Essential Install - Sept 17

INSIDE

The essential magazine for the custom install industry

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VIRTUAL REALITY FAD OR THE FUTURE?

SPEAKERS HEARD BUT NOT SEEN

September 2017

OFFICE & BOARDROOM

COMMUNICATING WITHOUT COMMUTING

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Essential Install | Contents

The essential magazine for the custom install industry

September 2017

INSIDE

September 2017 VIRTUAL REALITY FAD OR THE FUTURE?

SPEAKERS HEARD BUT NOT SEEN

OFFICE & BOARDROOM

COMMUNICATING WITHOUT COMMUTING

In This Issue…

CE Pro EUROPE Commercial

EUROPE

Commercial

EUROPE

INTEGRATOR CE Pro EUROPE INTEGRATOR

REGULARS

FEATURES

3 From the Editor’s Desk

16 Habitech Happenings

21 Speakers

5 Essential News

18 CEDIA Chats

32 Case Study: Interactive Interiors

12 WyreStorm Words

66 Training Dates

14 HDAnywhere Report

69 Essential Products

Autumnal Automation

Partnering with Aquavision

Smart home headlines

An invisible solution?

The installer as Artisan

Storming CEDIA

NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin’s super space

Improve your AV know-how

Doing more with less hardware

34 CEDIA Snippets

Best in show at San Diego

Hardware heaven

38 Q + A: Ask The Expert Owen Maddock interviews Sinemas

39 Touchscreens

Innovative interfaces

49 Virtual Reality

Experience the future

Touchscreens

39

54 A Day In The Life

Avante’s riverside residentials

59 Office & Boardroom Workplace wares

Speakers

21

Office & Boardroom

59

Average net circulation July 2015 to June 2016

5,212

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pages 16-17

From The

Editor’s Desk Autumnal Automation Niamh Marriott, Editor

I’m calling it – winter is coming. The thought has been brewing for a while, much like the stormy weather that has shrouded the latter half of a very wet August, and now we’re in September, it seems unlikely to clear anytime soon. The change in seasons was confirmed as I stepped off the plane from San Diego on my return trip from a brilliant CEDIA 2017 (for more on that, check out my CEDIA Snippets on page 34) and was greeted by a rather rainy scene. But it’s not all doom and gloom I promise you. We all know the best solution to beat the blustery blues – a good old fashioned film night, popcorn and all.

And that’s where you come in, you marvellous custom installers, home cinema superheroes, you are all round bringers of comfort and joy. You create spaces of luxury and of indulgence, perfect places to snuggle up cosy and warm. Spots to go to watch or to listen, but always with the most excellent equipment.

So what are the latest decadent delights out there?

Look no further for opulent offerings than our superb speaker feature, showcasing the swankiest in sound and design, and inspired innovations in outdoor solutions.

Feast your eyes on our tremendous touchscreens article and see the products establishing virtual reality as a legitimate industry. Working from home? Our office and boardroom piece highlights the best in conference and remote access technology whilst presenting the latest in workplace gadgets. All this is, of course, in addition to plenty of expert comment and advice from our industry regulars, to make sure your know-how is top-of-the-range.

Oh, and a cracking case study, too.

As ever, if you’d like to contribute to any of our upcoming features please don’t hesitate to get in touch and email me niamh@allthingsmedialtd.com or call +44 (0)1634 673163.

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com EDITOR: Niamh Marriott, niamh@allthingsmedialtd.com CONTRIBUTING JOURNALISTS: Jordan O’Brien, jordan@allthingsmedialtd.com SALES DIRECTOR: Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com PUBLISHER: David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com ACCOUNTS: susan@allthingsmedialtd.com CIRCULATION: carol@allthingsmedialtd.com STUDIO MANAGER: Ben Bristow, ben@allthingsmedialtd.com GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jon Appleton, jon@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 Whist we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur.

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

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ACCESS POINTS | ROUTERS | SWITCHES

The Switch of Choice for AV over IP For HD and UHD video distribution in retail, hospitality or corporate projects, Luxul’s AMS and XMS range of AV over IP optimised switches are recommended by top manufacturers; Wyrestorm, Just Add Power and BluStream. With Luxul switches you can build cost-effective, scalable, high performance networks supporting hundreds of inputs and outputs.

T: 01359 270280 W: www.invisionuk.com E: sales@invisionuk.com

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Essential Install | News

News Desk

A Full To Bursting Smart Building Bonanza

AVIXA’s trade shows will still operate under the InfoComm name

InfoComm Rebrands As AVIXA InfoComm International, the trade association representing the $178 billion commercial audiovisual industry worldwide, has changed its name to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA). The change reflects AVIXA’s broadening mission to be an industry hub, while also acting as a catalyst for market growth beyond what has been considered traditionally as professional AV. AVIXA’s trade shows worldwide, including the North America show, June 2-8 in Las Vegas, will continue to operate under the InfoComm name.

“This is an exciting time for our industry and for the advancement of audiovisual solutions across a wide range of customer experiences,” said David Labuskes, CT, CAE, RCDD, executive director and CEO of AVIXA. “Thanks to the innovative, creative efforts of so many members, partners, and their customers, we have collectively grown far beyond what InfoComm International could do to promote AV around the world. AV experiences have become so ubiquitous, and they’ve come to include so many more technologies, and touch so many more personal and professional lives, that we felt compelled to embrace a new identity that more accurately reflects this industry’s excitement and welcomes a far more diverse community of professionals.”

In recent years, AVIXA’s members have evolved to offer much more than audiovisual products and systems. AVIXA membership has grown to include experiential designers, content creators, IT companies, and users of AV solutions across a growing cross section of markets.

By adopting the name AVIXA, the industry association, which operates as a trade organisation representing companies and a professional society representing individuals, aims to reflect both what its members do (AV) and what they create for customers, which are integrated experiences (IX).

AVIXA +44 (0)1442 345100, avixa.org

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Essential Install | News

Lode Audio have partnered with CAVD

Lode Audio Announces UK Distribution Partnership With CAVD Lode Audio, the UK-based audio company, has partnered with CAVD (Custom AV Distribution) to act on its behalf for all sales activities throughout the UK CI market.

In response to the growth of the brand and its products over the last two years, CAVD was seen as the perfect partner for Lode Audio, as it offers the high-level of professionalism and technical sales support the brand was looking for. The appointment of CAVD frees up valuable time for the Lode Audio team to continue its product and software development, whilst providing the ongoing direct technical support and consultancy services to both its domestic and international customers.

Commenting on CAVD’s appointment, Ed Stark, co-founder of Lode Audio, said: “We have witnessed unprecedented growth in the last two years and had reached breaking point, in a good way! So that we can continue to develop our products and services yet continue to offer the high-levels of service we are known for, the appointment of a distributor for the UK market was essential and CAVD was the obvious choice. Not only are they totally professional, they also offer the high-levels of sales support our customers require. I am sure it will be a fruitful partnership.”

“We’re thrilled to be representing Lode Audio as their distribution partner in the UK”, said Jamie Pullen, managing director of CAVD. Jamie continued: “Lode’s streaming solutions offer countless benefits to any CI integrator and ultimately the end user. It’s a product that deserves to be in every rack.”

Lode Audio’s product range, which includes the four-zone LA4 and single-zone LA1 audio players, all feature high-end DACs capable of high-resolution audio playback. All of the company’s products are compatible with the leading music streaming services (including TIDAL and Deezer) along with network stored content and Airplay, whilst full integration with the major automation control platforms, such as Creston, AMX and Control4, offers seamless integration into any automation system.

CAVD +44 (0) 1628 563344, cavd.co.uk

WyreStorm Joins SDVoE Alliance

WyreStorm introduced its first SDVoE-capable products at CEDIA 2017

WyreStorm, a leading manufacturer of AV signal distribution and control technology, has joined the SDVoE Alliance as an adopting member and introduced its first SDVoE-capable products at CEDIA 2017. SDVoE technology gives the WyreStorm NetworkHD 600 Series the power to deliver uncompressed instant seamless switching of full HDMI 4K UHD @60Hz 4:4:4 with HDR and zeroframe latency over Cat6a up to 100m via off-the-shelf 10Gb Ethernet switches.

On joining the SDVoE Alliance, WyreStorm NetworkHD and control product manager, James Meredith stated: “Our decision to become an Alliance member manufacturer illustrates WyreStorm’s dedication to the rapidly accelerating transition to AV over IP technology, our unwavering belief in the importance of industry standardisation in the adoption of new technologies and the exciting new era of AV connectivity this movement heralds.”

“To date, most of the SDVoE membership has been focused on the commercial AV installation space,” said Justin Kennington, president of the SDVoE Alliance. “WyreStorm debuting the NetworkHD 600 line at CEDIA illustrates that SDVoE technology has a serious role in replacing matrix switches in the custom residential AV channel. Users who demand flawless quality without latency exist in all markets – perhaps none more so than the home user.”

WyreStorm +44 (0)1793 230343, wyrestorm.com

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Essential Install | News

Krika Moves To Become A Managed Service Provider

Krika Concierge provides white label aftercare support

Krika, a France-based supplier of network management solutions and services for home technology integrators, has launched a whitelabel aftercare partnership programme named Krika Concierge. The programme provides home technology integrators with the tools required to improve their aftercare quality and profitability, all under the brand of the integrators own business.

Realising that remote supervision technology alone isn’t enough to transition dealers to stress free and profitable aftercare, Krika Concierge provides its partners with a white-labelled 24/7 first line support helpdesk for end-user support requests, aftercare plans, marketing materials, terms of service and other procedural and legal documentation.

Krika Concierge 24/7 support desk aims to solve a significant proportion of the most common client support issues through simple fixes and workarounds, while de-escalating and handing unsolved tickets to the integrator to follow up with on a chargeable time and materials basis. Unlike similar platforms, the integrators keep full control of invoicing their own clients.

“We see a big opportunity in the CEDIA channel to utilise our expertise in helping home technology integrators deliver better services,” said Bruno Napoli, CTO & co-founder of Krika. “We are proud and excited to launch Krika Concierge which we believe will significantly increase the quality of life, profitability and customer satisfaction levels of our partners.

Using Domotz as the primary technology engine for Krika Concierge lets us focus our energy on providing valued and necessary support services, rather than continuing to maintain and develop our own platform.”

Krika +44 (0)203 9001646, krika.io

Habitech Opens Its Doors To New Possibilities

The new Luxeport was just one product featured at the Habitech open days

Distributor Habitech held a three-day dealer event over September 18,19, 20 offering an in-sight into some new lines and services recently introduced, looking to underline its commitment to keep offering dealers solutions that allow them to deliver value to the end user and maintain margin.

A recent addition to the company’s line up is the Wisdom Audio brand, which with is mixture of solutions and in particular its linearray products is designed to offer installers a one brand solution for media rooms, cinema, multi-room audio or two channel.

With the Sage, Wisdom and Insight ranges Habitech is confident Wisdom has the answer to any question a project can throw at it.

Wisdom has particular abilities in the home cinema world and is featured in the company’s recently revamped cinema demo space, also showcased at the event. The company says it is seeing significant growth in cinema recently and has taken on experienced cinema designer Craig Wheeler to offer a full support service to installers, including acoustic treatment and full 360° renders of the designs available to view on tablets, smartphones or in VR mode. iPort was another brand featuring heavily during the event with new products fresh from launch at CEDIA in the US. Luxeport is a new deluxe iPad charging and mounting system for table-top and wall locations. It’s an iPad Sleeve + Station system, precision engineered and hand finished in durable high-grade aluminium alloy. Portrait or landscape orientations are possible via PoE or Low Voltage wiring from 8cm square discrete wall station or mount, charge and view at any angle from table-top base stations. Security allows for lock down of case and station to a table or wall.

Another brand getting a big push at the event was Sonance, which has been undertaking a redesign of many of its CI focused speakers. The Cinema Series has been re-imagined and will launch in Q4 as the new Reference Series, which offers more precision and power following a complete re-build.

More information: Habitech +44 (0)1256 638500, habitech.co.uk

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Essential Install | News

Klipsch Adds Global CI Distribution Partners Pulse and QualiFi Klipsch with new CI partners Pulse at CEDIA 2017

Klipsch, a tech-driven audio company and wholly-owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation, has added two global distribution partners for its premium custom installation speaker solutions; Pulse Cinemas in the UK and QualiFi in Australia.

They will act as official representatives of the Klipsch brand by developing new relationships and market share among integrators in their respective markets.

Pulse Cinemas offers a portfolio of brands that focus on home cinema and custom install products for their ease of use, reliability, quality, value and compatibility. The company has built a reputation for developing and growing brands, as well as offering a hands on service, education programs, and customer support. Pulse Cinemas is also a marketing firm that works to raise the profile of high-end home cinema and the brands they represent.

“We are convinced that offering Klipsch high-performance speaker solutions to integrators in the UK will give them protected distribution, achievable margins, and unrivalled sound,” said Kapes Patel, technical sales director for Pulse Cinemas.

QualiFi is one of Australia’s leading importers and distributors of premium home entertainment systems. They incorporate sales, warehousing, and were one of the first CEDIA members in Australia.

Klipsch recently introduced more than 50 new premium custom speaker solutions featuring installation systems at CEDIA Expo 2017. Patent-pending Sky Hook and SecureFit technologies are designed for reliable and ultra-fast installation, saving time and money for integrators.

Pulse +44 (0)1279 647039, pulsecinemas.com

Harman Announces Redundancies, 650 Employees Laid Off

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER - SOUTH HOME /FIELD BASED Attractive salary and bonus package including additional benefits The residential technology market continues to expand, creating momentum and business opportunities like never before. Invision is the UK’s fastest growing distributor of market-leading systems and integrated solutions for today’s smart home. Our trade customers are at the forefront of custom-installed technology that’s bringing automation, security, energy management and high-end entertainment into homes.

To support our planned expansion in the UK in 2018, we have an opportunity for an ambitious and self-motivated individual to join our technical sales team. As a Regional Sales Manager, your responsibility is to drive revenue and profit growth. You will be working with existing customers as well as developing new business opportunities within a specified territory. Full product training will be given. With relevant industry experience, either in a technical sales role or as a professional installer, the ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate a successful track record in sales and possess excellent communication and presentation skills.

Closing date for applications is 31st October 2017. To apply, please email your CV to hr@invisionUK.com

T: 01359 270280 W: www.invisionuk.com E: sales@invisionuk.com

Harman Professional Solutions – which includes brands such as AKG, AMX, Crown, JBL Professional, Lexicon and SVSI – is in the midst of a major restructuring, and as such 650 positions are set to be made redundant, representing around 2.5% of current employees. This move is not entirely unexpected, with Harman having been acquired by Samsung in late 2016, the firm was bound to undergo some staffing changes.

The layoffs were announced to Harman employees with plenty of notice, according to Harman Professional Solutions’ public relations director, David Glaubke. The company has notified all staff members of the changes that it needs to make over the next year to assist with its transition, and to mitigate the impact on its employees and their families.

Since the acquisition by Samsung of Harman, there has been a lot of speculation on the future of Harman’s brands. In the integration market, many wondered about the future of SVSi (video distribution) and AMX (automation). David maintains that all Harman Professional Solutions brands will continue to exist, adding that “there will be continued investment in the portfolio, including AMX.” Meanwhile, Harman has been transparent about its focus on restructuring to better serve the evolving integration market. That transformation has been in process “over the last two years to better serve our customers, increase our competitiveness and accelerate new product innovations,” David notes.

David adds: “We are now consolidating certain locations acquired through acquisitions over the years to leverage the R&D, engineering, design and manufacturing operations of our other divisions and speed up our time to market.”

“We also are investing in a stronger IT infrastructure, supply chain and software-driven NPIs (new product introductions) that will improve high-demand product availability and processes and resources for our customers, sales teams and distributors.”

Harman pro.harman.com

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Essential Install | Wyrestorm

WyreStorm released over 30 new products this year – with many on display at CEDIA 2017

Storming CEDIA San Diego As CEDIA closed its doors for another year, EI sat down with WyreStorm’s global marketing communications manager, Christian Thomas, to reflect on some of the highlights from the AV distribution and control specialist’s booth…

Congratulations on surviving another CEDIA! How was the show for WyreStorm this year?

Christian: Fantastic! The laid back Californian vibe was a great balance to what can be a crazy week. In terms of the show itself, we promised to up the AV ante at this year’s CEDIA with new WyreStorm 4K HDR solutions for residential applications that would blow away visitors to our booth. Judging from the reaction at the show, we didn’t disappoint, with a clear demonstration of exactly what we mean when we talk about providing the ‘right technology for the application’ with our latest in modular HDBaseT, HDMI and 1Gb and 10Gb AV over IP.

What was your message to dealers unfamiliar with WyreStorm?

Christian: When it comes to AV projects we don’t believe ‘one-size-fits-all’. Size, complexity, application and customer experience all vary, which is why we place such an emphasis on a fully integrated multi-technology approach to product development, giving dealers real options with the right technology.

Our products are developed using HDBaseT, HDMI and the three AV over IP technologies as used in our NetworkHD line to enable the creation of single-platform and hybrid solutions that allow the integrator to utilise the best technology available for their project.

What were the standout products that caught the eye of attendees?

Christian: We released over 30 new products this year across all five of our HDBaseT, HDMI and AV over IP technology platforms – many of which are in new product categories and all developed from direct industry feedback.

We unveiled our new 2x8 HDBaseT 4K HDR splitter featuring both Class A and Class B transmission launching end of this quarter.

We launched the new modular evolution of our H2X Series HDBaseT 5Play 4K HDR and integrated audio matrix switchers featuring seven new transmission cards, including HDBT Input for decentralised sources, separate audio and video zone expansion, SDI and HDBaseT with balanced audio, and variable compression over HDBaseT and multimode fibre supporting signals at the full bandwidth 18Gbps 4K@60Hz 4:4:4.

We showcased our full extender line, including new models featuring the same variable compression technology as the H2X, to support point to point full bandwidth 18gbps 4K over both HDBaseT up to 70m and fibre up to 300m. We showed our new 20m and 30m uncompressed 18Gbps HDMI over active optical cables shipping soon.

Our NetworkHD AV over IP line has grown considerably from our low bandwidth HD over 1Gbps H.264 100/200 Series. Our ultra-low latency 400 Series 4K HDR over 1Gb using JPEG2000 technology powered the WyreStorm booth and CEDIA saw the launch of the 600 Series ultimate quality 4K HDR over 10Gb featuring SDVoE transmission for a complete coverage using three AV over IP platforms.

