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We're revisiting an old article as we got a call today from a client that couldn't find anyone to program a universal remote for them in Murrieta or Temecula. In addition to ALL of San Diego, we sell, install and program universal remotes in both Murrieta, Temecula and the surrounding areas. Interested in what a good universal remote can do to make your life easy? Read on!
Have you noticed that you can't just watch TV anymore? For most systems, the series of commands goes TV ON>CABLE BOX ON>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER ON>TV INPUT>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER INPUT>AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER SURROUND MODE just to watch television. What a nightmare! This process includes multiple remotes and if something gets pushed that shouldn't...you may never be able to watch TV again. However, we here at Aire Theater Designs have the cure to the above insanity...the universal remote.
In a nutshell, a GOOD universal remote will allow you to push ONE button and all of the commands above magically pop out of the remote, summon your surround sound system to behave and ta-da!...you're watching TV. Good universal remotes also ensure that the system can't get out of whack so if someone pushed a button they shouldn't have, one push of the universal remote puts everything back where it should be.
We say a "good universal remote" as many popular brands of remotes actually don't make the system behave if the wrong button gets pushed. Sounds odd, doesn't it? We agree but we've been fixing systems for years for clients that have these particular brands that don't allow systems to work flawlessly. We recommend two brands of universal remote. They are URC (Universal Remote Control) and RTI. Here's why.
In a nutshell, both these remotes have what we call "smart" or discrete codes. These codes allow the remote to know if elements of the system are out of whack. For example, if half of your components were ON and half OFF, these remotes from URC and RTI would know and would make sure everything is ON or OFF when you need them there. Some of the other brands on the market DON'T know so if you try to turn the system ON in the above instance, half of your components would still be OFF!
Now that you know what brand to buy, what remote is best for you...URC vs RTI? Here are some things to consider:
1) Screen size: Typically the more expensive the remote, the larger the screen and the easier it is to see the buttons. Here's an example of a GOOD remote (URC MX780i) next to a BETTER remote (URC MX980i). The difference in screen size is apparent.
2) What will you be controlling? If it is a single room or a basic surround sound system with a few rooms of music in other areas, something like the GOOD or BETTER options above work great. If you are thinking about controlling elements such as lighting, surveillance cameras, thermostats or other home automation systems, one of our BEST options may fit the bill. These typically include some form of iPad control and well as hand-held remotes.
RTI iPad solution for dedicated theater, lighting control, thermostats, cameras and whole-house audio - Murrieta
3) Do you want to hide your surround sound equipment? All of our remotes have separate options so your cable boxes, receivers, Blu-Ray players, etc. can hide out-of-sight behind closet doors or cabinet fronts. You don't have to see any of the equipment!
Interested? Make an appointment to stop by our office. We've got many different models running our systems and we can recommend what will be best for your particular set-up. We are Aire Theater Designs, San Diego's URC and RTI universal remote experts.
San Diego home theater installation company Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, Lake Murray, Friars, North Park, Balboa Park, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Point Loma and Downtown San Diego. We also gladly serve those in North San Diego County which includes Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Elfin Forest, Oceanside, Olivenhain, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. We aren't forgetting about our East County friends in El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lakeside and Alpine. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
4K Television Offerings: These TVs have 4K resolution which offers 4 times the pixels and resolution of today's high-definition offerings. Video has never looked so good!
High-Definition Television Offerings: Look at Sony's TVs with their TRILUMINOS technology. This patented process makes for unrivaled colors.
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.
FOOTBALL! It's closer than you think. You've only got a couple weeks until preseason. You owe it to yourself to watch this year's games on a TV the size of a billboard. You can do this AND save yourself some money with some of this month's television sales. See the latest Sony deals and Martin Logan subwoofer specials. NOTE: Some of these deals are close-outs and when the sets are gone, they are gone.TV pricing is presented by the manufacturer and can change at any time.
SPEAKERS AND SURROUND SOUND
WISEBUYS AND CLOSE-OUTS!
Fortress demo theater seating: 60% off! 2 chairs left! Regular: $1500.00 each.
SOLD OUT! Congratulations to Richard and Kathy for getting a fantastic deal AND great sound. Atlantic Technology 7.1 soundbars at 50% off! This is another deal that is SOOOOO good that we can't list the model number.
Velodyne in-wall subwoofer: 50% off!
Yamaha 7.1 surround sound receiver with multi-room/multi-source: Regular: $649.99...Used for 1 week for testing: $399.99!
We will be adding some new tower speakers to our showroom shortly and selling off some of our Martin Logan, Definitive Technology and Monitor Audio samples. We can't list the model numbers in print, but call us if interested and we can go over the specifics.
Interested in any of these products? Contact your favorite ATD project manager and we'll give you the scoop. Discounts cannot be combined. See salesperson for details. All products carry a full manufacturers' warranty. Some manufacturers don't allow us to show the model numbers due to CRAZY pricing...call ATD to find out more. TV pricing is day-to-day and can change at any time.
