Classé Amps and Preamps
Classé, manufacturers of high-performance music and theater components, recently unveiled new entry level preamps and amps, dubbing them the Sigma line.
First up is the Sigma SSP. Not only an affordable audiophile quality Preamp, the SSP is also unique in other aspects. Capable of handling video and 7.1 surround sound, it is, in addition, optimized for two channel stereo, allowing flexibility in configuration without sacrificing audio quality.
And what Amp would better compliment the Classé Sigma SSP than a Classé Sigma AMP2 or AMP5?
The Sigma AMP2 is two-channel, 200 watts per channel amplifier that delivers clean and stable power while being both compact and efficient, demonstrating low heat dissipation and a relatively small size. Providing wide dynamic range, smooth and extended frequency response and rich harmonic detail, the AMP2 easily exceeds performance levels of other amps in a similar price range.
The Sigma AMP5 is very much like the AMP2, but with the necessary part and layout modifications to accommodate its five-channel architecture.
The options and varying configurations available in amp and preamp setups can be dizzying, so how do you choose? We recommend you stop in at our showroom and discuss your ideal solution with an expert. This can make all the difference in your decision making process.
Control Systems for Surveillance and More on WHHI’s Lynes on Design
Enjoy the Outdoors and Your Audio and Video at The Same Time
When typically indoor activities move outdoors, many will wonder if there are ways to enjoy them without giving up some favorite conveniences. This is when the issues of audio and video solutions suitable for exterior environments begin to garner attention, since as anyone who has tried can tell you, indoor electronics are not built for outdoor use.
TVs
One of the best known manufacturers of outdoor devices is Sunbrite, makers of outdoor televisions of exceptional durability. Their Signature Series offers a weather proof model with a powder coated exterior that provides protection against the elements. The Pro Series, while including features seen in the Signature Series, is designed with a multi-fan airflow system that allows the television to operate in temperatures from -40 up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This model also eliminates issues relating to intense light by incorporating features such as Anti-reflective glass.
Séura, a company with a reputation for preserving design aesthetic via its line of “vanishing mirror displays”, is another company with a sizable footprint in the field of outdoor TVs. Recognizing that outdoor technology is known for a robust and industrial look, their line of outdoor TVs feature seamless glass facings, beveled edges, aluminum mitered frames, and tapered profiles, appealing to those interested in both form and function.
Audio
Manufacturers such as Sonance and James toss their hats into the arena of outdoor audio, providing systems comprised of small satellite speakers and below-ground subwoofers, featuring all weather materials that can be hidden among plants and under foliage.
Another manufacturer providing outdoor audio solutions is Soundcast, with speakers capable of providing a big sound in outdoor environments, while being fully portable. Perfect for deck and backyard parties, these designs feature rechargeable batteries lasting up to 20 hours, and Bluetooth technology.
The options for outdoor audio and video sit in a wide spectrum of variability. Visit our showroom to see demos, and let us help provide you with the smart solution to your needs.
More Than TV and Stereos
While the different areas that AV integrator delve into can vary widely, one that sparks a great deal of interest is hidden or “disappearing” technologies.
Several manufacturers leading the way in devices that camouflage televisions, and at the head of the pack in television concealment is Media Décor with products like the Art Lift and Moving Art. Each product line is a variation on a theme; art that, at the tap of a button, slides away to reveal your TV.
Media Décor’s Art Lift
The Art Lift comes in three formats. First is The Eclipse Vertical, billed as the world’s first silent, precision electronic sliding lift. Known for having no visible tracks, its precise and ultra-silent movement slides art work in an up or down direction. As with all Media Décor art lift solutions, frames, art, panels, or even mirrors can be selected from the myriad of choices they provide, or from your own personal collection.
The second Art Lift style is the Dual Eclipse, which is made up of dual “split” panels where one panel slides to the left and the other to the right, in perfect synchronization.
Lastly, there is the Eclipse Horizontal – a single panel that slides left or right.
Moving Art
With Moving Art product line, Media Décor again has variants on a salient design feature, which in this case is a patented system where artwork ‘scrolls’ up or down into the device’s frame. The variants for the Moving Art design are the Elite, the Allure and the Illusion, with differences being in frame design and raised mounting vs. mounting flush with a wall.
