Sonos: The Best in Wireless Audio
At the forefront of wireless audio technology is Sonos, a music delivery system that provides playback from local sources such as smartphones or computers, as well as from streaming services.
Sonos both manufactures speakers that automatically connect to its wireless network, and allows for speakers, amps, preamps and receivers of other manufacturers to be integrated into its system.
A Simple But Versatile System
The Software: Sonos apps are free, and once on your computer, tablet or smartphone, it is used to access music from almost any source imaginable. The app provides control of all speakers connected to the Sonos system, and includes the capability to control each “zone” independently.
The Hardware: The Sonos Boost attaches to your WiFi router and provides a portal for streaming music from the internet. In addition, it sets up a Sonos wireless “bubble”, creating a signal independent of you router and internet connection.
Sonos allows for third party hardware to be integrated into its system. One way of doing this is by using the Sonos Connect. Attached to an amp, preamp, or receiver, the Connect will make the respective device part of the Sonos network. This is good news to audiophiles that have invested in systems they know deliver superior sound quality, but who also want to take advantage of Sonos’ benefits.
The Connect Amp works much the same way the Connect, but precludes the need for an amp as it attaches directly to speakers and provides sufficient power to drive them.
Sonos speakers come in three flavors; the Play 1, Play 3, and Play 5, with 1, 3 or 5 drivers respectively. Each has perfect applications whether it’s having a Play 1 in a small work area, or a pair of Play 5s as part of a surround sound setup.
As with most speakers, more drivers means a richer soundscape, so a standalone Play 5 will sound significantly different from a Play 1. But, the only way to get a feel for the difference between the speaker models is to hear them, and the best place to hear them is at our showroom in Sheridan Park, Bluffton.
What Speakers Best Fit My Needs?
Looking for a high fidelity experience? Every component plays a critical role, whether it be the amp, digital analogue converter, or various cables, and perhaps most glamorous of all the components are speakers.
When choosing speakers, we need to take into consideration the specific function the speakers will serve. Are they for indoor or outdoor use? For ambient music, a surround sound theater, or critical listening of your favorite recording artists and their latest releases?
Ambient Speakers
Looking at speakers applied to the “ambient” scenario, we can also cover the question of “indoor or outdoor”. Bowers and Wilkins has tackled the issues of rain, heat, and more, with the AM-1 Architectural Monitor, a weatherproof speaker designed for wall mounting, with cast aluminum wall brackets that allow 110 degree rotation from their center. These speakers are constructed with an auxiliary bass radiator to the rear, offering exceptional bass response while still allowing the housing to be sealed.
For indoor ambient music, B&W offers a wide range of in-ceiling speakers. Featuring magnetic grills for a tight fit to sheet rock surface, these low profile speakers not only blend into the any environment, but with Kevlar® cone bass/mid-range drivers and Nautilus aluminum dome tweeter that pivots, these speakers can also be used in home theater applications.
Critical Listening Speakers
While the speakers described so far provide a superior experience, Bowers and Wilkins’ technology gets the best opportunity to shine when listened to on speakers in bookshelf or floor standing formats. Whether for critical listening or incorporating the speakers into a surround sound system, features like Decoupled Double Dome aluminum tweeters set the B&W sound well above the pack. Seen in CM series, this tweeter design allows for accurate reproduction of highs while preventing audible distortion.
B&W 800 series floor standing speakers break the mold with Diamond tweeters, Continuum drivers and matrix vented-box system, all designed to provide the audio experience of a lifetime.
Ultimately, when it comes to speakers, hearing is believing. Visit our Bluffton showroom to discuss your audio needs and to get an earful of just how amazing your audio system can be.
The Future Of Biometrics And Home Video Surveillance
The Future Of Biometrics And Home Video Surveillance | CAV
Home burglaries cost an estimated $4.6 billion a year and homeowners are looking for new ways to protect their property. Biometric technologies such as fingerprint identification, iris scanning, and voice recognition are becoming increasingly popular, while home video surveillance still remains a strong deterrent for burglars. All of them are constantly being improved and may soon be integrated for a truly smart home security system. To learn more, checkout the infographic below created by Custom Audio Video, the custom home theater experts.