San Diego home theater installation company Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Rolando, SDSU, Darnall, Cerritos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, 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, Olivenhain, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. We aren't forgetting about our East County friends in El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lakeside and Alpine. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
Want to save some $$$? If you're checking out 4K TVs or high-quality soundbars, you're in luck! See the latest Sony deals and Definitive Technology soundbar specials for CRAZY savings. NOTE: Some of these deals are close-outs and when the sets are gone, they are gone.TV pricing is presented by the manufacturer and can change at any time.
SPEAKERS AND SURROUND SOUND
WISEBUYS AND CLOSE-OUTS!
Fortress demo theater seating: 60% off! 2 chairs left! Regular: $1500.00 each.
SOLD OUT! Congratulations to Richard and Kathy for getting a fantastic deal AND great sound. Atlantic Technology 7.1 soundbars at 50% off! This is another deal that is SOOOOO good that we can't list the model number.
Velodyne in-wall subwoofer: 50% off!
Yamaha 7.1 surround sound receiver with multi-room/multi-source: Regular: $649.99...Used for 1 week for testing: $399.99!
We will be adding some new tower speakers to our showroom shortly and selling off some of our Martin Logan, Definitive Technology and Monitor Audio samples. We can't list the model numbers in print, but call us if interested and we can go over the specifics.
Interested in any of these products? Contact your favorite ATD project manager and we'll give you the scoop. Discounts cannot be combined. See salesperson for details. All products carry a full manufacturers' warranty. Some manufacturers don't allow us to show the model numbers due to CRAZY pricing...call ATD to find out more. TV pricing is day-to-day and can change at any time.
San Diego home theater installation company Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County especially the communities and cities of Central San Diego County which includes Rolando, SDSU, Darnall, Cerritos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, La Mesa, 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, Olivenhain, Escondido, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Santaluz, La Jolla, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. We aren't forgetting about our East County friends in El Cajon, Blossom Valley, Lakeside and Alpine. Need help in Murrieta, Wildomar, Temecula, Fallbrook or Bonsall...we're there too.
Sonos PLAY5 stereo demo - San Diego
Our Sonos rep stopped by the office today to see if we had experienced the Sonos PLAY5 speakers. We have heard them previously but we were intrigued by his stereo demo offer so we took a break to listen. In a nutshell, this entails using 2 of Sonos' reference speakers in stereo (just one pair of speakers). After listening to multiple tracks through these speakers, we were blown away by the bass, accuracy and imaging from this set-up.
This configuration could be a GREAT way to get a good sounding stereo set-up without spending a ton of money. For example, a quality stereo list of gear reads as follows:
BETTER 2 CHANNEL STEREO SYSTEM:
The above stereo system is fantastic but it also costs almost $4800.00. The pair of Sonos PLAY5 speakers only costs $999.98 and provides FANTASTIC sound! Interested in hearing more? Call San Diego's Sonos PLAY5 leading dealer and let us happily get you on the right path to good sound.
P.S. 07/07/2021 - Sonos has a new model called the Sonos FIVE instead of the PLAY5. Wondering about the FIVE vs PLAY5? The sound is virtually similar to the old one but the FIVE features updated technology and more processing power. These features mean very little to the average human so if you want GREAT sound out of a portable speaker, this is a fantastic choice!
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, 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, 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.
Martin Logan Motion 50XT center channel - San Diego home theater installation
Have you ever been watching a movie and asked the person next to you, "What did the guy say?" The way that movies are mastered in the studio and then transferred to DVD/Blu-Ray can make it hard to hear voices unless you have your surround sound system turned up to 11. Here's what we did to improve a client's audio/video system so it sounded MUCH better.
1) ADD A CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER
This client had an existing stereo set-up with a pair of speakers. They didn't opt to go with surround sound initially as there was nowhere in the rear of the room to add speakers.The room is open and has lots of echo so voices on TV/Blu-Rays were bring distorted. Our team added a center channel speaker from Martin Logan (Martin Logan Motion 50XT) to focus the vocals directly to the listening area. This speaker is characterized by extremely clean treble and mid-range and we felt it would do well to enhance the clarity of voices, speech and center effects.
2) OPTIMIZE THE SYSTEM
Many of today's audio/video receivers have multiple ways to calibrate the audio settings. This is VERY important to provide better sound. In this home theater installation, we had to tweak the volume to match the existing system in addition to adjusting the EQ for the center channel to match the tonal balance of the left/right speakers. NOTE: Many surround sound receivers don't have this feature. Choose wisely or talk to our salespeople about what receiver is right for your application. Once we adjusted the center EQ, the difference in sound was mind-blowing.
Our client could now hear vocals clearly and it seemed like there was an entire wall of sound across the front of the room. The difference in sound was night-and-day and it only took us about an hour. PROBLEM SOLVED!
Want better sound out of your existing surround sound system? Let us help. We are professionals with over 50 years of experience on our team. Want to really enhance your surround sound? Stay tuned for our next tech tip on why you should buy a better subwoofer and room placement.
San Diego Home Theater Installers Aire Theater Designs proudly serves all of San Diego County which includes Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, Talmadge, Kensington, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, El Cajon, Blossom Valley, La Mesa, 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, 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.