Much can written about art lifts and hidden technologies, but the only way to the fully grasp the impact these marvelous technologies can make is by seeing them in action. So, visit our showroom and ask to see the latest innovations that help preserve the beauty of your home.
How Smart Homes will Change the Way We Live
The way that we live today is a drastic change from the way that we lived 25 years ago. From wireless sound systems and smart phone integrated connections to automated lighting and thermostats with the ability to learn your temperature preferences, modern smart homes are capable of far more than our grandparents may have ever dreamed possible. However, as intelligent as our homes have become, as our world continues to journey forward into new technological advancements, our homes will only become more and more innovative from the inside out.
To learn more, checkout the infographic below created by Custom Audio Video.
The Top Three Consumer Priorities for Current Smart Home Products
Each year, the top reason that consumers convert their traditional abodes into smart homes is for security purposes. Home surveillance cameras that allow access to happenings from anywhere on the globe, smart doorbells that give you the heads up as to who’s on the porch and remote-locking doors for those times when you forget to lock up provide homeowners with the peace-of-mind that they need to feel safe whether they are at home or on the go. Meanwhile, simplicity of use and engaging features like personal communication between man and machine are major driving factors when a consumer is ready to make a purchase. In fact, remote-locking doors are currently the second largest selling smart home product on the market today.
At the time of this article, 72% of all smart home purchases are being made on self-adjusting thermostats that learn more about your unique comfort levels over a period of time. These systems also have the ability to keep certain rooms cooler or warmer while also changing temperatures to suit your needs throughout the day. In addition, 68% of the most in-demand buys go toward master remote systems, which allow a user to control multiple devices from one source, and 65% to both adjustable lighting and home surveillance equipment.
A Growing Demand
Over the next five years or so, experts predict that the demand for smart home industry technology will have tripled. 2014 saw a whopping $49 billion in global revenue pertaining to smart home products; however, by 2019, that number is expected to rise to a staggering $115 billion worldwide. At the present, 28% of Americans own at least one smart home product, while 21% own or rent homes that have working smart home components. 12% of homes in North America are projected to be homes that run completely on smart systems.
The Benefits of a Smart Home
A smart home provides a family with the ability to take their thoughts off of everyday worries and focus them on important business, social and personal issues. From providing greater comfort in the home to generating better security for your family, smart homes have universal appeal, but they also generate specific benefits that serve niche markets as well. For example, smart home innovations can help a family to care for elderly loved ones more efficiently. Through home surveillance and early-alert health technology, family members can feel more comfortable leaving their elderly loved ones home alone when they know that help is just a button away and that they will be able to see what is going on inside of the home to prevent accidents or deal with health emergencies. In fact, 74% of families say that they would sleep better knowing that their parents or grandparents were utilizing smart home technologies of this sort.
Aside from the promise of these niche market items, families find that the everyday perks of smart homes include many benefits that are more universal in nature. 48% of smart home users found that the added convenience offered by smart homes was worth noting to those who were thinking of purchasing like-minded items. 70% of consumers revealed that greater energy efficiencies generated cost-savings in their households due energy-conscious smart home monitoring. 85% of families feel that fire detection is one of the most important benefits of smart home components, which can save lives and prevent or minimize property destruction.
Looking into the Future
The future of smart home technology ignites the imagination of creators, scientists and businesses worldwide. From the way we watch television to the way that we protect our homes and families, many predictions are being made about what is just around the bend in smart home advancements. Whether you are interested in a new experience in home entertainment or increased confidence in your home security and protection system, there is something for every homeowner and lifestyle in the ever-increasing selection of smart home products.
Home entertainment is expected to become more entertaining than ever before with broadcast sporting events becoming interactive, allowing you to communicate with the event as if you were there in person. You could select your favorite leader-board, check out other scores from games around the world and indulge in track position charts that would allow you to be involved in more than one sport at once.
