Essential Install November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021

THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY

Make the Switch To Simplicity

Why Netvio’s disruptive technology is a gift to all integrators…

MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT AT THE CROSSROADS?

THE FUTURE OF INSTALL CRYSTAL BALL TIME!

LOUDSPEAKERS

SOUND IDEAS

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.

32 60 14

46

CONTENTS

70 20 November 2021

4 FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR

48 TOGETHER FOR CINEMA

7 ESSENTIAL NEWS

58 SMART THINKING

14 MAKE THE SWITCH TO SIMPLICITY

64 CASE STUDY: MULTI-PLAYER CINEMA

16 PULSE CINEMAS

70 ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS

18 ESSENTIAL CEDIA

FEATURES THE FUTURE OF INSTALL 20 CONTENT AND CONTROL CONNECTED

Winter is coming!

What’s the buzz?

Habitech introduces Netvio

Reference Cinema Re-Imagined Sky Glass, class?

46 INSTALL PIONEER

The latest developments

Human centred lighting – trick or treat?

Cinema Rooms lights up the gaming experience Top toy time!

The Habitech time team

Dyre Gormsen, Immersive Sound Mix and Mastering Engineer, Eastcote Studios

YOUR DISTRIBUTOR www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk

55 38 26

16

26 ONE SOLUTION TO RULE THEM ALL

42 AWE FOCUS

29 GO BIG OR GO HOME

MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT 52 SERIOUS, SUPER, SIGNALS

Phillip Pini, Director Residential Sales UK at Crestron Piet Vanhuyse, global segment marketing director for large videowalls at Barco

LOUDSPEAKERS 32 PEOPLE LIKE IT LOUD AND CLEAR

Ekin Binal, Product Line Manager, Audio Solutions, Crestron

Seriously Good Cinema

Gabi Shriki, SVP, Head of AV Business at Valens

55 PULSE-EIGHT ANSWERS What are the major challenges?

34 MERIDIAN AUDIO Sounds like a plan!

38 THE SOUND OF THINGS TO COME

Andy Oattes, UK & Ireland Sales Director Fine Sounds UK and Roberto Gamba of speaker Sonus Faber

FOR Smart Home www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2021

THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY

Make the Switch To Simplicity

pages 14–15

Why Netvio’s disruptive technology is a gift to all integrators…

NOVEMBER

WINTER WARMERS! EI has to declare that Autumn and Winter are a big deal in our house, probably our favourite seasons of the year. Now, EI is aware that this is not universal, many people don’t like the darker evenings and mornings, colder weather and so on, but despite all of that Autumn and Winter have qualities of their own, crisp sharp air, clear night skies, frosty mornings with mist boiling up from rivers, cosy evenings in by the fire. This time of year also has some great festivals to celebrate - Bonifre Season in EI’s home of Sussex is huge and lasts two months! And there is Christmas, an ancient celebration of family, fun and feasting. So, why does all this matter to the install and AV community? well, since the COVID lockdown, this time of year can be looked at in a slightly different perspective. Its like a mini lock-down with people forced to spend more time at home and indoors. What to do? Spend on their home automation and AV systems of course! and with Christmas not far away, as we know in this sector, the industry gets busy as people want to treat themselves and their family to something special for

this time of year, in time for the big day of course!

There are definite vibes that turn up in terms of people’s entertainment choices in the Summer, the music changes, people’s movie choices also change, breezy, feelgood times, ect. But EI has always thought this time of year brings with it its own special flavour as more intense experiences thrive in the colder, darker atmosphere. Some of the greatest art and stories ever created in this part of the world were around roaring fires as generation after generation came together in the Winter to share time, resources, as well as music and stories. Its also a fact that music, movie and TV consumption goes up in the wintertime, especially around Christmas.

So, what does all of this ‘Winter King’ stuff actually mean? it means people need their AV and automation even more at this time of year! Every aspect of what we offer as an industry can benefit, from creating beautiful lighting scenes fit for this time of the year to providing whole home music playlists for Christmas/New Year party time. Winter and Autumn may not be everyone’s favourite times of year, but there are definite and specific opportunities for the install community.

MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT AT THE CROSSROADS?

THE FUTURE OF INSTALL CRYSTAL BALL TIME!

LOUDSPEAKERS

SOUND IDEAS

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.

04 NOVEMBER 2021

ISLAND PRESTIGE

BRING SPATIAL AUDIO HOME As major streaming services race to promote spatial audio and ultra HD audio, L-Acoustics Creations offers immersive sound spaces and high-performance sound systems ideally suited to these exciting formats. AV professionals know that content is only as impactful as the technology used to play it. Designed by L-Acoustics, the world leader in premium professional audio, Island Prestige provides an unrivaled 360° spatialized experience. With a visionary plug-andplay acoustic design, Island Prestige immerses the listener in HD music, movies, or gaming in luxurious comfort and style.

