With the vast and ever-growing array of content available to watch in your home, a media room or home theater is a must for making the most of all that entertainment. If you have neither of them, you might be asking: what’s the difference between a home theater and a media room?

As the answer to the eternal home theater versus media room question, we’ll say it doesn’t matter what you call it. The truth is that today’s audio and video entertainment technology options blur the line between the theater and media room. We’ve covered this topic at some length in these blogs, but the main difference might be that a home media room is for varied media including movies, and the home theater is for movies and other varied media. See what we mean? It’s all about what you want and how you enjoy your entertainment. 

Audio technology has helped blur that line too. Some years ago, to get good surround sound required a stack of bulky electronics and a bunch of speakers. Today, sleek soundbars deliver excellent sound quality and surround effects for smaller (and not-so-small) media rooms. But if you want to go further, separate speakers and electronics deliver a sublime aural experience for movies and other content. In this blog, we'll cover three basic options for immersive surround sound in your Kennesaw, GA, media room.

What is the difference between a media room and a home theater? Honestly, we don't know. OK, we're being a little facetious here, but we'll explain. You can call that best place in the house to watch movies, Falcons games, Netflix binges, or anything else whatever you want. If you think it's the home theater, that's what it is. If you prefer the media room, then it shall be so.

That said, there are some differences in what most people might think of between a home theater or media room. The home theater is more likely to be a dedicated space, and the media room is more likely to be a multipurpose space. However, by no means is any of this is set in stone. You can have whatever you want, and there are solutions for creating any type of media room or home theater you desire.

Whether it’s a home media room or theater for your Duluth, GA, home, one thing people tend to want is technology that is unobtrusive, fits the décor, and does not get in the way of a home’s aesthetic. We’re going to discuss two ways of hiding the tech below – please keep reading!

Note: We first wrote this high-performing post in summer of 2019 and have since updated it to fit the times. And yes, though one year has passed since we drafted this article, soundbars still don’t generate as much praise from audio enthusiasts as some other sound technologies, like, say, architectural speakers.

However, few can deny the convenience of connecting one speaker to the TV and hearing impressive sound. And when you witness the state-of-the-art craftsmanship like the Klipsch Heritage Soundbar, we think you’ll respect their capabilities. If you’ve never tried a Klipsch product before, we consider this speaker a great introduction to how superior engineering can do more with less volume.

These days, home entertainment consumes much of our days. We might wish for more media in more spaces; the easier the better. Maybe you have the full surround-sound configuration in your dedicated home theater but want something simpler to connect when you view movies in your bedroom. Keep reading to see why Klipsch’s soundbar might make you reevaluate soundbars altogether.

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

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

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.

Unfortunately for the Atlanta area, our humid southern climate is a breeding ground for those pesky biting insects dubbed no-see-ums. Also called Biting Midges they are the ones that bite, but you can't see them to avoid it.

What does this have to do with home audio? Stick with us for the analogy here. We have many customers that love great music and top-notch sound quality. For them, we carry an excellent array of speakers like Bowers & Wilkins, the Klipsch Heritage line, and more. Many of these customers love the look of speakers and make them an integral part of their room’s décor. Indeed, some of these speakers are quite large and are meant to be prominently displayed.

Other customers love great audio but don't want speakers – no matter how exquisitely finished – as part of the room furnishings. Of course, architectural speakers have been around for many years with in-ceiling and in-wall models that offer great sound with no intrusions on floor space. Typically, those speakers have paintable grills to match a wall or ceiling finish to be very unobtrusive.

And then there are customers whose interior design demands even more stealth from a home audio installation, because even painted grills are too much. These customers prefer the speaker to virtually disappear. We’ll call these speakers no-see-ums, because you may not see them, but you will definitely hear the sound quality.

Read on for more about two no-see-um speaker lines for your home audio installation in Dunwoody.

Most everyone wants an immersive big-screen experience in their media room or home theater. The only issue? Not everyone has the space for a full-fledged theater installation. In some areas, mounting a projector in the ceiling or a back wall is not a practical solution.

You might ask - why not go with a large flat-screen display? Many people do, and there are many that Georgia Home Theater can recommend from brand partners like Sony. But, some people want that projected large screen experience without giving up space, and the truly large, over 100-inch flat panels can get very expensive.

There is a solution, and it’s called the ultra-short-throw projector. It’s a projector than can sit mere inches from your wall and project an image up to ten feet across diagonally. The best part is that it only requires a slim wall-mounted screen, and it sits on your typical media credenza or cabinet.

What’s more, the latest models feature the newest 4K and HDR technology for an eye-popping picture, and sometimes also include full smart TV functionality for an all-in-one solution with the convenience of a TV and the cinematic impact of a projector.

One of Georgia Home Theater’s favorite models in this category is the Epson LS500, and it may just be the answer for the media space in your Smyrna home. Read on to see if this is the easy big-screen home theater installation solution you’ve been waiting for.

