I am in the process of starting to build an HT room. I look at the Home Construction Forum and saw the list of consultants. However, I have no idea who is good at what they do. I live about an hour West of Mobile, Alabama and about an hour East of New Orleans.

I've got a contractor who can build just about anything. However, room treatments, design, etc. are not his forte. Can anyone here recommend someone for me? Does the consultant need to live close to me? Can we just communicate by phone, email, etc.?

It really depends on what you want and the budget. What is your goal? Some companies will do design work only. I believe Audio Resources in Metarie does that. I did my theater, however they have offered to design and sell me the blueprints for my theater. Send my a PM and we can talk over the phone, faster and I can tell you what I know of the work of the guys in this area.

My girlfriend lives in Alabama.

Dear Mr. Foster,

As you do your research for a theater designer, be sure to check out the designers credentials and reputation. I am a firm believer in "getting what you pay for". For example, anybody can purchase a basic CAD program, draw a floor plan and place speakers and chairs in the diagram and call it home theater, but are the placements correct? Be sure the designer accounts for items such as proper wall construction details (sound isolation), proper seating placement along with correct sightlines so you're not tilting your head to one side trying to see the screen, proper speaker placement, expert in acoustics and interior design. Make sure the designer is qualified. What kind of organizations is the company a part of. Are they ISF, HAA, or THX certified? Above all, will the company support you throughout the construction of your theater? Or do they just want to sell you a set of expensive audio/ video gear? You only want to do this once!

Midaswell get it right the first time around.
Should the consultant practice good grammar?

Expertise comes with a price tag as with anything built on quality and service. If the later is not important to you, then there is always Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics!
That's a rather strange way to end a post directed at a potential customer who has given no indication that he's "looking for "cheap". He clearly is asking for someone that is good at what they do.

If your contractor has the talent required then you are best off with a designed plan. I know that Dennis Erskine offers this amongst his options.

Mark,

Could you clarify what you mean by that? One would ALWAYS want a designed plan, what does his contractors talent have to do with that? Of course one would always want a talented contractor as well :).

In regards to budget, I guess it depends on exactly what level the HT company would be involved and what services they offer. My contractor is really good and I've never met a contractor/carpenter as good as him in building just about anything.

I have some ideas about what we want as I've saved a lot of photos from this website on rooms that we liked. If the designer can help me with audio problems (the room is rectangular so I know enough to know that we need to deal with those issues), wall treatments (for the audio and esthetics), getting the things we need for the room such as lighting, etc., design plans, etc., then I am certain my contractor could follow it. I'd also like the HT guy to be available to my contractor by phone, if necessary, and I'd like the ability to email photos of HT rooms I've seen so the designer can get an idea of what we like.

I do know that I want one of the DBox chairs. Yannick is going to give me a 3 for 1 sale, right Yannick? :)

Should the consultant practice good grammar?


That's a rather strange way to end a post directed at a potential customer who has given no indication that he's "looking for "cheap". He clearly is asking for someone that is good at what they do.

You are right. My post should have been proof read before hitting the send button.

I figured midaswell midbe a shortcut :D.

I do know that I want one of the DBox chairs. Yannick is going to give me a 3 for 1 sale, right Yannick? :)


eheheh How about you start with 1 and you'll definitely want 3 more for your kids and wife ;) You should at least plan/pre cable your room for more than one that way when you do upgrade it's going to be easy.

To the op, I was in exactly the same position as you except I'm the carpenter doing my own house. I found a company called PMI that I'm using. I'm just getting started with them but they've been helpful so far.