Essential Install November 2018

INSIDE

The essential magazine for the custom install industry

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HVAC INTEGRATION

GET THAT WARM FEELING INSIDE

HOME CINEMA SEATING COMFORT AND STYLE

November 2018

MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT YOUR PATH TO RELIABILITY

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Essential Install | Contents

The essential magazine for the custom install industry

November 2018

INSIDE

November 2018 HVAC INTEGRATION

GET THAT WARM FEELING INSIDE

HOME CINEMA SEATING COMFORT AND STYLE

MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT YOUR PATH TO RELIABILITY

This issue…

REGULARS

FEATURES

5 From the editor’s desk

22 HDanywhere

7 Essential News

24 Essential Habitech

16 Pulse Cinemas People

26 CEDIA Speaks

Bring me the horizon

27 HVAC Control

Combos are where it’s at

Hot and happening info

Take control of your HVAC integration

37 Matrix and Signal Management

Enjoy a trip to the cinema

EI speaks exclusively with Miguel Soto, business development manager

The path to AV distribution success

I love it when a plan comes together

18 Case Study: The Next Level Award winning high-spec MDU project

36 EI Live! 2019

The show is open for registration!

48 Get some Clarity

Why you should care about Hi-Fi

50 Take a seat

Cosy-up to the comfort kings

57 Smart Thinking: Don’t be afraid to fail

AV expert Pete Baker explains how to learn from the hard times

60 Artcoustic Case Study

62 Essential Review: Elipson Infinite

Sona gets the blues

On-wall/in-wall speakers take a trot

67 Essential Products

Heaven’s gate for hardware

Pending first audit.

Cinema Seating

50

Case Study

18

HVAC

27

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LINEAR THINKING CROMO LINE LindyCables.com

DISCOVER LINDY lindy.com

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Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre April 30 | May 1, 2019

, E U EN

V W

NE … S E T A D W NE

NEW !

S E I T I L I B POSSI One all-encompassing AV, entertainment and automation show, EI Live! will challenge industry norms, push the boundaries, and launch a platform on which a smarter, brighter future can be established.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

THE PATH TO A SMARTER FUTURE

eiliveshow.com

@EILiveShow #EILFuture | #EILiveShow

Platinum Sponsors

EI_2019_01 NewPossibilities.indd 1

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pages 24-25

Registration for the show is now open!

From the

Editor’s Desk Shows, awards and the horizon

Daniel J Sait, Editor in chief

Some big news from EI Live! 2019 and the Smart Building Awards this month, as the show is now open for registration and the awards are open for entries.

Registration is open for the very first EI Live! to be held at the new venue of Farnborough Exhibition Centre (April 30 - May 1). If you have not got fully up to speed with the revamped format and venue of the show, now is the time.

Loads of info is available on the show’s dedicated website and you can also register on the site, eiliveshow.com.

However, in brief, we have moved the show to this new world-class dedicated exhibition space to allow the show to expand and breathe, offering a higher quality venue with all the advantages this brings to visitors and exhibitors, better accessibility, connectivity and opportunity. The venue to the show is not the only thing that has changed. EI Live! will now provide an expanded exhibitor profile offering domestic AV and automation, commercial AV and automation as well as products and services from the world of the ‘smart electrician’. The aim is to provide a wider nexus for exhibitors and visitors to experience more of the potential market in one hit, offering the UK/European AV and automation industry as a whole the chance to expand its horizons and mature as a sector as we rise to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Visitors working across more than one sector will get more from the show, and those who are not will get the chance to start. If one glaring fact stares this industry in the face, it’s that clinging to pre conceived ideas of what the market is, or should be, is no way to prepare for the future, forward thinking and planning will ensure success, but operators have to start now and what better place than at the UK’s only dedicated trade show for the industry.

Smart Building Awards open for entries!

Taking place at the show on the evening of April 30 are the revamped Smart Building Awards (SBA). This initiative also has its own dedicated website (smartbuildingawards.com) where you can find out how to enter and begin your journey towards winning one of these sought-after trade awards. The SBA initiative was created to allow the industry to recognise and reward in the most transparent and fair way possible.

All the awards are decided by an independent panel of judges; no un-scientific voting methods here, just a mix of installers, writers and industry experts making calls across a level playing field designed to never favour one type or size of company over another. Check out who the judges are on the website. The categories have also been expanded this year, news of that and how to enter, are also on the website.

EI knows how important a social element is to any trade show, this is why the SBAs are held right slap bang in the middle of EI Live! and will feature fun, food, entertainment and the chance to network with colleagues old and new in this fantastic new venue.

So get registering and entering – see you at the show!

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR: Jordan O’Brien, jordan@allthingsmedialtd.com SALES DIRECTOR: Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com PUBLISHER: David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com ACCOUNTS: susan@allthingsmedialtd.com CIRCULATION: carol@allthingsmedialtd.com Essential STUDIO MANAGER: Ben Bristow, ben@allthingsmedialtd.com GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jon Appleton, jon@allthingsmedialtd.com

INSTALL MAGAZINE

Essential Install magazine, Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent ME5 8UD. T: +44 (0)1634 673163 F: +44 (0)1634 673173 Whist we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur.

All articles are copyright and remain the property of Essential Install magazine.

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

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Essential Install | News

Essential News Sponsored by

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Smart home happenings and automation announcements

With Modus VR, clients can see what their finished cinema will look like

Modus VR introduces updates to its virtual reality design platform The new features are designed to build on the company’s successful formal debut at CEDIA 2018.

Modus VR is the developer of, what the company says is, the world’s first virtual reality design software solution for residential systems integrators. Recently announced are a series of upgrades to its platform which follows the company’s debut at CEDIA 2018 where it won a CEDIA Best in Show Award from Residential Systems.

“The residential custom installation industry got the opportunity at CEDIA 2018 to completely experience what Modus VR can do for them,” explains company co-founder Ken Brueck. “And the reaction from everyone was an overwhelming ‘wow!’ We left San Diego with a number of new manufacturers and systems integrators committing to the platform.”

Modus VR is described as a unique sales tool for AV professionals that helps salespeople close deals faster and upsell naturally.

Modus lets clients experience their theatre and media rooms before construction begins. Everything in Modus VR can be changed on the fly, allowing a salesperson to demonstrate the value of different screen sizes, seating configurations for example, all of which can happen in real time.

The solution factors in room size and shape, including the unique angles of the space, as well as window and door placement to make the space true to reality. Users can even customise by selecting style elements, from room colour to wall art.

“Sight lines, viewing angles and standing waves are all easily depicted within the software,” Ken said. “And the best part of all is that the final design can be directly exported to CAD, eliminating the busy work of traditional blueprints.”

According to Ken the new updates introduced include the ability to create non-rectangular rooms using the 2D Floor Plan Editor that also enables users to zoom, change ceiling height, and, when ready, open in VR. Also new in the software update are four new projectors from Sony, a Foosball table, Ping Pong table and a club chair that enable users to expand beyond dedicated theatre environments to media rooms and non-rectangular spaces. In addition, seats now move up and down as the riser height changes.

Modus VR modusvr.com

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Essential Install | News – Sponsored by

Invision now has a fully-loaded demo home for installers to exploit

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Invision hosts Immersive Audio event and opens demo facility Invision has had a busy month, as the company held its second Immersive Audio event of the year at Dolby’s European HQ in London.

Over 50 installers attended and heard presentations from three Invision cinema brands: Trinnov Audio on speaker placement, Artnovion on room acoustic treatments and Procella Audio on professional grade home cinema.

Further presentations were then delivered by Guy Singleton, showcasing the recently acquired The CEDIA Designer software, which features all of the brands that were being discussed at the event.

Jan Anderson of Procella Audio also gave an engaging talk on the strengths of the brand. A man with an impressive audio-based CV, Jan has huge enthusiasm for home cinema.

Rob France from Dolby also presented to dealers on Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and showed impressive content using both technologies.

Invision has also just opened a facility in Bedford to demonstrate some of the latest technologies combining voice control, integration and home cinema. The property features RTI control and automation throughout, including control of KNX, lighting, blinds and curtains, along with integrated door entry with Doorbird.

Origin Acoustics features in the Alexa voice-controlled multiroom audio system via the Origin Acoustics Valet system. Origin also features in the exterior of the property using the Acoustics Landscape system, which can be activated by voice control.

Security from Lilin’s AHD camera system are installed internally and externally throughout.

The media room delivers an Origin Acoustics 7.1 audio system powered by a Pioneer AVR. Projection is handled by the latest Sim2 4K projector and the room benefits from custom-printed Artnovion acoustic treatment panels.

Adrian Ickeringill, sales director, comments, “We are delighted to be able to offer this facility to our dealers to showcase key technologies from our award-winning portfolio. This facility is one of many exciting initiatives we are introducing in the coming months to help our dealers grow their business.”

The facility will be available by appointment only for installers, architects and developers. Invision also plans to offer CPD home automation training at the property in 2019.

Invision UK 01359 270 280, invisionuk.com

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Essential Install | News – Sponsored by

smart home accessories

faradite.com

Essential people

Ronan McTernan

Richard Billings

Lee Hunt

Alltrade has announced the appointment of Ronan McTernan. Ronan has over five years’ experience in the industry having been a director at SAVT UK and with Indigo Distribution prior to that. Based in Manchester, Ronan has joined the Alltrade team as northern sales executive for CI. Ronan brings a wealth of expertise in the CI sector to the business, having set up SAVT UK from scratch and turning it into a wellrespected name in the industry. Looking for his next challenge in a bigger company with a larger footprint, Alltrade fitted the bill perfectly.

Ronan commented, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the impressive Alltrade team and it is an exciting opportunity in the growing CI industry. I can now offer my customers a much larger portfolio of products including top brands such as Sonos, HikVision and DrayTek. I can’t wait to get out and meet everybody in my new role.”

Other expansion news from Alltrade includes a boost to the customer services and account management team at the Brighton & Hove branch with the appointment of Seamus Moore. The group purchasing team is also expanding with Lorraine Poole joining alongside Paul Wilkinson.

Bowers & Wilkins has appointed Gregory Lee as chief executive officer. Former CEO Gideon Yu will remain co-executive chairman of the company’s board of directors.

“I am extremely excited for Greg to join Bowers & Wilkins as our new CEO and lead the company forward in our next phase of growth,” said Gideon. “Greg has extensive leadership experience in consumer electronics, a deep knowledge of brand building, and a passion for our products. Bowers & Wilkins is in great hands with Greg, and I could not be more energised about our future.”

Gregory has held North American and global leadership positions including president & CEO of Samsung Electronics North America, as well as global chief marketing officer of Samsung Electronics.

“I am honoured and excited to join the leadership team at Bowers & Wilkins, a brand that is known for its rich history of quality, design and technology innovations. I’m looking forward to partnering with our dedicated audio customer base to assert Bowers & Wilkins’ continued commitment to performance audio technology,” said Gregory. “The audio/video category is growing rapidly within the broader consumer electronics industry. Bowers & Wilkins is well positioned to capture that growth by extending the reach of the brand with consumers in today’s global marketplace.”

Peerless-AV has announced that Richard Billings has joined the company as technical sales manager for mainland Europe. Richard’s engineering background and over 10 years’ experience in business development, product marketing, channel management and commercial sales at various global AV manufacturers and distributors makes him a tactical hire for business growth and a welcome addition to the expanding Peerless-AV team.

Digital Signage, IPTV and video streaming software solutions provider, Tripleplay has appointed Lee Hunt to join its UK and Ireland sales team. Previously of specialist AV integrator and video conferencing specialist Clear VC, Lee has worked closely with Tripleplay as a partner and therefore brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role.

Lee said, “I’m delighted to be joining Tripleplay, a company whose products I’ve been a huge advocate of for years. After many successful deployments under my belt, I can’t wait to get started with such a respected and forward-thinking brand.

“I already know the team really well, I understand how the business works and am looking forward to hitting the ground running.”

CEDIA has revealed the results of its latest election for the four open positions on the CEDIA Board of Directors. Three brand-new directors join the board, while one director has been re-elected.

New members of the board include Peter Aylett, president and CTO of Archimedia; Michael Cogbill, VP of engineering at ETC; and Albert Mizrahi, the former director of Control4 Mexico. Meanwhile, Joe Whitaker, principal of integration firms The Thoughtful Home and The Thoughtful Restaurant, has been re-elected to the board. The four elected Directors’ terms will begin January 1, 2019.

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Essential Install | News – Sponsored by

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Smart Locks for Yachts signs exclusive UK distribution deal A new deal has been struck between Smart Locks for Yachts and Trend Marine Products

Smart Locks for Yachts is partnering with Trend Marine Products Ltd in an exclusive UK distribution partnership. The two firms recently exhibited together at METSTRADE 2018.

Smart Locks for Yachts is best known for its RemoteKey system, which offers a simple, secure solution for high-tech boats. Available in various configurations, the company’s system were shown off at METSTRADE 2018 on Trend Marine Products’ latest sliding doors.

RemoteKey can be wirelessly fitted to both exterior and interior doors aboard almost any vessel. It can be installed by simply swapping out the old key lock with one of the company’s Euro or Trioving cylinder locking systems – both of which are app-controllable. Those managing the system will also be able to download access logs and lock down certain zones of the vessel.

RemoteKey’s networked keypad feature, launched at METSTRADE, allows remote access to change PINs and utilises the secure radio network to unlock doors or can activate a relay to overcome range restrictions. Mounted in its waterproof enclosure, it is ideal for dockside use to extend or retract a yacht’s footbridge.

As part of the exclusive distribution deal, Trend Marine will provide upgrades to customers’ existing doors and also supply tailored smart lock packages to its current and existing OEM clients.

Iain Davie, founder and CEO of Smart Locks for Yachts, said, “Having developed our smart marine locking systems to suit all aspects of yacht access control over the past three years, we are looking forward to the next stage of our brand development in an exclusive partnership with Trend Marine.

“It is the perfect fit. Our innovative smart locking systems and the manufacturer of so many of the marine doors we have been fitting them into. Trend Marine is globally renowned for its quality and innovation in design. We are very excited to include our smart marine lock solutions within its catalogue of marine doors.”

Trend Marine Products 01692 581307 trendmarine.com, locksforyachts.com

AWE appointed distributor of Sony home cinema projectors AWE has been appointed as an authorised distributor of Sony home cinema projectors and professional Blu-ray disc players. AWE customers can now benefit from these Full HD and True 4K projector solutions, which present a highquality option for dedicated home cinema and living room environments.

Stuart Tickle, MD of AWE commented, “Being appointed as a distributor of Sony Home Cinema projectors is a major coup for the team here at AWE, and reflects the joint hard work and success delivered through working closely together with Sony with their premium TVs. We now look forward to delivering the same highest levels of service and market engagement that AWE is renowned for, and that Sony Projectors deserve.”

Damien Weissenburger, business head at Sony Professional Solutions Europe added, “I am pleased to confirm that AWE are now an accredited distributor for Sony’s Home Cinema projector range. With AWE’s expertise and complete AV offering to the residential market, we aim to offer breath-taking, fully immersive and entertaining movie, sport and gaming experiences.”

The AWE reference cinema at its HQ in Epsom is being upgraded with Sony projectors, and orders are being accepted now. AWE will also continue with its supply of Epson projectors.

Focal joins the CEDIA Designer Focal speakers are now available via The CEDIA Designer

Focal continues to increase its presence within the CI and home theatre markets by being the latest maker to join the cloud-based design software platform, The CEDIA Designer (TCD).

Integration has become an important area of development for Focal, reflecting the CI-focussed product ranges available from the brand within TCD, which are suitable for smaller media rooms, as well as immersive audio home cinemas.

TCD allows integrators to design immersive audio home theatres in a matter of minutes using the speakers and subwoofers available in the software’s manufacturer database, eliminating much of the guesswork when it comes to placing all the required loudspeakers accurately in a room in a way that is relative to the listening area.

Focal argues that TCD is the only way home technology professionals can accurately design technically perfect high render channel count immersive audio home theatres in such a short space of time.

“We are very excited about the high-end integration options TCD calculates in regard to optimised speaker locations for bespoke acoustic environments,’ said Andy Oattes, head of sales UK, Focal. “By appearing in The CEDIA Designer’s database, our customers can get 100% out of Focal loudspeakers’ performance, confident in the knowledge that if the cinema is designed using TCD, our loudspeakers will be specified correctly. TCD is used by integrators all over the world, and we are excited about being able to reach so many international, quality-based installers by joining the platform.”

TCD integrates with D-Tools’ SI 2017 software, offering installers and dealers an all in-one cinema room design tool that allows users to export a TCD design into D-Tools via a CSV file, calculate local area pricing, TAX, required labour and associated costs, in addition to importing TCD’s 3D CAD drawings into Visio.

