AV Consultant creates ambiance for movie and music lovers to feel alive

In the hands of an audio-visual specialist, private residences are transformed into places where AV equipment blends seamlessly into the interiors of the home, creating a lively atmosphere.

Alan Lee, the founder of AV Consultant (Int'l) Ltd., says, “Audio and video is not just about the hardware, it is about feelings and emotions.’’

His showroom on Duddell Street, Central provides clues to what he can achieve in a home, combining the functionality of the AV equipment with aesthetics. In the showroom, on one wall, two large embedded speakers are cleverly concealed beneath an attractive print, as if they were part of the artistic décor in a living room.

Alan explains: “I aim to provide a solution that creates feelings and emotions.’’ He adds that the objective is to convey feelings and emotions without the audience noticing the equipment.

The AV equipment is adorned to match the colours of the interior, thus complementing the shades and the designs of the living room.

What sounds good also needs to look good. By using his knowledge and experience, Alan also aims to make life easier for those who find it difficult to operate the equipment. His solution is to use touch panels (Smart Home/Automation System). These, he says, can make the life of the client enjoyable in that the spouse or even the children can fully appreciate the pleasure of the audio/video system, while it also simplifies the operation of other comforts in the house such as lighting, drapery and air-conditioning. “Our main focus is to provide solutions with out-of-the ordinary AV and smart home products.’’

AV systems, can be complicated and difficult to use, but AV Consultant helps to simplify a client’s everyday operations, so systems can be used more often. “This definitely enhances a household’s lifestyle.’’

AV Consultant undertakes projects to deliver high-end home entertainment systems including karaoke, video library, audio library, smart home, and even the D-Box motion system, whose motions are synchronized with the actions on screen, providing a realistic, live-action experience to the viewer. AV Consultant is the first company in Hong Kong to introduce this wonderful technology.

“We offer a broad range of products, including lighting, Smart-Home (home automation), sofas and IT systems,’’ Alan says, emphasising that AV Consultant is not only a high-end AV products vendor. Rather, it is also an integrator that takes care of the entire house system. “We are a service company instead of just an equipment provider.’’

AV Consultant has been in the business for more than 20 years and in that time Lee has built up a portfolio of commissions including home theatre projects for leading Canto-Pop singers/directors and commercial projects to create screening rooms, club houses, churches, and universities.

Alan is billed as the most popular AV reviewer in China and Hong Kong. He writes weekly columns in AV magazines, the HMV newsletter and a few AV magazines published in mainland China. He is also the first person in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China to have received certification by the ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) and THX (a George Lucas company) in 1995. The ISF certification recognizes video calibration, while THX governs installation and set up of a home theatre system from product selection to final calibration.

Apart from being a well-known AV reviewer, Alan also had done radio and TV programs at RTHK as well as in various TV station including TVB. Currently, he is the chairman of the Asia HD Association and committee member/certified instructor of the CEDIA China.

Lastly, Alan stresses that audio and video systems should be integrated seamlessly into the life of the people without affecting the interior design. Most important of all, systems must be reliable and simple to use. 

FAST FACTS
• 1995 - Alan Lee, certified by THX of LucasFilm, first in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China

• 2002 - First "Full Digital Video" Home Theater Demo in Hong Kong 

• 2004 - Designed and Lectured AV Seminars for Sony Customer, First Time in Asia Including Japan 

• 2004 - Organised the first projector showcase featuring 16 brands in Hong Kong

• 2005 - Organised the first projector showcase in Shanghai, China

• 2007 - Founding member of the Asia HD Association

• 2009 - Chairman of the Asia HD Association

• 2010 - Guest speaker and calibrator for the AVATAR blu-ray launch in China

• 2011 - Committed member and certified instructor of CEDIA China