Essential Install August 2022

AUGUST 2022

SHOW PREVIEW ISSUE

ON SHOW AT September 14-15 2022 www.eiliveshow.com

NEW PRODUCT

HDBaseT™ Matrix with Advanced Audio Integration We are pleased to announce the launch of three feature rich HDBaseT™ Matrix, the HMXL88ARC, HMXL66ARC and HMXL42ARC-KIT. Using CSC technology, these powerful HDBaseT™ matrix support 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 resolutions over distances of 40m over a single CAT 6 cable. The new HMXL42ARC-KIT, HMXL66ARC and HMXL88ARC come into their own with advanced audio features specifically designed for maximising the integration of all AV sources in the modern home. Enhanced audio routing is achieved through the integrated independent audio matrix. This enables the audio both from displays (via ARC) and all other sources to be embedded and routed through the system at the users discretion.

These ARC and audio routing features enable our installation partners the ability to create a truly immersive AV experience throughout the home.

NEW

HMXL88ARC 8x8 HDBaseT™ CSC ARC Matrix

NEW

HMXL66ARC 6x6 HDBaseT™ CSC ARC Matrix

HDCP 2.2

J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering distribution of video and audio over a single CAT cable J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI 2.0 18Gbps specification including HDR J 26 x 8 Audio Matrix independently controllable from the video

HMXL42ARC-KIT

HDCP 2.2

J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering distribution of video and audio over a single CAT cable J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI 2.0 18Gbps specification including HDR J 20 x 6 Audio Matrix independently controllable from the video

NEW

4x2 HDBaseT™ CSC ARC Matrix including Receivers J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering distribution of video and audio over a single CAT cable J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI 2.0 18Gbps specification including HDR J 8 x 2 audio matrix that is independently controllable from video.

HDCP 2.2

NEW

UNCOMPRESSED

18Gbps

PRODUCT

OVER

Uncompressed 18Gbps HDMI Over HDBaseT™ Set The HEX18G-KIT HDBaseT™ extender set is an industry leading uncompressed HDMI 2.0 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 HDCP 2.2 solution utilising the

HEX18G-KIT

latest in HDBaseT™ technology. The HEX18G-KIT supports bi-directional IR, RS-232 and PoC up to lengths of 100m over a single CAT cable.

NEW

HEX70ARC-KIT HDBaseT™ ARC Extender Set - 70m J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering uncompressed video and audio with zero latency J Extends HDMI 1080p up to a distance of 70m over a single CAT cable J Supports 4K UHD video up to 40m (3840 x 2160 @30Hz 4:4:4, 4096 x

2160 @24Hz 4:4:4, and 4K @60Hz 4:2:0)

1080p up to 150m

HEX100CS-KIT

HEX150CS-KIT

HDBaseT™ CSC Extender Set -100m

HDBaseT™ CSC Extender Set - 150m

J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering CSC scaling with zero latency

J Supports ARC from display via HDMI and optical digital inputs

J Supports 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 UHD video up to 70m

J Supports 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 UHD video up to 100m

Become a Certified Blustream Installation Partner

Interactive Online Tutorials We have re-designed our regular interactive online tutorials, focused on providing convenient, bite sized insights into the latest Blustream solutions and the day to day challenges we all currently face in our rapidly evolving market. During these unprecedented times, we have increased both the content and frequency of the sessions we are hosting to bring you the most comprehensive range of interactive webinar content available in the UK.

Register now: www.blustream.co.uk/advanced-learning-portal J

Our UK Address: The Service Station,

Tel: +44 (0)115 824 7000

J Video over IP vs HDBaseT - which should you back?

Melton Road, Hickling Pastures,

Email: sales@blustream.co.uk

J with 10 more courses to choose from...

Nottinghamshire,

Web: www.blustream.co.uk

Current Tutorials Available

J Specifying a Custom Pro Matrix with 18Gbps support

J CAT Cable Certification & Verification J When is 4K, Actually 4K?

Book now at J www.blustream.co.uk

LE14 3QG United Kingdom.

18 74

66 44

CONTENTS 4 FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR Time for EI Live!

August 2022 48 SURGEX: GET THE RIGHT POWER FOUNDATION IN PLACE Now is the time for integrators to focus on the quality of a home’s electrical power foundation of a system

7 ESSENTIAL NEWS What’s the buzz?

50 TOGETHER FOR CINEMA Can you help?

16 ESSENTIAL HABITECH More power to your networks

72 SMART THINKING Don’t sell on price, your credibility has value!

18 ESSENTIAL REVIEW Velodyne Deep Blue 8

74 ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY MediaComs home cinema magic

41 ESSENTIAL CEDIA The right to work

42 ESSENTIAL HDA

83 ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS Magnificent machines!

Witness a revolution at EI Live! 2022

Supporting All www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk

58 14 70 Proud Media Partners of

FEATURES

SUPER-SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS 58 A BIG FUTURE

14 AWE AT EI LIVE!

Barry Sheldrick, Director of Sales at DbM

Visit the village!

62 WINDOWS ON THE WORLD

22 EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

Kris Hogg, Luxury Living Samsung Electronics Europe

See what’s happening at the show!

66 SUPER-SIZE ME!

WELLNESS AND ASSISTED LIVING

Steve Harper, Client Services Director at Philharmonic

44 ABB’S BABY BOOMERS Dean Reddy, ABB Product Marketing Specialist, Smart Buildings

70 THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX James Drummie, Product Manager at AWE Europe

54 THX HIDDEN GEMS Martin Dew speaks to VP of Global Technology, Steven P. Martz, and Senior Engineer, Craig Buckle

Your AV Needs www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk

AUGUST 2022

SHOW PREVIEW ISSUE

pages 16–17

ON SHOW AT September 14-15 2022 www.eiliveshow.com

AUGUST

REGISTER FOR EI LIVE! 2022 It’s one of our favourite times of the year here at EI as we begin the run up to our live show and the Smart Building Awards.

When we launched our magazine around 12 years ago now, the plan was always to add a credible awards platform and also some type of live experience too. Nothing massively revolutionary there, many trade titles aim to add these two elements over time. However as with our printed magazine and the website, we never wanted to create any products or platforms that merely ticked the box and did not push the boundaries of what can be done within these formats.

Take EI Live! for example, we always wanted the show to be the most affordable and most accessible platform that it could possibly be. Looking out across the trade show platform in general right across all industries, there was a need to reduce costs and increase accessibility. That is the mantra that still drives EI Live! to this day, and we hope the show always delivers what the industry needs in the UK. Of course, we are now offering a similar platform as our European trade show gets its first outing this year. This issue (as you would expect) has a full preview of EI Live! 2022, we have included as many show exclusives, launches and points of interest as possible so you can begin planning your trip well in advance.

If you have not registered already, get across to the website (eiliveshow.com) and take care of that today. The show is the biggest it has ever been, but still delivers on our promises around affordability and ease of access, we look forward to seeing many of you there!

There are lots of resources on the website to help you plan your trip including travel advice and accommodation links. If you would like more information about the European version of our show, the website address is eiliveeurope.com. The show takes place in October, loads more info on the site.

Taking place on the second day of the show are the returning Smart Building Awards. A soft return last year enabled us to get the concept back up and running after the COVID break, however a full-blooded awards programme is back this year with all of the categories and with our independent panel of judges making the decisions.

Categories for installers, manufacturers and distributors are all covered, and as ever our awards are completely free to enter. To find out more and make an entry, just get along to the website where you will find all the information you need (smartbuildingawards.com).

The whole team is looking forward to these huge events in our industry year, come and say hi at the show or catch us at the awards!

GETTING IN TOUCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Beatrice Lee, beatrice@allthingsmedialtd.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

GROUP AD MANAGER

Claire Talty, claire@allthingsmedialtd.com

PUBLISHER

David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com

STUDIO MANAGER

Mark Weller, mark@allthingsmedialtd.com

ACCOUNTS

susan@allthingsmedialtd.com

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

SOCIALS /INSTALL_MAG /ESSENTIALINSTALL Whilst we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur.

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

Proud Media Partners of

04 AUGUST 2022

BRING BLOCKBUSTER CINEMA HOME L-Acoustics leads the professional audio industry in the design and manufacturing of premium sound reinforcement technologies, delivering superlative and predictable performance across stadiums, performing arts venues, and nightclubs. L-Acoustics Creations uses the same scientific approach and proprietary tools in modeling and tuning a home cinema, party space, garden area, or multi-purpose media room.

The result is even coverage, high fidelity and high SPL with minimal visual impact for exactly the movie experience the director intended.

Visit creations.l-acoustics.com to book an appointment in London, Paris, or Los Angeles or meet with the L-Acoustics Creations team at EI Live! and CEDIA Expo 2022.

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NEWS

NEWS EXERTIS APPOINTS ERG CHAIRS FOR WOMEN, PEOPLE FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES, AND LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES Technology distributor Exertis has appointed Leads for its newfound Employee Resource Groups. The ERGs consist of three divisions – women, people from ethnic minorities, and LGBTQIA+ communities – and the Chair for each division will drive support for, and progression within, their respective focal point.

Gemma Walters chairs the ERG division for women; Manpreet Bath is leading the ERG for people from ethnic minorities; while Holly Chatton leads efforts to support LGBTQIA+ colleagues.

The purpose of an ERG is to create a safe, supportive space for employees who share a common identity, where underrepresented employees support one another in building their community. The objectives of the group include providing support and a safe space for communities within Exertis; as well as to educate the whole business about each communities’ lived experiences and how to work with their members more effectively; and to increase the amount of talent from each of the three focal communities at all levels of the business.

Gemma Walters

Holly Chatton

Exertis’s ERGs have been formed to actively promote inclusivity and to ensure everybody is given a fair chance to succeed and flourish in their chosen path within Exertis – regardless of their background.

The ERGs commit to champion, mentor and coach individuals from all genders, ethnic backgrounds, and sexualities, as well as celebrating major events and driving policy changes within the company. Exertis intends the ERGs to help drive forward its policies on inclusivity in line with the company’s belief that diverse and inclusive organisations are successful ones.

Exertis UK Managing Director Paul Bryan, says, “I am so pleased that we have these new ERG platforms starting within our business and I am very proud to see that our people are so engaged and enthusiastic with this approach. The more we learn, discuss and elevate these communities, the more we breakdown the taboos within society and create safe environments.

FIT ‘FAST’

Exertis exertis.co.uk

Manpreet Bath

Paul Bryan

BLUETOOTH SIG ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF LE AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth technology, has announced the completion of the full set of specifications that define LE Audio, the next generation of Bluetooth audio. LE Audio improves wireless audio performance, adds support for hearing aids, and introduces Auracast broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth capability that has been created to enhance the way consumers engage with others and the world.

“Today is a proud day for the Bluetooth SIG member community,” says Mark Powell, CEO of the Bluetooth SIG. “Our members overcame the many challenges placed on them these past few years to complete the largest specification development project in the history of the Bluetooth SIG. LE Audio extends the boundaries of what’s possible for the wireless audio market, including the introduction of Auracast broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth capability that promises to deliver life-changing audio experiences to consumers, bringing friends and family closer together and making public locations more accessible and enjoyable for all. I can’t wait to see the innovation LE Audio brings.”

The Bluetooth SIG also announced that qualification for Bluetooth products seeking to add support for LE Audio is now enabled. Initial consumer products supporting LE Audio, including those with

Think Quality

Auracast broadcast audio, are expected to come to market in the coming months, and the Bluetooth SIG anticipates LE Audio product availability to ramp up as we approach the holiday season and end of the year.

In addition to introducing new features to Bluetooth audio, LE Audio offers a new, flexible architecture that provides a platform for future wireless audio innovation, and work within the Bluetooth SIG is already underway to bring additional LE Audio features and capabilities to market. To access the full list of LE Audio specifications, visit the LE Audio Specifications page attached to the Bluetooth website.

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Bluetooth bluetooth.com New audio support initiatives from Bluetooth

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AUGUST 2022 07

Bring cinema perfection home Cinergy

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NEWS

PREMIUM AUDIO COMPANY EXPANDS INTO TO EUROPE

A new beginning for several brand in the UK and EMEA

Premium Audio Company is pleased to announce that its Onkyo, Integra, and Pioneer brands of audio video solutions will soon be available for order through its existing network of distribution and retail partners in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Inventory will be available this autumn.

In September 2021, Premium Audio Company (a subsidiary of Voxx) acquired the Onkyo and Integra brands and established a licensing and distribution agreement with Pioneer Corporation.

The joint venture includes all intellectual property and responsibility for product development, engineering,

sales, marketing, and distribution of Onkyo’s home entertainment business. As part of the joint venture, Sharp assumed manufacturing of these products, which includes a variety of AV and stereo receivers, amplifiers and Hi-Fi components under the Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite brands.

Paul Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Audio Company states, “Demand for Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer products have been very high, and we expect this to intensify in the coming years. We have been working very closely with Sharp to ramp up production and have grown our business significantly since the acquisition was completed. We have big plans for Onkyo and the other brands, and as we build production and expand distribution, we also believe that sales will more than double in the near term.”

Think Quality

FIT ‘FAST’

Voxx voxxintl.com

CEDIA SUPPORTS MEMBERS DEMONSTRATING SMART HOME COMPETENCY

On-site support from CEDIA

CEDIA has launched a promotion to support members in demonstrating their competency and professionalism to the wider construction community.

Running until October 31, CEDIA is waiving the card application fee for an ECS Home Technology Integrator card.

The ECS Home Technology Integrator card was launched after the Joint Industry Board (JIB) and CEDIA worked together to formally recognise the skills of integrators in the UK. Fully affiliated to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) scheme, the ECS card is a simple and effective way to obtain access to construction sites and provide proof of identity and qualification levels.

To be eligible for ECS card promotion, applicants must: • Hold at least one of the two technician certifications offered by CEDIA – CIT or IST • Hold the ECS Electrical Safety Unit assessment • Hold a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment (No health and safety qualification exemptions are permitted for this card). For details visit the ECS H&S Assessment page.

“The ECS card is an effective way of showcasing the professionalism of our industry and breaking down potential barriers in accessing construction sites,” comments Matt Nimmons, Managing Director, CEDIA EMEA. “Those who hold the card can proudly display their qualification status as well as their electrical safety and health and safety knowledge. We are launching this promotion to allow additional integrators to take advantage of this benefit and to help elevate and champion our industry further.”

CEDIA member, IndigoZest, has been supportive of this scheme and have got many of its engineers an ECS card through CEDIA. Phil Atkins, Technical Director at IndigoZest comments: “The building and construction industry often request some level of certification or validation of health and safety of our team on site. The ECS card shows that the cardholder is qualified to carry out UK AV work, as identified on the card, and allows them access to a construction site or property. It is not always required, but for those sites that do ask for it, we don’t not want to be considered just because we have not gained the formal qualification. The ECS card shows that our engineers meet the required level of health and safety to work in a safe manner on site.”

For more information, contact Emma McMylor, CEDIA’s Education Coordinator – Telephone: 01480 213744 or Email emcmylor@cedia.org.

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AUGUST 2022 09

DALI

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Comprising of two models, PHANTOM M-250 and PHANTOM M-375, the series is ideal for home cinema or stereo use.

With integrated sealed back-boxes and a mounting depth of only 100mm, each model delivers best-in-class sound along with quick and easy installation.

PHANTOM M -375

PHANTOM M -250

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Download whitepaper, product sheet and more at: www.dali-speakers.com/phantom

Cabinet Dimensions: 250mm x 775mm x 100mm

PHANTOM M

BANG & OLUFSEN TEAMS UP WITH WILLIAMS RACING

Participating stores included Bang & Olufsen of Ealing, Bicester Village, Glasgow, Wilmslow, Bournemouth, Manchester, and Colchester

Bang & Olufsen hosted a new experience as part of its ongoing collaboration with iconic British Formula 1 team, Williams Racing.

In the lead up to the British Grand Prix, Bang & Olufsen and Williams Racing driver, Alex Albon, challenged the public to take part in an esports racing competition. Visitors in participating Bang & Olufsen stores had the chance to impress Alex with their lap time in a state-of-the-art racing rig.

The winner, selected at random from all entrants, will receive a once-in-a-lifetime Formula 1 VIP

experience at the 2023 British Grand Prix with Williams, including a meet and greet with the team’s race drivers, an exclusive Williams garage tour, pitlane walk and more – the ultimate ‘money can’t buy’ prize for racing fanatics. There was also a daily goodie bag for those that set the fastest lap of the day at each of the seven participating stores.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer this authentic racing experience for those wishing to try their hand behind the wheel at the British Grand Prix circuit. Our shared passion to deliver ‘goosebump moments’ to customers and fans alike make Bang & Olufsen and Williams a formidable team. We are genuinely excited to see how our customers step up to the challenge.” says David Morris, Head of Marketing & PR, at Bang & Olufsen UK. James Bower, Williams Racing Commercial Director comments, “We were delighted to announce Bang & Olufsen as a new partner of the team at the start of the season. Now to deliver this experience to fans at stores ahead of the team’s home race at the British Grand Prix is just a taste of what is to come with the Bang & Olufsen and Williams Racing partnership.”

NEWS

Think Quality

FIT ‘FAST’

Bang & Olufsen bang-olufsen.com

ESSENTIAL PEOPLE Kinly, AV systems integrator and remote collaboration service provider, has announced the promotion of Mark Kempson to the newly created position of Head of Consultancy and Design.

Part of Kinly’s on-going commitment to supporting long term career progression and opportunities, Mark – who has more than a decade of AV specialist experience – has enjoyed successive promotions with Kinly since joining in 2018, including spells as Sales Engineer, AV Pre Sales Manager, and AV Design Team Manager.

