Bill Kinnavy (left) and Doug Rowley (Right)
Calibrating your TV for best picture performance
There are several reasons why people who watch television should have their television (TV) calibrated:
- A television that is adjusted or calibrated will have a longer life span
- Depending on the television you own, with proper calibration and set up the picture will look dramatically better with more vivid colors, better black levels, and overall picture accuracy
- Energy savings over time can be significant
Televisions are usually calibrated and marketed by the manufacturer to look good on a showroom floor; that includes enticing the customer with a bright picture because TV’s are within close range of one another in the showroom and there is a high amount of ambient light. However, when you take the TV home, there is no competition from other TV’s and you can control the ambient light; at this point in time one should adjust the calibration to suit the needs of your particular room.
All audio video retailers that sell TV’s do not impress upon their customers the importance of calibration. At Barrett’s Home Theater, sales consultants recommend to their clients this very important service for optimal efficiency, value, and quality. As more and more customers are willing to pay for this new service/calibration, we expect the custom installation team at Barrett’s Home Theater which does the calibration to become very busy in the coming year.
John Wettlaufer, custom sales manger of Barrett’s Home Theater, educates his clients from all over Chicago land area and reinforces the need for proper calibration as per his clients needs and wants. He includes this at the top of the list when TV’s are installed in their respective homes or businesses.
Wettlaufer comments on the importance of this program by stating, “The procedure of calibrating the TV is done as the last step in the set up of the custom installation process.” He continues, “Attempting to calibrate before the TV is in the desired location would reduce color accuracy and ultimate image quality because of the lighting conditions.”
Regarding energy efficiency, Front Projectors and Plasmas TVs have a tendency to produce additional heat in comparison to LCD or LED due to the way the image is produced. If you want to increase the lifespan and save energy, Wettlaufer highly recommends calibration upon installation.
Watching nature shows and sporting events gave me a true perspective of how good the color spectrum can be if the calibration is set appropriately. If not, you will never know what you are missing. If you already own a TV and have never had it calibrated, now is the time while you wait the warmer days of spring. If you are thinking of purchasing a new TV from Barrett’s Home Theater, be sure to read more about ISF calibration from our website or Google the words “ISF Calibration” and the technology advancements related the movie and television industry.
By Dianne Barrett
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Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift that keeps giving? Well, look no further than Barrett’s Home Theater located in Naperville and Algonquin (west of Chicago) to see firsthand what the latest technology to be integrated into homes and offices include: the Kaleidescape Systems.
At a time when technologies seem more complicated and change so fast, the Kaleidescape System will simplify the way a person of any age collects and enjoys movies and videos. It will store and automatically organize collections for fast and easy access. As an antidote, if you want to learn about the production of the videos and audio tracks with expert reviews provided by Kaleidescape’s Music Guide Service, one of our sales consultants at Barrett’s Home Theater would be happy to explain it to you.
John Wettlaufer, Custom Sales Manager at Barrett’s Home Theater, integrates the Kaleidescape System into almost all his custom or remodeled audio video systems. One of his respected customers, Russell Massaro, considers his Kaleidescape System one of the most value added discretionary purchases he has ever made. He admits he is a self described movie and music addict and states this: “Kaleidescape Systems gives me instant access to my entire library of music and video in every room with the ability to search by title, genre (i.e. Jazz), actor, or artist to meet my mood.”
Speaking of mood, I like to set the mood of a gathering when I have a party. Depending on the event, (grandma’s birthday party, business gathering, or entertaining friends) the Kaleidescape System makes all gatherings fun with no fuss. Because everything is simplified, I no longer fumble through CDs trying to organize my playlist; instead, I preset my songs and never have to worry about keeping the music going in the selected rooms throughout the evening. This leaves more time for important things, like friends and family, while enjoying the simple things in life.
By Dianne Barrett
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Once not so long ago, I owned a big piece of furniture that housed all my electronics. While in some instances, furniture is a necessity for storing equipment and other audio video incidentals, the day of less is more is here.
Less in the sense of less clutter and more meaning, more centralized control from one location. My family and I have upgraded to a master control panel. Crestron Home Technology from Crestron which streamlines and simplifies all the technology in our home. Thus far, not only has my home had a custom installed Creston panel but Barrett’s Home Theater custom installation department has installed hundreds of Creston systems for businesses and homeowners who prefer to control drapes, lights, temperature and audio video equipment from a single touch panel.
