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Luxury AV, Home Theater & Lighting Questions
Straight answers for homeowners, architects and builders. For Charlotte-specific questions, see our Charlotte FAQ.
Luxury AV & Automation
What does a luxury AV integrator actually do?
A luxury integrator designs, documents, installs, programs and supports the technology in a home — audio, video, lighting control, shading, networking and security — as one coordinated system rather than separate products from separate trades.
When should I bring in an AV integrator on a new build?
Ideally during design, before framing. Early involvement lets wiring, equipment locations, speaker placement and shade pockets be planned with the architect and builder instead of worked around later.
Do you work on luxury projects outside Charlotte?
Yes. Peters Audio Video is based in Charlotte, NC, where most of our work is. We also take on select larger luxury projects nationwide, designed in Charlotte and installed by our own team.
Will you service a system another company installed?
No. We support the systems we design and install ourselves, so we can stand behind every part of them.
What does a Savant system cost?
It depends on home size, scope and whether it's new construction or a retrofit. Our Charlotte cost guide breaks down planning ranges by scope and includes an estimator.
Home Theaters
What's the difference between a media room and a dedicated home theater?
A media room is a multi-use living space with excellent picture and sound. A dedicated theater is a light-controlled room designed around the screen, seating and acoustics, usually with Dolby Atmos and acoustic treatment built into the architecture.
How large should a room be for a private theater?
It depends on screen size, the number of seating rows and the speaker layout. We size the room from sightlines and speaker positions rather than a fixed square footage, and advise early if a room will limit performance.
Projector or large-format TV?
Projection suits dedicated, light-controlled rooms and larger screens. Large-format displays and direct-view LED suit rooms with ambient light. The right answer depends on the room, not the product.
Does a theater need acoustic treatment?
Yes, for a dedicated theater. Treatment controls reflections and bass so dialogue stays clear and the room sounds consistent from every seat. Sound isolation keeps it from disturbing the rest of the home.
Lighting & Shading
What is lighting control and why does it matter in a luxury home?
Lighting control replaces banks of switches with engraved keypads and scenes, so a room can be set for dinner, entertaining or late evening with one press — and the whole home can be turned off at once.
What is Ketra lighting?
Ketra, from Lutron, is full-spectrum tunable lighting that can shift color temperature through the day and dim smoothly while keeping natural color. It integrates with Lutron HomeWorks and Savant.
Can shades be wired in, or are they battery-powered?
Both exist. In new construction and major renovations, hardwired motorized shades are preferred for reliability; battery options are useful in finished homes where new wiring isn't practical.
Can lighting and shades work together?
Yes. Integrated with automation, shades and lights can respond to time of day, sun position and scenes — for example lowering shades and dimming lights when a movie starts.
More reading in our nationwide journal.
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