Visit l-acoustics-creations.com to learn more or book an appointment in London, Paris, Los Angeles, Moscow, or Hong Kong.

l-acoustics-creations.com

The gift that keeps on giving

Plus four channels This feature increases the capacity of the processor to a total of 20 discrete channel decoding and Optimization.

Converting the S/PDIF Optical output to the ADAT Format, Trinnov unlocked the full potential of the Altitude16.

This update comes free of charge to all Altitude16 owners. By adding an ADAT/Analog converter to their system, Trinnov customers can add extra subwoofers or channels to their system to increase its performance.

www.trinnov.com

NEWS

NEWS INVISION UK BECOMES LIVE LINK SUPPLIER FOR WEQUOTE Invision UK, a distributor of smart home technology to custom installers, has announced its partnership with quoting platform, WeQuote.

Designed by a custom installer, Lee Roche of LCR Integrated Systems (est. 2005), and a specialist team of developers, WeQuote was created in 2016 to help Lee with his own quoting and admin processes.

Five years later, he is now bringing it to the market for fellow integrators to use.

The platform has been developed to help installers quote quickly by choosing products directly from supplier catalogues, generate proposals from templates that can be sent to customers, and print purchase order requests for each supplier once the quote has been accepted.

Linking supplier catalogues allows for real time pricing which means installers are safe in the knowledge that the prices are accurate. The platform also notifies if prices have changed, allowing users to revise the quote immediately.

Lee Roche, creator of WeQuote, says, “I can confidently say this platform has changed my life for the better. Instead of spending days on a quote, I can take my laptop on-site and quote, accurately, in minutes. This has freed up so much time in my life to spend where it matters. Because of this, I wanted to share it with fellow installers to help streamline their processes.

“It’s great to have Invision’s support and you now can effortlessly quote from their catalogue in real-time using your desktop or via the app on your phone.”

Mark Taylor, commercial director at Invision, adds, “At Invision, we pride ourselves on being a value-added distributor and are always looking at ways to help our customers. This is why we are happy to support We Quote.”

Invision’s catalogue is available for WeQuote users to quote and specify products now. Custom installers can purchase plans with no limit on operators or restricted features by heading to the website. https://wequote.cloud/.

Images of nature which improve mental health will be beamed into homes, public spaces and workplaces as part of a new research project between Nottingham Trent University and international display manufacturer Allsee Technologies.

The £260,000 project – a knowledge transfer partnership lasting two years – will incorporate screens which can broadcast moving and still images of nature that are so clear they look like the real thing, enabling immersive experiences to enhance wellness, comfort and entertainment.

The research is centred on the emerging use of biophilic design and smart building technologies, which recognises the human instinct to connect with nature and the mental health benefits this can bring, such as reducing stress, anxiety and depression and improving cognitive function.

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FIT ‘FAST’

Invision UK invisionuk.com A new partnership

ALLSEE TECHNOLOGIES EXPLORES BENEFITS OF IMAGING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Examining the link between nature and wellness through AV

Think Quality

Consumers of the technology – named Vieunite – will also be recommended a variety of real paintings in their homes which complement their environment and match their personal tastes.

As well as photography and moving images of nature, biophilia also recognises the mental health benefits of paintings and other artworks which depict nature, and how these yield similar therapeutic benefits.

Around 200 artists are being invited to be part of the project – which will include a number of students and academics from NTU’s School of Art & Design – to develop a selection of biophilic artwork.

The project will also investigate the use of artificial intelligence as a way to select images which are personalised to each individual, based on their demographic information and online behaviours.

Users will be able to share recommendations for different images in an online community of subscribers.

The research will consider how images of nature could vary at different times of day, to help consumers feel energised in the mornings or calm in the evenings. It will also offer a smart approach to images of their favourite holiday destinations, or general parts of the world where they may hold a personal interest, and offer recommendations of other images which an algorithm suggests.

GOOD 10G TO 100m

HNC 6A CAT 6A 600 MHZ

Allsee Technologies allsee-tech.com

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Remarkable Sound Discreetly Lyngdorfs patented technologies deliver extraordinary sound from compact speakers.

Experience the extraordinary at Gecko on 01635 268114. www.steinwaylyngdorf.com

NEWS

HABITECH TO SUPPLY AND SUPPORT ENTIRE LUTRON RESIDENTIAL RANGE Habitech has announced that the company has signed an agreement with Lutron to supply and support its entire range of home lighting and shading systems.

The move, effective immediately means that Habitech will join a select group of UK distributors having access to the company’s HomeWorks, HomeWorks Wireless and RA2 Select platforms. It also allows Habitech to apply its sales, training and technical support to the complete residential product line-up from Lutron.

Commenting on the agreement Habitech MD Jonathan Pengilley, says, “In residential CI one brand can justifiably claim to have led the world in the design and development of luxury lighting control systems from day one. That brand is Lutron, and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to offer our value-added support to its complete range of residential products.”

From October Habitech’s new showrooms at Basingstoke, together with its sales and technical support teams, will be equipped to demonstrate the power and convenience of Lutron’s residential lineup to dealers and their clients, and manage its wider application in the UK CI space.