While upgrades may not be on your radar these days, Richard Glikes, Executive Director for the Home Theater Specialists of America states, “Despite the down economy, the technologies continue to change for the better and the retailers like Barrett’s Home Theater continue to find solutions for customers.”
One such solution is optimizing the equipment to its fullest. Most customers want the best equipment they can afford to enjoy for all their family and friends gathering or for conducting business. According to John Cook, Project Manager for Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago, most customers don’t fully reap the benefits of their electronics. Many audio video systems can be integrated, upgraded or if the system is over one year old, maintained. John’s recent mailing to customers who had installations within the last three to five years offers them what John calls, “a system tune-up.” He goes on, “installers go through the basic settings-nothing super sophisticated, just making sure things work to their optimum.” Just like occupants of dwellings who have their HVAC systems checked each year, so too should customers ensure the efficiency of their technologies for audio video.
Please contact us in you are looking for a free consultation or maintenance check.
By Dianne Barrett
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Barrett’s Home Theater, located in Chicagoland, has the finest selection of audio and video components and furniture created from the world’s most innovative manufacturers, all with our unbeatable price matching guarantee. Our expert team of designers and installers assists with all facets of planning and building a home entertainment and office environment.
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Kay Mason (left) and Mark Folkers (right)
When Mark Folkers, lead sales consultant for Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago, introduced me to Kay Mason at her residence in late August 2009, her vitality and zest for life were most obvious. In addition to sharing her passions in life which keep her so youthful, she also shared with me, the long term relationship she has had with Barrett’s Home Theater.
As an eighty five year resident of the western suburbs of Chicago, Mrs. Mason clearly recalls the first television she purchased from the former Oak Park, Illinois location in 1980 for her husband as a gift tied with a bow. Sitting neatly in her kitchen nook, the Mitsubishi television still works and she remembers the day she purchased it from James Barrett, original founder of Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago.
When queried as to why she keeps coming back for more televisions, she stated this, “I feel I am treated important and sales consultants like Mark Folkers have given me their undivided attention.” While mentioning she has shopped at other electronic stores over the years, she prefers the professional staff at Barrett’s Home Theater over the competition.
As far as upsizing the television sizes over the decades, Mrs. Mason just recently purchased a 55 inch Sony LED Television for watching her favorite game shows and news casts in high definition.
Even though Mrs. Mason is still quite active and presides over several companies, she enjoys the company her televisions provides and never misses a beat as she shared with me the latest political, economic and social issues of the day.
By: Dianne Barrett
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Doug Rowley (left) and Ken Krienitz (right)
Anyone can sell you something. Anyone can make the promise that by shopping with them you are going to get the best service available. But if you have ever bought any type of home theater technology you’ve probably realized that a lot of companies do not follow through with those promises.
So what makes Barretts Home Theater Chicago different? Maybe the best thing to do isn’t to just say that we have great service. Maybe the best way to explain it is by describing what happens after the transaction is complete.
As you read this article, our project management team is reviewing jobs in the Barretts Home Theater Chicago “Project Management Locker Room.” They’re drawing up the best game plan for getting our projects done efficiently, effectively, and with enough quality to make your system the envy of the neighborhood. In this project game plan the project management team is coordinating a range of variables. Some of these include:
- The availability and delivery of product.
- Skill-sets of our custom audio video installation team best suited for the job. Third party contractors either hired by us or our clients.
- System design documents to ensure that things not only go smoothly when the install begins, but to accurately document the phases or your project so we can service it in the future.
That last point is one of the most important things we can provide our clients. A good company can take care of you when your system is being installed. A great company takes care of you as long as that system is in your home. One way Barretts Home Theater Chicago does this is by having a great team of custom audio video installers. Everyone on our custom installation team is also a service technician, so even if you call us years after the fact you might get to reconnect with the Barretts Home Theater Chicago employee who made your home technology dreams come true in the first place. A lot of our existing clients actually ask for our custom audio video technicians by name, or nickname as Kenny K, Big J, and The Rowlinator can attest to.
And we have got experience. The youngest guy on our team has been doing custom installation for audio video for seven years. Our senior programmer has been doing this for twenty. Even the best game plan ever devised can never account for all the “adventures” that occur in the custom installation world. That’s when experience makes the difference.
