BEWARE!!!!!
We built an 8,000 sq ft. home 4yrs ago and we hired DSS (as they are otherwise known by) to do our complete audio and visual surround sound (indoor and outdoor), along with building out and designing our dedicated home theater. We thought we could trust them, as we as they came highly regarded from a close friend. Allow me to mention we have very busy lives and no time to micromanage.
As I said, 'thought'...
We encountered real issues during the process and through today, to which we are paying for. I have a long list of issues, but to keep it simple for this review, I will include what I believe would help in making your decision.
1. The layout design of our dedicated home theater is completely wrong. There are specs and ratios that installers use as a guide base when building out home theaters, it became obvious to us they did not adhere to it. Our Da Lite screen is the wrong size and the placement of the screen on our upholstered walls is at the wrong level. This is in comparison to the distance from the screen to the seats, and how high the seats sit above the main floor (we have stadium seating), and viewing level. So now, while seated you absolutely have to recline in order to comfortably watch the screen (to avoid a neck strain). When approaching them with this concern, they refused to absorb the costs to fix it. They argued (or shall I say yelled) that it was done correctly, even while I was speaking to the Da Lite engineer, who they refused to speak to. The DSS installer was so offended that I would question his work, that he rudely stormed off. I spoke to the top rated home theater companies in Los Angeles to obtain their professional opinion. They were the ones who educated us through the process, and all were in agreement that it was installed incorrectly.
2. Our great room surround sound shuts down completely if the volume is too high, and by too high I mean less than 1/2 the volume. Which we are having another company fix.
3. They did not clean up after them selves. They left their trash in our garage along with boxes upon boxes. They left wires sticking out of walls outside, which our electrician fixed. They did not put back the wall panel that covers the electronic boxes. They did not show us how anything worked once they were done. I had to call them and have them walk me through how to use everything.
4. We continue to have issues. For the first two years we would have them come back to fix everything, since they were the ones who did the installation. They charged us $89 per visit, even within the first 3 months! They did say, to avoid this service charge they could address the issue with me over the phone, well, trying to get them to call me back is like pulling teeth! And they are RUDE!!! I Like to handle everything with sugar, where my husband handles things with spice, therefore he could no longer deal with them because he was fed up. He had no more patience. And even with sugar, they were the rudest people I have ever had to work with. Also, they rarely return calls, and when informing them of the several messages I left for them to return my call, they become annoyed. It is also very challenging getting someone to come out to your home, let alone having them show up. Their lack of communication with one another is astounding!
Do not waste your money with them, unless you would like to continue to throw your money down the drain in repairs. read more
