There are plenty of ways to make the most of your backyard this summer, from adding a chiminea to stepping up your smoker game. But one thing that can really kick your summer fun into high gear is the sound of summer tunes piped in over your outdoor speakers.

If you’re thinking of adding speakers to your backyard, our audiovisual installers at SevenAV can help you create a killer backyard sound system.

Here are a few reasons you should think about installing outdoor speakers in your backyard this summer!

Music is a great social lubricant.

We’ve all been to those parties that seemed to have all the right ingredients but for some reason didn’t seem to take off. The food is great, there are plenty of guests, but no one is mingling and interacting. Blasting Childish Gambino or Pistol Annies over the speakers is a fast way to wake up the wallflowers and get everyone in the mood for great summer fun.

There’s a playlist for every outdoor activity.

You don’t need a cookout as an excuse to crank up the speakers. Are you working in the garden? A little outlaw country could be the perfect backdrop for all that digging and trimming.

Or how about a little downtempo music to go with your morning coffee while you watch the sunrise? Whether you’re into roots rock, eighties training montage tunes, or Miles Davis, a great playlist sets the mood for everything you do outside.

We can install outdoor speakers that blend in.

If the idea of having speakers hanging from your back porch and wires everywhere doesn’t sound too appealing, we’ve got solutions. With speakers painted to match the outside of your home and wires hidden away discreetly, your guests will wonder where the sound is coming from.

We can also integrate your outdoor and indoor speakers so your guests inside and outside can all be jamming to Bruno Mars at the same time!

Incorporate modern technology into your outdoor living space.

Outdoor speakers may be connected to your phone through Bluetooth, allowing you to listen to music on the go. Some speakers are even made to float and have a higher water resistance so that they may be used in a pool!

Thanks to the combination of contemporary technology with today's greatest outdoor speakers, they are convenient and provide high-quality sound.

You don’t have to worry about outdoor speakers in bad weather.

The most common worry among homeowners about outdoor sound systems is whether they can withstand changing weather conditions.

Rest assured that outdoor sound systems are built to endure extreme environmental conditions, including Minnesota’s severe summer storms. Your speakers will function at their best for years, even in high temperatures, wind, rain, dust, etc.

Bring simplicity to your home.

Rather than blasting your music from inside so you can hear it outside, outdoor speakers offer you the option of having your volume at an appropriate level anywhere in your house.

After inspecting your home's landscape,  our AV experts will help you install your speakers at strategic places for full pleasure and simplicity.

Ready to set up a consultation for outdoor speakers?

If your backyard has a great pool, a shiny new smoker, and a fire pit but still needs something, maybe that something is great music. Whether you’re into prog rock or vintage metal, let our Minnesota home theater experts at SevenAV hook you up!

Visit our online gallery to see examples of our installations, then give us a call at 763-420-1070, or contact us online to discuss your ideas and get an estimate.

Hence, you risk losing your money to substandard products and equipment with installation defects if you fail to make adequate consultation with a seasoned audio video installation company.

Apart from helping you to select standard products and equipment that will serve your commercial AV system needs, you stand to save yourself from constant repairs that usually come with a bad commercial audiovisual system when you partner with a commercial AV expert.

To make the most out of your budget, let's look at some of the things to consider when you buy a commercial AV system.

Consider the Media

Buying a commercial AV system is not a one-size-fits-all purchase. For the system to give you optimum performance, you’ll need to determine what equipment best suits your business.

Depending on your needs, you may also need to consider buying data cables that will transmit media from network hubs to the AV installation system. This involves checking if you have a few or many online communication requirements.

If you have a lot of online communication needs, an audiovisual installation consultant can help you route the media cable to one social media response room.

Factor in the Energy Consumption

Before you decide on the commercial AV system to buy, check out the system's energy consumption. If you do not know how to do this, a good installation expert should be able to help you check.

If your electricity bill budget is not generous enough, you might need to forgo an energy-intensive AV system. In some situations, an AV installation expert can help you with the best way to manage the electricity bills without compromising the quality of your installations.

Consider the Bandwidth

Here is another factor that requires your attention: You have to check the amount of bandwidth your audiovisual system needs to pull content from the internet.

If you ignore this tip, you may end up with a commercial AV system that takes the whole day to pull online resources.

Apart from that, if you will use security features or firewalls and cloud computing technology, you must also consider and compare the demands with your budget.

Start With a Plan

Buying and installing a commercial AV system can be daunting without proper planning. No business move survives without proper planning and consultation.

