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Frequently asked questions.

Here are a few of the most common questions we hear from our customers.

Q: What is a smart home?

A: A smart home is one that makes your life simpler with networked systems that talk to each other. There are many levels of intergration available but the most common systems include security, lighting, climate control, and audio/video control. Having these systems work together makes your home smart and able to take care of everything for you. As you get home from a long day at the office you press a button on your keypad to let your home know you are "home". Your smart home sees this and knows that it is after dark so it turns on the lights in the driveway, garage, entry way, etc. The system brings the temperature to your preferred setting, disarms the security system and opens the garage door for you. This is a programmed sequence that will happen every time you arrive home and when you leave for the day, the same will happen in reverse, turning the heat down, shutting down the lights, turning off your electronics etc.

Q: What high definition disc format is better Blu-ray or HD DVD?

A: It is not so much a question of better or worse. Both disc formats offer the same high definition picture and sound however Blu-ray has had an edge from the start with larger capacity and exclusive deals with movie makers. Blu-ray is now the clear victor of the high definition format war and HD DVD is a thing of the past.

Q: What kind of flat panel is better, plasma or LCD?

A: This is not the simple a or b question it may seem to be. If your looking for a panel under 37 inches then you are limited to LCD, as plasmas start at 37 inches. Both plasma and LCD are capable of the highest resolutions available today. Both have made great strides in the last few years. Plasma has always had some issues with image retention (image burn in) but most new models have some form of protection against this. LCD has always had issues with fast paced action like sports (blurring or ghosting) but most higher end models have very high refresh rates now to eliminate these problems. Plasma has always had some light glare/reflection issues due to the glass panels they use but most higher end models now have some sort of anti-glare coating. On average for equal picure quality you will still spend a bit more for an LCD with a good refresh rate and high contrast to match plasma. We make our recomendations on a case by case basis to meet the needs at hand and the environment the panel will be in.

Q: I have heard plasma and or LCD have short life spans, is this true?

A: No. The funny thing is I hear this question about both technologies. With higher end models both plasma and LCD have about a 20 year half life. Basically if you watched your new flat panel almost all day for the next 20 years it would be half as bright as it was when it was new. Some inexpensive brands/manufacturers do however use recycled or remanufactured panels and the life of those TV's could be greatly reduced. I have never had a TV for 20 years so that seems pretty good to me.

Q: How do you choose the products/brands that you carry?

A: Soundscapes products are based around the science of home theater. There are alot of brands and models out there to choose from and plenty of them make great products. We base our choices on three things.

1. Function. It has to have great sound and or picture, this is the most obvious reason but it is important.
2. Form. It has to work aesthetically. Integrating these components into your home is what we specialize in. A product that is not going to allow us to do that simply will not work.
3. Operation. The last but most important factor is that the products we carry are made in such a way that we can incorperate them seamlessly into your system. There are many great products out there that simply do not operate in such a way that we can get complete control over them.

Q: Why don't you carry brand x, y, or z?

A: Our number one goal is to put together a system that is going to be simple and seamless for you to operate, while bringing you the best in high definition picture and sound. X, y, or z brand simply does not meet one of the previously mentioned things we look for. Most often operation is the area that many brands come up short in.

Questions? Give us a call 603.783.6631 Thank you for choosing Soundscapes.

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