he’d know to turn them back off.

How Is Josh Different?
If you have an Alexa or Siri device or are familiar with their capabilities, operating a Josh.ai Micro won’t seem vastly different at first. What you’ll notice as you explore the device, though, is that it becomes more responsive to commands the longer you use it.

According to Josh’s website, “Josh is a home’s best friend. And like a dog, Josh is intelligent, responsive, and learns his owner’s commands. While other smart home control systems only know one trick, Josh combines all aspects of smart homes into one friendly, well-trained responder. Josh is your companion, and always happy to see you come home.”

Josh.ai makes privacy a priority by storing all commands locally. Founders Tim Gill and Alex Capecelatro aimed to make Josh.ai one of the most secure and data-conscious inventions of its time: The devices don’t sell ads or use any of your personal data, like the competitors.

Exclusive, Dealer-Only Device
Josh.ai products are currently only sold to select dealers, such as Pacific Audio and Communications. We can install the device, integrate it with your other smart home automation devices and provide ongoing support. Contact Pacific Audio and Communications to see this exciting new product in your home!

As Your Smart Home Installer, We Provide Unparalleled, Certified Service for Your Maui, HI Home!

Certified for Luxury
The Pacific Audio and Communications team is pleased to announce that the HTA, or Home Technology Association, has distinguished our company within the high-end space by awarding us an HTA Luxury certification. HTA Certification elevates standards of professional excellence for smart home installer smart home installer firms, and we’re proud to have obtained this level of certification. We feel this accomplishment proves our ability to provide a higher standard of service for our Maui, Hawaii customers.

It’s Your Home: Choose Wisely
When you trust a company to enhance your home, the installation firm you choose directly impacts your quality of life. The Home Technology Association, an objective, third-party organization, guides homeowners to the most trustworthy, technically capable, and customer-focused integrators. When you hire a company who has been evaluated and certified to meet the HTA’s stringent standards in luxury living, you are guaranteed to get home technology that you will enjoy for years to come. Keep reading to find out how this certification benefits our customers.



SEE MORE: 3 Elements to Look for in a Smart Home Company
Distinct Advantages
Currently, the HTA standardizes excellence in the industry: they set the bar and only certify companies who meet all requirements. We’re not trying to brag, but only about 10% of smart home installer companies receive an HTA distinction. The three criteria necessary for achieving this honor include 1) Technical Ability, 2) Customer Service and 3) Industry Expertise. We are proud to provide exemplary service in all three of these categories.

More specifically, certified companies have a few competitive edges on other companies of their kind. For example, you’ll find strong business rankings; solid financial history; reputable, enterprise-quality network installations; background-checked technicians; ongoing support plans; and multiple endorsements within other companies of this caliber. Curious about what the “Luxury” part of our certification means for you? Read on!

What Luxury Certification Means
Specifically, meeting HTA’s “Luxury” criteria means that we’ve proven ourselves to homeowners who appreciate the finer things in life. Pacific Audio and Communications customers typically own large, high-value homes that they continue to improve and innovate with home automation systems. They probably have scrupulous design tastes in decor and architecture that they don’t want to compromise with conspicuous wiring. There’s also a good chance our clients have demonstrated their interest in superior audio and video technology by adding a media room or home theater.

Installations with this many details to consider take time. Usually, the updates in the luxury home category are expansive projects that can take several months to complete and involve meticulous, design-oriented requests. We’re prepared for anything and always ready to put our most painstaking effort forward for clients.

The Best for Your Investment
In short, our customers expect and deserve a boutique, bespoke experience when creating their dream homes, and we can’t wait to show you how certifiably excellent business practices, service and expertise can transform your Hawaii home. Ready to explore the possibilities? You can start by contacting us here or send us a chat below.

Gain Peace of Mind with a Smart Home Security System

It’s that time of year for festive parties, holiday lights, and memory making. This season is very special, but it can also put us into a frenzy of stress with the long to-do lists, family visits, and traveling.

For your peace of mind, we’ve put together a list of handy tips that will help you with one item we know is on your to-do list: keeping a safe home. From automated lighting and a smart home security system to a staged home, these tips will help you feel safer whether you’re staying in Honolulu, Hawaii or traveling.



SEE ALSO: Why Invest in a Smart Home Security System?

1. Sync Smart Lighting with Your Surveillance System

If you’re traveling this holiday and leaving an empty home, you’ll feel comforted knowing your house is working to fend off intruders with a smart surveillance system synced with lighting control.

Install motion sensors around your house that automatically turn on lights when movement is detected on your property. The lights will create the sense that someone is home and typically drive unwanted guests away. When movement is detected, your security system sends alerts to your phone to notify you of potential intruders and even sets off an alarm for you. 

2. Monitor Packages with a Smart Intercom

An increase in delivered packages is a guarantee this time of year, and keeping up with each delivery can be a lot to remember. Make the process easier and safer with a web-configurable outdoor intercom that works in tandem with a monitor.

Use two-way audio and video to both hear and see your visitor coming to drop off a delivery. As soon as the delivery is dropped off and you’re not home to receive it, we suggest you contact a neighbor or friend to pick it up for you until you can get home. 

3. Replace Your Doors with Smart Locks

You won’t ever have to worry if you left a door unlocked when you leave for vacation with smart locks. Remote door locks controlled from your smartphone not only keep your home safer but allow you to unlock your home for a guest if you’re not there to let them in. Integrate your smart locks with smart video surveillance to remotely see who you’re letting into your home for even more peace of mind.

4. Keep a Clear Path to Your Entryways

Even with a smart home security system where you can monitor every inch of your property in real time from a remote location, intruders may sneak behind large bushes or bulky holiday decorations to stay out of view from your cameras.

Keep a clear path to possible entryways of your home, including windows and doors, avoiding large objects that could be used to hide intruders. We also suggest you test your surveillance cameras to make sure you can zoom, pan, and tilt in order to see every nook and cranny of your property.

5. Stage an Occupied Home

To keep your home looking occupied even if your entire family is away, schedule light scenes to turn on at desired times and mimic your family’s daily routines. With a smart security system coupled with your scheduled lighting, you can remotely monitor your home to make sure your outdoor holiday lights and indoor lamps are on when they’re supposed to be.

Feel more at peace this holiday season knowing your Honolulu home is safe and secure! We can help you get started with a smart home security system today. Just contact us here or send a chat below to start talking with a professional security system installer today.