Essential Install - November 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY

ESSENTIAL TVS ARE MANUFACTURERS LISTENING?

NETWORKING

IS AI THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY?

INSTALL PIONEER AQUAMAN!

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22 31 CONTENTS

39 November 2019

5 FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR

28 INSTALL PIONEERS: AQUAMAN!

7 ESSENTIAL NEWS

31 CASE STUDY: TO THE MANOR BORN

16 EYE SPY WITH AI

37 SMART SECURITY

Let’s hear it for the pioneers!

Full and frank news round-up

Habitech’s Stewart Day intros ‘deep learning’ security

18 ONEAV: FOX AND HOUND An offer you can’t refuse

20 PULSE CINEMAS: GOLF DAY The very first Pulse Cinemas Invitational

22 SMART THINKING: STAY ACTIVE Why active speakers are where it’s at

25 TV TIMES

Have major manufacturers got the message?

Alastair Ben, MD of Aquavision

Ashway Smart Homes delivers high-class hotel audio

Mitchell Klein, Executive Director and Chairman Z-Wave Alliance, on security evolution

39 THERE’S NOBODY AT THE DOOR!

Security in home automation doesn’t end at the door. John Clancy, Crestron’s VP of Residential, explains why.

43 ESSENTIAL CEDIA Cash flow is king!

44 SMART THINKING: SAME RULES, DIFFERENT TOOLS

John Perry, Habitech’s Technical Sales Manager for CAV, explains the commercial world

More powe

The New Sonos A OY19000_SONOS_AMP_400x60_UK-D02.indd OY19000_SONOS_AMP_400x60_UK-D02.indd 11

18 64

46

56

46 MATRIX REVOLUTIONS?

64 POWER OVER ETHERNET

51 THE FUTURE OF THE MATRIX?

67 WHAT IS THE BEST AV SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY?

Martin Ellis, MD of Pulse-Eight asks ‘are video matrixes obsolete?’

Andy Atwell – Sales Director, RGB Communications, looks to the future

52 MHUB PRO 2.0 HDBASET 2.0

An exclusive look under the hood of this fresh launch

55 TOP TIPS

Where do you place those speakers?

56 CONTENT IS KING

Simon Schino of Pulse Cinemas goes to the opera!

58 IT’S JUST A NETWORK, ISN’T IT??

The importance of remote monitoring and system maintenance

61 WHY AI IS THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY

Thorsten Kurpjuhn, European Security Market Development Manager at Zyxel, explains

Kieran Purdie, Systems Engineer at NETGEAR, examines the potential of PoE

Kevin Cray, Technical Product Development Director at CYP Europe, saves the day

70 NO ORDINARY JOE Cinema sales master class

72 ESSENTIAL REVIEW

Can budget speakers hit the mark?

76 CASE STUDY: BESPOKE HOME CINEMAS The force is strong with this one

78 ESSENTIAL TRAINING Time to train

83 ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS Precious things

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NOVEMBER 2019

THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY

pages 16-17

ESSENTIAL TVS ARE MANUFACTURERS LISTENING?

NETWORKING

IS AI THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY?

INSTALL PIONEER AQUAMAN!

Do you have an Install Pioneer you think we should interview?

GETTING IN TOUCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

PUBLISHER

David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com

STUDIO MANAGER

Ben Bristow, ben@allthingsmedialtd.com

ACCOUNTS

susan@allthingsmedialtd.com

CIRCULATION

carol@allthingsmedialtd.com

Essential Install magazine, Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent ME5 8UD T: +44 (0)1634 673163 F: +44 (0)1634 673173 www.essentialinstall.com

SOCIALS /INSTALL_MAG /ESSENTIALINSTALL Whilst 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.

NOVEMBER

PEOPLE POWER

Our industry is of course powered by technology; without the amazing AV experiences and cool automation scenarios the industry creates, there would be no install sector. However, an obvious point perhaps, but without the people that drive that innovation, the technology to deliver those experiences would not exist either. It’s easy to forget that we work in a highly innovative industry that has created many of the solutions we sell today ‘in-house’. Needing to constantly re-invent new experiences and high-performance products, means the people that inhabit the install community are more vital than in some other quarters.

This fact has been driven home to EI even harder of late due to our new Install Pioneer Series, which highlights some of the key people who have come up with products and ideas that have helped create the sector we enjoy today. This month we feature Alastair Ben, founder of Aquavision. Would we have the same opportunities to deliver integrated TVs around the home without his inspired leap to make the concept commercially available? EI thinks not.

If you have a suggestion for the subject of an Install Pioneer, fire away, we would love to hear any ideas for people that readers feel should be included.

Other news this month, we were really pleased to have secured Control4 as one of the latest exhibitors to sign up for EI

Live! 2020.

Next year’s show takes place at our new home of the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre on April 21-22, and is shaping up to deliver another step up in terms of reach and quality of experience. We will keep readers fully up to speed on all of the developments as exhibitors sign up, and nearer the show, the official website at eiliveshow.com will be populated with all the information you need to make your visit a success.

A bit more house keeping this month as this is the second edition where we have moved to a more opinion/comment led approach to our articles. The reason for this change from a more product led approach, is that over the life of the magazine, comms between makers and manufacturers about new products to the install community has improved. When the magazine was first launched, describing what products were and where to get them was a big part of the magazine’s success. Now the market has evolved, the magazine must also. EI has in truth always looked to provide a platform for comment and opinion, but now we are increasing those opportunities. If you are an installer, maker or distributor, we want to hear from you, do you have a view on a given subject? let us know and we will help you tell the CI universe!

Daniel J Sait Editor

NOVEMBER 2019 05

NEWS

ISE 2020 REGISTRATION OPEN Organisers have announced that visitor registration is now open for ISE 2020, the last time the event will be held the RAI Amsterdam (11-14 February 2020) before the show moves to its new home in Barcelona.

Attendees with an invitation code can register for the exhibition free of charge in the normal way. These are available from exhibitors and also distributed on official ISE media. Registration is at the ISE website www. iseurope.org, which has been updated with the latest ISE 2020 information.

Renowned for its speaker sessions, the Opening Address will take place in the RAI Forum on Monday 10 February, the evening before the exhibition opens. The Address will be given by Duncan Wardle, formerly Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, who specialises in helping companies release the creativity within their workforces. Among his blue-chip clients are brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola, Ford and McKinsey.

Attendees are invited to ‘Learn. Discover.

Be Inspired’ with ISE 2020’s programme of conferences and professional development sessions, spearheaded by AVIXA and CEDIA, ISE’s co-owning trade associations.

CEDIA will be offering a four-day professional development programme featuring numerous subject experts.

Commencing with its new Cybersecurity Workshop at the Hotel Okura, the association will host a full set of paid-for education sessions in the Elicium building; attendees can once again take advantage of an All Access Pass.

In addition, ISE 2020 sees the launch of the CEDIA Design & Build Conference, aimed at architects, interior designers and other design & build professionals in the residential space.

AVIXA is hosting two half-day conferences: the AVIXA Higher Ed AV Conference, produced in association with SCHOMS and EUNIS; and the AVIXA Enterprise AV Conference, produced in association with AV User Group.

ISE www.iseurope.org

INVISION ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF ELAC Invision has announced that it has been appointed as UK distributor for audio brand ELAC, which offers a range of loudspeakers, turntables, amplifiers and music streamers.

The new Carina series of loudspeakers made its European debut at this year’s Munich High End show, demonstrating the company’s signature of audio quality wrapped in attractive design. Audio reproduction is delivered by ELAC’s JET folded tweeter and the drive unit’s bespoke aluminum membrane. The series consists of three models: Carina FS 247.4 (floor-standing), Carina BS 243.4 (bookshelf) and Carina CC 241.4 (centre).

In addition to ELAC’s more traditional speakers, Invision can now offer its customers the Navis ARB-51 active loudspeaker. These attractive crafted wireless speakers were the recipients of an EISA 2019 best product award.

Another product at the forefront of audio development is ELAC’s Discovery Music Server. Roon ready, it allows whole home streaming of digital audio content: streaming services, downloads, ripped CDs - all between users and across devices. And, Roon supports any digital music collection with a library of images and information—an archive of material designed to add depth, knowledge and excitement to the listening experience.

ELAC also delivers a range of multi-room amplifiers, including the small but powerful 3.1 IS AMP 340 that debuted at ISE this year, which Invision argues shows ELAC’s ability to create products to excite dealers, and music lovers alike.

ELAC Electroacoustic Managing Director, Lars Baumann, comments, “ELAC is looking forward to this exciting opportunity to take our business to the next level with Invision. Our partnership will enable us to develop and grow our current business and solidify our position in the UK and Ireland.”

Invision UK www.invisionuk.com

NOVEMBER 2019 07

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NEWS

RGB COMMUNICATIONS ADDS ARTNOVION As the acoustic treatment of commercial and residential spaces increases in importance, RGB Communications has announced the addition to its brand line up of Artnovion, supplier of attractive and effective room treatments.

With a highly qualified team, Artnovion says it strives to push the boundaries of acoustic engineering to create a unique collection of highly attractive and high-performance products.

As commercial spaces look to create better audio environments to promote better communication and more human centric buildings, and as residential spaces need treatments to achieve high performance cinemas and listening environments, Artnovion says it has a solution for every eventuality.

Artnovion’s range of diffusers, absorbers, insulation and bass treatment products offer aesthetically pleasing opportunities to improve home cinema and music listening areas. Lines like Artnovion’s tuneable bass traps are unique in the market. The Sub Trap offers a fresh approach to low frequency control, delivering a fine-tuneable device boasting the highest absorption coefficient per volume on the market, claims its maker. These products employ Artnovion’s latest membrane technology, a symbiosis of precision engineering

and material science that creates a device that can be precisely calibrated to work at the resonant frequency of a space. The products use a special membrane that acts in a similar way to a speaker cone. As it is suspended on an elastic surround, it can be tuned to the right frequency by adding or removing mass from the membrane.

The absorption and diffusion products for residential spaces also offer advanced acoustics and come in a whole range of striking designs, which are designed to enhance a room even before you begin to consider their acoustic advantages.

Bespoke printing is available on some of the designs to add a level of personalisation and the company also offers a full range of insulation products to prevent audio bleed from room to room.

Caroline Britt, MD at RGB Communications, comments, “Having a brand like Artnovion on board to help our install partners in this most crucial area is a real advantage. No company has the knowledge and the appreciation of what installers need to achieve performance wise and aesthetically like Artnovion.”

RGB Communications www.rgbcomms.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2019 09

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NEWS

NEST TIGHTENS ITS SECURITY AND MAKES DATA LAND-GRAB? Data security is one of the hottest topics in terms of ‘smart home’ products and Nest looks like it is making some moves to tighten its approach.

Nest’s ‘Works With Nest’ programme was put out to pasture earlier this year because of those concerns, but now there is some information on what might replace it. Nest is shifting to a more controlled system, restricting access to audited partners and tightly limited ‘routines’.

This is part of a strategy to reduce the risks around home automation and prevent third-party driven data breaches. It also gives the company a chance to corner more of the market.

In a recent blog, Google laid out three new ways to get non-Nest code into Nest devices.

First, there’s a small set of ‘home routines’ that can perform basic things like turning off lights without sharing any data. There will also be a new developer program that lets individuals reprogram their Nest devices, although it is not expected this will be widespread.

With this new approach, most of the information flowing to other devices will come through the third option, which Nest is calling the ‘Device Access’ program. If a security system or smart home hub is going to interact with Nest, this is how it will be done, and it will mean sharing Nest’s data with the other company/manufacturer.

Everything happens within a user permission system. However, to ensure users make ‘good choices’ Nest is putting tight restrictions on the companies that will be permitted to take part.

Google calls these companies ‘qualified partners’, and the qualification process is set to be rigorous.

One aspect needed will be annual privacy audits from a third-party, an expensive and involved process for something that could be as simple as an API call. This step will probably put some companies off or for smaller starts up, it will be prohibitive. However, as the security issues need to be dealt with, Google’s argument runs that if you can’t guarantee safety, then you should not be involved. However, the company’s critics will point to a land-grab for control of data, the 21st century’s version of oil. Looks like things could get interesting over the next 12 months.

CRESTRON HOME GETS A PUSH Since its launch, Crestron has been keen to underline what it sees as the advantages of its new Crestron Home platform.

Designed to be attractive and intuitive, the move also marked a new direction for the company, placing emphasis on plug and play programming designed to make the system more attractive to installers without the programming knowledge to execute a Crestron install and also make it easier and faster to roll Crestron out through a project.

The company has been holding a series of events at major cities to drive home the message. Vice President of Residential for Crestron, John Clancy, calls it, “The most exciting innovation in the 25 years I’ve been active in home automation.”

At the London event around 150 Crestron dealers learned more about the new operation system through an array of hands-on classes, tech showcases, guest speakers and panel discussions.

After the introductions by John Clancy and Global Director Technical Services, Richard Sasson, the attendees received a Crestron Home OS Design Class.

The class focused on the design aspect of the Crestron Home Operating System and its purpose to help plan Crestron Smart Home solutions prior to set-up.

During the class, the dealers received information on when to use Crestron Home vs the Crestron Custom solution, on which products align to the Operating System, and the large size and types of solutions Crestron Home OS works for.

The day continued with a Crestron Home OS Configuration Class, where dealers learned how to set up and build a complete Crestron Smart home using the Crestron CP4-R Control Processor built for the Crestron Home Operating System. Attendees got to experience how to set-up a full system including audio, video, lighting and shades. Crestron says the class covered everything that’s underthe-hood, offering a deep dive into the abilities of the CP4-R and giving the full set-up experience including what dealers can do before they go on-site and exactly how to set-up the Crestron Home solution post installation. Attendees also learned all about the new end-user experience (OS 3) that is the latest update to the Crestron Home Operating System.

Crestron Home www.crestron.com/crestronhome

NOVEMBER 2019 11

NEWS

AWE EXPO 2019 REVIEW Immersive 4K home cinema, 8K TV tech, home control and networking, as well as multi-room audio were some of the highlights of this year’s AWE Expo. Electrical retailers, technology integrators, electricians, and press attended the event, which took place at the company’s headquarters in Epsom, Surrey.

AWE’s Show Apartment had been upgraded ahead of the Expo and product experts from AWE and manufacturers’ representatives were on hand to talk visitors through what was being demonstrated in each area.

Stuart Tickle, company MD, explains, “The reason we created the Show Apartment is the reason we have the AWE Expo – as a business, although we ultimately sell boxes to make money, our industry actually sells experiences that excite people and provide benefits to families in their homes. The run-up to AWE Expo was pretty intensive because of the scale of the event – with some people working weekends and late nights.

“But you can see how much technology is

in every area. The Show Apartment evolves every year and truly sets us apart. If we’re asking integrators, retailers, and electricians to spend a day with us, we recognise that they’re giving up a day’s income, so we always ensure that there’s plenty of new kit for people to see and briefing sessions to engage with.”

Some notable highlights included the eightseater Reference Cinema Room which has been reconstructed to feature a 4m wide ALR Euroscreen and Sony’s flagship VPL-VW5000 4K laser projector, as well as the brand’s VPLVW870 more compact-size model. Thanks to URC’s control system, switching between the projectors, screen ratios and lens memory setting is now very slick, and a strong feature for demos.

High-performance audio in the Reference Cinema Room was provided by KEF THX and Reference in-wall speakers, as well as four active subwoofers from Definitive Technology, Classé power amps, and a Marantz MM8077 power amplifier driving the height speakers. A

Marantz AV8805 pre-amp performs 13-channel immersive-audio processing.

Also delivering some upgrades, the smaller Performance Cinema was offering an IMAX Enhanced demonstration, thanks to a 4K Sony VPL-VW570 projector with a Euroscreen 113in acoustically-transparent, fixed-frame screen.

One of the highlights of The Living Room was the integration with Sony’s flagship 65in AG9 OLED TV. The room is using the Sony OLED’s Acoustic Surface technology to act as the centre speaker in a 5.2.2 system. This is being driven, along with the slim floor-standing BP-9060’s and matching height speakers, and in ceiling surrounds, by the AWE Exclusive Marantz SR5014 AV amplifier.

