HAA has been providing the best audio and acoustical training in the custom industry for 26 years. The training began as a 2-day technical course on audio design and calibration and has expanded to be the most comprehensive training program found anywhere. The improvements have been made through incremental changes over the years identifying ways we can teach concepts better and adding new scientific information as it is developed. This is proven training and has never been better. Come see why we have the best satisfaction results from students. HAA delivers and its “worth every penny”.
State of the Art Knowledge
The HAA Home Cinema Primer, formerly the Level One (HT1), teaches the fundamentals of proper Home Cinema design principles along with an overview of important acoustical principles and terms. It’s ideal as an introduction for beginners, but it offers totally new insights on high performance design for more advanced students. We discuss professional design requirements for room construction and room layout including the proper positioning of seating, speakers, subwoofers and acoustical treatment. There are new ideas here that you likely haven’t heard about. While the material is technical, the class will focus on creating a clear understanding using basic terminology and discuss ways for integrating proper acoustical design with modern interior design preferences. It is a prerequisite for the advanced workshops which are highly recommended to be taken soon afterward to reinforce learning..
Become a Big part of the future
If you are looking for a community that is focused on high performance audio in the home environment, you’ve found it. We’ve been in the business of high performance sound since 2001. We are not an equipment or design sales company but our professional membership is filled with companies that are.
HAA Certified Integrators are recognized world-wide as the best. Caring enough about your craft to seek the most advanced training sets you apart from the rest.
Certifications Matter
Testimonials
“Amazing course, packed from beginning to end with useful, applicable information. Very useful for designers in home and professional audio. Loved it!”… “I can honestly say I’ve never taken a course that has had such a profound impact on my technical ability and the way I serve my clients. The HAA Level 2 and 3 training in Las Vegas wasn’t just another certification—it was a complete reframe of how I think about sound, design, and the client experience.”
Jimmy Powers
CE Integration Contractor
“I recently completed the HAA HT1 (Home Acoustics Alliance Level One) training, and it was an incredibly insightful and professionally structured experience. The course provided a solid foundation in small-room acoustics, covering essential topics like speaker placement, subwoofer positioning, modal behavior, and the importance of the Acoustical Framework. What stood out was the practical approach to understanding how real-world environments impact sound, and how thoughtful design and calibration can dramatically improve performance. “
Javed Ahmed
CE Integration Integrator
“Full stop the most comprehensive foundational and advanced cinema design and audio calibration course. There is something here for the seasoned pro and new players. The material is presented in a comprehensive yet simple to understand manner. The instructors are top notch. Highly recommended for anyone involved in the sales, design and commissioning of home cinema systems. At minimum, HT1 course should be required for any integrator that works with home cinema be it in sales, design, or calibration.”
Alex Otto
CE Integration Contractor
HAA Introduction Course
Complementary when joining the HAA as an HAA Pro Candidate or Enthusiast (no cost or obligation)
The HAA Introduction Course is an easy way for you to experience HAA Training excellence at no cost. We’ve taken first few lessons of the Primer Course and offer it for your review. It also explains what’s added if you enroll in the full Primer Course. Joining the HAA entitles you to register for the Introduction Course at no cost.
GETTING STARTED
Enrolling in the Primer course is your entry point. You can enroll in the class and immediately take it right here on the HAA Portal. HAA Level One (HT1) Certification requires completion of the Primer and the successful completion of the HT1 Exam. Primer enrollment also entitles you to immediately enroll in the HAA Level Two and Level Three Workshops. Level One Certification is not required to attend the workshops, only Primer enrollment.
It’s highly recommended you complete a substantial portion of the Primer prior to workshop attendance. Enrollment in the Primer Course provides access to the material for one year. Once you are certified, Primer access is made permanent, so you can reference it and any updates over the years. It’s also recommended to revisit the online course after attending the workshops as the lessons will take on new meaning with the workshop experience. It’s highly recommended and common to take all three classes back-to-back for the most complete learning experience.
Scroll down for more information and to enroll in any of the classes.
TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
Check out our Workshop Calendar then Click on each of the courses below to learn more
There are always new dates and locations being added periodically. Register as an HAA Pro Candidate or Enthusiast to keep informed.
This updated online class teaches the fundamentals of proper Home Theater acoustical design principles. It teaches the central requirements of a high-performance design based upon state-of-the-art scientific research and extensive field experience. It is presented online and you must be enrolled prior to HAA workshop attendance.
The concept of the “Acoustical Framework” is introduced as the central design concept explaining the importance of all acoustical elements in achieving a delicate balance based on their inter dependency.
The list of guiding metrics of design success are also introduced with discussions of how the acoustical framework and acoustical treatment strategy can be understood to be the central controls of performance.
Completion of the final exam earns HAA Level One (HT1) Certification
The course lays the groundwork for further more advanced understanding of small room acoustics by introducing the student to the most important industry acoustical terms and their practical use. This provides important foundational knowledge especially for the AV Professional. It’s ideal as an introduction to small room acoustics for anyone, but it also offers totally new insights on high performance design for more advanced AV professionals as well. It’s also a must-attend class for theater designers, AV sales people, project managers, and every integrator.
We’ll discuss professional design requirements for room construction and room layout including the proper positioning of seating, speakers, sub-woofers and acoustical treatment. There’s new ideas here that you likely haven’t heard about.
While the material is technical, the class will focus on creating a clear understanding using basic terminology. It discusses ways for integrating proper acoustical design with modern interior design preferences using discussions of real world design challenges, best practices for client discussions, and how technical excellence and knowledge can drive business goals. Each lesson is followed by a Knowledge Test to help prepare you for the final HAA Level One Exam.
There’s a lot of information in this Primer. Most of it is designed to teach the basics, but you’ll find there’s also more advanced information as well. Testing for the Level One Certification does not expect you to be a Master of all the material. The Primer is also designed to be a living document for certified professionals to refer back to and update their knowledge. The Level One test focuses on the fundamental “must know” information and the Knowledge Tests after each lesson are based on that level of understanding.
- Home Cinema Template
- The Room
- Acoustical Framework
- The Equipment
- Immersive Audio Formats
- Acoustical Treatment Basics
- The DeciBel and Sound Pressure Level
- Bass Management and the LFE
- Human Hearing
- Small Room Acoustics
- Room Modes
- Reverberation Time (RT)
- Speaker Directivity
- Boundary Gain and Phase
- Path Difference
- Speaker Boundary Interference
- Noise Control
- Sound Transmission Class & IIC
- Windows, Doors, Ceilings, & Floors
- Internal Noise
- Professionalism & Sonic Metrics
- Professional Listening
- Smoothness and Focus
- Envelopment, Consistency, and Clarity
- Seat Placement
- Subwoofer Placement
- Advanced Subwoofer Placement
- Front Left and Right Speakers
- Center Speaker Placement
- Surround Speaker Placement
- Top Speaker Placement
- Screen Size and Placement
- Small Room Sound Field
- Acoustical Treatments
- Acoustical Treatment Strategy
- Introduction to Calibration
The typical time for completion is 12 to 16 hours.
* Formerly known as the HAA Level One (HT1) course.
1. HAA Level One (HT1) Certification requires completion of the HAA Home Cinema Primer Course and successful completion of the HAA Level One (HT1) Exam.
2. Enrolling in the Primer course also entitles you to enroll in the HAA Level Two and Level Three Workshops. Level One Certification is not required to attend the workshops, only Primer enrollment. It’s highly recommended you complete a substantial portion of the Primer prior to workshop attendance. Enrollment in the Primer Course provides access to the material for one year. It’s highly recommended to revisit the online course after attending the workshops as the lessons will take on new meaning with the workshop experience.
3. Once you are certified, you’ll be given permanent access to the latest Primer course for future reference. Any new information or knowledge is updated regularly in the Primer Course, so you can keep up to date. Primer Course access requires you be a paid member in good standing.
4. Recertification via taking a refresher workshop (no test) or optional online testing is required every 7 years to retain your certification. Recertification requires you be a paid HAA member in good standing.