Burglaries and Safety
Crime is rampant across the country and even homes can no longer be considered safe. The numbers don’t lie. Statistics show that there were over 2 million estimated burglaries in 2010 according to the FBI. That’s a lot of incidents for just a single year with tens of thousands committed every single day. The total losses in property come in at roughly $4.6 billion – a large sum however you look at it. People are losing a great deal of money because of these incidents. The majority of the cases involve forcible entry while property crimes comprise 23.8%.
Some security systems use passwords for an added layer of protection. Only the user is supposed to know the password, which allows them entry into the premises. However, studies show that 3 out of 4 consumers use duplicate passwords. These are unsafe and easily cracked by trained hackers. What makes them doubly vulnerable is that these passwords have not been changed in 5 years or more. This gives malicious individuals ample time to crack the code and push through with their plans. Experts always recommend that people regularly change their passwords and avoid recycling old ones. Using a combination of upper case and lower case letters, as well as number and special characters, also bolsters the strength of the security.
Biometrics
There are other ways to prevent unauthorized access to property. Biometrics, for instance, is emerging as one of the most promising fields in the security industry. This uses technologies that are based on the premise that each individual has unique identifiable attributes, which can be used in authentication. The most common example of this is the fingerprint. We all know that each person has a distinct print and so it is often used in scene of the crime investigations. This has been a practice for well over a century with consistent results. Thanks to computers, identification has become even faster and more reliable than ever before.
Another biometric technology is the iris scan. This uses pulses of light to examine a person’s eyes and compare it to a known baseline. The iris is highly distinctive as well, making this a formidable method of identification. Experiments have shown that the technology is capable of achieving up to 99% accuracy when trying to identify an individual from a crowd. The National Institute of Standards and Technology or NIST is bullish about this piece of tech. It should be noted that the left and right iris will have differences. These make them even better because there is a bigger amount of data to work on.
Other biometric technologies include voice recognition and home video surveillance. Voice recognition can be broken down into two parts. The first is the characterization of the structure of the vocal tract, which is largely quantitative. The second is the behavioral characteristics of the speaker, which can be qualitative, though measurable in most cases. Video surveillance, on the other hand, is becoming more popular thanks to the improvements in technology and the increasingly affordable prices. These are effective deterrents with 60% of burglars indicating that the presence of an alarm would cause them to seek alternative targets. There is no point in taking the risk of being recorded and seen by the police, as there would be damning evidence against them.
Future Prospects
Biometric apps are already making headway but there is still a lot of room for growth. The rise will be rapid if expert predictions will come true. It is estimated that there will be 770 million downloaded biometric applications per year starting in 2019. Much of these will be thanks to the proliferation of smartphones. Estimates have the number of smartphones in the US increasing by 121 million by 2018. These will be much more powerful than the ones we have now which are already behaving like impressive mini computers that can do it all. These future phones should be able to run incredibly complex algorithms with little to no lag.
The use of electronic door locks is also set to rise. These are deemed to be more secure than the traditional lock and key, which can be opened by a knowledgeable burglar with a pin. These electronic locks can be opened by two or more methods to increase robustness. For example, most of them require a key card and a fingerprint to gain access. They may also have Bluetooth technology built inside to allow people to use their mobile phones for access. There are many ways to configure this type of device. The important thing is that there is not than one option to prevent lockouts.
Fingerprint scanning devices are not yet perfect. There are plenty of kinks that need to be ironed out for this technology to truly gain traction. Its incorporation in many smartphones today is a step in the right direction. This will force the industry to study the manner and develop better algorithms for greater accuracy and faster identification. Current methods are known to be slow and unreliable at times, which make them frustrating to use. However, consumers are seeing the potential of this security measure so it is likely here to stay. It will expand in the number of applications and make its way to more homes.