Visitors were also able to gain other AV and automation experiences from KEF, Denon HEOS, URC and SilentGliss.

AWE Europe www.awe-europe.com

ESSENTIAL PEOPLE Exertis has promoted Kati Eagle to UK Purchasing Director Replacing Mark Kahr who has moved to an Exertis Group procurement director role. Kati will be responsible for all aspects of UK purchasing including: core purchasing, vendor bids, contracts and product compliance.

Kati has more than 22 years’ experience in the technology industry, joining Exertis more than five years ago as head of purchasing and most recently as the UK purchasing director responsible for the IT and mobile divisions.

Pixel Global (AV) Limited, international audio visual and integrated technology specialist company, has announced the appointment of Jamie Hanna as UK Managing Director.

Jamie has worked in the AV industry for over 15 years and has led a successful sales career with Pixel Global AV prior to his promotion to Managing Director. He will now be responsible for the strategic leadership of the UK business. This will include driving sales, contributing to the growth strategy and helping the business achieve further success with its customers, resellers and partners.

Shure has announced the promotion of Jay Walpole to Director of Sales for Musician and Consumer Audio. In this new role, Jay will continue to drive the success of sales and channel marketing in the UK, where he has demonstrated a trusted track record since he joined the company in 2005. In addition, he will work closely to establish relationships with important music industry dealers in indirect markets. Throughout Jay’s tenure, he has held key sales roles in the UK, including Area Sales Manager and Key Account Manager, establishing a solid understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges in the UK market. “I am excited to take on this expanded role and build on the success we have had here in recent years,” he said.

12 NOVEMBER 2019

WE CREATE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CONNECTED WORLD A wave of digitisation is sweeping our world and increasingly shaping and altering how we act and live, our homes and workplaces, businesses, public facilities and spaces – even entire cities. Digital technologies are now omnipresent. Everything is communicating with everything else: people with devices, devices with other devices, buildings with people, and buildings with other buildings. It’s up to us to

In every system, multiple components interact in very important ways. Many of our products incorporate a number of basic AV and IT functions to perform a range of tasks, even over long distances.

This is the philosophy that guides us – Combined Connectivity Solutions.

shape our digital future so it will yield the greatest benefits.

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for doing so, and the intelligence behind it, can be summed up in one word: connectivity. This is the prerequisite for all communication. And we are working to forge connections and make the whole universe of content available anywhere and in any setting.

DISCOVER LINDY lindy.com

NEWS

CEDIA has announced two promotions with Samantha Ventura moving to Vice President of Education and Training and Ian Bryant becoming Vice President of Technology Application and Workforce Initiatives. The positions deal with two of CEDIA’s key areas of strategic focus: education and workforce development.

Samantha’s responsibilities involve directing, managing, and providing leadership in all instructional and academic systems within the organisation’s education programmes. She plans, develops, and oversees various curriculum development and certification programmes, and promotes and coordinates curriculum and course development, and evaluation.

Ian’s responsibilities involve collaborating with the education department on high-level pathways and learning tracks, building business partnerships with industry organisations, and managing all things tech at CEDIA’s new global headquarters. He works directly with the technology and standards department, tech council, and discovery working group. Ian’s new position adds workforce initiatives and workforce development efforts designed to bring more individuals to the integration field. Ian ran the Indianapolis office of Detroit-based ZenArray, which specialises in consulting, design, programming, and installation services, before coming to CEDIA.

Technological Innovations Group (TIG), audio visual sales agency, has announced the appointment of Alex Brown as its new Head of Enterprise UC for the United Kingdom.

Alex will be responsible for driving the adoption of Crestron’s class leading unified communications portfolio into TIG’s client base. He will work alongside TIG’s existing business development teams to bring a deep understanding of the unified communications market which he developed during over twenty years in the industry.

Discussing this new role Alex said, “I am filled with enthusiasm to show our customers that ‘only Crestron can’. My move to TIG was inspired by the exciting direction being taken by a company I have admired for many years. The buzz I have been hearing about the Crestron UC portfolio and how it addresses the total meeting space requirements of Microsoft TEAMS, was simply irresistible.”

The company has also appointed Christophe Fortune to the position of Regional Sales Manager for France and Iberia.

Reporting directly to Steven Dullaert, Christophe will focus on driving sales of Oblong’s Mezzanine solution.

Following its recent move to larger premises, Invision has expanded its internal sales team with the recruitment of two assistant account managers. The two new employees will support Invision’s account managers, and this will allow them to offer even stronger levels of service to their customers.

Charli Harvey started her career as a report drafter of toxicology before beginning a career in sales where she helped launch a recruitment agency and more recently worked as a sales executive in the hospitality industry. Her technical background coupled with strong sales skills make her the perfect fit for Invision.

Liam Fairweather studied mathematics at Exeter University, graduating with a first-class degree and a Dean’s commendation.

After his studies he worked in operations support for SafeSTS before spending some time travelling. With his numerical skills and support expertise, Liam’s appointment was an easy choice for Invision to make.

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14 NOVEMBER 2019

HABITECH

EYE SPY WITH AI Dahua’s new AI-driven perimeter and face detection tech cuts the risk of false alerts almost to zero.

Habitech’s Stewart Day intros a new range of ‘deep learning’ cameras and NVRs. I’ll wager that whenever you hear the words ‘Artificial Intelligence’, you’re thinking Terminator.

James Cameron’s scary sentient cyborg is, after all, buried deep within the popular psyche. But in spite of the early bad press, or maybe because of it, the development of AI is taking precisely the opposite path. Confirmed in its role as helper, AI research is applying “cognitive” functionality to the operation of driverless cars for instance.

It’s central to the exploration of gameplay (think Deep Mind chess), big problem resolution in systems, science and healthcare, and is stimulating the artificial neural networks that most recently have allowed a French optician to walk again using an exoskeleton driven by his own thoughts (with astonishing implications for home control). Far from releasing a Terminatorstyle reign of terror, the very latest AI approach is advocating the integration of a conscience – yes,

your artificial helper will be told to ask first!

Today, over fifty years after its foundation as an academic discipline, AI exists to empower humanity rather than replace it, and it’s boosting capabilities all around you, not least in my area of special interest: home security. This is because Habitech’s security brand Dahua is launching the Pro AI Series of cameras and NVRs. They’re equipped with next-gen AI functionality, created to make surveillance easier and more efficient.

The latest AI chipsets, deployed in advance of rivals, will deliver far greater accuracy in perimeter control and the most powerful facial recognition commercially available. Supported by multiple network monitoring: web viewer, PC and mobile apps, the new AI systems also support long range EPoE and enhanced Starlight+ low-light capabilities at very competitive price points.

Plus) AI technology is able to recognise people and cars while rejecting other moving targets such as pets, insects, leaves, branches and raindrops. This enhanced perception drastically reduces the number of false alarms that could light up your customers’ phones, boosting efficiency and cutting hassle for you and your clients. Measured against the older IVS tech in my own tests, SMD Plus reduced the alarm count from 600 to 300 with only two false alarms.

Range is wider too. DORI detection for the AI Bullet extends to a colossal 131m, for the Dome it’s 121m, and even for the Budget Eyeball it reaches 83m (with the optional 6mm lens). This combination of superior AI analytics, extended range and accurate real-time alerts to desktops or mobile clients represents a massive leap in perimeter surveillance power. Intruders beware.

NO FAKE NEWS

Installed within three new AI cameras: a 4MP Dome, a 4MP Bullet and a budget 2MP Eyeball, as well as 32/64 channel and 16 channel NVRs, Dahua’s AI IQ is designed to be far more discriminating when it comes to identifying threats. Driven by deep learning algorithms, Dahua’s new Smart Motion Detection (SMD

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16 NOVEMBER 2019

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NEVER FORGET A FACE

And if by some small chance those intruders get within DORI recognition range, Dahua AI’s extraordinary detection skills will capture six facial attributes with an unprecedented 256 point detail analysis (twice that of rivals), marking the beginning of the end for stranger danger in residential and commercial environments.

Particularly useful for retail customers, metadata backup can issue alerts for ‘individuals of interest’ in real time, supported by a ‘people counting’ feature, which provides statistics for the entrance and exit of individuals with up to 95% counting accuracy.

EASY UPGRADE TO AI

Best of all, the upgrade to Dahua-secured lockdown is easy. Install a new AI NVR and all attached cameras are imbued with AI sensitivity.

Upgrade to AI cameras and they’re compatible with current NVRs. And for heightened AI

surveillance over larger areas involving remote camera locations, Dahua’s patented Enhanced Power Over Ethernet (ePoE) tech is included on the new Dome and Bullet cameras. Supporting IP video, audio, control and power (4 in 1) up to 800m over CAT or RG59 coax, ePoE makes it easy to upgrade legacy infrastructure with stateof-the-art IP security efficiency.

DARK ARTS

Even when surveillance switches to night mode, there’s nowhere to hide. The new Dome and Bullet camera designs deploy Dahua’s enhanced Starlight + technology, which combines larger optical apertures with back-illuminated Sony Starvis™ CMOS sensors, high performance DSP and advanced image processing to deliver best low-light performance down to 0.004 lux. That means identification-level images in near-dark conditions.

ENHANCED SET-UP AND CONTROL

Back from the cameras, a clearer, icon driven, more user friendly Dahua NVR4.0 UI supports every browser (save Internet Explorer) allowing users to login and operate without being troubled by browser updates, incompatible plug-ins or incompatible Flash. What’s more, newly added security protocols support Firewall for Network Security Requirements, Access Restriction (MAC address binding) as well as 802.1x Access Authentication. Whatever happens beyond walls metaphorical or physical, your customers are secure within them.

So relax. Rather like Arne’s re-purposed life-saver from Terminator 2, AI represents a developing force for good, and if the new Dahua Pro AI Series is anything to go by, it’s ever more accessible, intuitive, effective and economical.

Habitech www.habitech.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2019 17

ONEAV

BIG DISCOUNT AVAILABLE ON FOX AND HOUND Joe Fletcher, Head Of Technical Services And Product Training at OneAV, has some interesting news about the highly capable trouble shooting Fox & Hound generator and analyser from Murideo.

We’re big fans of bringing our loyal customers great news and offers, and today is no exception to that. Until the end of November, trade account customers can now take advantage of an incredible price drop on the Fox & Hound generator and analyser.

WHAT DOES THE FOX & HOUND DO?

This audio and video distribution testing kit built for residential and commercial installers allows you to generate 18 Gbps 4K60 4:4:4 test patterns and send them throughout your system, and then use the analyser on the sync end to read any changes in your signal. This kit can find potential problems in minutes, saving you time and of course money on site.

This 18 Gbps Generator and Analyser Testing Kit was built as the ideal testing unit for all domestic and commercial integrators. The Fox & Hound Test Kit comes with an 18 Gbps Generator and 18 Gbps Analyser. These tools

18 NOVEMBER 2019

allow installers to confirm correct bandwidth, HDCP, resolution, timing, HDR metadata and many more options that could cause system hiccups if not treated correctly.

There are many much pricier test instruments available with a multitude of features, most of which the average installer is never going to use. That is why Murideo set out to develop a simple, affordable solution to troubleshoot system issues. The Fox & Hound AV Testing and Troubleshooting Kit is a product that can produce and analyse the newest and highest resolutions - 4K60 at 18 Gbps. It’s also affordable and compact enough for every integrator to have on any install/service call. Why spend more on products that are not as mobile and have features you don’t need?

The Fox and Hound is definitely the most important part of my own site visit kit. I use it more than I use my laptop or my tools for pretty much everything and never go to a site visit without it. There are about three main uses you can find for it on a site: pre-testing a system, using the analyser as a test monitor so that you can find out more about the content being shown and, possibly the most useful function, you can also use it for validation. I honestly get so much use out of them and believe other

installers could too. With over 50% off, now is the perfect time to get one! The offer is on until the end of November.

HOW IT WORKS

It’s so simple! Connect the generator in place of your source and set the analyser in place of your sync. These units will then read the data being sent throughout the system. The Fox & Hound can run any type of signal through the unit and confirm that the same signal is being passed through the product with no changes. This is incredible in itself, but it will also: - Diminish calls to support and the need for replacement of products!

- Troubleshooting is a breeze as you’ll never worry if a cable or extender is bad again!

- Not to mention it’s fast and you will have your answer to a potential problem in less than a minute.

To find out how much you could save, speak to your account manager today on 01684 576348.

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PULSE CINEMAS

PULSE CINEMAS SWINGS INTO ACTION Some good form from Tristan Rose of Cornflake

You drive for show and putt for doe

David Smith, SMC (L); Mark Roberts, Pro AV (R)

20 NOVEMBER 2019

Wednesday October 9 was the date for the very first Pulse Cinemas Golf Invitational.

Taking place at the beautiful and very exclusive Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Wokingham, Berkshire, the event was a huge success with dealers, manufacturers and Pulse Cinemas staff; all competing to be crowned amongst the best players in the CI industry.

Organising the event and taking the lead for much of the day was Stephen Carr, brand manager for Kaleidescape, the brand that was the main sponsor for the day.

Teams of four teed-off throughout the morning as approaching fifty players set out to conquer the challenging Bearwood Lakes course with, as the name suggests, its many water hazards, as well as bunkers and abundant wildlife.

Even for non-golfers, it really is a stunning spot to spend the day.

Competing for various prizes at the end of the day, players had to negotiate some tricky weather including gusting wind and threatening cloud cover. Competition was friendly, but fierce, for prizes such as the nearest the hole and potentially the biggest prize on the day, for a hole in one on the 12th as well as the overall score standings.

Stephen comments, “At Pulse Cinemas we are always talking about adding value to what we deliver. Of course, we do this with great brands, technical support and training, but we are also committed to taking our relationship with dealers to other areas and providing events such as this is core to that goal. Getting access to a course like this and spending the day together is not just a great day out, but also a chance to strengthen our ties together and better understand how we can help and support our dealers. This event will

definitely be back for next year, so get in touch and find out what you need to do to qualify!”

Players taking part this year were drawn from Pulse Cinemas customers right across the industry, with Environ, Ideaworks, Finite Solutions, Marvel Group, Sound Gallery, Cornflake, Darke AV and Marquee Home all getting involved.

MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE

Pulse Cinemas received lots of support on the day from its brand line up. Kaleidescape was the main sponsor helping fund the green fees and the much-needed meal after play was over.

Anthem/Paradigm sponsored the nearest to the pin competition on the 12th hole with the prize of two Paradigm Defiance Subwoofers and two Anthem MDX distribution amps. James Loudspeaker sponsored the day’s gift bags with hats, balls and golfing accessories.

Fortress Seating part-sponsored the event’s very smart branded Footjoy Windstopper jackets for all the players, and Storm Audio sponsored the long drive comp with a golf wedge and premium golf balls. RTI pitched in and gave away a full three-day programming training course at RTI HQ in the USA, complete with accommodation and £100 towards flights. Trade association CEDIA gave away flights and one night’s accommodation, as well as a full training pass to ISE 2020. IsoTek contributed to the prizes, giving away Aquarius, Corvus and Premier cable products.

Demos of Paradigm/Anthem took place throughout the day in the club house and out on the putting green there was also a NEAR (Nearscape 4.1 DSP system) outdoor audio system keeping the players company.

PULSE CINEMAS GOLF INVITATIONAL RESULTS! Scratch Winner - Paul Farrance (Darke AV) Won - IsoTek Corvus & Balls Scratch Runner Up - Tristan Rose (Cornflake) Won - Isotek Premier Cable & Balls Nett Winner - Charlie Bellm (Sponsoring Member) Won - Isotek Aquarius Nett Runner Up - Markus Wood (Avensys) Won - RTI programming course in USA with accommodation and flights contribution

Damian Smith, Custom Sight and Sound, gets ready for the off

Tom Booth, Custom Sight and Sound on the putting green

Team First Place - Dan Eades (Environ), Dan Stephens (Environ) Dan Edwards (Pulse8) and Geoff Stedman (Kaleidescape) Won - Odyssey O-Works Putters each Team Runner Up - Tristan Rose (Cornflake), Mark Roberts (proAV), Chris Gildersleve (Sound Gallery) and Ben Lancaster (Pulse Cinemas) Won - Dozen pro-v1 balls each Long drive - Tom Chrysathou (Marvel Group) Won - Cedia pass, flights and accommodation to ISE 2020

Kapes Patel, Technical Director for Pulse Cinemas, heads out

Nearest to Pin 1 - Nick Matthews (Finite Solutions) Won - Anthem MDX8 Nearest to Pin 2 - Nick Matthews Won - Paradigm Defiance X10 Sub Nearest to Pin 3 - Tom Chrysathou Won - Defiance X12 Nearest to Pin 4 - Richard Kier (Ideaworks) Won - Anthem mdx16

Congratulations to all the winners!

