Looking for recommendations to use Rives Audio ...


Looking for recommendations from clients that have used Rives Audio services to design their listening room or home theater? What were your experiences? Would you use them again? Was it worth the expense? I have debating whether to use their services or to try do it myself. Thank you for any information.
esb
I haven't them but have had numerous discussions with them about acoustical issues and have found them extremely knowlegdeable. Their website is quite good and their modeling tools are really to notch. I did the acoustics on my media room myself before hearing of Rives. I did months of research and talked to numerous acoustical engineers around the country. It was a very time consuming process. I did it because local av companies had no in house people and only offered the services of professional companies whose fees I thought were insulting. One of the top companies wanted several thousand dollars to evaluate my already constructed room and tell me what the cost of doing their treatment would be. Some of the material they were selling such as acoustical caulk at $50 plus per tube not including labor were items that could be obtained at home depot for $5 per tube ect. My understanding is that Rives sells advice and plans. If you don't want to spend a lot of time and gamble as I did I would strongly urge you to check out their prices. I was impressed with them.
I have not used them...yet; but just about all of my friends have had rooms designed by Rives or are talking to them right now about designing there room. I have seen blue prints and heard lots of great advice- when I am ready I know who I am going to call!
You could do it yourself...but then again my experience from 20 years in this business says that you'll not end up with as good of results that way! Letting an experienced professional with a track record do it for your is just about garanteed to give you much much better results!...every time! There's no replacement for experience...like in all things in life.
My dad always said, "when you need something done right, go to the professional!" My suggestion is the professional route.
I see easily 99+%(I'm very comfortable with that figure, trust me!) of the audio enthusiest out there ending up with not so good results, mainly because of lack of experience and knowledge! Should you find your self wanting to do it your self, and still wanting good, great, even world class sound quality be prepared to make it a very long time consuming endevor/hobby...otherwise, trade your money for time,dedication, and results!
Hope this helps
I'm in the midst of room construction via Rives. They know what they're doing and offer tailored advice. I doubt you would get similarly fastidious attention elsewhere.