All that was demonstrated with the new NetworkHD Touch control app for iPad, which is now even better with the latest update – and still free with NetworkHD.

What did visitors to the WyreStorm booth ask about?

Christian: Every integrator wanted to know the best way to distribute 4K, but of course there is no one best solution, it all depends on the particular application. WyreStorm as a company, and virtually all our technical staff, come from an integration background so we understand the needs of the dealer. At the booth, the WyreStorm team spent time explaining what technology dealers should and shouldn’t be using to achieve exemplary results.

Was support for full 18Gbps HDMI and 4K HDR @60Hz a hot topic?

Christian: Definitely! The industry often tends to fixate on a highest specification to the detriment of practical application and, to a certain extent, common sense. Of course, WyreStorm offers products across HDMI, HDBaseT and AV over IP that support transmission of full bandwidth 18gbps 4K content, but as platforms such as HDBaseT or even SDVoE are limited to 10Gbps bandwidth, transmission over distance requires a certain level of compression to fit down that pipe.

It’s a question of making sure the dealer understands the capabilities of the currently available transmission platforms and then finding a solution based on the actual requirements of their application.

More information: WyreStorm +44 (0) 1793 230343, wyrestorm.com

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21/09/2017 09:48

Essential Install | HDANYWHERE

HDANYWHERE Doing More With Less Hardware Whole Home AV Control With No Extra Boxes Or Cost

4000+

Doing More With Less Hardware

Central to HDA’s growth strategy is leveraging MHUB’s bonus add-on technologies to enable home technology professionals (HTPs) to achieve more from a single device thus creating more value for the end-user and easier opportunities to sell additional services in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

Chris Pinder, HDA founder comments, “An MHUB PRO changes the relationship people have with TV in their homes. Voice control is a big part of that changed relationship. We removed the box-clutter from living spaces, now we’ve removed the remote also. Macrosequences create single command simplicity and the ultimate convenience, that other brands cannot offer from a one-box solution. This allows our HDA Pros to provide incredible service, whilst saving time and money. A genuine win-win-win for HTPs and end-users alike.”

HDANYWHERE’s uControl is available for MHUB PRO users and can be downloaded from iOS and Google app stores now.

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Back in April the HDANYWHERE (HDA) uControl universal remote app was launched, offering source & TV control via the MHUB’s integrated IP2IR technology (with no additional control hardware required). uControl users can turn on the TV and control the volume, select sources and control them, play and pause, navigate programme guides and menus, and finally turn everything off in the room when leaving. All via the free app.

Hands-free And Remote-control Free Operation

Users don’t even have to use an app to achieve control, they can go completely hands and remote free. They can use their voice to control their home entertainment in every room, thanks to a recent update to MHUB’s What operating system, MHUB-OS, delivered free of charge to every MHUB PRO globally in the beginning of August.

Alexa Voice Control & Macro-sequences

Unique and patented to HDA, MHUB-OS unlocks the potential of MHUB PRO’s onboard IP2IR engine by Vol up adding macro-sequencing for simplifying the ease and convenience of controlling TV and audio in our homes. Go completely remote and hands-free by using single voice commands or a uControl app ‘quick action’ buttons – triggering multiple signals to multiple devices in sequence to deliver a desired end result. This could Change be switching your TV on from standby straight to your channel favourite news channel in the morning, without needing to find the remote or turning all the TVs (and source devices) off in the evening, with a single voice command.

More information: support.hdanywhere.com/ucontrol/

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14 | September 2017 HD Anywhere.indd 14

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PRO.HDANYWHERE.COM Untitled-5 1

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Essential Install | Habitech

Don’t Just Hang The TV, Install It Turn on the TV magic with uber-discreet in-wall design from custom champ Aquavision and add the WOW factor to TV installs everywhere. MD Jonathan Pengilley introduces Habitech’s legendary new brand partner…

Question: are TVs really the only tech worth tweeting about?

You’d think so if the feeds from the recent IFA show in Berlin are anything to go by. It seems the pundits can’t get enough of telly tech: Google ‘Top Ten Gadgets’ and among the health gizmos, novelty robots, levitating speakers, VR leotards and drones, you’ll always find a brand new waferthin TV. The reason of course is that in spite of all the talk about smart appliances and the IoT revolution, the TV is still the primary object of home tech desire.

Truth is that while Jonny and Jocasta may crave the attention of their peers on tablets and phones, their parents – the folks that buy your services – crave the coolest TVs, because nothing boosts the social credit rating like a luxury car or a ginormous telly. You can bang on all you like about the potential of the cloud and wireless tech in the home, but after you’ve built the invisible layers of whole house control, security, and AV networks, the icing on your client’s smart home cake will invariably be the biggest, thinnest TVs you can find. It’s just a tragedy that your most visible triumph can end up contributing so little to your bottom line.

The making of a ‘Classic’: backbox, TV panel, glass

Follow The Money In-Wall

But there’s a custom double-whammy to be had if you look beyond the Sonys, Samsungs and LGs of this world.

Our newest brand partner Aquavision offers you a way to make more on every monitor, and demonstrate your custom virtuosity at the same time. The world’s original and superior custom TV brand is not only priced perfectly for maximum return, it’s designed primarily for the most discreet in-wall integration: a step-up in luxury beyond on-wall. And when your customers are willing to pay top dollar for a little space-age TV magic, not even the latest super thin TVs are able to compete.

WOW TV Everywhere

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Aquavision is just for wet areas. Back in 1997 Aquavision’s launch product – the world’s first in-wall television – was also a waterproof design (the two ideas being sympatico) aimed at bathrooms, showers, saunas and pool rooms. But things have evolved.

The current range is still waterproof up to IP66, but today it addresses the desire for the seamless integration of TV screens with every space, including outdoor areas. When you think Aquavision, think beautifully discreet décormatching in-wall TV, literally anywhere.

What’s more, TV’s custom champion offers multiple permutations of feature set, style and glass design, allowing you to fine tune performance to the application, and aesthetics with the environment. We’re stocking as many as six Aquavision ranges as standard, spanning screen sizes from 16in to 85in at up to 4K resolution. All TVs offer Aquavision’s unique 178° viewing angle and anti-mist heated screen.

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Essential Install | Habitech

Easy Three Step Specification

MirrorVision looks just like a mirror until the TV is on.

Specification is an easy three step process. First, choose your LCD panel size and features from FullHD models in four ranges spanning 16in to 42in and flagship ‘Elite 4K’ UHD panels from 43in to 85in.

Second, pick your style. ‘Frameless’ is a sheer glass screen, its polished edge protruding by just 6mm from the wall, while the ‘Classic’ style has a high quality polished stainless steel bezel standing just 1.2mm proud for a fully flush in-wall appearance. ‘Silhouette’ is an ultrathin on-wall style for when in-wall isn’t possible. Even so it’s still just 50mm from of the wall surface.

Third, select the glass, supplied 6mm thick and fully toughened. ‘Polar White’ has a really elegant look with a simple black border enhancing picture contrast and clarity. Black ink is baked onto the ‘Black’ glass to ensure that the black stays black. And if you need to crank-up the ‘Wow’ factor any further, the slightly tinted ‘MirrorVision’ and perfectly mirror-like MirrorVision+ glass options look just like a mirror until a clear, bright TV picture emerges when the panel behind is turned on. Magical.

Beyond the standard range, bespoke mirror-glass TVs up to 2.4m x 1.5m in size and incorporating Aquavision panels from 16in to 85in can be designed and manufactured exclusively to individual specification.

Aquavision Quality And Support Guaranteed

Aquavision’s ‘Classic’ and ‘Frameless’ styles

If you’re having nightmares about putting anything as complex as a TV in-wall, fear not. Habitech is proud to be backing Aquavision’s unprecedented and historical level of product support. It deploys highly durable commercial grade TV panels warranted for an extended 16 hours of use per day, 7 days a week for 2 years. It carries all parts for at least 5 years after product EOL and in-line with the brand’s ‘fit and forget’ mantra, Aquavision has pledged to support all products with upgrade solutions for up to 15 years. Its ‘hole-in-thewall’ guarantee for instance promises the supply of an Aquavision model to fit any hole based on the brand’s cut-out spec, regardless of when the hole was cut – try getting all that from a Chinese OEM rival.

Aquavision’s new ‘Horizon’ all-weather models extend the TV magic to the great outdoors.

Simple Control Integration

With the exception of the entry level Genesis panels, all models allow easy control integration with 3rd party systems through a mix of IP, RS232 and discreet IR codes; drivers for AMX, Crestron, Simple Control, Control4 and RTI, and from IoS devices through Simple Control’s Home Automation app. Accessories include a remote switch panel, IR links and blasters, relay modules and a Sky Remote eye kit.

All Weather Horizon

We’re partnering with Aquavision at the launch of the brand’s first outdoor TV range. The five new ‘Horizon’ models are equipped with a high quality anti-reflective full HD or 4K LED screen in sizes from 32in – 85in. An IP65 rating protects against water, dust, sand, moisture and insects, and can withstand temperatures of between -40°C (-40°F) and 110°C (230°F).

I’m delighted to be working with Aquavision. When your customers expect to see TV screens flat to the wall, amaze them with a vision of TV flush with the wall in any space, wet or dry, inside or outside. They’ll love the idea of going one better than the Joneses!

We’re offering great intro packages, so get in touch to discover how the world’s leading custom brand can add the WOW to your TV installs and simultaneously swell your bottom line.

For more information please contact: Habitech +44 (0)1256 638500, habitech.co.uk

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Essential Install | CEDIA

The Installer As Artisan

James Davies, director of CEDIA member company, Drexler Hooke, discusses the importance of design in the custom installation industry.

A Drexler Hooke project in Kensington

When working with architects and interior designers at the highest level, a shared passion for design becomes a key element in communication. Ultimately, our job is to help realise the designer’s vision. When we talk about design, we think about drawing layouts or elevations, but the architect is talking about something different, the overall finished aspect of the project; how lines intersect; how light dances across different types of surfaces and how fabrics can dampen or enhance ambiance.

How should we approach a job of this type?

Clearly, the client’s mandate and practicalities need to be taken into consideration. Personally, I make sure I know the products I sell intimately, from colours and finishes to size and structure. I can sit with a client, and have done, to work through Farrow and Ball swatches so that we can match precisely our speaker cabinets to joinery finishes.

Being in a position of expertise requires more than just the ability to know ohms law. It also brings a responsibility to be sensitive to design and take a real interest in it.

This understanding has helped me a great deal in the past, whether a casual conversation about a client’s art collection, which led to the sale of a lighting system, or an inspirational visit to an exhibition, which resulted in making a stellar pitch. All design is important and helps stimulate the creative juices.

How do we express our design expertise meaningfully and in a way that has value?

The reason I got into this industry was my passion for music. Firstly, Motown and Indie, and later Classical. I studied music at university and later took an interest in art and fashion. From a business aspect, I try to introduce what inspires me through every creative way I can, whether that is my headed paper, business cards or website. Continuity and attention to detail is what wins you fans, and fans are what attract clients, especially in this age of fast paced, reactive social media. Generating content on Instagram and Twitter gives you the opportunity to seduce your audience and start conversations.

How can design be integrated with our world?

The bottom line has got to be how we see ourselves. Do you think of yourself as an over inflated TV repair man or an artisan crafting your clients’ systems together by combining your many years of experience, expertise and knowledge? Can we compare ourselves to the watchmaker or the tailor? I think we can.

We take hours building racks, we can spend days customising touchscreen layouts and weeks matching cabinet finishes. Some of us may already be doing the interior design aspect of the job as well, especially if you’re building fully furnished bespoke cinema rooms.

So when it comes to design, get involved. Ask the architect what style they’re trying to achieve; modern, Drexler Hooke bring strong design and expert knowledge to projects

contemporary or minimalist. Tell the interior designer that you know a model of television or speaker that would work better with the industrial style they are trying to achieve.

How can technology integrators develop relationships with the design community?

To integrate fully with interior designers, architects, property developers, and other specifiers, it is vital that we build strong working relationships as well as an understanding of each other’s role.

Lifestyle Technology Showcase

It’s for exactly this reason that CEDIA is inviting architects, designers and builders to its Lifestyle Technology Showcase on 11th October 2017 at The Building Centre in London.

Many in the industry think that comparing our profession to architects and interior designers is like chalk and cheese. But, in my view, it’s about understanding and appreciating where they’re coming from, and educating them about how we can best work together. Ultimately, we all care about the same things: craftsmanship, design and excellence. So, let’s work together to achieve mutual success and a great system and scheme for the client.

More information: Drexler Hooke +44 (0)208 0687000, drexlerhooke.co.uk or tweet James @HomeCinemaJim

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28/09/2017 17:05

NOW LE ILAB AVA

H2 MATRIX GOES MODULAR, GIVES OPTIONS New H2C Series modular 6 and 8-way HDBaseT matrix solution built to custom specification with a selection of 4K transmission cards for medium-sized multi-zone AV distribution.

When it comes to AV distribution we don’t believe “one-size-fits-all." Never have.

Whether in a commercial or residential environment, size, complexity, application and customer experience all vary. So if all AV projects are unique you need a modular 4K HDR matrix switching system capable of being tailored to the application, not the other way round.

Introducing the H2C Series, the latest evolution of our award-winning H2 Series matrix switcher line, featuring a selection of modular 4K transmission cards for the creation of flexible 4K UHD HDBaseT distributions customized by us in-house to the precise needs of your project.

No two AV projects are exactly the same. And now with the new WyreStorm H2C Series, neither is your matrix switcher.

H2C modular transmission options include: TX-H2-ARC

TX-H2-MIR

HDBaseT Class A transmission with S/PDIF ARC output

HDBaseT Class A transmission with mirrored HDMI output

(4K: 70m/230ft | 1080p: 100m/328ft)

(4K: 70m/230ft | 1080p: 100m/328ft)

TX-H2-AUD

TX-H2-CLB

HDBaseT Class A transmission with line-level audio breakout

HDBaseT Class B transmission without Ethernet (4K: 35m/115ft | 1080p: 70m/230ft)

(4K: 70m/230ft | 1080p: 100m/328ft)

4K AND HD SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION | AV OVER IP | CONTROL SOLUTIONS

Essential Install Full Page Advert August 17.indd 1 Untitled-4 1

WYRESTORM.COM

8/11/17 3:10 PM 14/08/2017 12:11

The World’s Finest Music & Home Cinema, descreetly T H E S T E I N W AY LY N G D O R F S 1 5

If you have clients who demand the very best, come and hear what makes Steinway Lyngdorf the partner of choice for the country’s most discerning installers.

The only audio systems that can satisfy musicians, audio professionals and those familiar with live music, the performance of Steinway Lyngdorf systems is without equal.

To find out more and to start sharing the UK’s finest listening rooms, please contact Gecko.

NOW SHIPPING IN FARROW & BALL COLOURS

www.s t e i nway l y ng dor f . c om Gecko Hom e Ci ne m a - 0845 262 2882 Untitled-6 1

28/09/2017 17:36

This Month’s Essential Supplement

Speakers

meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Speakers

Speak Up

Speakers should sound great, that’s a must. But as design takes more precedence, there is now a need to make a bold artistic statement, either with an impressive set of standalone speakers, outdoor solutions disguised as rocks or plant pots, or to hide them completely, with invisible in-wall solutions. EI investigates.

Meridian’s DSP8000 SE loudspeakers are anthropomorphic in design

Meridian believes that the listener should feel every emotion. It’s this experience that shapes not just the company’s philosophy but its whole approach to innovation in the home technology sector.

A strong option for theatres, distributed audio and music systems, Meridian’s DSP loudspeakers deliver a powerful, authentic audio performance in any room size thanks to a range of built-in technologies that ensure great sounding, reliable audio.

Meridian also notes the growing trend for in-ceiling and in-wall options. Its in-wall/in-ceiling DSP320 loudspeaker combines premium audio performance with discreet, unobtrusive installation.

Its compact enclosure, measuring just 100mm deep and 300mm square, makes it ideal for mounting in a wall or ceiling with easy installation and precise positioning. As a Digital Active Loudspeaker, the DSP320 contains two powerful 80W class amplifiers for widerange and bass drivers, meaning that no

external amplification equipment needs to be installed.

This leaves more space available for other systems and reduces any unnecessary heat in the rack.

The DSP320 also features Meridian’s Enhanced Bass Alignment (EBA) and Centre Elevation technologies, delivering exceptional bass and full-range audio performance. The result is a perfectly aligned, immersive audio experience where all ranges of sound reach the listener at one time. Designed for use in home theatres, media rooms, marine and commercial installations, the DSP320 is designed to be the perfect partner for Meridian’s floor-standing loudspeakers.

Meanwhile, Meridian’s DSP640 and DSP520 in-wall digital active loudspeakers provide equally discreet, high-quality audio performance from a compact system. Requiring only a 100mm mounting depth, the DSP640 is the perfect inwall music or movie solution that delivers wide sound dispersion and the minimum unwanted diffraction. Its internal 100W and 150W power amplifiers deliver wide-range and bass audio, and Centre Elevation technology for a lifelike cinema experience.

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 251 powered Zone controller

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Ci SERIES

E X T R E M E T H E AT R E

Image courtesy of AWE Europe Ltd

For the ultimate in Extreme Home Theatre, KEF’s formidable new custom installed THX models have the jaw-dropping acoustic capabilities of our class-leading floorstanders, with all the drama and emotional intensity of full theatre sound quality.

In recognition of the model’s ability to recreate the tonal balance of the filmmaker’s final mix, the powerful Ci4100QL-THX in-wall speaker has now also been certified to a THX SELECT2 standard. This range of advanced high output speakers can be complemented by one of the world’s first THX Ultra2 in-wall subwoofers: the sensational Ci3160RLb-THX or the new Ci200QSb-THX - a formidable in-wall subwoofer for delivery of deep bass and theatre-thumping output capabilities.

Together, they set a new standard of audio excellence for any space, however demanding.

Hide your speakers, not your sound.

Available from official distributor, AWE Europe Ltd. Alexander House, Blenheim Rd, Epsom, Surrey KT19 9AP Phone:+44 (0) 1372 729 777 Email: sales@awe-europe.com

Ci200RR-THX

GP Acoustics (UK) Limited, Eccleston Road, Tovil, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6QP, UK

Ci200QSb-THX

Ci4100QL-THX

Tel: +44 (0)1622 672261

Ci3160RL-THX

Ci3160RLb-THX

Ci5160RL-THX

KEF.com

THX and the THX logo are trademarks of THX Ltd. that are registered in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

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31/08/2017 14:25

The New Generation are here !