A great turn out for the first year!

Pulse Cinemas www.pulsecinemas.com

NOVEMBER 2019 21

SMART THINKING: SPEAKER TRENDS

STAY ACTIVE Barry Sheldrick, Director of Sales at Meridian Audio, explains how speakers can add to the audio and aesthetic experience and looks at why active loudspeakers are proving increasingly popular.

People listen to music on average 17.8 hours per week, so we know that music is more important to them now than ever; it is our job to give them the best experience that we can. We are seeing more and more clients embracing speakers on display and being thrilled at the experience they can achieve with them.

Speakers can form part of an entertainment hub in any room, improving the audio of TV, Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, gaming, etc. A high-quality pair of speakers, such as the Meridian DSP8000 can provide a unique visual look, become a real show piece in a room, or be matched with the décor to blend in for a great aesthetic finish.

A simple to install pair of sympathetically painted speakers is a huge performance boost over a similarly priced 5.1 system and offers far simpler installation. Not only does this make the integration and completion of the room come together easier and more quickly but it also delivers a better experience

22 NOVEMBER 2019

for the client.

Over the past five years or so, we have seen more and more active speakers released into the market. For the CI channel, I believe this is a great step forward for a number of reasons.

Active speakers, as their name implies, are powered and have built-in amplifiers which removes a large part of the guess work on the integrators part. Active speakers aren’t new. We have all been using active subwoofers for years now.

When specifying a traditional passive loudspeaker, you need to pay attention to the efficiency (how loud will a speaker play with 1W of power at 1m), impedance and maximum power handling to make sure that the speaker is going to perform as expected.

The beauty of active speakers is that an engineering team that have spent their life learning about audio and loudspeaker design have already taken care of all these factors, ensuring that you get repeatable performance in every installation. Active speakers will typically also have a smaller requirement for rack space as the electronics are built into the speaker. This reduces heat and space in the rack, something that clients are increasingly putting dealers under pressure to reduce. They don’t want to have ‘wardrobes’ worth of space filled with

equipment, and who can blame them?

Most active speakers will use multiple amplifiers (one per drive unit) which gives much greater efficiency and higher output for a given size. So, smaller, improved performance, reduced rack space and repeatable performance are all possible. You can see why active speakers are gaining in popularity.

Active speakers are available in two variants, analogue or digital. The analogue active speakers are fed by a traditional analogue signal whereas digital active speakers use more robust digital signals. All streaming services (music, movies, satellite TV, etc) use digital signals for transmission because they are unaffected over thousands of miles. This is also how the content is stored.

Digital active loudspeakers also have the option of utilising DSP based crossovers which can again bring performance improvements over active analogue crossovers. DSP based crossovers have amazing precision and enable the engineers to finely tune and match the drive units perfectly at all volume levels.

High-performance audio is more relevant today than ever before. We’re constantly striving for better quality sound reproduction through rigorous research to support technology integrators in delivering the best solutions they can for their clients.

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TVS AND MONITORS

TIME FOR TVS? EI took the opportunity presented by the recent AWE Expo to speak to some of the main TV brands about their installer friendly TV creations and find out what progress has been made in delivering what the sector really needs.

The install sector, it’s fair to say, has had an up and down relationship with the mainstream TV sector over the years. Issues around margin and finding something that really matched the quality of the rest of the project could be a challenge. In more recent times, makers have made more of an effort to deliver something more akin to the needs of the market as they see value in the premium sector and increasingly see installers as a way to get there.

Samsung has been at pains of late to underline its 8K capabilities with sets like the QLED 65in QE65Q950 which was on display at the Expo. Now, many people might groan at the mention of 8K so soon after 4K arguably only just beginning to get established. Dean King,

Smart TV Product Manager at Samsung, argues that while the jump from HD to SHD/4K was important, to really deliver a trigger to buy and add something really impressive, 8K is where it’s at. Now, obviously there is no real native 8K content around, there is nowhere near enough native 4K as yet, however, Samsung argues that, at least for now, it’s the ability to upscale to 8K that is the key.

Dean explains that Samsung’s approach to this uses machine learning and AI to constantly evolve its ability in this area with regular updates being delivered to connected TVs making sure each one has the latest algorithm.

Other installer friendly features include antireflective screens, so the quality is constant for daytime viewing without having to close curtains or make the room darker in some other way.

Not a bad shout this one - the recent Rugby World Cup is a good example that those event TV experiences do not always happen at night.

Pretty simple tech really, the surface of the

screen simply scatters light instead of reflecting it back at the viewer, but its does make a good amount of difference.

For the QE65Q950 in particular, other install friendly features include all the electronics being off site in the One Connect box, which comes with a 5m cable as standard, but can come with 15m if needed. Neater, more minimalist installs are made easier as there is just one cable to hide and of course it makes the set sleeker and thinner (3cm).

HDR is of course important to throw into the mix. More pixels are great, but it’s the delivery of a more accurate result, more faithful to the creator’s vision, that really impresses with today’s sets. Dean suggests that if a client is interested in the tech, it’s probably better to talk about HDR rather than 4K verses 8K etc. TVs have always had pixels, but HDR is a genuine revolution in how lifelike a picture can be and is the tech that is really delivering the jump in performance that viewers will notice the most.

Are mainstream TV manufacturers making the effort to meet the needs of installers?

NOVEMBER 2019 25

TVS AND MONITORS

Panasonic was showing its chops with the 65in TX-65GZ950, whilst amongst the LG products on display was the LG 75in 75SM9900PLA. Caleb Manning, Brand Development Specialist at Panasonic, and James Bayrakdar, Product Ambassador for LG, were also keen to talk trends.

James admits, “In the past, the display could feel like a little bit of an after thought for an installer. However with technologies like OLED, viewers are getting something that they have not seen before. There is a premium feel to it now, which installers should feel more comfortable with, particularly in the big screen sizes.”

Caleb agrees, “The large screens are really impressive now, deliver lower impact on interiors with much slimmer designs and a more minimalist aesthetic and the pictures are really amazing.

Content makers are also catching up, from Netflix, to Sky and even the BBC, better quality, more cinematic content is being produced, so technologies like HDR can really come into their own. Favourite content can now really feel like an event, whether it’s the latest episode of The Walking Dead or the superior broadcast and filming techniques now employed for sports events, the quality is there for the TVs to deliver a far better experience than before.”

James adds that his company has also been working hard on the practical side of things making IP connection to automation platforms more straight-forward. Ask that question even a few years ago and most makers would have just shrugged their shoulders as they simply did not see it as their problem. It is significant that now they do.

26 NOVEMBER 2019

James says, “The premium space is a place LG very much wants to be in. The install sector is a great way to do that, and from our perspective, the market is growing, the 65in and plus sector in particular.”

It might feel too early to talk about 8K and people do get ‘blinded by the science’ and can feel it’s just another format to drives sales.

However, Caleb argues that once it’s established, 8K married to what ever version of HDR is being used (HDR10 or Dolby Vision), will be a standard that will last for a long time. Nobody is even seriously talking about 16K yet and whilst some new standards HDMI 2.0 etc., point at a possible future, it’s a long way off.

Caleb argues, “This type of performance will lend itself really well to the CI market. Up-scaling can deliver great results now and native 8K will come. The 2020 Olympics in Japan is being captured in full 8K on Panasonic equipment and Japanese broadcaster NHK will be showing the event in 8K.” In truth NHK has already started broadcasting in 8K on a special channel between 10am and

10pm. The picture quality is of course 16 x greater than that of HD, and audio is being offered in 22.2 multi-channel. It will take time, but native 8K will come.

Caleb adds, “Right now I think the best picture is offered by a high-quality set, up-scaling and a 4K Blu-ray disc. We know people love their streaming services, but for sheer quality, this is the best that can be delivered.”

James argues that as things progress, particularly for installers, it’s best to think of screens rather than TVs. How many installs involve using the TV’s own tuner? Cable services, streaming, media servers, will only increase their footprint, the audio is most often supported, so is the only real estate an installer should care about the image quality? Well probably, yes, most of the time. Will a mainstream maker ever put out a set that strips out a tuner and just delivers killer image quality? Well they have been doing that in the pro world for years and some of those have made their way into the resi world in the past, so why not, if they are serious about the premium market, it would be a smart move.

Both Caleb and James are keen to underline as well, not to forget the power of gaming when making TV choices. People who grew up as console gamers now have disposable income and are receptive to taking their gaming experience up a level with high-quality audio and of course visuals. The variable frame rates available on some sets can also help here.

So, whilst we have lots of creative install TVs created specifically for our market, (check out the interview with Alastair Ben MD of Aquavision in this issue) it does seem mainstream makers want a piece of the action too. This has always been true up to a point, but there were always compromises, there still are, but less so and for pure sales driving picture quality, progress has definitely been made.

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INSTALL PIONEERS: ALASTAIR BEN

AQUAMAN! This month, Install Pioneers offers an insight into how Alastair Ben blazed a trail in the wet-room and integrated TV sectors as founder and MD of Aquavision.

How and why did you get the idea to create the first waterproof TV? In my previous job, I used to fit audio-visual systems in health clubs and spas. That job inspired me as it was apparent to me there was a real demand for a waterproof television that didn’t exist yet in the industry at the time and I saw an opportunity and took it.

How did you develop the concept and get it ready for market and consumers?

I used LCD panels, which were still really new at the time. The original units were 6.4in and I just duplicated the feed from another TV I had.

28 NOVEMBER 2019

What was the reception like when the concept was first launched?

What are some of the key milestones/ products for the company?

The TVs were generally embraced by the CI (custom installation) industry and some people were really into the idea. Of course, others were hesitant about the product as they didn’t fully understand the need for it.

We have so many milestones we’re proud of, it would be impossible to list all of them. We are and have been, the first to do everything in this industry, we just haven’t been very good at letting the rest of the world know that. In turn, this has allowed our competitors to try and claim that notable credit we do deserve. We were the first to offer RS232 control, full HD, larger screens, IP control, ‘hole in-wall guarantee,’ mirror TV, and gold-plated TVs. Now we have purchased a huge printer which allows us the chance to offer custom print glass finishes to our customers, which is unique to us.

How are you able to manufacture in the UK, when other companies find it so hard?

We are a premium brand, so our products are priced accordingly. Every product we build is hand made in our warehouse, using premium supplies.

We are especially proud of our customer service and after sales service. We don’t build to match a specific price; we build to match the promised premium quality.

INSTALL PIONEERS: ALASTAIR BEN

How has the company’s focus changed in recent times as the ‘Aquavision concept’ spreads to integrated products around the home?

We are constantly working hard to stay ‘one step ahead’. As proof of this, we have just created a completely new department purely for new product introduction and custom-built products. The only way to stay in the business is to stay two steps ahead of the competition and that’s what we’re doing.

What are some of the key new products and plans for the future?

We have just launched new 28in and 32in 4K screens and we have quite a few products being launched at this year’s ISE [Integrated Systems Europe] tradeshow where we will also be showing our new ‘Aquavision Roadshow’ feature that enables us to better support our distributors and dealers when they have open days and trade

shows. If you would like more information, come and see our stand!!

Has the way people consume TV content now helped the Aquavision cause?

Absolutely. Most people now expect ‘media’ to be available in all rooms of the house in some form or another. People are slowly starting to move away from the traditional black plastic television box to the more discrete, in-wall and mirror televisions.

Other integrated sets are now available, what makes yours stand-out?

We stand out because we never compromise on quality, our features are top of the line and the Aquavision brand is unlike any other. Additionally, we aren’t available on the internet for your neighbour to buy cheaper!

How do you see the future of the install sector in general?

I think the divide will grow between basic residential systems and the high-end systems, but we aim to occupy both spaces. There’s a new generation of installers that are selling great products as an entry level into the CI market, which is really nice to see, as there is a huge market for this. However, the true tech-junkie will always be on the lookout for the more high-end systems. Our televisions continue to satisfy the basic residential needs as well as the truly technical desires of our AV enthusiasts.

What is your favourite thing right now to watch ‘on TV’?

I’m into The Capture, Blacklist and League of Their Own. Just as EI is going to press Aquavision signed up to bring its ‘Aquavision Roadshow’ to EI Live!

NOVEMBER 2019 29

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CASE STUDY: TO THE MANOR BORN

SONANCE: TO THE MANOR BORN Discreet, high performance audio from Sonance enhances a boutique style of hospitality at a luxury hotel and wedding venue in West Yorkshire.

With a blend of high style, distinctive interior design and personal service, the privately-owned Manor House Hotel aims to offer its guests the experience of luxury through the quality of its accommodation, communal areas and purposedesigned wedding and events spaces.

Located at Lindley, near Huddersfield, the boutique hotel comprises eleven bedrooms, four individually themed bars and restaurants, a roof terrace and a gym. There is also a discreet wedding and events venue called the Coach House, a versatile space designed to accommodate up to 200 guests and complete with private musical garden.

Making time spent at the Manor House memorable, a service-first mentality conveys a

strong sense of bespoke hospitality within a range of curated environments, all of which include the necessity for discreet high-performance audio in sympathy with their design.

THE CHALLENGE

Lee Garvey, partner at Ashway Smart Homes, takes up the story, “The owner had heard about us locally and invited us to pitch for the AV design and installation at the Manor House. Individually and together as Ashway, my business partner Shaun Hawkins and I have been practising highend residential CI for over twenty years, so we’ve built a good reputation with these skills.

“The brief demanded a level of sound quality and design you just can’t buy off the shelf.

Having rejected a competing pitch for a ‘basic’ system, the owner wanted the discreet install and audio quality we’ve been putting into highend homes. And he had a very clear idea of what he wanted it to do. He was after an even, high

quality sound field that was discernibly full-range at a volume that didn’t impose on the space, so his guests would be able to converse normally in a socially conducive atmosphere.

“They would be able to appreciate the quality of the sound without being dominated by it. Rather than blaring audio hotpots intermixed with areas of silence, he wanted the sound to exist everywhere but blend evenly and discreetly with the space.”

Lee adds, “There’s a growing desire for discreet high sound quality within the UK’s luxury hospitality sector. This may come from the US where discriminating customers associate the quality of the venue with its ability to get the audio just right. The advantage for resi CI integrators is that their skill sets have developed to achieve this level of fine-tuning.

“Perfecting the sound at the Manor House was complicated somewhat by the fact that it’s a listed building, so we had to be super sensitive with the design, and not just with the way it

Evenly delivered and high-quality exterior audio was needed for this boutique hotel

NOVEMBER 2019 31

CASE STUDY: TO THE MANOR BORN

The hotel wanted a level of audio quality that matched the rest of this luxury environment

looked; we also had to eliminate the transfer of sound from social to private spaces within older architecture.”

THE SOLUTIONS

Ashway Smart Homes selected Sonance Pro Series speakers for the project. The Sonance Pro Series is a range of 70V/100V/8 ohm selectable in-ceiling, pendant and surface mount speakers, designed to deliver high fidelity with low distortion, wide dispersion and smooth power response. The range shares consistent voicing, ensuring sonic integration when used together throughout a space. The Pro Series speakers are powered entirely by Sonance Sonamp digital amplifiers. Outdoor areas feature a mix of Sonance Mariner on-wall speakers and SonArray in-ground satellites and subs. AV distribution is through Wyrestorm’s Network HD 400 architecture and security is supported by Dahua, involving five 4MP IP eyeball dome cameras and an eight channel NVR. The Coach House This area is provided with Sonance PS-P63T Pro Series 6in pendant speakers and Sonance PSP83WT Pro Series 8in pendant woofers.

The Coach House Garden This space is installed with Sonance SonArray in-ground satellites and subwoofers and Mariner on-wall speakers.

