Installing Your Dream Home Theater This School Year

Ready or not, here comes the school year! Once the kids are out of the house and back in class, it might be time to finally remolding your home. Updating any room can be a wonderful way to entertain your creative side, spend time together with your family, and add value to your home. All of us have things we’d LIKE to do but, out of respect for our wallets, we have to take baby steps towards our dream home. Dreams are important but realistic goals get the job done! When you are ready to begin updating your home for the Fall, make sure that you have clear goals so that you can make forward progress, instead of creating more work or costing an unnecessary amount of money.

One of the easiest ways to make a quick change in your home is to update your home theater. This can quickly make your home look more modern. Plus, what’s better that watching your favorite TV shows or movies with your kids when they come back from school? If you want to upgrade your home theater, here are some easy changes you can make to achieve your goal.

First, you can change your TV for a projector! TVs are great but if you want epic entertainment what you need in your life is a projector. There are many choices when it comes to screens but size is the most important. While a projector gives you much more control over the scale of your shows and movies, keep in mind that every projector creates limited light amount. When the image is bigger, the overall brightness is lower. Alternatively, if you would like to keep things “old school,” a flat screen television is always a good idea.

Second, installing surround sound to your TV or projector can take your viewing experience from average to extraordinary. Surround sound is a technique used for enriching the sound quality by adding additional audio channels from speakers that surround you in a 360° radius. Don’t underestimate the power of incredible audio! Imagine being able to watch a movie and listen exactly what is happening all around you. When you setup your surround sound properly, you can immerse yourself into whatever you’re watching.

Adding theater seating can make a dramatic change to your home if your goal is a visual change. If you are interested in replacing your couch with actual theatre seating, there are some things you might want to keep in mind. For example, there is such a thing as too many seats! Cuddling under a blanket is off the table if you fill your home theater exclusively with individual seats.

If you are aiming for an individual cinema experience, make sure each is as good as all the others. In term of video and audio performance, it is hard to setup a “no bad seats” situation. This is because you need to put seats away from the surround speakers and the walls. If you have seats too close to the walls they end up with the heavy bass behind them. If the seats are too close to the surround system, you will be uncomfortable with the loud sounds and there will be nothing you could do about it.

Lastly, a great finishing touch comes when you add a light control system and a universal remote.

A lighting control system may seem overly fancy but it can make a huge difference. Good quality lighting can make a huge impact on the way your home looks, as well as your home theater experience. In case you do not already know, installing light controls in your home gives you the ability to regulate the level and quality of light in any given space for specific situations. You can have a bright, beautiful room while chatting, a low light to calm everyone in at night, and a dim setting that keeps you from running into things during a film without compromising the visual quality of the movie.

Controlling light properly will not only enhance the experience but it also helps you save energy by using light when and where it is needed most. In your average home, most light controls are a simple on/off switch, rather than a dimmer. This means that whether it's the middle of the day or it's nighttime, your lightning is the exactly the same. Through dimming, you can control the quantity of light to fit specific tasks, moods, or situations. This not only will help you improve experiences, but it will also save wasted energy in the process.

If what you are looking for is simplicity, a universal control could make a big difference. Right now, in your living room, you likely have a lot of appliances, each one with its own remote control. Not only does this create clutter but it also gets confusing and frustrating! A properly setup universal remote can allow you to have the functions of that handful of remotes in one ready-to-go package.

Customizing your home theater can help improve your home’s look and encourage your family to spent time together on your own terms. All of the above projects are wonderful opportunities for your family to set things up their way. However, if you are not do-it-yourselfers, there are plenty of wonderful options around San Antonio, Texas that can help you upgrade your home this Fall. Mimi’s Audio & Video helps install home theater systems, mount flat screen TVs, and setup surround sound systems.

6 Stunning Home Theater Trends

What’s better than watching your favorite movies of all time in your home theater? Nothing! At home, you can treat yourself with your preferred food choices and you can watch all the movies you want in your pajamas! Back in the day, a trip to the movies was a fancy event that people dressed up to attend. Now, however, no one wants to wear a tie to see the latest Avengers movie! Even though movie theaters have dramatically changed towards the home-like scenery for their customers to experience, it’s still not the same as if you were watching a movie at home.

When it comes to comfort, you can’t beat watching a movie in your own home, your own way. Whether you are a dedicated do-it-yourselfer or you call in companies like Mimi’s Audio & Video for support, you can make your home theater dreams come true.

If you’re interested in investing a home theater for you and the whole family to enjoy, here are six stunning trends you should consider when thinking of decoration ideas.