Rarely has a loudspeaker passed the test of time and captured the imagination like the Minipod. Now, after a serious investment, Podspeakers have bought them bang up to date using more advanced technology which makes them not only a high end audiophile speaker, but they look better too ! Dont believe us? then have a listen to them.

• Total redesign from the ground up, new drivers, fibre reinforced enclosure, new electronics, in fact everything has changed apart from the shape.

• High end audiophile sound quality - no longer a compromise with lifestyle speaker design (they’re seriously good - you should hear them!)

• Range includes the Drop (with hanging ceiling mount), Minipod MkIV, Minipod Bluetooth, Bigpod, and soon the Micropod MkII • Mix and match hoops and spikes in 6 different finishes (including real oak) to satisfy the interior designer in your life • Good dealer margins • Display dealers attract a bigger margin and are listed on our website to drive customers to you.

• Extensive UK marketing campaign to increase product awareness

HiFi Cinema Ltd, sole UK distributor • web: www.podspeakers.co • e-mail: alan@hificinema.co.uk • tel: 0118 982 0402

edge fill here

Seamless, Dynamic and Engaging.

NEW Portable Demonstration unit available: Order Now Next C.I. Experience Days: 12th & 26th Oct 2017 Amina Edge5

Medium Power Residential and Commercial 50W Continuous / 100W Peak 65Hz - 20kHz 90dB 1m/2.83Vrms Edge fill, one man fast install

edge fill here

The Amina Edge Series.

Amina Edge7

High Power Residential and Commercial 75W Continuous / 150W Peak 45Hz - 20kHz 93dB 1m/2.83Vrms Edge fill, one man fast install

www.aminasound.com | info@aminasound.com | +44 (0) 1480 354390 Essential Install Sept17v3.indd 1

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25/09/2017 11:24

Essential Install | Speakers

SpeakerCraft ATX100 is a speaker solution for Dolby ATMOS

Meridian’s DSP8000 Special Edition digital active loudspeakers deliver a phenomenal performance., says the maker. These high quality speakers contain integral DAC’s, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and built-in high efficiency digital crossovers. The design means that the loudspeaker enclosure contains the entire system’s electronics. They are also controlled remotely, which means no unsightly speaker cables or obtrusive wiring. The DSP8000SE represents the pinnacle of Meridian’s expertise in design aesthetic, high quality build and fantastic sound.

The M6 Digital Loudspeaker incorporates high performance amplifiers and a sleek, cylindrical design to complement any interior design scheme. It features Enhanced Boundary Control to eliminate bass boom, and a wide dispersion pattern to create superb, natural sound that can be enjoyed from any position. With a revised and improved cabinet resin, the enhanced M6 digital active loudspeaker will be available from October as a single loudspeaker, with the addition of a ‘mono’ mode developed from the work undertaken on the DSP320.

From inside the walls

Leon’s speakers were tested in an anechoic chamber in Ann Arbor

Jason Aldous, of Aldous Systems, talks to EI about its new SpeakerCraft ATX-100, which is currently the only in-wall height speaker solution for Dolby Atmos. “It allows a dealer to have an in-wall solution where height channels cannot be installed in the ceiling,” Jason says. “It is a great solution for dealers that want to deliver Atmos solutions where there are limitations.”

The ATX100 is the architectural in-wall solution to the traditional floor standing or bookshelf height speakers and reflects sound off the ceiling, including overhead, to place and move audio anywhere in the room for an immersive experience.

The ATX100’s dual drivers and tweeter fire upward into the acoustically controlled wave guide that projects the Dolby Atmos height cue information off the ceiling.

The ¾in custom titanium dome tweeter with high energy Neodymium magnet structure boasts frequency response up to 22kHz. With its dual 2½in Kevlar-reinforced pulp mid-bass drivers, the ATX100 can handle up to 125W of amplifier power at 8 Ohms.

To maximize the sound reproduction and minimise sound transmission to adjacent rooms, the ATX100 features a fully integrated acoustic back box. It leverages SpeakerCraft’s Acoustic Isolation Technology to minimise acoustic energy transfer to the mounting and surrounding surfaces. This acoustic decoupling allows listeners to hear more of the actual speaker and less of the sound that normally radiates from the mounting surface.

Featuring a distinctive design, Leon Speakers’ new Seven series was developed in collaboration with renowned recording artists, producers, and acoustic engineers and uses high quality materials to produce great sound, captivating the casual listener and indulging the discerning audiophile.

Meticulously tested in Leon’s anechoic chamber at the company’s Ann Arbor facility, the maker says the series brings remarkable sound to casual listening and entertaining rooms, home theatres, and distributed audio systems, and can be customised to seamlessly integrate into any space.

Shipping begins in September with a number of models including the Timbre Seven bookshelf speakers, the Horizon Seven soundbar, the Profile Seven sidemount speakers and the Detail Seven on-wall speakers.

“Often designers talk about form and function. We started this project with passion and purpose. The Seven series takes everything we’ve learned over Leon’s 20-year history, and brings to life our passion for music, craftsmanship, and design”, says Noah Kaplan, founder and CEO of Leon Speakers.

CAVD, aware of the increasing demand for invisible solutions, offers the Nakymatone speaker range. “Plaster or wallpaper-over speakers are becoming ever more popular,” says CAVD’s technical manager Wayne Hyde.

“The freedom to enjoy music throughout the home without seeing anything that resembles a loudspeaker is now a regular demand from interior designers and end users. The Nakymatone range meet that demand perfectly.”

There are four models of plaster or wallpaper-over speakers in the range, all have the same dimensions.

Goed is a very good entry-level plaster-over speaker that features a riveted aluminium tuned back box and dual exciters to drive the music. For an even nicer sound, the next speaker in the range is the Mooi, which is ‘worth selling up’ to the more demanding customer. Echt produces the most realistic sound and combines a super tuned anodised, polished and welded black box with four top of the range exciters to produce beautiful music reproduction. Lastly there’s Twee which is a single speaker for stereo use in smaller spaces.

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 218 Zone controller

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Speakers

Amina’s Edge and Mobius range of speakers

Wisdom Audio ls4

The creators Eric Nakkila and Godfried van Rooij spent three years experimenting to achieve the Nakymatone natural and musical sound. Unlike other speakers, the sound barely travels out of the back of the speaker, meaning less noise breaks through to other rooms.

Controlled Resonance Technology (CRT) is used to great effect. The cabinet and exciters drive a soundboard on the fascia of the speaker which acts much like an instrument, generating sound waves. CRT helps to avoid resonances and eliminate colouration. All models have Backboxes, High Pass Filters and Overload Protection built in to the design and are the only fully enclosed models like this on the market. They run at 8 Ohms and disperse music at 180 x 180 degrees to fill the room.

Amina believes that the increased demand for multi-room and multi-channel audio in the home, together with the trend for modern clean designs, the requirement for discreet, and specifically invisible audio solutions is growing all the time. Since Amina first developed the plaster over speaker in 2001, the technology has continued to evolve and the company has very much removed the barrier between aesthetics and audio performance.

All Amina’s invisible speakers are more akin to an acoustical musical instrument in terms of sound propagation characteristics, than a conventional moving coil cone based solution. The sound disperses hemispherically from the wall or ceiling, right across the frequency range, giving even room filling sound and a complete listening experience over a large area.

Amina’s Mobius Series was created to give the ultimate in mid-high frequency detail and clarity. The product is designed for optimum sound quality when covered with a 2mm final skim plaster coat or equivalent such as wood, wood veneer, leather or even sheet slate, allowing interior design flexibility.

Launched earlier in 2017, the Amina Edge Series uses a brand new soundboard structure designed to be used without additional material on the front panel, other than standard decorating. This soundboard, developed in collaboration with a European composite specialist, uses a high performance glass filled core making it stiff, light and damped. It is 6dB more efficient that the equivalent Mobius Series speaker for the same power in and allows a greatly enhanced low frequency response down to 45Hz for the Edge7. It provides an excellent listening experience without the need for additional bass enhancement.

Whilst more suppliers are stepping onto the invisible speaker platform, there are increasingly different levels

of quality/performance products on the market, Amina concludes. Those who specify such products need to understand the complete package including ease of install, frequency range, dispersion characteristics and options for installation, to ensure a genuinely invisible high end solution the client is going to thoroughly enjoy.

Habitech is offering the proven excellence and versatility of Wisdom Audio’s unique speaker design proposition to integrators of luxury home cinema and two-channel sound systems. Wisdom Audio’s range integrates the brand’s core driver technologies and performance virtues with scalable installation flexibility to allow the design of elite, ultra-discreet, high performance audio systems in any residential space. Designers will achieve breath-taking levels of fidelity from installations of in-wall, on-wall and free-standing speaker models, including line-source and point source designs; in-wall, freestanding and floor-ceiling subwoofers; in-ceiling speakers, ‘Superbar’ soundbars, and a range of x-over/ EQ electronics with matching multi-channel amplifiers. A full 9.4.4 Wisdom system now operational at the Habitech theatre in Basingstoke.

The new Sonance Professional Series from Habitech is a range of 70V/100V/8ohm selectable in-ceiling, pendant and surface mount speakers. Engineered for extremely low distortion, wide dispersion and exceptional reliability, the Pro Series in-ceiling, pendant and surface mount models are available in a mix of 4in, 6.5in, 8in 2-way configurations, supported by 8in woofer models. They feature a custom-made full-fidelity transformer for exceptional 70V/100V performance, a convenient front-mounted tap selector for easy adjustment, heavy duty voice coils for reliability at high SPL and high excursion woofers for bass extension. Offered in paintable black or white with discreet onepiece bezel-less grilles (in-ceiling/pendant), the Pro Series shapes up to blend in for coordination with room design.

The slim pendant speakers utilise a minimal design similar to pendant lighting.

Their integrated top cover hides the hanging hardware and wiring connector for a supersmart finish, and they’re supplied with hanging kits and two Gripple hangers to ensure a safe and secure installation. The inceiling models offer an optional square grille in black or white, which allows the speakers to match the aesthetic of square downlights and HVAC grilles for a pristine in-ceiling look. A sealed metal back-box ensures high audio quality while incorporating secure cable/conduit clamping. The surface-mount speakers feature Sonance’s Fast-Mount bracket and front cable connection to speed up the installation process while preserving a sleek, minimal wall profile on inside or outside surfaces.

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 258 eight channel amplifier

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Speakers

crossover to generate a wider frequency range and deliver crystal clear sound quality with smoother overall balance and character. An integrated back box design reduces sound emitted from the rear of the speaker, minimising leakage into other rooms.

Going outdoors

The Monitor Audio IV140 invisible speaker

Lektropacks is Polk’s UK distributor

Monitor Audio’s custom install products are engineered for high performance, reliability and ease-ofuse. They’ve been developed using the advanced driver technologies of the company’s Hi-Fi speaker ranges, including in-ceiling or in-wall, to deliver sound quality without compromising room design.

The demand for all of Monitor Audio’s products continues to grow, with the outdoor speaker market a particularly strong area. The Climate range has been designed to operate in demanding environments and is popular for use outside the home and in outdoor bar and restaurant areas. The Climate speakers can also be used inside the home in a wet environment such as a swimming pool.

The Climate Garden System has been created for concealment in any garden landscape and transfers Hi-Fi audio quality from home to garden, providing music lovers with the lifestyle experience of big, wide, detailed sound in the great outdoors. Its super-discreet all-weather satellite / subwoofer design has been beautifully and expertly engineered by Monitor Audio for ground level installation amongst shrubs and trees to deliver a luxury blend of unobtrusive aesthetics and natural full-range audio. The AWC series is another of Monitor Audio’s outdoor ranges and has been created to deal with the toughest of situations and is perfect for installation in marine environments.

For indoor locations, the Monitor Audio IV140 invisible speaker is designed to deliver ‘best in class’ audio performance in concealed in-wall and in-ceiling applications. The speaker fits into all conventional 4in stud bays, and once installed and skimmed with plaster, is completely out of sight. A large low-frequency transducer and two high frequency transducers provide punchy, high power bass and sound vibration. This two-way transducer design also features an integrated

Carl Eagle, head of audio at Exertis speaks to EI about the rise in outdoor solutions. “We’re seeing great growth, especially the Bluetooth segment among consumers. With audio streaming becoming more popular and accessible these days this is a trend set to continue. One of our brands, Audica, has R&D programmes that continually raise the bar on audio quality, connectivity efficiency and affordability. It’s not only portability though, people now want more permanent outside fixtures and fitted speakers which are weatherproof and securely fitted.”

Speaking more generally, Carl believes music and audio is back on a growth curve thanks to the rise in popularity of streaming services. He says: “The flexibility and portability of today’s audio has driven demand for the speaker sector. No longer is listening the preserve of privacy and headphones, music and the spoken word can be taken on the move, around the house and enjoyed with others. The growth in wireless (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) audio has been a boon to many, and the range of speakers available has grown to the point where there are now standalone, multi-room, internal and external models to suit all budgets, needs and ears.”

Hidden sound

Does he see a rise in hidden solutions? Or is there still scope for beautifully designed speakers on display?

“It’s question of need and personal taste really,” says Carl. “The Flexson range shows audio output is not compromised by being unseen. However, others will, just like with traditional audiophile Hi-Fi, want to make more of a feature of their speakers. We’re seeing a definite increase in lifestyle speakers and they’re spending more on these good looking speakers, so they become a presentation feature in the home, whether more of a stand-out rock band look such as Marshall’s amp styled speakers, or a subtle, complementary and styled look the Urbanears range provides.”

Lektropacks has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor of the Polk Audio range of CI products from the US. Polk Audio’s in-ceiling and in-wall speakers are precision engineered to disappear into their surroundings. With minimally-flanged designs, exclusive Sheer-Grilles and multiple options for effortless installation, discrete flush mount models fit anywhere with virtually invisible sound. The company’s outdoor speakers undergo a rigorous weatherproofing certification program that far exceeds typical military specification weather tests, resulting in an entire line of weather resistant audio products made to fill large outdoor spaces

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 271 digital Theatre controller

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Speakers

aluminium enclosure, and are made with Genelec’s sustainability principles in mind. Each speaker features a pair of amplifiers: one powering the tweeter, the other the mid/bass driver. The F Series active subwoofers are designed to complement the Genelec G Series active speakers in applications where an extended and powerful reproduction of very low frequencies is required. Genelec is distributed in the UK by Source Distribution.

Audio quality is at the top of the priority list for all Genelec products

Sonic Performance

with rich, natural sound. Its subwoofer range harness proprietary technology, advanced bass venting and heavy duty enclosure constructions to eliminate performance robbing turbulence and produce deep, energy efficient bass performance.

Commenting on the appointment, Martin Featherstone, commercial director at Lektropacks, says: “We are thrilled that Polk Audio has chosen Lektropacks to be its exclusive distributor for its excellent range of CI-dedicated products.

“As a US brand that has worked in and supported the most mature CI market in the world, Polk’s experience is vast and can be seen through the attention to detail and ease of installation offered by the range.”

Hiding In Plain Sight

Wisdom showcased the Sage Series ICS7a at CEDIA this year

Giving his interpretation of the balance between hidden sound and on-show speakers, Tomi Hassinen, Genelec’s business manager for Home Audio says: “Hidden audiosolutions have become a popular choice in the residential market, especially in home theatre setups and living rooms but we know that there will always be a place for beautifully designed ‘visible’ premium loudspeakers.

Our hidden in-wall and in-ceiling speakers have proven popular in scenarios where customers are seeking a clean and crisp look, with no footprint.”

“However,” he continues, “in many cases, customers have told us that the Genelec loudspeaker design has been the decisive factor in their purchase; they make an appealing design statement. In addition, they are also easier to install and can be moved around the home easily, unlike in-wall or in-ceiling loudspeakers. Both solutions have their advantages and disadvantages – it is up to the customer and the application at hand as to what they choose. Regardless of the solution, sound quality is always Genelec’s primary focus.”

Genelec’s premium home audio products are the G and F Series. “The G Series loudspeakers deliver outstanding performance, and the F Series of subwoofers compliment the loudspeakers perfectly,” explains Tomi.

Created by designer Harri Koskinen and Genelec’s R&D team, the G Series has five models in a range of different sizes. All speakers feature a die-cast recycled

Wisdom Audio’s managing director, Luc Guillaume, comments on the in-wall speaker market. “A decade ago, in-wall speakers certainly didn’t sound as good as box speakers,” he says. “This created a gap where listeners had to choose between aesthetics and sonic performance. Today, however, homeowners and designers are demanding hidden, high-quality speakers.”

He continues: “Wisdom Audio’s solutions with customisable options make speakers blend in and disappear, a real advantage within the crowded in-wall speaker market. The US market continues to move further away from traditional loudspeakers; the Asian market is focused on free standing solutions, which have to be gorgeous, sound amazing, and be available in multiple custom finishes and endless custom colours to meet the aesthetic appeal of listeners. The European markets are arguably a fair mix between these two trends.”

Wisdom showcased the ICS7a at CEDIA this year.

Targeting high performance entertainment audio applications where architectural design aesthetics can’t be compromised, the Sage Series ICS7a can provide a highresolution stereo audio in a living space, a multichannel solution in a media room or overhead channels in an immersive home theatre.

The new series is a redesign of Wisdom’s Sage P20 driver. This reengineering introduces a breakthrough in the power shading capabilities of Wisdom Audio’s planar magnetic driver (PMD), delivering a fully passive Sage Series point-source product that’s capable of achieving high output down to 57Hz. To ensure maximum clarity, the angled PMD design allows the on-axis energy to be focused straight at the listening area. An optional laser alignment tool (LAT-IC) was created to assist installers in achieving ultra-precise driver orientation.

AWE has secured the exclusive UK distribution of Definitive Technology’s Mythos and Custom Installation collections of loudspeakers. Definitive Technology loudspeakers are designed in California and combine sophistication and precision, producing forward thinking on-wall, architectural, floorstanding, bookshelf and outdoor speakers, alongside both in-wall and freestanding subwoofers.

As AWE already distributes the Denon, Marantz and HEOS brands to the Custom Installation channel, the company was an ideal partner to maintain continuity and propel the Definitive Technology loudspeakers within the UK.