32 NOVEMBER 2019

The Clock Tower Lounge This is supported with Sonance PS-C63RT Pro Series 6in round in-ceiling speakers, and 1 x Sonance PS-C83RWT Pro Series 8in round inceiling woofers. These two-way in-ceiling speakers are fitted with robust fire-resistant backboxes installed within a suspended ceiling lattice.

Lindley Cellars Installed with Sonance PS-C63RT Pro Series 6in round in-ceiling speakers, and 1 x Sonance PSC83RWT Pro Series 8in round in-ceiling woofers.

Lee, concludes, “The Manor House was Ashway’s first boutique hotel install and something of a dream job. We knew the product and the support we’d get from Habitech (distributor for the Sonance brand) and we applied our trade skills and competences to relatively simple tech for a customer who understood the value of quality and wanted the very best. It wasn’t a ‘no expense spared’ brief but it was generous enough to allow us to flex our creativity in delivering excellent results. Plus we have a happy customer.”

Ashway Smart Homes www.ashwaysmarthomes.co.uk

CASE STUDY: TO THE MANOR BORN

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ESSENTIAL SECURITY

SMART SECURITY Mitchell Klein, Executive Director and Chairmanof the Z-Wave Alliance , takes a look at how smart home and domestic security concepts have evolved and changed each other.

Most of you probably know that researchers, analysts, planners, strategists and journalists have used 2020 as the point of the future.

Ten to twenty years ago, we predicted exploding growth in the smart home and IoT broadly. Even just five years prior, we were looking at ‘the road to 2020’ for adoption and mainstream acceptance of connected living. A common theme in all of this has been the home security market – which has been historically a crucial element in introducing the concept of ‘smart’ into the lives of everyday consumers. Protecting one’s home and family with a security system that would call the police if someone broke in and you were home or were sleeping – this has been an accepted and understood concept for decades. But when companies like ADT began adding elements like a mobile app that could give the customer information on what was going on at home, we were introduced to the early look of what it meant to ‘connect’ an otherwise unintelligent device.

THE NEW ‘SMART HOME’ SECURITY

And soon, home security was transformed.

Shortly after the bigger home security giants looked at adding connectivity to their security panels, startups began popping up with their own solutions that offered techforward homeowners and building dwellers to protect their own space without relying on a monitoring service (and a hefty contract commitment.) Companies like Ring, abode, Scout, SimpliSafe and others began showing

up everywhere with affordable, out of the box solutions that easily allowed anyone who wanted the comfort of home security without the huge price tag and contracts to dive in.

But as companies like Google and Amazon dive in, you now also see nonsecurity related gear is transforming into hardware designed to put home security in the front seat, acting as a major feature and selling point for their own security offerings and smart speaker devices. The result is a crowded market and a melding between the DIY and DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) consumer models. In the past, the line was clear between consumers who were natural DIYers looking for a system they could install, tinker with and monitor on their own, versus the consumers who preferred the white glove experience of their entire security system being set up and monitored for them. Now we’re seeing more of a convergence between these two models where customers may not need professional support all the time but need someone to help them on occasion. Or set their system up and have now decided DIY isn’t for them.

Or reached the end point of their own skill set and now seek professional help to grow their smart home and perhaps even tie in their entertainment system. That gap is a major opportunity for anyone in home automation or home professional services to jump in and create a new category of integrator.

MORE THAN JUST SECURITY BENEFITS

Today, the reach of the smart home goes way beyond the four walls of the physical house structure. Every company is asking themselves how they will leverage the data and information that connectivity is going to bring to every industry. On the security and smart home front, insurance companies

Security concepts and approaches have changed dramatically in recent times

NOVEMBER 2019 37

ESSENTIAL SECURITY

are fascinated with how connected devices will change the way they have insight into assessing risk and reducing claims which is good for them and good for their customers.

Early efforts providers such as AllState, Farmers, Liberty Mutual and Travelers are all offering discounted rates for smart home insurance because the technology could prevent their customers from filing expensive claims. Smart thermostats, for example, can alert homeowners instantly if the home’s temperature increases rapidly, which could indicate that there is fire danger.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

The reality is, people are no longer just learning about home security from a flyer or because their neighbour stuck a sign in their front yard. Consumers are coming to smart home tech from every possible angle and the amount of questions and support they need along with protection from bad actors who might attempt to leverage these devices and gain access to a home is an enormous opportunity for any professional currently servicing homes, whether they are technically focused currently or not. For customers who are on the fence about adopting smart home technology, integrators and home pros can

communicate these unique benefits and demonstrate the value of these devices.

And, when the devices are connected by the same network, the ability to monitor the status of their home from a single mobile app becomes more attractive to the buyer.

Smart home technology is meant to make life easier, not more complicated, and the home security market is the strongest place for integrators and others to capitalize on the growing popularity of DIY products.

Attachment rates for security systems have had strong points and low points, so there is a lot of opportunity for installers to use their services to fill in the gaps for homeowners who want to continue adding compatible devices to their system. Plus, communicating

benefits like cost savings on energy and insurance will help to drive awareness and increase adoption of these systems.

Beyond that, we are about to see an extraordinary merge between the physical and digital worlds where the intelligence of our ‘things’ surpasses anything we could have imagined a few decades ago. Artificial intelligence, deep learning, and connectivity in places like traffic lights, parking garages, office buildings, retail stores, hotels and much of the major infrastructure of modern life are going to rapidly shift how companies market to us, how we take care of our families and our world and give us access and information in a truly radical way.

There has been a real need for smart systems and security to work better together

38 NOVEMBER 2019

ESSENTIAL SECURITY

THERE’S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR! Security in home automation doesn’t end at the door - John Clancy, VP Residential at Crestron, explains why.

Security in the home automation sector doesn’t end at the standard alarm systems, door locks/access control and surveillance cameras. The integration of these features in any home automation system are a given, expected to be included into any modern system being installed in someone’s home today. What is much more critical to the overall security and privacy of the homeowner and their family, is the protection of the complete home automation system from unintended access via the internet.

After all, what good are the security system or surveillance system if they can be disabled by anyone with a computer and malicious intent? What good are electronic door locks if they can be opened by hackers?

Setting up a secure home automation project takes time and effort. And every part directly ties to the integrator, who is pivotal in the complete setup, including security. The first line of defence is installing and properly configuring a robust firewall. When that is done, which is no easy task, the integrator should be the one providing and configuring all parts of the home network. And even then, the job isn’t over yet, since the installer is also critical in the next part. Because, even when the firewall and configuration have been set up perfectly, security and privacy of homeowners of newly installed home automation systems rely on two other critical factors.

• First: the platform itself must be secure, preventing unwanted access from hackers into the home automation system.

• Secondly: the integrator needs to be conscious of and diligent in the policies

and procedures regarding network security.

Unfortunately for homeowners who just assume that their integrator is handling this correctly, it turns out that many integrators do not pay enough attention to this.

Partly to blame for this is some of the hardware in the market. That is sometimes not (often or long enough) receiving security updates, or it requires a lot of additional steps to change the settings and password to something other than the standard admin password and factory settings. Which means that the role of the integrator is not only pivotal during installation and setup, but also before, when choosing the best hardware.

At Crestron we believe that we should accept that attacks will continue, and that the technology and tactics used by hackers will keep evolving. But that doesn’t mean that we should leave the door open. We take security very seriously. Which is exactly why we have

NOVEMBER 2019 39

ESSENTIAL SECURITY

Modern lifestyles mean on-line security is just as important as physical protection for the home

been investing millions into the development of secure products for years now. We have a team of dedicated security researchers that devote their time to poking holes in our own products long before they reach the public. Besides our own security team, we have also engaged with outside researchers to further test our own testers. That goes for the products used by our Fortune 500 enterprise customers, government and military facilities, but also for the products for home automation.

And to make it easier on our integrators to adhere to best practices, closing another

40 NOVEMBER 2019

hole; with the launch of Crestron Home OS3 earlier this year we made sure that the capabilities that were already in place to improve security can now no longer be bypassed or disabled. For instance: customers and dealers setting up a new installation or upgrading to Crestron Home OS3 are now prompted to enter unique security credentials to prevent the continued use of factory settings.

At the same time, we are raising awareness amongst our dealer base that security is important and shouldn’t be ignored. Not just because there is a potential

liability on the integrator themselves if they should leave something wide open, but also because we owe it to our customers to provide them with the best, user-friendliest and safest installation possible. So, we educate our installers via training, both live and webinars, about security considerations, because we feel it is our job as manufacturers to make it as easy for our integrators as possible to excel at their jobs.

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CEDIA

THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS THE KEY TO CASHFLOW Davy Currie of install company Infracore (CEDIA Member), examines the thorny issue of cashflow.

Cashflow is not just a real time thing and it’s not a one-way street either.

Yes, it’s about money IN today and that’s the knee jerk reaction for most of us, if we’re being honest. But, as importantly, it’s about money OUT; tomorrow, next week, next month or next year.

The fact is, you can’t take care of the OUT until you sort out the IN. Let’s take it as a given that we all understand the mechanics and importance of IN and OUT cashflow.

How can integration businesses improve the money IN process and change the status quo?

A key approach to consider is the ‘Payment Schedule’. This is your passport to healthy and consistent cashflow on a project.

The payment schedule will inform the payment terms but the two are separate items.

The main difference is that the payment terms are pretty much set in stone at the beginning of a project but the payment schedule is fluid and will track and reflect changes to the programme, the bill of materials or labour in real time.

This is a document that you’ll mostly find forgotten at the back of a contract. My recommendation is bring it to the forefront and make it your best friend.

The payment schedule is based on; the agreed total for the project, the programme of works and the component parts which make up the project in way of supply and labour. It’s basically a clear list of dates and values (with a brief description), the first line will be your

deposit with the start date and the last line will be the forecast end date with final payment (less retention, if applicable).

You should be billing once a month for a medium to large project, more frequently if a smaller project – it’s possible to negotiate better invoicing terms (don’t be scared to ask). The invoice should be made up of items you need to buy in line with the programme and labour you’ve supplied up to the date of the invoice or thereabouts.

Supply items should be paid up front as far in advance as is required to satisfy the programme milestones. Normally, supply will fall into two categories; direct to site (e.g. cabling, in wall items, on wall items – the integral parts) and delivered to your premises (TVs, rack equipment, consumer electronics – the parts not screwed down).

Create a process to account for items bought, ensure the supply to site is catalogued and signed off (by a third party of authority) and provide a vesting certificate for the items you are receiving even if you’re not asked for this.

Labour should be billed in line with progress as a proportion of the agreed total. The first revision of the payment schedule will show estimated figures derived from the programme.

Payment one, which is your deposit, will stay true to the schedule, but your labour billing should be fluid.

So, if ‘Payment 2’ is higher than it should be (i.e., you’ve not provided the amount of labour estimated) then adjust this and show it in your payment application and invoice for that month.

The same thinking applies if ‘Payment 2’ is lower

than it should be. These adjustments throughout the life of the project will be reconciled at completion.

Be sure to value your progress honestly, and resist overbilling. That gives the client a reason not to pay. Your billing strategy is about giving the client every reason to pay.

These are the fundamentals of a payment schedule. Track, evolve, and amend the payment schedule in real time. When changes and variations occur, these should be applied and factored in to the schedule straight away. Each time the schedule is amended it should be re-issued. As well as helping to avoid large invoices amounts for extras at the end of the project, this can also help with the cashflow on the client side too; providing advanced notice on call off amounts. More documentation can be added. Instead of only submitting an invoice (informed by the payment schedule), you can add a detailed valuation document, a statement of account, produce an informative progress report, include supporting information like a record of delivery sign off’s and vesting certificates. If you do this even for small amounts, you will build confidence and give the client every reason to pay in full and swiftly.

So, the next service level agreement you submit or contract you sign, make sure that the Payment Schedule is in there and you use it as a working document. This will absolutely improve your cashflow on the project. As an experienced Contract Administrator in the AV sector, I can guarantee it.

Infracore www.infracoreuk.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2019 43

SMART THINKING: COMMERCIAL AV

SAME RULES, DIFFERENT TOOLS There’s more that unites the worlds of CI and Commercial AV than divides them says John Perry, Habitech’s Technical Sales Manager for CAV. Good news: if you’re a resi installer with a few years under your belt there’s nothing to fear from Commercial AV. This is because you’re already practised in the fundamentals of successful AV design. I’ll be specific. The first rule of CAV is to interrogate the business in order to establish exactly what’s needed. Check: you do that for every resi project.

Second rule is to keep the control interface simple so that the solutions on your customer’s wish list, including video conferencing, wireless HD AV networks, room booking and presentation systems, lighting and shade control, can easily be used by all relevant employees.

Check: complexity removal is an existential requirement of the CEDIA doctrine. Third, you must install the most reliable high performance technology you can find.

Check: this is straight from the CI manual. Fourth, keep your customer close and your fellow professionals closer.

Continuously monitor your customer’s priorities and establish that members of the project team, including architects, builders and programmers are fully tuned in.

Check: as of best CI practice, this is standard planning fare. In other words you’re pulling the same design levers to transact successful CAV installs as you do in CI. And when the audio and video are broadly identical in nature as well, your challenge is to get familiar with the tech that distributes them.

There are new connections to consider. For instance you’ll need to refresh your understanding of constant (100V) voltage speaker systems carrying audio over greater distances, and become more familiar with the various glues that bind commercial AV together, chief among them being Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet). This is a comms protocol for digital media networking that distributes multi-channel digital media over standard Ethernet networks, with nearzero latency. It’s like a vast AV matrix involving over 1600 compatible products from many manufacturers, configured using Dante Controller software, which auto

44 NOVEMBER 2019

detects all Dante products on the local network. It’s pretty seamless in the end of course, but constitutes a large part of the learning curve that links CI with CAV. In many ways the task is similar to that of a car engineer moving from, say, a Ford to a Citroen. The principles are the same, you just need to understand the mechanics. And this is where Habitech can lend a hand.

Whatever the tech, be it amplification and speakers for program sound and speech reproduction, multi-format video signal management, switching and extension, or conferencing solutions for ‘huddle’ spaces, our new team of old pros can guide you all the way. In support we offer a wide range of ProAV product options backed by freeof-charge system design, EQ and planning. And we’ve created a training program that deals specifically with the transition from CI to CAV. So if you’re seeking to diversify your business into the hospitality, leisure, retail, and office sectors, get in touch and we’ll make the introduction.

We’ll prove that for CAV success, it’s not what you know, or who you know, it’s both!

John Perry has joined Habitech as Technical Sales Manager for commercial audio, supporting Yamaha Commercial Audio, Audinate (Dante) and Sonance Pro brands. His most recent role at Yamaha Music Europe as Technical Sales /Product Specialist included business development, training and support for Yamaha digital signal processing, amplification and loudspeakers.

His considerable experience incorporates hospitality, houses of worship, retail, licensed trade and corporate sectors.

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ESSENTIAL MATRIXES

ARE VIDEO MATRIXES OBSOLETE? Martin Ellis, MD of UK based matrix manufacturer Pulse-Eight, examines what the future holds for the video matrix sector.

For decades the only way our industry could route video around a site was via ever larger (and consequently more expensive) video matrixes; these systems with a discrete (generally) fixed number of inputs and outputs would accept a myriad of video formats and then send them to their destinations. Complex control systems or elaborate IR setups would facilitate the routing mechanism. As we round out the teen years of the new millennium that solution has gotten easier and less complex, through innovations such as HDBaseT and built in control platforms that integrate discretely and automatically with each TV and source device.

Today’s viewing habits mean speed is of the essence for any video distribution system

46 NOVEMBER 2019

There has however, been a growing discontentment with this rather static, monolithic way to deliver video around a premises and with the advent of streaming devices built directly into displays, perhaps the need to distribute video in such bulk has been diminished. However, for a multitude of project types video distribution is a must. In those situations, there has been a recognition that IP offers a more flexible means of distribution. It has its merits of being easily routable, splittable and distributable. After all, that’s what it was built for and we call it the Internet.