Reporting to Kinly’s new Operations Director UK and Ireland, Stuart Davidson Mark’s new role as Head of Consultancy and Design, extends his previous responsibilities to support all national and some international AV, UCC and Collaboration business leads, generated by the UK business.

An AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist in Design, Mark will work closely with Kinly’s project management team, and directly with clients (including those in Corporate, Education, Government and Judicial) to manage, research, design and deliver fully tailored futureproof solutions, all with an entirely technology - agnostic approach.

Based in Kinly’s London office, Mark brings extensive experience and specialist knowledge to the role, armed with an ever-growing list of leading industry qualifications, certifications and accreditations spanning the full breadth of AV, UCC and Collaboration solutions, including those with Crestron, AMX, ClearOne, Logitech, Extron, Biamp, Polycom and Cisco, Microsoft, among others.

Mark comments: “I’m delighted to have been entrusted with this new role as Head of Consultancy and Design, and for the opportunity to further develop my career with Kinly. I’m lucky enough to

be surrounded by a fantastic and enviable team of experienced individuals, and together, I have every confidence we can go on to achieve even greater things for this forward-thinking, highly ambitions company, delivering even greater levels of quality, service and experiences to our clients.”

Monitor Audio Group welcome Michael Johnson as New Global Marketing Director. With 20 years of experience within the Audio and Consumer Electronics industry, most recently as European Marketing Director for KEF, Michael brings a wealth of marketing experience and industry knowledge to the group, made up of Monitor Audio, Roksan and Blok.

Robert Barford, Monitor Audio Group CEO explains, “We’ve been developing our internal teams significantly over the last few years, with expansion in Acoustic Engineering, Industrial Design, Production, Operations and Sales. Marketing was the last piece of the puzzle that we needed to fit into place, and we’re now really pleased to be able to do just that by welcoming Michael back into the fold, (Michael had previously worked for Monitor Audio from 2005 – 2010). This appointment will now allow us to put in place the appropriate marketing framework to continue our professionalisation of the department and grow the MAG brand portfolio in line with our vision”.

Michael says, “It’s wonderful to be able to re-join Monitor Audio Group at such a pivotal moment in their brand story. What with Monitor Audio being 50 years old this year, the recently announced ‘Concept 50’ flagship speaker at High-End, Munich - to significant media interest and excitement - and Roksan closing in on its 40th Anniversary, there is a huge amount of momentum, positivity, talent and ambition within the Group. It’s wonderful to be able to add-value and continue the success story. It’s great to be back”!

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AUGUST 2022 11

NEWS

L-R | George Robertson (Website Executive), Matthew Miller (Lead Designer), Ai Pheng Yeap (Global Marketing Manager), Matthew Dobson (Junior Media Designer), Robert Barford (CEO), Michael Johnson (Global Marketing Director)

Apex-Tech UK, supplier of home cinema, invisible audio and environmental audio products have announced the appointment of Ben Lancaster as sales agent for the South of the UK. Ben will be responsible for the specification of key brands such as Barco Residential, Display Technologies and Stealth Acoustics alongside his existing agencies including Procella Audio and is well known amongst the great and the good of home cinema installation. Ben will also be working with other brands from Apex-Tech sister companies, namely Light Walls dynamic LED systems and int 3, manufacturer of the Adorno range of fabric Cinema room solutions.

Managing Director Neil Davidson says, “I am incredibly pleased to have Ben on board, not only for his knowledge and experience of the industry but also for his genuine desire to work with installers to deliver the best solutions on the market. Ben is backed by an organisation that provides a level of service and consultancy far beyond that of shifting boxes and we look forward to continuing mutual success in the south of the country.”

Alan Briggs, who has been a member of the team for two years now steps up to Sales Director, a vital position as the company continues to grow and develop its niche within the residential market.

GUDE strengthens management for further growth and innovation as Andreas Böttcher and Philipp Gude join the management team.

Andreas Böttcher has been with the company for over 20 years and is responsible for the company’s product development. With his technical expertise, he has played a key role in shaping the expansion of the product portfolio and successfully driving forward technological development. As the new Managing Director, he is responsible for the Technology division (CTO).

Philipp Gude joined the Gude Systems sales team three years ago after working as a sales engineer for a large IT system house. The son of the founder has realigned the company’s sales strategy and made the products known in the audio/video market within a short time: increasing sales and the expansion of the sales network in EMEA, USA and Australia are testimony to his sales expertise and now provide him with the position of Managing Director Sales (CSO).

Dan Brown has joined Project Audio Visual as an Account Director focused on business development.

With over 20 years of experience in the AV and UC industry, Dan has worked with the biggest names in integration, holding senior management roles and providing strategic account management for large vendors and brands. He has a wealth of experience working with major platforms, their

12 AUGUST 2022

approved manufacturers and managing and building relationships with globally dispersed teams.

Dan will be working with the Project Audio Visual team to further build on industry relationships with approved Teams Rooms vendors and accelerate lead generation opportunities. He will also be creating strategic initiatives to further personalise the service and develop solutions for each individual client use case to help drive user adoption.

Dan says, “Having worked for the biggest global integrators in the industry, Project Audio Visual caught my attention for being a company that are doing things differently. They are on a very exciting growth curve and are seeing success because they are approaching the industry from a fresh perspective.

“They take the time to listen to clients and understand their objectives and put a bespoke solution together for every use case. They understand that not all spaces are the same and it is this care and passion for delivering the right solution that appeals to me. They truly are the Teams Rooms experts and I am looking forward to being part of the team taking this to the next level.”

Leading audio brand owner, Q Acoustics has announced that Colin Greene, a former Apple executive for 13 years who led Apple’s US consumer business to multibillion revenues, has been appointed to its board of directors as a Non-Executive Director.

His focus will be to assist the development of the business strategy and optimising the potential of the core owned brands of Q Acoustics, QED and Goldring across the world.

Colin brings 30 years’ experience in executive leadership roles within technology giants such as NCR, Intel, Dell and Apple. During his tenure Colin held COO and MD roles for Apple in Tokyo and Seoul and in the US led their consumer business across their very largest retailers in the world, based at their HQ in Cupertino. Since returning to the UK three years ago Colin has taken on a number of advisory and non-executive roles focused on the technology and consumer sectors.

Colin says, “My north star is the quality of the people I work with, and the level of enthusiasm, passion and desire to do great things at Q Acoustics is unmatched.

George and his team have created an amazing product and brand assortment and I feel honoured to be able to participate in their continued success.”

George Dexter, Managing Director, Q Acoustics adds, “Colin’s appointment comes at a very exciting time for the business with a strong new product pipeline and significant international opportunity to grow, particularly in the US where Colin’s experience and knowledge of the market will be invaluable. I can see Colin’s appointment as a ‘sea change’ moment for our business and brands and I cannot think of a better person to join our board to help us shape our future.”

From left to right: Andreas Böttcher, Dr. Michael Gude, Philipp Gude

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SECURE SUPPLY

ESSENTIAL AWE

HEAD TO THE AWE VILLAGE FOR THE COMPLETE EI LIVE! EXPERIENCE!

The AWE team set out their high-tech offering for EI Live! 2022.

What’s the best thing about the show? Clearly, it has to be a visit to the AWE Village where you can see so many of the premium products that you need for a great installation all in one place.

Featuring four dedicated Technology Zones, two Projection Demo Rooms, and a Base Performance Simulator for visitors to test their competitive driving skills, the AWE Village is back with a bang for EI Live! 2022 with its biggest footprint yet – super-sized in line with AWE’s growing brand portfolio.

Here, AWE will showcase innovations from Bowers & Wilkins, part of the Sound United family available exclusively to the CI channel, alongside the latest 4K projectors from Sony together with exciting new display technologies, including the new Sony QD-LED and Hisense L9 TVs.

Also here will be the latest custom installation amplifiers by Rotel – the C8 and C8+. These new Class AB amplifiers leverage Rotel’s 60-years audio engineering heritage to deliver a higher level of acoustic performance with 8 channels of high-performance multi-zone audio.

In the second Audio Zone will showcase processors, receivers, and amplifiers from Denon and Marantz, whole-home audio from by Denon featuring HEOS technology, and more speakers from Definitive Technology.

LISTEN UP

The AWE Village will feature two audio zones.

Firstly, in the Bowers & Wilkins Zone integrators can see the latest architectural in-wall and inceiling loudspeakers for home cinema and whole-home projects. These will include 800 Diamond Series and 700 Series architectural loudspeakers and CT series in-wall subwoofers, alongside iconic floor standing loudspeakers from the Bowers & Wilkins range.

14 AUGUST 2022

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ESSENTIAL AWE

PREPARE TO BE DAZZLED

The Sony Demo Room will feature Sony’s new XW compact Native 4K SXRD Laser Home projectors VPL-XW7000ES and VPLXW5000ES – the first public showing outside of AWE’s show facility in Epsom. These feature-rich projectors pack a whooping 3840x2160 4K resolution and 8.3million pixels into a small chassis, making them ideal for all installations. The price-point is tempting too, starting at just £6k for the VPL-XW5000ES (2,000lm) and £15k for the VPL-XW7000ES (3,200lm) model.

With rich, inky blacks as well as clear, cinematic motion and image smoothness, the new projectors reproduce colour with more tones and textures than other models at an equivalent price point. Powered by Sony’s ‘X1’ Ultimate for Projector’ processor, based on BRAVIA TV technology and optimised for projectors, these projectors feature Dynamic HDR Enhancer and Object-based Super Resolution to create a greater dynamic range and unrivalled image clarity.

Outside the Sony Demo room will be the Hisense L9 ‘laser TV’. The Hisense L9 has all the features of a ‘standard’ smart TV but comes in two-parts - an ultra-short throw laser projector and a 100”, or 120”, ambient light rejecting TV – which is the secret to achieving a big screen experience for under £4,500!

The projector is a single chip DLP projector, but what makes it different is that 3 lasers – one red, one green and one blue - produce bright, punchy colours (which exceed the BT.2020 colour gamut!) instead of a colour wheel.

Coming in at 3,000 lumens, the triple Laser engine offers consistent colour and brightness over a 25,000 hour lifetime!

SETTLE IN

The Epson Demo Room headlines with the EH-LS12000B projector which features a high 2,500,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 4K resolution (8.3mil pixels on-screen), HDR10+ support, 3LCD and a laser light source. It’s equally adept as a movie projector as it is for gaming offering 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, along with input lag times below 20ms. We’re sure you’ll agree that it’s a projector that stands out at its price point. Room-filling, detailed sound is provided by Sound United while new TV innovations flank the outside walls with LG and Panasonic bringing their latest products to the show.

For colour quality, QD-OLED (quantum dot OLED) technology is in a class of its own. Sony’s Bravia XR A95K combines QD-OLED with the XR OLED Contact Pro and XR Triluminos Max, boosting colour brightness up to 200%* with pure blacks and the brightest colours ever from Sony.

Visitors can also see Sony’s new Mini LED panels, which now have an even higher number of LED’s. Each LED is precisely controlled and reacts immediately and accurately to changes in light source brightness for a super sharp image, concentrating the light and almost eliminating all flare or halos. The contrast is exceptional, with deep blacks and dazzling highlights.

TAKE CONTROL

In the Control Zone, integrators can learn what’s new in the URC Total Control platform, including the new Accelerator 3 software, featuring the Expressway option on the software for simpler installations. There’s also a display of Ring X-line innovative security solutions and the latest products from Philips Hue and Silent Gliss for effective lighting and blind control.

GEARING UP!

This year, AWE invites integrators to get back in the driving seat! Reviving its popular AWE BPS Sprint Cup, integrators can put their foot to the floor and experience the thrill of driving an Aston martin AMR GT4 in the Blade Sim from Base Performance Simulators (BPS).

Not only is this a fantastic way to find out more about how these incredible sims can bring the wow-factor to a client’s home, but the top three qualifiers will win a private tuition session and go head-to-head at BPS HQ in Banbury.

“We have so much to show and can’t wait to get back amongst the action at EI Live!” says Stuart Tickle, MD at AWE. “The AWE Village is always where it’s at, and this year is no exception. We have some jaw-dropping technologies for integrators, especially in terms of new innovations in projection and display.

Come along and talk to our team of experts about how we can support your next project.

You will not leave disappointed!”

For the latest new from AWE, visit www.awe-europe.com

QD-OLED, FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Head to the Sony TV Zone to learn about the latest enhancements to the brand’s 2022 lineup, including some cool new models for Bravia, Mini LED and OLED. Visitors can also enjoy the EI Live! premier of Sony’s 65” Bravia XR A95K QD-OLED.

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AUGUST 2022 15

ESSENTIAL HABITECH

MORE POWER TO YOUR NETWORKS

We’re offering your business an expanded suite of proven networking brands supported by high stock levels, stable pricing and supply security

When networking isn’t working as it should, we’ll meet demand for product and knowhow from a new, supercharged ProNET platform, says Technical Manager Justin Martin-Lawrence If you’re designing for CI, you’re a networker at heart. By building local access to the limitless bounty of the ever-changing Internet – the mother of all networks – you share the dynamic challenge that unifies our industry. Today, it’s impossible to imagine a CI project that isn’t tasked to meet the need for rapid Internet access and unbreakable WiFi. In fact, for many of our customers, fast, reliable broadband has become the fourth utility.

But the challenges are rising. Inspired by changing work/life priorities and stoked by fantasy expectations from social media, demand for bigger, better, faster is exponential.

Post pandemic, your business is torn between customers expecting no-fail control over rocketing service delivery on one side and failing global supply issues on the other.

THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

It’s as plain as day to everyone who can tell a router from a switch that the pandemic and all the world’s other travails have conspired to create a black hole in the supply of networking products at a time when households need them more than ever. Prices from Cisco, Aruba, Ruckus and other leading manufacturers are sky high as they try to absorb component price increases while soaring consumer demand sucks in grey imports at seductive rates from the major e-tailers. As expectations of performance and price move rapidly in opposite directions, your budget-conscious customers are looking online for lower cost solutions with no guarantee that the cheaper PoE switch or AP they just bought will meet all of its promises. It’s a dysfunctional mess, but we have a cunning plan to ease the squeeze.

AN END TO NETWORK WHAC-A-MOLE

MEET THE NEW PRONET BRANDS: RIVI

Back in 2012, when wireless network design was an elusive skillset, we created ProNET: a platform of CI-centric networking products and training dovetailed to help our integrators meet the clamour for easier, faster web access. Today, in response to a market fraught with supply issues, soaring cost inflation and subverted by grey underselling, it’s time for a further leap in value-added capability from a new turbocharged ProNET initiative.

We’re offering your business an expanded suite of proven networking brands - including Ruckus and Draytek, and new brands Cambium, Netgear and RIVI - supported by high stock levels, stable pricing and supply security, integrated like the teeth of a comb so that whatever your project’s scale and sophistication, design becomes tangle-free. It’s a new support bedrock that leverages ProNET’s foundational appeal more effectively than ever. By delivering a peerless synergy of knowhow and supply to a market deficient in both, ProNET has never been more powerful or advantageous to your business.

Our successful and enduring partnership with Ruckus has gifted Habitech with the opportunity for OEM supply through RIVI, a privately owned company with exclusive distribution rights for EMEA. Trademarked ‘RIVI’, it’s Ruckus WiFi in all but name right down to the packaging: it says ‘RIVI’ on the box, but the world-beating competences are the same.

You’ll get compatibility with Ruckus Unleashed and SmartZone capabilities, all the Ruckus techs, and simple set-up which mirrors Ruckus configuration with the RIVI brand.

Better still, RIVI products are manufactured specifically for the CI Channel according to strict OEM schedules. This means that when supply is tight, as it is now, product cannot be diverted to please bigger global customers. Shipments are not transferable. Instead, they’re ringfenced for you. What’s more, your margins cannot be threatened by grey subterfuge.

The five new RIVI WiFi 6 APs include the RV35 2x2, the RV55 2x2, the RV65 4x4, the RV75 4x4 and the EV35 2x2 outdoor AP. Supported by Habitech, RIVI gives you Ruckus performance together with price security and reliable supply. In other words, renewed certainty for your business.

‘RIVI’ is Ruckus WiFi in all but name

16 AUGUST 2022

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ESSENTIAL HABITECH

Cambium: affordable, dependable WiFi and switching solutions that ‘simply just work’

CAMBIUM NETWORKS For an enterprise networking solution with cloud management, use Cambium. Spun out of Motorola in 2011, Cambium is a specialist manufacturer of enterprise WiFi and network switch products whose ‘Wireless Fabric’ infrastructure, unified by the cnMaestro™ cloud management system, has been proven by countless real-world deployments across the US and globally for over a decade.

Promising affordable, dependable WiFi and switching solutions that ‘simply just work’ our new Cambium range for mid to high density environments offers you three APs: the 2x2 WiFi 5 e410, the 2x2 WiFi 6 XV2-2 and the 4x4 WiFi 6e XE3-4, complemented by two ‘cnMatrix’ switches: the 400W PoE+ EX2028-P and the EX2016M-P, with 240W UPOE/PoE+ capabilities.

Tying it all together is the company’s free-for-life cnMaestro cloud management.

Maestro is HTML5 based and so, like Ruckus SmartZone, is completely portable across all platforms. What’s more, it offers limitless customer accounts and within each account, as many as 2000 sites. In practical terms its capacity is boundless. You’ll get a ‘single pane of glass’ for device configuration, diagnostics, throughput, even an RF spectrum analyser for complete system management, and unlike many cloud-based products, cnMaestro doesn’t need to be running for WiFi operation. Register and preconfigure your devices by simply scanning a barcode or entering a serial number at the office prior to installation on site. Easy. Even easier is Cambium’s companion ‘Swift’ app, which runs on cnMaestro for one-touch, out-of-the-box deployments, making it ideal as a means to get the system up and running as quickly as possible for the customer.