TCD is also offering any Focal dealer free webinar training, which will guide the attendee through the cinema room design process using Focal loudspeakers. Those wanting to take advantage of this should email TDC direct, details on the company’s website. Alternatively, all integrators are welcome to join any of TCD’s monthly, free tutorial demo sessions.

Focal UK focal.com/uk, TCD thecediadesigner.org

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20/11/2018 10:52

Essential Install | News – Sponsored by

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Niio new media art joins Cornflake portfolio Niio is now viewable in the Cornflake showroom in London (image Ronen Sharabani, Chairs 2014)

Niio and Cornflake have announced a new partnership which provides access to gallery-level digital art in homes across the UK. Enabling access and implementation to new digital art throughout the UK, the partnership combines Niio’s secure discovery and display technologies for new media art – that can be applied on any type of screen or projector device – with Cornflake’s hardware offering, installation and aftercare support, including white glove service for the London area.

Digital art is on the rise as artists explore fresh formulas and technologies to express themselves in new ways.

Offering art lovers a way into this world, Niio delivers its management, distribution and display platform for premium new media art, looking to set the global standard in incorporating immersive moving image exhibitions into any space.

Working with over 1,200 artists and galleries from around the world, Niio says it offers the largest collection of premium video and new media art. These works can be accessed via Niio’s platform for the first time to rent, purchase or via subscription, to curated art collections.

Realising the fast-growing importance and interest in digital art, Cornflake is now offering Niio’s platform across all its projects. The partnership means that premium new media art is now placed to be incorporated into high-end residential, commercial and public spaces instantly.

“We established Niio to make the world’s finest new media art accessible to a wider audience, and we understand that in order to do this, fundamentally it needs to be simple for customers to implement,” noted Rob Anders, co-founder and chief executive officer of Niio. “By partnering with Cornflake to showcase a changing selection of Niio’s artworks in their central London showroom and providing platform integration with the highest level of service and care means that premium digital art is now easily accessible to the UK audience.”

Robin Shepard, CEO of Cornflake added, “There is a screen – often black or blank – in virtually every room and space we enter these days and filling them with beautiful artwork from top artists from around the world is now within our grasp. Digital Art is witnessing an explosion of new artists experimenting with new techniques and creating mindblowing artworks, the like of which have never been seen before.”

Cornflake 0207323 4554, cornflake.co.uk

Indigo Distribution launches Easy-Install service

Indigo Distribution has launched an innovative installers support programme

Indigo Distribution is offering a free approved pre-programming service to customers purchasing the Elan Control platform.

The Easy-Install service is made possible by Indigo’ s free system design and quotation application, available on iOS and Android, as well as on the Indigo website. The company says it’s the industry’s only application that not only speeds up the whole job quoting and designing process, but also creates cable schedules, network maps, wiring schematics and even bespoke client user guides. Installers using the free Indigo app will now have the ability to utilise Indigo’s Easy-Install services to have all the hardware pre-programmed before it arrives to site.

Glen Corbridge, Indigo’s technical manager said, “Our customers love our app: it allows them to save time during the quotation and design process and helps them to easily win projects. Our new Easy-Install service adds even more to the benefits that the app offers. When a customer uses our app, our team will then be able to use the data entered at the quoting stage in order to pre-program the system and get it ready for the install stage for our dealers and their clients. The Easy-Install service will take out the laborious, time-consuming part of our installers’ jobs.

“It will give them more time to get on with the technical programming and commissioning of their projects. It is often easy to overlook some of the programming basics that we teach during at our training academy, and this results in calls to our tech team and the inevitable ‘Doh’ bang-on-the-head moment! Now, with our new Easy-Install pre-programming service, we can ensure that all the Elan products and accessories bought from Indigo arrive with our dealers’ firmware updated, bench-tested and ready to run.”

Indigo’s technical team will pre-program, bench-test, and firmware-update all the Elan hardware, set IP addresses where required, pre-program controllers with basic functionalities in accordance with the system design from the application and label boxes to get them ready for unpacking and installing.

Dealers who wish to benefit from the Easy-Install service will need to design their system on either the Indigo app or website, in order for the required documentation to be provided. Additionally, only equipment sold by Indigo will be included in the pre-programming service. Indigo is also organising on-call-4-install sessions with either Glen or Boaz ready and waiting to assist installers on-site, so that any issue can be resolved. The Easy-Install service will be also be linked to Indigo’s Loyalty Program.

Indigo Distribution 028 9145 5565, indigodistribution.co.uk

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28/11/2018 11:55

Essential Install | Pulse Cinemas

Pulse people power!

EI speaks exclusively with Miguel Soto, highly-experienced AV professional and freshly appointed new business development manager of Pulse Cinemas.

Tell us how your new role came about?

What are the particular strengths of Pulse?

What did you know about Pulse before joining?

How do you think your CEDIA Outreach Instructor and CEDIA Accredited Presenter certifications will help in your new role?

I have always had a high appreciation for Mike and Pulse Cinemas as a company. I remember my wife and I going to dinner with Mike six years ago and, during that evening, Mike advised and encouraged me to go for my dreams.

His words struck a real chord with me and following my dreams has been exactly what I’ve been doing ever since.

Seeing the amazing changes that this brought into my life, I returned to Mike for further guidance around 18 months ago. I touched base with him, looking for an opportunity to cooperate after a not-so-good business partner experience. Mike was pretty straightforward, he said, “We would love to have you on board, but we can’t at this moment.’ So since then, I kept myself close to him and waited for the right opportunity to arrive. Sure enough, that time is now!

Miguel’s infectious enthusiasm and knowledge of the AV and install industry will now help spearhead delivering world class customer service to Pulse customers

Pulse Cinemas has always been a company that I look up to and admire. I was familiar with many of the brands the company represents and knew a number of the Pulse Cinemas team personally, from my time running my own distribution company. I knew that they were industry leaders and that they lead by example, which was a true inspiration for me.

Pulse Cinemas’ team is the key to its success. The passion of every single member of staff to deliver the best solution to Pulse clients is absolutely extraordinary.

I’m not from the UK, I’m from Mexico and I lived in the United States for many years. It is well-known that the level of customer service in America is way above that of the UK, but I truly believe that the Pulse Cinemas team deliver a world-class service.

They always stretch themselves to provide you with the correct answer and, even when sometimes the answer is not immediate, they still ask, research, document and learn, in order to provide an accurate answer, it’s what makes them who they are. In this industry, team culture, collaboration and complete commitment are the keys to success.

These two CEDIA certifications are so important, not only for me, but I believe for every single dealer / installer, in order for them to bring the fullest value to their clients.

By collaborating with new dealer / installers who do not have the experience and, in some cases, the confidence, to present in front of architects, builders, developers and other industry authorities. Public speaking is not easy and helping our dealers in any possible way to win business is always better than just pushing boxes.

You know why companies succeed? It’s because they care and bring value and service to their clients.

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Essential Install | Pulse Cinemas

Pulse is continuing in its mission to deliver the very best cinemas and the very best people with the appointment of Miguel Soto

Tell us how you see your role at Pulse, what are your main objectives and how do you plan on delivering them?

Well, I believe that the new business development manager role is one of the most challenging ones. I feel like in the old times, when the scouts go first to taste the berries and search for food. Some of them came back alive and successful, some of them died, but those who succeeded established and expanded empires (the UK was an expert in this field).

My main objective is to bring value to the new dealers to trust in the Pulse Cinemas brand and demonstrate that we care and that actions speak louder than words.

Tell us about your past experience of the world of custom integration, what have you learned?

Miguel Soto, new business development manager, has approaching 20 years’ experience in the business, a degree in finance administration from ITESM, regarded by many as the most prestigious private college in Mexico, and holds both the CEDIA Outreach Instructor and CEDIA Accredited Presenter certifications

Oh the good old times… Experience? Hmmm... I’m still learning, living new experiences, going through new changes, new ways to do business, new ways to communicate, new everything!

When I started my Custom Integration company in Mexico, I started - like many of you guys - as a one-man band and then rapidly expanded to a six figure business.

It sounds easy, but when you’re in a Third World Country and those digits are US dollars, it’s a little bit challenging. After the success we were having, we moved to Dallas, Texas, where I became a designer/ consultant collaborating with some of the most exclusive and renowned companies in the country: designing cinemas for sports celebrities, political figures and music celebrities with the cinemas hitting the seven figure mark.

We decided to move back to Mexico and we thought, with the experience acquired by collaborating with those extraordinary American companies, we would be able to take the company to the next level. Then disaster struck when a family member was kidnapped.

This forced us to shut down the business and move to Hungary, then to the UK. Once in the UK, we were kindly welcomed by one of our existing dealers, to whom I express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to be here.

I developed my career as an AV designer/consultant into the marine industry, designing and collaborating once again with the most successful AV Integration companies in the luxury yachts world.

Over the past 16 years, I have learned the importance of teamwork, helping to bring value and deliver. The biggest lesson though is to never give up on your dreams, even when it seems impossible. By always doing the right thing, with integrity, ingenuity and passion, you will inch closer to that dream.

At my age, legacy has become my driving force, I want to share my knowledge and those who know me well, know that this won’t necessarily be just related to AV.

Tell us about some particular successes/projects you are proud of

I have been involved with many very successful custom integration companies and have collaborated to help them win 15+ CEDIA awards in the US and EMEA. I could describe many extraordinary projects I have been involved in, but instead of outlining one in particular, I can assure you from the bottom of my heart that working on every single project and with every single person, (from the lad who helped me to move boxes, to the most challenging individuals), counts as a huge success for me.

When you are an immigrant in a new country, with a new culture and a new language, every single step, every single hello, every single smile, every single thank you is a success.

I’m most proud of being instrumental in helping many integrators to raise their bar: by offering bespoke professional services like business hacks, implementation and optimisation of D-Tools software, design and engineering, operations, social media, audio calibration, project management, installation, move boxes, fix carpets, fix wallpaper, you name it!

Has there ever been a better time to sell and create home cinemas?

The home cinema market is still in an upward trend. I understand that some end-users and dealer/installers are turning to quick and easy solutions and I understand the temptation, but the price for this is the lack of performance. Our dealers know that, working with us, there is a way to offer their clients high performance solutions integrated with convenience while saving them time in the process.

How do you see the future of the market?

What will change? What will stay the same?

I’m not Nostradamus, but I can tell you difficult times are getting closer, with disruptive new technologies growing faster and faster. The way to do business will change for sure: rather than focusing on just products and brands, it is important to educate and give value, which is what we are doing at Pulse Cinemas.

Nothing will stay the same; this industry is fast moving and always will find new ways to evolve.

Pulse Cinemas 01279 647 039, pulsecinemas.com

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28/11/2018 10:07

Essential Install | Case Study: The Next Level (UK)

Levelling the land

Winner of the Multiple Dwelling Unit Design award at this year’s CEDIA Awards, install company, The Next Level (UK), certainly lived up to its name with its Mayfair House Apartments project.

The project was to provide easy to understand AV and automation for high-end rental apartments

Sam Brunsden, director at the company, explains that the vision behind the development was to produce the most sought after apartments in London that were to be marketed for short-term rentals. Sam says, “For this reason, we knew that the end result needed to be user friendly, utterly reliable and meet the requirements of the most demanding high profile clients. Our client wanted each aspect of the building’s technology to be integrated so that we could remove clutter from walls and automate custom pre-sets for potential viewings and then eventually for the tenants. We knew that the system we designed had to be seamless in its operation, but also blend into the stunning interiors being procured by the designers.

“As we were working as consultants from the initial brief, we were able to hand pick components we knew were reliable, performed brilliantly and provided all the integration the client required.”

The customer was keen to include a really high level of technology, but of course in an easy to use fashion.

Sam explains, “The client’s request was simple: if it can be integrated, integrate it. From the initial concept stage, we reviewed each aspect of the technology proposed for the building to ascertain whether it could be integrated and we then designed our system accordingly.”

The AV system was comprehensive with each apartment having TVs in principal rooms being fed from either a Crestron 8X8 or 16X16 digital media matrix. Audio was distributed to all main areas including bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms, all fed from Crestron’s Sonnex system.

Each of the apartments was also equipped with a media room which incorporated a Sony 4K projector, Future Automation drop down lift, motorised screen and an array of Bowers & Wilkins custom installation speakers.

The HVAC for the building was a Trend-based system picking up the underfloor heating and air conditioning in each of the apartments. This was integrated into the Crestron touch panels and iPads for a simple set point control in each zone with further control of fan speeds and time clocks if desired.

Sam adds, “We also programmed the system so that if any faults were triggered on the Trend system, the Crestron system would notify the concierge immediately on their Crestron touch panel and email the property managers so the issue could be dealt with swiftly.

Security also had to be top notch with renters away for long periods

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Essential Install | Case Study: The Next Level (UK)

The lighting scheme needed careful thought

“We worked closely with the appointed lighting designer to ensure that their scheme was coordinated with our lighting control system so their vision could become a reality. The scheme was comprehensive in its design, using a mixture of different load types but the decision was made to transform this complex design into a simple form of control with high, medium, low and off pre-sets in each room.”

Each lighting pre-set created dynamic scenes within each room highlighting the exquisite interiors created by the renowned design house Finchatton. In each of the apartments, Lutron QS motorised blinds were provided which were programmed onto the Crestron keypads, touch panels and iPads for complete control.

In the Penthouse, skylights spanning over eight meters had been installed which had custom made zip blinds manufactured which at the touch of a button would bring the main living room into complete darkness.

Security concerns Music delivered on the attractive terrace

Sam underlines that in multi-dwelling properties that are marketed for rentals like Mayfair House, security is such an important part of the design as high net worth individuals will expect the very highest standards.

“We developed the design from the initial concept ensuring that all entry points to the building were monitored by CCTV, as well as having fob entry access to both the main entrances and the lift and apartment entrances, he explains. “Both the trade and guest lifts were integrated into the Crestron system so that any contractor or guest arriving could only be invited to their particular floor by the tenant inside calling the lift from their iPad or touch-panel.

A cloud managed network system was provided for both the wired and wireless system in each of the apartments and communal parts. Different services on each network were segregated using VLANS to ensure traffic speed was optimised while protecting any sensitive content on the network from the outside world.

Integrated functionality

As these apartments were refurbished purely for the rental market, it was imperative that any estate agent attending the property could activate ‘viewing mode’ at the touch of a button when they arrive. The viewing mode had two different pre-sets; daytime and night time. As the desired lighting pre-set would vary between daytime and evening, it was important to provided both options for the estate agent.

For instance, on arrival to the apartment the estate agent could select the daytime viewing mode which would bring the audio in each zone on to a pre-set level with a selected piece of music, televisions would come on to a 4K UHD Blu-ray disc, lighting would fade onto the desired scene, blinds would open throughout the apartment and the HVAC system would bring every room on at a comfortable 21°C. Once a viewing was over, the estate agent could simply press a button and the whole apartment would shut down with hardware going into hibernation which would also reduce the overall energy consumption for the client.

Sam adds, “These apartments are usually rented by high net worth individuals that travel frequently which means that these apartments can be unoccupied for long periods of time. For this reason, we knew that the system would have to report operational information to the concierge and building management company. Clients don’t want to return to find that a recent power cut has caused a breaker to trip which means their lighting isn’t operational, the AV Rack was affected, or their fire alarm is

November 2018 | 19 Case Study – The Next Level (UK).indd 19

22/11/2018 14:32

Essential Install | Case Study: The Next Level (UK)

Penthouse Apartment • Draytek and Ubiquiti networking • Crestron control, and lighting throughout • Denon AVRX3200W AV surround sound amplifier x 3 • B&W CCM663RD ceiling speakers Seamless integration with the style of the apartments was key

sounding. We decided to streamline the system by having monitoring of every possible component, so we can ensure its live, healthy and reporting as it should be.

“We also integrated the intruder and fire alarms so if either had a fault, a notification would be sent to the concierge’s touch panel while also emailing the building management company so they can deal with the issue quickly.”

As part of the complete care package for the property, The Next Level also monitors the systems from its office and has a 24/7/365 service contract so if a fault appears on the system, technicians on-call can resolve the issue quite often before the tenant or concierge is even aware.

Top work here in the expanding and increasingly important MDU market. This sector can be difficult to negotiate with complex admin and contracts often delivering significant challenges. However, with results like these, it’s well worth getting involved.