There are constraints however, the bandwidth available over a network cable is generally limited and HD and UHD video natively far exceed the available bandwidth on a cable using IP. The solution to this initially

was to compress. At the time, the only concept for video over IP was non linear playback, i.e. content that had already been created. The idea of moving ‘live’ video was just not catered for. This meant any video over IP solution would take time to ingest the video, compress it, then transmit it over the network before taking time to unpack it and display it. The flip side was, it was able to achieve very good picture quality for not a lot of bandwidth.

This scenario obviously won’t work well if you are trying to navigate an EPG (such as the Sky guide), because as you press the UP or DOWN arrow, there is a noticeable delay (perhaps a couple of seconds) before the action registers.

This can get old very quickly.

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48 NOVEMBER 2019

as they are known). A high-quality, high latency codec will look at entire frames (or maybe even multiple) and compress them (like a zip file) to get maximum efficiency.

The antithesis to this is to sample very frequently and so you can be less optimal. The benefit however, is that there is less delay in the transmission. What we’ve now moved to is line-based compression techniques.

These line based compression methods, sample one or maybe a few lines in a frame (remember a 1080p picture has 1080 lines of video in each frame). The result is a very low latency (sub-frame) and an excellent viewing experience.

Combined with some very clever mathematics you can get a decent picture quality with almost no latency. You can see this to great effect in SDVoE products. However, you can instantly see that the bandwidth requirements are 10x or 100x that of a normal network connection and so we still haven’t quite hit the perfect solution in that domain. I still think it is in its early days of rapid innovation.

So, in summary where does that leave us? Well, the techniques now exist to deliver very large video distribution mechanisms without the need for a centralised distribution platform. However, the crux is the cost. Those video matrixes that have been around for many years getting better and better have also been getting cheaper and cheaper. The optimisations in their solutions are getting more and more efficient without compromising on the video quality. Whereas the Video over IP solutions are still in their infancy, the low latency, high quality solutions are not cheap.

They do however absolutely have their place, but you should not, in my humble opinion, pick one purely over the other. If you have an asymmetric requirement (such as a high number of outputs and a low number of inputs) then a Video over IP solution will hands down be the right way to build out a system. The scale is there for you to distribute what you need and to where you need it. Especially if live playback is not an absolute requirement, you can really win out here.

However, for the home, I don’t think Video over IP is the right way to go. At least not in the majority of scenarios. For example, your source devices are typically right next to each other, your number of displays will often match or come close to matching the number of inputs, and at this point, you probably also care about the video quality. Someone spending big on a home cinema system will want to make sure they can watch that HDR10 video stream in perfect quality.

If you have a symmetric network and the source devices centralised then a matrix will always win out on price, if you have a disparate set of sources and/or an asymmetric number of inputs and outputs then Video over IP will potentially be the right path. But just keep an eye on the price.

So, is the matrix obsolete? No, but it’s not the only tool at an integrator’s disposal any more.

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ESSENTIAL MATRIXES

THE FUTURE OF THE MATRIX? Andy Atwell – Sales Director at distributor RGB Communications, examines his matrix crystal ball.

If you know RGB, you will know that we are constantly running training sessions for AV professionals. The knowledge base of those that we train is wide, from complete beginners through to seasoned AV pros, yet the same question is often asked; what will the future AV distribution system look like?

The reason for the question is quite clear, especially with the advent of localised streaming on smart displays along with TV systems, such as SkyQ, offering affordable wireless solutions for ‘normal’ homes. However, if a customer demands the best and, for example, requires full 4K HDR video content availability in every room in the house, then this is not achievable with consumer-based products.

Another area to ignore at your peril is the amount of media that is now consumed on personal devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Does this spell the end of the matrix altogether and will conventional TV watching habits mean that any form of traditional AV distribution becomes redundant? I think that is a long way off, if at all, especially as the demand for quality continues. So what is the answer?

We have been working with HDBaseT for many years now, with Atlona being a key brand in our portfolio. As a technology, HDBaseT covers every avenue with excellent video capability (up to 4K HDR), a host of audio options and complete control via TCP/IP, IR and RS232.

When you throw in the fact that this can all be run over distances of up to 100m via CAT cable with 10 x 10 ins/outs, you have a very complex and sophisticated design that is relatively simple to install. However, things continue to evolve and having ‘static’ distribution systems limits the number of sources and displays that can be connected.

AV over IP is becoming ever more popular and certainly seems to be taking the lead. If you look at a simple system, you can run a full 4K HDR video and audio signal through a network switch by simply plugging in a transmitter and receiver. As we know, ports are, essentially, cheap, so you can, theoretically, add as many ins / outs as you like. With a simple system set up controller, all of the ins / outs can be routed for an incredibly flexible system. What makes this easier is that existing CAT cable can be used,

which is certainly ideal for commercial usage.

So, will the ‘standard’ matrix still be used in the future? I believe that there is still a lot of life in HDBaseT, especially as it has become almost a standard for AV distribution. However, AV over IP is growing rapidly and we are beginning to see some of the latest products from home automation brands, such as Savant, include the technology. Of particular interest with Savant’s system is the advent of video tiling, which allows you to display multiple sources on one or many displays at the same time. For example, you could have a movie playing on one part of the screen while you keep an eye on the football results in another area and also check out who’s at the front door with CCTV camera footage – all in 4K resolution. This is all easily set up via the control device and can control any connected audio source too.

I believe that we will see continued convergence of the technologies and, in time, network switches that include HDMI (or native AV inputs) combined with network/encoded outputs. The result will be the reduction of the number of boxes required to build a system along with more and more features coming as standard. Crucially, I think that the convergence of the technologies will actually present a standard that can be used across both the commercial and residential space, which means that installers can learn specific skills and be able to expand their markets.

NOVEMBER 2019 51

MATRIX PRODUCT FOCUS

MHUB PRO 2.0 OFFERS NEXT LEVEL MATRIXING First introduced at ISE, HDANYWHERE’s new MHUB PRO 2.0 HDBaseT 2.0 complete mega-matrix packages have begun shipping to customers. With features like auto-videodownscaling, 18G i/o, ARC management, DAC audio downmixing, independent audio matrixing and something called ‘SuperPort’, HDA is looking to take things to the next level. New hire, Justin Fothergill, (HDA Brand Director) gives EI the deep dive.

This is a tricky business we’re in, isn’t it? Everyone yelling about how much better their gizwack is compared to the next guy’s, everyone trying to be cutting-edge in order to outsmart, out-PR and outsell, and yet somehow often ending up not delivering what is really needed in the way it is needed.

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52 NOVEMBER 2019

much more than just a juiced-up dumb switch, that’s for sure!

Fast forward to 2019 and we have been humbled by the incredible global success of our MHUB U and PRO models, as well as our HDA Cloud and award-winning uControl software platforms (which honestly started out as just value-added features and have since become key components in our strength, growth and dominance in many markets).

While we introduced significant updates to both our MHUB U and PRO matrixes over the last three years (including features like Remote Management and what is now arguably one of the most robust and flexible API’s available in our product category to date) we were also getting valuable feedback from integrators around the world on the daily challenges they faced and what they would like to see in our products of the future. We also watched as our market and industry embraced audio streaming and wholehome integration at an increasing rate, we waited for ancillary technologies like ARC and CEC to mature and we observed the evolution of more tech-savvy (but still price-conscious) consumers with higher expectations. All this led us to carefully develop and now finally launch our powerful new

HDANYWHERE MHUB PRO 2.0 range and our opening salvo of #NEXTLEVELHDA. There are two MHUB PRO 2.0 models, an 8x8 with 100m range and a 40m range 4x4, we seek to once again redefine how a premium entertainment experience is delivered to an enduser and simultaneously provide features and functions that could really help an integrator meet as many of the requirements (and surprises!) that come with each project. We took everything that had made our preceding iteration of MHUB PRO so popular (which meant pretty much all of it) and added more bandwidth, more inputs, more tech, more wow - all to help deliver a seamless and

MATRIX PRODUCT FOCUS

displays, which can then be extracted or rerouted as desired. NETFLIX app off the Smart TV through decent speakers in the room driven by a decent amp in the rack anyone? Yes please!

Add independant gain and delay adjustments per input for even more on-site flexibility!

CEC

enjoyable entertainment experience with as little hardware as possible and regardless of how our matrix is integrated into the project.

With quite a few ‘under-the-hood’ upgrades and even more connectivity, we could easily go on about just how amazing we think we’ve made the two new HDA MHUB PRO 2.0 models, but just like our proprietary operating system (simply called MHUB-OS) we would prefer to keep it simple so let’s just focus on the four main improvements over what was an alreadyimpressive MHUB PRO feature set

18GBPS INPUTS AND OUTPUTS

With more content and hardware at 4K/60 (4:4:4), it was imperative that our new matrixes are able to deliver up to 18Gbps content to as many equally capable displays as are connected to the MHUB. Out of the HDMI outputs this is Native and out of the HDBaseT outputs we employ our TPC (Tipping Point Compression) technology to deliver virtually lossless image over long distance connections.

ON-BOARD AUTOMATIC VIDEO DOWNSCALING

A big request from our integrators was the ability to deliver 4K source content to all 4K displays connected to the system but still accommodate any 1080p displays that would otherwise drag the whole system down to that resolution. So we proudly introduce an automatic video downscaler per zone, over both HDMI and/or HDBaseT zone outputs. The downscaling is handled in the MHUB itself and is entirely automatic.

BUILT-IN AUDIO MATRIX

Beyond just HDMI audio-passthrough and our popular MHUB PRO analogue and digital stereo downmixing and extraction per zone, HDA MHUB PRO 2.0 also offers four additional discrete stereo, audio-only inputs (two analogue and two digital) to embed to any and/or every zone. Imagine a product like a Sonos Connect streaming your favourite playlist, overlaying the match replay you just want to keep an occasional eye on. Furthermore, both the HDMI and HDBaseT zone outputs for each zone support ARC (Audio Return Channel) from compatible

Lastly, adding to the incredible power of the free HDANYWHERE uControl app, we bring CEC control (of displays only) to the already brilliant (and patented) IP-to-IR engine built into our HDA MHUB PRO 2.0 matrixes. While not all displays ‘play well with others’ when it comes to CEC, it adds another level of potential control to integrate into the project for when they do. This removes the need for an IR emitter attached to that display (which sometimes can mean no more expensive and time-wasting service calls to reattach a wayward emitter on a recently cleaned display, as a prime example).

With so much power per zone, we have created what we call the world’s only SuperPort a zone output with incredible Video, Audio Power and Control capability, from just two sockets!

We’re fully focused on delivering #NEXTLEVELHDA experience, product, quality, service and training and we hope you enjoy using our new HDANYWHERE MHUB PRO 2.0 products as much as we have enjoyed bringing them to life! We can’t wait for our new Advanced Expanded I/O drivers to be ready soon, because then you will really experience #NEXTLEVELHDA. HDANYWHERE www.hdanywhere.com

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TOP TIPS

GETTING MULTI-ROOM AUDIO RIGHT Wayne Hyde, Technical Manager at distributor, Custom AV Distribution, offers some advice on getting multi-room audio right.

Two ceiling speakers in the ceiling may not always be the answer to every multi-room audio location. It’s worth discussing the use of the room with the client and what their expectations are so that you can deliver the right sound.

1

LAYOUT FOR RADIO NEWS/ TALKSHOW/PODCAST LISTENING

By using a single stereo speaker, dialogue is delivered clearly from a single source in the room. This helps to avoid delay and phase issues that mar the intelligibility of the signal when you play two or more identical sources, such as speakers that are a few meters apart.

2

LAYOUT FOR GENERAL BACKGROUND MULTI-ROOM MUSIC

By using four speakers spaced across the ceiling, the music can be heard easily in all areas of the kitchen without having to turn the volume up high. Stereo effect is retained using a L/R/ L/R arrangement. This is, of course, the most conventional layout suitable for most customers.

3

LAYOUT FOR PARTIES

By placing the speakers high up in the corners, we get them away from where people are standing/ sitting at the party. Then the volume can be louder than if the speakers were above your head and not interfere with conversation. Using the full length of the room, we get a wider and more ‘club’ like sound because of the added bass from the corner positions and room reflections adding ambience.

NOVEMBER 2019 55

CONTENT IS KING

THE SHOW MUST GO ON! In the latest in our Content Is King Series, Simon Schino, Internal Sales Manager at Pulse Cinemas, explains why he enjoys demoing the ‘Never Enough’ scene from The Greatest Showman.

For those that have not seen this movie it’s a real feast for the eyes and ears packed full of polished performances, primary colours and well edited scenes that deliver a really fast paced and enjoyable musical romp through the reimagined world of American showman, politician, and businessman P. T. Barnum.

Best known in the modern world as a promoter of entertainment spectaculars, the film takes a light hearted look at the ‘Greatest Showman’s’ not always successful efforts to build a better life for his family and forge a name for himself.

The film came out in 2017 and was directed

by Michael Gracey, his first feature film in the directors chair. The screen-play was written

by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon and stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya. The film also showcases nine original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The movie is the fifth highest grossing live action musical of all time and has become a firm favourite with musical fans with sing-along performances already a regular fixture.

At the 75th Golden Globe Awards, the film received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Jackman.

The scene in question takes place at the start of a tour Barnum has persuaded famed Swedish singer Jenny Lind to undertake across America with him as her manager. There is loads riding on the show being a hit and so the performance needs to deliver.

The scene really has loads of layers to it for

56 NOVEMBER 2019

the visuals and the audio of any decent system to get their teeth into. Even before the singing starts, the audio track builds tension with the curtain rising and the sounds of PT’s nervous hands on his jacket particularly nice touches.

The hardest thing with vocal to get right is clarity, but the track in this scene is superbly recorded, the voice natural and really present without sounding forced. The scene also has great pacing as the song builds and the excitement and tension give way to a feeling of triumph, mixed with the different interplay between the characters. Also worth noting particularly right at the start, the scene gives the music and vocals time to breathe; a decent system will find the edges of music and really underline the quality of emotion delivered in the scene.

There is also loads of emotion in the scene and interplay between the characters, there is loads going on besides the performance of the song. It comes over as intense even if you don’t know the movie and if you do, it really underlines what it should convey and what a good system can add in impact.

Some other nice touches are the stage foot lights have a really warm glowing colour that adds atmosphere and the shimmering colour of the singer’s dress looks great on the big screen.

There is also a really strong part right at the end of the song, where the audio drops right away, just before the final line is sung, a good system picks that up and heightens the emotional connection between the audience and what is happening on screen.

This is a different clip perhaps from the more commonly used action or fast paced movies, those might give you a physical reaction; it may make you jump or make you feel immersed in the action, but it’s the intense emotional response as well as a physical one that really delivers here.

It’s difficult to fathom how one singer can pack

so much soul into a single performance.

Ultimately, the clip takes you on a journey; slowly building your emotions with the mesmerising opening, giving you goosebumps as the song intensifies, then taking you to a crescendo finish, leaving you feeling uplifted and empowered. I always say to our dealers that they are creating an emotional response to a piece of content through the ingredients of technology they specify for their client’s project. For me this clip catches your attention and you simply can’t take your eyes off of the screen. Also the sound of the full orchestra adds immense weight to the soundtrack and the fact that the crowds’ applause at the end is blocked out really cements your realisation that you have just been lost in the last few minutes.

THE CLIP WAS ENJOYED ON...

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ESSENTIAL NETWORKING

IT’S JUST A NETWORK, ISN’T IT? Andy Atwell, Sales Director at RGB Communications, looks at the importance of remote monitoring.

The theory is simple. An internet connection would be sent to the house where it would be picked up by a provider-supplied modem/ wireless router and everyone logs on for seamless internet access, allowing them to work, watch movies and stream music. In some cases, this does work but the ever changing move in the consumption of media in the home and streaming services on personal devices has placed large demands on wireless connectivity.

I think we would all agree that were there to be a complete new install, such as a new-build property, then it is still the preferred choice to put in a fully wired system. This is especially prudent in larger, older properties, where thickness of walls or distances from the wireless router all play a part in reducing wireless connectivity. But in many cases, this is just not practical. In recent years, we have seen the emergence of many whole-home Wi-Fi kits that set out to ensure good coverage. Practically, they are great. You have a connection dead spot, so add another access point etc. Perfect for consumers who are just after internet access, these providersupplied solutions are designed to offer the average home good access. But if you introduce a home automation system into the mix, things get far more complex.