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By including Netgear, the new ProNET toolkit delivers an entry-level enterprise solution

I’ve thrown everything at Cambium and I’m happy to report that you can believe the marketing: it just works! We’re confident that Cambium’s powerful versatility won’t let you down, because for the past four months, Habitech’s office WiFi has relied on it!

NETGEAR By including Access Points from Netgear, the new ProNET toolkit delivers an entry-level enterprise solution, plugging the holes in availability left by brands like Ubiquiti. We’ve selected the Netgear indoor WAX615 and outdoor WAX610Y 2x2 WiFi 6 APs, which major on simplicity, with PoE, off-site plug-andgo product set-up, auto discovery and multi-site cloud management from the Insight app on phone or laptop. And although these APs are directly supported by Netgear, their ‘touchless’ set-up and onboard auto optimisation features more than compensate. Like me, you’ll be amazed at the throughput and reliability, and crucially, you’ll enjoy the efficiency of ProNET supply alongside performance that belies their budget moniker.

The same is true for our pick of Netgear’s switches. Purpose built for the likes of Wyrestorm, Netvio, Crestron NVX, Dante and AVB, the ‘AV Line’ M4250-10G2XF-PoE+ switch can be configured in minutes through a template driven GUI: simply select the ports and apply the appropriate template for what you want them to do. Connect multiple M4250 copper switches to the M4250-16XF ‘fibre aggregator’ 16 port SFP+ switch to scale for up to 4 x 32 (or 2 x 64) zones of AVoIP, or choose the XS748T, 48 port 10Gbe switch for SDVoE,

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perfect for Wyrestorm NHD600 series. Best of all, you can make a reasonable margin on these switches and lean on Habitech support when you integrate with other Habitech brands like Netvio and Wyrestorm.

BUILDING BETTER NETWORKS If acute supply volatility is leaving your network projects in limbo, ProNET will raise the bar.

It remains your one-stop for product and knowhow, but we’ve widened the options and we’re buying big to reduce the risk of delays on site. As I write, we have Cambium XV2s as well as Netgear’s APs, AV line and SDVoE switches ready to go, with RIVI nailed on for Q3. Better still, we’re planning to focus that celebrated ProNET synergy on a new network design service: you describe the space and budget; we supply the ideal design and support. It’s all part of the decade-long ProNET mission to deliver more power to your network design, only this time - to borrow from a famous energy drink - it comes with wings!

Discover the new ProNET brands at habitech.co.uk, and ask us about the industry’s most accomplished network support and training

Watch the intro webinar

Habitech habitech.co.uk

AUGUST 2022 17

ESSENTIAL REVIEW: VELODYNE DEEP BLUE 8

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED Reviews return to EI as our trade focused reviewer Richard Stevenson puts this compact sub through its paces at our specially constructed testing facility.

Freestanding subwoofers are rarely svelte of dimension, so integrating them into a clean home theatre design without disrupting the décor presents a serious challenge. None more so than when space is tight, such as apartments, flats and those ambitious single garage conversions. Velodyne’s new and ultra-compact Deep Blue 8 aims to be the solution of choice for these tricky installs, while offering ‘low frequency with the elemental force of the sea’.

No, we are none the wiser about that strapline either, but the DB8 is the smallest in the series, with the line-up topping out at a mighty 15in driver model. The DB8 is small. I mean really small. Side by side with go-to 10in or 12in driver subs from most brands, the DB8 looks positively diminutive. Comfortably under a foot cube, the baffle is only marginally larger than the driver chassis. The cabinet is heavily radiused on the side horizontals to give it a smoother appearance and allow a seamless wrap of low-sheen brush-textured vinyl - in the obligatory black only.

That understated finish has a couple of nice flourishes, including a neat Velodyne badge and a round, driver-sized grille. This sits in a recess flush with the baffle so looks very sleek when

18 AUGUST 2022

installed. Removing the grille is assisted by a small fabric tag on the perimeter, although it does upset the smooth lines of the DB8 if you look close enough. If the grill was likely to stay put, we would risk removing the tag or folding it inside the recess for neatness. The aesthetic is complete with four round, fixed rubber feet.

These offer a little give on uneven surfaces and enough traction to stop the DB8 from walking across smooth floors.

The sealed box design is a very ambitious move on Velodyne’s part. It is notoriously tricky to get low-frequency bass extension or decent SPLs from small, sealed enclosures. That is made even trickier here as the heavyweight MDF cabinet has internal bracing and a whopping 52mm thick baffle, both taking up vital air space. The benefit of the sealed enclosure is it offers a smoother response across the LF spectrum and avoids audible port ‘chuff’ at high SPLs. Small subs are inherently prone to the latter, ostensibly due to increased air speed at the port due to reduced compressibility of the very small air volume.

The DB8’s business-end credentials include an 8in, long-throw/high excursion driver with a polypropylene cone, dual ferrite magnets and a

robust 2in voicecoil assembly. This is driven by a class A/B 300W RMS amp promising up to 800W dynamic power for sudden peaks. The filter network is a typical 12dB/Octave low pass crossover with a variable 50-180Hz roll-off, user selectable via a rotary dial on the rear panel.

This dial is joined by a matching subwoofer and, more unusually at this price, a rotary 0-180 degree variable phase control knob.

Connectivity is up there with the most compact, affordable competitors, including L/R analogue inputs and LFE input RCAs, alongside LFE loop output for daisy-chaining multiple subs. All the RCA terminals are robust feeling and gold plated. The cheap-feeling spring clips for high-level connection let the perceived quality down a little, but other subs at this price often evict them all together.

Other than an on/off/auto power switch, that is it for controls; no remote, EQ system or app.

While Velodyne is best known for pushing the boundaries of digital tech for subs, the DB8 is a basic sub at an attractive price, easy to conceal and designed to deliver a solid LF punch without the fuss and faff.

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ci140 & ci140sub on-wall L,C,R

GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE The ci series incorporates cutting edge technologies and audio quality from the world-renowned PMC studio monitors that have been responsible for countless hit records and movies, in the ultimate slimline, high-performance on-wall and in-wall loudspeakers.

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Find out more T 01767 686300 www.pmc-speakers.com

ci140sub

ci140

The ci140 and ci140sub are on-wall designs.

The other models are in or on-wall, thanks to the Qikfire™ fittings, bezel-less grille and stylish cabinet sleeve.

See us at

ESSENTIAL REVIEW: VELODYNE DEEP BLUE 8

GETTING SET UP

Set up and installation is therefore simple, with the crossover frequency in multichannel set-ups best set to maximum on the sub control and left to the bass management in the AVR. Room positioning is a gift. Not only is the DB8 supremely easy to lift, move and hide away unobtrusively, the sealed design makes it a little less sensitive to room placement than a typical ported design. That allowed us to go for the prime front corner spot in the room and benefit from an additional 6dB or so of LF boundary gain.

In action with a selection of movies, the Deep Blue 8 punches fast and tight, and fights well above its weight. This is a sub that surprises with

its pace and tautness, and delivers much higher sound pressure in the room than its compact dimensions would suggest. This is not a sub to get your flares flapping to the stomp of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, but it delivers explosions, gunshots and car crashes with visceral impact and little sign of strain. The feat of engineering to get a sub this small sounding this dynamic is not to be underestimated.

From an installer’s point of view, this is a very affordable sub, easy to hide with plenty of impact – perhaps the holy trinity of subwoofer features for most customers. The small size and sealed design make room placement very easy, opening up the option of multiple DB8 subs in the system to further smooth the in-room LF response and up the SPL ante. The inclusion of the highlevel terminals, even if basic, does also offer the option of adding a DB8 to the dialogue channel to increase the LF timbre of voices. This is a very flexible, compact and discreet sub with all sorts of small bass-reinforcements uses.

To roll with Velodyne’s ‘elemental force of the sea’ theme, the larger Deep Blue subs may well plumb the oceanic depths of sub-sonic bass, but the little DB8 is more of an inshore vessel; compact, fast and punchy, with good speed and manoeuvrability, rather than particularly deep.

In fact, given its affordable price tag, installation flexibility and outstanding performance, we could think of far more accurate words to expand upon the ‘DB’ of its DB8 moniker.

Vast Stock

& Availability on

HDMI Cables

See us at EI Live! stand 135 High Speed & Ethernet, Premium High Speed and Ultra High Speed in various lengths.

Active Optical Cables (AOC) now in stock up to 100m.

We hold over 27,000 cables in stock with a further 30,200 in production.

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AUGUST 2022 21

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

THE CI INDUSTRY TAKES FLIGHT AT FARNBOROUGH Check out some of the highlights that can be witnessed at EI Live! 2022 as the UK’s smart home and luxury AV show returns with its biggest event ever! Look out for more previews next month and at essentialinstall.com AICO

Headline sponsors for this year, Aico will be showcasing the latest innovations and technology in home life safety. The team on Stand 99 will enable installers to learn more about the Ei1000G Gateway, HomeLINK Environmental Sensors, Dashboard and Resident App, with live demonstrations for delegates visiting the stand. Be sure to check them out.

SNAP ONE

Snap One will unveil a host of innovations across its product ecosystem (Stand 111). Anchored over its two platforms, Control4 Smart Home OS 3 and OvrC Remote Management, the raft of new products encompasses leading brands in lighting, speakers, amplifiers, multi-room audio, surveillance, power and surge management, film screens, racks, mounts, cables, connectors and wiring.

Visitors will see how Control4 Smart Home OS 3 and OvrC Remote Management provide a strong base for Snap One Partners to build high quality, end-to-end smart home projects.

Control4 Smart Home OS 3 is the operating system that unifies hundreds of connected devices within the home into one intuitive, userfriendly experience. Snap One will demonstrate how recent platform improvements can deliver more personalised experiences for customers with features and functions that define the next generation of control.

OvrC is the company’s free cloud-based remote management platform. Fully supporting Snap One’s networking brands, Araknis and Pakedge, OvrC’s recently enriched feature-set makes the ecosystem better, faster, and more reliable. Now, every Control4 OS3 system can be remotely managed using OvrC, without the need for any additional hardware.

Visitors can discover how they can create colour pre-sets that customers can personalise and include lighting colour as a key element of lighting scenes and programming. In Control4 OS 3 new capabilities include a native lighting colour wheel UI for fast and intuitive control of tuneable white and colour lighting.

New Triad PDX Architectural speakers will make their show debut, providing highquality audio performance and simple, efficient

22 AUGUST 2022

installation using PushLock technology. New to the Episode range will be a new Mini 5.1 Amplifier, 2.1 Active Soundbar/Sub and the Mega sub-woofer range.

American Audio Co has almost 60 years of combined experience, the small team behind American Audio Co have worked for manufacturers, retailers, installers & distributors.

OSD AUDIO

RAKO

The successful OSD Audio brand is officially launching into the UK at EI Live! 2022.

American Audio Co (Stand 105) is proud to be the full line, master distributor for OSD Audio in the UK and Europe. Known throughout the USA for cost-effective, high-quality speakers, streamers, amps and garden speaker systems – OSD Audio is a strong partner for the CI trade. There are some unique products to tempt installers - ACE & Black Series Angled In-Ceilings with the whole speaker set angled at 15°, perfect for Atmos Duties, or Discreet In-Ceiling LCR and the SuperShallow 6.5in at just over 50mm Deep.

Electronics - Bang of Buck eight, 12 & 16 Multi Channel CI Amps starting at under £600 and a unique four in one Streamer with Spotify & Tidal compatibility and RS232 control.

Garden Speakers Systems with Bluetooth On-Wall Patio Speakers and an 8in Sub & 4 x 3in Sats kit costing under £450 trade. Coupled with all the traditional outdoor options.

Rako, Britain’s smart lighting controls manufacturer, will be showcasing the capabilities of its refreshed App on Stand 23.

The refresh now allows users to control colour temperature and light intensity with a touch slider. This means clients can adjust the lighting to suit their needs for a particular task or set scenes to link the lighting with their individual circadian rhythms.

The App can control all Rako systems, both wired and wireless, allowing easy hand-held control of lighting, curtains and blinds. Connecting via a Hub, the App allows programming and storing of new scene levels and offers colour wheel control for RGB and RGBW fittings.

Also on display will be Rako’s Modular keypads. Capable of accommodating up to 12 push buttons in a variety of lighting, shading and audio control configurations, the Modular range offers unrivalled customisation and a premium finish to suit varying application requirements.

Control 4: Lots to introduce on the Snap One Stand!

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Environmental Sensors

POWERFUL INSIGHTS. PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. Create smarter, safer homes for your residents with HomeLINK – the connected home solution for social landlords. Our Environmental Sensors and HomeLINK portal have been designed to create better maintained, healthier and energy efficient homes, enabling preventative maintenance strategies and the delivery of unrivalled service to residents.

To learn more about HomeLINK, please visit www.aico.co.uk/ HomeLINK

The HomeLINK Portal From energy efficiency to indoor air quality, you can access a wealth of actionable insights via the HomeLINK dashboard, segmented by high, medium and low risk.

Ei1020 & Ei1025 The Ei1020 measures temperature and humidity while the Ei1025 measures temperature, humidity and CO2, providing actionable insights into conditions such as mould risk, draught risk and indoor air quality.

Ei1000G SmartLINK Gateway The SmartLINK Gateway is a central hub for data and is required to extract insights from connected Environmental Sensors, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms.

www.aico.co.uk | 01691 664100 | enquiries@aico.co.uk

The European Market Leader in Home Life Safety

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On

OSD AUDIO

PREMIUM PERFORMANCE : PRACTICAL PRICING

EI Live! Launch

SPEAKERS ACE & BLACK Series In-Ceiling In-Wall LCR On-Walls In-Wall/Ceiling Subs ELECTRONICS Multi Channel Amps Sub Amps Single Source Streamers Multi Source Streamers Amp’ed Streamers OUTDOOR SYSTEMS Volume Controls Passive Patio Speakers Passive Sub / Sats BT Patio Systems BT Sub / Sat Systems

O OAUSDD IO

American Audio Co is proud to be the full line, master distributor for OSD Audio in the UK and Europe. Known throughout the USA for cost effec�ve, high quality speakers, streamers, amps and garden speaker systems – OSD Audio is the perfect partner for the CI trade.

Who are American Audio Co? With almost 60 years of combined AV/CI experience, the small team behind American Audio Co have worked for Industry Manufacturers, Retailers, Installers & Distributors. We know the industry, what you do and what you need from a supplier. www.americanaudioco.uk - 01296 660056 - trade@americanaudioco.uk

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

CAVD

Custom AV Distribution (CAVD) are very much looking forward to exhibiting and meeting many familiar, and new faces at Farnborough. This year the distributor will be sporting its largest ever stand with a focus on design and services.

The team will be displaying products from partners Ineva Design. Come and experience luxury custom cinema seating which is handbuilt in Holland and comes with a delivery and installation service that’s ‘second to none’, says the company.

Also on display will be an array of multi-room acoustic solutions by Mikodam, a selection of highly desirable 3D panels that can elevate not only the appearance of any room but the audio experience too. Mikodam’s sales support and rendering services make it easy to specify panel combinations for any room in the house.

Jamie Pullen, Wayne Hyde, and Nadine Dolente look forward to welcoming you to Stand 112 and discussing how they can support you on all residential AV projects.

KARMA-AV

Karma-AV (Stand 102) is delighted that EI Live! will be the stage for the UK launch of Perlisten’s S7i and S7ic in-walls, the world’s first THX Certified Dominus architectural designs. At just under a metre in length and only 4in deep, its four-way aluminium cabinets house the advanced technologies that have propelled the brand’s Hi-Fi speakers to global recognition, producing the high output levels and dynamic range needed for large-scale home cinema deployments. Also on display are the latest EISA award-winning SVS subs, Revel architectural, System Audio’s WISA enabled on-walls, Cornered Audio, JVC’s DILA projectors, and Ascendo’s room-correcting cinema systems.

Integrators can rely on the multi-awardwinning prowess of SVS’ new SB1000 Pro and SB3000 Micro subwoofers, crowned by EISA as the best home theatre and compact bass engines available, capping an unprecedented five-year run of success.

Taking the completist approach to cinema sound design, Ascendo Immersive Audio’s (AIA) line-up of highly advanced DSP-controlled active speakers and passive designs (with matching outboard DSP amplifiers) build into versatile state-of-the-art cinema systems, reproducing audio signals in absolute time coherence across a wide frequency response and with excellent dynamic range, regardless of system configuration and room acoustics.

And for a world with fewer wires, System Audio’s slender ‘Legend Silverback’ line of active speakers feature driver-dedicated amplification/processing and the latest wireless connectivity via the WiSA-enabled ‘Stereo Hub’ (a 24/192 capable control centre for wired and wireless sources) and 7.2 channel ‘Surround Hub’. SA’s easy-to-install wireless on-walls will take all the hard work out of discreet, full-range system design and installation.

On the video design side, Karma-AV can offer the HDR muscles of JVC’s DILA projector line together with Cinema Build Systems’ innovative Ultimate Screens range of advanced 4K-ready, acoustically transparent screens, which install easily in four simple steps.

STARSCAPE

Starscape (Stand 82a) celebrates 10 years of the Infinity system and it’s never been better!

The principles of Infinity are straightforward – an easy-to-price, simple-to-fit, modular star ceiling that enhances any room. As the product has developed, custom designed components have replaced the original off-the-shelf parts,

maintaining Infinity’s reputation for high quality and ease of installation. Additional visual effects such constellations or shooting stars are now available, along with a range of fabrics to accommodate both the aesthetic and acoustic requirements of the end user.

Starscape’s display will feature an Infinity array centrepiece along with a small test area, enabling visitors to get a hands-on experience of the product. Two members of the team; Martin and Lauren, will be available both days to answer questions, and there are also a limited number of spots during the event for pre-booked 1-to-1 consultations.

L-ACOUSTICS

L-Acoustics (Stand 98) will demonstrate the compact Fiji 5.1 system for smaller rooms and the Tahiti indoor/outdoor system in 2.1 configuration.

Nick Ficht, Global Business Director at L-Acoustics Creations, says, “Our Tahiti system features the Syva colinear source, replicating line array technology with dedicated Syva Sub low frequency reinforcement, offering breath-taking dynamics and 140-degree sound field to create an incredibly wide sweet spot in the room. The system was conceived to recreate the full scale, dynamics and power of music, delivering infralow frequencies and unsurpassed intelligibility at high SPL. Listening to Tahiti brings all the visceral and emotional impact of live music to recorded media, which is something we hope our neighbouring exhibitors will grow to appreciate.”

L-Acoustics Creations have opted to share Fiji this year in a 5.1 configuration, small enough to disappear in any room yet capable of covering a listening area of 20 m2. The system is ideal for customers demanding the biggest sound without the aesthetic issues of large speakers.

Infinity – Cyberhomes: Witness the evolution of Starscape (image courtesy of Cyberhomes

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AUGUST 2022 25

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

SY ELECTRONICS

SY Electronics will continue to develop new and exciting products that appeal to AV System Integrators and AV System Designers.

SY are well known for reliable yet affordable AV solutions, that can simplify the installation experience. Serving the residential, commercial, education, hospitality and corporate AV sectors, many products have additional features and functions. Visit Stand 65 to find out more as the company will premiere a new range of products and will be showcasing the latest 18G devices, including the advanced ‘Xcalibur’ range, alongside the ‘Slim 70 Pro’ HDBaseT Extender, SY Controller keypads, video switchers, matrices and signal management tools.

CAI

The CAI (Stand 38) was formed in 1978 to represent and establish standards in the rapidly growing TV signal reception industry. Although the technologies that members work with have developed beyond anyone’s expectations since the organisation was formed, the core strengths remain the same. CAI set industry standards and vet applications to join. Consumers who use a CAI member can be confident that the member they choose will have the skills and expertise necessary to complete their work to the expected standard.

The CAI represent businesses of all sizes from sole traders to multinationals, who specialise in many different areas of the industry.

The organisation will have Peter Sealey, Chairman and Senior Executive of the CAI, along with Kevin Dawson CAI’s Assessment and Technical Executive, on hand to discuss CAI membership/training and all things CAI related.

TV SHIELD

The TV Shield (Stand 90) has been created to be suitable for both indoor and outdoor TV protection, offering a uniquely designed, universal and secure TV enclosure, suitable for almost any kind of flat screen television.

The specially designed casing offers an affordable alternative to dedicated exterior TVs, allowing installers to deliver, protect and secure most televisions in almost any environment.

The TV Shield’s casing can be easily opened to give optimum viewing and its creators say the end-user gets peace of mind because the casing itself is shatterproof, dust-proof and weather-proof.

For greater security the Display Shield offers a secure bolt down screen to protect the TV and display units that require a higher level of security, whilst still offering all the benefits of the TV shield. With thermostatically controlled fans and heaters available, installers can also protect the equipment in almost any environment.

The engineering and design of the products ensures that all movable parts, or those that are exposed to a moveable part, have a waterresistant seal. Of course, this will prevent water ingress or egress from the unit, but it also

26 AUGUST 2022

prevents other elements from passing through such as dirt, dust, snow or rain.

The products are a good fit for delivering results in the growing exterior AV sector in domestic and commercial settings and also suited to commercial reception areas or information hubs.

The TV Shield is the weatherproof, secure and robust protective outdoor TV enclosure and digital signage cabinet, and the Display Shield is an affordable indoor and outdoor digital display enclosure that offers protection for digital signage, displays or TVs.

ANTIFERENCE

The Antiference (Stand 116) team are excited to showcase new products and developments at this year’s show. New for this year are additions to the Clear Flow wireless network range, including trade/multi packs of three access points of the ever-popular Air 3 & Air 13 products. This reduces the packaging to a single box and these access points are supplied without the power injector or cables as these extras are often not required on larger systems where the devices are being fed from a Clear Switch PoE Ethernet switch.

In addition, the company has the WAP G, the in-wall dual band access point with dual Gb Ethernet ports. The WAP G has a total of 1200Mbps of internal data speed allowing around 120+ concurrent users and a more powerful Wi-Fi signal strength than the other WAP’s in the range. Fitted with dual Gb Ethernet ports, this AP is ideal for super-fast broadband systems.

Clear Flow will also soon feature the Aero 12, an outdoor dual band Gb access point for outdoor Wi-Fi systems. This exciting new product brings a welcome solution to applications such as pub gardens or large outside spaces where the indoor Wi-Fi network cannot reach to.

Other developments for 2022 include two new HDMI over CAT6 splitters. In 2021, the V3 four port splitter over CAT6 with autoscaling

was launched and this year sees the additions of the two port and eight port models. All models are ‘full fat’ 4K 18Gbps, PoC, HDMI loop out, EDID management, IR control and feature an auto-scaling feature allowing the installation of a combination of 4K and 1080p screens to be connected to a 4K source. The system reads the EDID in the screen and scales where required, an ideal solution where there is a mix of different screens installed.

simPRO

simPRO (Stand 83b) will be offering its unique take on field service management software, designed to help streamline business processes and ultimately increase profit and productivity. simPRO is a leading job management software solution for service, project and maintenance contractors. Connect the office to the field, deliver exceptional customer service and gain invaluable business insights with automated processes, streamlined workflows and in-depth business reporting. simPRO offers a range of features for comprehensive scheduling, estimating and invoicing; realtime office-to-field connectivity, streamlined inventory management; supplier catalogue and pricing from a single system; integrations with industry-leading accounting packages and 70+ reports for accurate business insights.

From initial customer contact to final invoicing, simPRO powers businesses around the globe, with solutions for every field service workflow.

Steinway Lyngdorf (Stand 30) will be talking to dealers about the company’s range of CI friendly products, whilst Lyngdorf Audio will be showing discreet sub/sat packages and its range of electronics and speakers. Steinway Lyngdorf will be showing a range of products so installers can see the lengths the company goes to in the building process, from the finish of each speaker to the maker’s own unique processors and power amp setups for each system. The company will also be revealing details about its new showroom.

Steinway Lyngdorf will showcase CI friendly AV

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What?!

Coax experts Webro do Smart Building cables too?

Webro is renowned for WF100 coax cables, but we offer an extensive choice of cables for your lighting control & blind system projects too…

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Our company anchors its solutions on two award-winning business platforms Our company anchors solutions on – Control4 Smart HomeitsOS 3 and OvrC two award-winning business platforms Remote Management - supported by the – Control4 Smart Home OS 3 and OvrC latest products and innovations from the brands Remote Management - supported by the in our portfolio, including Triad, Araknis, Chime, latest products and innovations from the brands Binary, and Strong. in our portfolio, including Triad, Araknis, Chime, Binary, and Strong.

Learn more about Snap One. Learn more about Snap One. snapone.com © Copyright 2021 Snap One, LLC. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of this website implies acceptance of the Snap One Policy and Privacy Policy.

snapone.com

© Copyright 2021 Snap One, LLC. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of this website implies acceptance of the Snap One Policy and Privacy Policy.

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

D-TOOLS

D-Tools (Stand 42), provider of core business management software that improves financial results for thousands of system integrators worldwide, officially launches its cloud-based platform to the UK market and introduces new capabilities for System Integrator Software at EI Live!

D-Tools’ cloud-based platform, D-Tools Cloud, will be officially available for the UK market for the very first time, in partnership with Pulse Cinemas.

Customers attest that D-Tools Cloud delivers on the promise to reduce their proposal backlog by expediting the generation and throughput of proposals, allowing them to close business faster and focus on the next opportunity. The platform’s interactive, multimedia proposals and browser-based visual quoting create a collaborative experience with clients, leading to prompt e-sign approval and deposit and higher close rates. In addition, D-Tools Cloud’s post-sales capabilities, such as scheduling, project planning, task management, and time tracking, help integrators ensure that jobs are delivered on time and on budget.

D-Tools will also showcase several recent enhancements to its onpremises software solution, System Integrator version 18. Geared to meet the unique needs of electronic systems contractors, new capabilities help companies save time, gain deeper insight into project processes, and improve operating efficiency throughout their business.

Enhancements to SI include Quantity-based Quoting, ideal for largescale security and structured cabling projects, improving application performance while allowing salespeople to develop a scope and budget in a fraction of time. Also included are Tracknicity and TRXio integrations which help integrators manage their inventory, which at the same time ensures that inventory items, whether pulled from stock or order for a project, are efficiently, seamlessly, and accurately tracked from proposal through being purchased, received, staged, picked, delivered, installed, and serviced.

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IP VIDEO DOOR STATION Modern IP video technology for new and retrofit buildings Easy installation via PoE Keyless access by App, RFID, keypad or fingerprint Smart Home & NVR compatible, e.g. Control4, Loxone, Crestron, RTI, Synology, URC DoorBird combines exclusive design with the innovative IP technology in the field of door communication.

www.doorbird.com

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AUGUST 2022 29

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

Party time!

INVISION Fresh off the back of the Invision House Party celebrations, Invision is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its 20th Anniversary party to EI Live! On Stand 53, Invision will be showcasing brands from its Committed to Custom line up including Origin Acoustics, RTI, SurgeX and Trinnov - as well as celebrating with customers and manufacturers who have helped the company reach this significant milestone.

Committed to Custom is Invision’s promise to drive positive change within the custom install market, looking at improving training and education, offering innovative, class-leading products, and providing high-quality support for integrators.

Mark Taylor, commercial director at Invision, says, “This year is an exciting one for us and we want to celebrate with our customers and manufacturers at EI Live! in September. Over the two-day event we’ll be showcasing exciting

technology from some of our manufacturer partners with more announcements to come.”

Pulse-Eight’s neo:X3, which uses HDBaseT3 technology, the latest evolution of HDBaseT, will be on show. neo:X3’s biggest feature is that there is no compression used when distributing video content. This means uncompressed 4K at 60Hz 4:4:4 up to 100m over a CAT6A cable supporting all resolutions up to 600MHz across the HDMI 2 and HDMI 2.1 standards.

Business Development Director, Jonathan Regalado-Hawkey, says, “By having a ‘no compression’ approach, you’re less likely to run into edge cases with a particular resolution not being supported – after all, it is ‘bit perfect’ and what goes in, goes out. A perfect example of this is that with HDBaseT 3 we are now able to support DolbyVision at 4K at 60Hz, something that wasn’t possible with previous versions of HDBaseT.”

NETVIO

Netvio (Stand 34), a signal management AV brand founded by Derek Hulbert, will be showcasing its abilities. Netvio 360 version alerts allow installers to always be up to date with the latest features of Netvio with in-app alerts for new software versions with one click download and installation. Installers can also utilise the online driver database for Go App drivers which are automatically downloaded and added to the local storage for offline use. Not all devices are connected to a Netvio matrix or AVoverIP Encoder, for example in a home cinema when source are connected directly to an AVR. Now, these devices can be switched to via the powerful new Yamaha AVR driver. With support for complex matrix to matrix routing all handled effortlessly. Other brand abilities include watching Netvio JP4 streams full screen with audio on any iOS or Android device at the press of a button.

Enjoy any source anywhere over Wi-Fi, with amazing picture quality and stereo sound, all from the Netvio Go app.

Invision: Invision is celebrating its 20th birthday at EI Live!

AVOKE

Trade distributor, Avoke (Stand 85) will be showcasing Trend Networks and Elipson two channel audio. Get your hands on the Trend Networks SignalTEK 10G and go through your testing requirements with Trend’s UK Sales Director. Understand the differences between the models and which unit best serves your needs. Elipson have been producing exceptional Hi-Fi for almost 90 years; Avoke will be showing these multi-room audio solutions as well as their high powered pre and power amplification. Avoke’s in-house Hi-Fi expert will be on hand to answer any set up queries.

30 AUGUST 2022

BLAKE UK Blake UK (Stand 31) has been making products that connect customers to content for over 50 years. The company’s success is built on a commitment to innovation, high-quality and customer service. The Blake and PROception brands are now the first choice for many professional installers, and the maker offers an extensive range of almost 1000 products for TV, Wi-Fi and CCTV. This year Blake is launching a host of great new releases that have been designed with the installer in mind.

For the latest advances in the world of Wi-Fi check out the PROception range, including a new Wi-Fi six ceiling access point, or for 5G learn about the high-performance 5G panel that enables users to receive consistent internet even in rural areas. Also new, the CAT4 router, compatible with any 2G/3G/4G network and HDMI V2.1 and fibre cables that can carry signals up to 100m. The KVM extender, which enables view and control your CCTV from multiple displays is also new. Receive 10% off any products presented at the show on the day!

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EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

NICE

Global smart home player Nice (Stand 89) will deliver a major presence at the event underlining its various platforms.

Imagine connected systems, controlled by a single device and allowing users to manage all the activities of a building’s automation through a simple and intuitive application, programming scenarios and fully customised behaviours: it’s the future, it’s Nice.

Nice technology is wireless, modern and safe, says the company. It allows the non-invasive addition of new devices, without the need for renovation or building work. There are numerous ready-to-use products, and the ecosystem can be configured easily via the Yubii App.

Nice says its system is flexible and integrable; the ideal solution for anyone wanting to design the system step by step, according to available resources and the needs of the moment. The products form an ecosystem in which all devices communicate with each other, and which can also integrate other-brand devices.

With the Yubii App, the customer can stay in touch with their home, manage it and control it from anywhere in the world. Data is transmitted via an encrypted communication system, guaranteeing the highest possible level of protection.

One of Nice’s main goals is to take care of the environment so the systems are designed to be increasingly sustainable. For example,

sensor-based lighting can save up to 60% of energy (Von Neida, Manicria, and Tweed 2001), whereas a combined motion and daylight sensor can save up to 73% (Nagy, Yong, and Schlueter 2016). Nice’s motion sensor, on the other hand, combines both functions, so as to offer a sustainable solution both for the environment, but also for the wallet.

A key product is the Yubii Home, a smart gateway manages and communicates with all smart devices - receives data from sensors, processes them and gives an output to perform appropriate actions. Yubii Home works with Nice, FIBARO and elero technologies.

Nice: Global smart home player makes it EI Live! debut

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

MODE LIGHTING

Exhibiting at EI Live! for the first time in the company’s own right, Mode Lighting (Stand 36) will be showcasing its range of lighting control solutions focusing on the eDIN+ range of modular components which enable any size of a project to be created from standard modules, all designed and manufactured by the company’s own team in Hertfordshire, UK. The eDIN+ range is continually expanding and now includes a range of keypad styles, from the iCON and EVO-Ellipse designs which can be tailored to suit various manufacturers accessories to the European box-friendly Geneva plates and touch sensitive Coolbrium plates along with interfaces for traditional switch integration.

New for 2022 is the Digital Rotary Controller which takes a traditional rotary control format and applies it in an intelligent form for multi-position dimming, individual channel or scene control or colour adjustment. Ideal for applications where traditionally styled control is required with more advanced capabilities.

EI Live! will also see Mode preview a range of retrofit devices to compliment the eDIN+ systems and demonstrations of integration with third party systems to provide the power and flexibility of Mode Lighting systems, with alternative controls to give the integrator and end client greater choice.

QMotion UK, specialists in motorised window treatments, will be promoting a series of integration, installation and design innovations (Stand 142). These will include the company’s latest integrations with KNX, Loxone, Crestron Home and Rako lighting control, a new blind concealment box solution, a Designer Series of Decorative Brackets and Endcaps and the latest high quality fabric collection.

Visitors can find out more about the recently launched driver for Crestron Home from Ultamation. This new driver can be configured within minutes to give users control of blinds, curtains and groups through their mobile and touch panels controls on the Crestron Home system. Visitors can also learn how QMotion QiS Cat 6 wired Roller Systems can now be integrated into KNX via RS485 and see how QMotion’s partnership with Rako provides a seamless experience when specifying and installing lighting and wireless blind control on a project.

For a clean, contemporary interior finish, QMotion will also show its new blind concealment solution. High quality extruded aluminium boxes will be available to conceal the automated QMotion blind to ensure only the fabric is visible when the blind is fully lowered.

Integrators can also view the latest fabric collection for QMotion blinds and find out about the company’s free fabric sampling service, allowing them to see and test fabric colour, textile and shading quality for clients.

FARADITE

EI Live! is always a huge show for Faradite and the company will be showing a number of new products. Notably, the Sensor Wall Mount accessory is a beautiful, solid aluminium wall mounting accessory for the Motion Sensor 360 IP67 - Black, which allows integrators to elegantly mount the company’s sensors on the wall. Ideal for gardens when mounted on walls, garden structures, outhouses, fencing, and anywhere else that robust, discreet motion sensing is required.

These units will be on display so installers can see how beautiful and rugged they are.

Faradite will also be showing for the first time the brand new Motion Sensor 360 Pinhole - Volt Free. This new sensor provides installers with one of the most discreet custom install solutions the market has ever seen. Rear mounted and ultra-discreet, with a visible front of just 15mm in diameter, this sensor allows custom installers to deliver precise motion based automation like never before. The Pinhole sensor has been developed for bespoke automation requirements and is designed to be installed in wall panelling, joinery, staircases, furniture and wall plates. The metal unit features a threaded barrel and two discs. The upper disc has strong 3M adhesive to stick to the rear of the installation surface at the set material depth and the second disc is then tightened to this to securely lock the sensor in place. It is available with both a black sensor and a white sensor, designed to cater for both light and dark installation surfaces. With the Motion Sensor 360 Pinhole - Volt Free integrators can create beautiful automation and deliver the ‘wow’ factor.

Also on show, everyone’s long-time favourite products, the Motion Sensor 360 – Volt Free and the Motion Sensor 360 IP67– Volt Free.

The Faradite team will be on hand to answer questions and introduce the new products to visitors on Stand 25.

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cablenet.co.uk AUGUST 2022 35

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

THE TECHNICAL THEATRE The Technical Theatre at EI Live! 2022 orders a myriad of ways to expand visitors’ knowledge and business opportunities. Taking place on both days of the show, check out just a few of the highlights. This year’s ‘Technical Theatre Sponsor’ is Snap One and the Technical Theatre AV Sponsor is Visualization. Visit the show website for the full programme, timetable and to register (eiliveshow.com).

HDBaseT TRAINING Presented by the HDBaseT approved training team at Blustream This 1.15 hour course provides a detailed introduction to HDBaseT technology and best practices for installation.

Attendees will specifically learn about the science behind HDBaseT, the elements of 5-Play integration and recommended installation guidelines. Once completed, all attendees will receive a personal certificate, official HDBaseT installer digital logo, certified HDBaseT installer T-Shirt and AVIXA development points.

DbM - THE FUTURE OF AUDIO Presented by Barry Sheldrick, Director of Sales, Meridian Traditional analogue and digital audio matrixes are point to point, subject to introducing noise, low fidelity and runs outside of the network architecture. What does the future look like? We’ve been using ethernet connections in network for years, it is well understood, utilises standardised connectors and universal switches. Dante and AES67 offer integrators a simple, high quality, universal, noise-free and easy distribution of audio all over the home or yacht.

simPRO: BUSINESS SOFTWARE MADE SIMPLE Presented by Ricky Campitelli Based around RMR (Recurring Monthly Revenue) the company will open the floor to questions and discuss how simPRO can help. RMR allows businesses to upsell, maintain and strengthen their relationships as well as increase revenue from existing customers and maintain cash flow.

36 AUGUST 2022

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ON SHOW AT September 14-15 2022 www.eiliveshow.com

COLOUR BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATION Experience colour like never before. The Hisense PX1-PRO uses pure red, green and blue lasers to achieve new levels of colour performance, reaching 107% of the BT.2020 colour space, surpassing any flat panel TV on the market.

THE HUB

LOCAL SOURCE SOLUTION STREAM ANYTHING. FROM ANYWHERE.

The HUB is a versatile network accessory that streamlines music sharing across any BluOS installation by equipping a variety of audio sources with multi-room streaming capability. With inputs for HDMI eARC, Coax, Digital Optical, Stereo Analog and a moving magnet Phono Stage, the HUB makes it possible to share audio from sources like TVs, CD players and turntables across the BluOS ecosystem, and play it back in any zone. Each HUB supports up to 5 wired sources and can simultaneously stream 1 analog and 1 digital input at any given time. Add up to 4 HUBs on any BluOS network and enjoy the convenience of having stable, high-resolution playback of digital or analog sources without having to worry about the geography of the players.

www.bluesound.com/products/hub

EI LIVE! 2022 PREVIEW

CI-FI – WHY PERFORMANCE MATTERS Presented by Andy Oattes, Fine Sounds UK What is Ci-Fi (Custom Install High Fidelity) and why does it matter? In this presentation, we will explore music and video consumption trends, including various formats to IP and ask what the future holds. This course will also examine the evolution of Cinema and Immersive Audio, will emphasise the ‘power and art of the demonstration’, focus on designing systems to maximise consumer happiness; while also top-down selling and how to create a profitable business.

SNAP ONE: NETWORKING SOR SUCCESS Presented by Nicholas Bovill, Sales Engineering Team Lead - EMEA Snap One The most important technology in today’s smart home is the network; if the network isn’t quite right and/or been planned out and installed efficiently, a return to site is inevitable. Snap One presents an insight into networking best practices, overcoming common issues and an overview to working with standard networking tools and applications.

SNAP ONE: HOW SMART TECHNOLOGY CAN DRIVE HEALTHY AND GREEN LIVING Presented by Jason Girardier, Sales Manager UK Ireland & Nordics, Snap One Join Snap One to explore how an automated home can be good for the planet and for people; by exploring existing ideas, technologies, and solutions – as well as future innovations. Not only will this session educate you as an integrator, but it will give you useful tips for positioning the concept with design professionals and specifiers.

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ESSENTIAL CEDIA

PROVING YOUR PROFESSIONALISM Chhaya Landschultz, Lighting Designer and Director of IndigoZest, examines ways to prove professionalism and competence in the smart home and AV sector.

As an industry, we all strive to be the best that we can be and we’re eager to be positively described in these terms, by our peers, by clients and by other construction professions.

When taking on a new project and joining a team which includes other contractors, an interior designer, an architect, a property developer and other trades, it can be hard to get that recognition.

A lack of understanding of the work that we do and the skills that we employ can lead to us being undervalued. Sometimes, on a site, we might still be referred to as the AV guys and looked down on rather than seen and respected as the professionals that we are.

It helps enormously if we can get that respect immediately so that, from the off, other professionals look upon us favourably and will work with us, not against us.

Likewise, with the building and construction industry often requesting some level of certification or validation of health and safety to gain access on site, we need a quick way of proofing those important qualifications.

So how do we go about showcasing our credibility to everyone on site?

Well, a professional ID card is a good place to start. Luckily, our industry has a card that allows us to do this – the ECS Home Technology Integrator card.

This card is a way to formally recognise the skills of integrators, provide us with a simple and effective way to obtain access to construction sites, and offer proof of identity and qualification levels.

It’s no guarantee that you’ll be asked to show this sort of identification on every site – some sites never ask to see it, others do require it but then forget that they did and aren’t worried if they don’t see it.

While for others, it’s mandatory – not just for getting on site, but it is an automatic part of the tendering process. The latter point is especially true of MDU projects. We are receiving more and more requests for our engineers to have the ECS card. Perhaps, this is a reflection of the type of work that we do and we see this form of identification and professionalism as extremely important.

More than that, it’s also about our industry being taken seriously. We want to be seen as professionals who have every right to a seat at the top table with other professions - more than just hobbyists, tech geeks or the AV guys. This is what we all aspire to and it’s the direction that the industry continues to move towards. The quicker we can get there, the better.

So, if you want to be a part of developing the credibility of our industry, of always being in the position to provide identification when asked for it to access construction sites, and for not missing out on the opportunity to join a project tender, then the ECS card is for you.

At IndigoZest, we now have six technicians who proudly display their ECS card. The feedback from our team is that it not only proves their credibility on site, but it provides them with the validation that they are a part of a professional company and that their career is on the right path. It builds self-worth within the team. We will continue to support this movement and hope that more integrators join the scheme.

CEDIA is currently running a promotion where it is waiving the card application fee for an ECS Home Technology Integrator card. This offer is available until October 31.

For more information, visit cedia.net/ecs-cards or contact Emma McMylor, CEDIA’s education coordinator - Telephone: 01480 213744 or Email emcmylor@cedia.org.

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AUGUST 2022 41

ESSENTIAL HDANYWHERE

uCONTROL MULTI ZONE MEDIA, MUSIC AND MOOD WITH HDA HDA to unveil all-new Made-in-Malvern multi-zone amp at EI Live! 2022 Enabling installers to ‘do more with less hardware’, the introduction of the Multi-Zone Matrix Amplifier means it’s now possible to create a total whole-home video, audio and control solution entirely under the HDANYWHERE brand - simple to spec, simple to install and simple to control.

With a focus on practicality, the MZMA includes controllable-volume, maximum volume setting, auto standby mode and lip-sync delay and uses high-efficiency SM power supplies for the digital elements, whilst the critical analogue audio paths use linear regulation to provide low noise with great dynamic range. Witness it in the flesh on Stands 15 and 11 at EI Live! 2022.

Key features: HDANYWHERE has announced the launch of the HDANYWHERE Multi-Zone Matrix Amplifier (MZMA).

Offering eight channels of audio in a space-saving 1U amplifier delivering room-toroom high-quality audio in up to four zones.

IP-controllable with zone volume control, threeband EQ and amplification rated at 55W/ch, the MZMA offers six matrixed inputs, including two digital aux inputs for streamers or other audio sources.

“We’re very excited to now be able offer full HDA system designs that deliver multi zone

42 AUGUST 2022

audio hand-in-hand with multi zone video, all easily controlled via the uControl app or a thirdparty control system. This combination of audio, video and control from HDA is what our product development has been aspiring to achieve for some years,” says Chris Pinder, Founder and CEO of HDANYWHERE. Designed and assembled at HDA HQ in Malvern, England the MZMA is a seamless companion to MHUB video system, and integrates automatically within uControl (HDA’s universal AV control app), delivering one easyto-use interface for whole-home entertainment.

• Four-zone stereo matrix amplifier with four analogue and two digital input sources • 55W x2 at 4Ohms per zone (42W/ch - all channels driven) • Three-band EQ - customise the sound in every zone • Automatically syncs with uControl app • High-efficiency power supply • Auto low-power mode • Independent input gain and volume limiting capabilities HDANYWHERE.COM

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Lyngdorf FR-1 Designed for wall mounting, the FR-1 is extremely compact and solid, emphasizing our focus on dynamic music reproduction without sacrificing natural timbre. The depth of the cabinet is reduced to a minimum to ensure discreet placement and to keep the drivers as close to the wall as possible for optimal coupling to the room.

Read more at www.steinwaylyngdorf.com

ESSENTIAL WELLNESS AND ASSISTED LIVING

HELPING BABY BOOMERS ADAPT TO LATER LIFE With the UK having an aging population, Dean Reddy, ABB’s Product Marketing Specialist for smart buildings, explains how integrators can adapt the market for later living, and what the UK can learn from one property developer in Australia.

The oldest baby boomers are turning 76 this year, creating a growing appetite for technology that can support people in later life and help them adapt their homes. The baby boomer generation is largely independent, wealthy and tech savvy, having influenced youth culture in the 60s and 70s, led the economic growth of the 80s and invented the internet. As they approach later life, they want to keep that independence and are open to using smart building technology to achieve that.

This is creating an opportunity for smart home integrators.

What are the most important considerations when specifying a system for later living and assisted living?

In addition to functionality, the most important factors for any later or assisted living project are future-proofing and energy efficiency. ABB i-bus KNX can be installed to control lighting, HVAC, security and appliances. However, as people age, their needs change and they need a home that will adapt.

This may require integrating new appliances into an existing system – for example, adding door control, a lifting hoist or adjustable-height kitchen worktops. Looking beyond building

44 AUGUST 2022

control, it’s also worth advising homeowners to build flexibility into the structure of their property, for example by specifying solid walls where grab rails can be mounted or designing the bathroom so that the shower cubicle can be replaced with a wet room facility without altering the tiling.

In addition, whether it is a homeowner, care home provider or local authority paying the utility bill, energy efficiency is important.

Today, the data from PIR sensors provides the insight to enable a smart building system to save energy by switching lighting and heating off when a room is not occupied.

New developments within the next year will see the introduction of artificial intelligence so that a building can learn about the habits of its occupants and adapt in anticipation. For example, by turning up the heating in their bedroom as bedtime approaches – optimising energy consumption and comfort.

How can a smart building system help attract homebuyers?

It is also important to combine good aesthetic design with functionality as this enables developers to create desirable homes with a wow factor. One example is Casa Capace. It is a home concept created by Australian developer

DPN as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in response to the Australian government’s plan for SDA housing for 28,000 people with disabilities.

DPN’s goal was to create a designer home that anybody would want to live in and for it to be impossible to tell that the home has been designed for care of disabled residents. It turned to ABB to provide a building automation scheme based on i-bus KNX, to be secure, robust and intuitive for residents.

KNX controls doors, lighting, HVAC, TVs and adjustable kitchen worktops. Another important aspect of the specification was future-proof technology that can be adapted to integrate new features and products as the needs of residents change over time.

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison opened DPN’s first two Casa Capace homes in Sydney’s Oran Park district in February 2020. Within three months, the developer had received expressions of interest in future homes worth £115 million.

DPN’s experience is one that can inform life in the UK, where 4.3% of people will be aged 85 or older by 2045 (up from 2.5% in 2020).

As the population ages, people with skills in the care sector will be in high demand so integrating KNX technology has potential to help people make the most of care workers’ time.

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VISIT US STAND 34

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COMPANY FOCUS: SURGEX

GET THE RIGHT POWER FOUNDATION IN PLACE Now is the time for integrators to focus on the quality of a home’s electrical power foundation of a system and EI Live is the perfect place to start that journey, says Justin Peyton, Director of Sales EMEA at SurgeX.

Since the pandemic more and more of us are now working from home at least part of the time. Transforming the home into a place of work has been big business for integrators, providing homes with robust, resilient and secure wi-fi connected spaces, capable of running high quality collaboration and video conferencing systems. This layer of technology is not only a must-have in many homes today but, by its very nature, it is also mission-critical for clients.

Another influential pandemic trend is the move from urban living to the greener spaces of the countryside. By improving the technology that allows working from home, clients of many integrators with second and, often, third homes outside of the city have been able to make these properties their primary living – and working - spaces.

And, with clients and their families spending so much more time at home, integrators have also been busy upgrading the ‘bread and butter’ technology systems that allow their customers to enjoy rest and relaxation time in their homes. The volume of ‘connected’ electronics in the home has increased significantly, putting more pressure on the supply of reliable and resilient power to make sure everything runs smoothly, all of the time.

An integrator’s reputation is tied to the smooth performance and reliability of the systems that he or she delivers for their clients.

Integrators may not be the energy suppliers but providing an effective power management solution will preserve that reputation as much

48 AUGUST 2022

as it will protect the sensitive, high value electronic system installed within the client’s home from downtime and damage. Outside of the city, where a clean, consistent electricity is less certain and power outages more common, this service becomes even more important.

No power environment is the same, but every power environment can wreak its own kind of havoc on a smart home system. Power into the home is subject to a range of potentially problematic issues - sags, spikes, surges, neutral-ground voltage, outages, electrical noise, and more. At SurgeX, we’ve seen that up to 85 percent of problems with home technology setups are power-related. That’s a staggering stat. And it’s easily avoidable.

To protect the smart home and keep it running as intended, power management and conditioning must be an early priority.

Depending on the needs of the power environment, proper power management solutions will vary. Typically, a strong solution will include power conditioning and voltage regulation in some capacity, cleaning power before it reaches the electrical equipment.

Integrators looking to reduce service calls will also typically want to recommend a device that measures and reports on electrical metrics — including voltage, current, power, frequency, power factor, and crest factor — in addition to remote reboot to quickly reset and address problems in the power.

It’s essential that integrators understand which solutions will be the best fit to tackle power problems from every angle. For example, while an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) unit might eliminate blackouts, it must be paired with power conditioning features to

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COMPANY FOCUS: SURGEX

TECHN OLOGY G UIDE

The ABCs of Power Conditioning

Input AC

Output AC

A

B

C

D

Surge Diverter

Low Impedance Isolation Transformer

Noise Filter

Voltage Regulator

z

E

F

Battery Backup System

Frequency Regulator

G Ground Loop Control

Every solution includes our ABC power foundation: A) a Surge Diverter, B) a Low Impedance Isolation Transformer, and C) a Noise Filter. Battery systems, regulators, and ground loop control can be added, but the most effective power quality solution starts with the ABCs. keep other anomalies away from equipment.

And, while UPS solutions with line interactive technology react quickly to power outages, the shift to backup is not instant like an online double-conversion solution. Not all solutions have remote monitoring and reboot built in, so these features need to be considered for hardto-access project locations.

At EI Live! we’ll be able to talk you through the different Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) options, including increasingly popular online double conversion UPS technology.

We can talk you through the practicalities of design, specification and installation and demonstrate why UPS is now a necessity on every home installation not a luxury.

An online double conversion UPS provides uninterrupted, consistent, clean power, irrespective of the condition of incoming power. It filters and converts incoming AC power to DC, and then back to perfect AC from the inverter. Unlike line interactive UPS

modules, double conversion online UPS technology isolates output power from the input power 100% of the time, protecting loads from any voltage anomalies or drop-outs.

If the mains power is interrupted, the batteries are still holding up the incoming DC supply to the inverter, so the load continues to be supplied with absolutely no interruption whatsoever. The zero-transfer time guarantees mission critical home office, media streaming and other systems remain up and running throughout, with the inverter always online to supply the clean, reliable and resilient power supply that’s essential in optimising system performance and reliability.

All clients want a great experience from the technology installed into their homes. Power management is the foundation that makes that possible. Having the power management conversation with the client at the outset shows that you’re thinking through your system design from the building blocks right through

The SurgeX wireless net adapter card allows remote access to the UPS

to the end goal of their experience. Without it, installers jeopardise the performance of high value equipment and the costs associated with its failure. Why take such a risk? Invest in UPS. For more information visit SurgeX on the Invision Stand 53 at EI Live! 2022.

More details on SurgeX can be found at www.surgeX.com.

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AUGUST 2022 49

ESSENTIAL TOGETHER FOR CINEMA

A BIG YEAR ALREADY It has been a landmark year for the industry initiative that unites installers, manufacturers and distributors with those in need of cinemas and sensory rooms. However, ambitions are still high for the future, explains Together For Cinema Founder Ian Morrish.

We are really fortunate to have received incredible support from our industry colleagues already for Together For Cinema. As we entered a new, more proactive phase on a higher professional footing we asked the industry to back us, and we were not disappointed. We now enjoy the support of 48 sponsors from the industry, at the various different levels we offer.

All of the details are on our website so whatever support you are able to provide, please feel free to do so and just contact us if you have any questions at all. We want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our supporters, we have genuinely changed lives with this initiative and we want to continue doing so.

Other recent news includes the opening of two new cinema rooms, two further cinema room installations committed to and the completion of refurbishment of two more. ISE was very positive with over 25 hugely meetings completed. We also made it on to the BBC, with the Rainbows Children’s Hospice cinema room installation in Loughborough (installed by Gary Mills and his team at Decorum Technology), covered by BBC East Midlands. We always wanted to achieve as much media coverage as possible and hopefully this is just the start.

Summing up the first half of this year would not be complete without mentioning the stunning efforts of Chris Pinder from HDANYWHERE, who raised £46,560 by taking part in the Marathon des Sable. We know other supporters are planning challenges to support us as well, so more news on those when we get it.

PROJECT UPDATE

Of the seven projects we had planned for this year, those to be completed are: Andy’s at St Andrew’s Hospice, Grimsby.

Installer: Ben Cook of Sonic Vision. Install date: June/July 2022.

50 AUGUST 2022

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, Corfe Mullen, near Poole. Installer: Luke Crutcher of Living Home Tech. Install date: June/July 2022.

Dougie Mac Children’s Hospice, Stoke-onTrent. Installer: Andy Bell of Trusted Technology.

Install date: July 2022.

Dorset Children’s Foundation Installer: Luke Crutcher of Living Home Tech. Install date: September 2022. St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice, Newcastle upon Tyne. Installer: Gary Chapman of Creative Install. Install date: October 2022.

As for 2023 we have a very busy year planned with seven installations under discussion. Installers have yet to be confirmed for these projects, so if you can help out, let us know.

The installs are: Claire House Children’s Hospice, Liverpool; Derian House Children’s Hospice, Chorley; Ellenor Hospice for Children and Adult, Gravesend; Hope House Children’s Hospices, Ty Gobaith. Resources for Autism, London; Richard House Children’s Hospice, London and Robin House Children’s Hospice, Ballach.

Along with installers to go with these projects obviously we need seven more projectors, screens, AVR’s, speaker packages, racks, control, lighting etc., so please do what you can to help and spread the word to those installers, manufacturers and distributors who also might be able to help.

We are grateful to so many of you who support the Together For Cinema cause but we need this help to be an annual commitment in order to keep making these very special cinema rooms happen.

Together For Cinema togetherforcinema.co.uk

Together For Cinema SponsorsScreen: • Aldous Systems (Europe) Ltd • Amina Invisible Speakers Ltd • Aquavision Distribution Ltd • Audio Partnership (Cambridge Audio & Opus) • AV Pro Global • AWE (26 brands) • Bowers & Wilkins (Sound UK) • Chord Company, The • Cinema Rooms Ltd • Connected Distribution • Cornered Audio • Crestron Europe • Denon (Sound UK) • Future Automation • Gary Keene • GLO A/V • Griffin360 • Hisense UK Limited • Home Cinema Modules • IC Realtime • The BIG Corp • iCubed Home Cinema • InsideCI and DSE Group • Intuitive Homes • Invision (Midwich) (27 brands) • Karma A/V (16 brands) • Lilin • Linn Products Ltd • Loud & Clear • Lutron • Meridian Audio Ltd • MJ Acoustics • Monitor Audio • Nice Group / Nortek Control • Origin Acoustics • Primare AB • Pulse-Eight • Pulse Cinemas • Qmotion Shades • Rako Controls Ltd • RGB Comms (23 brands) • Ron Turpie • Saville Group (Spark and Visavvi) • Smartcomm • Snap One (Control4 & SNAP AV & Packedge) • Sony • Steinway Lyngdorf (SL Audio ) • Webro • Wisdom Audio

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SMART THINKING

THX HIDDEN GEMS As THX adds a swathe of new in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers to its THX Certified portfolio, Martin Dew speaks to VP of Global Technology Steven P. Martz and senior engineer Craig Buckley.

Senior engineers at San Francisco-based THX are not averse to trying their hand at developing new product categories. A former division of Lucasfilm, THX has given its blessing to hundreds of carefully curated home cinema products spanning a near 40-year history. In its worthy quest to ensure that consumers get best-in-class or ‘gold standard’ audio performance in any environment, the company has licensed its iconic THX Certified marque to AV processors, receivers, loudspeakers and numerous accessories. There is even a THX Certification engineering team dedicated to maximizing the performance of video displays, such as TVs and computer monitors. The first company to coin the phrase ‘as the director intended’ back in 1983, it is embedded deep within THX’s DNA to enable consumers to experience referencelevel entertainment, wherever that might be.

THX continues to remain at the forefront of the in-wall/in-ceiling product category, which is designed primarily for the custom installation market. With a burgeoning demand for dedicated residential media rooms - catalyzed in part by the COVID pandemic – the company has seen an upswing in submissions for THX Certification of concealed home cinema loudspeakers. Recently announced products

54 AUGUST 2022

to join the THX in-wall/in-ceiling party include those from KEF, the Monitor Audio Cinergy line, Monolith line, and Perlisten, all of which are available in UK, EU and global markets.

These new additions complement a further 25 individual products from a smattering of legacy licensees, including Atlantic Technology, KEF, and Klipsch.

VP of global technology at THX, Steven P. Martz, says that the company is “expanding the offerings for people who want a THX Certified system in their home.” Not only does his comment pertain to the in-wall category itself, but also to THX’s three certification levels within it (THX Certified Dominus, THX Certified Ultra and THX Certified Select), which give consumers multiple solution choices based on their specific budget and entertainment room logistics, including the configuration and size of the entertainment space.

Senior engineer Craig Buckley emphasises that THX Certified in-ceiling speakers have solved a perennial problem posed by in-wall front LCR (Left Centre Right) or surround speakers, where just one asymmetrical wall in a media room can throw the proverbial spanner in the works for integrators or custom installers.

With surround speakers in 5.1 or 7.1 systems, Craig asks the key question, “Where are your

walls?” He continues that within the immersive audio world, “in-ceilings help because you can almost put them anywhere.” Steven concurs, saying, “(THX) LCRs are targeted for a 45-degree off-axis response, but top speakers are above you, so depending on where you are sitting, you could be anywhere from zero degrees straight below or 15 to 25 degrees

THX preparing product for THX Certification testing

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SMART THINKING off. We ensure good off/on-axis performance from top speakers and very specific off-axis response from LCRs.”

PERFORMANCE CRITICAL

While categories of THX Certification are dependent on performance in a given room volume (for example, a THX Certified Dominus speaker should produce reference level film audio in a room up to 6,500 cu ft), Craig is quick to point out that “more important” is “the distance at which you listen.” Achieving a THX Certified level for an in-wall speaker is similar to the process required for a non-in-wall speaker. Craig continues, “We’re looking for a good flat frequency response, listening window, power handling, distortion, and being able to play at reference level SPL (Sound Pressure Level) over distance.”

It may be a lesser-known fact, even within the industry, that THX Certification of any product is an intensive process. Within one category (such as inwall speakers) the evaluation regime might extend to four hundred tests, both industry standards and proprietary tests. Steven says that manufacturers like to work with THX in different ways. Some, for example, send in their product samples “near the beginning of the development process, while others might be further along in product design.”

But the demanding nature of THX Certification is no wonder when Craig reveals that at the start of the THX testing process “some high-end speakers don’t measure as well as the designers would like.” It is critical that companies do not lose sight of the importance of both “subjective

(listening) as well as objective” parameters to improve their products. When candidate speakers are subsequently exposed to Craig’s grueling SPL vs distortion tests, he says, “It’s not a trivial thing.”

The Hollywood cachet, legacy and quality the THX brand represents are thankfully still not lost on dealers, custom installers, or consumers. THX also bolsters its heritage with a little sprinkling of Star Wars magic dust. Steven enthuses about the response the company received at the High-End Munich show in May, surrounded as he was by a cornucopia of shiny new THX Certified product offerings from licensees. “They are proud of how our brand continues to evolve, where we’ve come from, and what we are today,” says Steven. “It’s not just the legacy, it really comes down to the quality the brand represents by our continued adherence to strict testing standards, as well as to technology research and development.”

As for the future, the company looks set to dig in with an ever-expanding portfolio of THX Certified in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers primed for the custom installation market. Steven sums up the perceived value of THX best when he says, “Customers want to feel comfortable with their decisions, particularly when they are investing in a new speaker line. They ask, ‘What is the best named brand to certify the quality of a product?’ Well, they know THX means high-fidelity in the cinema and in the home cinema, based on a multi-decade track record for ensuring high quality. Ultimately, that is what makes them feel good about their decision before investing in new equipment.”

Pre Sales Support & Availability on

USB Cables

See us at EI Live! stand 135 USB 3.1C, USB 3.0 & 2.0 with all the standard connection options, A, B, Micro & Mini.

Wide range of Multiport USB hubs with Display and Ethernet connections.

With over 27,000 cables in stock with a further 30,200 in production.

THX audio engineer Craig Buckley at work

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cablenet.co.uk AUGUST 2022 57

ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

A BIG FUTURE Barry Sheldrick, Director of Sales at DbM, takes a look at the future of large format displays.

When speaking to our network of integrators, it quickly became apparent that most of them had experienced difficulties when installing these types of displays.

One challenge is the alignment issue of multiple tiles. In the real world, walls are not always flat (who knew!?) and this can cause problems in aligning the various wall brackets for each of the sections that make up a larger picture. As you can imagine, this can lead to extra time being required on site, repeat call backs and the erosion of profit margins as your labour costs increase.

The second challenge that we’ve heard about is service. The individual tiles that make up the larger image need to be easily removeable. You ideally want spare tiles on site and a UK service centre to look after them in a timely fashion.

The final piece of feedback is on the excessive heat generated by some displays.

We worked with LG for over a year to identify all the challenges that integrators face when deploying large direct view LED screens.

The idea of this being that we could bring a solution to the market that addressed all key concerns. We wanted to offer our integrators an easy to install, profitable and aesthetically pleasing large format display, without any of the headaches usually associated with these types of installs.

We are proud to present the LG MSD3000, a 1.56 pixel pitch display which can accept UHD and HDR10 signals, whilst only consuming

58 AUGUST 2022

around 800w on average. The 800w figure is important to consider; the MSD3000 is, for its size and 500 NIT light output, a low creator of heat in the living room too.

The beauty of the MSD3000 is in the simplicity of the installation. Once the simple wall brackets are installed, the two large cabinets which house the tiles simply slide together and are bolted to secure. There are a couple RJ45 and power connections to plug in and then the chassis is ready to accept the 72 tiles that make up the image.

Usefully, each tile is numbered and lettered, which ensures that the panel is assembled with the best uniformity. With a single UK plug

socket, even the power requirement is very easy to manage.

When we built the MSD3000, it took around two hours from unboxing to enjoying an image.

For anyone that has installed a large format tile display before, this is a game-changer!

With just over 5m² of image area, the MSD3000 is absolutely brilliant in the larger living/dining/kitchen spaces that we see on more and more plans that our integrators present us with. Without the drawback of bezels often seen on 3x3 LCD screens, your clients can enjoy bright, beautiful images in well-lit rooms.

With low input latency, the MSD3000 is also superb for gaming.

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Make it Real We’re proud to be adding the StormAudio brand of cinema processing and amplification to our luxury home cinema lineup.

Now driving our cinema demonstrations!

Visit habitech.co.uk for further information or meet us at Basingstoke for the full StormAudio experience. www.habitech.co.uk | 01256 638500 | sales@habitech.co.uk

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Join our exclusive network of dealers by taking part in our one-day accredited training course and benefit from solutions for a minimal investment.

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ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

Same Day/ Next Day & Availability on

Fibre Patch THE RIGHT OPTION

We are often asked about large panel TVs versus projection systems and to be honest, the answer is really very simple: we’ll help you choose the right option. Generally, large format displays work much better in large, open rooms with ambient light.

There are exceptions, but by and large, the best possible performance from a projection system is achieved in a dedicated space with lighting control.

The other facet to think about is loudspeaker positioning. With an acoustically transparent screen, we can place the LCR’s exactly where they should be, with respect to industry guidelines on speaker angles, both on the horizontal and vertical planes.

With large format displays, the centre channel will always have a slightly compromised position, simply due to the construction of large panel displays. In many cases, a pair of speakers that image well is a great solution for those displays, both visually and from a performance perspective.

We’d always recommend engaging our complimentary design and specification service – we can come up with some great solutions for you to present to your clients.

The final piece of the puzzle is the SMS Leddy system. Scandinavian designed and manufactured, the SMS Leddy is a beautiful frame and mounting system for the MSD3000.

With options of birch, oak, black and walnut finishes and three different mounting options, the SMS Leddy is a perfect partner for the MSD3000.

SMS Leddy is available as an on-wall, free standing or ‘wall-floor’ option, providing a great option for cable management, which allows the system to match the client’s decor and also house additional equipment.

The LG MSD3000 and SMS Leddy will be on display at EI Live! I would encourage you to visit DbM on stand 10 to find out more about these solutions.

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AUGUST 2022 61

ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

WINDOWS ON THE WORLD Kris Hogg, Luxury Living Samsung Electronics Europe, talks the future of super-sized TVs and screens.

How best do installers attack this sector and convince customers that their viewing is something they need to truly invest in?

What I’m seeing is a growth in a new sector in the market, that of the Luxury Media Room, a room that can be a family media room, a home cinema, a sports bar or a wellness room all at the touch of a button. At the core of this has been the emergence of supersized MicroLED screens like The Wall. These super bright screens allow a client to experience incredible bright images and allows them to use the screen in broad daylight.

This then gives installers an additional product to offer the client, something we call a multimodal space that has all the uses we mentioned before. Adding the concept of these spaces allows the dealer to discuss a full range of services with the client (not just the screens but immersive audio, audio processing, acoustic treatments, control systems etc.) and totally ups the game for media room design and use.

everything from screen through lighting and

available that help a dealer explain the concepts

control they make the buying process simple for

of home automation and AV systems. We

the client to understand and commit to.

published a design whitepaper in conjunction

In terms of the value proposition, we’re

with specialists Trinnov, Officina Acustica and

seeing a trend for higher value installations

K-Array that cover all the elements a designer

post the COVID lockdowns, as people look

needs to consider, as well as ensuring they see

to upgrade the performance of their home

the value in an AV professional, this is available

entertainment systems. This means that the

from our display solutions website.

dealer’s job is more about selling the experience

Of course, for a wider perspective of what

than selling the products. If a dealer can get a

we do as an industry, I’d point a dealer to CEDIA

client sat down in a demo facility, then that job

and their RIBA CPD outreach program, this is

gets even easier… Yes, the demo room is back!

one benefit from CEDIA that really can change

Interestingly this applies not just for these multimodal spaces but for home cinemas, there is still huge demand for a dedicated cinema in the home and luxury yacht markets. I’m seeing growth in the utilisation of LED screens here too as they offer some significant advantages over a traditional two-part projection system

How do installers explain and introduce the concept to related trades such as interior designers?

your business.

Above all though, sell the concept, sell the experience and don’t talk about specifications.

What scope is there for including content such as digital art, and how can installers help clients tap into those resources?

When we start to discuss large screens in any space, the one thing that is always on the client’s agenda is art, either to use the screen as

Dealers such as HiiLIFE are using The Wall

One of the best routes to developing a dealer’s

decoration when it’s off, or to display dedicated

and the multimodal room as an integral part

sales channel has always been through the

artworks or collections. In fact, we have dealers

of their sales strategy. By offering complete

design professional space, such as architects

who have installed The Wall in private galleries

solutions for these luxury spaces, covering

and interior designers, and there are tools

solely for displaying an art piece.

62 AUGUST 2022

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ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

Make no mistake - the digital art space is huge and we work with a number of companies who are either dealers or creators of digital art.

These companies can deliver bespoke pieces, like a full waterfall running across your room or a piece of art. The NFT space has also driven the uptake of screens in the art sector.

Make the art discussion part of the overall concept sale, and then partner with one of the content providers and this will give you additional revenue. Sometimes the art can cost more than the whole system.

Where now for the installation TV sector?

Screens are getting bigger and I’m seeing a greater spend on quality and performance. Not

just from the demographics we’ve normally dealt with. We’re seeing a new raft of clients hit the market.

I use my son as a prime example. He’s 30, grew up watching content on a laptop and listening to music on headphones, or poorquality Bluetooth speakers. As he gets older, he is now understanding the value of higher quality experiences, and as he now has disposable income he is starting to invest in better TVs and better audio systems. He is on what I call ‘the quality journey’.

It’s also a fact the wealthy are becoming younger (and it’s not just me getting older), there has never been as many millionaires under 30. So, start to nurture and advertise to this

demographic, it may start small but you will end up with a client for life.

I still see the growth in display devices as larger, brighter screens. MicroLED is going to become the mainstream for high end projects both in media spaces and cinema installs, it has such a significant set of advantages.

Outdoor living spaces are going to become more prevalent and screens like Samsung’s The Terrace are driving the evolution of these spaces.

As for what comes next, as always expect incredible innovation from Samsung, in the short term you’ll see higher definition LED, larger TVs and better app integration. In the longer term?

Well, watch this space, we will amaze you.

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AUGUST 2022 65

ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

SUPER-SIZE ME! Steve Harper, Client Services Director at Philharmonic, argues today’s super-sized and integrated TVs offer a chance for installers to work closely with the design community.

Interior designers and architects that have clients

Looking around the industry there are

a strong push from Samsung, is of course, The

who wish to include viewing TVs or other types

some spectacular offerings that give our

Wall. With new AI processing technology, 8K

of content in their living spaces need to find

industry something to take to related fields

viewing quality, 120Hz frame rates and versatile

solutions that match the scale, design quality

that deliver something they probably wont

installation. The way the concept is designed

and aesthetic ambition of the project as a whole.

have seen before.

means that the customer can have almost

Where else can they find these solutions and the support needed to deliver the installation other than from professional installers?

