Category: Home Audio Video

Biophilia and Smart Home Technology

We’ve seen an abundance of interest this year around biophilia in the home technology space. What is it and how can we best leverage it in homes simply, reliably, and cost-effectively? I’ve spent the last six months researching the latest trends and wanted to share my findings. What is Biophilia? Biophilia refers to our innate […]

Putting a Value on Home Technology

Clients often ask me, “Will home technology increase my property value?” I usually cringe at the thought of responding. It’s a question our industry has been long afraid to answer. So much so that we generally avoid the return on investment (ROI) conversation altogether. We’ve done it to ourselves over the years with bad products, […]

Product Review: GoldenEar BRX Bookshelf Loudspeakers

Sleek Design and a Killer Sound We all love to search for the “best of” across any category – club sandwiches, mittens, you name it. My own passion lately has centered around, wait for it… bookshelf speakers. Questing for the ultimate big things/little packages sound experience has led me far and wide with my latest […]

Is My E-Learning and Telework Technology Set Up Properly?

The ability to learn and work remotely has evolved from a luxury to a necessity over the past couple of years. What’s more, the trend shows no sign of going away any time soon. As you plan for the new normal, there are a couple of key focus areas which will set you up for […]

Home Internet Tips and Tricks

With so many of us cooped up at home, it’s no surprise that internet connections are beginning to slow and experience disruptions. Every connected device, from a TV streaming Netflix to your computer running a conference call, impacts your home network’s overall performance. If your connected experience is less than ideal, here are some helpful […]

Reviewing the Russound V-KP-1 Amplified Keypad

There seems to be a wave crashing over the custom installation industry over the past six months. Thousands of homes out there have old-school volume knobs with in-ceiling speakers and no upgrade path leveraging all this ancient clutter. Homeowners now have options thanks to companies like Snap One and Russound. This new upgrade category promises […]

Your Small Questions Answered

We’re able to do a lot of things at Livewire. Just glance around our website and you can see impressive media rooms, theaters, and large-scale AV projects we’ve worked on. But, while we love it when we can flex all of our muscles, the majority of our work consists of single-room flat-panel TV-with-soundbar and universal […]

Product Review: KLH Model Five

Floorstanding Speakers That Evoke the Mad Men Era The KLH Model Five have finally started shipping, and I was lucky enough to get a shot at listening to the long-awaited reboot of the iconic floor-standing speaker a few months ago. My anticipation had been building for almost two years since they announced the resurrection of the […]

Should I Install a Control System?

We’ve come a long way since the birth of the smart home control system. Once so expensive they were reserved for a select few, we now live in a world chock full of choices! With so many shiny objects available, it can be an intimidating process to tackle on your own. Livewire caters to these […]

Big Things in Small Packages: Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini Soundbar and Subwoofer

The Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini soundbar and 8-inch wireless subwoofer were recently sent my way to check out. The sleek new system sports Dolby Atmos, AirPlay 2, and a host of other shiny features all for under $900. Would it sound any good? I was about to find out. Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini […]