FAQ

Table of Contents:
What is the HAA?
How can I join the HAA?
Where can I find an HAA Dealer?
Why should I choose an HAA Certified Calibrator?
Will the HAA design my theater?
What is the HAA seminar?
How can I attend an HAA seminar?
I'm not an AV Professional; can I attend the HAA Seminar?
What is an Acoustic Design Review ( ADR)?
What is a System/Room Analysis and Measurement (SAM)?
What is a advanced calibration plan?
What is a basic calibration?
What is a home theater design consultation?
What is the HAA advanced seminar?
What is the registration source code?

What is the HAA ?
The Home Acoustics Alliance is primarily a provider of AV Industry specific training. Our purpose is to provide acoustical training and support services for our clients who include manufacturers, AV Contractors, and Retail Stores. Our mission is to improve the Home Theater industry installation technology by promoting a professional and scientific approach to achieving good sound.

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How can I join the HAA?
There are five types of HAA participation:

Enthusiasts are allowed to audit the HAA seminar but are not permitted to register as HAA calibrators or access the Member Web site. Consumers are invited to join our email club by clicking here [Join Email] and we are thinking about beginning an HAA Auxiliary for hobbyists. Also, our forum (coming soon) will be an interactive way to participate; Go to [Forum] for more information. Participation is free.

AV Professionals:

HAA Calibrators: are AV Installers, Custom Sales, AV Designers, and Managers. If you have at least two years professional experience in designing and installing home sound systems or have equivalent experience and are seeking to enter the Audio/Video Industry, you are eligible. This allows you access to the HAA Member Web Site (some online features require additional fees). There is a $49 per year subscription for HAA associate membership for follow-on years unless you are associated with a Dealer Listing. As a bonified AV Professional, the HAA can assist you in marketing your skills in creating great sound. HAA Member Calibrators can be found via the HAA Calibrators. Once certified as a calibrator, a new dealer may subscribe to the Dealer Gallery Listing.

Associate Members include Manufacturers, Reps, Architects, Interior Designers, Press and those with a professional interest in home acoustics are invited to attend the HAA seminar and become Associate HAA Members. By gaining Associate Membership, they will have access to our Member Support Web Site. HAA participation signals an added dedication to professional education and quality sound. There is a $49 yearly subscription for associate membership (while certification is not required, an employment reference is necessary, also some online features require certification or additional fees). Go to [Join HAA] to learn more.

HAA Dealer Members are AV companies who have certified HAA Calibrators on staff including the management team. HAA Dealers have a listing in the Dealer Gallery and have the advantage of an HAA webpage where the companies calibrators, portfolio and other information can be viewed. HAA Dealers can be found via the Dealer Gallery.

HAA Employment Database is a free service given to AV Professionals. It is available to HAA Calibrators who wish to become journeymen and even associate members who register with the HAA. Their resumes are only available to HAA Members for review. For more information go to [employment].There is no charge for this service.

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Where can I find an HAA Dealer?
You're there. One of the prime functions of our homeacoustics.net is to connect consumers with the talented calibrators who are HAA certified. Click here for the HAA Calibrator list.

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Why should I choose an HAA Certified Calibrator?
While the AV Industry is loaded with training opportunities, an HAA trained calibrator has shown a deeper commitment to sound quality supported by our alliance. Ongoing alliance efforts include keeping the latest industry updates available to our Dealers, meanwhile we are constantly updating and review our training doctrine to keep in step with technology. Our goal is to bring a unity to acoustical practices, designed to simplify the process and improve the results. No other element of your home audio system can effect performance as much as it's acoustical design and proper calibration.

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Will the HAA design my theater ?
The HAA is not a design consultant. Our role is to provide education and information services. Look to our HAA Dealers for design expertise and the products necessary to complete the design. While instructors at our seminars are employees of various product manufacturers who promote the HAA, it is not a reseller of acoustical products or design services.

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What is the HAA Seminar?
The HAA seminar is the first step toward achieving HAA Certification. These seminars are designed primarily for experienced AV installers, project managers, designers, managers and sales people who have a good understanding of Home Theater set-up. The focus of the seminar is to build on the students work experiences with sound quality and sonic variability quantifying the scientific explanation for acoustical effects. The class is taught over two days and contains the following courses of study; Introduction to small room acoustics, basic home theater acoustics overview, design strategies and techniques (workshop), measurement and calibration, and a discussion of the business model for selling good sound. Sponsored by Sencore Corporation and presented in conjunction with the Imaging Science Foundation seminar on video calibration. To learn more click here. [Brochure] [Schedule]

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How can I attend an HAA seminar ?
If you are a qualified and experienced AV Installer or die hard enthusiast ready for a challenging seminar, you can take teh seminar but there may be restrictions. To learn more click here. [Who]

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I'm not an AV Professional; can I attend the HAA Seminar ?
Special consideration is given to hobbyists or individuals preparing to enter the AV field. In the sign-up form you should be clear about the nature of your professional background. In most cases you will be eligible to audit the class for the regular class fee, but not participate in the further marketing efforts provided to the professional attendees. To learn more click here. [Who]

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What is the Acoustic Design Review (ADR)?
Everyone wants a little advice on getting the best sound in their home theater and advice is usually worth the price you pay for it. In the case of an HAA Trained Technician’s ADR fee, their advice is based upon many years of professional experience, supported by the resources of the Home Acoustics Alliance. The Acoustic Design Review (ADR) is one person’s opinion of your system or room but it is based on the training of an alliance of professionals. It is a qualitative analysis of a system design as opposed to the quantitative measurements obtained by the Room/System Analysis and Measurement (see next question). It is the first half of a complete system review and calibration. The ADR process begins with a site survey of your listening room in person or via detailed drawings. You can begin the process here at homeacoustics.net by clicking to our HAA Calibrator listings. Here you will fill out the relevant information necessary to have a local AV Contractor of your choice contact you. Remember the HAA does not contact you nor do we directly provide any services to you. The process continues with a short but very thorough analysis of the design. The technician reviews every relevant element of system design in the context of desired acoustical goals.