Understanding of cutting-edge television technology and viewing options amongst interior designers is relatively low, some understand that these days customers can have a large flat screen TV, essentially the same as a conventional TV, but very large - but not much knowledge exists beyond that.

However options that go way beyond the limitations of standard TVs from makers they will have heard of and ones they wont, are beginning to offer aesthetics they understand. What all these systems have in common of course is that they require specialist installation,can deliver

Samsung is a company that has some strong options here using new technology built around micro sized RGB LED elements to deliver one of the most advanced screen technologies around.

Designed with inorganic self-emitting elements, this technology can cope with a huge variety of projects and is particularly strong in areas with high-ambient light.

Products such as the 100in Samsung Micro Led Smart TV are designed around an ‘Infinity Screen’ created to remove the perception of borders between content and screen and between the screen and the wall the product is mounted on, matching any décor. When switched off the screen works as a canvas for a range of attractive artificial landscapes from

any size of screen they want. Using modular technology, The Wall can be installed in a variety of positions, including concave, convex, ceiling, hanging, inclined and and L-type, giving the design community options to fit in with their vision for the space.

LG also has an option here, the suitably futuristically named MSD 3000. Like many of these products the concept is well suited to open plan designs with lots of either ambient or artificial light. The 136in product can be fitted into living spaces with a unique, Scandinavian designed free standing or wall mounted solution to provide an attractive aesthetic finish in contemporary interiors.

Refik Anadol Studio allowing customised

A final name is C SEED with its high-concept

incredibly high performance in terms of viewing,

patterns or images to turn the screen into a

Monolith 1 or M1. This draw dropping product

but are also a design led statement technology

gallery to personalise the space.

has been created for when owners do not want

piece that will work with a vision for the whole property.

66 AUGUST 2022

Another advanced supersize TV option that uses the same technology and has been getting

to see their super-sized viewing product on show until they are ready to watch.

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ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

Available in 165, 137 & 103in options,

plates. Function follows form here, visually

ceiling mounted, specific shapes, all ideal

the C SEED blazes a trail for interior design

very coherent, luxuriously minimalist and with

for digital artwork or architectural features

friendly concepts and adds a spectacular

an exciting, aggressively elegant tension.

using technology.

feature to luxury homes as the entire

This innovative maker also has even larger

For years film makers and sci-fi writers have

product emerges from beneath the floor and

options available for outdoor viewing created

imagined a future where super-sized viewing

gracefully unfurls into a high-performance

in partnership with Porsche Design Studio.

experiences enhanced the entertainment and

4K TV. The product was created by designer

Even if none of these options suit, at

information available in the home, products so

Stefan Pani, a University of Applied Arts

Philharmonic can reach out to our many industry

advanced in their design that they are as much

Vienna graduate, he created a frame with an

contacts to create bespoke solutions designed

part of the home as the rest of the structure, well

integrated soundboard that unfolds and then

to a specific brief. We can build LED video

now our industry can make that a reality for the

settles smoothly on a base made up of four

walls of any size, flat, curved, semi-transparent,

design community and their customers.

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AUGUST 2022 69

ESSENTIAL SUPER SIZED AND INTEGRATED TVS

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX James Drummie, Product Manager at AWE Europe, explains why the industry needs to think differently to avoid reaching the limit on supersized TVs. For years we’ve seen manufacturers racing to launch the biggest and best TVs, and this year is no different. But we are now hitting a size limit for flat panel TVs, and manufacturing isn’t the issue – it is the size of our doors. The box size of a 100in screen is probably the upper limit of what will fit into most living rooms. Various manufacturers make screens of this size, for example Sony has a 100in (FW-100BZ40J) and LG a 97in OLED. The demand exists to go even bigger, but to do this, manufacturers must think outside the box!

The obvious way to go bigger than 100in is to use a projector. But, for many installs, this is simply not possible. This could be to do with a lack of light control, restricted ability to run cabling, low ceilings or light fittings, or joists being in the way. There are a couple of ways to overcome these challenges and go bigger (and in some cases, MUCH BIGGER).

The first is to use an ultra-short throw projector with an ambient light rejecting screen. Hisense has pioneered the Laser TV market with its L9 models, which use triple laser technology to produce incredible colour quality and brightness. In fact, Hisense L9 claims 107% of BT2020 with 3,000 lumens.

What makes this different from other ultra-short throw projectors is that it comes packaged with a screen, so it’s ready to go.

Your size options with the Hisense L9 are 100in or 120in. Both screens are ambient light rejecting so can be used much like normal TVs, with lights on or without blinds or curtains. To make it even more TV-like, both options include

70 AUGUST 2022

built in speakers, a TV tuner and even come with a normal TV remote. Starting from £3,999 for the 100in version, this option makes supersized TV accessible to the masses.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have Micro-LED screens. These screens are made up of lots of small panels that are put together on site, which means that any restriction due to door size is no longer a factor. On demo at Sony HQ there is an enormous 220in Crystal LED screen, which is full 4K and has so much brightness that even in full daylight you can see a fantastic HDR image. Thanks to its modular structure, with Micro-LED there’s no real limit to size.

What about the future? I don’t have a crystal ball but here’s what I hope we will see. We’ve already experienced rollable OLED TVs from LG. These currently unroll out of their stand and retract when not in use. I’d like to see this technology used slightly differently. Imagine ordering a 135in TV and it arrives in a tube.

How cool would it be to simply unravel it and stick it to the wall? We don’t know what’s around the corner, but we do know that whatever’s next is going to be amazing.

Whilst we wait for Micro-LED to become more affordable, or for rollable OLED to become a thing, the only way to get that three-metre-wide image is to use a projector.

But size isn’t everything. The most remarkable thing to have happened in the TV space this year is the launch of QD-OLED. This takes all the best things from quantum dot LED screens and combines it with the power of

OLED. Up until now OLED TVs have struggled with the brightness required for great HDR. To counter this, LG OLED uses red, green, blue and white subpixels. This means that on the very brightest parts of the image the white pixel kicks in to give that HDR pop we’ve come to expect.

The downside is that it washes out the colour on the brightest part of the image.

QD-OLED differs by going back to the three-sub pixel system. But rather than taking a white OLED and putting filters in front to create the colour, they use quantum dots instead. This time blue OLEDs are used as they have the most energy. And rather than filtering out twothirds of the light, the quantum dots change the wavelength to either red or green so none of the energy is wasted, making QD-OLED brighter and more efficient than W-OLED. Currently Sony has QD-OLED screens available as 55in and 65in. So, right now, if you want ‘the best’ TV you’ll have to stick to these more modest sizes.

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SMART THINKING

SUPERCHARGE

YOUR RACKS!

DON’T SELL ON PRICE, YOUR CREDIBILITY HAS VALUE! Inspired by a conversation with a UK dealer at ISE, Pete Baker, owner of sales and marketing specialist Big Corp and experienced installer, offers some advice on credibility as a sales tool.

Image courtesy of Surrey Hills Home Cinemas

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During my visit to ISE, I spent one evening with a group of dealers at a local showroom and experience centre. I was struck by a conversation I had with an experienced and talented integrator who stated that he had just finished a very nice, dedicated theatre project. As the conversation progressed, it shifted to the projector he used, since as I am currently considering replacing my existing one. The integrator stated that on his last project, the projector used was not his preferred choice; but the customer wanted a different projector that was slightly cheaper and, he “didn’t want to get in an argument with the customer”.

This encounter is not unique, in fact I had similar experiences with customers interested in a different brand countless times over the course of my 20+ year career as an integrator. And very often you will have competition involved and may not be the cheapest solution, so it is important to understand how to overcome objections about price, as well as product selections. Initially, I took a similar position as the gentleman I met. However, as time went on, I changed my approach in these discussions and recognised that price is NOT the most important element in the decisionmaking process.

For many customers the budget is at the forefront of their mind when investing in technology. And for good reason! When clients are

dropping up to six figures on a system, I can understand their budget considerations. However, performance, reliability and ongoing satisfaction of the system are equally important. So, how do you successfully navigate a challenging discussion about price with a potential client, when they likely are receiving other bids? How do you find a comfortable balance between budget and delivering a system the client can love and enjoy for many years?

ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY

Establishing credibility sets the stage and creates a solid foundation for the courting process between you and the client. When I owned my own integration company, establishing credibility early on with a client was the most important element in securing a project. If I could convince them early on that we knew our stuff, had a track record of pleased customers, and had proof to back those things up, the clients were more apt to entrust us with all aspects of the design and product selection process.

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SMART THINKING We would start by greeting our clients in front of a whole wall of framed testimonials. This would be the first thing the client saw when they walked in, instantly lending credibility in our stated dedication to customer service. We also showcased a wall of certifications and awards in clear view.

So, by the time we sat down in the conference room to review their floor plan and discuss their needs, they had literally been surrounded by evidence of our credibility from the moment they walked through the door. Then, when it came time to explore product decisions and if the customer would suggest things that we didn’t feel was in their best interest, we had more ability to stand behind our suggestions because they had confidence that we were dedicated to our craft and laser focused on customer satisfaction.

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR EXPERTISE

We would further back up our design recommendation and product selection by emphasising all the research we had done at trade shows, industry publications and actual product evaluations. Further, let me ask you this, what’s the point of attending all those seminars, reading all those industry publications and going to expos if you don’t leverage that knowledge? You are an expert in the field of technology with years of education and experience, lean into it!

A potential client may say something like “well we’d really like [insert brand name and product type], it’s less expensive and we know the brand.” Based on your experience, you know that brand would not produce the best performance, reliability, or integration experience. To demonstrate confidence in your educated product selection decision you could respond with something along the following lines, as I often did, “I know that product very well and I’m certain you have friends, family members or co-workers who use or enjoy it, but based on our conversations I don’t think that it would deliver the best experience for you and your family, and this is why.”

At this point it was always helpful to back up my product selection with the years of education and industry experience I had invested in, leading up to that decision. One of the ways this can be accomplished is by following up the earlier statement with a detailed explanation of your investment in product research and evaluation over the years.

In my experience, clients will appreciate a respectful yet confident reminder of your industry knowledge.

using a specific brand or product because it’s cheaper or better known to the consumer. I would tell my prospective clients, “My job is to deliver a system that you and your family will use and enjoy comfortably, every day and for years to follow. At the end of the project, I want you to hold me personally responsible for your satisfaction with the system. If we use the product that you have suggested, I will not be able to stand behind the system, because I do not feel it will deliver the performance, reliability, or level of intuitiveness that we strive to achieve for you and your family.”

Saying this has always garnered respect and trust from my clients.

In the end, I did make sure they held me accountable. My team and I were readily available after the installation was complete in case they had any questions or concerns. I would also contact them the first Wednesday of the month following the completion of the project to discuss with them any issues they may be having. If the system wasn’t outstanding, I made sure to keep working with them until it was.

SUPERCHARGE

YOUR RACKS!

CONCLUSION

Prospective clients need to gain trust in you! Don’t ever take this for granted. Show them you are worthy of their trust by establishing your credibility and the confidence you have in your profession.

Navigating conversations about price and product selection can be challenging, no doubt!

However, it is extremely important to remember that price is not the only decision. At the end of the project, they won’t remember if they saved a few pounds on a certain product, but they will remember who sold the ‘system’ to them and you will be solely responsible if they are dissatisfied.

Obviously, I am not promoting just selling more expensive products to raise up the price tag of the system – in fact, sometimes the better solution you have in mind may be the same price or cheaper. Although, overcoming price objections is a common encounter. The focus here is to provide a few examples and tools that can be used to walk through this topic with a potential client and ultimately deliver a system you and your team can stand behind.

Ultimately, the choice of which company to go with is up to the customer, so earning their trust is the only way to ensure that you can have the creative freedom to put together spectacular systems. You might even say, in order to create a great system, establishing your credibility and building trust are kind of a BIG deal.

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TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

The end result of the work you preform, and ultimate satisfaction of the customer are your responsibility.

You need to treat it as such. Like I said before, your clients are entrusting you with a significant amount of their money to design and deploy a system that their entire family can comfortably use and enjoy.

Don’t take that responsibility lightly, own it!

Taking responsibility for the end result can help with the clients who are persistent about

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sales@habitech.co.uk AUGUST 2022 73

ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY

MEDIACOMS HOME CINEMA MAGIC The MediaComs team painstakingly created this luxurious and high-performance home cinema.

With four bases dotted around the South East of England, MediaComs’ main office is in Bishop Stortford with the company servicing clients throughout London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

This family run firm, headed up by brothers Peter and Chris Leon, has been established since 2002; supplying and installing equipment right across the spectrum from aerial, satellite, AV, security and of course luxury home cinemas.

MediaComs is CAI Plus approved, a CEDIA member and is a Registered Digital Installer.

This well qualified installation company took on

74 AUGUST 2022

the brief to create a luxury, high-performance cinema for this new build property, delving deep into the Pulse Cinemas product lineup to get the performance needed.

DEMONSTRATION SUCCESS Lead installer for the company, Chris Leon, explains, “This project was for an existing customer who had some very basic AV before, but moving into this newly renovated home, he really wanted to realise his home cinema

dreams. We are fortunate that our HQ is very close to Pulse Cinemas, so we were able to visit with the client and show him just what was possible. We used to have a basic home cinema set up at our offices, but why show the customer a Fiesta, when you can show them a Ferrari right?

“Kapes provided all the demos on the day (Kapes Patel, Pulse Cinemas COO) and the customer loved the Apartment Cinema so much that what we specified for his cinema is basically a tweaked version of that room.”

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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY

All the equipment was chosen to maximise the performance in the space available, giving the client the largest screen possible with the most immersive audio to match. A Screen Research 115in model was selected and fitted to partner the 4K projector specified for the cinema. The high impact audio in the space is delivered in a configuration of 3.8.2 by a series of speakers from Canadian audio masters Paradigm. The front channels are handled by three CI-Pro Paradigm P3 LCRs, a threedriver, dual passive radiator, two-way, shallow

enclosure in-wall design that offers many benefits Paradigm has built into this range.

This speaker features the X-PA tweeter with in-house created Perforated Phase-Aligning (PPA) Tweeter Lens that protects the purealuminium tweeter dome and acts as the Phase Plug, preventing out-of-phase frequencies for smoother, extended high frequencies with impressive detail and a higher output. This line also has high-performance mineral-filled copolymer polypropylene bass/midrage cones, oversized computer-optimised ferrite magnets

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and high-power motor structures to offer detail in the mid-range as well as clean, extended bass.

Paradigm Millenia LP 2s step into deliver the surround audio in the cinema featuring an ultra-thin (1-3/4 in / 4.4 cm) design offering a three-driver, two-way bass-reflex array with dual passive radiators in an on-wall model with moulded high-gloss polymer enclosure. Just a few of the highlights from this range include an S-PAL satin-anodised pure-aluminium dome, a rigid mineral-filled ABS chassis and a perforated aluminium mesh screen. Offering a wide dispersion pattern, the speakers also feature an advanced motor structure with extruded aluminium heat sink. On to the height channels, and here the Paradigm CI Pro P80-Rs were selected. Offering many of the features and patents as the P3’s, these speakers offer the in-house created Reduced Edge Diffraction (RED) Technology. This approach involves RED Technology (patent pending) which consists of a die-cast aluminium tweeter housing that reduces negative effects of diffraction while enhancing midrange frequencies. The irregular edges and off-centre placement break up standing waves often found around the woofer cone and tweeter housing of other speaker designs. The aluminium structure also dissipates heat which improves power handling and allows a lower crossover frequency, further improving sound and reducing distortion.

AUGUST 2022 77

ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY

A full demo at Pulse Cinemas helped secure the project

Handling the bass in this room are the attractive and some would argue ‘cute’ Paradigm Seismic 110 subs. This good-looking sub complements the aesthetics of the cinema and delivers all the lower frequencies the space needs, leveraging an ultra-low-distortion splitcoil driver, 850W RMS Ultra-Class-D amplifier, and 10-in cone.

Chris says, “We really like the Paradigm brand. It just feels more exclusive for the customer and the performance is really there.

There are lots of nice aspects to this room, but it’s the audio that really makes it and working in tandem with Anthem on the processing adds another level as well. I particularly like the subs, I have them at home and quote them for every cinema we do now.”

78 AUGUST 2022

Providing the processing and partnering the Paradigm speaker array is the Anthem MRX 1140. Part of the popular MRX family, its important to note here that Anthem and Paradigm are developed in tandem and are designed to make a strong AV partnership.

Specifying them together means the cinema benefits from many years of cross pollination and development, offering the best performance.

The MRX 1140 throws its full weight behind the performance in this cinema with its 15.2 Pre-Amplifier/ 11 Amplifier Channel receiver capabilities compatible with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced. A generous 140W per channel continuous power into 8 ohms is also present as is the ARC (Anthem Room Correction) software offering room calibration capabilities.

Helping to control the audio in the space are a series of Vicoustic MD55 absorption/ diffusion panels. In this instance, located behind the screen the MD55 are very straightforward to install and come at a competitive price.

Also featured in the cinema is the flagship fixed format 8x10 HDBaseT Pulse-Eight Neo 8a Matrix. This top of the range model offers Ultra HD 4K video transmission (up to 340Mhz), 1080p, 3D Full HDCP 2.2 support delivering 8x HDMI inputs, 8x HDBaseT Class B outputs and 2x HDMI outputs. This Built in Britain product also has HDMI-CEC Bi-Directional Control, Bi-Directional IR Control and Automatic EDID Management.