The Next Level 0344 809 4996, thenextlevel.co.uk

• B&W Cinema 7 CCM x 3 • B&W ASW610XP subwoofer • B&W ASW610XP 10in 500W active subwoofer • B&W AM-1 weather proof wall mount speaker x 2 • Apple TV x 2 • Sky HD receiver • 40in Samsung UE40JU7000 Ultra HD 4K smart TV x 4 • Sony VPL-VW320ES UHD 4K projector x 2 • Tile Vision 22 bathroom TV • 32in Samsung UE32J5500 HD 1080P smart TV • 85in Sony XD85 TV • 40in Samsung UE40F6800SBXXU LED 3D smart TV • 32in Samsung UE32J5500 HD 1080P smart TV 1.00 • Future Automation CCP7-12RCBO lighting panel with RCBO protection x 3

AV as well as automation had to be easily accessible

20 | November 2018 Case Study – The Next Level (UK).indd 20

22/11/2018 14:32

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28/11/2018 09:08

Essential Install | HDANYWHERE

HDA is striving to deliver ever easier and more intuitive ways to control AV

Welcome to the layer cake HDANYWHERE bakes a matrix layer cake called MHUB V&A. New centralised home entertainment system combos from HDANYWHERE deliver a single brand solution to watch and listen throughout the home.

HDANYWHERE (HDA), the Malvern-based HDMI matrix manufacturer continues to advance at a pace, with moves into new multi-room entertainment product categories, namely whole-home distributed audio and control. In addition to the MHUB HDMI matrix video switchers, HDA now offers an MHUB audio matrix-amplifier and a universal control system to bring it all together, uControl.

HDA says its new MHUB video and audio (V&A) bundles deliver multiple locations of pixel-perfect 4K video and multiple 110W amplified audio zones from a central point.

Maximising multimedia enjoyment throughout the whole home with immersive entertainment, but without the usual tech clutter dotted about.

V&A bundle packages are designed to allow customers to purchase a complete centralised whole-home entertainment system at a discounted price compared with buying the matrix switcher and amp(s) separately. The MHUB V&A system functionality and quality comes at a price point well below that of similar centralised options, says the maker.

HDA wants its systems to be self-sufficient in control, but also deliver third-party compatibility where desired

HDA has also worked hard on making the control of whole-home AV easier than ever. The free uControl app unifies and simplifies complete AV system control within a single screen. The latest version of the uControl app brings a more refined and simplified interface that is designed to make controlling entertainment throughout the whole-home more immediate and intuitive. For example, volume can now be controlled using the hardware buttons on phones/tablets. HDA says it may sound like a minor change, but it’s another step towards making app-based control a more tactile and familiar experience for users. uControl is not only a value-add feature of every MHUB matrix, but it also liberates HDA from the shackles of being exclusively dependent on third-party control systems to deliver a functional interface for AV switching and device control. But HDA’s focus on uControl doesn’t mean that the company has gone cold for third-party controllers - far from it. Integrators will appreciate the new IP control drivers, written by Chowmain, that integrate a V&A stack with third-party control systems such as Control4 and RTI for a great pro integration experience.

The new drivers leverage HDA’s patented uControl IP2IR technology to utilise the IR I/O ports on both the central HDMI matrix and the HDBaseT display receivers to deliver additional and expanded control capability to third-party control systems. Meaning that MHUB matrix systems allow third-party controllers to utilise the MHUB’s multi-zone IR pathways as I/O port expansion, giving additional infrared outputs for easy control and integration of all AV components, without requiring more control system hardware, and at no additional cost.

HDA hdanywhere.com

22 | November 2018 HDAnywhere.indd 22

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20/11/2018 12:56

Essential Install | Habitech

Planet Cinema

Equipped with the best mix of product, design and demonstration services, Habitech is ready to help your business make a giant leap in cinema design and supply.

Join Jonathan Pengilley on a mission to Planet Cinema.

Head to Habitech for cinema design and support on a planetary scale

JVC’s 8K e-shift DLANX9 projector will generate immersive detail, colour and contrast, especially on a Projecta HD progressive screen made for the highest-res sources

Three years ago, we decided to become a serious player in home cinema. Not necessarily the biggest, but definitely the best, end-to-end. Adding value the Habitech way, we figured, meant all-out support for integrators building cinema systems from £1k to over £1,000k. Our vision, as planned, would offer you the supervision of every design scenario – whatever your skillset. Today, after three years of investment in people, products and demonstration spaces, we’re able to endow your cinema proposition with all the dividends.

Whether the brief is for super discreet surround around a telly or the ultimate in bespoke home cinema luxury, Habitech will be at your side with a powerful medley of design, training, product, demonstration and backup services. Just think of us as a one-shot tonic for your cinema design creativity: everything you need in a single convenient supplement – and you get to choose the ingredients from a peerless product range.

Back in the black

For video, JVC’s D-ILA engine – way ahead on contrast for years – is now coming into its own with the advent of HDR. Deployed on every JVC PJ in our line-up, from the bargain 7900 e-shift machine through three new native 4K models (including the 8K e-shift DLA-NX9) to the sublime DLA-Z1, JVC’s LCoS tech is innately provisioned to reproduce HDR’s finer colour fidelity and deepest blacks more convincingly than other renderers. And it will look all the more eyepopping on a HD Progressive screen, created

by Dalite/Projecta to be microscopically smooth for ultra-high resolution picture accuracy. Choose from 16:9 or 2.4:1, fixed frame, in-ceiling, or surface mount; select

a perforated surface for the ideal balance of audio and image, or specify screens optimised for low and high ambient light conditions. What’s more, the motorised models can be custom-spec’d to the very last detail. For best results at any level and in any space, our JVC/Projecta dream team won’t let you down. And if you’re going ultrawide, we’ve a Panamorph lens for that as well.

Awesome audio chemistry

The options for audio are as ultra-wide with the plethora available from Yamaha’s integrated receivers, power amps, soundbars and players; Arcam’s versatile awardwinning range of single/two/three/five/seven channel and integrated amp models, Sonance compact power amps and Wisdom Audio’s undeniably high-end signal processing and amplification. Match this excellent design flexibility with a profusion of ultra-discreet options from our architectural speaker supremo Sonance, giving you the widest choice of speaker size and form factor, acoustically-matched in every channel and underpinned by the stealthiest 10in and 12in in-wall sub designs.

The highest speaker spec of all belongs to Wisdom Audio, which will change the way you think about inwall performance. By perfecting line-source topology, Wisdom’s systems of proprietary high-end speakers, electronic X-overs and amplifiers deliver the full-frequency impact of conventional free-standing audiophile kit, but with half the propagation loss from beautifully discreet flush-fitting installations. What’s more, they generate a naturally wide horizontal dispersion while minimising floor/ceiling reflections, allowing cinema designers a generous sweet spot for wider seating arrangements, which, incidentally, we can supply from our Palladio and Salamander furniture lines.

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Essential Install | Habitech

The AV860 joins of wide range of processing and amplification options from Arcam and Yamaha available through Habitech

Theatre of dreams

The wealth of Habitech’s AV product offering is ripe for deployment through our work with CinemaTech design services. Managed by Habitech, your consultations with CinemaTech will allow you to step easily into luxury home cinema by offering flawless acoustically-optimised room designs to the most ambitious clients. The beauty of this arrangement is that whether you’re taking your first steps in cinema or sprinting in the field, you get to choose the products you integrate, and the level of our project support. Beyond a minimum commitment defined by the CinemaTech agreement, we’ll be there if you need us.

Better by experience The discreet Sonance R1 in-wall surround speaker is one of many choices open to audio system designers working with Habitech

Wisdom’s ICS7a in-ceiling speaker matches the fidelity of its in-wall counterparts down to 57Hz.

On top of all this, we can demonstrate the many dividends of our mutual design relationship to your customers with three new showrooms at Basingstoke. Focused around a 70in display, the media room environment will prove the discreet versatility and performance of our flush and surface-mounted options, while a few metres away, our completely optimised CinemaTech/Sonance Reference theatre showcases the truly immersive effect of a Cinema Tech design, aided by the combined chemistry of a 7.2.2 Sonance Cinema Reference speaker system and JVC’s remarkable 8K e-shift DLA-NX9 projector, playing through a Panamorph lens onto a Projecta HD Progressive screen. Next door, our luxury 14-seat 9.4.4 flagship Wisdom theatre, equipped with a DLA-Z1 and now with CinemaTech treatment will fully justify the value of big ticket cinema to your customers.

Call it the Full Monty, the whole shebang or caboodle, when it comes to quality home cinema at any level, we can supply the systems knowhow, the design acumen and the widest choice of entry-to-elite hardware on the planet.

Whether you’re an experienced traveller or planning your first journey into home cinema space, we’re here to energise your mission.

Introduce the magic of home cinema to your customers in a new suite of demo spaces at Habitech’s Basingstoke HQ

Habitech 01256 638 500, habitech.co.uk

Wisdom’s SA3 3-chan amp offers designers 500W/chan of superefficient high-end power in a 3RU space

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22/11/2018 14:33

Essential Install | CEDIA

Accurate plans can really impress clients

Planning to win

Adam Raymond, managing director of PRZM (CEDIA member) examines the importance of planning and accurate documentation.

Adam Raymond, managing director of CEDIA member PRZM

After a lengthy career in IT services and infrastructure projects, I recently took the plunge and set up PRZM — to focus on improving technology experiences within the residential and commercial markets.

A year into business, I have continually been surprised by how overlooked a smart home design can be to both builders and homeowners. The idea of starting a new build or extension without architectural plans would set off panic alarms in many. We therefore have an ongoing educational challenge as an industry to ensure that a well-documented smart home design and cable schedule is something that should be both delivered to a client and something they should expect — even if they don’t realise it yet.

Perhaps some clients believe the design and cable schedule is simply thrown away after the first fix and therefore, ‘everything else will just work’ after that — there may seem little point in investing much time into it. Like many of us, I do these designs out of my commitment to CEDIA guidelines and self-discipline, and out of passion from working in a field that I enjoy. It got me thinking though, what else can be put in front of the client as an example to make them see value of design?

The media and cinema room

Top quality projects begin at the planning stage

Perhaps an obvious one with all the recent publicity is the ability to generate professional looking top down and 3D designs of a media or cinema room via The CEDIA Designer (TCD) tool. From my experiences so far, clients don’t expect it for a media room, but really appreciate it being done. It shows builders, architects, and clients alike that you are adding value and there is science to the exact positions of TVs, projectors, speakers and seating.

Evidence of security considerations

Various reports have and will continue to pop up in tabloid newspapers of a doorbell camera being hacked.

My take on this is always ‘how secure was the network?’

At the end of the day, office blocks run CCTV, door entry systems, and other things people want in their smart homes without them necessarily contributing to headlines.

The network is more and more the backbone for the smart home and with that brings a need for networking knowledge and understanding of how to make it secure and reliable. With networking, I have also gladly waved goodbye to the sight of infrared blasters where possible — who doesn’t miss having to keep them taped up in the hope the heat won’t make them fall off! Security is a never-ending piece of string; therefore, I see at a minimum to segregate network services, separate guest Wi-Fi, and strong passwords as essential for being planned into the project.

Cater for redundancy

Uninterruptable power supplies are great in ensuring the core components don’t suffer too much downtime. I like them because they will keep a CCTV recorder live in the event of a (limited) power outage. In some cases, it can also pay for itself, if it avoids a site visit to interrogate a device that may not have otherwise gone offline.

Qualifications

Training and certification are hard to fit in, but my main reason for doing this aggressively in my first year of fulltime operation was to prove to clients and architects alike that, “I am qualified and do what I say I can do.” Sometimes, pictures and recommendations aren’t enough. CEDIA has a number of training streams dedicated to design and technical aspects of our industry and TCD is free for members requiring basic design features.

Based in Central London, PRZM specialises in improving technology experiences within the residential and commercial markets. We provide a comprehensive end-toend service of design, installation and aftercare. Our full suite of services focuses on security, entertainment and automation, bringing these together to make a smarter and safer living area. We work alongside M&E service providers, architects, interior designers and homeowners alike, serving clients within London and the surrounding areas.

PRZM przm.co.uk @przmtechnology

26 | November 2018 Cedia.indd 26

28/11/2018 10:11

This Month’s Essential Supplement

HVAC

Supply and and Commission Commission of of Integrated Integrated Building Building Control Control Systems Systems Supply

110 manifold control panels built each year

7 permanent employees

s er

working across 22 counties

b out Num A l b Al

15th

It’s

working across 17 countries

ANNIVERSARY

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2 charities supported 4.5km of cable used each year

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HVAC.indd 27

28/11/2018 10:12

Essential Install | HVAC

The Nest E is the new lower price option from this maker

The temperature is rising!

As the HVAC integration sector is expected to see significant growth in the next few years, EI checks in with the main players to see what’s cooking.

One of the companies that has been right at the coalface of developing this sector and making sure installers get the support and help they need has been Intelligent Controls.

John Corbin, owner and director of engineering at the company, enthuses, “Intelligent Controls (UK) Limited is a teenager! Yes, 15 years have passed since the conception of our unique company, offering HVAC control and integration services, in both commercial and residential builds.”

The company has built a solid reputation making sure systems can speak to each other, work together and deliver the price control and performance that the rest of the project does. The company delivers integration of BMS systems specialising in incorporating air conditioning, underfloor heating and environmental controls. From exploring green energy options to making sure each type of room is included in the control system from living rooms to bathrooms, Intelligent Controls delivers a comprehensive package.

Communication is key for the company and getting the HVAC experts involved often and early is hugely important.

In terms of how the company weaves its spell, John explains, “You may be asking yourself why is it ‘all about the numbers?’ From simple binary on and off switches to the more complex multi-state mode or fan control of HVAC systems, each feature is represented by a unique number, once we have these, we can perform our magic.

“Many companies within the building industry still overlook the need for the connections required between the multitude of different HVAC systems. We are proud to say we have been called ‘the missing link’, when one consulting engineer was describing the links we provide between M&E designs and the home automation systems, making sure ‘things just work’. Another customer recently said that Intelligent Controls, “have become a preferred subcontractor… due to [our] reliability, superior knowledge and specialist skill set.”

bout Num lA b Al

It’s

s er

15th ANNIVERSARY

Supply and Commission of Integrated Building Control Systems

28 | November 2018 HVAC.indd 28

28/11/2018 10:13

HVAC Control the Sensible way

Sensible Heat offers a full backup service to resellers, including design advice, supply and commissioning.

We can work with you to create a fully integrated solution – don’t worry, you won’t need to become an HVAC expert! Do the sensible thing and contact us now.

> Control any form of heating; radiators, underfloor etc. and any form of comfort cooling > wired or wireless schemes > Make each room a zone: better comfort and efficiency > iPhone / Android access via App > HVAC controls always provided with independent/ backup user interface > Building size or complexity of HVAC plant is no problem > Custom Control Panel for plantroom if required > Interfaces to AMX, Crestron, Control4, Savant, RTI with pre-written, proven “drivers” > Interfaces to most major aircon systems (Daikin, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Sanyo etc.)

Sensible Heat are sole distributors of Honeywell Hometronic in UK and Ireland.

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Foam/Mastic

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Timber Insert

Board Mount

28/11/2018 11:56

Essential Install | HVAC

CoolAutomation has readied itself for the expected rise in HVAC inclusion over the coming years

John adds that the team always carefully considers the chosen HVAC interface and ensures that the company provides a fully functioning control system to work effectively.

John says, “We advise at the early stages of the project of any limitations that could exist that will affect the end-user experience via the HVAC interface. By working together, guiding cooling and heating specialists, we can ensure open protocol integration is successful.”

Intelligent Controls has had a long and successful partnership with the North HVAC control system.

“As North Gold Partners, we are excited to confirm that we have just completed one project alongside a Crestron systems house,” John explains. “The project has the new Palladiom Thermostat Keypad with a Full North BMS, Daikin I Touch Manager with the Open Protocol for Aircon and TCP/IP Datasync Crestron interface. As a note, Lutron was on version 13.2 and we are testing 14.x beta as we speak. Also worth noting, we could just as easily have integrated the North system to AMX Savant, Control4 or RTI.” The company is naturally keen to keep on developing its support systems and expert provision of HVAC integration. John concludes, “15 years is a great achievement and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients and AV integrators for helping us achieve this milestone.”

Another important player in the sector is CoolAutomation which helps home automation integrators simplify and optimise HVAC integration.

With the European air conditioner market expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5%, in value terms, during 20172022, it’s never been more important for installers to make

sure they are across all the options here. CoolAutomation says that with VRF and split HVAC systems contributing to the expected growth, this means more home automation installations will include HVAC integrations and a higher rate of VRF and split HVAC projects.

So this is good news right? More opportunities to sell more systems. However, communication and control of inverter based VRF and split HVAC is nothing like the traditional unitary systems which have been more common in the past. The integration process needs to be rethought, in almost every installation, and that can present serious headaches. So much so that CoolAutomation claims that many integrators are declining HVAC integration, leaving their customers with no solution, simply because of the complexity.