The Connected Home
The improvement in smart technologies have also brought about increased demand for residential security products. The smart home market is expected to grow by $58 billion in the year 2020 driven by advancements and affordable pricing. The “Connected Home” is coming. Different technologies can be integrated in such a way as to create a formidable shield against any attempt at burglary. Digital door locks can be connected with social media to send private alerts for unauthorized entries. Light switches and sensors can be turned on remotely using smartphones. The possibilities are endless.
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Undercover Tech: Part 2
There are a number of manufacturers and designers that have hit on the novel idea that perhaps some folks would like to preserve the personal touch and style they put so much thought into, while providing the added benefit of maximizing space utilization in their homes. Because of this, we thought it was necessary to expand upon the first blog about these space-savvy companies. You don’t have to compromise space to have the best technology.
For Beginners: Pixels, Resolutions & Televisions
At Custom Audio Video, we pride ourselves on not only providing our clients with the best products and services, but also educating them so they understand exactly what they want and need. To keep with our passion of education, we periodically publish a series of posts designed to provide entry-level information on various products and services. This particular post will highlight pixels, resolutions & televisions.
Brand Highlight: AudioQuest
Since 1996, Customer Audio Video has provided some of the most gorgeous homes in South Carolina’s Lowcountry with audio-video installation, so our experts have in-depth experience on some of the industry’s top brands and products. One of our favorite brands is AudioQuest, a company that specialize in audio and video cables and accessories.
For Beginners: Surround Sound Formats
At Custom Audio Video, we pride ourselves on not only providing our clients with the best products and services, but also educating them so they understand exactly what they want and need. To keep with our passion of education, we periodically publish a series of posts designed to provide entry-level information on various products and services. This particular post will highlight surround sound formats.
Product Highlight: SunBrite TV
In order to highlight some of our favorite products, Custom Audio Video will periodically post a blog series, “Product Highlight.” For our first post, we will be featuring SunBrite TV.
Highlighting the Latest Trend: 4K Streaming
At Custom Audio Video, we are passionate about providing clients with the best audio-video experience possible. To accomplish this, our audio-video professionals are dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest industry trends.
Currently, one of the most exciting advancements in the entertainment industry is 4K streaming. Initially generating buzz as a mere potential advancement, 4K streaming is now a reality that is revolutionizing the way we think of image quality.
Take Your Audio-Video System to the Next Level with Hidden Technologies
Many families often consider starting the new year by taking their audio-video system to the next level with hidden technologies. Having installed some of the most customized audio-video systems throughout South Carolina’s Lowcounty for more than 19 years, our audio video installation experts at Custom Audio Video have the experience to enhance your living environment. Whether it is electrical outlets or hidden televisions, our expert team can help you make your in-home experience a thing of the future.
Outlet Camouflaging
When seeking to turn your home into a true artistic masterpiece, there is often nothing as frustrating and aesthetically displeasing as wall outlets. To help with this, our professionals can make outlets flush with any finished surface, including stone and wood, leaving rooms looking like absolute masterpieces, with outlets being virtually indistinguishable from their surroundings.
Media Décor Art Lift
Another artsy idea that will push your home to the next level is the Media Décor Art Lift. When covering a television in the “down position,” these lifts are beautiful pieces of art ranging from the classic to the modern. With a simple press of a button, the painting lifts to reveal a fully-functional flat screen television set.
The Media Décor Art Lift is perfect for families and individuals that are seeking to balance both art and e
ntertainment. For example, when having a dinner party, the media décor art lift can remain down to create an elegant atmosphere. Then, after the party, if you and a few others would like to kick back and relax, you can lift the art piece and watch your favorite show or movie.
Pop-Up Television Sets
Beyond Media Décor Art Lifts, we also offer solutions where television sets that can be hidden below countertops. When down, it is almost impossible to notice this hidden technology. Tap a button, and the television set automatically pops up from its hiding place below the counter, making a perfect add-on for those looking to make their kitchen functional, comfortable, and visually appealing.
Feel free to contact us if you are interested in finding out how we can help implement hidden technologies into your home. Or if you are interested in speaking to someone in person, please stop by our showroom and talk with one of our expert team members about a smart solution for you!
We hope you are having a happy holiday season! Be sure to look out for more blog posts in 2016!