Before buying a commercial AV system, come up with a clear plan of what you need it for and share this idea with a commercial AV system expert. Doing this will help you budget and understand the equipment you need to achieve your goals.

Are You Planning to Buy a Commercial AV System?

You can start this journey with our team of experts at SevenAV. Count on our years of experience in the commercial AV system industry to give your project the professional touch it deserves. The quality of the services we offer to our numerous customers has earned us reputable reviews. 

You can also find out more about our other installation services, get a free estimate online, give us a quick call at 763-420-1070, or send us a message using our contact form!

If your home isn’t yet connected to the network, you may not realize what you’re missing. At SevenAV, we are experts in bringing your Twin Cities home into the Digital Age. If you’re wondering how greater connectivity could improve your life, we’ve put together this handy guide to a few of the many advantages of a smart home.

To schedule your smart home installation services, give SevenAV a call today!

What Is a Smart Home?

In its simplest terms, a smart home is a home equipped with network-connected devices for the purpose of automating your home or making your life more convenient. This allows you to remotely access, control, and automate everything from your thermostat to your entertainment system using your phone, watch, or tablet.

A smart home connects to your wi-fi and allows you to use voice activation to communicate with connected devices.

The possibilities are almost limitless when it comes to smart devices, but these are some of the most popular.

Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat allows you to adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere and even program your thermostat to adjust at certain times of day.

Smart Lighting

Smart lighting can be programmed to come at certain times or activated remotely.

Smart Security System

A smart security system allows homeowners to check their cameras or arm their system from anywhere.

Smart Kitchen Appliances

You’d be surprised at how many kitchen appliances are available with smart technology!

Connect your coffee maker and program it to come on as you’re getting ready for work in the morning. Use voice control to get exactly the amount of water you need for cooking with your smart faucet. Air fryers, instant pots, and even meat thermometers are available with smart technology these days.

Smart Entertainment System

Gone are the days of hunting for the remote control to turn on your favorite TV show or adjust the volume. Instead, just ask Alexa or Siri.

Smart Laundry

No more checking on your washer to see when the laundry is ready. Instead, just wait for your phone to send you an alert.

Reasons to Invest in a Smart Home

These are just a few of the many advantages of living in a smart home:

A smart home is a safer, more secure home.

One of the biggest advantages of a smart home is the increased safety factor. In the past, having peace of mind when away from home meant depending on nanny cams and neighbors. But with a smart home, your security and surveillance system is completely accessible with your device.

If you want to check on your home from across the ocean, all you have to do is open an app. Instead of coming home to a dark living room, a smart home lets you turn on your lights before you finish dinner across town. Unlock a door remotely with a smart lock or disarm your security system by simply logging into a phone app.

Smart homes save on energy costs.

Are you spending more than you wish you were on your monthly energy bills? A smart home also allows you to track and minimize your home’s energy usage, reducing your carbon footprint and your monthly energy costs.

You can automate your home’s thermostat and lighting to adjust while you are away during the workweek. If you’re away for the evening unexpectedly, simply hop online and adjust the temperature and lights. You can also turn appliances on and off from anywhere.

You can monitor smart features.

With a smart home, you can log in and check out how much time each family member is spending online or how much TV your family is watching. You’ll be able to keep a closer eye on your energy usage as well.

You can create a household routine using your smart devices.

One of the coolest advantages of a smart home is the ability to establish routines. With your connected lighting and stereo systems, you can create a routine using your virtual assistant for major transitions throughout the day.

When you wake up, simply use a “Good morning” command to adjust lighting, start a pot of coffee, report the weather, and turn on your home theater system so you can catch the news. It can also help you manage your day’s schedule. At bedtime, a similar command will cause lighting to dim, adjust the thermostat, and shut off electronic devices.

Minnesota Smart Home and TV Installation Experts

If you’re ready to bring your home into the modern era, our team of expert smart home and tv installation professionals can help you get started. We can help you sort through the digital assistants and smart home devices available to determine which will work best for you. Then, we’ll set up your smart technology, make sure everything is connected, and show you how to use your smart devices!

Whether you’re looking for a way to upgrade your home or simply excited about finding new ways to bring tech into your life, we can help you get started. Give us a call at 763-420-1070, or contact us to schedule a free in-home estimate.

As anyone who loves good TV can attest to, there is so much more to good home theater installation than simply installing a TV and speakers. In this post from SevenAV, we’re breaking down some of the top home theater installation mistakes so you can avoid them by calling our technicians to install your perfect home theater. Give us a call to schedule your home theater installation today!