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For installers, working with provider-supplied products is generally a headache, as the level of set up/configuration is not up to the job. The best answer is to start again and design a system that is right for the needs of each project. At RGB, we have worked with a number of network product providers for years, with our current brands of choice being Pakedge and Netgear.

Sometimes Wi-Fi is all that can be installed, which makes the recent development of Wi-Fi mesh systems more relevant, as they enable the user to add access points wherever they require additional coverage support. The Orbi + system from Netgear is based on Wi-Fi 6 technology, which allows more devices to connect and stream simultaneously, without impacting speed or reliability by efficiently packing and scheduling data.

So what does this mean for installers? Well firstly, delivering a network that is both robust and scalable is the priority, particularly when integrating it with an AV distribution system and/or home automation. For this reason, we would always suggest a wired system with WiFi access points. Both Pakedge and Netgear offer a range of products that are designed for the high-bandwidth/information stream required for the application. But what is also of benefit is the ability for remote management of the system. This not only allows customers to manage their network remotely, allowing them to set up parental controls and keep an

eye on the family’s consumption of data (and perhaps more importantly, what is being looked at) but for integrators, it can be a huge cost saving, particularly as almost all products in a home automation system will have network connectivity in some shape or form.

For diagnostic reasons, the ability to remotely manage a system delivers huge cost savings. In a recent exercise, we asked a few installers how much a site visit costs them. When they looked at time on the phone trying to sort out issues, the time an engineer took to travel to and from the site and time actually on site, in general terms it added up to roughly £500 per visit.

Now if all that was required was a simple re-boot of a particular product, this could all be saved by being able to log into the system remotely.

So having a good reliable network on any installation is crucial. The customer is happy and, perhaps as important, the family is happy.

But with more and more products now fully accessible via remote connections, this also means that you can save significant time and money by being able to dial in and at least try and sort out any issues prior to sending an expensive engineer out on site.

So when looking at network installation, please think about how you can use it to your benefit, to help save yourself time and the customer money. If you would like to learn more about networks, we often run network solution training sessions at our Lambourn HQ.

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WHY AI IS THE FUTURE OF CYBERSECURITY Thorsten Kurpjuhn, European Security Market Development Manager at Zyxel, takes a look at the need for security in the SOHO sector.

It would be wrong to think that only big, multi-national organisations are subjected to cybersecurity breaches. Cyber threats such as ransomware and malware have become so widespread and easy to deploy that everyone is now at risk. Whether we are in a small office, home office (SOHO) or simply at home, our reliance on IT has grown exponentially over the past few years.

This has put a strain on existing IT network set-ups to ensure that everything is running smoothly, but also to maintain the security of the data on the network. The potential for a security breach is further increased by the growing usage of smart products that require constant internet connectivity, homes and SOHOs to stay alert.

The media is always full of reports about the threat from ransomware, crypto-ware and malware attacks. And you only have to glance at the website for AV-TEST Institute, to see how much the threat is growing. According to the independent research institute, 350,000 new malware or unwanted programs are

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registered every day and in 2019, over 910 million pieces of malware will be detected.

Organised data theft and ransomware attacks can hit networks of all types and sizes. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi networks are now one of the primary areas that hackers will target, so it’s vitally important to ensure that they are properly defended. Most security breaches are caused by malware infiltrating the network via email, so users have a great degree of control over opening unsolicited messages or clicking on attachments that they were not expecting. But this also means that less-aware members of the family could be unwittingly granting access to websites and services that could pose a cybersecurity threat.

With the rise of intelligent devices in the home, the chances of data loss, identity theft, or worse have shifted from low to high probability. Smart TVs, assistants, fridges, washing machines, ovens and even less suspicious devices, such as smart light bulbs and thermostats could be the gateway for virtual prowlers to break into a network.

Having a multi-layered and constantlyupdated security service will become increasingly important.

Big business is what often springs to mind when thinking about cyberattacks, but homes are at risk too

AUTOMATING PROTECTION

Amid these pressures and strain on the network, it’s hard to see how consumers could successfully manage and combat everything that is thrown at it. The trusted, traditional firewall can only do so much in keeping today’s external threats at bay. The only way to maintain control over evolving and unknown risks is to take a proactive approach and move from a conventional firewall to a much cleverer form of defence.

Enter artificial intelligence (AI).

AI might sound like a futuristic, expensive

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ESSENTIAL NETWORKING

Even simple products like cameras if they are networked can be a potential problem

and unproven concept, only adopted by innovative companies with big budgets.

But its application within network security management is both viable and vital for companies and households alike. In simple terms, the application of AI in cybersecurity adds a layer of self-learning to the monitoring and management process to defend against all network threats, including viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.

With the nature of threats constantly evolving, adding a layer of machine intelligence into the process can provide the functionality to help networks stay better protected, rather than simply blocking suspicious-looking files or missing threats altogether. AI can recognise a threat as unknown, put it into quarantine and analyse it, to help the system effectively respond and defend against it, and future attacks. The system can learn and become better equipped at spotting true threats immediately, to help in the fight against targeted attacks.

Cybersecurity services that leverage AIdriven cloud security databases are always up to date with real-time information about network threats, giving network users extra assurance that their data is kept safe. This could range from malware and ransomware in the form of email attachments, through to stopping unknown devices connecting to the Wi-Fi or website pop-ups from appearing.

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CONTROL AT THE FINGERTIPS

Households and SOHOs can now access this powerful cybersecurity solution in an easily manageable subscription-based service. For example, Zyxel’s AiShield network security service gives users an easy way to protect their wireless systems from external threats and online dangers.

Managed via a mobile app the solution makes it easy to oversee and control an entire network and connected devices. Users can manage network access, restrict web browsing and application usage for each user profile, and check up to a 30-day history of

threats and warnings. For detailed analysis, a simple tap produces an easy to understand graphical threat report that summarises the data of the network’s security.

The fact that we might not hear as much about the cyberattacks on homes and SOHOs does not mean that we should leave these networks unprotected. Digital protection and security are now absolutely vital for everyone – at home and work – and with the availability of user-friendly multilayered protection, there is no reason why households should gamble with their data safety.

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ESSENTIAL NETWORKING

POWER OVER ETHERNET Kieran Purdie, Systems Engineer, UKI & Nordics at NETGEAR, takes a look at the growing importance of Power over Ethernet (PoE).

Demand for smart, connected devices of all kinds is at an all-time high. IoT products such as video doorbells, smart lighting systems and intelligent audio systems are becoming commonplace in many households. In business premises, VoIP phones, intercom systems, security cameras and wireless access points are all being glued together through IP networks.

But while new technology can often be a great way to solve business problems, new devices always need electrical power, and depending on the job, that can present practical restrictions that may mean having to compromise on where that device is placed, how it is used and how effective it is.

There are some obvious examples. A hotel’s safety policy may require CCTV monitoring on each floor, but positioning the camera in an optimal location, such as a ceiling position for the widest field of view, may be difficult or even impossible if there’s no way to feed wires round to that point. In listed buildings it may be prohibited to drill into walls to extend wires, while in other old buildings it could even be too dangerous.

These problems can often be overcome by an experienced installer of course. But now they can be neatly sidestepped thanks to an evolving technology standard of Power over Ethernet (PoE) which carries both power and data through a single twisted-pair ethernet cable.

They let you place devices around a building without having to worry about how far the device is from the electrical supply.

It’s a safe low-voltage technology, and without the need to ever worry about working with mains wiring it can make installation quicker

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and easier, ultimately letting you pass those efficiency savings to your customers. There’s zero down time, it requires less training and in many business premises, Ethernet cables are already installed.

The three components of a PoE system are quite simple: a PoE switch that supports power output via its Ethernet ports, Cat 6/6+/7 cable, and PoE endpoint devices that can be powered in this way.

There are three different PoE standards that define how much power can be delivered, and therefore the kind of device that can be powered via a PoE network.

POE DETAILS

The first PoE specification is 802.3af, which provides 15.4W power per port, perfect for simple gadgets like IP phones. The next standard up is PoE+, or 802.3at, which doubles the power output by providing 30W of power per port. The newest version is PoE++, or 802.3bt, which either delivers 60W or 90W per port, depending on the configuration. That’s enough for the most power hungry devices and gadgets, such as displays and motorised equipment.

Depending on a customer’s needs and budget, there’s a wide choice of PoE switches at different price points, varying total power output and number of ports. A small business would be able to connect, power and control their IT equipment with a relatively affordable 8-port switch that provides a modest power capacity.

A larger model could have up to 48 ports, with greater total power capacity, and be enough for a whole office full of equipment.

PoE switches can be configured to provide power redundancy, protecting crucial IT equipment from going down if there’s a mains outage, while remote management means power

consumption can be monitored. In this way it’s a greener technology too, as connected devices can be programmed to power down when not in use, leading to further savings. As PoE is a lowvoltage alternative DC standard to traditional power networks, it additionally reduces overall per-device power consumption as well.

Consider all these benefits and it’s clear that PoE has considerable potential to be a disruptive force in IT infrastructure. You won’t notice much difference in how the devices you work with perform on a daily basis, and for employees in a small business, the transition to PoE will be mostly invisible.

With the arrival of the new 802.3bt standard and up to 90W available power, the potential of Power over Ethernet (PoE) goes far beyond the powering of devices for which it is already used today.

Increased power matters, because it means that more devices with higher power requirements can be supported by PoE, for instance: increasingly advanced cameras with tilt-and-zoom and other features that depend on motors; outdoor equipment with heating and cooling; cloud-based video phones that require support for both sound and vision; PoE-powered video screens, which may need 60W or more; and sensor-based building management systems.

This safe, low-voltage technology is a gateway to a vast array of intelligent, IPconnected Internet-of-Things (IoT) products that will continue to grow, with more manufacturers from all kinds of industries – both B2B and B2C – bringing out solutions and services that require both communications and power to work. In an increasingly connected world with vast volumes of powered devices, PoE is the only viable way forward.

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ESSENTIAL NETWORKING

WHAT IS THE BEST AV SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY TO USE AND WHY? Kevin Cray, Technical Product Development Director at CYP Europe, lifts the lid on the future of distribution.

AV integrators not only have to think about what the client wants now but, in many cases, we have to think about what they might want in the future. This not only extends to the display devices and sources but, and perhaps more importantly, to the technology we use to glue it all together. With the wealth of technology available, one of the key questions we get asked is which solution is best. Sadly, there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ answer.

Firstly, let’s look at the type of installation.

Is it residential or is it commercial? What are the specific requirements from the customer, such as number of displays and number of sources? What are the constraints (if any) facing the install? Now, all of these should be reasonably simple to answer with a few questions, and only then can we dig deeper and look at the more technical considerations, such as; Is image quality paramount? What cable infrastructure (if any) is already in place? How important is the

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speed of switching times between sources and displays? Does the AV distribution need to be controlled by a third-party control system? If yes, what is it and what are the requirements for integration? As you can see, the questions start to mount up.

Once we have a fundamental grasp on the system (or even a brief!), we can start looking at the different types of AV distribution systems available and then select the correct technology for the application. As the majority of installations these days need to be 4K HDR, let’s look at the current solutions that are available now and run through the different options.

We all know that for short point-to-point cable runs (up to seven metres), HDMI cables are able to deliver the required image and sound. But for true 4K HDR, which is an 18Gbps signal, the cable requirements have to be able to cope with that amount of bandwidth. The HDMI Forum has made a specification for this (HDMI 2.0 and 2.0a) which, although all HDMI cables are essentially capable of delivering a picture, only Premium Certified HDMI cables are able to deliver a faithful 4K HDR image. The issue with just using HDMI cables is that cable lengths over seven metres compromise the signal arriving at all. Now, bearing in mind that the majority of installations (both

residential and commercial) will require cable runs over seven meters, then alternative solutions are required.

A relatively recent technology is AOC (Active Optical Cable) HDMI cables, which are capable of running an 18Gbs 4K HDR signal up to 20 metres. These specially designed cables take power from the HDMI chipset and convert the signal to run along a

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ESSENTIAL NETWORKING

How do we make sense of all the connection possibilities available?

fibre optic cable where it is re-converted the other end. These are a great for single runs and have become significantly less expensive in recent months. However, the main application is for point-to-point distribution and they have their limits. So, if an installation requires signals to travel further, we need to look at the next step up, which is HDBaseT. Now a seasoned technology, HDBaseT is an amazing technology that converts audio and video signals to run along inexpensive Cat 5e/6/7 cables to distances of up to 100 metres. In addition, by introducing matrix switching, full scale AV distribution systems have also become relatively affordable, with source control and integration with automated home control systems also part of the package. However, the technology was not designed to transmit 4K HDR signals and is limited to 10.2Gbps bandwidth. With the recent development of new compression technology, such as our own AVLC (Adaptive Visual Lossless Compression), HDBaseT is now capable of delivering faithful 4K HDR signals by compressing the signal at source and then transmitting up to 100 metres, where it is uncompressed at the display. This clever technology means that not only can the original cable infrastructure be used were a customer wants to upgrade to the latest vision technology, but it is also a simple swap

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out and requires limited configuration. One downside of any matrix installation (4 x 4, 8 x 8, 10 x 10 etc) is that once installed, you are limited to the number of sources and displays that can be run from it. This makes the future addition of additional displays and sources difficult without changing the whole matrix.

So what is the best solution right now?

In the commercial world, fibre has long been used due to its huge bandwidth capability but, until recently, has always been considered an expensive technology to use, particularly in residential systems and/or smaller commercial applications. Recently introduced, SDVoE (Software Defined Video-over-Ethernet) technology is now available and becoming more affordable.

Put simply, SDVoE combines the best of Cat-based cabling with fibre to be a totally adaptive system. 4K HDR AV signals are now capable of reaching up to 100m via a network switch, whilst multi-mode fibre systems are capable of reaching up to 550m.

And for extreme cases, single-mode fibre systems are now capable of distributing a native 4K HDR signal over 10Km. Clearly, for residential users, 10km is likely to be a little extreme. With exceptional features like video wall, multi-view, USB, audio routing, super-fast scaled switching and medical grade as close to zero latency, SDVoE stacks

up as the best choice when only the best will do. In addition, for future video systems, such as 8K, fibre will be the only option without heavy signal compression, as the bandwidth required will be far more than 18Gbs, so it might well be worth bearing this in mind when your customer likely wants to upgrade in the future. The added benefit of SDVoE technology is that as long as the network switch has the ports, you can add as many inputs/outputs you like, all of which are simply configured.

CONCLUSIONS?

So, what should you use for your next installation? With all of the questions and solutions available, it will inevitably come down to what your customer wants and the best solution you feel is appropriate.

However, please do bear in mind that not everything is as obvious as it might first seem and that the options are wide, yet all suit certain purposes. This is just an overview, and clearly the different options might leave you wanting to find out more. To learn more about the options and best-practice use of the various AV distribution systems, get in touch with us.

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INTERVIEW: JOE CARRI, PRESTIGE AUDIO

NO AVERAGE JOE EI sat down with Joe Carri, Commercial Director at high-end cinema company, Prestige Audio, to discover more about the company’s successful approach to cinema sales.

Creating high-performance cinemas is no easy task; taken to its highest level, it’s an art form, but before any of this can happen, you have to make the sale.

Joe explains, “Like most installers, the first conversation happens through a referral, an existing relationship, or someone finds us online. Almost always, the first thing people tell you is the size of their room and the budget they have. It’s important at this stage to let the client talk and say what they want to get it off their chest. Following that, we explain that the most important thing is to understand them, what their tastes and lifestyle involve. I pitch us, and our ability to add value, way before we ever talk about equipment.

“We also lay out in the early stages, the rough price range we work within (30K-1.2mil). That also focuses the mind, especially if they are a new customer. Intrigued by the possibility of something really highquality most people will take that initial proper meeting and I always make sure it is in their home, somewhere they feel relaxed and in control and I can educate them.”

70 NOVEMBER 2019

Joe adds, “Presenting on an iPad (we are a tech company, so we should look like one) I underline that we are a leader in our field, explaining why it’s a good idea to work with us and not a generalist or builder who claims they can get the same result. I explain that we are a high-class installer of AV and automation systems, but when it comes to cinemas, we are one of the best in the world.