Saving integrators time with robust and bidirectional communication, the maker has developed a series of plug-and-play integration devices designed to drastically simplify HVAC integration.

Focusing its R&D on accommodating the trend towards energy-conscious technologies, CoolAutomation says its solutions allow integrators to set a robust bi-directional connectivity with home automation controls and VRF, multi-split and mini-split HVAC systems.

Installers may already be familiar with CoolAutomation’s VRF integration solution, known as CoolMasterNet, which acts as a universal HVAC bridge.

The maker says this solution allows seamless integration between VRF HVAC and home automation systems.

A more recent release from CoolAutomation is an integration solution for split HVAC systems. The CoolPlug and CooLinkHub allow single split units to be interconnected and integrated into a home automation system. From a single home automation app or BMS system, CoolAutomation explains that the end-user or facility manager gains robust control of indoor unit operation. Thanks to this cost-effective solution, mid-range consumers can also enjoy the benefits of home automation.

These latest offerings support all leading HVAC brands, such as Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba and Carrier, Fujitsu, LG and many more.

Looking to the future, a handy wireless version of CoolPlug is expected to be available in Q2, 2019. The idea is to simplify retrofit installations and allow the users to enjoy the benefits of HVAC control on top of an existing system.

The CoolAutomation team comprises experienced HVAC control experts who have dedicated themselves to the challenge of making HVAC systems simple to connect and easy to control. Established in 2007 and led by Igor Mitbarg, the company currently has successful activity in 85 countries. European market development is led by well-known home automation expert, Koen Pepermans.

The bottom line is that CoolAutomation aims to allow installers to include full HVAC control in more systems and more projects, adding extra revenue streams and more satisfied customers. In the UK, the main distributor for the brand is Tenways Engineering.

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15th ANNIVERSARY

Supply and Commission of Integrated Building Control Systems

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Essential Install | HVAC

RTI as a complete suite of control compatibility options for HVAC and heating

RTI Control RTI control systems are designed to integrate with many of the industry leading HVAC companies to combine power with simplicity of operation in a system that controls everything. As multi-zone heating control has become a minimum standard in many new developments, RTI argues it is an ideal integration platform to control multiple heating zones and the associated thermostats.

RTI can integrate with standard IoT thermostats as well as professionally installed multi zone heating control platforms from a number of manufacturers. Integration with ventilation and air conditioning supporting all the major manufacturers is also available. Other building management systems can be integrated through RTI’s open development platform which allows the production of bespoke BMS drivers. The interoperable industry standard KNX is fully supported through RTI’s KNX gateway. RTI systems can also be customised to help save money and decrease environmental footprint by automatically adjusting HVAC, lighting, shades, and more to maximise energy conservation. Additionally, seamless integration with popular energy management products allows installers and end-users to monitor in real-time progress towards a greener lifestyle.

RTI is supported and distributed in the UK by Invision UK, a company which is also responsible for supporting the Nest platform into the pro market.

Latest development from this maker is the Nest Thermostat E, a more affordable and stripped down version of the original model. This version has less functionality, but its lower price and speed of install may make it of intertest for budget conscious customers or perhaps MDU projects.

Some downsides to the stripped-out functionality pallet include being compatible with 85% of European homes instead of the 95% available to the original Nest.

Up-sides include ease of install, in fact Nest argues it’s as easy as installing a lightbulb.

In the main that is because the new Heat Link E, which pairs wirelessly with the Thermostat E, is designed to replace existing wired thermostats or heating controllers.

The Nest app will even give a step-by-step run-through of the installation process.

There are some other notable differences with the Thermostat E that explain its more affordable price, however. That includes the absence of a full-colour display and Farsight feature, meaning it’s no longer possible to see the outside weather or time, and the new display will only showcase the room’s current temperature. The plastic exterior of the Thermostat E also makes it appear a little less premium than the Learning Thermostat. Another function which does not feature on the E (at least in Europe currently) is compatibility with Nest’s temperature sensors, which allowed more granular room-by-room control of the heating system. We don’t know if this is going to come to Europe at some point, but this does underline further the likely market for the product being MDU and smaller apartments or possibly university campuses and similar smaller living spaces.

For some easy to install heating options, Sun-Light Solutions offers some interesting options including what the company is describing as the world’s most cost effective, stylish and healthy heating solution, via circular mirror infrared heating technology.

The company says this new solution is designed and manufactured with style, technological excellence and precision in mind whilst being one of the most efficient and economical forms of heating, complete with a fiveyear warranty.

The functional circular mirror design at 850mm diameter delivering 360w output complete with smart ‘beveled’ edge are said to be the outstanding features of this infra-red heating panel. The mirrored panel integrates into any environment by simply mounting onto a wall as a mirror. The heating system combines all the positive characteristics of the infrared heating technology coupled with interior elegance.

Sun-Light Solutions says its radiator enables costeffective heating into a soothing, elegant and comfortable living/work space, simply connect to the mains electric or interface with home/business automation systems and its good to go.

The product is suitable for use in the home, office, school, university, bar, club, cafe, restaurant, garage, workshop, canteen, saunas, gym, boat/marine, shop, sports hall, care homes, hotel rooms, halls of residence, church, garden room, corridors and reception areas, in fact any area that requires warming.

Intelligent Controls 01342 717748, intelligent-controls.co.uk Tenways Engineering 020 8203 1105, coolmasternet.co.uk, tenways.co.uk, coolautomation.com Invision UK 01359 270 280, invisionuk.com Sun-Light Solutions + 44 (0)7887 634 990, sun-lightsolutions.com

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15th ANNIVERSARY

Supply and Commission of Integrated Building Control Systems

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Control without limits

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All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.

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Essential Install | EI Live!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

+

Big news From EI Live!

Important news from EI Live! this month as registration for the show is now open and entries for the Smart Building Awards – which take place at the show – are also open.

There are two significant milestones this month as the show draws nearer, not to mention several big names signing up for the show in the last few weeks.

Registration is now open!

Exhibitor-wise the show is pulling in many of the big names in the business that visitors will expect to see; many of the most significant distributors are now signed on to the show with more joining all the time. The current distributor line-up includes Aldous Systems, AWE, Habitech, Pulse Cinemas, Redline Distribution, RGB Communications, Smart AV Distribution, Indigo and OneAV with more in the process of signing.

The show has also already attracted a host of top manufacturers including the show’s main sponsor this year CYP, as well as Meridian, Blustream, Epson, FS Cables, Gallo Acoustics, Monitor Audio, Outclass, Rako, Sensible Heat and many more. New exhibitors so far signed include Hamilton Litesat, Vizualisation and Faradite. Check them all out at the dedicated website at eiliveshow.com where you can also register to attend the show. On the site you will also find lots of useful info on travel, accommodation, the show’s cracking new venue and loads of other stuff to help you plan your attendance.

Entries to the Smart Building Awards open!

With the Smart Building Awards (SBA) now open for entries, it’s another great reason to get along to the website and sign up to attend.

The awards themselves have a brand-new website to check out which provides all the facts, figures and information you need to enter.

In time-honoured tradition all the awards are judged by an industry panel with the right level of knowledge to be able to make informed choices on the entries received.

This year we have a mix of award-wining writers, installers and industry figures, but you will have to get to the website to find out who they are.

Also, this year we have some new categories, but again you will have to go and look at the website to check out what they are.

Whilst some industry awards rely on unreliable and unrepresentative voting systems, the SBAs were set up to adhere to the highest standards in terms of transparency and judging. The awards entering process, whilst thorough, is also designed to enable all types of companies to get involved, offering a time-conscious, but still detailed way of showing the achievements of a given company, product or service.

The only thing missing now are entries, and of course that is where you come in. Is your company deserving of recognition? Then you need to get to the website and start entering.

The awards themselves will take place on the evening of the first day of EI Live! on April 30 at the show’s new home (Farnborough Exhibition Centre) promising an evening of fun, food, entertainment and of course the awards themselves.

Building for the future

EI firmly believes that in order to grow, thrive and survive, the install industry needs to widen its horizons and follow all the opportunities that are out in the marketplace. Its fine to have a speciality and receive most of your work from that area, but installers also need to be mindful of the opportunities that the commercial install, MDU market and developer-led projects can offer. Having a mixed portfolio of high-quality products and services which span several sectors is going to become more and more important, particularly as plug-and-play devices begin to eat into the lower end of the market.

EI Live! in its new home and guise with expanded product categories covering commercial, ‘smart electrician systems’ and its traditional market of home automation and AV, has been designed specifically to deliver those mixed opportunities to exhibitor and visitor alike. With ISE moving to Barcelona, for northern European installers, EI Live! will be the best and easiest to reach option to build a business fit for the 21st century.

Join us at Farnborough, April 30 – May 1 and let’s start that journey together.

EI Live! eiliveshow.com; Smart Building Awards smartbuildingawards.com

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This Month’s Essential Supplement

Matrix and Signal Management

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

Signalling virtue

EI takes a look at one of the most important categories in the industry as matrix and signal delivery systems strive to deliver the 21st century systems consumers demand.

British engineering has long been celebrated as amongst the best in the world – built with innovation, imagination and fantastic quality. Some of the greats have included the Aston Martin DB5, the Spitfire and even the lightbulb.

Within the AV world, British design is also blazing a trail on England’s South Coast, up on a hill in Poole, Dorset where Pulse-Eight operates its unique 24,000 sqft facility.

Pulse-Eight prides itself on cutting edge hardware and software design along with state-of-the-art features without adding to the installer’s final cost. By bringing all design and manufacturing in-house, Pulse-Eight has striven to create a hub of innovation which can keep up with the latest demands and quickly turn around new products. The company says this allows it to launch the latest technology far ahead of its competitors such as being the first to market with an extender set capable of 4K/60, 4:4:4, 8bit or 4K/60 4:2:2, 12bit up to 100m in the neo:Ultra HDMI Extender Set. Pulse-Eight has also extended the ‘Ultra’ range with the addition of the new neo:X matrix – the maker’s first video model with an integrated audio matrix plus eight HDMI inputs, eight HDBaseT outputs and two HDMI outputs. Using DSC (Display Stream Compression), the only compression supported by VESA, the system supports 4K/60, 4:4:4, 8bit or 4K/60 4:2:2, 12bit up to 100m or 1080p up to an impressive 150m with no latency or tearing.

The neo:X utilises ARC (Audio Return Channel) from the included neo:Ultra Receivers allowing audio to be returned back to the matrix from the TV, a boon for smart TV apps.

This is known as ‘sink mode’ on the matrix and the neo:X handles all this automatically and auto-senses which mode is required depending on where the source of the audio is coming from, saving days of manual programming.

Pulse-Eight is also a key Contributor Member of the HDBaseT Alliance allowing a special relationship to develop products and technology alongside each other. Pulse-Eight also says that this relationship allows Pulse-Eight to create powerful diagnostic tools, be it an LED to indicate the cable is longer than maximum transmission distance or the real-time HDBaseT link quality test to ensure that the installation is running perfectly before leaving site – all innovative ideas created right here in Britain.

Prolific maker, CYP, has some thoughts on what the major challenges facing signal distribution are. The

company says that in the past, installers were able to create complex yet stable distribution systems using HDBaseT because with 3G signals, there was plenty of bandwidth on offer. However, with 6G signals, the industry is exceeding the 10.2 Gbps bandwidth, with 4K pushing the limits and HDR exceeding the capabilities.

CYP argues that HDBaseT still has a host of great features to offer but, if 4K and HDR quality is essential, product developers have had to look at additional technology, such as CYP’s AVLC (Adaptive Visual Lossless Compression). AVLC takes the original up to 18 Gbps signals and compresses it within the AVLC chip and presents the HDBaseT technology with a prepackaged 10.2 Gbps stream it can transmit without issue.

Unpacking the other end is also carried out by the AVLC HDMI chip, rebuilding the signal up to its full 18 Gbps original form, leaving the HDBaseT technology alone to do what it is best at – transmitting signals over long distances via Cat 6 cable.

One of the biggest challenges identified by CYP is in educating installers of what a true 4K and HDR signal is and how it needs to be treated to gain the best results. For example, one of the most common issues CYP still gets is with poor cabling infrastructure and how that affects HDBaseT installations. Yes, a neatly cable-tied equipment rack looks great but, what many are not aware of is that if Cat 6 cables that are being used for HDBaseT installations are bound together, drop outs can occur and system stability can be affected. CYP often re-dresses a rack were there have been irregularity of signals and in almost all cases, this has fixed the problem.

As of now, fibre and CAT based AV over IP installations are becoming far more accessible to the installer. CYP says that the latest and greatest technology in this field so far is SDVoE and it is the only way to genuinely transmit zero latency compression-free 4K, HDR and future 8K signals.

Crucially, it can make use of an established LAN network and pass 4K HDR AV signals through a 10G network switch without an issue. CYP argues that it is also the only AV distribution systems offering almost instantaneous switching, video wall and multi-screen configurations. CYP already has a range of products that comply to SDVoE specifications and there is a training programme to support it. The company sees this as essential, especially as AV signal distribution is only going to get more complex.

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

AVPro Edge has a whole range of distribution skills delivered via its range of products

CYP argues that its pedigree of being one of the first to launch HDBaseT to the market makes its experience of signal distribution invaluable. Working closely with the SDVoE Alliance, CYP maintains its status as a trusted manufacturing partner for the global AV channel – both commercial and residential. Not only has the company developed new products (with many more in development), it has also worked closely with the display and source manufacturers, so that it fully understands the latest technology and, as in many cases, helps them implement it into systems reliably. This year has also seen the launch of the IP-7000TX/RX extender kit along with IP-CS7 IP System Controller and Configurator. With this system, not only can installers simply add a point-to-point extender kit within an established LAN network, but they can also easily configure and control it to simultaneously manage multiple extenders for multi-cast installations.

To educate installers in the latest signal distribution technology, CYP has spent a long time developing training sessions and uses real-world examples to help improve trouble shooting knowledge. In many cases, the extender kit is the first thing that is blamed for any issues with performance, CYP argues that in reality, it tends to be incompatibility of source and display products and/or poor cabling. CYP also now has a range of testing products that help installers set up systems and diagnose any issues before they hand the system control over to a customer.

The company is also using ISE to make some big announcements, with further SDVoE products and additions of new fibre and CAT products. CYP is also the main sponsor for EI Live! 2019, another major chance for installers to interact with and learn from the brand.

Available in the UK from Aldous Systems, AVPro Edge got its start with display calibration and evolved with the industry to work beyond 4K resolutions, to become a go-to source for new technologies, unique products and industry training.

As an original equipment manufacturer, AVPro Edge says it can bring products to market that have unique features not found in competitive solutions. The company firmly believes in maximising the capabilities of the chips used in its products to offer full featured solutions to today’s integrator.

An example of AVPro’s custom engineering is built in scaling on its matrix switchers, extenders and distribution amplifiers. With the current transition from 1080p to 4K, many system integrators are finding a mixed collection of displays to work with. The built-in scalers on AVPro Edge’s matrix switchers allow integrators to downscale a 4K signal to 1080p before it hits a legacy display, but still deliver full 4K to the zones that can handle higher bandwidth signals.

AVPro Edge matrix switchers also feature a built-in independent audio matrix, separate from the video outputs, with an audio breakout port for every input. This allows the installer to connect directly into a distributed audio system from the matrix. The breakout controls are customisable as well with settings to lock the audio to the input, output, or to control them independently.

Soon, AVPro Edge matrix switchers will also be handling external audio downmixing inside the switch.

AVPro Edge has a diverse line-up of HDMI extenders via HDBaseT. Besides having what it claims is the slimmest extender on the market, the maker also carries a line of 18Gbps 444 extenders with a proprietary compression technology called ICT. ICT (Invisible Compression

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

WyreStorm is continuing to develop its range with fresh innovations

Technology) is available on all of the 444 (category cable) and EXO (fibre) series extenders, as well as our HDBaseT matrix switchers. The ICT algorithm can manage all types of HDR including 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 as well as signals up to 18Gbps and 4K 60Hz 4:4:4. The architecture of ICT allows it to be compatible with all chroma subsampling types, colour spaces and HDMI Deep Colour up to 12 Bit. ICT also supports Dolby Vision up to 30 FPS. AVPro Edge says this technology is unique because it is truly invisible, not only to the human eye, but to HDMI test gear and other sink devices as well – what comes in is what goes out.

What also makes ICT special, says the maker, is that it preserves HDR Metadata and colour information and depth in its full, original integrity. While ICT is enough to make a great extender, the company has gone a step further to include built in test pattern generators on every transmitter to allow the integrator to determine if the video distribution channel is ready for a 4K signal without having to use a video source.

Handling audio is also a big priority for the company.