1.   Bad Speaker Placement

For the ultimate home theater experience, you’ll need a good sound system. But without the help of a professional audiovisual team, even good speakers are never going to fully capture the movie theater experience.

When a professional home theater installation team installs your surround sound system, they’re not just thinking about creating surround sound. They’re also thinking about viewers’ listening positions to create a perfectly balanced sound system. Home viewing has never sounded so good!

2.   Subwoofer Mistakes

By and large, most people don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to subwoofer installation whether it’s choosing the wrong subwoofer or putting it in the wrong location. It’s easy to end up with a subwoofer that’s too small for your space, and most people don’t realize it until they’ve already installed the thing. And if there’s one area you shouldn’t try to cut costs on, it’s your subwoofer, since a cheap subwoofer can completely sabotage your entire setup.

Another common problem is poor subwoofer placement. When installing a subwoofer themselves, most people will simply place it where it looks right or near the speakers instead of where its sound and performance are ideal. When it comes to subwoofer installation, this is one of those areas where there’s simply no substitute for a professional opinion and experience.

3.   Chaotic Wires

One of the biggest indicators that a home theater installation was performed by the homeowner is a mess of cords and wiring. Not only can this be unattractive and messy, but it can also represent a fire safety hazard. When installing your electronics, it’s also essential to use a surge protector to protect your equipment. Everything that’s connected to your home theater system should run through a surge protector including your cable box or ethernet cable.

4.   Too Many Remotes

These days, most home theaters use several devices from Rokus to home gaming systems. Too many remote controls can make switching from one device to another a perilous endeavor, especially when several people share the home theater and only one knows which control operates what. Our SevenAV team can simplify this age-old problem with a remote programming package that operates up to 12 devices.

5.   Wrong Display For Your Home

After a new home theater is installed, you may be eager to sit down and dive into your favorite streamer. But don’t forget to adjust the settings on your screen before you do. The default mode might be fine for your viewing needs, but there’s a good chance it won’t offer you the best picture. Take some time to check out the settings on your system and find out if there’s a home theater mode. If you need help working out the settings, you can read through the instruction manual, but you can probably easily find a simple video tutorial from a YouTuber. Just type in a simple Google search for what you’re looking for.

6.   Putting Form Over Function

When deciding on a speaker set, of course you want to think about how it’s going to look in your home before pulling out your debit card. But don’t be tempted to pick out a slick-looking system without considering how well it’s going to perform in your home. If your home entertainment center looks great but you can’t hear every sound in crystal clarity, you’ve dumped a whole lot of cash into home decor.

7.   Poor Screen Placement or Size

The most common home theater mistake is to underestimate the size of the screen you need. However, a screen that’s too big can also ruin the viewing experience. A good rule of thumb is to fill as much of your vision with the screen as you would experience at the movie theater.

Call Our Home Theater Installation Pros

Are you tired of messy cords all over the place and too many remote controls? Have you been dreaming of a functional setup that lets you binge your favorite Hulu series in style?

If you would love to trade your current setup for a professional home theater, give SevenAV a call today. Get your free estimate by calling us at 763-420-1070 or contact us online to schedule your installation.

At SevenAV in Minnesota, we’re here to tell you there’s a significant difference in quality when you work with a professional home theater installation service. Let’s get into some of the reasons it pays to work with the best.

1.   The finished product looks better.

Even if you’ve never personally lived with a cluttered mass of wires and cords behind your entertainment center, chances are you know of someone who has. Keeping cords and wires out of sight is one of the great challenges of installing a home entertainment system. Not only can that jumbled mess be unsightly to look at, but also presents a potential fire hazard. At SevenAV, our experts have a whole arsenal of tools and strategies to keep your cords tucked away neatly (and safely) out of sight.

2.   There’s less chance of a mistake.

When you work with a professional AV company, you’re far less likely to make a mistake. While it can be exciting to dig into the owner’s manual of your new equipment, it’s even more exciting to watch your favorite show without any issues. With all of the smart tech options, streaming platforms, and other various technology, having someone experienced and knowledgeable who is there to walk you through your system is one of the most valuable investments you can make.

3.   We have all the bells and whistles.

When you work with SevenAV, you’re working with home theater pros who know the ins and outs of home entertainment technology. We can work with you to custom design your entertainment zone or media room and hook you up with smart features and remote programming to streamline everything. You’ll have a single point of contact from start to finish, and our one-stop-shop for audiovisual equipment has everything you need to create the ultimate home viewing center.