But even with a great design plan and a great team we’re still constantly reviewing our processes based on feedback from our clients. Every project we install is followed up with a survey card to let us know how we did and how we can do even better. As I said before, anyone can sell you something. It’s the things we do beyond the sale that have kept Barretts Home Theater Chicago in business for forty three years.
By Adam Natali- Project Manager at Barretts Home Theater Chicago
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This past week Barrett’s Home Theater hosted its annual Bowers and Wilkins (B&W) event with B&W’s foremost speaker expert, John McIntosh. McIntosh, a world traveler who shares his expertise on the art of listening as well as what makes a quality speaker, spoke to a group of audiophiles while engaging them in the process.
Dave Baumgardner, 10 year customer of Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago and resident of Naperville, attended the seminar and said this after listening to the 802D speakers in one of the custom installed home theater rooms: “When I sit back and REALLY LISTEN to the speakers, I notice an openness and detail not found in other speakers I have owned.”
According to McIntosh, this openness comes from the diamond dome tweeters (literally diamonds) which earned Bowers and Wilkins (B&W) the award for European High End Audio Component of the Year for the 803D series. Baumgardner also believes the quick reaction of the woofers with good amps is one of the best features. Mr. McIntosh also demonstrated the design qualities, including layers of wood, Kevlar mids and explained the XT series including aluminum as a cabinet speaker material. The crystal clear sound is so vibrant, an astute listener can hear a bird signing over the sound of waterfall.
In addition to the B&W 803D series, one of our newest unique offerings is the portable Bowers and Wilkins “Zeppelin” iPod speaker system. Danny Carroll, veteran sales consultant of Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago said this about the B&W system: “Because this system is transportable it works perfectly in offices, kitchen and even outside. The sound is fantastic!”
So whether you are shopping for new speakers, or just want to stop in and experience our Bowers and Wilkins Gallery, our staff at Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago will welcome all visitors.
By Dianne Barrett
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When Bill Black was first introduced to the concept of integrating a media room into his home in S. Barrington, Illinois, he admittedly had no idea what that entailed. Twelve months later, Bill has not only remodeled his family room into a media room but has helped Barrett’s Home Theater redefine their concept of what applications that encompasses.
Over the years, Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago has custom installed hundreds of home theaters. However, in addition to installing home theaters and educating consumers about the evolving world of technologies, the staff at Barrett’s Home Theater is now educating consumers about media rooms and the difference between a home theater and a media room.
On average, home theaters are usually darker spaces with assembled seating revolved around flat screen televisions often with insulated walls and surround sound systems located away from the nosiest parts of the home. These are usually installed in basements. The hottest televisions in these home theaters are Samsung flat screens with B&W speakers that play back every sound imaginable and enhance the audio experience.
By contrast, the recent media room designed at the Black residence was located within close range of the kitchen where mom and dad can keep tabs on what their kids are engaged in, albeit computers, television viewing, iPods, or Blu-ray movies.
According to Jay Johnson, architect for many of Barrett’s designs, “Keeping the media room centrally located makes the most sense in order to keep all the wiring at the shortest distance. Some media control is affected or limited by the length of wiring or cabling, so this makes the most sense. However, in a home it is not critical.”
What seems to be a hot trend in integrating technologies these days is the media room, says John Wettlaufer, Custom Sales Manger of Barrett’s Home Theater.
“The beauty of these rooms becomes apparent when the family gathers and does what most families do: eat, drink, socialize, often hashing up old memories or escaping from everyday dramas.”
Johnson could not agree more, “The benefits of a media room can provide the owner with the ability to control multiple media applications instead of just video and audio.” Johnson has teamed up with Wettlaufer on several jobs throughout the Chicago area.
In his designs for our clients, Johnson incorporates the integration of HVAC, lights, window treatments, security, and phone applications. Both Wettlaufer and Johnson utilize Crestron control panels which are user friendly and can ultimately save the customer thousands of dollars a year in energy costs by programming the above applications for different seasons and hours in the day.
Maybe that is why Black always returns so promptly Saturday mornings to his media room. With remote in hand, the Saturday morning entertainment begins just after his daughter Mary’s soccer games. Upon returning from their favorite doughnut shop with hot coffee and doughnuts, they dash home to download the game they just witnessed moments ago and their media room comes alive with screams and laughter. And with instant replay the family can watch those magical moments over and over. Now this is a good way to kick off a weekend!