1. Multiple Screens

Including multiple screens can mean two or more flat-panel TVs on the same wall. You can have a flat-panel TV for casual purposes and by having multiple screens you can use them for everyday viewing that gets covered by a larger front-projection screen for movies and major events. Screens on various walls in a room appear to be a popular arrangement that function as party or entertainment spaces. Why have so many screens? Nowadays, our video choices are so vast that people often don’t want to be restricted to just one option in a room.

2. Hybrid Space

Whether you have a home theater, media room, game room, it doesn’t matter much what you call it as long as it includes a sound system and a display device. A popular trend rising in the home theater market is the hybrid approach of incorporating more traditional furniture such as a sofa and chaise lounge seating. Why do others move to this change? Simple, people want home theater multipurpose rooms. However, multipurpose media rooms need access to a wide variety of content such streaming media devices, which are perfect for providing content. Instead of seeing Blu-ray players or high-end movie servers, there are a lot of Apple TVs and Roku players going into these family media rooms.

3. Social Networking

In today’s technological world, smartphones and tablets are not only being used to change channels and control the volume of our home theaters, they’re acting as secondary viewing screens. It’s easy to say that social media is the reason smartphone and tablet markets have become successful. Not to mention, sports likely accounts for much of the live tweeting in the home theater. Smart TVs from Panasonic include social networking features such as Facebook and Twitter. Nothing would be more interesting to see than having your own social posts being displayed on your Smart TV. Seeing anything on a bigger screen is always going to be seen as more intriguing than compared to looking at something on the size of your mobile screen device. 

4. Networking Media

Many underestimate about the quality of their home network when it comes to planning their home theater, instead they should think about where their content is coming from. There is at least 25 percent of homes that have an internet-connected Blu-ray player in home theaters. If you add dedicated streaming devices, smart TVs and networked gaming consoles, it’s safe to say that the internet is the most popular source for most people’s entertainment. Streaming content may not provide high-quality such as Blu-ray players or CDs, but it’s bound to improve. You see it yourself in other homes that networks are getting pushed to their limits, in versatility and reach. It’s obvious that having a home network is crucial to have if you want to own a quality home theater. Wireless is not good enough to stream video, therefore people rather install networked sources such as Apple TVs.

5. Floorstanding, Soundbar Speakers

People are starting a trend of using floorstanding and bookshelf speakers rather than in-wall speakers. Even though in-wall speakers hide all of the equipment, floorstanding and surface-mounted on-wall speakers produce the clearest audio. Some may have an opinion about soundbars being known for looks rather than sound, but today’s best soundbars approach the quality of full-range speakers and can be easily integrated into the home. Bluetooth, wireless subwoofers, built-in audio processing and one-remote operation are becoming attractive systems for people looking to upgrade to instead of sticking with their poor-sounding TV speakers. Improving your quality of sound can help you and the rest of the family enjoy your favorite movies and shows.

6. Value

It may seem odd to call this a trend, but the price of home theater products has dropped significantly while features and performance continue to improve. Companies that produce projectors such as Epson, Mitsubishi and JVC offer very good 3D projectors at half the cost of comparable projectors years ago. If you want to speak about high-end, companies such as DPI and SIM2 offer technologies that eliminate the need for additional expenses of anamorphic lenses for viewing superwide CinemaScope movie formats. Imagine having a front-projection theater system with little or no worries about the cost of such installation.   

How To Install A Home Theater System

Depending on how technologically inclined you are, installing a home theater system in your home can be one of the best and most challenging DIY tasks you could face. Before thinking of which home theater system you want to purchase, you have to strategically select WHERE you want to install it and how soon can you make the purchase. It’s safe to say that installing a home theater system is easier said than done! Even though it may be worth-while of a purchase to make, the installation process comes with a heavy price.

A home system nowadays isn’t cheap; it will cost you. Of course, one of the cons is that it will cost you more money than you could expect. If there are any additional items you would like to include in the home theater system, it’s going to cost a little extra each time. Not to mention, you want to make sure you are purchasing the right system at the appropriate electronic store.

Not only do you have to invest MONEY into a home theater system, but also TIME as well, since you will need to become familiar with the system. It’s a hassle for an individual to read through a whole manual about what they need to do in order to maintain their system and make sure everything is functioning properly. In most cases, nobody reads the whole manual due to lack of interest and others viewing it as a waste of time.