With today’s 4K HDR content comes Dolby Atmos, DTS-X and other bitstream audio signals of course. These audio signals have more than six channels, sometimes over 20 channels. 20-channel audio going into a two-channel speaker in a kitchen, is not going to cut it. So, to fix this problem AVPro Edge downmixes the audio signal. The multi-channel audio is converted, or down-mixed, to a two-channel signal. Until AVPro Edge’s AC-AVDM-AUHD, the company argues down mixing more than six channels was not possible, but with this new device integrators can downmix eight channels, a good solution for whole home distributed audio.

The manufacturer also underlines that it is a full adopter of HDMI, HDBaseT and HDCP and its engineers regularly work with these organisations and chip manufacturers to ensure AVPro Edge is where it needs to be.

Invision is one of the UK distributors for the WyreStorm brand.

The company at present is keen to point out the benefits of WyreStorm’s new EX-35-H2-ARC, a ClassB HDBaseT extender with not only the ability to send 5.1 digital audio back to the transmitter, but it can send 2160p 4:4:4/60 content up to 35m/115ft. Support for ARC is often reserved for premium extender products with a price tag to match – not here, says the distributor. WyreStorm has included its VLC chipset (Variable Lossless Compression) in this extender meaning not only ARC is supported, but also the next shift in content technology, 60Hz HDR and 4:4:4 60Hz. With on-demand content forming the new way of watching TV, the audio from within a SmartTV can be set free with the EX35-H2-ARC, supporting both True ARC (via HDMI) or optical audio return. HDR Content has recently enjoyed an up-shift in refresh rates after starting its life at 24Hz on UHD Blu-Ray discs. High frame-rate HDR is now available at 60Hz on certain discs and via games consoles like the Xbox One X; the EX-35-H2-ARC is ready for this, supporting both HDR-10, HLG and Dolby Vision (Dolby Vision at up to 30Hz).

Fully-featured audio performance doesn’t stop at the ability to handle ARC, says the maker as the transmitter of the EX-35-H2-ARC offers the ability to extract 2ch PCM audio from the source via the three-pin phoenix port for connection to an audio system.

Also a cheerleader for the WyreStorm cause, distributor Habitech recently featured the brand at its TechFest event. In particular the new H2XC matrix models, which offer customisable and centralised audio/video signal management and distribution of all the latest UHD video standards. The new 10 or 16-way H2XC series chassis can be populated by any selection of multi-format transmission card options supporting 18Gbps inputs and outputs, decentralised sources and 4K/60 4:4:4 over both HDBaseT and multimode fibre. Offered in addition to the company’s H2X and H2 matrix lines, H2XC can deliver full-bandwidth 18Gbps HDMI content over both copper and optical transmission mediums, whilst handling up to 48 discrete audio sources to 16 DSP-managed audio zones. The modular transmission card options include TX-H2X-VLC card, which applies the Company’s Variable Light Compression (VLC) technology to enable 18Gbps 60Hz HDR and 8bit 4:4:4 from the input to be transmitted at 10Gbps up to 70m over HDBT copper. The TX-H2X-OM3 card applies the same variable compression, but replaces the HDBT with a 10G optical fibre output sending 4K HDR content up to 300m.

Habitech also points out that for short haul from a H2XC, H2X or H2 matrix, installers have the flexibility to selectively send the purest 18G HDMI data to an AVR up to 30m away by deploying WyreStorm’s new CAB-HAOC-20/CAB-HAOC-30 Active Optical Cables (AOCs). Wyrestorm’s new optical line can also replace copper connections in environments susceptible to electromagnetic or radio frequency interference.

A further line favoured by Habitech is the Gigabit 400 Series and new 10GbE 600 Series, Wyrestorm’s AV-overIP solution NetworkHD can offer strong flexibility (up to

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AVPro Edge is distributed in the UK by Aldous Systems +44 (0)1296 769015 | www.aldoussystems.co.uk Untitled-2 1

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

Blustream has updated its Multicast UHD platform

2,000 sources on 20,000 screens) and mega data haulage capability. The 600 Series is designed to be a true 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 AV-over-10G IP distribution breakthrough, offering high quality, zero latency transmission with seamless switching over a 10GbE network using Software Defined Video Over Ethernet (SDVoE) technology. The benefits for system expansion in a newly built residential (or commercial) wing are undeniable, says the distributor.

Plus, installers get IR, RS232 and full 10Gb Ethernet passthrough for SmartTVs, Apple TVs and Sonos.

Blustream has picked up many fans of late delivering a comprehensive offering of distribution options.

Recent innovations include version AI 2.0 of the company’s integration software for Blustream Multicast.

Multicast UHD has been created to deliver virtually latency free distribution of HDMI video over a 1GB Network switch. Using lossless compression technology, Multicast delivers HDMI, IR and RS232 up to lengths of 100m over a single CAT cable.

Benefits include auto configuration of all Multicast units on a network, system status monitoring, independent IR and RS232 routing, independent audio routing, drag and drop system for controlling content and advanced video wall configuration and control. Installers can now also lock down system configuration via a password.

Blustream also recently launched its first 4x4 HDBaseT matrix kit that supports all 4K resolutions up to 18Gbps including HDR. The HMXL44CS-KIT is a HDMI2.0 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 HDCP 2.2 Matrix package utilising CSC technology to deliver HDMI, bi-directional IR, RS232 and PoH (PoE) up to lengths of 70m over a single CAT cable.

The Matrix also provides simultaneous HDBaseT/ HDMI on output 1, audio breakout with pre-amp variable line-level control and a web browser interface module for control and configuration. The HMXL44CS-KIT comes with four HEX70CS-RX receivers.

Blustream also offers its Custom Pro HDBaseT Matrix family with 4K HDR support. With new 4K HDR supported boards, installers get access to advanced Colour Space Conversion with the Custom Pro supporting 18Gbps 60 Hz 4:4:4 (4K HDR).

With the Custom Pro Matrix family, installers can choose the configuration that best suits each client. Blustream has however prepared some pre-configured alternatives

that boast audio breakout, simultaneous HDBaseT/HDMI outputs, RS232 pass through and a web browser interface module for enhanced control. Blustream says the Custom Pro solution is the perfect choice for installations that aspire to deliver the very latest 4K HDR resolutions. Get in touch to find out all the options available.

Way back in 2008, Crestron launched its DigitalMedia (DM) system to provide an end-to-end platform for managing content and facilitating quick switching between AV sources, without compromising on quality.

The aim was to deliver to AV professionals a solution that could support 4K resolution and DM’s QuickSwitch HD technology did that, making quick work of Blu-ray player, 1060p display and HD cable or satellite switching.

As technology evolved so has DM, and in 2017 Crestron introduced DigitalMedia NVX – DM, but on the network.

Crestron says NVX is the only secure solution that delivers 4K60, 4:4:4 and HDR over standard 1Gb Ethernet – with no latency. It also delivers USB 2.0 routing, built-in DSP, all-in-one encoding/decoding and, claims the maker, offers the widest range of connectivity and switching options in the industry.

Highly experienced Crestron expert, programmer and creative director at Pixel Global AV, Cliff Stammers, says, “When Crestron developed DigitalMedia, it was a game changer. DM elevated Crestron in the minds of high-end consultants and designers, firmly establishing the company as a serious video distribution presence.

To harness 1080 HD and distribute it seamlessly, without glitching or sync delays, and in infinitely bespoke configurations, was revolutionary. As programmers, DM gives us confidence that our preparatory work will be robust, and that our clients will have unshakeable faith in their control systems when our work is done.”

The intelligent software residing in the DM NVX Series Encoder/Decoder boxes and cards has been created to make it simple to configure, deploy, and manage entire systems from the web.

Typical network AV systems encode/decode and then scale sequentially, which results in additional latency.

Crestron says patent pending technology simultaneously encodes/decodes and scales, eliminating any latency. In terms of performance, once the network is in place, DM NVX is designed to just work. “Based on the legacy DigitalMedia, it makes it easier for integrators to trust that NVX is going to work and perform, says Ryan Blair, design engineer at network infrastructure provider IES Communications.

Crestron also argues the system is quick to install providing all the advantages of DigitalMedia, but can be run over any network. The system should also be cheaper to install as there is no need for 10Gb infrastructure.

Dan Jackson, director, enterprise technology, Crestron, says, “If you’re designing around a 10Gb ethernet video platform, you only have to run 10 of those signals together you’re at 100Gbs, which is really the limit of what ethernet infrastructure can do today and is incredibly expensive, because NVX is a 1Gb solution, you can run all that existing infrastructure and build a massively scalable system.”

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Eurosat recommends

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

HDanywhere is proud of its ability to deliver independent or third-party control

Crestron is also keen to underline the security credentials of the system, pointing out that DM NVX leverages the most advanced network security technologies. 802.1X authentication ensures that every DM NVX device is explicitly authorised, Active Directory credential management ensures that only authorised administrators gain access, and Secure CIP protocol ensures secure connections between DM NVX and Crestron control systems.

Crestron includes exclusive DigitalMedia and NVX training for authorised dealers and partners through the ‘Crestron Technical Institute’, with three main learning tracks for technicians, engineers and programmers, as well as the annual Crestron Masters event, for certified master programmers.

HDanywhere (HDA) tells EI that it has some really big plans for ISE reveals in February, however, for now the company highlights the extras users and installers gain when using the brand. With the uControl universal remote app being a free value-add feature of every MHUB matrix, unlike many other HDBaseT matrix brands, HDA says it is not exclusively dependent on third-party control systems to deliver a functional interface for AV switching and device control.

However, the maker is also keen to point out that its focus on the uControl app doesn’t mean its not keen on third-party compatibility – it is, big time. New ‘Expand I/O’ drivers for Control4 and RTI leverage HDA’s patented uControl IP2IR technology to utilise the IR I/O ports on both the central HDMI matrix and the HDBaseT display receivers to deliver additional and expanded control capability to third-party control systems. This means that that MHUB

matrix systems now offer multi zone I/O expansion for third-party control systems, giving additional infrared outputs for control and integration of all AV components without requiring more control system hardware, and at no additional cost. The maker says this is the very definition of value-add, whether using a control system or uControl.

Another heavy weight in the world of distribution, Atlona as a company has been getting ready for the convergence of the worlds of IT and AV for some time, particualry for commercial clients. The company says it has shifted its mindset toward AV as a mission-critical application. This is because, in the commercial space in particular, IT represents a major element of any business organisation and operates from a mission-critical perspective. With that mindset comes a need for strong reliability and the flexibility to scale to meet new business needs.

Atlona says that AV, by comparison, has traditionally been a small department with very focused applications.

As the two departments converge, the limitations of legacy, circuit-based systems have grown increasingly clear.

This is not to say that the days of fixed I/O switchers and routers are over, says the maker, they remain an important part of the business, particularly for residential and light commercial applications with very specific needs and I/O limitations, as well as simple extension and distribution. However, enterprise-level businesses simply require more. They don’t want to be restricted in their growth, and system failure is not an option.

Atlona underlines that migration to the network with an AV over IP architecture solves both of these problems.

There is far more flexibility from a growth standpoint, with flexible options for I/O connectivity. For example, an enterprise with 40 inputs and 100 outputs would be forced to build a matrix that would accommodate 128x128. These additional inputs and outputs may or may not be used in the future, but the end-user is still paying for them to sit unused.

For those who do want to scale, moving beyond that count means adding more dedicated switchers.

Moving to IP delivers linear scalability also. Users can add and remove ports as they do, without ever overpaying. Overhead remains low because the customer pays for what they need, when they need it.

Using platforms like Atlona’s OmniStream Pro series, AV over IP also eliminates the single point of failure associated with legacy matrix switchers, says the manufacturer, as distributed IP switching eliminates the central point in favour of a redundant architecture. This parallel, networked matrix design amplifies the security and reliability of the organisation’s AV operation.

Altona points out that integration of matrix and signal management operations into the IT backbone also enhances other AV opportunities, such as AV control over network. Whereas circuit-based control resides on a separate infrastructure and can be difficult to access and manage, Atlona says that systems like its own Velocity make remote control and management of switching, distribution and other networked AV systems a reality.

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Essential Install | Matrix and Signal Management

Atlona’s OmniStream range of products is targeting light commercial projects

Ultimately, Atlona argues there are few limitations when it comes to managing signal switching and distribution on the network, with remarkable improvements to the mission-critical functions that matter most to IT departments.

Atlona’s distribution partners in the UK are Midwich and RGB Communications.

ZeeVee’s battle-tested third-generation ZyPer4K video distribution encoders and decoders, one of the industry’s first families of IP-based video distribution products, currently serve thousands of endpoints in enterprise, digital signage, healthcare and other applications.

Able to deliver uncompressed 4K content with sub1ms latency to an unlimited number of displays directly through off-the-shelf 10G Ethernet switches, ZyPer4K was created to give light commercial integrators a convenient consolidation of processing that enables them to do more with less gear. In addition to its 10Gb Ethernet connection, each ZyPer4K encoder and decoder unit has a 1Gb network port that can be used for any IP network device including digital signage media players, IP cameras, video/audio conferencing equipment and also Wi-Fi network equipment without extra cabling.

ZyPer4K’s scaling algorithms and management platform combine for the creation and management of video walls of up to 25 screens, and also provides a robust API compatible with all third-party controllers, says its creator.

With SwitchableUSB protocols from Icron, video and USB 2.0 signals can be dynamically switched at the

same time with the benefits of the ExtremeUSB suite of features, including transparent USB extension, true plug and play functionality (no software drivers required) and compatibility with major operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Linux.

The ZyPer4K also provides the option to extend USB, IR and RS232 connections over the network for the use and control of connected devices such as displays, keyboards/ mice and cameras.

Pulse-Eight 01202 413610, pulse-eight.com Aldous Systems 01296 719582, aldoussystems.co.uk, avproedge.com RGB Communications 01488 73366, rgbcomms.co.uk Midwich 01252 876300, midwich.com Invision 01359 270280, invisionuk.com Habitech 01256 638500, habitech.co.uk Crestron 0845 873 8787, crestron.eu HDanywhere 01684 576 348, hdanywhere.co.uk CYP Europe 0203 1379180, cypeurope.com Blustream +44 (0)115 8247000, blustream.co.uk ZeeVee 01494 956677, zeevee.com

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15/11/2018 13:51

Essential Install | Clarity Alliance

Stereo is cool and popular; members of Clarity like Henley Audio supplying brands such as Klipsch are keen to work with installers

21st century stereo

In a new series, members of the Clarity Alliance, trade association for the UK Hi-Fi industry, share their thoughts on the industry and the cross over between CI. Phil Hansen, operations director for the association, argues installers should take a fresh look at an old friend.

It was back in the 1930s that work started on the development of stereo sound as we know it today.

Supposedly as a reaction to the confusion caused by mono sound from the early talkies, where an actor’s voice could come from one side of the screen while he was shown on the other side, an EMI engineer, Alan Blumlein, began working on a solution. He used two crossed microphones at right angles to each other (a technique still sometimes used today) and recorded the music to disc in a single groove using the two groove walls to record the separate channels.

The first stereo discs were cut by Blumlein in 1933 and a year later he recorded Sir Thomas Beecham conducting a Mozart symphony at Abbey Road. However, it was around 25 years before his methods were widely adopted and used for commercially released recordings – the first being a sampler disc made by the independent label Audio Fidelity Records, quickly followed by Bel Canto Records. This led to the manufacture of affordable stereo cartridges and the adoption of stereo as a format by all the major labels. The last mono LPs were produced by the majors in 1968 and since then the format for recorded stereo on vinyl has remained the same – testament to how right they got it back then.

Stereo radio followed very quickly afterwards, with the BBC beginning its experimental FM stereo service in 1958, although by 1970 it was still only available for Radio 3 – serious sound quality for serious music!

We take stereo for granted now, expecting all recordings to be presented in this format; in fact we don’t even think about it, it being so ‘normal’. All that’s really changed over the years are the formats that the music is presented on e.g. physical formats like CD, SACD, DVD Audio etc. and now the non-physical formats like downloads and streaming that are quickly taking over. And while the sound quality is getting better all the time with the advent of high-resolution audio, stereo is still stereo.

Although if you’re a fan of Planet Rock and numerous other digital only radio stations, you’ll have to put up with the clock having been wound back to 1930 as they broadcast in mono – and at a pathetic 80kbps bit rate, that makes your basic MP3 rip appear to be a super-fantastic proposition.

So why the history lesson in stereo in a custom installation magazine?