5. HAA Membership costs $49 per year. Your first year is included in your enrollment. Certified HAA Members in good standing have the option to be posted on the HAA Dealer Locator.
6. Once you are certified you’ll be able to download your certification logo from your HAA Portal home page and use it to promote yourself and your business. You must be a paid HAA member in good standing, HAA Certified, and running or an employee of an audio related company to use the logo. Violations of these rules constitutes a copyright infringement. We are endeavoring to make the HAA Certification as valuable as possible for you and others, so we do enforce this requirement.
7. There are no refunds on any class enrollment fees.
8. Clicking the enrollment button below means that you understand and agree to these terms.
IMPORTANT! If you already have an HAA Membership, please log in so any courses are assigned to your account. If your membership is expired you must renew to receive your discounts.
WAIT! For more in-depth information about the all classes and discounts for enrolling in more than one class scroll down.
This in-person class is an advanced how-to design/calibrate class evenly split between class room training and a hands-on workshop. While created for integrators, it is great for designers, project managers, and even enthusiasts.
The class leverages the Design principles introduced in the Home Cinema Primer class with more in-depth explanations and examples. It discusses acoustical principles to create a deeper understanding of HAA design standards aiming to prepare the student with better problem solving skills.
Most students find the first day lecture to be very gratifying as it’s a chance to have questions from the Primer more thoroughly answered
Completion of the HT2 exam earns HAA Level Two (HT2) Certification
The class includes the HAA TurboCal© Workshop designed to start you running with an efficient and practical audio calibration process; we will calibrate a live system during the workshop.
Training high points include learning how to use an FFT and ETC analyzer, how to be a professional listener, calibration documentation, advanced sub-woofer calibration, speaker and seating placement, and designing a practical acoustical treatment strategy.
Prerequisite is enrollment in the HAA Home Cinema Primer. Level One Certification is not required. If more than one year has passed since completion of the Primer class, a thorough review of the Primer material is highly recommended.
The object of this class is to reinforce the most important lessons of the Primer and teach a student how to calibrate. Our goal is to deliver the skills so you can calibrate an immersive system on day one.
1. HAA Level Two (HT2) Certification requires HAA Level One (HT1) Certification and successful completion of the HAA Level Two (HT2) Exam.
2. HAA Level Two Workshop enrollment requires HAA Home Cinema Primer enrollment or previous HAA Level One Certification.
3. Enrolling in the Level Two workshop also entitles you to enroll in the HAA Level Three Workshop. Level Two Certification is not required to attend the Level Three workshop, only Level Two enrollment. It’s highly recommended you complete a substantial portion of the Primer prior to workshop attendance. It’s also recommended to revisit the Primer online course after attending the workshops as the lessons will take on new meaning with the workshop experience.
4. Once you are certified, you’ll retain permanent access to the latest Primer course for future reference. Any new information or knowledge is updated regularly in the Primer Course, so you can keep up to date. Primer Course access requires you be a paid member in good standing.
5. Recertification via taking a refresher workshop (no test) or optional online testing is required every 7 years to retain your certification. Recertification requires you be a paid HAA member in good standing.
6. HAA Membership costs $49 per year. Your first year is included in your enrollment. Certified HAA Members in good standing have the option to be posted on the HAA Dealer Locator.
7. Once you are certified you’ll be able to download your certification logo from your HAA Portal home page and use it to promote yourself and your business. You must be a paid HAA member in good standing, HAA Certified, and running or an employee of an audio related company to use the logo. Violations of these rules constitutes a copyright infringement. We are endeavoring to make the HAA Certification as valuable as possible for you and others, so we do enforce this requirement.
8. What to bring: You are welcome to bring your laptop and test gear for tool specific advice, but it is not used in the class: Test gear will be provided. Workshops use the new HAA CinemaTools app and the HAA Calibration Wizard from AudioTools.
9. Cancellations are not allowed within 30 days of the event. Refunds are not possible but an effort will be made to accommodate you in the next available class within one year.