Not to mention, the installation process is usually the most difficult for an individual to decide whether or not they will install it themselves or hire someone to complete the task for them. Anyone with the right mind is capable of installing a home theater system, but if not installed properly, it could turn out to be one big mess. Especially if the individual does not have enough experience with technology or home systems. Stress is more likely to occur if the individual is not willing to seek professional advice for installing their home theater system. Typically, people don’t want to hire a professional to do something they can accomplish themselves. Yet again, if people hire professionals to install their home theater systems, it can be costly. Some may have the unfortunate luck of having a professional who rips them off of their money or does not perform a good job.

Luckily, there are individuals who don’t have to worry of any of those installation problems. Mimi’s Audio and Video Installation in San Antonio, Texas, is credited for providing quality customer service and professionals equipped with years of technological experience. this turns into a pro because you will be using that money on enjoyment that will bring you many hours of viewing pleasure. Mimi’s provides everything you need to have your own private viewing area for your favorite movies and shows. From huge theater rooms to small man caves, they have got you covered. One of the many services they offer to install for their customers are:

●      Large Projector Screens

●      Flat Screen Televisions

●      Surround Sound

●      Theater Seating

●      Lighting Control

●      Universal Remotes

●      Automatically Tinting Windows

Mimi’s takes away any of the troubles you may have when it comes to installing a home theater system. You won’t have to worry about being precautious of making a mistake when setting up your home system. Nor will you have to waste any extra money on other items or services that will  only make your installation process more difficult than it should be. They give their customers the opportunity to save their time and effort of installing a home system. Who would not want to hire a professional who is capable of performing an acceptable home theater installation performance. Installing home theater systems can be a complex and difficult task for an average individual to accomplish. Mimi’s installation professionals are willing to do all of the hard work for you. Their professionals can educate customers on how a home theater system works and recommend any products they feel would best fit their future home system. Not to mention, Mimi’s is credited for being one of the top home theater installation services in San Antonio.

Press one button on your remote and have your projector shine a brilliant picture on your enormous screen, your surround sound will activate, your movie will start playing, your lights will turn off, and your windows will automatically tint to darken the room! Treat yourself to a theater that everyone will envy and nobody will want to leave…in the comfort of your own home. 

Hire The Right IT Security Professional to Save Your Wifi Network

Nowadays, it is common for one to have a wifi router located in their homes as well as any public domains in San Antonio, TX. The question is, how did the individual set up their wifi network to function? Did the individual think to hire an IT security professional to install their wifi network in order to avoid any complications? Majority of the time people will perform certain tasks on their own if they feel they can do it themselves without any professional help. However, a person can suffer the consequences of having an unsafe wifi network if they do not take the precautionary steps to avoid problems. The biggest issue with people not wanting to hire an IT security professional is they do not know if they can trust the person or would be willing to spend their time and money.

If an individual chooses to set up their own wifinetwork they are increasing the risk of having their security breached or system failure. Having an unsafe wifi network can cause people to suffer in the long term period. Certain individuals will ask a friend or work colleague who have little or no experience in setting up wifi networks. This method may work for the short term period, but eventually the individual will build questions and concerns only an IT security professional can solve. Another common mistake most people make is hiring a professional at the cheapest rate. Usually, the high and manageable priced IT security professionals are the ones recommended rather than those who are cheap and have little or no credibility. Not to mention, if an individual hires an IT security professional who is not open to discuss the details of their work, they are more than likely not to be trusted.

There are numerous amount of benefits one can receive from hiring the right IT security professional. The individual should search for one who is recognized for offering quality service and can be found within the area of San Antonio. IT security professionals who are recommended by others through word of mouth will attract people to seek their services. If the individual wants to have an efficient wifi network, they should research themselves about what kind of IT security professional they want to hire. An individual who has decent knowledge about the work an IT security professional does, the easier it will be for the individual to communicate with the professional. 

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Smart Flat Screen Television?

What is the first thing you anticipate doing when purchasing your newest flat screen television? You want your new television set up and ready to go in your living room as soon as possible. You’re excited and can’t wait to watch your favorite sitcoms or sporting events. Not to mention, you want to show off and brag about your new flat screen television set to your friends and family. However, do you know what other features your new flat screen television can offer? You won’t find large and bulky television sets sold in stores anymore, you will most likely find lightweight and thin television sets. Nowadays, most flat screen televisions are created to serve as “Smart TV’s” and have the ability to perform multiple activities at once. If you own a smart flat screen television and you’re only using it to watch television shows and movies, then you are missing out!