You may have noticed the resurgence in vinyl that is sweeping the world. Just ten years ago the total sales of vinyl in the UK stood at 205,000 units. Today it’s around 4 million units, which is a pretty impressive increase and has helped to make Hi-Fi a bit ‘cool’ again. So much so that people who may have moved away from traditional Hi-Fi and into the world of streaming (courtesy of Sonos in many cases) are now revisiting their vinyl collections and reinvesting in Hi-Fi. That’s a real opportunity for companies working in the CI sector. Whole house audio systems with streaming front ends are fantastic solutions for convenience and scalability.

And convenience is what people want – we live in a ‘now’ society where everything has to happen immediately and has to be seamless and foolproof. The so called ‘smart home’ aims to provide this digital life, with its systems that integrate to control the whole house and learn the user’s habits and personalise the environment. And that’s great, and we’ve all built our businesses on this desire for automation and convenience, but the ethereal nature of such systems doesn’t satisfy the in-built human desire to be hands-on and to interact with the physical environment.

People are tactile by nature and there’s something about pushing a button, lowering a stylus or loading a CD. The throwback to vinyl is part of a wider movement that is reacting against the digital world and embracing a more analogue kind of lifestyle. For example, walk around London and you’ll see kids using 35mm SLR cameras to take photos instead of their phones, and even the humble audio cassette is threatening to make a comeback.

Offering your customers a stand-alone two channel system as part of their installation can tap into the desire to rediscover their vinyl collection, to feel a sense of interaction with their music and the pride of ownership that comes from owning quality Hi-Fi. If this area is not your forte, then your local Clarity Alliance retail and/or manufacturer member will be able to help. There’s an opportunity there waiting to be grabbed, visit our website to see who could be your two-channel partner.

Clarity Alliance 0208 150 6741, clarityalliance.co.uk

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19/11/2018 11:34

Essential Install | Cinema Seating

The Gramercy from CINEAK mixes a conventional sofa design with cinema adaptability

Preaching from a chair EI presents some of the latest trends and options in the world of cinema seating.

A brand that has been active in the sector for many years, some of CINEAK’s latest designs reflect the need to offer a wider range of choice as more clients opt for the ‘flex cinema’ approach which puts the emphasis on more living room style furniture.

The CINEAK Largo is described as a comfortable design-driven and fully motorised sofa, which includes a patented mechanism offering high-quality comfort and support. Looking much more like a conventional sofa, than a dedicated cinema chair, at the push of a button, the low-back sofa switches to entertainment mode delivering the comfort and the features of a high-back theatre chair with head, legs and backrest support.

A patented, triple motorised mechanism extends the footrest, rises the backrest to the users’ preferred position and adjusts the position of the headrest.

Mining a similar vein is the Gramercy, presented as a sophisticated living-room entertainment sofa created to bring together sleek, modern design with soft casual comfort and the performance of an entertainment chair.

The maker says the Gramercy features a contemporary, lush and deconstructed appearance providing a more casual comfortable feel with a dash of elegance.

While the design consists of sleek lines, CINEAK says the emphasis is still very much on comfort. This line features a dual motorised incline mechanism which allows the user to adjust the footrest and headrest position to their preferred comfort-level. The Gramercy also features the newly redesigned table system and LED lighting fixtures.

This range is a modular design which can be configured in different seating layouts, with or without the use of armrests in between seats.

Still a family run business, CINEAK has been in the sector since 1999, and says it remains committed to

the cause of providing an antidote to mass-produced, unattractive, uncomfortable and limited home theatre/ media room seating options. All of the seats are designed and hand-crafted in Belgium with high-quality materials and the company says it is very proud of its unique collection and these newer more conventional designs with a cinema edge to them.

As the products are all handmade, the company also underlines that customisation is also a speciality, meaning a high-level of personalisation for each cinema is possible.

Habitech has recently been really upping its game on the home cinema front with new demo facilities and a new partnership with CinemaTech, US cinema design specialist. CinemaTech offers a range of systems including acoustic treatment, but can now also offers its range of seating into the UK too. Lines offered are Estrella, LeGrande and Valentino.

The Estrella offers some keen styling and provides adjustable comfort that is ideal for extended media viewing events. With its elegant transitional sectional styling and single or dual motorized movement, the maker says the Estrella brings a sophisticated décor to private home cinemas.

The ACT I incliner from the LeGrande range is CinemaTech’s most popular model. The visual lines of this incliner are styled to reflect the appearance of the car seats featured by Porsche, the brand’s German designer’s favourite automaker. The Valentino is specifically designed and engineered to provide the highest level of comfort bringing the functionality and craftsmanship of the entire seating line together with the flexibility of a sectional sofa. Motorised seat pan, backrest and headrest all come together in one motion or apart as two or three independent controls.

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Essential Install | Cinema Seating

The Palladio Firenze family offers a wide range of options and high-levels of comfort

Habitech is also keen to draw attention to the Palladio Firenze range in black leather which has been specified by the distributor to optimise the definitive sensations of bespoke home cinema, meeting standards of performance, reliability and support that exemplify luxury. The modular line-up provides all the permutations necessary to complete a wide range of seating arrangement for any room. Alongside the single seat, the left and right arm models combine in a love seat arrangement or as a luxury curved twin seat with the wedge divider in between. Introduce the armless seat to build a row of seats: three, four, five or more placed together or separated by the optional straight arm divider to fill the width of the room. Extend a curved arrangement with the wedge arm divider in a similar way. The black leather upholstery, stitching and finishing around the steel inlaid recline controls and cup holder is as precise as any you’d find in a luxury car, says the distributor, and the ride is as comfortable and responsive. Mounted on the rigid, solid-wood Firenze frame, the luxury pocket-sprung tech involves hundreds of individual springs housed in dedicated fabric pockets. Each spring reacts only to the weight pressing on it, so the cushion is able to provide the optimum level of support to each part of the body and offer a higher quality of comfort. Palladio Firenze offers a two-stage mechanism, which activates the footrest extension before the back begins to lower, allowing a more precise adjustment. And while the user is getting comfortable, the wall-away/incline mechanism moves the seat forward with minimal back tilt to accommodate close-to-wall positioning.

Elite Home Theatre Seating (Elite HTS) has built its worldwide reputation as one of the leading seating brands due to its innovative styling, quality, and craftsmanship with every custom seat being hand-made to the client’s exact specification. Options in terms of fabric include Valentino leather, cine suede and silk leather and there are over 170 arm/back combos and style combinations available. The seats are also known for their firmness and range of layout options which include single seats, loveseats, couches, straight rows, curved rows and chaise long.

Every Elite seat benefits from high-quality features as standard which include power recline – manual recline available upon request, wall hugger design – only 110mm wall clearance required and chiropractic-endorsed ergonomic design which is designed to ensure excellent lumbar support and comfort. All of the seats come with a 10-year guarantee on the industrial grade heavy-duty recline mechanisms and the high quality low-memory foam used in the seat cushions.

The company’s entry-level seat is called the Elite Cinema Series, which is currently on sale in the UK for £2,382 per seat, delivered (Black Valentino Leather only).

The Cinema Series seat is the only one which is upholstered overseas, but it includes the same German power motorised recline, with 10-year warranty, as they are assembled at Elite’s main factory in Canada, just like the Custom line.

The UK operation is based in Glasgow, and this arm of the company looks after all Elite customers, enquiries, and orders from the UK, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets.

The company says it is proud of its ability to work closely with installers and interior designers to ensure clients are delighted with their home theatre seating offering a customised service with the skills to create many bespoke options. Some nice touches include illuminated cup-holders, gold plated cup-holders, D-Box or Crowson seat shakers, extra wide seats, client-supplied fabric, embroidered family crest or corporate logo on headrests, sweat-resistant perforated leather, hidden storage compartments and swivel trays. The maker can also produce customdesigned wide arms for iPad/AMX/Crestron controller storage and charging. As is common these days, the company also offers a 3D seating layout design service which optimises the position, quantity, and configuration of seats, there is also an installation service available should that be required. Elite’s door-to-door service means the products can be delivered to UK mainland address, including freight, customs, and VAT all included in the price and trade pricing is extended to Hi-Fi stores, custom installers, AV consultants and interior designers.

For its home cinema seating Pulse Cinemas calls on the talents of US brand Fortress Seating. The brand is very much part of Pulse’s demonstration suites at it’s Stansted HQ. All home cinema systems are of course not the same neither are the people that use them. This is the starting point for the Fortress approach and Pulse argues that the seating company installers select to deliver ultimate comfort should be a furniture manufacturer that provides the same quality product as all the other furniture in the home allowing for changes in the chair dimensions and design.

Pulse argues that in no other room in the house is the need for customisation as great as in the home cinema or media room. You have customised the audio/video package to provide the best theatre experience, so this Pulse asks, why settle for just any chair? Seating should complement the room design, says Pulse, no matter what the design be it a chair or a sectional sofa, installers need to be sure they are buying it from the company that manufactures it, precisely how you want it, and this is at the crux of why Pulse says it works with Fortress Seating, because of the choices it delivers.

All the brand’s seats are customised and manufactured to specification, Pulse says chairs, sofas, and sectionals are created to epitomise luxury with high-end, timeless designs and premium quality materials, each one built by hand in the USA by an expert team. Outfitted with the customer’s choice of accessories, hand-selected fabrics, and with distinct attention paid to every fine detail, Fortress Seating solutions are at home not just in cinemas, but also family rooms, living rooms, media rooms, dining rooms, and anywhere else people unwind and get together.

Fortress says it works with each client to ensure they get exactly what they want, with the ability to build almost anything using its over eight decades of experience in the market.

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Essential Install | Cinema Seating

Supplied through Pulse Cinemas, Fortress Seating delivered the plush seating in this CEDIA Award winning design from Cyberhomes

The company is another that places high-emphasis on a customer service culture which never stops, right from design, through to installation and after.

FrontRow is following up its popular Classic range by designing a new model which delivers a modular design for straight and curved configurations. New features include dual motors for independent control of seat/ footrest and headrest and incliner mechanism allowing seats to be positioned close to walls. The seats are available in full high-grade leather and fabric in a large range of colours, have all electric incliner switches which include a USB charging port and offer cup holder caps and trays. Useful full-size paper templates and CAD files are also available and the seat backs can be removed for those harder to access areas such as attics and basements.

The range is suitable for tactile transducers (fitted to the seat frame) and they also offer a power reclining ‘lock’ feature. FrontRow continues to offer its full design and planning service and offers a five-year insurance backed warranty including accidental damage.

The maker says almost any configuration can be achieved from this range of modular home cinema seating in both straight and curved rows. So, whether it’s a single electrically operated recliner or multiple rows to get that true cinematic feel – installers can create the perfect seating plan.

A wide range of leathers and fabrics are also available.

The maker says some brands use a mix of leather and faux leather for the coverings, but FrontRow seating uses full leather throughout and there are different grades and colours depending on the client’s requirements.

The leather is dyed thorough the hide which prevents small scratches showing and the popular club leather option is hard wearing and particularly suited where pets may also use the seats.

All fabrics are fire treated and come in a variety of patterns and plain colours. There is also a wide range of material types including fabrics which have the feel and texture of a leather.

FrontRow says all the material coverings are easily cleaned, however where they have been damaged or punctured, this is normally covered under the five-year insurance backed warranty for domestic installations.

The standard material for the Italian Prima seats is leather, however for this range the company can use the client’s own fabrics as long as they are not patterned.

Within the FrontRow Classic family a range of 13 modules provides the multiple straight and curved seating configurations and this now includes couch ends and chrome feet.

FrontRow also has a range of accessories which include cupholder caps and rotating trays which can be inserted into the integral cupholders on the Classic, Serenity and Modern models.

One customer based in Didcot had this to say about his FrontRow seating, “Choosing a cinema seat that looks great can be a hard choice, but FrontRow seating have supplied my garage cinema with a suburb set of chairs, the Serenity collection really give the room a touch of class with their smooth dual motors and great looks. They are very comfortable to sit on and will give us many years of movie watching, better than the floor which we had before the refit. I would highly recommend them.”

FrontRow seats can now be experienced at distributor AWE’s demo facility. “Quality cinema seating is a significant detail for integrators seeking to create the best, most enjoyable movie-watching experiences for their clients,” says Stuart Tickle, MD at AWE. “FrontRow cinema seating is the perfect choice for a wide range of cinema rooms. Luxurious European design combines with ultra-

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T EX E N SU IS

Also in this issue…

• Multi-Room Music Systems

In-depth

2018 SHOWCASE

To get involved, contact Ian on 01634 673163/ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

• Acoustic Treatment

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

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Essential Install | Cinema Seating

FrontRow continues to innovate with lines like Serenity and can now be experienced at the AWE show apartment

The Premium Verona is Ferco Seating’s most popular home cinema design

quiet internal, reclining motors in an exceptional range that’s backed by a comprehensive five year warranty that covers everything from mechanics to the seat fabric itself.

Integrators can be assured that using FrontRow is the ideal way to complete that premium home cinema project.”

At the AWE show apartment in Epsom, seating from the Serenity collection features within the AWE KEF THX home cinema. A dual motor for independent control of seat, footrest and headrest ensures the seat can adapt to occupant size, posture and comfort requirements. The Serenity line is available in a wide choice of different fabric types and colours and can be scaled to fit the design of the room, from single seats to rows of 12. Integral USB charging ports are also provided.

The All new Cineca Amalfi cinema seat is available via Atlantik AV has been designed and built to be the most comfortable seat in the house, says the maker. The seat features the company’s unique zero gravity dual motor mechanism which was created to bring a new level of comfort to home cinema. The chair also features a threeway articulating headrest for extra head support while watching a movie and with a seating width of only 50cm, its possible to accommodate more people in limited space cinema rooms.

Cineca offers three seating models, Siena, Modena and Amalfi. All of the seats are made in the EU with German/ Italian engineering and are available with a range of attractive Italian leathers, Alcantara and Luxury velvets.

It’s possible to choose between tone on tone or contrast stitching on all of the seats, and there is also a choice of fabric or leather from eight collections with more than 100 colours. Designers are welcome to supply their own fabrics or leather for the seats as well.

With all of the seats it’s possible to create many different seating configurations, just provide the maker with the dimensions of the room, number of seats requested, and Cineca will design the right seating configurations for each project.

The brand can also offer its own range of acoustic wall systems allowing installers to treat the room while creating an attractive looking design via Cineca’s acoustic designer fabrics.

A company that you may not be aware has a strong offering in the home cinema world is Ferco seating.

Known for its work in the pro cinema world as well as its supply into the stadia and education markets, Ferco also offers a complete design and supply service into the home cinema market, designing an effective seating plan that works in each space, complimented by luxury seating which is designed to deliver on comfort and aesthetics.

Ferco offers a Premium range of recliners, well suited to the home cinema market offering seats which have fixed backs, seats which glide under user’s own body weight and fully electric recliners.

There is a standard range of fabric finishes, including velour, faux leather and leather and a range of options for each product encompassing cup holders, gooseneck lighting, centre console tables and in seat USB sockets.

The Premium Verona is the company’s most popular product for home cinema clients delivering a fully reclining cinema chair designed for the maximum in comfort and style. Attractively crafted and available as a single seater, a twin-seat or a link-seat with shared armrests, two individual motors control the footrest and back-rest separately allowing any user to adjust their reclining position to exactly their own comfort level.

The company also promises a high-level of customer care with all home cinema enquiries being responded to within 48 hours. Ferco’s Cinema Design and Specification Consultant will also put together a bespoke quote, having first discussed full requirements and assessed drawings/ layouts, product choice, fabric and finishing. A quote will be issued following this initial discussion.

Once a quote is approved and an order placed, delivery and installation (if required) dates will be communicated and a payment schedule is provided. Ferco says that from sign–off of layout drawings and receipt of a signed order, there is an average manufacture time of 12 – 14 working weeks, although at busy times of the year this may increase.

CINEAK +32 3 354 03 66, cineak.com Elite HTS 0141 445 4195, elitehts.co.uk Pulse Cinemas 01279 647 039, pulsecinemas.com FrontRow 01892 552 561, homecinemaseating.co.uk AWE Europe 01372 729 995, awe-europe.com Atlantik AV/Cineca 01254 822 773, atlantikav.co.uk, cinecacs.com Ferco Seating 01743 295 017, fercoseating.com

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image courtesy of www.realmcontrol.com

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18/08/17 11:47 21/08/2017 09:38

I N D U S T RY L E A D I N G 1 9 - I N C H R AC K E N C LO S U R E S

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Essential Install | Comment

“Success is failure in progress” Albert Einstein

Fail towards success!

Pete Baker, successful sales and marketing professional with over 30 years of global experience in the smart home industry, shares his thoughts on turning failure into success.

Pete Baker urges installers to learn from mistakes, but also be bold in building for the future

Many years ago, I worked for a leading integration company in Minnesota, USA, over the course of 10 years.

I was a top salesman and system designer in the company, and also led the sales team.