Appliances may seem like a less exciting place to use smart home technology, but this area is actually one of the most innovative of all. Whirlpool’s Connected Kitchen will be able to recognize individual users through biometrics, providing each family member with a unique, personalized cooking experience. Smart Vessels will know when your food has spoiled and will recognize the absence of family staples that may need purchasing. Stoves will be able to recognize pans and pots to cook food to perfection, and recipes will be viewable on your stovetop for easy reading and scrolling for ingredients.
Home security will become something that you might expect to see in a spy film. Someday, your home will be able to allow you entrance through facial recognition—no key necessary. Security systems will recognize specific voices, trigger alarms at the sound of breaking glass and alert parents to the sounds of a crying baby—even if they’re away from the home or nursery.
As we journey into the future of smart home innovation, it is evident that we have a lot to look forward to in the future. Today’s smartest residence will be nothing when compared to the I.Q. level of tomorrow’s home.
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Lighting and Shade Control for Your Home
In your kitchen, dining, living room, bedroom, porch and study.
Homeowners are enjoying their homes more than ever largely because of features that can make their spaces more efficient and enjoyable. One way to achieve a warm, inviting atmosphere is through lighting and shade control.
Advances in lighting technology have led to home lighting automation systems that dim and brighten light fixtures to customized programmed settings – a step beyond traditional wall-mounted dimmers. With the best home lighting automation system, you’ll be able to adjust multiple areas or rooms at the same time from one device, such as a smartphone, tablet or even custom keypads.
A home lighting automation system also enables switches to be grouped together to create lighting “zones.” For example, in the kitchen, one zone of lights could include all the overhead fixtures; another the small LED lights under cabinets; a third the pendant lights over the bar; and a forth the chandelier over the breakfast nook. By arranging the room lights in this manner and tying them to a lighting control system, each zone can be controlled independently or grouped together. During a holiday gathering, you might activate a scene to call attention to a buffet; at a cocktail part a different scene of lights could be activated to create a cozy, intimate ambiance; and a different scene could establish bright light for everyday meal preparation.
Like lights, shades too are part of a complete control package. No matter how intricately designed a lighting control system is, sunlight can still affect the end result. The best solution is to complement your smart lighting products and systems with motorized shades.
Discover Total Lighting and Shade Control
When motorized, automatic window shades and draperies can be easily positioned to allow the lights in the room to do their magic without any interference from outside conditions. Conversely, they can be automatically adjusted to allow sunlight to contribute to the look and feel of the room and to weave the outdoor scenery into the room environment. Having shades adjust throughout the day is also a great way to control energy costs.
To discover how lighting and shade automation can contribute to the joy and comfort of your home, contact us using the form below and let the experts at Custom Audio Video help design the perfect solution for you.
CAV’s Iain Brown introduces Bowers and Wilkens’ 803D Speakers
Custom Audio Video’s Iain Brown introduces Bowers and Wilkens’ 803D speakers, just one of the amazing audio solutions you can see in our Bluffton showroom.
So Many Choices! Vinyl, CD or Download?
With a renewed interest in music on vinyl records, and with consumers having nearly fully embraced the convenience of music downloads and streaming, we have in recent years heard claims that the death knell of the CD has been all but rung. Some say vinyl reproduces a “warmer”, more authentic sound, while CDs compromise quality for the sake of portability and convenience. Just how accurate are these claims, and should they cause you trade in your CDs and CD player for “old school” records and a turntable?
Vinyl
Industry professionals such as recording engineers state that vinyl has inherent deficiencies digital recordings (CDs) do not, with problems in reproducing both low and high ends being the most significant. This is because the vinyl disc is a steadily collapsing medium – as the record plays and as the needle gets closer to the label, “information” becomes more and more compromised and high frequencies get lost. This particular failure of the medium is what many interpret as the “warmth” that vinyl delivers.
CD
CDs not only eliminate some of vinyl’s limitations by more accurately reproducing the sound spectrum, they also do away with other distortion like the clicks and pops familiar to anyone who has played a vinyl disc.
MP3
How about music downloads vs. CD? The most common format for downloaded music is the MP3. Classified a “lossy” format with compression which allows for more storage, MP3s deliver reduced audio fidelity that will not satisfy the individual looking for a superior listening experience.
