Is hiring a AV consultant a good choice?

[sumitarv]

Hi guys,

I am in the process of designing my HT's and happened to meet an AV consultant (Ad Notam, Mumbai). He will charge 10% of the components. I have been in touch with this forum for some time now and feel you guys can help me decide as to hiring him would be a good idea or the advise and knowledge on this forum should be more than enough to suggest, help me buy,install, calibrate and make me understand the tips and tweaks to get the best output.......Please reply on this.....

 

[dillihifi]

Depends on how much you will be spending. People here can guide you no problem but if you are spending serious money > 2lacs consider getting yourself a Consultant

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

It's a business model world wide, in many areas, such as valuations, auctions, real estate, etc etc --- but I do not believe in paying by percentage value.

If you employ a professional, pay for his time by the hour,/day or even an agreed sum for the project. It also means that he is not unduly influenced by his commission!

 

[ukjeyaraj]

I personally will not go for a AV Consultant. It depends on plenty of things like money, knowledge on AV, existing resource available, place where one is located etc etc.

If you are going to have an AV consultant, please treat this as a professional project and plan and document few things like

1) Objective
2) Requirements
3) Scope for the consultant
4) Estimated Cost of project
5) Time lines to complete the project (different stage of it also)
6) Payment Terms (installment during the project or full and final only on completion)
7) Mutually agreed parameters on which you can conclude that the HT is complete as per your scope and requirement. Only when such parameters are met the final payment shall be made.

BTW Enrolling in HFV itself is like having AV consultant(s).

Best of luck for your HT dream to come true

 

[nshankar]

@Sumitarv, you are the best judge of what you want and how much you are willing to spend in terms of cost and time. A consultant can only guide you, and for this purpose, the knowledge available in this forum is too good.

Agree with @Thad that a consultant should be paid either a fixed fee or based on his efforts (time spent).

A suggested route would be to make up your mind on the equipment (speakers, amp, sources and cables) with help from forum members, use a consultant for room acoustics and a good contractor for installation.

All the best, and new year wishes to all members on this forum.

 

[hemantwaghe]

1) what is your budget?
2) What componants you already have?
3) Are you incorporate a projector or LCD/Plasma?
4)which moves you watch?


and
5) YOU HAVE SEPARATE ROOM FOR ht?
6) ARE YOU GOING FOR ROOM TREATMENT? WHAT EXTENT?

AND ON THE TOP

7) WHAT IS YOUR MAX BUDGET?

member other queries?

Realistic answers , members can give some direction..

 

[captrajesh]

If you are going to have an AV consultant, please treat this as a professional project and plan and document few things like

1) Objective
2) Requirements
3) Scope for the consultant
4) Estimated Cost of project
5) Time lines to complete the project (different stage of it also)
6) Payment Terms (installment during the project or full and final only on completion)
7) Mutually agreed parameters on which you can conclude that the HT is complete as per your scope and requirement. Only when such parameters are met the final payment shall be made.

Very well put.:thumbsup:

@OP, on a lighter note, (thought it would be opt to point out here) you might like to know the effect of consultants here:lol:

BTW, no offenses to anyone in the forum please.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

If I want to benefit from experience and the opinions of others in the choice of kit --- why would I look further than hifivision. And it's free!

On the other hand, if I was ever in a position to build and dedicate a room to either music or theatre, recorded or live, I'd employ an expert. Of course, some of the world's biggest concert halls stand as evidence that even the greatest "experts" can get it wrong!

 

[nshankar]

Some things are permanent based on setup, such as room and its associated acoustics. Using an expert / consultant is strongly recommended for these.

Some are less permanent, such as cabling. This can be changed, but not without pain! An expert or consultant if used for this may be beneficial.

The choice of equipment and the equipment itself cannot be permanent. Not to mention the tweaks. Therefore, it is recommended that the user understands this fully and what better way other than doing it yourself.

 

[venkatcr]

A consultant brings a few advantages to a site:

1. Experience
Having installed many times before, a consultant knows what can go wrong and where. This experience will help you avoid pitfalls. He will also know how a system should sound.