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 251 powered Zone controller

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Speakers

Anthony Gallo is introducing new hanging solutions known as DROP

“The Definitive Technology brand is highly respected in the US for very good reasons. The build and quality of the speakers and subwoofers is immediately evident, and with a vast range of solutions available including premium ultra-slim on-wall models, our customers will be able to specify the best product for each project,” comments Stuart Tickle, managing director of AWE. “We are thrilled to offer installers exclusive access to the installation focussed collections, and are looking forward to building more business for Definitive Technology over the coming years.”

The Mythos XTR Series of on-wall speakers are a stand out in the range, providing the best ultra-slim wall mounted speakers in the world. The speakers have physical depth of just 38mm, matching the popular ultra-thin TV screens that many customers desire.

Providing uncompromising sound quality and high definition detail, the Mythos XTR is set to follow the US lead and become a firm favourite with UK installers who are looking to achieve a powerful audio setup and an aesthetically pleasing end result.

Definitive Technology boasts impressive subwoofer options. The SuperCube range combines digital amplifiers and front-mounted drivers to pack phenomenal power as well as some serious in-wall options too.

Gallo Acoustics’ David Baxter is convinced that there is still scope for beautifully designed speakers on display. “Our brand is testament to the fact that there is a strong demand for more ‘visible’ loudspeakers, hidden solutions such as in-ceiling speakers are obviously massively popular, but they are not necessarily perfect for every application or environment”, he says. “Some clients will prefer to have something more visible, whether to make an aesthetic statement through design or colour, or to achieve optimal acoustic performance which isn’t possible with a down-firing in-ceiling speaker.”

Gallo’s high-end compact loudspeaker range boasts the Micro SE and A’Diva SE. A single driver design employs a proprietary, ultra-wide dispersion flat-diaphragm transducer that covers a frequency range from 80Hz to 22kHz. This allows the SE models to perform as true audiophile standard loudspeakers – without the large enclosures or hefty price tag. The result, says the maker, is beautifully small speakers that sound ridiculously good, with a vivid, crystalclear 3D sound stage that remains stable regardless of the listening position. These ranges are soon to be joined by hanging ‘pendant’ versions, known as DROP. David continues: “A wall mounted speaker is also ideal for overcoming challenging construction constraints that prohibit the use of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. We are expanding our product offering to maximise the number of situations where our products can be used.”

The flagship Strada 2 is a thoroughly modern audio visual loudspeaker, offering amazing performance in any application, whether it’s up-close on a desktop or in stereo and home cinema systems, regardless of room size or the mounting option chosen.

Two versions are available, allowing placementspecific setup. The standard Strada 2 is designed to be mounted vertically, while the Strada 2 Centre sits horizontally, each supplied with the user’s choice of wall or table mount. The TR-3D subwoofer has been specifically designed to compliment Gallo’s loudspeaker range.

More Information: Meridian +44 (0)1480 445622, meridian-audio.com Aldous Systems +44 (0)1296 719582, aldoussystems.co.uk Leon Speakers +44 (0)1438 831095, leon-speakers.co.uk CAVD +44 (0)1628 563344, cavd.co.uk Amina Technologies +44 (0)1480 354390, amina.co.uk Habitech +44 (0)1256 638500, habitech.co.uk Monitor Audio +44 (0)1268 740580, monitoraudio.co.uk Exertis +44 (0)1256 707070, exertis.co.uk Lektropacks +44 (0)844 2091966 lektropacks.co.uk Genelec/Source Distribution +44 (0)20 89625080, sourcedistribution.co.uk AWE +44 (0)1372 729995, awe-europe.com Anthony Gallo Acoustics +44 (0)1555 66 68 83, anthonygallo.co.uk

The perfecT maTch for your loudspeakers 218 Zone controller

info@meridian.co.uk +44 (0) 1480 445678 meridian-audio.com

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Essential Install | Case Study: Interactive Interiors

55in panels surround the screen so Denny can watch 5 channels at the same time

Denny’s indoor basketball court is a slam dunk

Cruise Control

Denny Hamlin is an American stock car racing driver with a need for speed. When he’s not competing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, he’s enjoying his new Lake Norman, North Carolina 30,000 sqft residence that features an indoor basketball court, bowling alley, race and golf simulator, home theatre and helicopter pad, to name just a few…

During the home’s building process in late 2016, Denny wanted to incorporate one central interface to control all his home’s sub-systems and sophisticated entertainment technology. After a recommendation from Thompson Custom Home Builder, he called on local technology integration firm Interactive Interiors to design a fast and reliable automation system to meet his many objectives.

“Denny Hamlin is familiar with control because he had used a different system in a past home, but wasn’t happy with the complexity of the interface and the issues that kept arising,” says Brian Berg, president of Interactive Interiors.

“He asked me to install the most reliable and easiest to use system on the market, and I confidently suggested ELAN.”

Remote Control

The Interactive Interiors team built the residence’s entire smart home infrastructure on an ELAN Entertainment & Control System. The installed system included two ELAN gSC10 controllers, four ELAN g1 controllers, two ELAN S1616A Multi-Zone Audio Controllers, and one ELAN gMV1616 UltraMatrix Switcher, accessible via 12 ELAN

7in touch panels and 16 ELAN remotes. Denny also installed the ELAN app on his smartphone for remote use while on the road. He can now control the home’s lighting, 32 zones of audio, video, and security, from anywhere at any time.

“Interactive interiors did a phenomenal job to quickly and efficiently install ELAN into the home,” says Ted Thompson, president of Thompson Custom Home Builder. “Sometimes, programmers work for months on end when implementing a smart home infrastructure of this size and magnitude. But the installation process and the system configuration was totally seamless.”

Supreme Screens

The Interactive Interiors team designed an extensive entertainment system on a whole home Ubiquiti wireless network for Denny to enjoy during his time away from the racetrack. Throughout the spacious residence, they installed 24 Samsung 60in televisions, both indoors and outdoors, as well as a Samsung 88in curved screen TV in the home’s central media room.

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Essential Install | Case Study: Interactive Interiors

The entire smart home infrastructure is built using ELAN

Powerful Projections

They built and designed a central home theatre, complete with a 110in matte white projection screen with a black velvet frame, and an accompanying Sony SXRD Projector equipped with 4K Ultra HD resolution at a 16:9 ratio.

“We worked closely with the custom cabinet builder to create 55in panels surrounding the theatre screen so that Denny can watch five independent channels at the same time, which is ideal for enjoying different races or games simultaneously,” Berg explains. “Together, we also designed a custom wood frame around the screen with embedded Lutron lighting.”

Bespoke Install

Interactive Interiors worked closely with interior designer Scott Carpenter to integrate unique accents to shield or show technology on a case-by-case basis.

“Denny wanted the overall design aesthetic to be clean, simple and contemporary,” Scott explains. “In addition to the unique architectural and design elements we incorporated, we also played with technology to achieve our goal. We installed custom-built LED lighting strips across many of the home’s mouldings, especially for the home’s art gallery wall.”

According to Carpenter, technology absolutely impacts design and it is therefore important to use it in a way that enhances – rather than inhibits – creativity. “All of the home’s components needed to fit together like a puzzle,” he says. “We really were able to use the technology, and the instant and automatic control, to accentuate particular elements that we wanted to emphasise.”

Security Systems

Denny also wanted a reliable and extensive security system to protect his family and his property while on the road. Interactive Interiors integrated a Holovision doorbell, intercom and camera at the front door into the ELAN system, enabling Denny to check in on the front door from anywhere in the home, or the world. A whole home indoor and outdoor GE security system was integrated into the system for maximum protection.

Thus far, Denny is thrilled with his new smart home and hasn’t experienced any of the previous problems he had with automation. “Denny really wanted to be able to control all of the home’s elements without fuss or complication,” Thompson says. “I would absolutely recommend that builders, integrators and homeowners use ELAN when they are looking for seamless control.”

“ELAN ties all of my home’s components together and makes them accessible from anywhere in the world,” Denny says. “I couldn’t be happier with how the system turned out.”

Essential Kit List • 31 x Sonance Visual Performance Series Speakers with 6 1/2in woofer and 3/4in tweeter • 4 x Sonance Visual Performance Series Speakers with 6 1/2in woofer and 3/4in tweeter • 4 x Sonance Two Channel 100 watt per channel amplifiers • 1 pair Sonance Mariner 52 Outdoor Bookshelf Speakers • 3 x Sonance Visual Performance Cinema Series LCR1S Speakers • 4 x Sonance Visual Performance Cinema Series SUR1S Speakers • 14 x UniFi AC Pro AP Indoor/Outdoor gigabit access point • Ubiquiti UniFi UQP-AC long range pro access point • 2 x Trendnet 48 port gigabit POE managed smart switch • 25 x Lutron QS wireless motorized roller shades • 2 x Lutron QS wireless motorized roller shades-battery operated Media Room • 2 x Launchport wallstation and iPad sleeve • 2 x Omni 42U enclosed rack system • 7 x Samsung 50in flat screen TV • 4 x Samsung 55in TV • 4 x Samsung 60in TV • 6 x Samsung 65in flat screen TV • 3 x Samsung 75in TV • Samsung 88in curve screen TV • Sony SXRD Projector – 4K Ultra HD resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio • 1 10in matte white projection screen with black velvet frame • Yamaha 7.2 channel Wi-Fi aventage network AV receiver • Sony 3D streaming blu-ray disc player • 2 x Omni 42U enclosed rack system • Motorola series cable modem • Luxol router Network • 22 x Radio RA 2 wall mounted 6 button keypad • 14 Lutron appliance plug-in • Dirt Devil twin motor central vacuum Central Vacuum • 3 x Electrolux Elite cleaning set • 2 x JL Audio Fathom Series dual 12in subwoofer drivers • Elan System Controller 1 serial port • Mirage Media Server • 2 x Lutron Main Repeater • 8 x Radio RA 2 wall mounted 6 button keypad • 4 x Lutron 6 button hybrid keypad • 50 x Lutron phase adaptive dimmer • Wirepath IP cameras • Wirepath 16 channel NVR • Holovision doorbell/intercom/camera

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Essential Install | Show Review

CEDIA Snippets

EI’s editor Niamh Marriott offers news, notes, and expert comments from the spectacular CEDIA 2017, held this year at the convention centre in San Diego and featuring a monumental mass of AV automation and smart technologies.

Expert talks and training were hugely popular this year at CEDIA

From lights to loudspeakers, screens to smart locks, catching up with old friends of EI and meeting shrewd new start-ups, this year’s show was a jam packed yet thoroughly rewarding. Though by no means a comprehensive list, the following companies and products stood out to me.

A memorable meeting was with Pulse Cinemas, as the team provided a booth tour of Klipsch, the latest speaker brand to join its line-up, with over 50 new premium custom speaker solutions on show at CEDIA. Speaking about the partnership, Kapes Patel, Pulse’s technical sales director says, “We are convinced that offering Klipsch high-performance speaker solutions to integrators in the UK will give them protected distribution, achievable margins, and unrivalled sound.”

One evening, I was also invited by Pulse to visit a show house set up to display James Loudspeaker products, high end exquisitely designed speakers, for which I was particularly impressed by the outdoor solutions that included a speaker cum plant pot.

Meridian was celebrating its 40th birthday as a company and invited me to their purpose-built immersive sound room for drinks, cake and a catch up on what’s new. Showcasing two new products, the 271 Digital Theatre Controller and 251 Powered Zone Controller, Meridian again proved its commitment to premium quality performance. The 271 allows technology integrators to provide immersive, Hi-Res Audio for home theatre, with the ability to integrate any analogue or digital AV processor or receiver with Meridian DSP loudspeakers. Extending the 200 Series further, Meridian also unveiled the new 251 Powered Zone Controller.

The design features two powerful cool-running channels

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Essential Install | Show Review

ONE TO WATCH: Josh.ai

Josh, voice controlled home automation software, is still very new, so new that they’re not yet expanding to Europe but focusing on the North American market for now. CEO Alex Capecelatro explains, “We started in 2015 and launched our software platform last year, our control system, and now at CEDIA is the first time that we’re introducing our hardware.” The highly user friendly software allow for control of thermostats, fans, lighting, sound systems, security, TVs, shades and doors, and they’re looking to offer even more. And it’s very slick. The product demonstration shown to me was faultless, showcasing the casual phrase structure and natural language used to command each element.

The new hardware, for which one can be purchased for each room, has transformed their business model into a more affordable product. Part of what makes the voice platform very powerful is the ability to perform compound commands, “Unlock the door, open the shades and turn on the library TV” seamlessly. Due to privacy laws and restrictions, they’ve not yet branched out to the UK but Josh.ai is certainly one to watch.

Networking and learning was rife, with plenty to see and do

The show floor was a hive of activity

of on-board amplification enabled for Hi-Res Audio including Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) audio.

It was awarded a CE Pro BEST Award at CEDIA in the Multiroom Audio Amplifier category.

Neil Davison of Genesis walked round the exhibition hall with me to catch up on the latest from him and to discuss the need for quality acoustic dampeners.

MantelMount seriously impressed with its MM850 Automated Pull Down & Swivel TV Mount, which will be available from Autumn 2017. Having not seen an autonomous rack yet, this was outstanding in both design and ease of use. It came from the idea that TVs are often mounted above a fireplace or mantelpiece yet this position doesn’t lend itself to optimal viewing. Hence, the movable mount enables the TV to sit in the perfect spot for the individual viewer.

I met Christian Thomas from WyreStorm who talked me through their new H2X Series of modular HDBaseT 5Play 4K HDR matrix switchers with integrated audio matrix switching, featuring a selection of multi-format transmission cards for the ultimate in options for video and audio distribition over copper and fiber.

WyreStorm also officially announced its membership of the SDVoE Alliance at CEDIA. I met up with Justing

Kennington, present of the alliance, to find out more about the technology and the benefits of joining.

Following this vein, I was also keen to meet Mitch Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance, which has over 600 members, 2100 Z-Wave certified products and, apparently, there are 70 million devices powered by Z-Wave installed around the world. Keep an eye out in the next issue of EI for some more alliance announcements.

Stealth acoustics debuted its new three-way invisible architectural speaker, the LRx83, which combines a 25mm tweeter, a 30mm midrange device, and an eight-inch high-power cone woofer. Jennifer from Igloo Home demonstrated the company’s smart lock, the only one on the market right now that doesn’t require Wi-Fi. Atlona unveiled the new OmniStream R-Type, its networked AV product line designed for residential and light commercial applications, whilst demonstrating its UHD p60 platform featuring HDR, HDCP 2.2, and video wall capabilities plus extremely low latency. CEDIA also marked the debut of AMS 2.0, the evolution of the Atlona Management System. The update makes it faster than ever before and much easier to configure and manage.

Gallo Acoustics debuted its PC850 Pendant 8in Speaker and Stewart Filmscreen debuted its dual-roller projection screen, appropriately named Gemini, which uses dual aspect ratios to accommodate both HDTV (16:9) and Widescreen Cinema Scope (2:35:1) screen materials for environments with high ambient light as well as home theatres.

I also had brilliant meetings with Barco, Waterfall Audio, Trinnov and Intrinsic Group, as well as with James Bliss from CEDIA itself to discuss emerging trends and products.

As many of you are aware, I’m still relatively new to this industry and I knew that attending CEDIA would give me ample opportunity to get to grips with all things install. What I didn’t expect, however, was to find myself surrounded by such wonderful folk. Yes, of course, the technology shown is groundbreakingly awesome, but what struck me the most was the genuine enthusiasm and work ethic on display, and the kindness shown to a newbie like me. Bring on CEDIA 2018!

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20/09/2017 09:51 14:55 21/09/2017

Essential Install | Q&A: Sinemas

Visualisation, Design And Modelling For Cinema Rooms ConnectedWorks’ Owen Maddock interviews Simon Grattidge of Sinemas to discuss the rise in 3D design software, and to find out how virtual reality technology is being used as part of Sinemas home theatre design service…

I met Simon Grattidge of Sinemas at EI Live! earlier this year, though I knew him by reputation – originally as an integrator, and more recently through his very high quality 3D cinema and media room renders.

I wasn’t expecting to put a VR headset on and be transported into the Meridian cinema in Huntingdon. I’ve been in that room many times – that’s what it looks like.

Owen: What got you into 3D models and renders?

Simon: I started making them when I was an integrator, to give clients an idea what we could do. If you say ‘home cinema’ to someone, you can’t control the picture in their head – if you show them their own room finished to their taste, it’s very different.

So you can quickly convince a client that they want this, and that you can deliver it.

The benefits are that as clients make their minds up so much more quickly, the level of spend goes up and they knew exactly what they are getting. So if clients take too long to make decisions, or if you aren’t selling at the level you would like to, maybe we can help.

Owen: Why offer it as a service, rather than stay in integration?

Simon: I’m convinced that there is a real need in the industry for high quality modelling and renders. Most integration firms can’t afford a full time 3D artist. The software you need to do it properly gets expensive – first you have to build the model, then you have to texture every surface, then there’s lighting, and finally you need to polish it up with a photo editor. Then there’s the time you’d take building the models – seating, screens, lighting, wall treatments. By outsourcing that you avoid the problem.

Secondly, we were based in Wokingham and working all around London and the Home Counties, but now my family & I have moved to Derbyshire for a change of pace while my daughter is still little.

Owen: Why ‘Sinemas’?

Simon: It was an accident. I wanted to focus on Home Cinema, so the original idea was to be ‘Cinemas’ – bold and direct.

But then we couldn’t get the right web address, so a friend suggested the different spelling, and helped create the logo.

Owen: Can you explain to me how projects work?

Simon: Usually an integrator brings us the space and the client – perhaps on architect’s plans, or an existing room. We have a simple online form that the dealer fills in with information from the client, along with details of the equipment they are specifying. Based on that feedback we’ll design the cinema or media room with them. We’re completely brand agnostic – most guys have speakers and all the rest they prefer to install, that’s fine.

We do make sure all the technical details are correct and compatible – SPL, brightness levels, and speaker positions all need to be absolutely to book. Many of our integrators can do all that, but we can do it to speed things up, or as a double check.

Often the client will suggest things or changes based on what they see – simple colour changes or even change the layout. That’s great, and basic revisions and alterations are included.

Equally, we get direct enquiries for design services, and we pass those jobs to our member integrators.

Owen: Do I have to sign a contract?

