Going Wireless!

Internet and cable weren’t the only things to have gone wireless in recent years—so has in-home audio connections. Installing an audio system throughout your entire home used to be a dreaded discussion. Do you do it? Not do it? Even if you decided to move forward, it was a timely and difficult process, involving the removal of wall sections, dust and debris and the mind-boggling challenge of making sure that no wires were crossed.

But nowadays, thanks to brands like Proficient Audio, there are wireless whole house audio systems like the AirFlex. The transmitter connects to almost every audio source out there and broadcasts the sounds as a wireless RF signal to the AirFlex receiver, which can be placed up to 70 feet away. That means you can have speakers in two other rooms of your home and no cords or annoying cables to mess with!

Proficient has also introduced their new cinema speakers like the inwall and onwall LCRs as well as new floor-standing subs, to make your media room experience a blast. Literally! They’re also a resource for additional speaker options like LCR ceiling speakers, which come with a 10-inch Kevlar woofer and three-inch pivoting Kevlar midrange.

Let Tha Media Room rack our brains about the technicalities and help you assemble your perfect media room—and in-home audio system—in no time. Better yet, keep your sanity in check and those walls in one piece.

What's New? - Part 2

Tha Media Room continues our foray into one of the things we love most—beautiful, gorgeous TVs. Here’s some more of the latest screens to hit the market!



The Vizio XVT3D6SP series recently earned CNET’s Best of CES award in the TVs category, and rightly so. It comes in two sizes (47- and 55-inch) and are Google TV capable, meaning there’s a bevy of apps to choose from and interoperability between the television and Android-based phones and tablets. Live gaming services are also support and the TV comes with a touch-pad QWERTY remote control.




Capable of showing 2D or 3D material, the LG PX950 is one of the best plasma TVs currently out there. There are loads of streaming and interactive features and even more image controls to achieve the, well, picture-perfect finish. The single-plane design features a two inch-deep panel. Plus, the whole shebang is equipped with the first THX Display certification for 3D sources, meaning you’re getting the ultimate picture quality.



Panasonic delivers superior performance in its TC-PVT20/25 series. The THX mode features a solid 3D picture quality—and you even get a free pair of 3D glasses with purchase. Its VieraCast technology allows you to experience select Internet services and customized options, and it has an improved antireflective screen.

Need help sorting all this mumbo jumbo out? Call on the pros at Tha Media Room today to help you assemble your ultimate media space—with the ultimate TV!

What's New - Part 1

Tha Media Room recaps some of the latest TVs to hit the market that you need inside your media room:



Mitsubishi has just unveiled their newest TV—a 92-inch, 135 pound set, which has become the largest mass-produced TV on the market. With 16 speakers and 3D movie-playing capability, it’ll knock your socks off.



Sony’s producing the new XBR-HX929, a 3D equipped screen with dimming backlights and internet streaming services. The built-in LEDs are formatted to help movies achieve quality atmosphere, like during a sunrise or sunset scene, for example, when they’ll turn up or turn down brightness in real time.



With Internet-browsing capabilities, apps and local dimming, along with 3D, Samsung’s new UN65D8000 is tribute to today’s advanced technology. The screen is 65 inches, but it’s only 1.5 inches deep. The company has also rolled out a new plasma as part of its D8000 series.

In Control

Universal remotes, touchpad controls, voice-activated commands… where to start? Tha Media Room breaks down some of the latest high-tech ways to carry out your wishes.

Universal Remote Control offers up the motherload, with its state-of-the-art MX-6000. A large color display, Wi-Fi networking capabilities, audio video components, touch panel operation on an LCD screen, two-way feedback, a built-in web browser, iPod docking options and more make this piece of equipment your golden ticket to total “remote control.”

Samsung’s RMC30C2 Touch Control is a one-stop-shop for your TV and playback controls, and then some. Modeled in the likeness of a smartphone, the three-inch, full color touch-screen streams PC, digital camera, cell phone, audio and video files directly to your HDTV or Blu-ray disc with its unique AllShare technology. The remote also switches to a QWERTY keyboard for easy nagivation of your Samsung apps—plus it keeps track of your preferences and is completely rechargeable.

The new Prestigo universal remote from Philips is an impressive little toy. A clean layout prefaces its do-it-all, user friendly status. The remote’s LCD display can show only the buttons you use most frequently, and starts up your home entertainment activities with one click versus controlling each device separately. Power up your TV, DVD player and home theatre system in record time! The tech-savvy control has the ability to connect to your PC or Mac and is capable of controlling nearly anything out there, thanks to its infrared code database for more than 300,000 devices.

Need some help deciphering which one is right for you? Drop by Tha Media Room and we’ll talk you through all the clicks and buttons you need to know.