We had a great, dedicated team at the company, and the clients, builders and architects loved us!

We were growing at a great pace and successfully expanding our referral network of builders, architects and interior designers.

In September of 2001, the 9/11 tragedy hit and, like many businesses, we felt the contraction in consumer confidence and spending. This was the beginning of the end for the business. The contraction in business was not a fatal blow by itself, it actually just brought to the surface some brutal facts that we had not fully realised or accepted in the past. Primarily, the company was saddled with an enormous amount of debt, accumulated over the past two decades the company had been in business.

When the economy tanked, the business could no longer operate healthily and service the debt. This was a very sad and painful experience for the entire company to endure. I am still proud to this day about the way the entire team pulled together, to continue to operate and deliver to end-user customers the best possible experience. They conducted their daily duties with great pride and attention to detail, while the proverbial company walls were crumbling down.

Facing reality

We came to the grim reality that sales alone could not save a company; it was literally drowning in debt. The owners of the company were either out of the office or unable to be reached by vendors, so they called me. Every day I was faced with angry vendors calling and demanding payment from the company, while also struggling to find products to finish projects. The manager of the bank called every day to say, ‘we are going to lock the doors today’. I would plead with him to give us some more time, that we had 30+ employees and countless customers counting on us. He would say, ‘okay, let me think about it and I will call you this afternoon with my decision’. He would call that afternoon and ask what projects we had completed and money we had collected and then say, ‘okay, we will keep it open’.

The very next day, the same routine would start over again.

This continued for months! It was a horrible experience to endure and one I never, ever want to go through again.

The business failed, not due to the amazing and dedicated employees who worked for the company; rather by the leadership team of the company – which included me. I discovered that I could not sell my way out of the mess we were in, and eventually they embarked on an effort to sell the company. This ultimately resulted in a company acquiring the assets and providing employment for many of the employees. I moved on and launched my own integration company.

November 2018 | 57 Comment – Peter Baker.indd 57

22/11/2018 14:40

Essential Install | Comment

So, what can we learn from failure? I really love the way Albert Einstein looked at failure; “success is failure in progress,” or when a reporter asked Edison how it felt to fail so many times, he simply replied, “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

I believe there are several key elements that I learned from my experience.

Keep learning

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

Henry Ford Over the next five years, my integration company grew rapidly, doubling in revenue every year while remaining extremely profitable. I had an amazing team (again) and through their hard work and dedication we became a well-respected, leading integration company in the area. I eventually sold the company and moved to the manufacturing side of the business. I can say with great confidence that my company never would have become so financially strong and successful had I not gone through the painful experience of failure with the previous company. I regularly thought of that banker, the employees and how they were affected, the vendors, the clients and all who were impacted by the failure of that business. This fueled my drive for success!

Feel the fear and do it anyway

Failure can be a challenging thing to overcome and it has many names: bankruptcy, lost prospective clients, failures of business relationships, lost trust, legal battles, employee conflicts, etc… Sometimes it can be very hard to pull away and reflect on what has happened, and find some insight to learn from and become better through the failure. In my case, I learned a tremendous amount which has certainly helped me in my professional endeavours that followed. And, in fact, I am not alone.

Many (maybe even most) enormously successful leaders in our world encountered significant failures, before achieving success. A few notable examples are as follows: Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper job for ‘not being creative enough’, Albert Einstein failed his entrance exam in to the Zurich Polytechnic School. Thomas Edison holds 1,093 patents and famously invented the lightbulb, but not before failing an enormous 10,000 times.

• Learn: I take a long hard look at any failure and try to find the silver lining: what did I learn? How would I do things differently the next time? What would I change now to prepare for the future?

• Prepare for the storm: I was always thinking out 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months. We may have been thriving and extremely healthy, but I wanted to know where we would find the business in the months and years ahead. I had a constant script running in my head; ‘fill the well, before you are thirsty.’

• Resilience and persistence: Business (and life) can and will throw you curve balls and we really never know what is around the corner. The more you get knocked down the better you will be at getting back up, while also being a little less skittish about the next punch that may be coming.

Get back up, brush yourself off and get back in the fight!

• Respond, don’t react: At the start of my professional journey, I was shaken much easier than I am now and was prone to react instantly. This is not to say that it never happens, but I tend to take a deep breath now and step back to evaluate the situation and gather all the facts before responding.

• Think about success: Reflect not only on the failure, but also remember the success(es) achieved. Maintain confidence in past success and visualise future success ahead!

Henry Ford once said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

I do not seek out ways to fail, but I do not fear it either.

I strive for success, always. But I am also grateful for the invaluable lessons I have learned along my journey and am excited to continue learning how I can become better.

I hope you also find a way to turn any failure into future success. I would love to hear from you. Please email me anytime at pete@thebigcorp.com The Big Corp thebigcorp.com

“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once.

I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work.

When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Thomas Edison

58 | November 2018 Comment – Peter Baker.indd 58

22/11/2018 14:40

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14/11/2018 09:59

Essential Install | Case Study: Artcoustic

Sona has won lots of praise for this accomplished install

Artcoustic Installation of the Month Artcoustic’s Installation of the Month for September 2018 was won by install company Sona, a firm based in leafy Cheshire. This installation was also shortlisted for ‘Best Home Cinema’ at the 2018 CEDIA Awards.

This project used stylish, acoustically transparent movie posters

Simon Fulstow founded Sona back in 2012 and has over 20 years of home technology experience, having been involved in some of the world’s most impressive integrated technology systems for luxury homes and super yachts.

Sona has found success by delivering high standards and exacting detail right from the initial proposal through to completion.

The company’s engineers are highly experienced and professional, all working towards the same meticulous standards that Sona and its customers demand. Sona says it designs its systems for clients that want to do things right first time, understanding that luxury and indulgence is all in the detail.

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Essential Install | Case Study: Artcoustic

The brief As part of this brief, Sona was asked by the client to create a dedicated home cinema as part of a whole home install.

The basement was completely empty, with bare brick walls and ceilings, and the family hoped that Sona could transform it into a private getaway where they could watch the latest movies and TV shows.

Key to the whole project was the audio, with a 13-channel Dolby Atmos system being installed.

This immersive system utilised Artcoustic speakers which had 4,000W of amplifier power. The speakers themselves were hidden behind acoustically transparent movie posters; these were produced by Artcoustic’s digital printing service, enabling Sona to hide the speakers with something more aesthetically pleasing than black fabric.

The entire cinema was designed digitally before the installation took place, this allowed Sona’s designer to accurately position all the speakers and carry out other calculations, such as ensuring the viewing distance to the screen is comfortable and specification for the projector lens.

It’s even easy to control the home cinema, thanks to a custom-made user interface and a handheld remote.

Guests simply have to press a single button to select the source they would like to enjoy, and the system automatically configures the room around them, activating the audio and video equipment, whilst simultaneously dimming the lighting and adjusting the projection screen.

A Kaleidescape movie server allows the family to download and enjoy the latest films in the highest possible audio and video quality, presented through an on-screen interface that automatically groups content based on genre, actor, director and other information, and provides instant playback of a film.

It’s no surprise that this home cinema has been so well-received by both the clients and the installation community. In fact, not only was this home cinema a huge success, it was also part of a bigger installation that went on to win best Integrated Home £230,000 – £340,000 at the 2018 CEDIA Awards.

Artcoustic: 01245 400 904, artcoustic.com sona.technology

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22/11/2018 14:41

EssentialREVIEW Elipson Infinite series

The Elipson Infinite 14 are £1,599.00 each

To infinity and beyond!

In this month’s review, Richard Stevenson puts the recently released Elipson Infinite series of on-wall/in-wall speakers through their paces.

Stepping out of its traditional residential loudspeaker repertoire, Elipson’s Infinite series is a three-strong range of dedicated on-wall/in-wall architectural speakers aimed at home theatre installations. The lineup comprises the compact Infinite 8, a two-way design with 6.5in Rohacell cone driver and 1in dome tweeter, the Infinite S12 12in subwoofer, and the Infinite 14 reviewed here.

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EssentialREVIEW Elipson Infinite series

The Infinite 14 is also a two-way design but packs in two 6.5in Rohacell drivers and the 1in dome tweeter into a larger cabinet. The driver array is mounted into a brushed metal baffle plate in vertical D’Appolito configuration with the mid-bass units above and below the tweeter. The configuration effectively subdues the vertical dispersion of the speaker, reducing colouration at the seating position caused by reflection from the ceiling and floor.

Elipson recommends keeping the centre channel speaker vertically positioned if possible, perhaps behind an acoustically transparent screen. For use with a large screen TV, the Infinite 8 is probably a better bet for the dialogue channels if you don’t have room for an Infinite 14 below the screen at listening height.

The large 475mm (w) x 1,065mm (h) cabinet weighs in at 18kg with a large MDF baffle overhanging the sealed speaker cabinet. Mounting depth from surface is just 100mm, although the forward protruding baffle makes the overall speaker depth 125mm or 138mm with the grill fitted. Specification boasts a 60Hz – 30kHz frequency response, 150W RMS power handling and a useful 91dB/watt efficiency. There are no HF/MF trims or boundary gain compensation filters.

Mounting

The Infinite series can be mounted on-wall or in-wall. For the on-wall/on-ceiling installation, the rear of the cabinet is fitted with four key-way brackets that drop over the supplied heavy-duty screws. The system can be used to ceiling mount the speaker, but you would need to add a batten to stop the speaker vibrating out of the keyway.

Fitting the brackets increases the depth from the rear wall by 12mm. Wall-mounted, the wide baffle and unused screw holes are far from sleek-looking, so this installation is best hidden behind an architectural cloth or a fixed, acoustically transparent screen.

The speaker can be mounted in-wall using a 300mm x 900mm cut out. It is fixed by simply screwing through the eight holes in the MDF part of the baffle. There are no screw hole covers supplied, so it’s not necessarily the prettiest installation if the baffle is on show. The raised baffle is also going to create some challenges if you were thinking of using architectural cloth pulled flush over the substrate wall.

Compounding your cosmetic choices further, the supplied grill is a non-paintable cloth over a thick frame design straight from a traditional Hi-Fi loudspeaker, rather than a paintable flush-mount. The single-wire speaker terminals are similarly of Hi-Fi origin, as they are 4mm banana-plug binding posts rather than one-handed spring clips.

Installation

Opting for the on-wall option, we used the basic buff cardboard template and a spirit level to locate the four screw holes. As the wall is three layers of MDF in the studio, we drove the supplied screws straight into the wall, leaving a few mm protruding. You then offer up the speaker and drop the keyway brackets over the screw heads. That makes for super-easy installation on suitable surfaces, but supporting 18kg of speaker on just plasterboard would be a greater challenge.

For in-wall installation, the brackets can be removed to shallow the installation depth to just 100mm.

Elipson Infinite 14, on-axis @1m

Performance The Infinite 14s in-room response installed in the well-damped studio was nicely smooth with a couple of notable features. Bass from the sealed cabinet is impressively extended down to around 80Hz (@-10db) and there was useful room and boundary gain output below that (the suck-out at 120Hz is a roomnode). On-axis at 1m from the tweeter, there is a distinct lift through the highfrequency range from around 10kHz up.

That has almost certainly been engineered in to improve off-axis performance as the 45 ° repose is remarkably flat. Given that the listener is virtually always going to be off-axis with on-wall cinema speakers (centre channel notwithstanding) that makes a lot of sense. Care will be needed with EQ if the Infinite 14 is used as a centre channel, but most EQ systems will handle that with ease.

Subjectively, the Infinite 14 punches well above what you would expect from two 6.5in drivers. LF speed and impact from the sealed cabinet is exceptional.

The overall balance is big-scale and well-controlled throughout with plenty of power handling and dynamic headroom. We drove a single speaker to well over 100dB without audible compression or distortion.

The Infinite 14 is an idiosyncratic loudspeaker that owes much (possibly too much) to Elipson’s Hi-Fi loudspeaker heritage. Installation options are comprehensive and straightforward although the large size, protruding baffle, frame-type grill and screw holes are going to present a few cosmetic challenges.

Get that right and the Infinite 14 delivers a rewarding and hugely potent sound with exceptional bass integrity for an architectural speaker.

Depending on the surface, the cut-out will need framing to support the screws. There is a removable plastic film over the main metal baffle. Unfortunately, it isn’t fitted flush enough to act as an effective paint shield should you consider painting the rest of the baffle.

Just to add to the Infinite’s quirkiness quota, in the box you will find a stick-on Elipson badge and a pair of white cloth handling gloves. Given that the speaker is textured-back MDF finish that won’t show fingermarks, and the fact it needs installing by tradesmen, probably in a room looking like a building site, the gloves do seem a little misplaced.

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22/11/2018 14:42

Essential Install | Training Dates

AL LT R A D E

B EMCO K N X

DSCR IRS SYSTEM - ADVANCED SKY Q FAULTFINDING, COMMISSIONING & PLANNING (WHYTE & PROMAX)

KNX ‘TASTER’ COURSE

DATES/LOCATION: December 4th (9:30am) Reading Branch, December 5th (9:30am) Hemel Hempstead Branch, January 23rd (9:30am) Brighton & Hove Branch

COST: Free

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DEMOPAD SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING

DATES/LOCATION: December 5, Bemco Wandsworth

MORE INFORMATION »

Bemco 0208 874 0404, bemco.co.uk

DATES/LOCATION: December 20th (9:30am) Bolton Branch COST: Free

INTRODUCTION TO HDL DATES/LOCATION: December 3rd (9:15am) Nottingham COST: Free

ADVANCED HDL TRAINING DATES/LOCATION: December 4th & 5th Nottingham COST: Free

INTRODUCTION TO SONOS DATES/LOCATION: December 4th (10am) Brighton & Hove/Bournemouth Branches, December 6th (10am) Hemel Hempstead/Reading Branches (2pm) Maidstone Branch, December 19th (2pm) Cardiff Branch COST: Free

LEVEL 1 UBIQUITI

CA I BASIC AERIAL & SATELLITE INSTALLATION DATES/LOCATION: December 11, 12, 13, Watford, Hertfordshire COST: Member £510 / Non Member £765

MAKING THE BOND DATES/LOCATION: November 28, Watford, Hertfordshire COST: Member £165 / Non Member £250

MORE INFORMATION »

CAI 01923 803 030, cai.org.uk

DATES/LOCATION: December 13th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, December 19th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, January 9th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, January 10th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 17th (2pm) Maidstone Branch, January 31st (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch COST: Free

LEVEL 2 UBIQUITI DATES/LOCATION: November 21st (2pm) Brighton & Hove/Bournemouth Branches, January 9th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, January 16th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch COST: Free

INTRODUCTION TO IRS DATES/LOCATION: December 5th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, December 13th (2pm) Maidstone Branch, December 19th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, December 20th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 10th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, January 31st (2pm) Maidstone Branch COST: FREE

WITH EVER-CHANGING STANDARDS, RULES & REGULATIONS, TRAINING HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO THE CUSTOM INSTALL INDUSTRY’S PROGRESSION.

INTRODUCTION TO FIBRE DATES/LOCATION: December 12th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, December 13th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 10th (2pm) Maidstone Branch, January 16th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, January 17th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, January 30th (2pm) Cardiff Branch, January 31st (2pm) Reading Branch COST: FREE

INTRODUCTION TO CCTV DATES/LOCATION: January 23rd (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, January 24th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead/Maidstone/Reading Branches, January 30th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch COST: Free

CAT5E/6, THEIR CONNECTORS AND BEYOND DATES/LOCATION: December 5th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, December 12th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, December 20th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead/Maidstone Branches, January 17th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 30th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch COST: Free

MORE INFORMATION »

For more information or to book call 0344 225 2700/01273 765180, email training@alltrade.co.uk or visit alltrade.co.uk

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

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Essential Install | Training Dates

I VO RY EG G K N X TRAINING

CRESTR O N DMC-E-4K - DM CERTIFIED ENGINEER DATES/LOCATION: December 10 – 12 (9:00am) Crestron UK COST: Free

TWO DAY PARTNER DATES/LOCATION: December 3-4, Bosham COST: £350 + VAT

CTI-P101 FOUNDATIONS OF CRESTRON PROGRAMMING DATES/LOCATION: November 26 – 28 (9:00am) Crestron UK COST: Free

MORE INFORMATION »

Ivory Egg 01243 572 700, ivoryegg.co.uk

CRESTRON STUDIO FOR RESIDENTIAL LIFESTYLE DATES/LOCATION: December 3- 4 (9:00am) Crestron UK

RA KO T RA I N I N G

COST: Free

CTI-P301 ADVANCED PROGRAMMING SKILLS DATES/LOCATION: December 5 - 7 (9:00am) Crestron UK

DATES/LOCATION: December 13, Rochester (laptop required)

COST: Free

COST: Free

CTI-FUSION-P CRESTRON FUSION PROGRAMMER DATES/LOCATION: December 13 -14 (9:00am) Crestron UK COST: Free

ADVANCED COURSE

MORE INFORMATION »

For more information or to book call 01634 226666 or email training@rakocontrols.com

All Crestron training courses are free.