Simon: We can create a single room render, or with 360º panorama, for a set price. So if you don’t get many cinema projects you can use us when the right one comes in.

Alternatively you can sign up to be part of our Sinemas dealer network, which gives you a design a month, with 360’s included, and then you’ll get referrals back from us in your area – our reputation for design services is growing.

Owen: What can we expect from Sinemas in the future?

Simon: We’re really happy as we are, and growing very nicely, but recently we’re having some interesting conversations about lighting. My rendering engine allows me to create accurate models of different lighting types and change the lighting on the fly. So again we can add value and show the end user what they’ll be getting. When a project is well lit, it always looks stunning.

Owen: So you’re creating models and even using VR to show clients what they can have. What about virtual reality as entertainment?

Simon: Well it’s certainly interesting, but you have to think about what people want to use their home cinemas for.

Generally, you’re hanging out as a family, or spending time with your partner or friends in the evening.

You can’t relax with a glass of wine if you’re wearing a VR headset. You’ll spill it.

Sinemas now offer 3D models and renders as a service

More information: ConnectedWorks +44 (0) 117 214 0115, connected.works Sinemas +44 (0) 118 321 3707, sinemas.co.uk

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This Month’s Essential Supplement

Touchscreens & Programming

Totally New. Total Control 2.0

Introducing the Next Generation of Control A truly personalised experience for your customers. Custom backgrounds, room images and icons. Next generation tabletop and in-wall touchscreens. A/V intercom for door station and camera integration. Voice control integration.

Touchscreens.indd 39

28/09/2017 15:42

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14/07/2017 09:14

Essential Install | Touchscreens & Programming

Touch Me

Touchscreens have always been a key component of a smart home, and as the main interaction point they define the user experience of the entire system. What is the most novel use of touchscreen? And more importantly, what’s the most common issue with programming and how can it be solved?

With Total Control 2.0 installers can personalise their URC system

A cheaper yet elegant option is the Eve range from Basalte

AWE offers a new breakthrough in home control platforms with the launch of Total Control 2.0 from URC. “Total Control 2.0 is a dramatic step forward in controls, the biggest and most substantial platform upgrade since its launch,” says Mal Fisher, chief technical officer at AWE. “It brings much greater flexibility, a more attractive aesthetic and faster, higher performance operation to create a significantly better user experience.

Combined with its series of recent hardware innovations, this comprehensive software update puts URC streets ahead of the controls competition.”

Featuring a full graphical update, a new user interface and advanced logic, Total Control 2.0 enables installers to put homeowners in charge of their home with a seamless, intuitive and versatile solution.

With Total Control 2.0, installers can personalise their URC system using a fully customisable colour scheme.

They can also add attractive images to help define scene and background settings. Either single devices or scenes can take preference on the interface to meet the individual needs of homeowners. Up to 100 scenes can be preprogrammed for immediate access to a specific command.

Total Control 2.0 also boasts much faster speeds for both installers and end users, with downloading to the system, loading new programming and response time all vastly improved. Installers can also make adjustments and edits much more quickly and simply, and pollinate across different control devices in the house with ease.

Alongside the release, the extensive range of designled URC controllers is now also available, via AWE. One of the major attractions in this series is the unique 7in TDC-7100 desktop controller which provides elegant, responsive control over the system. The TDC-7100 affords added security and room-to-room connection benefits and also features a camera and speaker to work alongside the intercom system.

As well as substantial end user benefits, URC is directly increasing the opportunities for installers with Accelerator

2.0, its new software development platform. Featuring advanced logic, very specific and complex statements can be programmed. By incorporating ‘if’, ‘and’, ‘then’ and ‘or’ commands, the system becomes more in tune with the life of the homeowner. In-built scheduling for commands on a specific time or date increases the level of autonomous directives completed by the system.

Stuart Tickle, managing director of AWE adds: “The team at URC have done a great job – I love it and am sure installers and consumers will too. Total Control 2.0 is the single, most substantial update to any product range I can recall.”

Ivory Egg know that touchscreens have always been a key component of a smart home, and as the main interaction point they define the user experience of the entire system. Regardless of the quality of the installation and the components used, the customers impression of the system will be defined by how they interact with the systems, be it a good experience or a bad one.

Ivory Egg state that there are two main levels of control in a building, the entertainment and the infrastructure, and they have different user requirements. Using a touchscreen for entertainment allows you to show cover art, now playing information and provides a central point for transport control, whereas an infrastructure system controls many underlying aspects of the home, such as lighting, heating, cooling and shading. Having these extra control options requires a different approach to designing a GUI on a touchscreen or app.

7” touch screen wall and desktop controllers with intercom

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Essential Install | Touchscreens & Programming

Crestron Mercury is the first all-inone meeting and collaboration room solution

SmartTouch is a touchscreen designed to control building infrastructure

Gira X1 can be accessed on a smartphone

Whilst the two are not mutually exclusive, careful consideration is needed to ensure the user experience isn’t affected by either overloading the user with data or not being able to provide enough information. There is little point in cluttering an interface with sporadically needed data.

On smaller projects, both sets of interface could coexist on the same touchscreen or app without any issue, says Ivory Egg, however on a large project it might be more suitable to have two separate interfaces.

The newly launched SmartTouch from ABB is a prime example of a touchscreen designed around controlling building infrastructure. The direct connection to KNX means it is able to control all manner of automation functions. It can be integrated with the ABB Welcome door communications system and is available in black or white glass, and at only 13mm thick, it is a sleek and stylish product.

Another example is the Gira X1. Again, controlling KNX, the key difference is that the interface is available on a phone or tablet, removing the need to install a dedicated touchscreen, and therefore can be used remotely. It has an integrated IP Interface which can be used for programming or interfacing to other systems.

The X1 can be used with a dedicated wall mounted iPad or tablet, which is often a cheaper option and can still look elegant once mounted, such as the Eve range from Basalte. Eve also offers a stylish table top mount ideal for locating a tablet on a kitchen island, for example.

With its clean, contemporary design highlighted by edge-to-edge glass and stunning colour graphics, the Crestron TSW-560P touchscreen makes an elegant statement on any wall. Perfectly at home in the most contemporary residence or modern office building, its high-tech good looks underline its power for simplifying everyday tasks and functions throughout any facility.

The TSW-560P features a portrait-oriented 5in capacitive touchscreen display with Smart Graphics and 5 soft-touch buttons. PoE connectivity and a range of mounting options make installation easy and the screen border now features backlit capacitive buttons that illuminate according to user needs. Additional advanced features include the abilities to control any function using voice commands, view security cameras and other video sources, communicate using builtin intercom and phone capabilities, browse the internet, and enjoy full access to a Sonos Home Sound System.

Crestron offer the new Residential Studio, which makes it simple to add components and features to touchscreen interfaces, without the need for programming. It is loaded with new features and system improvements which enable consistent intuitive control in minutes. Studio training takes two days after which it is possible to get to work creating custom controls, intuitive touchscreen and mobile device interfaces. By building a library of common systems it is possible to ensure even faster deployments and future expansion.

“Technology, workspace design, and culture have all evolved and converged on a single inflection point, and we are now a more connected, collaborative, mobile society, says Jeff Singer, executive director of product marketing at Crestron. “The logical assumption would be that it is much easier to meet, share, and collaborate than ever before. Yet in many ways, communicating has become much more challenging. There are many reasons for this, and now, a simple solution – Crestron Mercury.”

Crestron Mercury is the first all-in-one meeting and collaboration room solution that supports any video conferencing system regardless of location or conferencing service. Combining all the must-have conferencing and collaboration tools in one easy to use console, Crestron Mercury is Bluetooth enabled and includes a precision engineered speaker and 360° microphone. Participants can use any soft phone, web conferencing, or UC application such as Skype for Business, to collaborate. In addition, the built in Crestron AirMedia gateway enables secure, wireless presentation on the room display from any device.

Crestron Mercury securely connects to the network for cloud-based provisioning and management, leveraging standard network security protocols. A built-in occupancy sensor supports energy-saving automation as well as collection of room usage data and it connects directly with Microsoft Exchange Server or Crestron Fusion Software to make room scheduling easy.

iOS and Android sytem control with free app

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08/09/2017 09:45 12:17 21/09/2017

Essential Install | Touchscreens & Programming

Collaboration created the Vantage – adorne LowVoltage Keypad

Vantage Controls partnered with adorne to produce the Vantage – adorne Low-Voltage Keypad, combining the unique and appealing adorne aesthetic with the power of Vantage’s low voltage keypad technology. The collaboration between the two Legrand brands brings homeowners using the InFusion lighting control system

by Vantage more flexibility and design opportunities, including the option to match with other adorne products such as outlets and wall plates.

“This is a powerful collaboration by two of our exciting brands,” says Mark Moody, product manager at Vantage Controls. “Dealers can now offer homeowners a wider variety of aesthetic options for customising InFusion lighting controls, and customers using adorne now have the option of integrated lighting and shade control.”

This solution can control up to 3,600+ lighting loads and provides room-by-room or whole house scene control as well as personalised control through Equinox touchscreens and applications. The new series of user interface keypads are available in 1, 3, or 6 button configurations per switch with a wide range of faceplate styles and finishes. The keypads come with Touch, a capacitive touch feature by adorne that turns lights on and off with just a soft touch of the finger. They provide scenebased control and are available in low voltage two-wire bus versions.

Control4 provides personalised automation and control solutions that allow consumers to fully command their home or business. When designing a Control4 smart home system, installers can now program touchscreens to provide complete system-control with one touch. Control4 offers two touchscreen devices that allow homeowners to seamlessly control every aspect of their smart home, the T3 In-Wall Touchscreen and the T3 Tabletop Touchscreen, available in both 7in and 10in displays. Offered in both black and white and with edge-to-edge glass, the lowprofile design of the T3 series touchscreens blends seamlessly with any décor.

Control4’s in-wall touchscreen can be mounted almost anywhere in a consumer’s home, offering dedicated control of the home’s technology. With its tablet design, the Tabletop Touchscreen can be easily carried around

Control4’s new homeowner customisation feature: When >> Then

and used in any room of the house, bringing consumers portability and versatility. Customers can browse playlists with a single swipe, personalise the lighting in any room, and use HD video and audio intercom to communicate with visitors at the front door, or with people in the next room. And, because Control4 integrates with over 10,500 third-party consumer electronics products, homeowners can easily sync their system with devices they already own and love.

To further ease and expand upon the touchscreen control included with the T3 series, Control4 offers a remote access service 4Sight, a subscription based service accessible via the Control4 app, homeowners can use a web browser, mobile device, or tablet to manage their system from anywhere in the world using Anywhere Access. 4Sight and Anywhere Access allow homeowners to use their touchscreen devices to adjust lights, change temperatures, check doors, and fully command their smart home systems while they’re away.

One of the key benefits of smart home integration is the ability to design a system to suit a homeowner’s specific needs and lifestyle. One installer’s design of a Control4 system used touchscreens to create a sophisticated security system. In the spring of 2017, Future Automation & Design worked with a Los Angeles couple to outfit their home with a Control4 system, designed with their specific safety and security concerns in mind.

This included more common configurations, like lighting scenes, audio scenes, and thermostat and HVAC control, but it also included a secure safe-zone. In a dangerous situation, with one touch, the homeowner’s speciallydesigned security mode is enacted and 35 motorised interior shades and 28 exterior security shutters close automatically, and certain rooms of the house become isolated from the rest. The entire system is controlled via Control4 T3 touchscreens and app, proving that these devices can be useful for both entertainment and safety and security purposes.

Control4 states that for professionally-installed smart home systems, a common problem troubling both installers and consumers is the significant inconvenience required to make small tweaks. Once the smart home system has been designed and installed, any change requires the consumer to once again contact and enable the help of the installer. This can be a huge hassle when the consumer wants only a small adjustment, like changing a pre-programmed playlist or modifying a lighting scene.

Fortunately, this issue can now be easily overcome with Control4’s new, homeowner customisation feature, When >> Then. Included with the 4Sight service, When >> Then is a web interface that enables users to personally adjust the automation settings in their homes, at any time after installation. The process is simple. First select a ‘when,’ which is the trigger, like when the garage door opens or when someone presses a button. Next, select a ‘then,’ which is the response they would like to follow the trigger, like then turn on a light, or then play a Spotify playlist.

Wi-Fi remotes for single room or whole-house control

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21/09/2017 09:49

Essential Install | Touchscreens & Programming

miffito combined foot scanners with Elo touchscreens to measure shoppers feet accurately

RTI’s CX10 touchpanel

Elo offers several touchscreen solutions, including POS systems and interactive signage displays from 10 to 70in.

As one of the original inventors of the touchscreen, Elo now has over 20 million retail and hospitality installations in more than 80 countries, with products designed and built to last.

One of the most novel uses of its touchscreens that they’ve seen is from mifitto, a German retailer. They introduced foot scanners that were used to help measure shoppers feet accurately, with the measurements displayed on an Elo touchscreen. Based on these measurements and data on screen, sales assistants would be able to suggest what shoes, and in which size, would be perfect for the customers’ feet. The customer can also browse the products using the screen.

Elo recently announced the release of three new touch products – the 4343L and 5543L touchscreens, the 5502L touchscreen signage and the E-Series 15E3 15in touchscreen.

The E-Series 15E3 15in touchscreen computer is aimed at the retail and hospitality markets due to its robust and rugged design. Designed with an edge-to-edge glass, the 15E3 all-in-one computer features Elo’s TouchPro Pro-G projected capacitive (PCAP) or AccuTouch five-wire resistive touch technologies.

The 5502L, 55in touchscreen is for signage in interactive applications in commercial markets. The 5502L is available in three configurations, including the TouchPro PCAP, IR and a non-touch version, enabling a mixed-deployment unified design. At a depth of only 2in, the profile integrates into modern interiors for retail, corporate, hospitality and healthcare applications and is built to withstand 24/7 use in public environments.

The 4343L and 5543L large-format, open-frame touchscreens are available with TouchPro Pro-M projected capacitive (PCAP) technology. The 43in and 55in models deliver up to 12 touches simultaneously. With a 2.6in profile, these touchscreens are robust, making them suitable for self-service applications where space is limited, including retail, restaurants, hotels, gaming, transportation and medical applications.

RTI believes the biggest issue with programming today is that customers want to manipulate every aspect of their environment with a simple touch, but are often left with a confusing array of controls or apps for the different systems. In response, RTI continues to expand its line of customisable, scalable automation products designed to simplify access to all of the entertainment, lighting, climate, and security systems in residential and commercial settings.

RTI touchpanels combined with the RTI ecosystem give integrators power and flexibility while providing customers with an elegant, intuitive control interface that makes the entire environment come alive with one touch, such as the all new CX10 touchpanel. From the executive boardroom to the gourmet kitchen, the CX10 delivers intuitive control and a high-end entertainment experience in a versatile touchpanel interface.

“With the introduction of the CX10, we continue to broaden our range of innovative touchpanels, providing integrators with a great option for residential and commercial clients,” says Mike Everett, vice president of Global Sales, RTI. “The CX10 is a step up in touchscreen size from our CX7, which will give our dealers more space to create a custom interface, but the features that set this unit apart are the ability to watch HD video, built-in video intercom, and amazing installation flexibility.”

The CX10’s integrated 10in, touch-capacitive 1280x800 WXGA-resolution LCD screen delivers simple, intuitive control of the environment and entertainment. Going beyond control, the touchpanel is also a vibrant HD video display, supported through an integrated HDBaseT input and stereo speakers.

Easy to mount on a countertop or beneath a cabinet, the display has a tilt range from 10 to 90 degrees for the best viewing angle possible. Additional user-friendly features include video intercom support and a built-in composite input to view video from security cameras and other devices. For users’ convenience, a proximity sensor automatically brings the unit to life when approached.

More Information: AWE +44 (0)1372 729995, awe-europe.com Ivory Egg +44 (0)1243 572700, ivoryegg.co.uk Crestron +44 (0)845 873 8787, crestron.eu Legrand +44 (0)345 605 4333, legrand.co.uk Control4 +44 (0)1347 812 300, control4.com Elo +32 (0)1670 4500, elotouch.co.uk Invision +44 (0)1359 270280, invisionuk.com

Premium custom whole-house automation and control

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21/09/2017 09:44

Essential Install | Virtual Reality

Virtually A Reality

The popularity of virtual reality, or VR for short, has exploded in recent years, but the technology comes from a rather humble background, and is a lot older than most people may think. In fact, VR has been challenging the traditional cinematic experience since the 1960s; although only now has the technology developed to such a standard that it can be considered a threat.

The Oculus Rift is largely responsible for VR’s renaissance

Back in the 1960s, VR was little more than an arcade booth that consumers would stick their heads into. These booths, nicknamed Sensorama, were designed to only play short films, but they can be thought of as the original beginnings of virtual reality.

Created by Morton Heilig, a cinematographer, the Sensorama was lightyears ahead of its era. The technology originally gave viewers the sensation of riding a motorcycle through the streets of Brooklyn, although four more films were developed throughout its lifetime.

The technology was revolutionary as it not only used the machine to give viewers a first-person perspective, but it also used vibrations, smells and sounds to completely immerse whoever was watching the clips.

Unfortunately, as with many revolutionary technologies, it simply cost too much to maintain and was eventually shelved. The problem wasn’t the technology itself, however. It was that there was no understanding on how to sell it. This is a problem that many still have today.

Virtual Reality in the 21st Century VR has developed at an exponential pace in the last seven years and it’s largely thanks to one man – Palmer Luckey.

While the controversial, Trump-supporting founder of Oculus VR has since been ousted from the company he built, it was his drive to fix everything that was wrong with VR that led to the reinvention of the technology.

Starting out in his parents’ garage in 2010 at just 17, Palmer built one of the first commercially-viable VR headsets that featured a 90° field of view. This may not sound hugely impressive, but this breakthrough is what led to consumers thinking about VR the way they do today.

The technology that Palmer developed would eventually lead to the Oculus Rift, which is by far the most recognisable VR headset currently on the market. By the

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Essential Install | Virtual Reality

Could Cinera be the first VR headset to replace the home cinema?

That’s an issue that the industry will have to overcome, will users really want to sit and watch a film with a headset on their face for a full two hours? As of right now, it would appear as if the answer is no – with the longest dedicated VR content ever made boasting a runtime of just 40 minutes. That’s hardly going to be a replacement for the traditional home theatre, where films are often played for hours at a time.

