Hardware
Back to basics: The AV Receiver
You have heard the term AV Receiver. You may have heard it from your kids. Maybe you heard it around the water cooler or coffee pot at work. Maybe you just picked the term out of an overheard conversation at Starbucks. Regardless of where you heard about an AV...
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Connect Alexa to a Bluetooth Speaker
[In this article, I’ll sometimes refer to “Echo” and sometimes refer to “Alexa” – the terms are interchangeable.] Let’s face it, Amazon Echo devices are pretty great. One detail, though. For some Echo devices, particularly the Echo Dot, the sound quality isn’t as good...
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Better Router Solves Music Streaming Problems
A new customer’s MusicCast speakers kept dropping Pandora – A better router fixed this annoying issue. She loved the Yamaha MusicCast speakers in her home – when they worked. After one frustrating day of the speakers dropping Pandora about six times, she had as much...
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3 Ways to Hide a Wall Mounted TV
We have all seen flat screen TV’s mounted on walls. It’s a great way to maximize space in a room and free up space on furniture. Aesthetically, however, having a great big flat screen dominating a wall in your house isn’t the most pleasing proposition. If this is one...
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Como Cambiar la Configuración Automática de su Samsung Smart TV para Bajar el Nivel de Brillo
Recientemente, Next Step Audio Enhancement instaló un televisor nuevo inteligente para un cliente (Smart TV-Model #UN48J5500). En menos de hora y media de haber hecho la instalación, el cliente llamó por teléfono y dijo: “El televisor ha bajado el nivel de...
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5 Things to Consider Before Buying a New TV
It’s the Christmas buying season and you want to get the best deal you can on a new TV. Just imagine the looks on the kids’ faces as they open the family gift. There are sales everywhere, but are they the best deals for you? How do you navigate through all...
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Moving a Home Theater System
Getting a new place to call home can be an exciting adventure. The act of moving, not so much. I will be the first to admit that I am not a fan of moving. Because of this, I do everything I can to make the experience as painless as possible. Just to be...
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How To Manage Your Speaker Wires
[Note, This article orignally appeared on April 26, 2014 and was edited on July 21, 2017] One of the biggest complaints about surround systems is that the wires/cables running around the room are an eyesore. There are a number of ways to minimize the visual impact of...
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Speaker Wire Guidelines
[Note, This article orignally appeared on May 15, 2014 and was edited on July 14, 2017] Perhaps the most overlooked component of home theater setup is the speaker wire. The easiest, most convenient thing to do is to take the wire that is included with your receiver or...
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