As audio/video professionals, we deal with “Smart TVs” on a daily basis. Many clients ask about buying Smart TVs for their “Smart Features” thinking it will be a simple and cost-effective solution to upgrade their old TV as well as gain network features, such as Netflix or Pandora Internet radio. Most people end up disappointed. Here are some of the issues with Smart TVs and why there is a better way.

• Due to the fact that a Smart TV is both a TV and a “Smart Hub” or “App Center”, if the Smart features portion of the TV goes bad, your whole TV needs to be taken out to be serviced. In addition to being inconvenient, this can be very costly just to have access to Netflix, Pandora, etc.

• Extra cables must be purchased and installed in order to stream these Smart functions and have the sound play through your home theater speakers. Out of the box, a Smart TV will only play the sound from these Apps through the television, NOT THE STEREO. Depending on where your Smart TV is located and where your home theater equipment is located in relation to it, it can be a costly installation to get these extra cables ran from the TV to the gear location.

• Many devices these days need to be power-cycled to work effectively. Power-cycling is unplugging an electronic device from the power to restart it. Many times, it is impossible to power-cycle a TV if it is mounted on the wall as you can't access the power plug. If Netflix isn't working through your TV and you need to power-cycle it, you may be out of luck.

These days, almost all TVs are "Smart TVs". They all have the capability to connect to the Internet to get these apps. We recommend buying a TV for the picture quality and not the Smart features. When you pay more for a TV, you're paying for better contrast, better color and better motion. The more you pay, the better the picture. If you want Smart features, here's what we recommend:

• Add a device: How about having a small box w/ a cost of no more than $100 that can stream movies, TV shows, music and much much more and is about the size of a hockey puck? Sounds awesome right? We recommend the Roku streaming device and the AppleTV. Each allow for streaming and they do it BETTER than doing it through the TV (see above issues).

• Add a Blu-Ray player: Many of today's Blu-Ray players also allow you to stream. You also can play Blu-Ray discs, DVDs and CDs through these machines. NOTE: This would be the second-best option. Using a Roku or AppleTV is a better way to go.

You are now a Smart TV expert! If you're looking at new TVs at the big-box store and the sales guy tells you that you need a Smart TV, proceed to run away and come on in to Aire Theater Designs...San Diego's Smart TV and surround sound professionals.

San Diego Home Theater and Surround Sound Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County including Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Pt Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Olivenhain, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.