Wall TV Installation and More

What are you watching your favorite Netflix series on these days? Is it time for an upgrade? Resolve to enjoy great TV and sound in 2022 by calling SevenAV for your free estimate on a home entertainment center at 763-420-1070 or contact us online.

In this post, we’re breaking down some of the top questions to consider before taking the plunge and investing in a home projector for your Minnesota home. To connect with a technician about home theater installation for your home, give us a call today.

1.   What inputs are available?

You don’t want to end up with a projector that doesn’t have all of the inputs you need to use your devices. Although it may be possible to save money by installing an older projector, these don’t always have the HDMI inputs you need to connect with a Roku or other streaming device. Additionally, if you plan to connect with your computer, you’ll need DVI or VGA inputs.

2.   What do the technical terms mean?

When you’re shopping for a projector, you’ll likely encounter some unfamiliar terminology. All projectors are either LCD or DLP. LCD projectors are more affordable lamp-based projectors. LCD projectors have a bright, crisp image but require frequent maintenance and use bulbs that will eventually burn out. DLPs, on the other hand, are much more portable and offer greater contrast and blacker blacks than LCD projectors.

You’ll also need to consider pixel count and aspect ratio (relationship of width to height). These are the most common projector resolution options:

●        Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA): 800 x 600 px, 4:3 aspect ratio

●        Extended Graphics Array (XGA): 1024 x 768 px, 4.3 aspect ratio

●        Wide Extended Graphics Array (WXGA): 1280 x 800 px, 16:10 aspect ratio

●        Full HD (FHD): 1920 x 1200 px, 16:9 aspect ratio

●        Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array (WUXGA): 1920 x 1200 px, 16:10 aspect ratio

●        4K Ultra-High Definition (4K UHD): 3840 x 2160 px, 16:9 aspect ratio

3.   Do I need a special screen?

While technically you can use just about any white surface to project an image on, you’re not going to get the clear, full theater experience and image quality without a professional projector screen. Additionally, a wall or other surface may have difficulty reflecting the image. Screen size should also be optimized for the size of your room, type of projector, and distance from the projector. Finally, you may also wish to purchase a portable screen if you plan to show outdoor movies on warm summer nights.

Home Theater Installation for Your Minnesota Home

At SevenAV, we can help you sort through all of the tough questions and decisions you’ll need to consider when choosing a new projector for your home. To get a free estimate on your new home theater, give us a call at 763-420-1070 or contact us online.

But smart tech isn’t just about making life easier. It’s also about improving our lives from cutting energy usage to making our homes safer and more secure.

In this post from SevenAV, we’re breaking down some of the best smart tech must-haves for your Twin Cities smart home installation. To transform the way you live with smart features, give us a call today!

1.   Smart Locks

Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your home from anywhere, even if you’re not home. If a family member is locked out or you’ve got guests visiting from out of town, all you have to do is sign in to your smart lock app and unlock the door.

Smart locks can also improve your home security by allowing you to access data on when your doors were opened. You can even schedule your doors to lock if they’ve been left unlocked for too long, so you never have to worry about home security issues because you forgot to lock up before work.

2.   Smart Lighting

With smart lighting options like Philips Hue, you can establish lighting profiles for studying, TV viewing, and anything else your family has on the schedule. You can also remotely turn your lights on and off from anywhere or schedule lighting changes so you never have to worry about coming home to a dark house at the end of the day.

3.   Smart Thermostat

With a smart thermostat, you can schedule your heating and cooling system to match your lifestyle. Save money while you’re asleep or at work by adjusting the thermostat, then schedule it to a more comfortable temperature at the end of the workday.

4.   Smart Smoke Detector

With a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector, you can rest assured your family will be safe in case of a fire. If your smoke detector system is triggered, you’ll receive an early warning with a friendly voice. Sensors can look for fast-burning or smoldering and identify where the danger is located. These systems also include phone alerts so you’ll be notified even if you’re away from home. And forget about those annoying chirps reminding you to replace the battery. Instead, these devices test themselves daily and notify you if the batteries need to be replaced.

Get Your Smart Home Installation Today!

If you’re late getting on the smart home train, it’s time to step into the future with help from SevenAV in Minnesota! We offer a complete range of smart home installation services in addition to our home and business audio visual services. To get your free smart tech estimate or learn about special offers, give us a call at 763-420-1070 or contact us online today.

At SevenAV, our audio visual experts do much more than just TV installation, like helping Twin Cities residents get into the 21st century with smart home upgrades. In this post, we’ll walk you through all of the top smart home hubs to help you choose the right one for your home. To schedule your smart home installation, give us a call today!