2. Knowledge
This covers a large area. Equipment, power requirement, cables, prices, suitability, matching, and so on. If you have read some of the threads in HFV, you would see a number of people buying amplifiers and speakers without seeing if they will match. Depending upon your requirement and budget, a consultant can put together the optimal match for you.

3. Specialised equipment
This is something you will not get at HFV. From software for sound measurements to special measuring equipment, to access to restricted/expensive software for room design, he has access and the knowledge to use them all.

AV consultants are like other professionals. Some of them spend lakhs of rupees on training themselves. I know of a consultant in Hyderabad who is supposed to have a magic hand for video calibration.

The choice to use such experience and knowledge is in your hands.

Cheers

 

[nshankar]

+1 to item 3 above.

The difference calibration by professional makes to the setup is something that is to be seen/heard to believe.

 

[hemantwaghe]

+1 to item 3 above.

The difference calibration by professional makes to the setup is something that is to be seen/heard to believe.

One of the member got his setup by experts .
His system was permanntly in Dolby Pro Logic Mode ( By So called experts provided by shop).Then his system was checked by AV max too .funnily it was featured ,without understanding the issue!!

Mind well ,pro logic , NO DOLBY DIGITAL ,NO DTS!!

So have your knowledge ready , check this forum and if installer is making some weird claims ( like plasma is dead ,only LED is good , Pushing particular brands ,and giving stories against some) ,either there is lacuna in his knowledge or he is having vested interests ( read commission) in particular products!!

 

[aminder]

When you meet your consultant in person just ask him one question
what is the "best" way to excite room resonances while placing the subwoofer?
and let me know what did he say and dont let him google the answer

 

[hemantwaghe]

Also need th have your own knowledge.
One of my friend Manufactures and installs health equipments like Trademills and Gym equipments.

In one Gym ,while commissioning he met a Audio Installer and Expert who suggested GYM should be connected by MOnster Cable!
Now when you are listening music critically in gym so that effect of monster cable visible?

Also other equipment sufgested was equally expensive.

The gym owner being a politician was ready for it!

YOU GOT IT??

 

[NetFreak]

In one Gym ,while commissioning he met a Audio Installer and Expert who suggested GYM should be connected by MOnster Cable!
Now when you are listening music critically in gym so that effect of monster cable visible?

Also other equipment sufgested was equally expensive.

I guess this consultant was working on % basis as well

I guess best way out is to:

1. Agree on fees beforehand
2. DO NOT buy any equipment from him/her, only pay for advice. This removes incentives for commission to consultant from dealer.
3. Have clearly defined success criteria. And payments should depend on meeting this criteria.

 

[RetinalNV]

This would be Fitness One!

In one Gym ,while commissioning he met a Audio Installer and Expert who suggested GYM should be connected by MOnster Cable!

 

[hemantwaghe]

This would be Fitness One!

what is fitness one? did not get what you are saying...b

 

[sumitarv]

Guys,
thanks a lot for your valuable suggestions...
i have a requirement of 5 HT's including a dedicated HT room, which i believe would have a projector and scree. and the rest LCD's/LED's.......so the budget would approximately be 5 lacs for 5 HT's including the projector and screen...say the split up would be anything like....
3 bedrooms- ard 50k each
1 dedicated HT room- ard 1 lac for HT and 1.5/2 lac for projector and screen
1 living room( which is quite big) - the Av consultant which i met suggested me to go for stereo system rather than HT coz of distortion of sound due to the size of the room....so i guess nywhere ard 40-50k...........
So, a total of around 5 lac....n if i hire an AV consultant i would be rquired to pay him anywhere around 50k....so is hiring a wise decision.....and also how much of a difference would it make in calibration and installation if i plan to choose otherwise....coz i am dead sure that buying components and deciding on which 1's to buy would not be an issue coz u guys r the best persons out there.....plz reply

 

[muradasa7]

If you are passionate about Home theatre and its components i would suggest you do some H/w on the net before rushing to designing or buying stuff. If you arent or unable to do that go for the consultant. Remember, there are some excellent users on this forum ready to partake of knowledge if you ask for. But then you need to know the questions. The choice is yours. Have a happy experience in getting your HT done. All the very best!

 

[Resonance Audio]

I totally agree with venkatcr.Very precisely put.