The VR Headset For The Cinema Buff end of 2016, an estimated 243,000 Oculus Rift headsets had been sold, although despite its fame, this pales in comparison to some of the competition.

Despite its struggles, Oculus is now owned by Facebook – giving it the investment that it needs to keep fuelling its R&D. That should hopefully mean that the technology isn’t just a fad anymore, and should have some staying power. Facebook can only fund Oculus for so long, however, and consumers have yet to be convinced that they need a VR headset in their life. The Oculus Rift has already received a sizeable price cut to just over £400 in the hopes that it will be more easily accessible to the masses.

The price cut may be a painful pill for Oculus to swallow, but it now means that installers can try out the technology without having to make a massive investment.

The technology could also prove an invaluable tool in selling a standard home cinema installation.

VR In The Home Cinema

The HTC Vive has quickly become one of the world’s most popular VR headsets, thanks to its advanced motion tracking

“Virtual reality most definitely has a place in the home cinema arena,” notes Jason Lovell, former senior product manager, Samsung VR. “The technology is really taking off and film and video entertainment will be key part of VR’s direction moving forward as the industry grows and the technical capabilities of VR evolve with it.”

That’s a bold statement to make, but if anyone knows the direction of VR, it’s Jason. He formerly led Samsung’s VR department, while now he’s the director of brand partnerships for what is widely regarded as the Netflixcum-GoPro of virtual reality, Jaunt VR. Jaunt VR is in the business of delivering cinematic experiences. It has partnered with a large number of brands, including Warner Bros, Los Angeles Times and Disney to create unique videos for enjoying on a VR headset. The company has also produced many of its own original films, although the vast majority of these have still been short clips lasting a maximum of five minutes.

While the consensus appears to be against feature-length VR films, there are some brands that envision a day where consumers everywhere will be donning a pair of goggles to watch the latest Star Wars flick. One such company is Cinera. This Kickstarter-backed project has envisioned a product that solves some of the most common issues involving VR headsets – particularly the weight it puts on the wearer’s head. Instead of requiring a user to wear the Cinera headset, the device itself is attached to an ergonomic hands-free arm.

At first it looks a little comical, but once the headset is on, users will experience something that is typically reserved for an IMAX theatre. It’s no surprise that it gives that experience, as this is a headset exclusively designed for replacing the traditional home cinema – and it’s the first one that might actually work.

While the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the like all offer great immersion, those headsets are built for 360° viewing. The majority of feature-length films don’t need that freedom, which is why Cinera is limited to a screen with a 66° field-of-view. This is still more than the standard field of view a user will get in a commercial cinema, which is typically limited to just 54°.

It’s not just immersion users will get from Cinera, they also receive impressive visual. A 5K screen is included as standard, while special technology ensures that images are crisp. With a pixel per degree (PPD) measurement of 39 the Cinera’s imagery is much sharper than that of its competitors – with the Oculus Rift getting just 11.5 PPD and the HTC Vive boasting a paltry 9.8 PPD. Cinera’s goal is to ‘combine the immersive magic of the cinema with the individual experience today’s mobile devices offer’, according to its CEO and founder, Peter Lin. He admits that there’s still a lot to do to perfect the technology, however. Stating that it typically takes industries years, even a decade, for it to go mainstream.

The End of the Home Cinema?

One would think that Cinera is the end of the home cinema, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s still little agreement amongst any of the industry insiders as to whether VR can be a suitable replacement for the traditional home cinema experience.

Jason from Jaunt is one person who doesn’t see it as a complete replacement. “We see VR as an accompaniment to home cinema, not as an alternative – they provide unique entertainment experiences, and people can enjoy both depending what mood they’re in,” he comments.

“Just like people got used to wearing headphones, having a mobile phone and wearing a smartwatch, I believe that wearing a VR headset will become commonplace in the future.”

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Essential Install | Virtual Reality

Cinera offers an IMAXsized screen, besting even the biggest home cinemas

Richard Vincent, founder of communications agency, Fundamental, is also in agreement with Jason. “I don’t think it replaces, I think it augments. It’s a viewing choice,” he notes.

It could create some challenges for the home cinema industry, however. As Richard surmises: “This is a really exciting time as potentially the cost of physically creating a cinema room has now dropped from £15-25K to £2-4K: a much more accessible option for a much wider audience.”

Whether or not it cannibalises the traditional installation industry is irrelevant at this moment in time, however. That’s because VR currently offers an opportunity for installers that goes beyond whether or not it makes for a good viewing experience.

Rich Green, the founder of CEDIA’s technology council, has been telling installers for some time that the industry needs to adapt to changes, with VR one of the biggest reasons behind that change.

“The AV industry made a lot of money during 80s, but then it became commoditised. That’s what led to integrators taking on home control, energy management and digital health – but now they’ll have to adapt to VR,” he admits.

Never Forget The D

Could VR make home cinema design more immersive?

Rich’s approach to VR is that installers should never forget the D in CEDIA; after all, an installers job should be as equally about design as it is about installation. This is one place where VR technology could actually benefit custom installers – as it gives them an interactive way of showcasing what kind of space they can build for their clients.

Guy Singleton, managing director at The Cinema Designer and Imagine This, feels strongly that VR has a place in home cinema design. “For me, VR is definitely on our roadmap – we’ve spoken about it here since day one. This is the last little bit after dedicating all of our time to making sure the technical elements are all working perfectly – VR is the icing on the cake,” he notes.

“Is it a gimmick? Is it like 3D cinema? This is a very transient industry; future technologies are coming to the foreground. Time will tell. Developing that visual aspect of the tool has always been on the cards for us, but for the moment we have poured all of our resources into the technical side of the software, as this is what we needed to prioritise.”

The Cinema Designer’s approach to VR will be very different from simply sticking a render on a headset, however. The company wants to fully exploit all the advantages that VR offer, which includes the interactivity element.

“Our vision for VR is a lot more complicated than putting on a headset – our vision is standing in a room and picking and choosing colours and fabrics, stripping things back to see the timber, the framework, the acoustic treatment and the loudspeakers. This is going to be something where installers design the room, and it will output the very room they have designed using pantone pickers and swatches – you’ll be able to build and dress your room as if you were standing in it,” Guy adds.

That certainly sounds a lot more advanced than most of the design meetings that installers will have with their clients currently. Yes, most pieces of software offer highresolution renders of the room, but being able to choose elements on the fly from a VR environment is getting into the realm of The Minority Report.

So, should an installer utilise VR to show off their next projects? Well, according to Guy: “Do I think it’s an advantage for installers and dealers? It will always help, and it couldn’t hurt.”

He does offer a caveat, however: “Most people don’t have the luxury to afford 3D full motion walkthrough videos and VR. On a low-cost project, a VR offering would be disproportionally expensive. I think there is a little exclusive tip to the spear that will always reside in that, but as that technology becomes more readily available, achievable, and practically more possible, it will filter down.

“In two or three years, it will become the norm – it’s a natural progression. As those technologies advance, people will demand those things. In a few years’ time, there will be no other way to do it; customers will not invest in high value projects without understanding exactly what they are going to get for the money. That’s where VR comes in – it’s a way of managing non-technical clients. They usually just want to know what it looks like; they trust that you are going to get all of the maths and technical design side correct.”

How To Build The Ultimate VR Home Cinema

If you’re an installer who wants to do more with VR than simply use it as a tool for showcasing what you can do with a traditional home cinema, then thankfully there are countless headsets and accessories available to get the most out of the technology.

The first thing that you’ll want to consider is the headset. There are plenty on the market and they all range is cost and quality. While Cinera has positioned itself as the VR headset for the home cinema, users may want to do more than just sit down and watch a film.

For those type of consumers, an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift are likely the better options. Users could also opt for a headset like StarVR’s, which is currently in-use by IMAX, although they’d have to pay a premium as this is predominantly designed for the professional market.

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Essential Install | Virtual Reality

The Cinema Designer has already made it easy to create home cinema designs, but soon customers could pick their options in a 3D space

There are loads of other headsets on the market, although users will likely be disappointed by their quality.

The most popular headsets tend to come from the mobile phone industry, where the likes of Samsung and Google offer what is essentially a glorified phone holder that you place on your face. The Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream View offer reasonable optics for the price, but home cinema replacement this is not.

The Hard And Fast Rule

VR probably won’t threaten the traditional home cinema just yet

Whatever VR headset you specify, the client is going to need some rather specific hardware to run it. If an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive is chosen, then be prepared to shell out considerable dough for a high-end PC. Typically, this involves spending more money on the hardware that enables VR to run smoothly than you would on the VR headset itself.

There are exceptions to this rule. Headsets like the Cinera work with a high-end PC, but it’s not required.

Instead users can simply plug in any device that has an HDMI connection and enjoy all the visuals on its IMAXsized screen. That includes things like a Blu-ray player, but even a mobile phone is compatible.

Unfortunately, as it stands there are a number of issues associated with VR’s hardware requirements. The major issue stems from the fact that long cables will have to run from the back of the headset all the way to whatever hardware is powering it. That’s not exactly the most comfortable experience, and thankfully it’s an experience that should soon be the thing of the past.

Wireless VR has been discussed for many years, with company’s such as HTC and Oculus tipped to be working on versions of their headsets without wires.

While those continue to be in development, users who want the wire-free life now can find a solution through third-party manufacturers.

One of the most popular wireless accessories for VR comes from DisplayLink, with the company’s offering bringing a transmitter and receiver to the mix. The receiver box attaches directly to the back of the headset and enables ultra-low latency video streaming, while the transmitter can be connected to a computer.

DisplayLink claims that its technology offers latency of between 2-3ms, which is ideal considering anything greater than 20ms will result in motion sickness. The technology currently only supports resolutions up to 2160 x 1200 at 90fps, however, although 4K at 120fps is planned in the future.

Freedom To Move

The advantage VR has over a traditional home cinema is the interactivity element. While users can simply get an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift and roam around in an empty room, there are various accessories on the market to allow even more interactivity.

One of our favourite accessories available in VR comes from Virtuix in the form of the Omni. This unique hardware is like a 360° treadmill, with users able to walk freely in any direction while being held in place by a harness. In fact, not only can users walk, they can also run, sit, strafe and go backwards without having to worry about walking into a wall.

While the Omni is hardly going to be the solution of choice for the home cinema, those who want more from their VR than just a viewing device will appreciate its freedom. After all, VR is great for gaming. Unfortunately, it only works with the HTC Vive.

If you’re looking for something even more unique than the Omni, then look no further than the Birdly. This VR rig is designed to give those who hop on-board the sensation of soaring through the air using nothing but a fan and a platform that the user lays on. Unlike the Omni, this contraption also works with both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

Don’t Forget Software

Like a traditional home cinema, software is a key part of the puzzle in a VR cinema. While it’s possible to watch physical Blu-ray discs on a headset, the chances are users are going to feel more comfortable utilising the various services built for a virtual world.

Netflix and Jaunt are going to be the number one goto pieces of software for anyone looking for VR content, although it’s likely that more will emerge in the future.

Unfortunately, it seems that most of the media server platforms that we know and love are yet to support VR with both Plex and Kaleidescape lacking support.

So, can you really build a VR home cinema in the year 2017? Technically, yes. Would you want to? Well, the jury is still out. The technology is still improving at a rapid rate, and by this time next year it is likely to be completely different. Oculus and HTC have both gone back to the drawing board, so it may be worth waiting on their next iteration. Cinera is also not yet released.

Thankfully as an installer you don’t need to worry about simply building a VR cinema, but can actually use the technology as a design tool for inspiring clients. For now, that will likely be the better approach for the majority of installers.

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Essential Install | Day In The Life: Avande UK

Taking It To The Bank!

Daniel J Sait met with Avande’s MD Ashley Said-Kirton and the rest of the team to get a glimpse inside the bourgeoning river-side London MDU market in this high-rise and high-stakes sector.

Avande is finding success in the London MDU sector delivering complete electrical and automation schemes for some of the best-known names in the property developing business. Concentrating its efforts in central London and along London’s South-Bank, it is no idle hyperbole to say the company is operating in one of the most high-pressured development areas on the planet, it’s just a fact.

Attention to detail is absolutely key

EI was given the full tour of a project on the Albert Embankment, which is well past first-fix and about to enter the business end of second-fix. Impressive architecturally with its two-tower curved design and some of the best views in London, this project offers a mix of communal areas, apartments and two penthouses, all of which come under Avande’s responsibility.

First, EI was keen to get a little more background: “I was a sub-contractor for stand-alone houses for several years,” explains Ashley. “In the beginning, it was wiring with some lighting control, but gradually the projects got larger and more complex and eventually I got to work on a 27 apartment block in St John’s Wood. This opened my eyes to what was needed in this market.”

Ashley expands: “Often on projects where packages are split, issues would come up with the AV contractors and the electrical installation contractor disagreeing on who’s responsibility a particular part of the project was. “Often there was unhelpful finger pointing where the two disciplines met in the middle, there were grey areas. It made sense to me to join those two disciplines together, so no grey areas and no finger pointing and only one company for the developer to deal with who could deliver the whole package, from the wiring and electrical infrastructure, right through to the security, IT, automation, HVAC and AV. So Avande UK was born.”

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Essential Install | Day In The Life: Avande UK

This impressive build will have a mixture of day-one automation and upgrade paths too

Avande UK created bespoke lightscenes, but also made the interface easy so clients can create their own

Since then Ashley has gathered together an impressive team, all with different responsibilities, but most importantly, all with a very strong and skill set to bring to the table. An install ‘super-group’ if you will, so under one roof the company has an expert in every field.

The project we were visiting consists of two tower blocks, made up of 168 apartments. From the ground to the 14th floor, Avande is responsible for the standard electrical wiring installation, some pre-wiring for AV and some mood lighting. After this it starts to get more interesting with apartments on floors 14-26 having day-one automation capabilities courtesy of a Crestron system controlling lighting, HVAC, and door-entry.

Some pre-programmed lighting scenes were being finalised during EI’s visit, however the team stressed that the system will enable users to easily create their own should they wish. The company has designed all the bespoke lighting panels, button engravings, keypad layouts and scene setting as well as the Crestron touchscreen interface. Up on the top of the building, where if you thought the views from the lower floors were good, you are frankly in for a very pleasant shock, there are two duplex penthouses with two story high windows and roof garden. The fix in these homes is pretty much the same as in the other apartments, just on a larger scale and of course the company is hoping the occupants will be keen to add more automation and

AV to the system, as of course they are, like the more standard apartments, all pre-wired to take any type of upgrade the customer wants.

Ashley says: “This part of the work can really surprise you, ones where you expect to convert quite a lot of the occupants, can disappoint a little and some where you don’t expect much, can really deliver. However, the trend these days is very much on increased conversion, the awareness is higher and frankly the industry has got better at selling it. Every home buyer on this project will get a pack showing them exactly what the options are, giving them a clear upgrade path.”

Avande is also responsible for fitting out the communal areas which includes the main reception, where the concierge needs to control all of the shared areas as well as the safety aspects of the building. This is all achieved with the Crestron controls also automating the lighting, heating and zoned audio throughout the communal areas. Other communal areas include a gym, a pool, Spa and residents lounge and eventually (when the site is finished next door) an underground 26 seat cinema. With cinema tech having come on so much in recent years, you can tell Ashley is particularly keen to get started on that aspect and deliver something really special for the residents.

Taking the tour, the obvious thing that hits home is the scale, Ashley warns: “Attention to detail on these projects has to be absolutely first class. Because of the size and the pressure to deliver on time, mistakes get expensive fast. That is another reason we like to have control of the whole project because there are no surprises and we can plan and test everything. For this project, we had already built up a strong relationship with the main M&E contractor, building trust like that is one of the biggest assets we have. To win a project like this is more complex now. It used to be pretty much solely based on price.

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Essential Install | Day In The Life: Avande UK

The team is preparing some of the apartments for hand-over

The company provides a complete package for the developer from electrical infrastructure to automation

“However, there is huge value in being able to deliver what you say you will, when you say you will and add value to the project with your knowledge.”

Ashley says: “We make ourselves part of the planning process for the whole project offering advice on delivering improvements to areas which are not strictly under our control.

On this project, we have advised on getting underfloor heating to work correctly with existing HVAC, prevented the wrong type of supply cable being used on some aspects of the build and removed old-fashioned wall mounted doorbell sounders within the apartments by integrating and sounding through the automation system. We have become the trusted go to people for the electrical and automated integration design and specification adding real value for the developer.”

As the tour continues, it’s clear this development is nearing hand-over, the place is a hive of activity with different trades working to deliver their part.

On this aspect Ashley has a warning: “Contract wise, you have to be absolutely on it with the detail.

Understand exactly what it is you are promising to deliver

and document your work, so you can show that you have delivered. Things can get very difficult and very expensive if you don’t.”

As for now, in just one month’s time Ashley explains the company is due to hand over 30 of the automated apartments and all of the communal areas, so the whole team is really focused on that. Towards the end of the year, more apartments are due and then next year, the penthouses will be completed, which incidentally have not sold yet, they are not cheap, but they are stunning.

Avande is also committed to 5/6 other major projects in London over the next few years.

A confident Ashley predicts: “We don’t see any slowdown in the London market any time soon, this area is one of the busiest in the world. Right now, we have around 1,000 apartments under development along this stretch of the Thames. We can deliver on this scale, because we have the right team and the right planning in place. Our approach is tried and tested. Its great being involved in this industry right at this point in time, it’s a very special period where technology, design and building development are in close harmony and we are looking forward to creating some very special buildings.”

More information: Avande + 44 (0)20 7537 8585, avandeuk.co.uk

Avande UK Key Contacts Ashley Said-Kirton – managing director Cliff Stammers – head of operations and programming Nicholas Canacott - head of IT and technical sales Vincent McAtamney – project specification Manager

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Essential Install | Office & Boardroom Systems

Remote access to meetings is now commonplace

Working Out

Conference calls, connecting colleagues and working from home, what’s on offer to make these tasks easier?

EI investigates, discovering what’s new in office set ups.

When it comes to presentations, the era of a barrage of slides shown in a darkened room is at an end, says Wolfgang Haunschild, product marketing manager for NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH. Collaboration tools and other technology advances make presentations today more interactive, efficient and easier to absorb.

The meeting room is one of the most important locations within a company. It’s the place where a lot of ideas are born, decisions are made, negotiations are settled and in general the future course of the company is set. However, the role the meeting room plays has changed dramatically in recent years. Bringing together a large group of people to hold a meeting is increasingly seen as a big cost factor and more collaborative and interactive working scenarios are becoming the standard, replacing the one-directional PowerPoint slideshows.

