"umm...hello, Mr. Custom Integrator? This is Mr. Money calling. I just bought a house from Bob the Builder for 2.2 million dollars. He's assured me that is has been wired to handle everything I want, with the highest quality wire to some new fangled industry standard....anyway, I see from my research on the web that you are the only locally authorized dealer for some gear I want, so thus the phone call. I would like to purchase a pair of Wilson Grand Slamms, and two Boulder Amplifiers mono block's....No, I don't need wire or cables, as Bob assures me that the Carol 16/2 the electrician used should be more than sufficient. I'd just like the 2 $85,000 speakers and the two $120,000 amplifiers, and you to install them using the existing wire..."

Now wouldn't THAT be a shame?

It'd be kinda funny actually, as the amps have so much ooomph they'd probably just MELT the standardized wire....

The above scenario is exactly the reason why A/V pros, with lots of A/V experience should ALWAYS be involved in ALL facets of writing ANY sort of industry standard. It's also testasment as to why there won't ever be a true "standard".

The mere suggestion that an electrician can pull the wires in ANY A/V or home integration standard is ridiculous! Now don't get me wrong, I have the utmost RESPECT for electricians, and their inherent ability to pull wire like mad! I would never try to perform their job, and have no interest in the education and skillset it takes to be an electrician like those I work with everyday. Most electrician's however, do not take the time to educate themselves and become true A/V guru's like Brijaws and LarryFine (among others) have. Most look at it as, "wire is wire." NOT TRUE....most simply get the cheapest crap they can from the electrical house, and then charge their standard labor rate, which is typically 20-30 less PER HOUR than what most professional integrators charge. Most do not understand, or care, about signal loss, slope and fade, or anything else that is VITAL to making the rest of this proposed "standard" work. Anytime you're trying to establish a standard in a field, you need to talk to established experts IN THAT FIELD... builders talk with senior builders, electricians talk with electricians, and brain surgeons talk with brain surgeons. I consider myself pretty damn smart, but I sure as hell would't attempt brain surgery and would NEVER try to write a "standard" wherein I suggested that a proctologist could could adequately perform brain surgery....(and no I am not inferring that electricians are ass-doctors while true integration and A/V guys are brain surgeons, it's just an analogy. Change the occupations to plumber and auto mechanic if you like, the theory is the same)...

pretty sure I got a little off topic there,, but yo uguys know what I'm talking about!

avdude
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