HAA Home Cinema Certification Training, 2 or 4-Day Course

Course Overview

Achieving HAA certification positions professionals as trusted experts in home cinema acoustical design and calibration, enhancing both their reputation and the quality of the installations they deliver. The Home Acoustics Alliance has been at the forefront of home cinema acoustics training for over 25 years, and Habitech is proud to host their acclaimed certification programme here in Basingstoke.

This intensive two/four-day course combines classroom instruction with hands-on workshop sessions, equipping integrators with the skills to design, calibrate, and optimise high-performance home cinema systems with confidence. Rooted in the HAA philosophy of "Great Sound Through Science," the programme delivers practical, measurement-based techniques that can be applied from day one.

The course can either cover HAA Level Two and Level Three or just Level Two certifications. Prior enrolment in the HAA Home Cinema Primer (online) is required before attending.

What You Will Learn

Level Two Workshop (Days 1 and 2)

The Level Two workshop is an advanced design and calibration class, evenly split between classroom training and hands-on practical sessions. Students will develop the skills to calibrate an immersive audio system with confidence and precision.

Day one focuses on in-depth classroom instruction covering the principles and science behind professional home cinema calibration. Topics include:

- How to use an FFT and ETC analyser for accurate system measurement
- Professional listening development and sonic evaluation techniques
- The HAA TurboCal© calibration process, with live system calibration during the workshop
- Advanced subwoofer calibration methods
- Speaker and seating placement optimisation
- Calibration documentation best practices
- Acoustical treatment strategy design

Day two continues with further classroom instruction alongside extended hands-on workshop sessions, allowing students to apply their learning to real-world calibration scenarios.

Level Three Workshop (Days 3 and 4)

The Level Three workshop is an entirely hands-on session designed to put all the prerequisite training to the test. Working in small teams, students are tasked with incrementally designing and calibrating a high-performance immersive audio system from start to finish.

This workshop has been described as a two-day listening class, where nothing is changed without first measuring and hearing the difference. Topics and activities include:

- The HAA PowerCal© calibration process
- Subwoofer placement theory and practical experimentation
- Room modal analysis and its impact on system performance
- Speaker and seating placement decision-making based on real-time measurement
- Acoustical treatment strategy application in a live environment
- Team-based problem solving with instructor guidance throughout

The HAA teaching philosophy embraces the value of learning through experience. Instructors observe closely and guide each team, ensuring that every decision is informed by both measurement data and critical listening.

Prerequisite: HAA Home Cinema Primer (Online)

Before attending the in-person workshop, all participants must be enrolled in the HAA Home Cinema Primer online course. This foundational programme, completed at your own pace over approximately 12 to 16 hours, covers the essential principles of home cinema acoustical design across 10 comprehensive modules:

- Home Cinema Template, room fundamentals, and the Acoustical Framework
- Equipment selection and immersive audio formats
- Acoustical treatment basics, including absorption and diffusion
- The decibel, sound pressure levels, and bass management
- Human hearing and small room acoustics
- Room modes, reverberation time, and speaker directivity
- Boundary gain, path difference, and speaker boundary interference
- Noise control, sound transmission, and construction considerations
- Professional listening metrics, smoothness, envelopment, and clarity
- Speaker placement strategies (front, centre, surround, and overhead), seating optimisation, subwoofer placement, screen sizing, and an introduction to calibration

Completion of the Primer and the HT1 examination earns HAA Level One certification.

Certification Structure

The HAA certification programme follows a structured three-tier pathway:

HAA Level One (HT1): Achieved by completing the online Home Cinema Primer and passing the HT1 examination.

HAA Level Two (HT2): Achieved by completing the Level Two in-person workshop and passing the HT2 examination. HT1 certification is required.

HAA Level Three (HT3): Achieved by completing the Level Three in-person workshop, passing the HT3 examination, a practical evaluation, and submitting measurements from an external system. HT2 certification is required.

Recertification is required every seven years via a refresher workshop or an optional online assessment.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for professional AV integrators, home cinema designers, system calibrators, and technical specialists who wish to elevate their expertise in acoustical design and calibration. Whether you are looking to formalise your existing knowledge with an internationally recognised certification or expand your capabilities into advanced cinema design, the HAA programme provides a rigorous, science-based framework that will set you apart in the market.

What Previous Attendees Say

"Amazing course, packed from beginning to end with useful, applicable information. Loved it!"
Jimmy Powers, CE Integration Contractor

"The course provided a solid foundation in small-room acoustics, with a practical approach to understanding how real-world environments impact sound."
Javed Ahmed, CE Integration Integrator

"Full stop, the most comprehensive foundational and advanced cinema design and audio calibration course. Highly recommended."
Alex Otto, CE Integration Contractor

Course Details

Dates:14-17 July 2026

Times: 09:00 to 17:30 daily

Location: Habitech Ltd, Unit K, The Loddon Centre, Wade Road, Basingstoke RG24 8FL

Duration: 2 or 4 days (Level Two: Days 1 and 2, Level Three: Days 3 and 4)

Class Size: Limited places available to ensure quality of hands-on instruction. Level Two maximum group size 12 people. Level Three maximum group size 7.

What is Included: Lunch and refreshments provided daily. Test equipment is provided by HAA. Participants are welcome to bring their own laptop and test gear for tool-specific guidance, though these are not required for the course.

What is Not Included: Travel and accommodation are at the participant's own arrangement. Please speak to Tanya if you would like to book a local hotel through Habitech. HAA membership ($49 per year, first year included with enrolment) is required for course access.

Pricing

Level Two and Level Three Workshop plus Online Primer: $3,100 USD

Level Two Workshop plus Online Primer: $1,899 USD

A deposit is required to secure your place.