By Dianne Barrett
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Sam LaGuidice (left) and David Kochanowski (right)
Do not be dismayed that Tweeter has disappeared from the Chicago land market. Why? Because Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago has hired two of the finest sales consultants Tweeter had to offer. This dynamic duo has the knowledge and resources to convert the lost souls abandoned by their favorite audio and video store into valued Barrett’s clients.
Joe Barrett, president of Barrett’s Home Theater, has a philosophy about hiring new staff: hire outside the box and everyone benefits. Even with his 30 years in the business, Joe acknowledges the fact that these new employees understand and utilize technologies in ways he never dreamed of. He values the perspectives of ex Tweeter employees, David Kochanowski and Sam LaGuidice and realizes that their insights to retail and custom installation will teach him many valuable lessons.
Sam LaGuidice believes branding and personalized customer service, especially with the follow-through, is the difference between Barrett’s Home Theater and Tweeter. Sam states, “After working at Tweeter for eight years, I realized in my six months at Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago that I have the resources at my disposal to provide the best customer service. And these resources are far superior for custom installation projects then they were at my former employer.” He goes on to talk about the support staff. “The project managers, John Cook and Adam Natali are part of the sales support team and I can honestly say that I can provide the customer a better sales experience and custom installation follow-through at Barrett’s Home Theater because of John and Adam’s practices.”
David Kochanowski could not agree more with Sam and his assessment of the differences between the two retailers. “At Tweeter, I would often have to go out to fix installation problems which were a common occurrence.” David goes on the say, “I know that having the staff in place behind the scenes allows me to work with the client while taking care of the finer details.” In addition, David is a stickler for offering a product to match the needs of each customer. He is a supporter of a few quality brands and will stick with them as long as the manufacturer follows through with their support. David concludes, “Our audio video selection at Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago is not only equal in quantity, but much better in quality. It includes furniture as an additional category of solutions that was almost obsolete at Tweeter.”
Joe Barrett hopes ex Tweeter customers and even Circuit City customers will give us a look. The relaxed atmosphere, matched pricing policy, and follow-through service, combined with 140 plus years of combined audio video experience will make you a true believer of our commitment to be the best. And it is this commitment that has kept us in business since 1966.
By Dianne Barrett
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What’s the latest craze in flat screen televisions this spring at Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago? Introducing the new 6000, 7000, and 8000 series flat screen panels which use a new edge lit LED technology. The definition of LED is: Light emitting diodes that let electricity pass in only one direction emitting visible light when electricity is applied, much like a light bulb. When many LEDs are side-by-side, they can create pictures, such as the scrolling red LED signs found everywhere.
The LED flat screen televisions deliver better picture quality with an ultra-slim design, and are eco-friendly. The series carried in the showroom is white LEDs resulting in a television that is considerably less expensive than a television that uses a RGB value (red, green and blue LEDs). These flat screen televisions at Barrett’s Home Theater also consume up to 40% less power.
Rob Lubas, store manager at Algonquin’s Barrett’s Home Theater states “I think the new Samsung LED backlit LCDS are a great product. Not only are they some of the sleekest and sexiest TV’s I have ever seen, they have great picture quality to compliment them.”
Customers biggest complaint over the years with regular LCD’s televisions has been that the colors don’t look as good as they do on plasma’s flat screen television.
Rob’s solution, “With this new LED backlighting system Samsung has bridged that gap to rival color saturation and black levels that in the past were unheard of from LCD television products. And probably the best news for the end user is that they consume 40% less energy than traditional LCD’s. Seeing is believing!”
Along with selling LED technologies in our new series of flat screen televisions, LED light bulbs are being integrated into our home theater rooms in our floor and overhead lighting systems to reduce energy consumption. In addition, at Barrett’s Home Theater Chicago, LED lights are utilized over the B&W speaker display (Bowers and Wilkins) and Society of Sound wall as well as several other areas of the showroom.
As leaders in evolving technologies we are excited by the implementation of LED lights and televisions and look to our vendors to continue manufacturing products that reduce our carbon prints, not only as retailers but for you, the customer.
By Dianne Barrett
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