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Don't Touch That! Childproofing Home Theater

12/26/2012

If you have kids, or know any kids, you know that pretty much everything in their vicinity needs to be baby-proofed, for the safety of a crawling or toddling child, as well as your expensive technology. A personal childhood memory of my younger brother sticking tweezers in a wall outlet reminds me that the clatter of the remote control isn't the only thing to be concerned about.

Here are 3 ways to protect your little ones and protect your electronic investments, without sacrificing any style or convenience.

A great solution to keep little fingers away from the opening and shutting DVD trays and enticing blinking lights, not to mention keeping little feet (and teeth?) away from stray cords, all in on fell swoop, is a custom rack system. BCG specializes in these rack systems, which organize all your home theater and networking components into one spot and neatly bundles cords and wires. They're then tucked away in a closed cabinet or closet, making them a great streamlining feature for you and a non-issue for the little ones. If you're not quite ready for a whole rack system, you'll want to at least have a rack in spirit. Enclose components like DVD players behind doors that can be fixed with childproof "locks," and hide cords and wires behind cord-concealers, which will not only be safer around children, they'll look cleaner and more organized. Products like power strip covers and outlet covers are readily available and will prevent curious toddlers from finding out what happens if they unplug something or maybe even more worrisome, what happens if they plug something in, while still allowing the outlets to be used, unlike those finger- and nail-breaking standard plug covers.

Next, secure your TV. As it's usually the biggest and most expensive single element of your system, and you can't hide it away, you'll want to make sure it's protected. More importantly, studies show that roughly 40% of furniture/appliance related child emergency room visits are from televisions alone. A win-win solution is to mount your TV on the wall. While a hanging television sounds counterintuitive when considering falling television injuries, having an expert, like BCG, professionally mount your flat screen would ensure that it is extremely secure and out of reach. Flat panel TVs are much sleeker looking, lighter (although generally more front heavy), and definitely an upgrade from the older boxy tube TVs, but those features also make them easier to knock over when they're perched on a piece of furniture. Securely mounting your TV to the wall will look great in your space, avoid a tip-over injury, and will even put the glossy frame around the screen away and out of reach from snack-sticky hands.

Everyone, whether due to a curious child or not, has cringed at the sound of the remote control crashing to the floor, and we've all seen a remote with a taped-on battery door. Be sure to safeguard the most used item in your home theater and sound system from the little ones (and the adults!) The first thing to do is condense. Universal remotes are a great option to eliminate a different control for every element of your system. This will make everything more convenient for you, so much more streamlined than 5+ different remotes sprawled out on the coffee table, and will mean less "toys" sitting out just begging to be played with or hidden. A universal remote is typically a bit larger, heavier, and more durable than the remote packaged with your TV. The size and weight won't even be noticeable when you're using it, but will make all the difference if it does hit the ground. Some companies even offer protective cases for their controls. Maybe the best part, since these remotes are so customizable, they also have "lock" features, allowing a child to have fun pushing the buttons if they get a hold of it, but not allowing them to do any programming or viewing damage.

Childproofing your home electronics doesn't have to mean hard-to-open (for adults!) cabinets and an ugly plastic cover over everything. You don't want to have to steer the younger members of the family away from an entire area of the house or continuously repeat, "Don't touch that!" Protecting your loved ones and your investments can be easy, and a bonus for everyone. These changes will mean that every guest and member of the family can fully enjoy every part of your home with total peace of mind.

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BCG's Guide to Choosing an HDTV

11/20/2012

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Black Friday is just around the corner, and we’re all about to be overwhelmed with too-good-to-be-true sounding deals on everything, particularly all those flat panel TVs. Before you gobble down your Thanksgiving pie so you can be in line by midnight for that 70” big screen, let’s take a look at the options, and BCG will help you navigate all the choices.

