We love smart home technology, and it shows. Our blog is chock full of articles on the latest in audio, video, and home technology devices and solutions. 

As a longtime Control4 Pinnacle dealer and integrator in the metro Atlanta area, we’ve also extolled the virtues of Control4 smart home systems. The company can't be beaten when it comes to easy to use and configurable systems that can automate and orchestrate thousands of intelligent devices from many vendors.

And while we’ve covered much of the basics of what you can do with smart lighting, shading, AV, and more, we’ve thought of a few more ideas that can make home automation genuinely useful in daily life. Read on for five things you may not have known home automation could do. If this sparks some ideas about what you can do in your home, that’s the intent! 

SEE ALSO: Product Overview: The New Control4 Neeo Remote

Recently, GHT Group changed its name from Georgia Home Theater. Why? While AV and home theater remain central to our mission, the name did not reflect everything we do in smart technology in both the residential and commercial markets. In the past few years, we have made a significant investment in adding additional smart technology products and services, as well as our 20,000 square foot Marietta showroom, to become the “one-stop” smart home company in the metro Atlanta area.

We are also committing ourselves to partner with designers, architects, and builders to be the smart home company of choice for integrating the latest technology in new and remodeled homes. To that end, we have recently joined the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to become part of the community of builders and real estate professionals, bringing our expertise in the rapidly changing and expanding smart technology landscape. Keep reading to learn more about why GHT Group should be your choice for smart technology solutions in Atlanta.

As a real estate professional, investor, or builder, you know a thing or two about what creates an appealing property. Having properties with contemporary layouts, finishes, and colors helps make the crucial first impression that makes buyers interested. Modern appliances, kitchens, and up-to-date baths are also critical. Often spending more money on landscaping helps draw buyers in, too. 

Another area that can add the wow factor is smart technology. A recent Houzz survey found that half of renovating homeowners were looking to add intelligent systems in their new homes. There is no doubt that buyers have a high interest in smart tech, and smart tech can also add flair that impresses.

How does a smart home installation make your properties and projects stand out in Atlanta’s competitive market? Read on to learn more.

In our three decades of history at GHT Group, we have always been at the forefront of offering the best home technology solutions in the Atlanta area. For years we have installed Lutron lighting control systems to help homeowners manage home lighting, bringing convenience and efficiency as well as the ability to integrate lighting with other smart home control features.

Lighting can transform a home. When you walk into a space that is meticulously illuminated, you know it and feel it. From our work in lighting control and automation with architects, designers, and homeowners in the Atlanta area, we also see an opportunity to take another step forward into home lighting design.

We are excited to branch out into lighting design because of the nearly endless possibilities that new control and LED technologies offer in lighting. Read on to learn more about how you can transform your home with our lighting design services.

Klipsch is a company on a roll. Of late, they have been introducing new products that deliver excellent audio performance at a variety of price points, from the ultra-affordable to the high end. It’s also safe to say that when it comes to the high end, Klipsch offers exceptional sound quality that rivals speakers costing much more.  

The Klipsch Heritage line represents the best speakers Klipsch has to offer. It includes the Klipschorn, the only speaker in audio that has been in continuous production for over 70 years. In the past few months, Klipsch updated the Cornwall, another classic with decades of history. And now, Klipsch is re-booting the Heresy, the most affordable entry point into the Klipsch Heritage line. 

If you’re looking to upgrade the sound of your hi-fi stereo, but you aren’t looking for a large speaker, the fourth edition of the Klipsch Heresy should be on your shortlist. GHT Group is proud to be Atlanta's exclusive Klipsch Heritage dealer, and you can check out the entire line at our Marietta showroom, only a short drive from Buckhead, GA.

What’s new about the revamped Klipsch Heresy IV? Read on for the details.

SEE ALSO: Product Overview: Introducing the New Klipsch Cornwall IV

A media room is a home space where you can enjoy your audio and video entertainment in high quality, both for casual TV show viewing and more immersive movie watching. Unlike a home theater, the space may pull double duty – as a living room, family room, game room, or some other multipurpose area in modern homes with more open designs.

When it comes to the technology that delivers the visual and audio experience, some people may not want the equipment to intrude. Bookshelf and tower speakers may overwhelm the room, or their placement doesn’t fit the aesthetics of the room. Aside from speakers, TVs often become the focal point of a space. When they’re not in use, design-minded people might chuff at looking at a large black rectangle mounted on the wall.

The leading makers of audio and video equipment also understand the importance of design. A whole range of products exists that marry exemplary audio and video performance with subdued design that blends well with the rest of the room. In this blog, we’ll cover two of those options for a media room design in your Atlanta, GA home that is as visually appealing as the rest of your home.

Keep reading below!

The world has not gone entirely 4K yet, and here we are talking about 8K already! You know that 4K resolution was an important step in improving picture quality. Today, there is no reason to buy a new TV or projector with only 1080p resolution, as 4K technology can improve high-definition content as well as give you a vivid and realistic picture with content mastered for the newer format. 

In the consumer technology world, technology doesn’t stand still. 8K TVs are already for sale from leading manufacturers such as Sony. Should you buy one? It may well depend on your predilections. If you are a late adopter that prefers to invest in new technology after it's been out in the market and mainstream, you may not be interested at this point. But if you like having the latest technology and capabilities, and you genuinely enjoy buying the best you can get, then there are compelling reasons to dip into the world of 8K viewing today.

Keep reading to see why a Sony 8K TV could be smart investment right now for your Atlanta, GA media or living room. 

SEE ALSO: Sony Master Series Z9G: Raising the Bar to 8K

Metro Atlanta ranks as the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. You can find almost anything here, and there is no shortage of audio-video companies like GHT Group that offer home theater design and installation services.