“I also emphasise the client is in very good hands by revealing a few of our most prestigious clients. If the customer is in this group, they know they will be looked after, if not, it’s something they can aspire to be in. It’s really important to underline that this whole process is going to be a positive one.

Does not do any harm to mention past award wins as well.”

AUDIO EXPERTS

Joe also likes at an early stage to underline the company’s skill in audio and getting this most crucial part of a cinema correct.

“We make sure the client knows we have golden ears. Voice and music; with years of experience, we know exactly how these should sound. Nobody knows what a space ship taking off sounds like, but we do know what our test tracks should sound like and we know how to get the cinema where it needs to be. We use systems like Dirac Live, but we never just ‘Dirac’ a system and walk away, we spend at least a day playing with the system

making sure it’s how we know it should be.”

Joe adds, “Audio fatigue, experienced with a system that does not sound right, can happen easily. It’s less common with the visuals, this is why the audio is so important – it’s where the emotion is. It’s really interesting when we talk about audio quality, everyone will have memories of when it wasn’t right or impacted on their enjoyment. It really opens up the conversation, not just on the need to get it right, but also what the client enjoys.

“Video quality is obviously also important, but in my experience, it’s much easier to get right. Calibrating systems using the technology available, should mean the equipment is performing where it should be.

As long as you know the software, there is less of an art to it than audio.

“Another hugely important point to get over early is comfort. If the cinema does not fit the client’s lifestyle and is not comfortable, they won’t use it. Best analogy for this is a pair of headphones that sound great but are uncomfortable. It’s the same with a cinema.”

Another concept that is important to get over in the first conversation says Joe is control. Nobody wants loads of remotes, and being able to hit one button, have the lights dim and start the movie, who doesn’t want that right?

Joe explains, “Lastly, at this point, we begin to establish what the priorities are of the people who are going to be using

INTERVIEW: JOE CARRI, PRESTIGE AUDIO

the cinema. Do they like watching sport?

Movies? Box sets? What are their musical tastes? Are they gamers? All of these key things are going to be the bedrock of how we design their cinema and make sure it really is bespoke to them.

“Design-wise we can create the look and feel of the room totally from scratch and that is how we prefer to do things. On one of our latest projects, the bar area has been designed by the client’s interior designer, and the rest of the room has been done by us. Naturally, we would like to control all of the room, but the reality is you have to work with interior designers, and you have to learn to talk their language.”

Another important part of that first meeting is to go through some of the different types of cinemas that the company can create: media room, dedicated cinema, dual use cinema.

Joe adds, “It’s also a good idea to make sure people understand different types of audio. I take them all the way from stereo, to immersive 3D audio, so they understand just what a big leap they are going to experience.”

SELLING UP?

In selling experiences that represent a significant investment, the phrase up-selling is often mentioned, however Joe says, “I never sell up, I sell down. We take our clients through the different product categories and offer them gold, silver and bronze options.

Gold always comes first and often some of the prices might frighten the client a bit, but that is fine, it underlines that they are dealing with the very best, more often than not, they go down the middle for the silver packages, it’s human nature.”

“I take the customer through all the different product categories they are going to need to build their cinema, making sure they know why each part is important. This is a gradual process and they are not making big decisions at this point, only small ones on each category, which helps them to get an idea of how the cinema will be.

“It’s also important in the early stages to cover support. I ask, ‘You would not buy a car that cost 100K and not get it serviced, right?’ So right from the start we are building the expectation that the cinema will need to be serviced and supported. We deliver preventative maintenance as a priority, remote and in person.”

Joe explains, “So, after that initial meeting, I have educated the client in terms of who we are, what we deliver, how we add value and why it’s a good idea to work with us. We have also built the desire to learn more. Once we have done that, most people want to experience a demo. The facilities available from distributors now are first rate, so we get them in and just let them experience it. We have already done the groundwork. Following a full demo, I let them stew for a little, let what they have witnessed sink in a little.”

CLOSING IN

Joe explains, “The next meeting is where we can really start to nail down exactly what is needed to build the cinema in terms of best, better, good, but by now, all I am doing is closing them on what they already know they want, because we went through each category in the initial meeting and the demo has cemented in their own minds what the choices are going to be.

“So, getting the sale in the end is a pretty straight-forward process; the desire has been built, we just need to establish the details. At this stage we can also establish what support is needed as we have already let the client know it is needed. Always be up-front about this, high-performance systems need care, there is no shame in that.”

What’s impressive here is the confidence Prestige Audio has in its processes. Yes these have been built up over a long time and they are based on a genuine high-level of knowledge, but there is a lesson here for everyone – learn your key skills and deliverables, make sure, right from the start, the client knows what those are and that they are getting something special.

Joe and the team must be doing something right. On the day of our chat, we visited a new build property the company is working on where the initial budget for AV in the whole property was around 40K, after the sales process the project has developed into a full house system with dedicated cinema and exterior audio system at a cost of over £300K.

NOVEMBER 2019 71

ESSENTIAL REVIEW: OSD 6.5IN ACE600 SPEAKERS

OSD 6.5IN ACE600

OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE? This month, Richard Stevenson finds out what sort of performance you get for £50 a pair by putting the OSD ACE600 In-Ceiling speakers to the test.

Optimal Speaker Design, or OSD, is a US brand that offers a vast range of speakers, amps, cables and streamers to the CI industry over the pond. The company enjoys huge economies of scale, which is why we were blown away by the price of the OSD ACE600, 6.5in in-ceiling speaker at a recent trade show. Priced at just £50+VAT it looked like a bargain, until we were informed that was the trade cost for a pair! We had to give them a whirl.

The ACE600 is the entry level 6.5in model in OSD’s burgeoning in-ceiling range, offering a two-way design with 1/2in PEI dome tweeter mounted on a pod in the centre of a polypropylene mid/bass driver. The claimed specs are solid,

72 NOVEMBER 2019

with a 50Hz-20Hz installed frequency response, 120W power handling and 88dB/W sensitivity.

Nominal impedance is stated as 8ohms.

Fit and finish is compatible with the price, a plastic frame supporting a pressed steel basket and magnetic, trim-less grille. The polypropylene driver is terminated in a robust feeling rubber roll surround. Crossover is handled by simple capacitor/inductor components, hard wired and glued around the tweeter pod. That itself is a chunky non-pivoting plastic moulding with a diffuser suspended on a spider over the central portion of the dome.

There are some other obvious cost-cutting measures to hit the price point, but they are far from deal-breakers. The ACE600s are sold in plain buff-boxed pairs with one cut-out template per pair, there are no luxuries like paint shields, and the manual is available as an on-line download only.

INSTALLATION

The ACE600 requires a 202mm cut-out and the frame gives a good 10mm of over-cut leeway in case of user-error with the saw. Mounting is by a trio of plastic dog-leg clamps that will handle substrate surfaces comfortably over 30mm deep – ideal if you are double skinning 15mm Gyproc or soundboard. The mounts use Philips#2 screw heads set into the baffle, and are very close to identical screws that hold the driver basket in the frame. Check which screws you are turning before removing the speaker from the ceiling. Mounting depth is a reasonably shallow 89mm.

The rear side of the driver is a basic open basket design with long screw lugs on the plastic chassis and an 80mm diameter magnet for the LF driver. Speaker cable terminals are budget spring-clips, albeit mounted on their own little towers to aid stability and access. The dog-leg

ESSENTIAL REVIEW: OSD 6.5IN ACE600 SPEAKERS

mount clips are also plastic and don’t feel very robust. Running the screws in and out of each clip before fitting will certainly ease the operation when you are working vertically at the top of a ladder.

Fitting the driver is otherwise simple, but be aware there is no gasket supplied, so the driver won’t seal against the substrate unless you manually apply a thin foam tape. We used 12mm x 2mm single sided adhesive black foam tape, which formed around the curvature relatively easily.

Finishing up, the round grille is white and 225mm diameter, fully paintable and fitted with a white scrim cloth to reduce the black see-through from the driver. It snaps into place positively, protruding just over 3mm from the surface. They certainly look the part.

PERFORMANCE

Without any form of HF level EQ adjustment on the speaker, the ACE600 is very much a fit and forget design acoustically. No problem there as its installed frequency response is remarkably even from 100Hz to 2kHz, which lends it a clean and natural balance with dialogue and vocals.

Low frequency benefits from wall boundary gain nicely, only gently sloping off below 80Hz and hitting -10dB at a very respectable 50Hz. The bass sounds tight and punchy but does take a little bit of a back seat to the boost in HF. The ACE600’s response starts lifting around 2kHz and continues to 10khz averaging +4dB. There is another ramp taking it to +6dB above 10kHz or so, until it falls sharply after around 15kHz. The result is a relatively clean and articulate

sounding speaker with a bias towards the midtop end. Our measurements are however, taken at 1m distance, so with the upper HF falling sharply and typical in-ceiling installation seeing listeners a few meters away, the sound is better balanced in reality than it looks on paper.

The result is a speaker that wholly belies its ultra-budget price tag with solid sound, particularly through the important vocal/dialogue range. For the likes of day-to-day radio listening, it is a superb low-cost in-ceiling speaker solution.

It’s clearly built to a price and won’t cut the mustard in performance-centric installs, but for a basic in-ceiling speaker it really can’t be beaten on price.

NOVEMBER 2019 73

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CASE STUDY: BESPOKE HOME CINEMAS

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH BESPOKE HOME CINEMAS A Star Wars fan in Country Durham is now revelling in a home cinema experience that’s spectacularly ‘out of this world’ thanks to the design and installation expertise of Leedsbased technology integrator Bespoke Home Cinemas.

Given a free-hand to showcase its skills, Bespoke has created this dream movie-watching space, built on the excellence of native 4K projection technology from Sony, supplied and supported

by CI distributor, AWE. “A mutual love of all things Star Wars began our conversation with this client,” explains Gifford Malcolm, Director at Bespoke. “Once it became clear that the main cinema room at the family home was in need of an upgrade, we progressed quickly to identify what exactly would best suit the client and his family. Watching movies is a shared experience that they all enjoy, and we knew that many hours would be spent

in the room, so delivering a premium quality experience was at the core of our design. In our view, Sony native 4K laser projectors are head and shoulders above any other brand of a similar price-point which made them an integral part of our solution.”

A visit to the Bespoke showroom in Leeds gave the family the opportunity to test a range of options for themselves and they too were impressed by the picture quality of the Sony VPL-VW760ES laser projector. With strong after-sales support, the decision was made by Bespoke to source the product from AWE. As part of a complete renovation, involving technology, décor and design, the existing projector was removed and replaced in the 8.5m x 4m ground floor cinema. Now, the family are treated to a crisp, lifelike picture thanks to the 4K native resolution and true 4K HDR upscaling capabilities offered by the Sony.

Bespoke says the homeowner’s movies are

brought to life with extraordinary, cinematic detail as a result of the projector’s advanced laser light source and the same 4K SXRD panel technology found in Sony’s professional cinema projectors. A good match for this dark and compact cinema room, the efficient laser light source delivers consistent image brightness and vibrant images, providing 2,000 lumens for high brightness performance.

When the homeowner is watching sport or fast-moving action scenes, 4K Motionflow reduces blur and maintains brightness, so none of the quality is lost. The image is brought to life with TRILUMINOS colour, designed to provide rich, inky blacks and more tones and textures than some other projectors, whilst Exclusive Reality Creation technology analyses and enhances Full HD content to deliver a better experience than the homeowner’s previous home cinema setup. At the same time, the compact, quiet and minimalist design fits nicely and unobtrusively

NOVEMBER 2019 75

CASE STUDY: BESPOKE HOME CINEMAS

into the sleek, contemporary room. Bespoke says the result is precise, immersive colours, exceptional image quality and an unforgettable experience – perfect for adrenaline-fuelled action movies, superhero blockbusters and, of course, epic space operas. The projector also supports the recently launched IMAX Enhanced content platform.

EQUIPMENT CAVALCADE

The Sony projector was integrated into a wider technology solution throughout the room, which included Marantz amplification, also supplied by AWE, as well as an upgraded Trinnov processor, a Kaleidescape movie server and Control4 automation. Audio is provided by Artcoustic speakers in a 9.2.6 configuration. Meanwhile, the homeowner’s existing double chaise longue chair provides the front row seating, whilst four luxury cinema chairs were added towards the rear of the cinema for comfort and style. The imaginative lighting in the room is a Star Warsstyle showstopper. Using 2,500 LED lights, Bespoke has created a cutting-edge display that imitates the lighting of a light sabre complete with audio sound effects, when activated. Bespoke Home Cinemas has created a state-of-the-art home cinema, with a premium Sony projector at its heart that brings this family of film buffs right to the heart of the action.

A full calibration sweep was carried out before hand-over

76 NOVEMBER 2019

CASE STUDY: BESPOKE HOME CINEMAS

A really cool light-saber effect signals the cinema is ready for action

KIT LIST Sony VW760ES laser projector Future Automation PM-UNI projector bracket Screen Excellence 3000mm 16:9 acoustic screen Trinnov Altitude 16 processor 3x Marantz MM7055 power amps 5x Artcoustic Spitfire 8-4. (LCR and wides) 4x Arcoustic SL 4-2 (Surrounds) 6x Artcoustic Architect PAS (Atmos) 2x Artcoustic Control2 Subwoofers with 1kW power amp Kalediscape Strato S Oppo UDP205 4K Bluray player Apple TV 4K HD Anywhere 8x8 Pro matrix Control4 EA3 processor and SR260 remote 3x Control4 dual load keypad dimmers Arduino custom PC and Neopixel Tape for lighting and audio effects

NOVEMBER 2019 77

TRAINING DATES

AL LT R A D E

CA I

BLAKE UK PROCEPTION WIFI

BASIC AERIAL & SATELLITE INSTALLATION (THREE DAY COURSE)

DATES/LOCATION: November 12 (10am or 2pm) Reading Branch, November 13 (10am or 2pm) Bournemouth Branch, November 14 (10am or 2pm) Cardiff Branch

ADVANCED ELAN CERTIFICATION DATES/LOCATION: November 27 & 28 (9.15am) Nottingham

LEVEL 1 UBIQUITI DATES/LOCATION: November 7 (2pm) Reading Branch, November 20 (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, November 21 (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, November 27 (2pm) Bournemouth Branch

LEVEL 2 UBIQUITI DATES/LOCATION: November 27 (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch

CCTV OVERVIEW - HIKVISION

DATES/LOCATION: November 12, 13 & 14 – Watford, Hertfordshire COST: Member £525 / Non-Members £780

INTRODUCTION TO IRS (TWO DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: November 20 & 21; Watford, Hertfordshire COST: Members £270 / Non-Members £395

MAKING THE BOND (ONE DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: November 19; Watford, Hertfordshire COST: Members £180 / Non-Members £265

MORE INFORMATION »

CAI 01923 803 030, cai.org.uk

DATES/LOCATION: November 14 (2pm) Hemel Hempstead/Reading Branches

INTRODUCTION TO IRS DATES/LOCATION: November 13 (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, November 20 (2pm) Bournemouth Branch

INTRODUCTION TO FIBRE DATES/LOCATION: November 12 (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, November 28 (2pm) Reading Branch

HA B I T EC H COMMERCIAL AV INTEGRATOR (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 7

CAT5E/6, THEIR CONNECTORS AND BEYOND

WYRESTORM – 4K HDR (1 DAY COURSE)

DATES/LOCATION: November 14 (2pm) Reading Branch, November 28 (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch

DATES: November 27

WYRESTORM – NETWORK HD (1 DAY COURSE)

All courses are free of charge

ARCAM – PRODUCT TRAINING (1 DAY COURSE)

MORE INFORMATION »

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

DATES: November 28 DATES: November 12

INTRODUCTION TO COMMERCIAL AV (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 6 COST: £99.00 + VAT

BE MCO K N X TRAINING KNX ‘TASTER’ COURSE - FREE DATES/LOCATION: November 13; Bemco, Wandsworth

KNX PARTNER (BASIC) COURSE DATES/LOCATION: November 25-29, Bemco Wandsworth COST: £750 + VAT

KNX HVAC COURSE: DATES/LOCATION: December 10-11, Bemco Wandsworth COST: £300 + VAT