#1 - Size it up

Before you hit the stores, consider your actual space. A 70” television might be enticing, but depending on how your room is set up and how close you’ll be seated, bigger is not always better. Start by assessing the space, the size of the room, the shape, and the arrangements. Then measure how far you’ll be seated from the screen. The further the distance, the bigger the screen your room can handle, and ideally, you probably want the biggest display your space can handle, without going overboard. Check out the measurements below to estimate the perfect size displays for your home:

Seating 3’ and closer – 25”-29” Display

Seating 4’-5’ - 30”-34” Display

Seating 6’-7’ – 35”-39” Display

Seating 8’-9’ – 40”-44” Display

Seating 10’-11’ – 45”-49” Display

Seating 12’ and further – 50” or larger Display

Replacing a standard tube TV? You can fit a larger flat-panel into that same space. Measure twice, purchase once! (For example: 27” tube TV = 32” flat-panel HDTV, 32”-36” tube TV = 40” flat-panel.)

#2 - Screen Type

Now that you have an idea of maximum and minimum screen sizes that will work best; we can start to navigate the available HDTV display options. Understanding the differences between the types and considering your primary usage will help you to pick the perfect display.

PLASMA TVs: Plasmas are a great choice if you prefer to watch in dark or dimly lit rooms. Their refresh rates make them ideal for sports, gaming, and fast-moving action. Plasmas generally produce rich, bright colors and the deepest blacks. They also boast the widest viewing angle, so more people can watch the display from more angles without losing any of the picture quality. Unfortunately, however, plasma screens are the least energy-efficient choice, with thick, heavy panels.

LED TVs: LED displays are a more versatile choice, performing great in all lighting conditions. They produce deep blacks and rich colors, like the plasmas. While they have a narrower viewing angle than the plasma screens, they still have a wider viewing angle than their LCD counterparts, so more people can watch without losing picture quality. For the eco-minded, LEDs are also usually the most energy-efficient choice.

LCD TVs: LCD screens are available in the widest range of sizes and per square inch, more energy efficient than plasma TVs. They are one of the brightest displays, but tend to be cooler in color, with slightly lower black-level performance. LCD displays also resist glare, making them a great choice if you like to watch in well-lit spaces, such as multipurpose rooms or the kitchen.

Smart TVs & 3DTVs: With all the advancements and ever-changing technology, you’ll likely find yourself staring down a super-store television wall, suddenly trying to decide if you need your TV to be “Smart” or 3D. Smart TVs can connect to your Internet signal and bring you instant entertainment such as streaming movies, music, and more. Keep in mind that HDTVs that aren’t “smart” can still be connected to the Internet via smart devices such as Blu-ray players, gaming systems, and set-top boxes. With the help of 3D accessories, 3DTVs let you experience 3D viewing at home. Remember that in order to take advantage of a 3D ready TV, you’ll need 3D accessories such as 3D glasses, A/V receivers, and 3D Blu-ray or DVD players and discs. That said, you can still enjoy any content you currently view in 2D, without the 3D accessories, and maintain excellent picture quality.

#3 - Accessories

So you’ve made your choice of HDTV, excitedly get it home and suddenly realize you’re in need of a return trip to the store to be able to set it up and actually enjoy your new toy. Just as important as choosing the right actual television, you’ll want to make sure you have all the correct cables and accessories to set it up.

First up, the physical set up of your HDTV. If you plan to place it on existing furniture, take a moment to make sure your surface can handle both the weight and measurements of your new TV. If you’re considering wall-mounting, stores carry a variety of mounting equipment specified to the size of the display, but that process can be tricky, so we recommend calling the experts in flat panel installation at BCG to make sure your new HDTV is mounted cleanly and securely.

High-definition cables. Often overlooked, the correct cables will be the key to taking full advantage of your new HDTV. If you decided on a SmartTV or 3DTV you’ll also need to make sure you have any additional cables needed to enjoy all its capabilities.

Now you’re ready to head out and find your new HDTV. By preparing with our top 3 tips for choosing an HDTV, you’ll be able to make the best choice for your space, eliminating any Black Friday buyer’s remorse, and making that discount deal all the sweeter.

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Don't Touch That! Childproofing Home Theater

BCG's Guide to Choosing an HDTV

#1 - Size it up

#2 - Screen Type

#3 - Accessories

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