John Sciacca

Philips Pronto TSU9600 Touchscreen Control Panel

By John Sciacca
Posted June 4, 2007

The original Philips Pronto universal remote, introduced way back in 1998, offered a level of programmability and customization totally unheard of at its $399 price, and it instantly became a smash with installers and do-it-yourselfers alike. But over the years, love for the Pronto has waned as other companies created smartly designed models of their own.

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TV Tweaks - Part One: House Calls

What you can expect when an ISF technician comes to calibrate your TV

By John Sciacca
Posted May 16, 2002

You finally made the plunge - you bought a new TV. After countless hours of research and comparing Model A to Model B, you're ready to get down to business. So you pop in a demo DVD, fire up the audio system, adjust the lighting, sit back in your favorite chair, and press play. But something isn't right. Everyone looks a little sunburned.

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The Custom Installer: Distributing Audio for Audiophiles

There's no reason why a multiroom system can't sound great

By John Sciacca
Posted July 17, 2007

Certain things will automatically mark you as uncool. Walking down the street wearing a Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket, for instance. Or admitting you voted for Sanjaya. And I certainly don't expect to wow the ladies with the fact that I belonged to my high-school chess club - all 4 years.

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Sonance C4630 SE Home Audio Distribution System

By John Sciacca
Posted July 6, 2007

•Photo Gallery

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Audioaccess W.H.E.N. Audio/Video Distribution/Surround System

By John Sciacca
Posted September 4, 2007

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The Custom Installer: TV Shopping the Custom Way

Why an installer is your best path to a great HDTV

By John Sciacca
Posted September 4, 2007

Like most people who've joined the cult of audio/video, I enjoy visiting other custom-installation firms and high-end A/V showrooms. But I usually avoid venturing into big-box electronics stores.

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Step by Step: How to Create a Video Distribution System

Getting all your video onto one cable and around the house is easier than you might think.

By John Sciacca
Posted September 6, 2007

"Two hundred channels and nothing to watch!" How many times have you felt that way? Or maybe you've wanted to finish watching a DVD in another room but didn't have a second player. Or wished you could keep an eye on the kids outside without sitting in the sweltering heat. Or wanted to see the video display from your iPod docked in another room.

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Installations: Let Us Entertain You

S&V's custom installer takes you inside one of his own projects — a massive house built with entertaining in mind.

By John Sciacca
Posted October 5, 2007

While it might take a village to raise a child, it takes an army and lots of time to build an estate! Custom Theater and Audio (CTA) in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where I work as lead system designer, was recently involved in all aspects of the A/V design and installation for Phil and Janet Pate's new home in North Myrtle Beach.

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NuVo Technologies Grand Concerto Multiroom Audio System

By John Sciacca
Posted October 6, 2007

The 21st century is giving us numerous ways to listen to and control our music. Not only can we now distribute tunes around our homes with the touch of a button, but the wonder of metadata feedback actually lets us know what's playing as well.

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ReQuest iQ Multiroom Audio Distribution System

By John Sciacca
Posted October 6, 2007

Thousands of users have chosen ReQuest servers to store their music collections through the years, typically feeding their outputs to audio-distribution and control products made by others.

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