Contact & Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about custom audio, home theater, smart home, or any of our services? You’re in the right place. Below are the questions we hear most often from homeowners across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and the Dayton metro. Don’t see your question? Give us a call at (513) 759-4477 or request a free consultation.

Planning & Getting Started

Do I need to rewire my house?

Not always. For new construction or major renovations, pre-wiring is the cleanest and most cost-effective approach. For finished homes, we can often retrofit using wireless gear (like Sonos and Lutron Caséta) or by fishing wire through existing wall cavities. We’ve been doing retrofits in Cincinnati-area homes since 1988 and rarely need to open up walls extensively.

How long does a typical installation take?

It depends on the scope. A TV mount or soundbar install is usually a half-day job. A whole-home audio or lighting system typically takes 2–5 days. A full smart home with theater, lighting, audio, and shades can run 2–6 weeks, often coordinated alongside other trades during a renovation or new build. We’ll give you a clear timeline in your written estimate.

Can you work with my builder, architect, or interior designer?

Yes — we collaborate with builders, architects, and designers throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton on a regular basis. The earlier we’re brought into the project, the better the outcome. Pre-wiring during framing is dramatically less expensive than retrofitting later.

Do you offer free consultations?

Yes. We come to your home, walk through your space, listen to what you want, and give you a no-pressure estimate. There’s no charge and no obligation.

What areas do you serve?

We serve Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and the Dayton metro area.

  • Cincinnati and Ohio: Mason, West Chester, Loveland, Indian Hill, Blue Ash, Hyde Park, Montgomery, Anderson Township, and surrounding communities.
  • Northern Kentucky: Fort Mitchell, Crestview Hills, Florence, and surrounding communities.
  • Dayton metro: Centerville, Beavercreek, Oakwood, and surrounding communities.
Do you work on outdoor and pool-area systems?

Yes — outdoor audio, pool-area TVs, and patio entertainment are a meaningful part of our work. We use weatherized landscape speakers (Sonance, Klipsch outdoor) and sun-readable outdoor TVs designed to handle Cincinnati’s full range of weather. Outdoor installs require careful planning for wiring, power, and acoustics — that’s where decades of experience pays off. Learn more on our outdoor audio page.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Phantom Sound is fully licensed and insured for low-voltage installation work across Ohio and Kentucky. We carry general liability and workers’ comp coverage, and we’ll provide certificates of insurance on request — either for your records or to share with your builder or general contractor.

Technology Choices

What’s the difference between Sonos and a custom system like Control4?

Sonos is a fantastic plug-and-play wireless audio system — easy to use, easy to expand, and a great fit for many homes. Control4 (and Josh.ai) are full home automation platforms that tie audio, video, lighting, climate, security, and shades together under one interface, typically with hardwired infrastructure for reliability. Sonos is ideal if music is your main focus — see our audio systems page for what we typically design. Control4 or Josh.ai is the right call if you want true whole-home integration and a single app to run everything, especially when paired with a dedicated home theater. Many of our clients use both — Sonos for music and Control4 or Josh.ai as the brain of the home.

Will this work with Alexa or Google Home?

Yes. Most of the systems we install — including Control4, Josh.ai, Sonos, and Lutron — work with Alexa and Google Home for voice control. We’ll set up voice integration as part of your install if you want it.

Can I control everything from my phone?

Yes. Every system we install comes with mobile app control, so you can adjust lighting, music, temperature, cameras, and more from your phone whether you’re at home or away.

What brands do you work with?

We’re a CEDIA-member and AVIXA-member firm, and an authorized dealer for Control4, Josh.ai, Sonos, Lutron, Klipsch, Sonance, Sony, Samsung, LG, Epson, Araknis, ICRealtime, DMF, and ProLuxe. We choose brands based on what’s right for your project rather than pushing one platform — but if you have a preference, we’re happy to work with it.

Should I buy the equipment myself to save money?

We generally don’t recommend it. As an authorized dealer, we get manufacturer warranties, professional-grade gear that isn’t sold at retail, and direct factory support when something goes wrong. Equipment bought online often comes from gray-market sources without valid warranties, which can cost you more in the long run.

What’s the difference between in-ceiling and bookshelf speakers?

In-ceiling speakers (like Sonance) disappear into the architecture — great for whole-home audio systems, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor patios. Bookshelf and tower speakers (like Klipsch) deliver better sound quality and are typically used in dedicated listening rooms or home theaters. For most homes, we use a mix of both depending on the space.

Installation & Process

Will you make a mess of my house?

No. We use drop cloths, shoe covers, and dust containment, and our technicians clean up at the end of every workday. Most homeowners say we leave the space cleaner than we found it. We treat your home like our own — it’s how we’ve operated since 1988.

What happens after the install is finished?

We walk you (and your family) through the system to make sure everyone knows how to use it. We also leave behind written documentation, label all your equipment, and stay on call for questions. Most clients are fully comfortable within a day or two.

Do you handle the wiring during construction, or do I need an electrician?

We handle all low-voltage wiring (audio, video, network, control, security). Your electrician handles line-voltage wiring (outlets, switches, fixtures). We coordinate directly with your electrician so there are no gaps or surprises.

How disruptive is a retrofit installation?

Less than you’d think. We’re experienced at fishing wire through existing walls with minimal patching, and in many cases we can use wireless gear to avoid wall work entirely. For larger projects, we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect before any work begins.

Support, Warranty & Pricing

What kind of warranty do you offer?

All equipment is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty (typically 1–5 years depending on the product). Our installation labor is covered by a workmanship warranty. As an authorized dealer, we can also handle warranty claims directly with the manufacturer on your behalf.

What if something breaks or stops working?

Call us. We offer service plans for ongoing support, and we prioritize existing clients. For most issues, we can troubleshoot remotely and resolve the problem the same day. If we need to come on-site, we will.

Can you fix problems with an existing system?

Yes. Whether your system was installed by us or someone else, we can troubleshoot and repair almost any audio, video, smart home, or network setup. Many calls we handle remotely the same day. For issues that need a site visit, we schedule quickly and prioritize our existing-client work.

Do you service systems installed by other companies?

Yes. We regularly take on service work for systems originally installed by other companies — troubleshooting Control4 or Josh.ai programming, fixing network and connectivity issues, replacing failed components, and modernizing aging setups. Bring us in to assess what you have, and we’ll tell you honestly what’s worth keeping and what should be replaced.

Do you offer financing?

Many of our clients finance larger projects through home equity lines, construction loans, or third-party financing programs. Ask us during your consultation and we can point you toward options that have worked well for other clients.

How much should I budget for a smart home system?

For a typical Cincinnati-area home, plan on $15,000–$50,000 for a full smart home that integrates lighting, audio, video, and climate. Smaller starter packages begin around $5,000, and luxury whole-home automation projects can run well into six figures. Our pricing page has detailed ranges for each service.

How do I get started?

Easy — request a free consultation through our Contact & Support page or give us a call at (513) 759-4477. We’ll set up a time to come walk your home, talk through your goals, and put together a detailed written proposal. There’s no obligation and no pressure.

Still have questions?

Request a Free Consultation