Advances in display technologies have resulted in fixed displays replacing the classic projector in many meeting rooms. Even LED walls are seen as a good alternative.

Collaboration tools are making presentations more interactive

Huddle Rooms

A big current trend is huddle rooms; small conference spaces that are equipped with audio, video and display system technology, says Wolfgang. Many companies are now building multiples of them instead of one giant meeting room and are often used for spontaneous meetings or gatherings that are focused on creative collaboration rather than presentations and reports. With this type of use, meeting rooms are becoming more display-centric, as this is the focal point where interaction and work takes place.

Users of the Huddle Room need to create and share ideas in a space which facilitates their needs easily and is intuitive to set up and operate. Typically, huddle rooms are designed for meetings of up to 5 people, often a smaller meeting room where a display size of 65in is ideal. NEC Display Solutions is soon to launch its InfinityBoard solution, a custom fit collaborative meeting room experience which perfectly fits the needs of today’s huddle rooms.

Meeting rooms are evolving into multi-usage spaces and NEC’s modular InfinityBoard approach allows a custom fit solution according the company’s needs.

Customers can build the solution from three bundles starting with the ultra-high resolution 65in or 84in display and stylus pen; expand with the whiteboard app, slot-in PC and wireless presenting functionality; then add video conferencing capability with a camera and speakers.

NEC’s MultiPresenter stick provides offers a seamless collaborative environment for instant access to shared content and wireless presentation, as well as retaining wired options.

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Essential Install | Office & Boardroom Systems

Polycom’s EagleEye Director II camera focuses on the speaker

Sharp’s BIG PAD means all can work on one screen

Polycom offers a range of solutions for the remote worker, office and boardroom, serving everything from the desktop to small huddle rooms, right up to board rooms in the form of its Immersive Studio. At the desktop, Polycom supports RealPresence desktop or Skype for Business. In meeting rooms, innovative peripherals such as the EagleEye Director II camera can be added, placing the speaker at centre stage and focusing attention to them.

For boardrooms, Polycom’s RealPresence Trio provides excellent audio quality and is the only product on the market with NoiseBlock technology, which recognises human voice and shuts down when people are not speaking, thereby effectively eliminating background noise. Without disruptive factors, conference calls can be conducted in a much more efficient manner.

Polycom launched Pano this year, which enables users to share and collaborate securely onscreen via desktops and handheld devices. Pano allows for up to four streams of content to be shared simultaneously and enables users to share presentations quickly, easily and wirelessly – even live video. It includes security safeguards that limit sharing to the target monitor and protect content once a meeting is concluded – a crucial feature for business meetings.

High-end wise, Polycom introduced its RealPresence Immersive Studio, which creates a lifelike conference room scenario for distributed teams.

Supporting Parents

Polycom’s RealPresence Trio uses NoiseBlock technology

Nearly 63% of the UK now works remotely at some point, Polycom research discovers. “We’re seeing major cultural shifts in the way companies embrace flexible working and our solutions help businesses to easily integrate this development in their business culture,” says Tim Stone, VP of marketing for EMEA at Polycom. “Providing the option for flexible working is important if a company wants to recruit and retain young talent – millennials, who have grown up with technology, expect to take advantage of the benefits the technologies allow. Likewise, allowing your employees to work from home can massively improve work life balance for parents, who can continue their career whilst juggling childcare at the same time.”

Removing Language Barriers

Tim tells EI his predictions about future workplace trends: “I think there will be widespread need for modular technology in the future that can easily adapt.

Conferencing purchasers can add the functionality they need, when they need it. We will also see great in-meeting support around facial recognition and analytics – meaning more automatic customisation and personalisation for users. We can expect to see Natural Language Processing coming into play, removing language barriers.”

Office Digitisation

Sharp believes that though digital transformation in the workplace has become something of a buzzword of late, in reality it has been happening over the last 20 years, ever since email started to replace the letter as the main means of communication.

Digitisation today has started to have a real visible impact on the way people want to work, and their technology preferences. The use of smartphones in addition to laptops and traditional office programs has created a more complex ecosystem of digital tools and digital sources of information.

Millennial Influence

Agreeing with Polycom, Sharp sees that the main reason for this change is the increasing number of Millennials, those in their 20s and early 30s, in the workplace. These workers are tech-savvy, used to juggling digital data, and used to the ease-of-use and immediacy of smartphones.

This digitisation creates challenges in the way that people work together. With smartphones, tablets and virtual teams, it is even more important to get people to collaborate effectively.

It is now common that people in a meeting are not in the same room, even the same country. Hence video conferencing and cloud-based storage management are crucial for the workplace. Sharp’s BIG PAD range offers a solution, allowing people to work together on one screen that can be used by everyone.

Lots of companies are creating informal spaces where staff and employees can meet, discuss ideas and work through projects. Therefore Sharp has expanded its BIG PAD range to include 40in compact displays that are specifically designed for use in Huddle Spaces.

Sharp prioritise ease of use in its displays using Penon-Paper, which offers the worker a close as possible natural writing experience. This is partly due to the inclusion of Sharp’s P-Cap Capacitive touch technology, and Sharp Pen Software.

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Essential Install | Office & Boardroom Systems

Lindy’s Multi AV to HDMI Conference Table Connection Unit

Ed Qualls, founder and president of Just Add Power explains: “As demand for 4K signal distribution increases, integrators can update and integrate new Just Add Power devices into existing systems and overcome the difficulty of distributing 4K in installations that combine new 4K displays and legacy 1080p sources.”

Taft Stricklin, sales team manager at Just Add Power says: “Our products allow for simple boardroom and huddle room solutions that just work without a control system in place. Video conferencing has gotten bigger and bigger, driving the need for simple solutions that will work every time. Our HDMI over IP solutions are used in tons of offices. IT managers love the flexibility and transparency these solutions offer.”

For a larger scale case study, look to ZeeVee’s ZyPerHD encoders and decoders which were selected for use by a FTSE global manufacturing company, in a corporate communications deployment, and could eventually extend to 150 screens worldwide. The installer, Duratec AV, has already installed 25 screens at the manufacturer’s UK locations.

Communicating Without Commuting

Just Add Power’s HDMI over IP solutions are popular for offices

Sharp Display Connect software supports Macs and PCs, smartphones and tablets, to easily share content across all devices. Ultimately, Sharp believes that digital technologies need to support human interaction rather than replace it, and is constantly working to improve Visual Solutions technologies that meet the needs of the changing workplace and deliver the right tool for the right place.

Centralised System

ZeeVee’s products can offer corporate digital signage content on screen

A centralised system of AV distribution is a vital requirement for any conference room installation. Lindy’s Multi AV to HDMI Conference Table Connection Unit is, as its name implies, a solution designed to meet these requirements. Lindy’s connection unit can be installed into a conference room or boardroom table and provide multiple inputs, both analogue and digital, that can be connected via a single HDMI cable to a projector or large display.

The unit supports VGA, audio, Composite Video, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI connections. Built-in technology converts any analogue signals into digital. The connection unit also provides an Ethernet pass-through, for access to the local network in the absence of Wi-Fi, and a USB charging port for tablets and smartphones.

The low profile design features an integrated protection panel that hides and protects the connectors when not in use and ensures the Connection Unit fits seamlessly into any environment.

Just Add Power showcased its 3G Ultra HD over IP family of transmitters and receivers at InfoComm 2017.

Designed for any size UHD distribution and matrixing application, the expanded 3G Ultra HD over IP family offers a variety of devices that enable integrators to mix and match models to better manage their hardware budget on 4K HDMI projects — including 4K HDR distribution.

According to Matt Risden, founder and operations director of Duratec AV, the customer sought a one-way video communications network, primarily to eliminate the need for staff attending the quarterly ‘town hall’ presentations by the CEO to gather together in a single location.

He says: “The new installation greatly reduces the company downtime associated with these presentations, but brings other benefits too. We have made eight channels available on each screen, offering Sky News and corporate digital signage content as well as access to live presentations as they happen. Screens can also be set up flexibly to run Skype calls and other facilities. The channel shown on each screen is selected centrally in the management system as required. No custom programming or third party controller needed to switch sources.”

ZyPerHD encoders (transmitters) and decoders (receivers) can easily distribute HDCP copy protected 720p or 1080p video from any source to an unlimited number of displays directly over a standard Ethernet switch.

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Essential Install | Office & Boardroom Systems

Changing Places Epson’s EB-1700 series weighs only 1.8kg

With boardrooms often being the location for key company meetings, announcements and presentations, B-Tech believe it is vital that display technology provides maximum impact to attendees in the room, and that its latest solutions bring style and convenience to work.

B-Tech’s business development manager Mark Walker explains: “Collaborative office communications and quality presentation technology have seen huge growth in boardrooms over recent years and we have developed our mounting range accordingly.”

“Gone are the days of a paper flipboard in the boardroom. With mobile touch screens and flushmounted displays now a common sight in many SMEs, we have recently launched our BT8312 mount which provides an ultra-slim profile for wall mounted screens. As well as reduced extrusion when mounted onto a wall, the mount allows for shallower recess mounting when flush solutions are required.”

Video Conferencing

B-Tech’s System X range is particularly useful for multiscreen Video Conferencing situations thanks to the use of single, wall mounted rails, saving time with the install.

Mark adds, “We have purposely created our new floor stand range to provide a quality, high end aesthetic to top table presentations. What’s more, our new BTF range has a solution for any requirement, being able to mount displays quickly and easily, in portrait or landscape format as well as twin screen VC set ups with camera mounting.”

However, with boardrooms and meeting rooms all benefitting from displays, it sometimes makes sense to have a portability option. Mark explains: “We fully understand that not all office boardrooms require fixed installations. To meet this need, we provide a wide range of trolley and stands that allow displays to be brought into the room when required – thus allowing screens to be used for company messages elsewhere in the building.”

B-Tech’s latest range of floor stand mounts, designed for boardrooms, use a newly developed BT8380-FSB base which provides total stability without the need to bolt or fix to the floor, and uses the company’s System X technology.

Epson thinks that the office as an environment is changing rapidly. Indeed, there is a strong case to argue that the physical office as a concept is running its course and will cease to exist eventually, to be replaced by remote working and the ‘global office’. A recent Epson survey found that the majority of respondents see no future for the physical meeting room at all – 71% foresee virtual conferences and collaboration over networks taking precedence.

As more businesses operate on a global basis, sharp and precise visual interaction and collaboration will become a key issue. Video conferences and presentations will soon become one of the main ways workers share ideas and data amongst themselves, and having the right tools to run these is integral to business success.

Epson intimate that projectors, for example, have the ability to either make or break a conference call or visual presentation. A projector that improves the viewer experience by delivering clear, sharp, bright and colourful images at as big a size as possible is invaluable.

Projectors that use 3LCD projector technology, such as the Epson EB-2000 series, will achieve this. The EB-2000, by providing brightness levels of up to 5,500 lumens, ensures sharp images even with room lighting on.

In the future, a key feature for projectors will be their accessibility and portability. With the amount of remote devices expected to increase, projectors have to follow the lead of laptops, printers and other office equipment in becoming lightweight and easy to transport. The idea of a CEO having to lug around heavy, unwieldy equipment from meeting to meeting appeals to no one, neither does compromising on the performance of the projector for the sake of its size, however.

With this in mind, Epson offer the EB-1700 series which weighs only 1.8kg and is designed specifically for carrying, setting up and presenting in different locations. Yet it still offers the performance of a full-sized projector with 3,200 lumens Colour Light Output and 1080p resolution.

The EB-1400 series, as well as offering sharp display and interactivity, allows access to its Whiteboard mode from users of the same remote network, extending home working possibilities. Users can enter a dedicated digital whiteboard and participants can edit on screen, create additional slides, and then save, print or email the content, removing the need for a separate flipchart or whiteboard, saving on space and resources, and contributing to a truly digital workplace.

More Information: NEC +44 (0)208 8362000, uk.nec.com Polycom +44 (0)1753 723000, polycom.co.uk Sharp +44 (0)208 7342000 sharp.co.uk Lindy Electronics +44 (0)1642 754000, lindy.co.uk Just Add Power/One AV Ltd +44 (0)1684-576-348, oneav.co.uk ZeeVee +44 (0)1494 956677, zeevee.com

B-Tech’s System X range is particularly useful for multiscreen Video Conferencing

B-Tech +44 (0)1327 300787, btechavmounts.com Epson +44 (0)343 9037766, epson.co.uk

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Essential Install | Training

Bemco Training 2017

CYP Europe

CEDIA

FREE Introduction to KNX ‘Taster’ seminar Dates/Location: Oct 11, Nov 8; Bemco, Wandsworth branch Cost: Free

CYP Level 1 Dates/Location: Oct 3, Nov 7; Shepperton CYP HQ Cost: Free

Boot Camp Dates/Location: Nov 20-24; CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £894 members/ £1,198.80 non-members

KNX Certified Advanced Course Dates/Location: Oct 16-20; Bemco, Wandsworth branch Cost: £750 + VAT

Level 2 – (AV Academy-Full Day Training) Dates/Location: N/A Cost: POA

Health & Safety Course Dates/Location: Nov 20; CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members

KNX Certified Partner, Basic Course Dates/Location: Nov 27 – Dec 1; Bemco, Wandsworth branch Cost: £750 + VAT More information: Bemco +44 (0) 208 874 0404, bemco.co.uk

Bespoke Courses, Projects and Facilities At CYP we understand your company may need further support in terms of training, project specification and showroom. We can offer courses to suit your needs whether your expanding your business into the world of HDMI distribution or looking for advanced one-on-one training on a specific topic and/or product.

For enquires please contact; nick.bovill@cypeurope.com or via the CYP Training Department on +44 (0) 20 3137 6690

More information and to book visit cie-group.com or call +44 (0)115 9770075

Invision Training Network HD Dates/Location: Nov 8; Waltham Abbey Cost: £25 +VAT WyreStorm Theory & Troubleshooting Dates/Location: Nov 9; Waltham Abbey Cost: Free Luxul: Wired Networking Dates/Location: Oct 9, Oct 10; St Neots Nov 22, 23; Waltham Abbey Cost: £149 +VAT RTI Programming (Level 2) Dates/Location: Oct 23; St Neots, Nov 1; Weybridge Cost: £99 + VAT More information: Invision +44 (0)1359 270280, invisionuk.com

Audio, Video and RF Systems for Installers Dates/Location: Nov 23; CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Rack Building and Wiring Fundamentals Dates/Location: Nov 24; CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Home Cinema & HD Video Distribution Dates/Location: Nov 30; CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members

CIE Group Training 2017 AV Integration Principles Dates/Location: Newcastle; October 26, Shepperton; November 23, Nottingham Cost: Free

Cables, Connectivity and Structured Wiring Workshop Dates/Location: Nov 22; CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members

Gemini Lighting Philips Dynalite Training Dates / Location: Sept 21, Oct 17, Nov 28 East Malling, Kent Flexible date available on request.

Cost: £400 + VAT Custom 1 Day beginner course with intro to lighting controls for your project requirements.

More information contact Craig Thorne: craig.thorne@geminilighting.co.uk

Ivoryegg KNX Training Beginner Dates/Location: Oct 25 3 Day Technician Course Dates/Location: Oct 2-4, Nov 6-8, Dec 4-6 Cost: £750 ex tax 2 Day Partner Course Dates/Location: Nov 20-21 Cost: £350 ex tax More information: Ivory Egg +44 (0)1243 572700, ivoryegg.co.uk

TRAINING DATES SET FOR 2017?

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

Contact Niamh Marriott to add your training to the next issue.

Email: niamh@allthingsmedia.com Call: 01634 673163

Boot Camp Dates/Location: Nov 20-24, CEDIA HQ Cost: St Neots, £894 members/ £1,198.80 non-members Health & Safety Course Dates/Location: Nov 20, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members N.B Laptop required for H&S exam, plus NI number.

Cables, Connectivity and Structured Wiring Workshop Dates/Location: Nov 22 CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Audio, Video and RF Systems for Installers Dates/Location: Nov 23, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Rack Building and Wiring Fundamentals Dates/Location: Nov 24, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Basic Wired and Wireless Networking Dates/Location: Nov 28, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Smart Home Control & Lighting Systems Cost: Nov 29, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Home Cinema & HD Video Distribution Dates/Location: Nov 30, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 members/£286.80 non-members Residential Networking Dates/Location: October 3, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members Networking School Dates/Location: October 3-5, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £582 GBP members/£822 non-members N.B The ESC-N Certification Exam is not included in the base price.

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Essential Install | Training

CEDIA (cont.)

CEDIA (cont.)

Wireless Residential Networking Dates/Location: – October 4, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members

Home Cinema & HD Video Distribution Dates/Location: Nov 30th – CEDIA Training Centre, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members / £286.80 nonmembers

Advanced Residential Networking Dates/Location: October 5, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members

To Book: +44 (0)1480 213744 education@cedia.co.uk www.cediaeducation.com

CEDIA Outreach Instructor Dates/Location: October 8, CEDIA HQ, St Neots CEDIA members only – Free Introduction to CAD Design Dates/Location: October 11, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members N.B Familiarity of PC and Windows is essential, but no other specific knowledge is required.

Have AutoCAD installed on your laptop computer prior to arriving for the training.