CEDIA is the largest trade authority in the home technology integration business. Not only do integrators like Georgia Home Theater attend for the latest in-home technology trends and continuing education, but the accompanying CEDIA Expo also covers thousands of square feet with the latest and greatest in home theaters, audio, smart home automation and more.

The CEDIA Expo always features exciting new products that point to the future. This year, there were many exciting introductions, but in the home theater space, a couple stood out for us: the incredible sound from Klipsch’s new Pro Cinema Home surround sound system and the extraordinary picture quality of Sony’s 8K displays.

Read on to learn more about these two exciting innovations from CEDIA 2019 and see if they're the next big thing for your media room or home theater in Dunwoody, GA.

In these days of virtually endless streaming options, you might be thinking: What’s a movie jukebox, and why should I care? After all, I’m not popping discs into a player anymore! Well. you may not, but you may be missing out on extracting the full potential of your home theater. 

Streaming services are superb for the sheer convenience of pressing a button or two and seeing a movie come to life, but there is a bit of a price to pay. Services like Netflix and Amazon Prime do offer 4K video and Dolby surround sound, but they tend to optimize the stream for the data rate of the network connection. In other words, there is some compression of the stream, resulting in the loss of video and audio fidelity. 

After you’ve spent a good sum on a state-of-the-art home theater installation, we think you deserve a higher-quality option in your Buckhead cinema. That’s where the Kaleidescape comes in, offering a new level of audiovisual performance with all the convenience of a veritable movie jukebox at your fingertips. Keep reading below to learn more about this exciting way to get the best possible film experience at home. 

Just when you thought it was safe to replace all your TVs with 4K models, along comes the next level in resolution – 8K. The truth is, the consumer electronics industry is always moving forward. Digital technology has hastened the pace of change in electronics, with ever more bits of information elevating the quality of audio and video entertainment.

Wherever there is innovation in consumer electronics, you will find Sony. The company has pioneered too many technologies to mention, and the fact that they own major content companies in music and movies underscores their deep understanding of audio and video content, from creation to what you hear and see on your equipment.

One of Sony’s latest innovations is in 8K televisions. You might ask, what can I do with that today? 8K content may be scarce at the moment, but Sony’s technological magic with video processing makes any content look better on their 8K TVs. We just installed one in our brand-new Crestron Experience center, and it’s a revelation.

Is a Sony 8K TV right for your favorite watching room in Smyrna? Read on to see why Georgia Home Theater thinks it’s a smart investment in your visual entertainment.

We recently added Monitor Audio to our burgeoning collection of hi-fi audio brands, already one of the most extensive in Atlanta. While their Platinum series is highly regarded and well-reviewed, their broad architectural (built-in) speaker line is one that also deserves your attention. They offer the same accurate, detailed Monitor Audio sound in a package discreetly hidden in the walls.

Many different types of speakers can work for home theater and media room duty. Floor standers, stand-mount bookshelf and mini-towers, on-wall, in-wall, and in-ceiling can all be used. The choice depends mainly on your design and style preferences and sometimes on the layout and construction of your media space.

While in-ceiling speakers are de rigueur for height effects from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive soundtracks, some people think architectural speakers represent a compromise in sound quality for the sake of style. Once upon a time, that may have been true - but no more. This month, we have a case in point - Monitor Audio’s Controlled Performance Series. Simply put, they produce some of the most incredible sound we’ve ever heard from architectural speakers at Georgia Home Theater. So if you are looking for a surround sound system for your media space in Alpharetta or Atlanta, you owe it to yourself to listen to these.

Read on to learn more about the Monitor Audio Controlled Performance line.

This blog has now been updated; you can view this updated post here.

Soundbars sometimes get a bad rap. Audio enthusiasts tend to downplay these integrated speaker systems as fashion items with inferior sound quality. There are many soundbars on the market, and the bad rap, unfortunately, holds true for a great number of them. 

Soundbars, however, are incredibly popular for a variety of reasons. Some rooms don’t have a great deal of space for separate speakers. In some older homes, it may be challenging to retrofit wires for architectural speakers. Some people don't want to see more than one speaker in their room and prefer only a sleekly mounted speaker under the TV where it doesn't draw too much attention. The soundbar is a neat solution for all those scenarios. 

What about sound quality? The soundbar has benefited from over a decade of refinement in engineering. Digital signal processing, as well as better quality drivers and construction, enable today's higher-end soundbars to rival the sound quality of multi-speaker systems. Last month, we told you about Leon custom soundbars, an excellent choice for minimalist media rooms.  

This month, we have another customizable soundbar to tell you about, from none other than Klipsch. You know Klipsch as a classic American audio brand that’s been in business for over 70 years. Georgia Home Theater is proud to be Atlanta’s only Klipsch Heritage dealer, carrying audio enthusiast speakers like the Klipschorn as well as the affordable Reference Premier line. We’re excited to tell you about the new Klipsch Heritage Soundbar, which offers discreet, elegant looks with the robust sound quality you expect from Klipsch. Keep reading below for the details!