Custom installation has trickled down quickly. A few years ago the exclusive
plaything of the very rich, it has since made its way through the merely rich
and recently arrived at the middle class. Rising incomes and rapidly plummeting
prices for sophisticated technology have conspired to make it possible for the
Average Joe to seriously consider hiring a professional to pipe music throughout
his house or install a one-touch-does-all home theater.
In “Sound All Around” (July/August), “Video All Around”
(September), and “Beyond Audio/Video” (October), I explored options
for multiroom audio and video systems as well as “smart” control systems
that do the work for you. A common thread has run through these articles: since
most of these systems require extensive design, planning, and wiring, it’s
essential to find the right professional to handle the job.
While much of what follows is applicable to both new and existing houses, this
article is geared primarily toward new construction. If you’re building
or planning to build a house, you can save yourself many headaches — and
thousands of dollars! — by planning your system now.
Why
all the wire?