All of the high-performance tech in the cinema is controlled using an RTI XP-3 control processor and a T2x remote control.

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For more information, call the UK’s exclusive M&K Sound distributor Gecko Home Cinema on 01635 268114

AUDIOPHILE QUALITY, ACROSS THE LINE IN-WALL • IN-CEILING • SUBWOOFERS • LANDSCAPE • AND MORE Our new complete line of high-performance residential speakers, made by Origin Acoustics, is designed with your most discerning clients in mind. All made with premium materials. All extraordinarily easy to install. All built to work in perfect harmony with the Crestron Home® platform, and soon with DM NAX™ Audio-over-IP products, so they’ll be perfectly tuned the moment you power up.

Learn more at crestron.com/ResidentialAudio

All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. ©2022 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY

Offering an impressive level of in a small

Chris concludes, “We have been working

form factor, the XP-3 has a built-in RF

with Pulse Cinemas for around two and a half

transceiver and supports wireless bi-directional

years now and have completed four projects

communications using ZigBee. The XP-3

with them. The products and support on offer

has features a built-in astronomical clock and

are just what we need.”

control via Ethernet, RS-232, or relays. A strong

So, all in all, a fine line up of products, fitted

partner for the XP-3 is the fifth gen T2x remote

expertly by MediaComs, supported by Pulse

loaded with a full complement of hard buttons

Cinemas delivered everything the customer

delivering quick, intuitive control, while the

asked for and more.

2.8in touchscreen interface can be tailored for full control of devices throughout this home

MediaComs

cinema environment.

mediacoms.co.uk

Essential Kit List • Screen: 115in Screen Research Screen • Projector: Sony VPL-VW590(BLK) 4K SXRD Projector

• Speakers: 3 x Paradigm P3 LCR, 4 x Paradigm Milenia LP2 Surrounds, 4 x Paradigm CI Pro 80R Heights, 2 x Paradigm Seismic 110 Subs

• Processor: Anthem MRX1140

• Acoustic Treatment: Vicoustic MD55 (behind screen)

• Power Distribution: Pulse-Eight Neo

• Control: RTI XP3 and T2x Remote control

8a Matrix

Non-Chinese

FCC NDAA Cyber-Secure

Specified

• Racking: 42u Penn Elcom Rack

The subs are specified for most of MediaComs’ cinemas

01908 443 660 contact@LILIN.uk

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AUGUST 2022 81

POUND-FOR-POUND THE BEST

HOME CINEMA DEMO ROOM We feel that our Home Cinema is pound-for-pound the best home cinema demo room in the UK. Consisting of a handpicked selection of the finest and industryleading home cinema brands that produce the ultimate visual and audio setting, Invision’s demo room will knock you off your feet.

Don’t just take our word for it, experience it now by booking your own demo.

Contact us for more information 01359 270280 | sales@invisionuk.com

PRODUCTS

FARADITE LAUNCHES MOTION SENSOR 360 - PINHOLE Faradite has announced a new product that the company hopes will really pique the interests of those integrators that pride themselves on delivering the ‘wow’ factor.

The so-called ‘Motion Sensor 360 - Pinhole’ is a solid aluminium unit that was designed to provide a motion sensor so discreet that the visible sensor is just 15mm when installed.

To achieve this, the unit features a threaded barrel and two discs. The upper disc has strong 3M adhesive to stick to the rear of the installation surface at the set material depth and the second disc is then tightened to this to securely lock the sensor in place.

Faradite says the sensor is a truly powerful weapon in the discerning custom installer’s arsenal.

The miniature size of this device makes it ideal for creating discrete motion-based automation.

When installed in the joinery at the top and bottom of staircases, the tiny sensor can trigger low level lighting on the staircase. Installers can also take the automation to an even more granular level and use the pinhole sensor in custom furniture to (for example) bring on under bed lighting, detecting

the presence of a foot as you get out of bed. The pinhole can also be integrated into custom made wall plates; all you need is a 15mm hole.

Faradite says the sensor is so small, there really are no limits to the automation that can be delivered without the need for bigger, uglier motion sensors.

Faradite faradite.com The Motion Sensor 360 Pinhole - Volt Free (Dry Contact) is available with a black sensor or white sensor

SNAP ONE ARGUES FOR MORE TRIAD TRIUMPHS

A complete installation speaker range from Triad

Snap One has announced the launch of the Triad PDX Series of architectural speakers to provide partners with a solution that pairs the premium audio performance that Triad is known for with a simplified installation experience made possible

by Push Lock by Swarm technology.

Coined ‘PDX’ in homage to the Portland Airport – the city in which each speaker is customdesigned and engineered – the series includes 13 speakers and 19 accessories, including optional custom-coloured grilles, rear enclosures and preconstruction brackets.

“The PDX series marks the first Triad launch since the Snap One and Control4 merger in 2019, and it truly embodies the benefits of both companies coming together,” Alex Zaliauskas, Director of Product Management for Speakers at Snap One says. “We have incorporated the installation features that Partners love about Signature by Episode

speakers and leveraged Snap One’s resources to build a premium, better performing Triad speaker with Push Lock technology – all while staying true to the Triad brand through engineering, sound quality and performance.”

Triad PDX creates a strong listening experience by using high-performance materials and highquality components like carbon fibre, Kevlar, Teteron, dual voice coils and chemically etched metal components. The infusion of Kevlar into carbon fibre for the woofer, to create a premium audio experience, is unique to Triad PDX and another marker of the brand’s leading position in the industry, says the maker.

Triad PDX uses Push Lock, the exclusive toolless mounting solution specifically designed for Snap One. The proprietary installation technology – which is employed in Signature

by Episode speakers, a partner favourite for its simple installation – allows for an upgrade path to a more premium product by securing the speaker with the simple press of a button for a fast and secure installation. The two-piece baffle/speaker module assembly allows partners to easily remove the speaker while leaving the cradle and grille in the ceiling or wall – preventing the speaker from being stolen or damaged during the construction process and allowing for HVAC pressure testing for certification of occupancy.

Triad triadspeakers.com

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Pioneering solutions for all your heating & cooling services Polar Bear Design create state-of-the-art integrated HVAC solutions with significantly more functionality and design aesthetic than anything else available in Package one the market.

Their award-winning Zentium Pro thermostat offers complete dual room climate control, giving users the ability to monitor and control the heating and cooling of two rooms independently from a single interface.

Available from

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AUGUST 2022 83

PRODUCTS

FLEXSON SHINES LIGHT ON SONOS RAY Flexson, creators of solutions for Sonos products, has announced the release of two mounting solutions for the brand new Sonos Ray soundbar.

The Flexson Wall Mount for Sonos Ray (SRWM) and Flexson TV Mount Attachment for Sonos Ray (SRAYTVMA) offer practical ways to securely mount the soundbar – perfect for a home cinema setup.

Designed bespoke to suit the Sonos Ray, the Flexson Wall Mount for Sonos Ray is precision engineered for sturdy positioning anywhere on the wall, says the maker. Flexson’s cable management system channels cables though a non-intrusive hole and chases them into the wall for a tidy installation.

The Flexson SRWM has multiple fixing points and a one-part design for a quick and easy instillation. The one-part design also helps to reduce the amount of package needed for shipping.

The Flexson TV Mount Attachment for Sonos Ray allows installers to securely attach the new soundbar to any existing wall-mounted TV, including static and full-motion cantilever mounts.

Compatible with TVs 40in – 80in (VESA 200x200 to 800x800), vertical and horizontal adjustment allows installers to align the Sonos Ray with the screen for strong audio/visual unification.

Both the Wall Mount for Sonos Ray and TV Mount Attachment for Sonos Ray feature a 30mm step design, which positions the Sonos Ray in front of the TV screen above it. This ensures the sound output isn’t compromised and users can enjoy the full force of the small HD soundbar, whether watching the latest blockbuster movie or playing the latest blockbuster game.

Flexson flexson.com The SRWM is priced at £24.99 and the SRAYTVMA at £39.99

Reliable Switched & Metered PDUs The Expert Power Control 8041-1 is a 12-way PDU that offers more operational security and energy efficiency for larger 19-inch rack installations.

Key Features Event and schedule controlled switching

LINDY POWERLINE EXTENDERS Lindy’s quick and easy solution created to send full HD HDMI signals through a power circuit.

HDMI over Powerline extenders provide a useful solution for extending HDMI content to one or more displays within a single electrical circuit.

Supporting resolutions up to 1920x1080 @60Hz and bandwidth up to 6.75 Gbps, these Powerline extenders ensure excellent full HD quality for the user.

A plug-and-play solution, to install, the user simply needs to connect the HDMI outlet of the source device into the Transmitter, which is subsequently plugged into an electrical outlet.

As long as the Receiver is plugged into the same electrical circuit, once the HDMI is connected to the display device, full HD images can be displayed. As useful in the home or for commercial installations, this device is ideal for sharing video

and audio content into bedrooms, home offices or small-scale digital signage using pre-existing electrical wiring.

An HDMI loop-out allows for connection of a local HDMI display, while connection to three compatible receivers allows for larger scale distribution to multiple displays. The receiver is equipped with a 3.5mm IR connection that allows for simple control from the display side of the setup. Clients that are retro fitting screens who do not wish to rout out walls and run additional cables, can now benefit from this easy to install and use solution.

The powerline from Lindy provides a simple, hassle-free content distribution within a small office, store front or residential setups.

Lindy lindy.co.uk

Precise current metering of up to 9 units and residual current type A 2 connectors for plug-&-play sensor Fast and easy installation NTP function can be activated Integrated over-voltage protection type 3

Available at:

Using power to send HD HDMI

rgbcomms.co.uk or call us today on

01488 73366 RGB Head Office, 13–14 Headlands Trading Estate, Headlands Grove Swindon. SN2 7JQ

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AUGUST 2022 85

R7000 SERIES

Slim Welded 19” Rack Enclosure

The R7000 series is our new slim welded server rack, designed and developed in the UK to meet the most demanding of requirements. We’ve created a superbly robust and highly-configurable enclosure that delivers premium features as standard.

18U-44U | 3 DEPTHS

This sleek enclosure is the ideal choice for the professional housing of high-end data systems, home entertainment devices and everything in-between. From cooling to cable management, the R7000 has it covered with integrated solutions.

K E Y F E AT U R E S

•

Welded assembly for strength

•

Adjustable threaded rack rails

• • • • • •

Tapped gang fixing points Optional polycarbonate, vented or plain steel front door

Optional full or split rear door with removable cable access Doors are lockable and removable

Ventilation on front and sides Rear top and base cable access knock-outs

Shop: PennElcomOnline.com

Catalogue: Penn-Elcom.com

PRODUCTS

ELIPSON HERITAGE EXPANDS WITH XLS11

The Elipson XLS11 speakers and stands are available now from UK distributor Avoke

Elipson Audio has announced the latest addition to the Heritage line of speakers. The brand new XLS11 model joins its larger sibling, the XLS15 to create a duo of speakers that reflect today’s vintage feel of styling and design.

The XLS11 brings performance elements from the XLS15 and combines them with a more compact form factor to give further flexibility when integrating the speakers into the home.

While the aesthetic of the XLS11 is most definitely vintage the performance side of this loudspeaker is anything but, says the maker. The

three-way speaker is a bass reflex design with a front-firing flared port. It features a brand new 2.2in domed drive unit for the midrange and for the high frequencies a 0.87in silk dome tweeter which is derived from Elipson’s flagship Prestige.

Handling the bass is yet another new driver this time an 8in unit being an evolution of the XLS15’s 12in woofer.

As with the XLS15, the XLS11 has the additional flexibility of a fine adjustment on the front of the speaker. This can tune the amplitude of mid and high frequencies by + or – 2dB to allow for variables in the listeners room.

Musicality and performance were key when developing the XLS11, this is reflected in the speed and control of the drive units across the frequencies giving a pleasure and enjoyment to all genres of music.

The dedicated stand is designed to position the speaker at the optimal height and angle to give perfect acoustic phasing. It is available at additional cost. The XLS11 speakers are designed and engineered in Burgundy. XLS11 speaker £1,499.99 per pair, Stands - £249.99 per pair.

Elipson en.elipson.com

INTUITIV TAHOE CRESTRON CH5 UI IS NOW IN BETA

Installers Infrastructure solutions...

Huge range of infrastructure brands stocked covering racks, cables, networking, power management and switching Almost 30 years of industry knowledge from skilled technical product specialists Outstanding support, including a range of professional services to support client specifications and installation

Switching

Racks

Mounts

Networks

Switching

Racks

Power management

Networks

HDMI cables

Fibre cables

PDU's & monitoring

Mounts

Captivating the power of Crestron

The Intuitiv Tahoe Crestron CH5 template will be the most advanced Crestron interface available anywhere in the world, says its maker, and it’s now in Beta. This unique interface is stacked with the most modern, industry-leading UI design elements, paired with thoughtful user-centric heuristical cues.

CH5 billed as the future of the Crestron user experience and automation interface design in general. By leveraging conventional web technologies, CH5 allows integrators to deploy touch interfaces that are on-par with today’s most popular mobile and web applications — from mind-blowing interactions to stunning visual interface designs that have never been done with prior technology.

“CH5 allows you to completely blow your clients away with the most modern, industry-leading UI design, and smooth, instant UI feedback in realtime.” says Ryan Wenner, Co-Founder of Intuitiv.

The future of UI software is finally here! Be among the first to experience the leading edge of this incredible technology. Early access orders will be available for purchase starting July 15, 2022 and will be ready to ship in September.

“CH5 is a game changer.” says Marc Caldwell, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Intuitiv. “This technology will change the way the world thinks about smart home UI design. Forever.”

Intuitiv intuitiv.homes

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Available from the experts at

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AUGUST 2022 87

PRODUCTS

MONOPRICE MAKES A MONUMENTAL STATEMENT Monolith, the high-end audio brand from Monoprice, has announced the addition of two new in-wall home cinema speaker solutions that have been THX Certified to ensure listeners experience sound that is dynamic, detailed and immersive.

Monolith THX 275IW THX Certified Select In Wall Speakers ($349.99 MSRP) feature a premium, high-excursion 6.5in woofer, 50mm silk dome midrange driver and 25mm silk dome tweeter that combined deliver precise detail and the absolute best home theatre dynamics, claims the maker.

The 6.5in high excursion woofer features a long fibre pulp cone, NBR surround, and is designed with a shorting ring to minimise distortion, while the midrange driver operates in the 550Hz to 3.1kHz range to improve overall power handling, lower distortion and improve polar response.

For larger rooms, Monolith THX-465IW THX Certified Ultra three-Way In-Wall Speakers ($699.99 MSRP) upsize the THX-275IW by adding three more premium, high-excursion 6.5in woofers to the mix (for a total of four).

Combined with a 50mm silk dome midrange driver and 25mm silk dome tweeter, Monolith says these speakers deliver massive full-range sound that’s accurate and perfectly balanced.

Since these speakers feature more woofers, the midrange driver of this speaker operates in the 750Hz to 3.4kHz range to ensure a perfectly flat response, minimal distortion, and a higher SPL.

These new Monolith THX Certified in-wall speaker options are further refined by carefully selected fourth order Linkwitz-Riley crossover network acoustic filters.

These crossovers minimise sonic frequency overlap, reduce distortion, and are a strong choice to minimise off-axis response errors near the crossover frequency. The heavy-duty dog ear mounting system makes installation straightforward, while the magnetically detachable,

powder coated grille can be painted to match any room’s decor.

All Monolith THX Certified in wall and in room speakers use the same drivers and crossover components, allowing speakers to be mixed and matched to suit any room.

Monoprice monoprice.uk

Monoprice backs these Monolith in-wall speakers with a three-year warranty and 30-day no questions asked money back guarantee

WALL-SMART MEASURES UP FOR PICO WALL-SMART has introduced a customdesigned and engineered solution for Lutron’s popular Pico keypad. Intended for installation during home construction, the design-friendly mount can be recessed into any wall material, including drywall and solid surfaces like concrete, wood, metal, and marble. Once the mount has been installed into the wall, the Lutron Pico keypad inserts easily into it, where it sits perfectly flush with the surface. Without constraints on where the mount can be installed or concerns over its impact on design, the Pico keypad can be placed in areas where it is most convenient to use.

Further camouflaging the keypad, the trim of the WALL-SMART mount can be painted to match the colour and texture of the wall surface. Constructed of moisture resistant MDF and engineered for easy insertion and removal of the keypad, the mount ensures optimal performance and control of lights, automated

88 AUGUST 2022

window treatments, and audio systems. WALLSMART’s flush mount for Lutron’s Pico keypad

Lutron Pico has a new partner

rounds out its portfolio of other Lutron wall mounts, including versions for Palladiom, Alisse, and seeTouch keypads.

“Our new wall mount customised for Lutron’s popular Pico keypad offers designers, architects, and home tech integrators yet another option for integrating Lutron control products seamlessly into home environments.

Combined with the small size of the Pico, our mounts make the keypad virtually disappear into the wall surface,” says WALL-SMART CoCEO and Founder Galia Ben-Dor. “Like all of our concealment solutions, the Pico mount delivers the clean, minimalist appearance that so many homeowners want today.”

WALL-SMART wall-smart.com

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QUANTUM LEAP! New Quantum Mini LED light source technology delivers sensational brightness, dynamic detail, and ultra-thin luxury to the residential display market.

Visit habitech.co.uk for further information or meet us at Basingstoke for the full Neo QLED experience. www.habitech.co.uk | 01256 638500 | sales@habitech.co.uk

Take Control of Your Power

Power protection, conditioning, and analytical products that control the unstable nature of the power grid to reduce equipment error-codes, lockups, reboots, and service calls.

Visit us at Invision, Stand 53 at EI Live! © 2022 AMETEK, Inc. All rights reserved.