Columbus Home Theater Designers Columbus, OH

Integration key to high-tech homes

Signal Direct Systems
Scott McLain, president
Columbus, Ohio

Signal Direct Systems has won the Super Service Award every year since 2008. Keeping customers happy through problem solving and personal service is key to president Scott McLain’s success, he says.

by Leslie Benson

With a degree in design from Ohio State University and an affinity for consumer electronics, audiophile Scott McLain, president of highly rated Signal Direct Systems in Grandview Heights, Ohio, which also services Columbus, Ohio, makes a living troubleshooting high-tech projects for homeowners.

"I'm a solution provider," McLain says.

Since founding his company in 1994, McLain has used his expertise in home construction and home electronics to integrate stereo and home theater systems for families.

When Angie's List member Evan Dick of Westerville, Ohio, moved into a new house and wanted to install a new 40-inch LCD TV, he appreciated McLain's presence of mind to take measurements to determine the best possible location for it. "He brought every tool in his arsenal," Dick says. "He explained what he was doing at each step, and I feel like I learned a lot through the process. The installation went smoothly, and the final product looks great."

Certified by the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) as an electronic systems technician II, McLain specializes in installing audio, Internet service, high-definition televisions, gaming systems and more. "Less people are interested in dedicated home theaters," McLain says. "Instead, they're opting for integrated home theaters, or high-def flat-screen TVs mounted in a multifunctional space like a rec room or a living room, where the family can play cards and watch a movie."

McLain's hands-on approach and commitment to staying up-to-date on new technology has enabled him to stay atop changes in the marketplace. "I look out for my customers' best interests and treat them how I would want to be treated," McLain says.