All KNX Intro courses are free of charge

MORE INFORMATION »

Bemco 0208 874 0404, bemco-knx.co.uk

78 NOVEMBER 2019

WISDOM AUDIO PRODUCT TRAINING (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 5

DAHUA (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 13

PRONET – QUICK START (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 19 COST: £99.00 + VAT

PRONET – INTEGRATOR (2 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 20 & 21 COST: £150.00 + VAT

RUCKUS ICX SWITCHING (1 DAY COURSE) DATES: November 21 COST: £99.00 + VAT

All courses are free of charge unless specified otherwise

MORE INFORMATION »

Habitech 01256 638500, tanya.sworn@habitech.co.uk, habitech.co.uk

TRAINING DATES

IN VIS ION

R A KO

COMELIT VIP DOOR ENTRY TRAINING

RAKO FOUNDATION COURSE ‘INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTING CONTROLS’

DATES/LOCATION: November 7, December 5, Comelit HQ, Welwyn Garden City COST: £25

LILIN – IP SURVEILLANCE FOR CI DATES/LOCATION: December 10, Lilin HQ, Milton Keynes

DATES/LOCATION: November 21, Rako, Rochester COST: Free

RAKO ADVANCED COURSE (LAPTOP REQUIRED)

COST: £25

DATES/LOCATION: November 14, November 26, December 5, December 17, Rako, Rochester

MORE INFORMATION »

MORE INFORMATION »

Invision, 01359 270280, invisionuk.com

IVORY E G G K NX TRAIN ING KNX ADVANCED COURSE DATES: December 9-12 COST: £875 excl VAT

KNX SALES AND SPECIFICATION COURSE DATES: October 8, November 19 COST: £175 excl VAT

KNX HEATING COURSE DATES: October 22, December 3 COST: £175 excl VAT

MORE INFORMATION »

Ivory Egg, 01243 572 700, ivoryegg.co.uk

All courses are free of charge, although spaces are secured with a nominal reservation fee. If you would like to book a training date please contact 01634 226666 or email sarah@rakocontrols.com

RGB CO MMU N I CAT I O N S SAVANT CORE TRAINING (2 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Tuesday 26th–Wednesday 27th, November

MIDDLE ATLANTIC INTEGRATING THE RACK CEDIA CEU ACCREDITED DATES/LOCATION: Wednesday 27th, November

SAVANT INTRO TRAINING VC DATES/LOCATION: Thursday 5th December

BECOME A SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATOR DATES/LOCATION: Thursday 5th December

SAVANT CORE TRAINING (2 DAY COURSE)

DATES/LOCATION: Tuesday 10th–Wednesday 11th December

MORE INFORMATION »

All course are held are RGB’s Offices in Hungerford, call 01488 73366 for more information

OFFER TRAINING? Upcoming training course or product sessions?

Get your dates listed in Essential Install Magazine free each month.

Just send all your informatin to Dan Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com

NOVEMBER 2019 79

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PRODUCTS

HEAR THE CALL OF THE DOORBIRD! Distributor, Invision, has announced the availability of DoorBird’s new A1101 IP Video Indoor Station.

Designed to connect with DoorBird door stations, the A1101 allows communication and access control in both houses and apartment buildings.

Featuring high video and audio quality, its compact and discreet form allows it to blend in with any environment, says the supplier.

The station displays a live video feed from the DoorBird door unit and provides two-way audio communication with visitors. With a customisable high-resolution touchscreen display and hard keys for commonly used functions, the A1101 indoor station is billed as intuitive and flexible.

Connection to a network can be made via WiFi or a hardwired link and can be powered via PoE

(Power Over Ethernet). The DoorBird app allows remote configuration of the settings from any location. The indoor station communicates with the DoorBird intercom over a LAN and offers the user full door entry control.

Key A1101 features include; door opening and elevator control, visitor history (free Cloud recording), weather forecast and home and building automation control (IP, TCP, HTTPS, relays etc.).

The product also has a scratch-resistant tempered Gorilla glass screen, HD Audio, up to 102 dB and has 50 different doorbell sounds.

Invision www.invisionuk.com

NEW PRIMARE NP5 NETWORK PLAYER FROM KARMA-AV Distributor, Karma-AV, has announced the UK availability of Primare’s bijou NP5 network player, which extends the brand’s proprietary Prisma network tech to any system with a digital input.

Incorporating all the functionality found in the latest award winning Prisma enabled models, including AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast builtin, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, in addition to network connected hard drive control, NP5 Prisma also allows for volume adjustment and input selection for previous Primare models with RS232 inputs, all using the comprehensive Prisma application.

Specifically designed to be small enough to slip inconspicuously into any system setup, NP5 Prisma can be used with any product with a digital

input, both stereo and multi-channel, Primare or other brands, to provide full Prisma connectivity and control, making it the network player for anyone and any system, says its supplier.

The maker also has its NP5 Prisma Update Programme which offers owners of the PRE60, NP30, I32 MM30, PRE32 MM30, SP32, SP33, SPA22 and SPA23 models, the NP5 Prisma at 50% off of the suggested retail price with presentation of original invoice and/or verifiable serial number to an authorised Primare dealer. The NP5 Prisma Update Program Price is £225 (normal retail price inc VAT: £450.00).

Other features include voice control through Google Home devices and Google Assistant; Multi-room/multi-zone connection and control

through a variety of platforms. Also included; Prisma; Wired (LAN) and Wireless (WLAN) connection; USB A input; RCA and Toslink outputs with choice of 48, 96, 192 output for connection with any digital to analogue converter.

There is also a Prisma application for setup of operating features and control of network connected hard drives for high resolution file playback up to 24/192 PCM and DSD128; RS232 control connection with included RS232 cable allowing for Prisma APP control on past Primare models.

Karma AV www.karma-av.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2019 83

PRODUCTS

ARCAM’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN! ARCAM has announced seven new products to its HDA line.

Three new AVRs; the AVR10, AVR20 and AVR30, are designed to offer users a navigable path through a wide selection of features. The AVR10 offers 12-channels of class AB power amplification, Dirac calibration, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X 7.1.4 and IMAX Enhanced. Further features include 4K (UHD) HDMI2.0b with HDCP2.2, Bluetooth connectivity and seven HDMI inputs. The AVR20 ups the numbers of channels of AB amplification to 16, with a similar feature set and the AVR30 employs Class G amplification, enabling 16 channels of efficient power. All enable GoogleCast streaming, work

with ARCAM’s free MusicLife and Control apps, and use audiophile level DACs. The power amps are the PA240, PA410 and PA720. The PA410 is a Class AB design delivering four channels of power, rating at 70W each, whilst the PA240 and PA720 adopt Class G amplification, implementing multiple power supplies for more efficiency and better performance. The PA240 two-channel enabling 2 x 380W Class G amplification or 1 x 790W Class G bridged mode. The PA720 stores seven channels of Class G power, available as 7 x 140W. Both the PA240 and PA720 come with balanced XLR inputs and all of the new power amps enable ethernet and RS232 control.

ARCAM’s new 16-channel AV processor delivers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced and Dirac Live, boasts 16 pro-grade XLR outputs, 16 single-ended RCA outputs; seven HDMI inputs; three HDMI outputs; 4K (UHD) HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2; and ethernet, RS232 and IR control. It is also Bluetoothequipped, integrates an FM/DAB/DAB+ tuner, and employs the ESS 9026PRO audiophile DAC. ARCAM says this is a machine that is great at home cinema or music only delivery.

Arcam www.arcam.co.uk

SONANCE DIGS DEEP Sonance has added two new models to its subwoofer range.

A super-slim Pro Series 100V design joins a compact front-firing home theatre cube in extending the variety of flush and surface subs from the brand.

UK distributor, Habitech, says it is delighted to be expanding the system design options available from Sonance with these new high-output subs for commercial and residential projects.

The Sonance Pro Series PS-S210SUBT bandpass subwoofer features a shallow design which allows it to be deployed discreetly in a wide variety of applications, typically under restaurant booths or banquettes (using the included feet), mounted to the sides of rafters, on walls or under ceilings (with the optional C-bracket). Its slender polyurethane-coated, laminated-plywood enclosure, having a cross-section measuring just 228mm high by 350mm deep, houses twin

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10in (254mm) low profile, high excursion drivers, specifically engineered for this product. A choice of front or side cabinet port locations offers further installation versatility.

The PS-S210SUBT features Sonance’s Laminated Core Technology Transformer (SLCT), delivering full-fidelity performance in either 70V or 100V mode. This, combined with the builtin low pass filter, allows the subwoofer to be driven on the same feed as the other full-range loudspeakers in a system, avoiding the need for additional amplifier channels and DSP. The S10-i 10in Active Sub is well suited for smaller home theatre applications offering a compact entry-level cube which will contribute high output bass dynamics to satellite systems in dedicated or media room spaces. Mounted to a textured black finish cabinet measuring just 300mm x 310mm x 320mm, a 10in (254mm) ultra-long throw woofer is driven

by a low-distortion 275W amplifier (550W peak) to deliver deep impactful low frequencies from corners or room boundaries while being economical with living space.

The S10-i offers dual line-level (Left/LFE and Right) inputs as well as easy system tuning using volume, crossover, and variable phase controls.

Habitech www.habitech.co.uk

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The New Sonos Amp The versatile amplifier for powering all your entertainment.

PRODUCTS

RTI RELEASES LINE OF AV DISTRIBUTION ‘PROBLEM SOLVERS’ Automation platform, RTI, has announced that its new line of audio distribution solutions is now shipping. Consisting of digital audio converters (DACs), a delay module, and an extender kit, the products are purpose-built to resolve common audio challenges.

“Integrators are constantly running into situations that would benefit from a simple solution that would eliminate a tear-out or system redesign,” says Brett Stokke, Director of Marketing, RTI. “Whether it’s dealing with legacy gear, mismatched video resolutions, or distributed audio challenges, our new lineup of AV distribution devices gives dealers a cost-effective answer to common issues and helps them finish the job.”

New RTI DACs include the ADA-1 Dolby

Digital-to-Analogue Downmixer and the VDM1x HDMI Downscaler With Downmixer. The ADA1 decodes audio signals from sources with S/ PDIF coaxial or TOSLINK optical outputs — such as Blu-ray players and media streamers — and converts them to standard stereo output for analogue sound systems. The VDM-1x is ideal for multi-zone installations featuring a mix of both HD and 4K sources and displays.

In addition to downscaling or upscaling video signals for compatibility with displays of different resolutions, the unit downmixes incoming Dolby Digital to stereo PCM audio.

To address lip-sync issues and the challenges of long-distance signal distribution, RTI offers the ADM-1 Audio Delay Module and AXP-1 Digital

Audio Extender Kit, respectively. To compensate for delays caused by differences in the audio processing speed of output devices, the ADM-1 allows integrators to delay audio from 20ms to 340ms using a 16-way selector dial. The AXP1 seamlessly transmits audio over distances surpassing 650 feet using a standard Cat5e/6 cable. The unit supports coaxial and S/PDIF digital audio signals, stereo and multi-channel digital audio, 2-channel PCM sources, and 5.1 compressed audio. The ADA-1, ADM-1, AXP-1, and VDM-1x are all shipping.

RTI www.rticorp.com

NEW ELAN AUDIO DISTRIBUTION LINE DEBUTS Improving both the integrator and end-user intelligent home experience, Nortek Security & Control has introduced a new line of ELAN IP Amplifiers. According to ELAN Product Manager Jeff Shaw, the new amplifiers enhance the whole home audio experience by delivering audio over existing networks.

“Distributed multi-zone audio traditionally requires long speaker cables that run back to the equipment rack,” Jeff explains. “The new ELAN Audio over IP solution simplifies and decentralises audio installations by eliminating these long speaker cable runs and expanding multi-room audio possibilities.”

With primary TV sources moving to set-top streaming boxes (Apple TV, Roku), the need to incorporate that audio in the whole house audio system is growing. The ELAN Audio over IP line – including multi-channel amplifiers and local source pre-amps – leverages Dante digital audio networking to give installers the ability to make use of these local sources in multiple rooms. The audio is then delivered between devices over the network, replacing expensive analogue cabling with low-cost category cable.

Jeff adds, “Projects with audio zones that are physically separated – a pool house, for example – can be part of the whole house audio system

by connecting over the network. Secondary amps can be placed in remote locations closer to the speakers, eliminating long speaker cable runs.

“ELAN Audio over IP is making installations easier and faster, thus reducing costs. This is another one of our intelligent solutions designed to meet the needs of integrators and their customers.”

ELAN www.elanhomesystems.com

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PRODUCTS

STEALTH ACOUSTICS PATIO THEATRE RANGE EXPANDED Stealth Acoustics has made two additions to its Stealth Patio Theater (SPT) LED-based range of outdoor entertainment solutions. Expanding from the original, retractable SPT display, now named Extreme, Stealth has added the Transformer 120in fold-away LED TV system and the Megalith modular outdoor TV screen which is available in custom sizes up to 275in.

The maker says the new SPT Transformer is a revolutionary hidden outdoor theater system designed to fold away into its ‘weatherised’, fiberglass enclosure and fit discretely on a yacht or home deck. With all electronics housed within the unit, including built-in LCR speakers and subwoofers, the Transformer is a 120in LED screen that can be deployed as a fixed or a mobile solution. It remains completely hidden from view and protected from the elements when not in use. The screen unfolds silently on demand from its custom designed enclosure thanks to a smooth, automated lifting mechanism, whilst its fiberglass finish ensures maximum flexibility when meeting customer

design goals.

Another outdoor viewing option is the new SPT Megalith. This fixed display option features a weatherproof, ultrabright 120in LED screen and provides an alternative to projection-based systems. Its modular design ensures that it can be configured in different shapes and sizes to suit outdoor installation requirements. The Megalith also has the flexibility to be paired with custom audio from Stealth’s range for a complete outdoor solution or it can simply be used for artwork display.

The original, retractable SPT Extreme is still available in 103in, 130in, 155in and 184in screen sizes. Supplied in either 1800 Nits or 5000 Nits of output for high brightness performance, all SPT options are available with built-in high-performance environmental Stealth speakers and subwoofers in 3.1 or 5.1 audio configurations. The SPT Extreme enclosures are custom built for each order out of marine-grade

Baltic plywood, which are then spar-varnished inside and out to create a ‘boat-like’ quality of construction to safely protect the screen and high-strength lifts mounted inside. Exterior finish options are at the choice of the customer or designer and may consist of paint, faux finishes, custom graphics or select textures.

Stealth Acoustics www.stealthacoustics.com

GOOGLE VOICE ASSISTANT COMING TO BLUOS Lenbrook International, maker of high-resolution audio hardware and software solutions, is pleased to announce that its BluOS Hi-Res Distributed Audio platform has been upgraded to support Google Voice Assistant through Actions On Google. Users of BluOS Enabled products from Bluesound, NAD Electronics, and DALI Speakers, were prompted to update their players on or around October 8, 2019, to add hands-free control of their music from any Google Home device.

Google Voice Assistant represents the second platform-wide voice control integration for BluOS in a broader voice control strategy that seeks to offer users a choice in which voice assistant they use, says the company.

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This strategy includes the creation of BluVoice, the voice-control interface that acts as the intermediary between BluOS and a compatible voice assistant. For example, BluOS users can ask their Google Home device to deliver music playback commands to their BluOS Enabled device via BluVoice with phrases like, ‘OK Google, tell BluVoice to play louder,’ or ‘OK Google, tell BluVoice to play Preset 2 in the kitchen’.

“We have always maintained that we want to remain platform agnostic in providing music playback and control options for our customers,” says Andrew Haines, BluOS Product Manager.

“The addition of Google Voice as the second platform-wide voice control integration after Amazon’s Alexa, and third such integration if you

take into consideration Apple’s Siri for BluOS users with AirPlay 2 enabled products, opens up a world of possibilities for our users to customise their home environment easily and conveniently.”

Google Voice Assistant in BluOS responds to a range of commands through any networkconnected Google Home device, including play/ pause, next/back, shuffle on/off and managing the play queue for most user libraries and music services. A full list of commands will be published in support documentation on the BluOS website.

Lenbrook International www.lenbrook.com

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