 There are television installation service companies which can get rid of the hard work you would usually perform when setting up your television set. Television installation companies such as Mimi’s Audio and Video educate their customers on how to receive the best experience from their television features. Mimi’s offers other services such as connecting the flat panel TV to video components, configure the smart TV for media streaming. Not only can television sets let you use the internet, but they can let you download certain software programs. There are certain cables that can allow you to connect your laptop to your television. This kind of availability gives people the chance to enjoy doing their work on a larger screen.

Not to mention, owning a smart flat screen television can let you control almost anything in your own house. For example, there are smart TV’s with certain applications you can install to lock all doors and windows in your house. At the end of the day smart TV’s are larger computers that give people the opportunity to stream the internet and listen to music. If you happened to be interested in the services Mimi’s Audio and Video has to offer, call them at 210-289-4432 to order your next technological product to be installed. 

St. Patrick’s Day: For Those Watching the Festivities at Home

Murphy’s St. Patrick’s Day River Parade and Festival is San Antonio’s most popular tourist attraction in March. For local celebrators, simply watching the marching bands and floats on live television is entertaining enough. This makes it the perfect time to have a get-together at the house, wear green clothes, and enjoy the day with close friends and family - all  while honoring the patron saint of Ireland!

But, before gathering your beer-drinking buddies and preparing tasty finger foods, there’s one other task that must be completed before the big day: installing your new flat screen television.

For experienced TV installers, your manual is waiting for you! However, if you want to avoid injury and avoid improper installation, there are service professionals in San Antonio and other local areas who are willing to attend to your home installation needs, often on the same day you make the call too. Just in time to watch the bagpipes and drummers!

Declared the “best company in San Antonio for all your audio/video & wifi installation” needs,

Mimi’s Audio & Video is the perfect group to reach out to for TV wall mount installation, especially when connecting cables in-wall and in-ceiling. They also specialize in wifi-network, projector and surround sound setup; so if your room was meant to go above and beyond, Mimi’s quality of service ensures that your project receives the right attention and care.

A wall-mount service like Mimi’s will save you from both wasting your time on installation and experiencing future technical difficulties. This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate without the hassle of a loose bolt or the frustration of ensuring your projector is configured properly. Let someone else provide everything you need to make this parade-season enjoyable to watch!

Request a free quote or call Mimi’s Audio & Video at 210-289-4432.

How to Determine The Right Wifi Router For You And Your Business

Whether you need wifi for your apartment or corporation, choosing the wrong router will slow down the loading time for webpages and the download time for fileson any device connected to the internet. The perfect router depends on its purpose, range, and speed, and is correlated with how much you’re willing to spend to have the best features.

Price

The first question to ask is how much are you willing to spend to create and setup a wifi network? Routers usually start at around $30 and can be as pricy as $400 per router. If you conduct business in a large building or office space, it would be best to have multiple routers or expanded access points in wide areas. This is so your network users don’t have to stand around the closest modem to connect to the internet properly.

Purpose

Some wifi routers are built specifically to aid the purpose of being connected. For example, the best routers to use for watching and streaming high-definition videos are either dual-band or tri-band, meaning there are multiple streams between devices and therefore faster speeds. If you’re simply going to use the routers to surf the web and you’re only connected on one to three devices, a simple, cheap wifi router will do.

Speed

Choosing the right speed for your wifi router will determine whether or not you can update your stream fast enough. It will also make all the difference when you’re having a difficult time sending out a mass email to your coworkers. The biggest deciding factor when choosing the right speed is knowing how many devices will be connected to your network. For one to three devices, anything from N150 to N300 will work. With four to seven devices, an N450 would be a better option. The best routers when using eight or more devices have N speeds of 600 or greater.

Range

Speed and range are the two main factors when choosing the right wifi router. Small households and apartments can use the cheapest router because the range doesn’t need to scour very far. For medium sized houses, dual-band routers N900 and up should be used to cover a wider range. Large homes should consider using routers that have a speed of AC900 or higher. And, once again, multiple routers should be purchased for devices used in a large-scale business environment or wifi expansion devices.

A Word of Caution

Many people that take it upon themselves to set up their wireless router end up having slower speeds, a smaller range, and may incorrectly feel like their purchase was not intended for the purpose of using that router. It’s best to find a local service that can help you properly setup your wifi network to get full use of your router.

If you’re located in San Antonio, Texas, there are services that set up your wifi connection as well as install the devices that receive the connection, such as Smart TVs and home theaters. Mimi’s Audio & Video is considered the best company for all your audio/video &wifi installation needs. They also handle surround sound installation, as well as flat screen TV and wall mount installations, all of which can be conducted on the same day you call.

If you need more information, feel free to check out their site here, or call them at (210) 289-4432 to get more information about same day installation and all of the services they offer.