If you’re just now diving into the possibilities for smart home automation in your Fort Worth, Texas area property, you probably have questions. Fortunately, we have answers. Below, we’ve put together a list of the most common questions we’ve heard over the years in the automation business. Check out the questions and answers below, and definitely, don’t hesitate to call us at (817) 980-0347 if you want to learn more.

What is Smart Home Automation?

Smart home automation refers to the technology that upgrades “dumb” components of your home, such as the window shades or light bulbs, and connects them to a central system that can work automatically to keep your home safer, more comfortable, energy-efficient, etc. This system can control all of the technologies throughout your home, from high-end audio to your surveillance cameras.

What All Can I Automate in My Home?

You’d be surprised how many things in your home can benefit from automation. Realistically, there are too many to list, but here are some of the most popular options:

• Thermostats
• Window Shades and Blinds
• Door Locks
• Lighting Fixtures
• Audio and Video Equipment
• Pools and Water Features

Can I DIY My Own Smart Home?

There are DIY smart home automation solutions available that you can install on your property. If you’re particularly tech-savvy and looking for a budget-friendly system, this is probably the right choice for you. Keep in mind that you’ll be handling all aspects of building and setting up the system, and while DIY brands do try to make the process easy, we’ve had many homeowners call us up to do a system installation after they realized how complex everything was. There are also a lot of limitations to DIY systems—you won’t be able to take advantage of the full features and possibilities available with a professional installation.

SEE ALSO: How to Get Started with Smart Home Technology

High-end audio is constantly evolving – both on the speaker side and on the music side. If you haven’t kept up with the latest news in high-end audio, then keep reading! We’ve summed up the latest innovations and happenings in the world of hi-fi audio for homeowners throughout the Dallas, Texas area.

The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's' Album Like You’ve Never Heard It Before

In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the famous album is getting new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. This project was overseen by Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin, and engineer Sam Okell. They used the original tapes to remix the album and produce a fresh new sound for each song. If you’re a fan of the Beatles, be on the lookout for the new stereo mix. The release date for the remix is May 26, 2017.

High-End Headphones?

While we don’t see dedicated listening rooms disappearing in favor of headphones anytime soon, recent advances in technology have made high-fidelity music much more easily attainable in headphone format. For true audiophiles, this is fantastic news. After all, you’re going to want to be able to listen to music while you’re on the go. If you’re unsure which headphone brand is a good fit, give Denon a try. Their headphones are crafted with the same quality workmanship as their speakers.

SEE ALSO: What You Need to Know When Buying High-End Audio Speakers

Start Streaming Master Quality Audio

The days of MP3-quality audio are long past. You’re probably familiar with high-fidelity music streaming services like Tidal and Deezer. But did you know that as of this year, anyone subscribed to Tidal’s HiFi package can stream Master Quality Authenticated audio at no extra cost? It really is the best of both worlds: high-resolution audio with the instant gratification of streaming services.

A lot goes into the process of adding a dedicated home theater to a property, and it’s helpful for homeowners to have a solid understanding of all the options available before they commit to the project. At DB Media Solutions, we offer many home theater services that combine together to provide a truly exceptional end result for our clients (and make the process as smooth as possible along the way). If you’re considering adding a theater to your home in Westlake or the greater Dallas, Texas area, then make sure you know all the services that your chosen theater company offers – you may be missing out on some vital steps in the theater installation process.

Initial Assessments

Any home theater company worth its salt will start each project with an assessment of the space and your goals for it. A dedicated home theater shouldn’t be a cookie-cutter product—it should be a reflection of your personality and desired media experience. During an assessment, your home theater expert will be able to get a feel for the space and the best equipment/setup to make your theater as good or better than a commercial cinema.

Project Management and Collaboration

High-end theaters are not a one-man job. More likely, there are a lot of different contractors involved in the process: interior designers, architects, electricians, AV experts, etc. And with that many cooks in the kitchen, it’s easy for plans to get off track. Your home theater company should take the reins on the project, providing guidance and managing everything so that all contractors are on the same page.