What Can a Smart Home Do?

Think of a smart home as a home that’s connected for your convenience, allowing users to control devices throughout their homes using networked technology. Connected through your Internet service, smart devices can be used to perform a wide range of operations remotely or even on a schedule.

These are just a few ways smart home technology can be used in a home:

●        Turn lights on or off.

●        Adjust your home temperature on a timer or remotely.

●        Operate your home theater.

●        Adjust the temperature and mode on your oven.

●        Manage your slow cooker.

●        Turn off an appliance you forgot about from work.

●        Set the timers on your sprinkler system.

●        Monitor and manage water consumption.

●        Organize your life or check the news with only your voice.

●        Activate privacy glass or alarm system.

●        Lock or unlock your doors.

●        Check your doorbell cam or security system.

●        Open your garage door.

●        Get notifications on your alarm system with security alerts and facial recognition technology.

With smart home technology integrated through a smart hub, your home can start working before you even wake up in the morning. Imagine waking up to a thermostat that adjusts on a timer as you get ready to greet the day, then walking into the kitchen to find a freshly brewed pot of coffee waiting.

Get the news and weather while sipping your coffee, then head to work knowing your home will secure itself and the thermostat will adjust for maximum efficiency while you’re gone. The future is here, and it’s more convenient than ever!

Choosing a Smart Home Hub

Most smart home technology can be accessed with downloadable apps on your smartphone or tablet. But when you’re using several different smart devices, having a smart home hub lets you connect everything from one central hub inside your home.

To choose a smart home hub, consider which virtual assistant you prefer and choose a hub that supports the technology you plan to use in your home. Here is a breakdown of three popular smart home hubs:

1.    Google Nest Home Hub

The Google Nest comes equipped with Google Assistant and other proprietary Google applications. Attractive and simple, the device functions as an ultimate photo frame for your digital Google images but allows you to control all of your smart devices with its user-friendly dashboard. Features like Voice Match, clear speakers, and Ambient EQ color and lighting make this hub a popular choice for homeowners.

2.    Amazon Echo Dot

If you’re an Alexa user and you’re looking for a compact home hub, Echo Dot is a convenient and easy-to-use solution. The Echo Dot speaker and Echo Dot clock are also nearly half the price of many home hubs and offer broader smart home capabilities than Google Nest. One of the standout features is Alexa Guard, which triggers a safety protocol when alerted by your smoke detector or the sound of breaking glass.

3.    Samsung SmartThings

Samsung SmartThings is a home hub system with a broad range of capabilities and connects with all major voice assistants including Alexa and Google. SmartThings uses if/then controls to allow for easy home automation.

Get Your Smart Home Hub Today!

If you’re ready to step into the 21st century with smart home technology, SevenAV can help. Get your free estimate by calling 763-420-1070, or contact us online today!

In this post from SevenAV in Minnesota, we’re covering our favorite creative AV installs to get your RV adventure-ready. To upgrade your RV’s sound system in time for your next big road trip, call and connect with our TV installers today!

1.   Camera Upgrades

When you capture security footage on your RV camera, it needs to be clear and high-resolution. Security and backup cameras have come a long way over the past few years, and better quality products and innovations are available by the month. If it’s been a while since your RV’s cameras have had an upgrade, it’s time to think about installing a newer system.

2.   New TV Screen

Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you have to watch your favorite shows on a too-small, low-resolution screen. Transform your RV into a five-star theater with a high-resolution flat-screen TV. And don’t forget to update the screen in your RV bedroom for late-night TV time.

3.   Awning Speakers

Part of the fun of RV ownership is hanging out at the campground. But what goes better with a cookout than a great playlist and sound system? We can transform your awning into a little slice of heaven with custom awning speakers so summer nights on the road are better than ever.

4.   Surround Sound System

Whether you’re rocking down the highway to ACDC or you’re tuning in to watch the World Cup on that new flat screen TV, do it in style with surround sound. We can create four distinct audio zones including your living area, bedroom, patio, and vehicle cab. That way, the kids can enjoy the latest Pixar film and you can keep listening to your favorite Beatles album.

Get Your RV Audio Visual Upgrades Today!

Before you pack for your next weekend at the lake, make sure your RV is ready for the adventure with custom audio visual upgrades from SevenAV. We’re a one-stop shop for all of your audio visual needs at home and on the road. To get your free estimate and schedule an upgrade, give us a call at 763-420-1070 or contact us online.