Sound Proof

The main goal to successfully sound proof a room is to lessen the traveling vibrations that result from your media room’s sonic booms (aka subwoofers) or battle sounds from those noisy war movies you’re crazy about! Tha Media Room can help you keep your racket confined, whether it’s a basement-turned-theater or your multi-functional living-and-media-room space.

One of the most common ways to deaden the sound that explodes from media room speakers is to use special insulation placed in between the walls. Once this is done, you can always cover the wall in further sound proofing material like homasote or specially designed sound board. A layer of drywall is then placed over this to cover the materials and hide it from sight.

More intricate ways of containing your media room sound could be the old room-within-a-room concept. It’s basically an extra layer of drywall placed over the original wall boundaries already in place. This creates gaps in the room that helps to absorb sound vibrations.

Whether you’re just starting to contemplate an in-home media room or need help installing the final touches—like that monster TV!—contact the experts at Tha Media Room. We can help you achieve the ultimate big picture.

Track and Go

Now that you’ve got your switches down (thanks to our last post on lighting), Tha Media Room offers up some ideas for lighting styles. Choosing the right style can not only enhance your media room experience but also complement the décor and theme you may have going on.

· Recessed lighting is a common media room preference; it’s easy, basic and affordable. Plus, they are tucked away into the ceiling just enough to avoid any glare on your screen and offer up a warm glow.

· Track lighting is a great option for easily edited illumination. A simple track is installed on the ceiling and flexible lights are attached, when can then be slid up and down and along the track as necessary. When your screen is active, they can be pointed down and away to avoid glare or dimmed to a soft light for minimal interference.

· Wall sconces provide a more decorative element to media room lighting, while still providing the ability to be dimmed as needed. Placing multiple sconce lights along two parallel walls in your media room can mimic the standard cinema floor lighting with a bit more personal style.

· Step lighting can also lend an authentic ambiance to a media room without leaving you in the dark. Small, recessed lights installed 12-18 inches above the floor level are perfect for theater-style seating and provide illumination without intruding onto your picture.

“Watts that?” Tha Media Room is here to solve your lighting dilemma and assist you in creating the ultimate media room for you. Give us a call today and find out how we can brighten up your space!

Light Me Up!

Media rooms often focus on the screen, the seating and the size. But one of the top ways to personalize your media room is with lighting. There’s an abundance of ways to accomplish this, so Tha Media Room “lights in” to a two-part blog series with illuminating ways to brighten up your space.

If you aren’t interested in completely overhauling your current media room lighting system, that’s okay. There are other ways to reinvent the bulb just enough to make it feel cool and customized for your next big movie night. At the top of the list are dimmer switches. These bad boys make mood lighting a cinch. Bright, dim or dark, you can adjust these easily-installed switches to achieve the perfect luminosity for the occasion. If you’re snacking while the movie’s on and need to see your food or if it’s a lights-out occasion, dimmer switches are a great way to personalize your space.

Preset lighting is another viable option for media rooms. Similar to the idea of dimmer switches, programming your lighting to immediately switch to a pre-determined level (other than simply on or off) saves time and effort when you’re ready to flip on the show. Remember, natural lighting isn’t media friendly. It inhibits the view of the screen and doesn’t tend to add to a theater ambiance. If you have windows in your media room, consider black out curtains to avoid unwanted rays.

Have a Seat!

Technology isn’t the only one getting an upgrade—your seating is, too. Tha Media Room has rounded up some of the top options for you to park it in comfort.

Sofa seating: This is probably one of the more common seating options for at-home media rooms. But not all sofas’ need be attached. Sectional sofas offer more diversity and can be moved around as required to accommodate guests, family or media room entertainment options. If you really want to the distance, some sectional sofas come in the size (or even shape) of a bed! You’ll end up sitting and staying awhile…

Lounge chairs: These are better suited for “individual seating” (as opposed to one large sofa) and are built for absolute comfort. Armrests, retractable foot rests and reclining positions are must-haves for a top-notch lounge chair. Place several of these around the room, or perhaps just one on either side of a larger ottoman or sofa. You can also invest in a lounging or recliner sofa, if you wish to keep your seating consistent. Lounge chairs also tend to have a more modern look and can mimic—such as Euro loungers—and can be outfitted in luxury leather complete with pop-out cupholders!

Video game chairs: Ah, the ultimate gamers requirement. If you spend more time speed-thumbing the buttons on your game controller then you do surfing TV channels, you might need one of these. Gaming chairs generally come with sturdy, swivel bases so you can get into the action without losing your seat. Retractable arm rests (for all those crazy air maneuvers), cup holders and even headrest speakers all add to the ambiance, creating a gamers’ paradise.

Call Tha Media Room today to begin planning your in-room media room, with all the seating you want!