10. Lunch is provided but lodging and travel are not.
11. Check the link above for when sessions are scheduled. At the check-out page be sure to select your desired location and dates.
12. Clicking the enrollment button below means that you understand and agree to these terms.
IMPORTANT! If you already have an HAA Membership, please log in so any courses are assigned to your account. If your membership is expired you must renew to receive your discounts.
WAIT! Consider bundling the Level Three Workshop for more discounts.
This in-person workshop is an all hands-on session designed to bring all the prerequisite training to the test. This class pulls all the information and techniques from the prerequisite classes into a fantastic review and cements the concepts for the most complete understanding.
The student is on a small team who are tasked to incrementally design and calibrate a high performance system. Nothing less than amazing results are allowed. The team is asked to complete the HAA PowerCal© process including several eye-opening instructor led learning sessions conducted with your audio system.
Completion of the HT3 exam and Practical earns HAA Level Three (HT3) Certification
You’ll understand subwoofer placement, room modal analysis, speaker/seating placement and acoustical treatment design from both a theoretical and experiential point of view. Our rule is that nothing is changed without measuring and hearing the difference. This class will change your perspective on audio and open up a new opportunity in building high performance systems.
The key is listening. This workshop has been called a 2 day listening class. We take the lessons of the Home Cinema Primer to a new level, linking the sonic metrics to design and calibration decisions in a real small room.
It’s often been said the best way to teach someone to swim is to throw them in the deep end of a pool. The class is team led using the Level Three manual, but the object is for the team to make the acoustical decisions themselves. Don’t worry, instructors watch the action very closely. Sometimes the best way to learn a lesson is to make a mistake. The key is to learn from the mistake.
Did we mention that this is probably the most fun you’ll ever have in a training? Lunches and evening meals are great for “after-the-class” learning with the instructors and the networking opportunities are wonderful. We have friendships born through HAA training still running strong after many years.
1. HAA Level Three (HT3) Certification requires HAA Level Two (HT2) Certification and successful completion of the HAA Level Three (HT3) Exam and Practical (submission of measurements from an outside system).
2. HAA Level Three Workshop enrollment requires HAA Home Cinema Primer enrollment or previous HAA Level One Certification, HAA Level Two enrollment or previous HAA Level Two Certification.
3. It’s highly recommended you complete a substantial portion of the Primer prior to workshop attendance. It’s also recommended to revisit the Primer online course after attending the workshops as the lessons will take on new meaning with the workshop experience.
4. Once you are certified, you’ll retain permanent access to the latest Primer course for future reference. Any new information or knowledge is updated regularly in the Primer Course, so you can keep up to date. Primer Course access requires you be a paid member in good standing.
5. Recertification via taking a refresher workshop (no test) or optional online testing is required every 7 years to retain your certification. Recertification requires you be a paid HAA member in good standing.
6. HAA Membership costs $49 per year. Your first year is included in your enrollment. Certified HAA Members in good standing have the option to be posted on the HAA Dealer Locator.
7. Once you are certified you’ll be able to download your certification logo from your HAA Portal home page and use it to promote yourself and your business. You must be a paid HAA member in good standing, HAA Certified, and running or an employee of an audio related company to use the logo. Violations of these rules constitutes a copyright infringement. We are endeavoring to make the HAA Certification as valuable as possible for you and others, so we do enforce this requirement.
8. What to bring: You are welcome to bring your laptop and test gear for tool specific advice, but it is not used in the class: Test gear will be provided. Workshops use the new HAA CinemaTools app and the HAA Calibration Wizard from AudioTools.
9. Cancellations are not allowed within 30 days of the event. Refunds are not possible but an effort will be made to accommodate you in the next available class within one year.
10. Lunch is provided but lodging and travel are not.
11. Check the link above for when sessions are scheduled. At the check-out page be sure to select your desired location and dates.
12. Clicking the enrollment button below means that you understand and agree to these terms.
IMPORTANT! If you already have an HAA Membership, please log in so any courses are assigned to your account. If your membership is expired you must renew to receive your discounts.