SEE ALSO: 4 Reasons to Invest in a Professional Home Theater Installation

Theater Prewiring and Networking

The type of wiring and cabling in your theater room can have a huge impact on performance. It’s important that your theater installer assesses your existing wiring and, if needed, upgrades the cables to support high-resolution audio and video. If you’re adding a theater to a newly constructed home, then be sure to bring in the theater expert early on so that they can do the wiring before walls are closed (this helps avoid unnecessary rework).

If you’ve been looking for a way to reduce your carbon footprint or lower your monthly energy bill, there are a lot of small changes you can make at home that can have a big impact. The good news is that with the right technology, many of these changes can actually make your life easier instead of more complicated. One of those technologies is a lighting control system. Studies show that electric lighting typically takes up to 25 percent of a home’s energy budget, so making improvements to lighting usage are definitely a smart idea. If you’re a homeowner in the Dallas, Texas area, then keep reading to learn the best approach to energy-efficient lighting.

Start by Making Your Lights Smarter

By smarter, we mean connecting all of the light fixtures throughout your home to a smart home automation system. This central platform makes it easy to monitor energy usage and manage all of the lights at once. From your smartphone or tablet, you can simply push a button and have all of the lights in the home (or just the lights in one room) turn on or off immediately.

Take Advantage of Dimmers

Once you’ve added the lighting control system to your house, you can start to do more sophisticated energy management such as dimming lights. In the typical home, lights have two settings: on and off. But there are many instances when you don’t need your lights blasting at full brightness. By using dimmers, you can get the best lighting for every occasion and save energy while you’re doing it. Using your control panel or remote, you can set the lighting in the room to 30 percent or 80 percent – whatever makes sense for that given moment. According to Vantage, one of the top manufacturers of lighting control systems, by dimming a 1500 hour incandescent lamp by 33 percent, you can make that bulb last nearly ten years.

SEE ALSO: Getting Started with Lighting Control

Use Lighting Automation

Another cool energy-saving feature of a lighting control system is automation. Using sensors, your lights can react automatically to different environments. For example, you could add motion sensors that detect when a room is unoccupied. After 5 minutes, the lights will turn off automatically to save energy, then turn on instantly if someone enters the area. Another type of technology to take advantage of is daylight sensors. These sensors track how much daylight is entering the room through windows. On sunny days, the system will dim the overhead lights so that the room is still well lit, then brighten the lights if the weather grows cloudy. Without you having to lift a finger, your home reacts to keep everything energy-efficient for you.

“Home theater system” is a term that can mean a lot of different things. You might consider the television, sound bar, and Blu-ray player in your living room to be a home theater of sorts, but it’s a very different movie-watching experience than what you would get in a dedicated home theater. For homeowners in the Colleyville, Texas area who really want the best audio and visual environment, here is the best approach:

Start with a Dedicated Room

One of the reasons why it’s so difficult to get that great movie quality in your living room is that the space isn’t designed for that purpose. Instead, the room is designed to accommodate other purposes, such as chatting with friends and family. The television’s placement is often an afterthought, based on where the sofa and coffee table look best. And there usually just isn’t a good place to install surround sound speakers.

That’s why it’s best to let your living room be a living room and leave the media systems to a dedicated room. A dedicated home theater is optimized in every way to be perfect for movie-watching. The seating is arranged for easy viewing of the screen, and surround sound speakers envelop you with immersive, robust audio.

Add in the Right Equipment

Not all home theater equipment is created equal, and the best speakers and projector for your system will depend on a variety of factors, such as the size and shape of the room. That’s why you should always leave the decision of selecting equipment in the hands of a home theater professional. A professional installer will be able to design a solution with the right mix of devices. Generally speaking, your home theater system should include a 4K Ultra HD projector and screen along with a Dolby Atmos surround sound system.

SEE ALSO: How Can You Upgrade Your Home Theater System?