You've invested in brand new high-end speakers and the best-rated AV receiver on the market. You've installed a whole house audio system that makes it easy for you to pull up your favorite music in any room of your Lake Forest, IL home. Once you hit play, though, you're disappointed to find there's static coming through your state-of-the-art system.

It’s easy to blame your brand new equipment or the people that installed it. Often, though, it's not an entire revamp that you need, simply a change in music. When you upgrade your stereo system, you're going to get much crisper, powerful sound. But if you're listening to poor sources—say an overused CD player or MP3 file—the system is simply going to magnify their flaws. For this reason, it's critical that you connect the right source components when installing your whole house audio system. 

SEE MORE: Best Speaker Options for Your Whole House Audio

CD vs. Turntable

Physical music sources like CD players or turntables are the least popular when it comes to whole house music systems for a simple reason. You need to manually access your source component if you want to change the album, taking away from the benefit of having centralized access. That being said, we're not saying you have to throw away your CD or vinyl collections.

According to a study by ECN Magazine, 70 percent of pet parents feel guilty when they have to leave their pets alone to go to work or on vacation. Home automation systems have become a way for owners to take care of their pets’ wellbeing without having to be in their Kenilworth, IL home. Whether it’s making sure fish aquariums have the right environment or the cat isn’t getting into the pantry again, owners can get peace of mind with these smart home features.

SEE MORE: How to Give Your Smart Home a Personal Feel

Your Personal Animal Channel

Why scour the internet for cute dog and cat videos when you can look in on your personal favorites? With a home automation solution, you can watch live surveillance footage from your smartphone at any time. See if your dog is still by the door waiting for you to return or check if the cat left you any gifts in the litter box. You can search from room to room and zoom in to get a good look at what your pets are doing.

Upgrade to a Smart Doggy Door

There can be a discernible divide in the audiophile world between those enthralled by the art of high-end audio and those that immerse themselves in the science of it. Some people want to know all about the process that goes into a speaker. What materials were chosen? How were the drivers placed within the enclosure? Others focus on listening to various models to see which sounds best. Ultimately the goal is the same: powerful, clean sound. In this blog, we explore the details that go into a high-performance speaker. If you’d rather hear it to believe it, contact us to schedule a test drive of our top loudspeakers.

SEE MORE: Create the Perfect Atmosphere for High-End Audio

Using the Right Material

One of the biggest variations between speakers has to do with the materials being used to reduce the amount of flexing allowed by cones within the drivers. The more flexing, the more distortion, so manufacturers look to use lightweight, but rigid materials. This same kind of mentality goes into designing speaker tweeters. Some manufacturers use glass or clay while high-end ones have even gone as far as using Kevlar, diamond, or beryllium in their speakers.

Designing the Right Enclosure
Another thing that can directly affect sound quality is the amount of reverberations within a speaker cabinet, which can result in external noise that colors the sound. Two things go into designing your enclosure, giving it the right shape and having the right layout within it. The enclosure needs to be tight enough to brace the driver without being too tight for sound waves to make it through. Drivers need to be expertly placed to allow for clear, unobstructed communication.

Real estate trends are shifting in favor of tech-savvy solutions that give homeowners unprecedented control over their property. A recent study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC found that 44 percent of homeowners want a move-in ready smart home. What’s the best way for builders in the Wilmette, IL area to keep up with this growing demand for smart technology? They can partner with their local Control4 dealer who will work with them during the construction process to lay the framework for a custom smart home solution.

SEE MORE: Why You Should Hire a Professional to Install Your Smart Technology

Clients Are Expecting Homes With Custom Solutions

When it comes to smart technology, expectations may vary widely from project to project. Some clients may simply want surveillance cameras they can monitor remotely. Others want a fully integrated solution that gives them intuitive control of lights, entertainment, climate, security and more. Our Control4 systems range from 1-room to whole house options so homeowners can choose whichever fits their distinct needs. With our initial wiring installation, it's easy for them to expand in the future if they want to add new technology to their smart home system.

Help Create a Foundation for the Future 

The holiday season has finally arrived! Everyone’s ready to come to your Highland, Park IL home to celebrate, so what are you doing to prepare? Start off with some late spring cleaning and much-needed decorations. Then why not add some music to set the right ambiance? Through your whole house audio system, it's easy to get the party going with the right music selection. Keep reading to see how your home audio can get you through the holiday season.

SEE MORE: 5 Great Speaker Options for Your Whole House Audio

Get the Holiday Spirit Going

From a tap on your dedicated touchpad or smartphone, you can get your favorite Christmas carols playing throughout your home in a matter of seconds. Your whole house audio system gives you centralized control of all your favorite music. What does this mean when it comes to getting the ultimate holiday playlist going?

For one, it’s easy to choose from different audio sources. Start off with some of your favorite Christmas albums playing on the turntable then switch over to your “White Christmas” Pandora station. Once you know the music you want to play, it’s time to choose where you want it to go. You can have it play in just your dedicated game room or throughout your home.