When it comes to home theater, you should know that it is a focus that’s in our DNA. We recently rebranded our company to GHT Group from Georgia Home Theater to reflect the broader scope of our company, yet high-performance audio and video solutions like home theater remain central to our mission. 

Since we know you have many choices for your next home theater project, we’d like to recap why you should choose GHT Group. Read on for more!

SEE ALSO: Want to Gain Inspiration for Your Home Theater Installation?

It’s difficult to escape the ubiquity of smart home devices and technology. From Nest thermostats prominently displayed at Best Buy or Home Depot to Amazon Alexa smart speakers, we’re all aware of the promise of smart home automation. If you are building a new home or embarking on a significant remodel, chances are smart home technology is high on your priority list.

You may be tempted by DIY (do it yourself) solutions. Still, GHT Group knows from three decades of experience serving homeowners in Georgia that an integrated approach – like that offered by Control4 home automation solutions – is far more likely to satisfy your Atlanta smart home’s needs and accommodate your lifestyle better than disparate systems cobbled together.

There is no better time to consider home automation than when you are early in the planning process so that you can integrate all the infrastructure that your smart home will need. Read on to view all the possibilities.

Crestron is a company that is unique in the technology business, doing things just a little differently. Founded by George Feldstein in 1969, it has always stayed close to the founder's vision and character. Feldstein was an engineer, tinkerer, and stickler for quality and detail, and his presence is still felt at the company.

Crestron has always been known for high-end automation solutions. In the commercial space, Crestron automates scores of Fortune 500 corporate meeting and boardrooms, including high technology companies like Microsoft. In the residential market, their automation solutions can be found in the largest and most extensive properties, controlling a wide array of functions from climate to sophisticated audio and video distribution systems.

But there’s more to Crestron control systems that are core tenets of how the company operates. Read on to learn more about Crestron automation and why it could be the right choice for your Buckhead, GA home.

We know what you're thinking. We're barely through the holidays, and we are already talking about the Super Bowl. But the NFL showdown for the coveted Lombardi Trophy comes along in early February, so it's not too early to start thinking about it – especially if you want to have the best audio and video setup for the game.

Did you know that up to 7% of consumers buy a TV expressly for the Super Bowl? That’s an impressive number driven by one event. Of course, the large screen TV or projector purchase will be a pleasure to own far beyond the upcoming Super Bowl game.

While a big screen is a must for football, don’t forget about the sound. A surround sound system can really make you feel like you’re at the game while in the comfort of your Smyrna, GA home.

In this blog, let’s explore some sight and sound upgrades to make your next Super Bowl party the best ever. 

SEE ALSO: Big Surround Sound, Even Bigger Screens

On these pages in the recent past, we’ve enthusiastically extolled the virtues of motorized shades in residential settings. There's no denying the comfort and convenience factors, the compounded benefits from integration with other smart automation, and the real energy savings they can bring. 

You may not know that all the benefits above can be applied to commercial settings, as well. We could even argue that the business case for motorized shades in your Marietta, GA enterprise is easier to make.

How? Keep reading to learn some smart shading solutions for business.

SEE ALSO: What Makes Lutron Motorized Shades Among the Industry’s Best?

Does your home theater suffer from the “black bar syndrome?” Fortunately, it’s a curable video malady. We are joking here a little, but let us explain.

Without a doubt, if you watch movies at all, you have noticed the black bars that often appear on the top and bottom of the screen. The reason for this is that the majority of flat panel and most projector screens are in 16:9 format, which refers to the ratio of the screen width to its height. Over 70% of Hollywood films made for theatrical release are shot in widescreen format, which is a 2.4:1 aspect ratio. This format, sometimes referred to as anamorphic, is wider than it is high. To fit the film on your screen without skewing it (distorting the image by making it taller), you get the black bars to fill the unused space on your screen. 

What is the problem with that? If you have a 120-inch screen, for example, in your Atlanta theater or media room, you are not getting 120 inches of picture. And if you’ve recently invested in a superb Sony projector with native 4K resolution, you are effectively getting 3K instead of 4K.

3K is not what you bargained for, especially if you like to watch cinematic films. Fortunately, as we mentioned, there is a cure. Special lenses from Panamorph, compatible with Sony projectors and all of the best theater screen brands, can cure the black bar syndrome.

Read on to see how Panamorph lenses help get the most from your Sony 4K projector image.

Just recently, we underwent a name change and rebranding from Georgia Home Theater to GHT Group. The new name reflects a widened focus and expansion of the company’s scope that’s been underway for a long time, and having “home theater” in our name did not accurately portray everything that we were doing in home technology.

Our broad footprint across audiovisual and home technologies also led us to becoming part of HTSA. HTSA stands for Home Technology Specialists of America, and our membership in the organization also reflects the evolution from Georgia Home Theater to GHT Group.

What is HTSA, and why is it important that GHT Group become part of it? As a leading smart home company serving Buckhead, Atlanta, and beyond, it reflects our commitment to delivering the best home technology products, solutions, and service to our client.

Read on to learn more about how our involvement with HTSA benefits you.

Remote controls can be valuable tools, but sometimes they’re frustrating to use. There’s nothing worse than a powerful and capable new AV device with a poorly designed remote control – it detracts from the experience, whether you’re trying to control your home theater, operate automated lights, or listen to music. 

Control4 is a leading home automation company, and they've made control systems for AV devices and practically anything else with an on/off switch for over 15 years. The company recently took everything they've learned about controlling devices and packaged it into a brand new remote control experience that is sure to please everyone in your Smyrna home.

The new Control4 remote is called the Neeo, and it is a marvel of design and ergonomics. Is this the remote you’ve been seeking for the Control4 home automation system in your home? Read on to find out!

SEE ALSO: How You Can Personalize Your Home Automation with Control4