High Definition/High Resolution music.
Also downloadable, the Hi Res format provides the most accurate audio reproduction available. Due to the amount of data required to reproduce music at this standard, it cannot be stored on devices like smartphones or tablets and must be stored on external hard drives, computers or music servers.
Conclusion
Each format provides a different experience and satisfy a particular niche. So, whether you’re looking for convenience or the ultimate listening experience, the only way to make the best choice is to get your ears involved. Visit our showroom to hear demos of the various formats and to pick the brains of experts at Custom Audio Video.
Top 5 Questions Custom Audio Video Gets Asked
One of the biggest part of what we do at CAV is provide answers to questions that range from the mundane to the bizarre. However, there does seem to be a few that are asked on a regular basis.
1. “Can I have one control for everything, and can it be easy to use?”
With manufacturers now including a remote control for nearly all electronic devices, this has become a very common inquiry. The answer is yes, with the stipulation that level of ease of use in a universal control system is contingent on the extent to which the user is willing to invest. Control solutions can range widely in both form and function, from the long used hand held style that some refer as a “wand” or “clicker”, controlling a few A/V components, to systems that can include controls for lighting, shades, and security, and for which tablet or wall panel interfaces are used. All remote solutions need programming, and any reliable system will require programming to be done by a trained technician.
2. “What Wireless Surround Sound system do you recommend?”
Short answer: None. While some surround systems do provide partial wireless options, these are never reliable with signal loss being common, and sound quality is well below audiophile standards.
3. “Do I need 4K?”
You need air. You need water. 4K? No, you don’t “need” it, but we do recommend it for TVs over 50 inches. Simply put, a larger TV requires more pixels to maintain picture quality. Regardless of whether your TV is 19″ or 79″, if it’s 1080P both have the same number of pixels. In a smaller TV, those pixels will be packed tighter, rendering a sharper picture than a larger TV with an equal number of pixels spread over a greater area, and this is why larger TVs require more pixels, which is what those number, 1080p and 4K, represent.
4. “Do I need Blu-ray instead of DVD?”
Like 4K, a Blu-ray player will provide a higher resolution experience from both Blu-ray discs and DVDs. In addition, most Blu-ray players allow for streaming from sources such as Netflix and YouTube.
5. “How can I make my TV less of a center piece?”
There are a number of different ways to disguise televisions. One option is an art lift. Here, a TV is covered with a painting or picture, and this is raised mechanically with the tap of a button. Other options like TVs hidden in mirrors or rising from a floor or counter top make excellent alternatives to the art lift.
At Custom Audio Video, our job is to make you dream come true. For a more detailed view of what A/V integrators can accomplish, call or visit a local showroom and let one of their expert team members discuss some smart solutions for your technology needs.
We Can Help Your Business in Ways You May Have Not Considered
When people think of audio and video solutions , what most frequently comes to mind is the mounting of TVs or the installation of a sound system in a family room or man cave. However, Custom Audio Video is engaged in far more areas than one might think. We provide services like structured wiring, and lighting control and shading, and control systems, with these solutions in no way being limited to residential environments. In fact, commercial applications of these same technologies create effective and inviting surrounding.
One technology available through A/V providers that is used primarily in commercial or institutional settings is digital signage.
Used in venues such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels and in public spaces like stadiums, museums, and transportation systems, digital signage consists of the use of LED and LCD panels ranging in size from that of small TVs to full blown roadside billboards.
These can be utilized in delivering various types of content, whether it be a menu with vibrant and eye-catching images, a short “live” commercial, or maps and directions for navigation.
With Ultra Hi-Def significantly improving the quality of video, especially on larger screens such as Video Walls, retailers are increasingly turning to digital signage as a low cost way of presenting their brand as well as entertaining customers, with businesses finding an unexpected fringe benefit of this investment being that digital signage reduces perceived wait times at checkout.
Adding an upswing in overall sales volume and people reporting that digital signage catches their attention, it’s difficult to dispute the effectiveness of this technology.
Contact Custom Audio Video and take the first steps in exploring the technologies that will enhance your space, and help grow your business’ reputation and profitability.