These goals include:
• Clarity: Clear understandable dialogue, low level sonic detailing.
• Focus: Localization of sounds within the front sound stage.
• Impact: Dynamics: dynamic contrast, clarity even when at peak sound levels.
• Smooth Response: Minimize the booms, ringing and shrills, correct timbre.
• Sonic Envelopment: Smooth front to back panning, swimming in sound.
• Large Sweet Spot: Each listener should hear the above qualities

Every element of your current system or proposed system is reviewed for suitability. The HAA ADR is designed to be a “sanity check” to make sure your expectations of sound quality will be met for a proposed system or how to improve an existing one.

The final report is a concise list of recommendations by the calibrator for proposed modifications to the design. The ADR is not a guarantee of great sound nor does completing the ADR function as a calibration of your system. Rather, it is the first step in creating a calibration plan to be accomplished separately by the calibrator, your chosen AV contractor or by you. Each ADR is authored by the individual technician chosen to do the job independent of the HAA; different individuals sometimes do draw differing conclusions. The HAA does not review each ADR created by HAA trained Dealers and therefore assumes no responsibility for recommendations or liability for presumed negative results.

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What is a System/Room Analysis and Measurement (SAM)?
The Acoustic Design Review or ADR (see previous question) is a qualitative analysis of a system design meanwhile the System/Room Analysis and Measurement (SAM) is a quantitative measurement of performance. The SAM is performed by the calibrator using a real time analyzer (RTA) and an Energy Time Analyzer (ETA). A SAM also involves critical listening to judge performance. The analysis is used as a objective review of the actual performance of a system and room. Used in conjunction with the ADR it is the second half of a complete system review. The technician reviews actual measured performance and makes adjustments in the context of desired acoustical goals.

A typical SAM usually includes basic calibration services but does not include more complex redesign or acoustical treatments. Depending on SAM findings, a basic calibration may not be feasible if room or equipment problems are significant. The final conclusion of the ADR/SAM process may result in the creation of an advanced calibration plan if necessary. Calibration of a system or tuning of the room is not a cookie cutter proposition. Each system/room is different. Equally important is the level of flexibility each client has regarding recommended layout changes or budget limitations. The SAM process is required to properly calibrate the system, providing an objective profile of the system before and after calibration.

Another element included in the SAM is a diagnostic review of system operation. Simply put, there is no point searching for acoustical problems in a design without making sure all components are functioning properly, correctly wired and installed.

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What is a Basic Calibration?
Basic calibration services include adjustment of speaker levels, calibration of reference level, precision setting of time delay, minor speaker reorientation, subwoofer calibration, minor room furnishing movements, and response optimization. The basic calibration will typically yield significant improvements in sound quality but can be limited by room or equipment anomalies. In most cases an analysis of the system and room should be completed before or in conjunction with a basic calibration to optimize performance enhancement.

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What is an Advanced Calibration Plan?
The Acoustic Design Review (see ADR) is a qualitative analysis of a system design and the System/Room Analysis and Measurement (see SAM) is a quantitative measurement of performance. From each, the calibrator can draw conclusions about problems or potential improvements possible in a system redesign. After completing these reviews, if significant improvement is possible, a further proposal can be created; the advanced calibration plan. This plan in effect becomes a new design crafted to reduce or perhaps even eliminate a sonic objection. Basic calibration involves minor adjustments and changes. Advanced calibration involves larger changes designed to correct room acoustics or equipment shortfalls. The best calibrators will usually achieve good results with basic calibration techniques despite most common system or room limitations. Given the clients priorities and budget, the Advanced Calibration Plan designed to tackle larger issues, specifies the cost of any major system redesign or more sophisticated calibration procedures.

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What is a Home Theater Design Consultation?
The HAA does not design theaters or offer paid consultation services to consumers. If you are in the market for a Home Theater the HAA does offer world class education to prepare you for those design decisions. The HAA also will act as a referral service to bring the professional AV Contractors we have trained to serious clients. The process of designing a theater is much like performing the Acoustic Design Review in reverse (see ADR). In fact, a good home theater designer will perform the ADR on any proposed design before finalizing it. It will point out issues where decor or other room priorities might conflict with sound quality. While it is a rare theater design that rates a perfect score on the ADR, the elements noted by the ADR will help prioritize these issues. Fees for consultation or a design will vary from Dealer to Dealer. Remember, you get what you pay for. A good Dealer will explain the acoustical elements to you (ask for a mini HAA Seminar) and should be able to demonstrate in a real home theater what good sound is all about.

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What is the HAA Advanced Seminar?
The advanced HAA seminar takes the experienced audio calibrator to the next level (HAA Seminar is prerequisite). Offered over three days the curriculum revolves around hands on measurements and calibrations of home theaters. The seminar is taught in St. Louis with field trips to real theaters currently under construction or requiring analysis. The student learns the qualitative analysis technique called Acoustic Design Review (ADR) and follows up by creating an analytical measurement of the system using Real Time Analysis and Energy Time Analysis. Finally the student takes the measurements and observations made during analysis to developer a calibration plan.

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What is the registration source code?
The HAA recruits new members form various sources. During registration, the source code indicates to us where you heard about us. If you read about us in an ad there should be a seven digit code listed somewhere in the ad like so SC: AB34567. Sales reps and other promoters will have their own codes as well. If you don't have the source code call your rep to get it. If you don't have a source code, leave the space blank.

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