Consultative Selling Skills Dates/Location: October 17, CEDIA Training Centre, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members Customer Relations and Needs Analysis Dates/Location: October 18, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members The Principles of Project Management Dates/Location: Oct 19, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members

CAI Education & Skills Basic Aerial & Satellite Installation (3 Days) Dates/Location: Oct 17 - 19; Gateshead, Tyne & Wear Oct 31 – Nov 2; Watford, Hertfordshire Nov 14 – 16; Basford, Nottinghamshire Cost: Mem £485 and Non-Mem £645

Design Process and Documentation Dates/Location: Nov 15, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members / £286.80 nonmembers Sub Systems Design and Integration Dates/Location: Nov 16, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members / £286.80 nonmembers Smart Home Technician Dates/Location: Nov 20 – Dec 7, CEDIA HQ St Neots Cost: £2, 398.80 GBP members / £3,358.80 non-members Essential Technical and Professional Skills for Installers Dates/Location: Nov 21, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members / £286.80 nonmembers

HOLES IN YOUR

CYBER SECURITY

Introduction to IRS Dates/Location: Nov 29 – 30; Watford, Hertfordshire Cost: Mem £230 and Non-Mem £310 Making the Bond Dates/Location: Dec 14; Watford, Hertfordshire Cost: Mem £140 and Non-Mem £195 Basic Home Networking & Connectivity Dates/Location, Oct 4, Dec 13; Watford, Hertfordshire Cost: Mem £140 and Non-Mem £195 More information: Confederation of Aerial Industries Ltd +44 (0) 1923 803030, cai.org.uk

Network Cabling for the Smart Home Dates/Location: – Oct 24th – 25th – Certsure, Dunstable Cost: £290 +VAT NICEIC/ELECSA members / £320 +VAT non-members Introduction to Smart Home Wiring Dates/Location: October 26, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £202.80 GBP members/£286.80 non-members

PLUG THE

Meridian CEDIA Two Channel Master Class Dates: Nov 22 CEDIA Multi Channel Master Class Dates: Nov 23 Meridian Basic Setup Dates: Oct 11, Nov 8 Meridian Advanced Setup Dates: Oct 12, Nov 9 Home Cinema Essentials Dates: Oct 26, Dec 7 Meridian Sooloos Dates: Oct 25, Dec 6

Intro’d at the recent CEDIA tech forum in London, Habitech's Cyber Security session covers the principles of secure network design and shows you how to protect your systems from the threat of cyber-attack Part of our Advanced ProNet course; contact us to get involved...

More information: Meridian +44 (0)1480 445622, meridian-audio.com

ESC-T Technical School & Exam Dates/Location: Nov 27, CEDIA HQ, St Neots Cost: £1,078.80 GBP members / £1,500.00 non-members

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JOIN THE CAI TEAM - Senior Executive required With the impending retirement of Tim Jenks in June 2018, the CAI are now looking to recruit a new Senior Executive to replace him. It is anticipated that this position will be available from April 2018 to allow a 3-month overlap period.

Background on the CAI The Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) is the prime trade association for multimedia content delivery, set up in 1978 to represent all aspects of the aerial industry to include installers, manufacturers and distributors as well as broadcasters and broadcast operators. More recently membership has expanded to encompass emerging technologies such as CCTV and those involved in the Connected Home. The association is a not for profit organisation run by a board of directors, elected by the membership and is seeking to employ a new Senior Executive to move the association forward.

The CAI mission is: ‘To continue and develop as the lead body for the ongoing creation of standards and education in media distribution and emerging technologies.’

Job Description The new incumbent will liaise with the Company Secretary, board of directors and sub-committees whilst understanding the needs of all staff members. The association requires management decisions and subsequent implementation of the long and short term plans for development of the association. This role will act as a direct liaison between the board and administration of the association as it drives towards achieving its mission statement, whilst being responsible to the board on decisions made.

Responsibilities • Working with the Company Secretary on the day-to-day operational management of the organisation.

• The ongoing development of partnerships and relationships with broadcasters, broadcast operators, construction industry trades, housing management authorities, government and the like.

• Develop and explore new and existing benefits for the membership.

• Identify and implement recruitment initiatives into new and allied areas.

• Tie together CAI aims and objectives in work streams that drive the CAI public profile higher.

•R egular reporting and presentation of activities to Board of Directors.

Requirements / or Experience • High level of commercial acumen.

• Clearly defined record of purpose / goal achievement.

• Strong communication, presentation and negotiation skills.

• Knowledge or understanding of profit and loss, budgetary management and key performance indicators.

• A basic understanding of synergies that drive trade associations.

• The production of analytical and discussion documentation.

Personal Skills • Clear judgement for quick, sound decision-making.

• Influential strength that inspires confidence and trust.

• Self motivated and ability to generate and plan strategic work streams.

Salary and hours to be negotiated. Regular attendance at the CAI Headquarters in Watford will also be required.

Applications should be made in writing (including a full CV) by either post to: CAI Ltd, Communications House, 41a Market Street, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0PN or by email to the Company Secretary, Mrs B Walker, on bev@cai.org.uk

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Essential Install | Products

Essential Products

Opulent Offerings Of AV Automation Bang & Olufsen And LG Introduce New TV BeoVision Eclipse The BeoVision Eclipse TV can access music streaming services

BeoVision Eclipse is the first TV developed in partnership between Bang & Olufsen and LG Electronics, available in 55in and 65in sizes.

The new TV integrates a 3-channel SoundCentre and a visual appearance that mixes glass with coloured fabric or aluminium.

“By merging LG Electronics’ OLED TV technology to the Bang & Olufsen experience, we have reached an even higher level and created the ultimate TV experience,” says Stefan Persson, executive vice president at Bang & Olufsen Home The TV’s integrated and 450W powerful threechannel SoundCentre offers both stereo performance and centre channel.

The design draws on the classic Bang & Olufsen ideal of aesthetic simplicity, highlighting the importance of sound. The slim glass surface continues beneath the SoundCentre, which in turn expands beyond the screen on both sides. This makes for some exciting contrasts – between image and sound, slimness and volume.

The motorised floor stand means that with a push of a button, the TV can be moved across the floor, creating a personalised viewing experience. In addition to the floor stand, BeoVision Eclipse can be placed on a motorised or manual wall bracket.

The TV includes 4K video processing technology and comes with LG Electronics´most recent webOS 3.5 platform.

The platform allows access and customisation of content, apps and devices including music streaming services like Spotify, content providers such as Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, Blu-ray players of any brand, as well as personal content. The audio streaming part includes TuneIn radio, Spotify Connect, Deezer, Chromecast built-in for audio, audio AirPlay and Bluetooth streaming.

“BeoVision Eclipse is in many ways a flexible solution for the modern consumer, and it represents another leap forward in the way we make TV’s,” concludes Stefan.

Bang & Olufsen, bang-olufsen.com

New Crestron Pyng Software Features Alexa And Sonos Support

Crestron Pyng now integrates with Sonos and Amazon Alexa

A new Crestron Pyng software update is now available. Version 1.010.0038 highlights include integration with Sonos sound systems and Amazon Alexa software.

Integrating Sonos with Crestron Pyng as a multi-room audio source is now easy. Pair Crestron Pyng with Sonos Connects to select and control Sonos favourites with Crestron touch screens, including the new TSW-560P 5” portrait model.

For Amazon Alexa all that’s required is some simple configuration steps. Once connected, Alexa automatically recognises rooms and scene names from Crestron Pyng for immediate voice control, such as ‘Alexa, tell Crestron it’s too hot in the kitchen.’

Custom installers can now pre-configure customer rooms, lighting loads, and modules off-site and then retrieve from the cloud on-site. No more double work planning and documenting systems for electricians and then having to recreate that entire process in the Crestron Pyng app while on-site. Now, installers can document and configure remotely in just one step.

Clients can also create their own scenes and schedules for lighting and shades through user interfaces other than Crestron Pyng, such as mobile projects and touch screens generated by the residential version of Crestron Studio software.

Crestron +44 (0)845 8738787, crestron.com/pyng

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Essential Install | Products

Wilson Audio Unveils £700K WAMM Master Chronosonic From the highly experienced audio design brain of Dave Wilson, Wilson Audio has unleashed a new product that is being dubbed the company’s magnus opus, the WAMM Master Chronosonic.

Dave has spent the better part of his life engaged in the difficult and demanding work of turning his ambitious dreams into physical creations, having a particular passion for re-creating the sound of a live performance.

The Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic will be hand built to order, with construction strictly limited to 70 pairs. Each pair takes 10 weeks to build, finished in Wilson Audio’s automotive-class paint facility in Utah to each customer’s specific colour requirements. The price of owning a pair of these extraordinary speakers in the UK is £700,000.

The result of five years of research led by Dave Wilson himself, the new WAMM Master Chronosonic is The loudspeaker costs a whopping £700k the most time-domain accurate speaker ever made, says the company.

Each speaker stands over two metres tall and sports nine drive units. The MTM (Midrange-Tweeter-Midrange) section incorporates five drivers in individually adjustable modules, the Wilson Convergent Synergy Tweeter is flanked vertically by four midrange units, two for upper-midrange and two for lower-midrange.

Additional rear-firing high frequency and midrange drive units enhance spatial retrieval and soundstage resolution and the bass section features 10in and 12in drivers, configurable to fire forwards or backwards as best suits the customer’s listening room. The enclosures are made from proprietary composites called ‘X-material’, ’S-material’ and ‘W-material’, delivering vibration resistance and acoustic performance. Aerospace-grade aluminium is used for the MTM module support gantry.

Adjustability in the time domain is precise down to five millionths of a second for any installation – accuracy hitherto only achievable in the theoretical domain, says the maker.

Wilson Audio, wilsonaudio.com

Sony’s True 4K HDR Projector For Under £4k The latest Sony projector unveiled at CEDIA 2017 is the entry-level VPL-VW285ES, a true 4K HDR home cinema projector, for less than $5,000.

The VPL-VW285ES starts at $4,999.99 (approx. £3692), although there are two other affordable models that installers can choose from. The VPL-VW385ES is priced at $7,999.99, while the VPL-VW675ES is slightly more at $14,999.99.

Installers can use the VPL-VW285ES projector in just about any home installation, whether a small screen is required or a big screen. In fact, this entry-level projector can support 4K images up to 200in in size.

Despite the size, Sony’s packed many of its flagship technologies into this projector. That includes the TRILUMINOS display technology that promises to provide a much broader colour range, while reproducing more tones and textures. It also should provide longer playing time than a standard projector, with operation time of up to 6,000 hours.

Sony’s Reality Creation feature, which provides a crisper picture quality on 4K content and enhanced upscaling from HD content is available on its entry-level VPL-VW285ES. The projector also boasts a Dynamic Contrast of 200,000:1, while thanks to Advanced Iris, cinema-viewers and gamers are able to witness bright highlights and dark scenes in vivid, lifelike detail.

“Sony’s newest line-up of true 4K HDR home theatre projectors delivers the engagement experience for cinema-viewers and gamers of all genres,” says Mike Fasulo, Sony Electronics president and COO. “The new projector line provides an entry-level for those seeking to elevate their viewing experience to true 4K with the VW285ES or reach further into image perfection with the VW385ES home theatre projector experience.”

Those wishing to purchase Sony’s latest projectors will also be able to take advantage of an exclusive offer in partnership with Kaleidescape. Consumers who purchase a Sony 4K HDR projector and Kaleidescape 4K player The VPL-VW285ES starts at will get free movie bundles worth up to $350. $4,999.99 (approx. £3692)

Sony +44 (0)2073 652810, sony.co.uk

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Essential Install | Products

Savant’s new shades are integratorfriendly

Savant Now Offers Motorised Shades

Does Our RX Look Big In This

Savant has introduced Savant Shades, its first motorised shading product range. Developed in partnership with window treatment expert James Geiger and available exclusively through Savant, these blinds are designed deliberately with a décor-conscious smart home consumer in mind.

The shades are available in blackout, translucent and sheer fabrics and are a fascia-free design — meaning that window boxes concealing wires, screws or fasteners are no longer required, resulting in a clean and smooth look.

Savant Shades are integrator-friendly. “The aim is for integrators to have the ability to order and install the shades fast and super easy,” says Tim McInerney, director of product marketing at Savant, explaining how they can decrease cost and installation time. The shades have a single motor system capable of driving multiple shades and a unique two-phase installation process that enables integrators to test mount the assemblies before the fabric is ordered, maximising profit opportunity and reducing fitment errors.

Once installed, the shades can be configured using Savant’s Blueprint software, which enables integrators to synchronise timing and set stop limits. Additionally, Savant has designed a modern eCommerce platform called The Savant Shade Designer, which integrators can use to plan and price each job.

“By adding a beautiful line of shading products, Savant has created a complete connected home solution that is the easiest to control and offers real advantages to the customer—including a truly smart environment that delivers energy efficiency without compromising lifestyle and convenience,” states Savant CEO Robert Madonna.

?

Savant Systems Europe +44 (0)1488 73366, savant.com

Actual Size

Lindy Launches HDMI 2.0a 4K Audio Extractor & Embedder

Lindy’s HDMI 2.0a 4K Audio Extractor & Embedder

Lindy Electronics has launched an HDMI 2.0a 4K Audio Extractor & Embedder, which can be used in both domestic and commercial environments, allowing users to extract and embed audio from both HDMI signals and digital HDMI ARC signals.

The Lindy HDMI 2.0a 4K Audio Extractor & Embedder is a multifunctional device that allows users to overcome the challenges of installing AV equipment. With support for UHD 4K resolutions (including 4K 60Hz 4:4:4, HDR 10 4:2:0 AND HDCP 2.2), it is built for compatibility with state of the art technologies.

The extractor function is useful in a variety of situations, including the extraction of audio from a HDMI source device such as a Blu-ray player (via TOSLink or a 3.5mm audio cable) and played back through an amplifier, active speaker or sound bar. Alternatively, those who wish to embed audio, in place of the original HDMI audio track, can do so via connecting TOSLink or a 3.5mm audio cable to the Extractor & Embedder.

Lindy Electronics +44 (0)1642 754000, lindy.co.uk

PUV-1530RX ®

P c IyOpNeEuEr R oS p eI.Nc oAmV

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Essential Install | Products

Atlona Offers New HDMI 18Gb/s Matrix Switcher

Our New Slimline HDBaseT Receiver for Your New Slimline Display

Actual Size

PUV-1530RX ®

P c IyOpNeEuEr R oS p eI.Nc oAmV

Atlona has launched its latest HDMI matrix switcher, the AT-HDR-H2H-44M. The HDR-H2H-44M is a compact 1 RU, 4x4 HDMI matrix switcher for high dynamic range (HDR) formats. It is HDCP 2.2 compliant and supports 4K/UHD video @ 60 Hz with 4:4:4 chroma sampling, as well as HDMI data rates up to 18Gb/s. The HDR-H2H-44M is ideal for residential as well as commercial applications with the latest, as well as emerging, 4K/UHD and HDR sources and displays.

Ideal as a routing solution between HDR-capable AV sources and destinations, the HDR-H2H44M supports all video resolutions, audio formats, and colour space formats encompassed in the HDMI 2.0b specification. It can be coupled with one or more Atlona AT-HDR-EX-70-2PS HDMI extenders for an HDR distribution solution that can easily support multi-room AV systems, including those with Ultra HD Blu-ray players, streaming media players, and 4K-capable gaming consoles.

For residential integration flexibility, the HDR-H2H-44M includes EDID and HDCP management features, and can send CEC control independently to each output for controlling individual displays. A TOSLINK digital audio output is paired with each HDMI output for sending PCM or surround sound audio to an AV receiver or soundbar. The HDR-H2H-44M can be controlled via Ethernet, RS232, and IR, and includes a handheld IR remote control.

“As more HDR content emerges, consumers will need adaptable and interoperable systems that can easily distribute content from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others, as well as Ultra HD Bluray and next-generation gaming consoles,” said Joshua Castro, product manager, Atlona. “The AT-UHD-HD-44M provides flexibility for the consumer while giving custom installers a solution that is both easy to install and able to support today’s demanding video requirements.”

Atlona, atlona.com

Atlona’s new HDMI matrix switcher offers flexible support for 4K/UHD and HDR distribution between sources and destinations

Control4 Launches Triad Multi-Room Audio Line With iHeartRadio And Spotify Control4, in partnership with its recent acquisition, speaker brand Triad, has launched a new multi-room audio line. When Control4 purchased Triad it promised to keep the name and trade off the manufacturer’s reputation for quality.

The Triad-branded line includes the Triad AMS-24 and AMS-8 Audio Matrix Switches, Triad 8-Zone Power Amplifier and Triad One Streaming Amplifier. Control4 has also added two music services with native integration into Control4 EA Controllers including iHeartRadio and Spotify.

“Our new Triad multi-room audio products are designed to deliver high-resolution audio in every corner of the home,” says Martin Plaehn, Control4 CEO. “Beautiful sound, elegant design and high-performance are the core tenets inspiring the development of the new Triad multi-room audio line-up. Coupled with Triad’s comprehensive range of build-to-order Triad One Streaming Amplifier premium speakers, the Triad product family is a very strong go-to highfidelity audio solution for our worldwide dealers and end-customers.”

Triad AMS-24 and AMS-8 Audio Matrix Switches are two high-resolution audio matrix switches that enable homeowners to enjoy music from eight to 96 separate zones. Equipped with digital coaxial, optical, and analogue inputs to connect a broad range of source devices, the new audio matrix switches deliver a -105 dB signal-to-noise ratio to maintain sound quality. Each audio output can be adjusted with independent gain, bass, treble, 10-band parametric equaliser, balance, loudness and mono-summing controls for customisation in each room or zone.

The Triad Audio Matrix Switches can be paired with the Triad 8-Zone Power Amplifier (AMP-8) to deliver flexible and scalable audio amplification.

Triad One is a single-zone, high-resolution, wired and wireless streaming amplifier. It boasts 100W of power per channel with a -107 dB signal-to-noise level and support for high-resolution audio playback up to 192kHz/24bit.

Included in the content mix on the new platform are iHeartRadio and Spotify, which join other native streaming services that include Deezer and Napster.

Control4 +44 (0)1347 812300, control4.com

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ULTIMATE PICTURE WITH THE BEST PRO FEATURES ORDER ONLINE AT INVISIONEXPRESS.COM

2017 TV/Display of The Year

NEW FOR 2017

FW-XE9001 SERIES

4K Display Resolution (3840x2160) | Android Smart TV 6.0 built | IP & RS-232 Control | Professional Mode | HDCP 2.2 & HDMI 2.0 | Wake on LAN | Non High Street Part Code | HTML5 Platform built in | Drivers available for all major control systems | Available in 49”, 55”, 65” and 75” sizes | 85” and 100” sizes are also available in the XD & ZD ranges respectively

T: 01359 270280 W: www.invisionuk.com E: sales@invisionuk.com

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FORTRESS SEATING D-BOX SCREEN RESEARCH BENQ DIGITAL PROJECTION PRISMASONIC AUDIOCONTROL STORM AUDIO BGW

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KALEIDESCAPE PIXELGEN KLIPSCH / JAMO JAMES LOUDSPEAKER NEAR SPEAKERS VICOUSTIC FURMAN CRESTRON LUTRON

www.pulsecinemas.com

info@pulsecinemas.com

Tel: 01279 647 039

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info@pulsecinemas.com info@pulsecinemas.com Tel: Tel: 01279 01279 647 647 039 039

25/09/2017 09:15