MORE INFORMATION »

Crestron +1 888 273 7876, crestron.com

TRAINING DATES SET FOR 2019?

Get your training dates included in our training pages for upcoming issues.

Contact Daniel Sait to add your training to the next issue.

Email: dan@allthingsmedia.com Call: 01634 673 163

Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE

November 2018 | 65 Training Dates.indd 65

26/11/2018 12:23

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Shaping our industry. Enabling business growth. Getting you specified.

20/03/2018 17:26

Essential Install | Products

Essential products

Opulent offerings of AV automation A real pearler from Cabasse The Pearl is also supplied with a remote control with the same finish as the speaker

Connected Distribution, UK distributor of Cabasse, has announced the launch of The Pearl, an active, high-definition connected speaker, that concentrates all the expertise and technology from the company’s flagship La Sphère into a compact form.

In keeping with the familiar Cabasse aesthetic, The Pearl’s spherical shape is good for spatial coherence and also makes the most of the decorative jewel-like casing. The finish on the reinforced double-shell cabinets comes in either metallic black with pure chromium rings, or pearl white with silver rings.

As the inventor of coaxial technology, Cabasse has introduced a new technology with The Pearl integrating into a smaller volume (32cm for The Pearl, compared to 130cm in height for La Sphère), the first compact triaxial loudspeaker. Its 25cm bass driver has a linear excursion of more than 30mm and is coupled with the coaxial midrange and tweeter in Cabasse patented carbon. The speaker is also said to possess high-quality power handling and a wide smooth frequency response from 14Hz to 27kHz, without directivity issues, coloration or distortion.

Cabasse has also equipped The Pearl with an automatic calibration system (CRCS) that uses an integrated microphone and Cabasse patented technology to achieve quality audio in a variety of settings.

It is possible to link two Pearls in stereo through a direct Wi-Fi connection, without then need for an additional box or hub. Connectivity options also permit the use of external sources such as a television, CD player, or a turntable/ phono stage combination via the optical and analogue inputs. The product can be stand or wall mounted via dedicated hardware. The Pearl, with its Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, integrates within the Cabasse StreamCONTROL multiroom system and supports MP3, AAC, WMA, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC files including 24bit/192kHz high definition and supports Spotify, Qobuz, Napster, Deezer, Tidal. The Pearl is also compatible with the Google Assistant and soon Amazon Alexa and permits streaming anywhere in the home of any source connected to the speaker.

Connected Distribution 01242 511 133, connecteddistribution.com

Once more with feeling!

The product is available as Selekt DSM, Selekt DSM with integrated power amp, Selekt DSM with Katalyst or Selekt DSM with integrated amp and Katalyst

Linn is proud of its new Selekt DSM, an all-new network music player that promises to bring the ‘feeling’ back to digital audio delivering a tactile and beautiful experience.

Gilad Tiefenbrun, Linn managing director, says, “We love the clarity of digital music, but we also love the tactility of physical records. It’s easy to feel we’ve lost touch with the immersive experience of playing a vinyl record – the LP selection, the lift-lower, the anticipation during those first pops and clicks – and that playing music requires only a swipe and a tap. Selekt DSM revolutionises physical interaction with digital music with every aspect precision engineered for a tactile and enriched listening experience.”

Selekt DSM’s dial and smart buttons can be personalised to each customer’s wishes, providing instant access to favourite music by making it possible to operate the product without the need for an app. The glass dial glows when approached and turns with watch-like precision. The customisable buttons, which have been crafted to feel like piano keys, respond instantly with the detailed music information appearing on the onyx-black OLED display.

The product is available as a dedicated streaming source to drive any separates system, or you can include an integrated amplifier to streamline each system, just add speakers.

Either way, the maker says there’s an option to push the performance even further with Katalyst, Linn’s DAC architecture.

Selekt DSM’s on-board pre-amplifier enables all sources to be connected, including a turntable.

Selekt DSM also includes the new version of Linn’s Space Optimisation technology which uses digital signal processing to ensure quality sound removing the distorting effects of any room.

Selekt DSM is modular and upgradeable (via a series of cartridges) designed to allow a customer to configure exactly what is important to them.

Linn +44 (0)141 3077 777, linn.co.uk

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Essential Install | Products

Lutron debuts RA2 Select Lutron RA2 is the maker’s new affordable lighting platform (image Lurot Brand)

Lutron has launched its latest whole-home lighting and shading control system for residential, RA2 Select. The new system has been designed to be more consumer-friendly, with homeowners able to personalise the system. The platform is also compatible with various third-party smart home technologies, including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit and the Works with Nest program.

Essentially this is an affordable option for those who want simple, smart control of their lighting and would rather not deal with an overly complicated installation. It also has strong retro-fit credentials as the only wiring required is the in-line dimmers and switches, while the main repeater can be plugged into a wall socket for power, and then connected to the home network. This mains repeater is key, as it’s the device that enables all the lighting control – that means the switches and in-line dimmers all need to be in range. For those out of range, Lutron offers auxiliary repeaters.

All wall switches, dimmers and sensors are wireless meaning decorating can be finished before the wireless switches are fitted. For any existing switches, the wired switch is removed, existing cables terminated in the backbox and the Pico faceplate is installed in its place.

RA2 Select’s set-up is also user friendly. Through the Lutron RA2 Select app, available for iOS and Android, installers can add each device to the system, pick which room it goes in, give it a name, and then let the app automatically configure the programming.

Control is available through the app, but for a more seamless experience control through systems such as Control4 and Crestron is also available as well as over Amazon’s Alexa, Apple HomeKit or the Google Assistant. RA2 Select can also integrate with Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostats, Nest devices and Sonos speakers. There is also the Pico remote for handheld control. As well as direct control there is of course the usual auto scheduling opportunities Lutron offers.

Lutron 0207 7020 657, lutron.com

Make light work of it with Savant

Savant wants to bring more colour into the home

Savant has introduced an array of integrator-quality architectural light strips compatible with the platform’s TrueImage lighting user experience.

Savant’s image-based TrueImage technology was created to offer an intuitive control experience by using images of the home, fixtures and fittings. In addition to providing on/off/dim control of lighting simply by touching an image of a fixture in any room, TrueImage now provides users with an intuitive WRGB colour wheel and tunable white temperature selection all from the Savant Pro App for iOS or Android devices. Savant’s new LED strips bring TrueImage and advanced colour technology to more parts of the home.

The strips offer options for cove lighting, behind flat panel TVs and inside cabinets. A tunable white LED strip allows for colour temperature adjustments, changing automatically in concert with Circadian rhythms throughout the day or manually by the homeowner. Also offered is a WRGB light strip that provides all the features found on the tunable white model plus the option to select from millions of colour choices. The Savant Pro app provides for WRGB colour value settings, making it a good option for interior designers who want precise control over accent lighting and also want the homeowner to have access to lighting control through Savant Scenes.

Both the Tunable White and WRGB strips are available in outdoor versions and kits with drivers and power supplies are available in 16-foot and 32-foot strip lengths. In addition, an RGB Neon version is available, allowing for direct viewing accents similar to neon signs where each individual LED is not visible, making the strip appear as a line of solid color. All Savant LED light strips are field cuttable and kits are available with professional-grade mounting options, plus various couplers and jumpers.

New controller offerings from Savant include a low-voltage DMX controller that allows up to 32 strips to be wired to a single controller.

Savant Systems Europe 01488 649 340, savanteurope.co.uk

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Loki Cinemascope The new Barco Residential Loki Cinemascope laser projector offers the same Ultra HD enhancements as his Loki stablemate, coupled with a high-capacity 2.37:1 aspect DLP engine. This exceptional design allows a 2.40:1 film to be shown without requiring an anamorphic lens.

In partnership with Genesis Technologies and Meridian Audio, we help you create the very best home cinema and media room experience for your customers. 路 Motorized DCI notch filters 路 HDR10

To find out more contact neil@genesistechnologies.co.uk or design@meridian.co.uk

路 HDMI 2.0a 路 HDCP 2.2

www.barco.com/residential

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Essential Install | Products

Theory Audio Design is sister brand to Pro Audio Technology

In Theory Paul Hales, 30-year loudspeaker engineer, AV industry veteran, and owner of Pro Audio Technology (PRO), has announced the launch of Theory Audio Design (Theory), manufacturer of loudspeakers and Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers.

Theory loudspeaker models consist of three in-wall and four slender on-wall models, featuring dual 5in, 6in and 8in woofers. Theory also offers two subwoofer models sporting 12in and 15in high-power drivers and three soundbars designed to pair with 65in, 75in and 85in flat panel TVs. Two Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers (ALC) provide the power and brains.

The Theory family benefit from the same engineering and professional-grade componentry as Pro Audio Technology.

Theory loudspeakers include components such as 1.4in aluminum diaphragm compression drivers on proprietary Theory Impedance Optimizer waveguides, that achieve 110dB of SPL with just 1W input. Theory loudspeakers feature reflex-loaded carbon fiber woofers which generate 95dB – 100dB SPL per watt depending on model.

Available in black or white, the speakers feature clean lines, rounded edges, machined aluminum accents, and configurable decorative trim. Finish options for the trim pieces include carbon fiber, white, gray, or black gloss, natural and black aluminum, brushed stainless steel, and matte pewter. Theory on-wall and soundbar models offer easy installation with a T-slot mount system that accommodates a variety of mounting bracket styles.

At the core of every Theory system lies a 96kHz / 24-bit DSP processing engine called a Loudspeaker Controller.

Theory’s ALC-1508B and ALC-1809B eight and nine channel Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers are designed to create a new product category by combining the functionality of a multichannel DSP processor, high-power multichannel home theater, distributed audio amplifier, multichannel mixing amplifier, high-resolution loudspeaker processor and multichannel bass management.

Theory products are not yet shipping, but like Pro Audio Technology, they will likely be distributed through Liquid Technology Ltd in the UK and Ireland.

Liquid Technology 0845 830 0810, liquidtechnology.eu, theoryaudiodesign.com

Small, but mighty

Available now, the HK2288 offers lamp life of up to 4,000 hours in Dynamic Economy Mode

Distributed in the UK by Karma AV, the compact Vivitek HK2288 UHD-4K HDR home cinema projector delivers 4K images for an eye-brow raising £1,500.

Combining UHD-4K resolution with HDR, the HK2288 promises eye-popping big screen detail and contrast with lowlatency processing at a keen price point.

Harnessing a blend of advanced optical and cost engineering, Vivitek’s machine deploys TI’s recently developed 0.66in 4K DLP DMD chip, which generates UHD-4K’s requisite 8.3 million individual pixels complete with DLP DarkChip3 and BrilliantColor refinements for optimal black levels.

The chip’s eXpanded Pixel Resolution (XPR) technology uses 4.15 million (2716×1528) mirrors, capable of switching over 9,000 times per second to deliver two discrete pixels for each mirror per frame, reformulated through the video processing to map and reproduce the native 4K image.

In tests, the maker says this technology has been able to fully resolve a 4K 1-pixel line pattern and is, by expert consent, indistinguishable from native 4K projection.

The HK2288’s UHD-4K pixel resolution is enhanced by the finer shadow detail, textures and highlights of a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio involving up to 2,000 ANSI lumens brightness.

These metrics and support for High Dynamic Range (HDR10) content help the 2288 to deliver a quality of picture immersion usually associated with projectors costing at least twice as much, claims the manufacturer.

The 2288’s advanced video processing offers smooth upscaling and motion, as well as a low latency input lag (around 50 milliseconds), especially important to an immersive gaming experience. Comprehensive gamma and colour management adjustments are available to optimise a wide REC709 colour space from a six-segment RGB colour wheel.

Available in white or black finishes, the HK2288 is equipped with a wide 1.39-2.09 throw, a 1.5x zoom, and vertical lens shift. As many as three HDMI 2.0 inputs are offered and dual infrared sensors positioned front and back allow for control from the full-function remote. karma-av 01423 358846, karma-av.co.uk

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THE SMART HOMES OF THE FUTURE

REGISTER NOW

Explore smart building technologies at ISE 2019 Discover the latest smart technologies and solutions that are driving this fast-moving market sector. ISE and the Smart Building Conference are the must-attend events for AV professionals working in smart buildings.

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Essential Install | Products

Say Hi To Hegel

Power and precision is on offer for driving home cinemas from Hegel

Norwegian audiophile brand Hegel Music Systems is targeting installers with new modular high-current Class-AB mono-block amplifiers.

Known around the world for its integrated amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, digital-to-analogue converters and CD players, Hegel has announced the launch of its first amplifiers aimed at the home theatre and distributed audio markets. Called the C5 Series, three models are available, the C53, C54 and C55, which are configured as three, four and five channel amplifiers respectively.

With MSRP starting at $6,000 (£4,600 approx.) and up depending on configuration, the amplifiers are available now.

Each within the C5 Series are Class AB mono-block analogue amplifiers rated at 150W per-channel. The amplifiers maintain a peak reserve capability that virtually doubles down to 2 ohms, closing in at 600W per channel. The creators say these amplifiers are quite capable of driving virtually any loudspeaker to its fullest capability and meeting a wide variety of needs.

For example, a solo C55 can drive a 5.1 surround sound theatre, just add the appropriate number to drive more complex Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, and DTS:X theatres.

Incorporated in the C5 Series is Hegel’s patented SoundEngine2 low-distortion technology. Used in the company’s audiophile amplifiers, SoundEngine2 cancels out distortion elements created within the amplifier’s circuits and combines the efficiency of Class AB amplifiers with the accuracy of Class A amplifiers, but without the drawbacks inherent to either. SoundEngine2 also delivers cool operation, allowing for installation in a 19in custom AV gear rack yet without active cooling.

The C5 also offers the ability to switch phase individually for each channel as well as select different gain settings. For integration the amplifiers are equipped with RCA line and balanced XLR inputs and they also have input and output control (triggers) allowing for daisy chaining.

Measuring 3u tall, the C5 amplifiers are equipped with large rack-mount ears integrated into the amp chassis, detachable/adjustable rear mount ears, as well as feet for use when placed atop a shelf or in a cabinet. The products are supplied direct from Hegel UK. Hegel Music Systems 01244 34422, hegel.com

Let’s go outside Ever since it launched into the CI space, Focal has been promising some outside speakers and so here they are in the shape of some additions to the 100 Series (Integration Collection).

Focal says that with the addition of these two attractive, highlyresistant loudspeakers (100 OD6 and 100 OD8) users have the option of enjoying its signature sound on patios and in their gardens.

Focal wanted to deliver robust loudspeakers that would stand up to all weather conditions, so in addition to boasting a high-density, UV-treated Polypropylene damping cabinet, the 100 OD6 and 100 OD8 loudspeakers are IP66 certified.

Some of Focal’s exclusive technologies are showcased in the products, with an aluminium inverted dome tweeter for strong sound dispersion and a bass/mid-range speaker driver with a waterproof Polypropylene cone and Polyglass treatment for definition. The maker argues that the appeal extends beyond impressive performance as the 100 OD6 and 100 OD8 have high impedance (8 ohms) and therefore offer the possibility of connecting two loudspeakers in parallel on the same amplifier output.

100 OD6 and 100 OD8 are each equipped with a reinforced, notched assembly bracket made from solid, anti-rust aluminium, which offers the option to rotate the loudspeaker 180°. Focal argues the product is therefore easier to install, as well as to position, either vertically or horizontally (rotating logo), depending on preference and the layout of the outdoor space. The grille and cabinet are available in black finish or white ready-to-paint. The speakers are available now and measure 8.8 × 10.1 × 12.6in for the100 OD6 and 10.2 × 11 ×15.4in for the 100 OD8. It was also recently announced that Focal will be distributed to installers in the UK via OneAV. OneAV 01684 576 348, oneav.co.uk, Focal UK focal.com/uk

Focal has extended its CI line with exterior speakers rated at IP66

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EIBackCoverV6.pdf

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FORTRESS SEATING

LUTRON

PARADIGM

VICOUSTIC

AUDIO CONTROL

ANTHEM

KALEIDESCAPE

PIXELGEN

SCREEN RESEARCH

D-BOX

NEAR SPEAKERS

FURMAN

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JAMES LOUDSPEAKER

STORM AUDIO

DIGITAL PROJECTION

www.pulsecinemas.com Untitled-5 1

info@pulsecinemas.com

CRESTRON

LOEWE

Tel: 01279 647 039 24/05/2018 11:15