A Word on Brands

There seem to be countless companies out there all doing roughly the same thing, so how does one decide amongst the hundreds of companies out there, which will have the right product for them?

Since the introduction of high definition, and most notably, flat screen TVs, there seem to be more and more TV companies out there all claiming that they’re the best.

Choosing speakers is possibly more daunting… I’m in the industry and I couldn’t even name all the companies out there selling loudspeakers.

It’s the same deal with DVD players, media servers and remote controls. It’s enough to make you throw up your arms in surrender. So how do you choose?

Well, I’ve got my favorite brands that I’ve used, installed and enjoyed, so naturally my view on which brands are the “best” will be slightly biased… so I’m making a conscious effort here not to name names, at it were.

Instead, let me share some advice when you’re thinking about buying a product, building a system, or hiring an installation company.

1) Think back to any product you’ve owned in the past, and more importantly, think back to products you’ve had which have broken… got one in mind? Good. Now, how did the company treat you?

Were the tech support people helpful? Or were you shuffled around before you were able to find someone who would help? With any product, there is a chance of something going wrong. I wish I could say one company out there makes a perfect product, but the reality is that no one can guarantee you perfection.

The best products often come from companies who pay close attention to their clients, big or small. If a company really listens to you, chances are they’ve also put that much care into their product.

2) How diverse is the company you’re considering buying from? Kind of an odd question, but stick with me for a moment.

No company out there (especially an electronics company) can do everything, and do everything well. When you spread yourself too thin, chances are the quality gets spread thin as well.

Now, I will say that there a few companies out there with a very large breadth of products, who make some good equipment… however, even in those companies who make a wide variety of products, they usually tend to do one or maybe two things truly well.

Look for companies who focus on a specialty. If a company is good at something, truly good, and has a dedication to it, they tend to immerse themselves in it, and take great pride in making a fantastic product. Those who offer a “solution for everything” usually haven’t thought too hard about any of those “solutions” hard enough.

3) Ask around! If it’s one thing I know from experience, it is that you will get widely differing opinions from each person you talk with… however, ask enough people, and sooner or later you’re going to spot a trend or two.

When you hear a great comment about a product or company, stick it in the back or your mind and wait for confirmation. Same goes for when you hear something bad.

When you start hearing the same or similar thing over and over again, that’s the time to take real notice. It’s very rare to hear the same story, from different sources, and there not be at least some truth to it.

I bring this point up last, because I want to end on this note. When the time comes, and you’re really serious about investing in home entertainment and home electronics, it pays to have opinions you can trust, and we at Inspired Electronics, Inc. would sincerely like to offer ours. That’s what we’re here for.

We take an honest approach to our work, and consider as many aspects of our client’s project before offering advice. And having dealt with a wide variety of products out there, we’ve heard tons of opinions and have also had the opportunity to confirm or deny them as a result of hands on experience.

The most important thing to us is that our clients have the best possible products and service that also fit their needs and budget. We deliver the best possible service both when we install your system, and if something should go wrong. We focus strictly on Audio, Video, and Automation systems. And our clients consistently give us great marks on our knowledge and service. Want to learn more about how we can help? Call me at 847-471-4420, and I will personally give you a free initial consultation to help you decide on the right products and brands for your system

Take care everyone!

Keith Rose
Inspired Electronics, Inc.
www.inspired-electronics.com
keith@inspired-electronics.com
847.471.4420