Habitech habitech.co.uk

Think Quality

FIT ‘FAST’

New deal between Lutron and Habitech

ATLAS CABLES SIGN DALI AUDIO UK TO REPRESENT THE BRAND IN THE UK

Atlas Cables, the engineering-driven cable specialist based in Kilmarnock, Scotland, has appointed DALI AUDIO UK as official sales agency representing its products to all retail channels. The agreement is live and in affect now.

Atlas Cables is a material science based Hi-Fi manufacturer with a no-nonsense approach that has won the company awards and plaudits over the past 20 years. That attention to detail, design and manufacture matches well with DALI. As a Scandinavian brand, DALI has always put R&D at

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the forefront of everything the maker produces. The two companies have a synergy that would be hard to place with two other brands in the Hi-Fi industry say the partners.

Atlas cables has experienced tremendous growth over the past 10 years in the UK and export markets.

The appointment of DALI AUDIO UK will strengthen the brands relationships with current and potential retailer and custom install clients.

DALI AUDIO UK has been a force for change in the UK in the past 15 years. Award winning products have seen the once underperforming Scandinavian brand thrive and increase its sales and market penetration in a very competitive sector. The success of DALI AUDIO UK stems from having world leading products backed up with a professional and personable sales team, says the company.

Commenting on the agreement, Atlas Cables Sales Director Martin McCue, says, “The DALI UK team are the perfect sales partner for Atlas.

The DALI team are popular and professional with industry insight and experience that is un-paralleled in the field. We are very excited about the future of Atlas in the UK with such great representation.”

Matt Miller, Sales and Marketing Director at DALI AUDIO UK, adds, “We have planned to add partners to the UK business for a little while now, and we are of course thrilled that our first will be Atlas Cables.”

BETTER 48G TO 40m 8K HDMI AOC Full 8K Ultra HD signal transfer 4-core SSF™ Fibre Optic Technology 5m - 40m lengths

Atlas Cables atlascables.com

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14/09/2021 12:1

Floor Stand for forSonos SonosFive One and Play:5

Available from Exertis: 01256 378 550 or Alltrade: 0844 225 2700

NEWS

SMART BUILDING AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED! On the evening of Wednesday, September 29, the AV and home automation industry gathered together for a much-needed networking opportunity, but also in eager anticipation to discover who had triumphed in the returning Smart Building Awards!

The sold-out event took place a stone’s throw away from the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre after a very successful first day of EI Live!

2021. This buoyant mood was carried on into the evening as the awards were presented at the Village Hotel and those gathered enjoyed an evening of catching up with friends and colleagues and of course congratulating those who had won!

The Smart Building Awards will return for 2022, so watch out for more details on how to enter.

Best Rack or Mounting Product

Smart Building Awards 2021 Results

Installer Project Awards

Sanus’ VXF730 B2 premium wall mount Best Security Solution

OneAV Distributor of the Year AWE Manufacturer of the Year Meridian Audio and Future Automation joint winners for 2021

Visual Systems Sales Ltd: The Londoner Hotel Best Rack Installation

Best Cable Solution Pixelgen PXLGLASS Max 8K Hybrid Interconnect

M.E.G.A. AV Installations: Hampstead Pull Out & Turn

Best Dedicated Touchscreen/Controller The Gira G1

Best Home Cinema Project Over £50,000

Best Integrated TV Display Aquavision 28in 4K Fusion Hinged Television (part of the Cabinet Collection)

Best Home Cinema Project Under £50,000

Prestige Audio: Spring Ponds

Living Home Tech: Lake Road – Home Cinema Best Media Room Over £50,000 Perfect Integration: Penthouse Perfection

Best In Wall or In Ceiling Speaker Meridian DSP750 In-Wall Digital Active Loudspeaker

Best Media Room under £50,000

Best Lighting Control Product or Platform Rako Wireless and Wired Lighting Control

Perfect Integration: The Turner

Best Multi Room Zone Music System Lode Audio LA-2D Best Projector Screen Euroscreen Frame Vison React 3 Vel-Tex

Cyberhomes: Short Throw Big Thrills Best Multi Dwelling Unit

Best Whole Home Integration Project Intelligent Abodes Ltd: Sanctuary House Smart Building Awards smartbuildingawards.com

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BEST

200G TO 1km Cleerline Fibre Duplex 50 / 125 Single / Multimode OM3

The AWE team pick up the Best Distributor Award

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Best Training Initiative

Best Commercial Integration Project

Product and Company Categories Best Automation Platform RTI Apex Programming Software

Best TV Display Conventional Sony KD-65AG9 OLED

Think Quality

Akuvox R29C Smart IP Intercom

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14/09/2021 12:1

NEWS

ESSENTIAL PEOPLE Design, production and installation LED technology specialist The LED Studio has appointed Larry Zoll as its global director of operations.

Larry was previously the managing director of technology and innovation at Sensory Interactive, brings over 10 years of experience working with LED technology and 15 years of project managing large real estate installations.

As a self-described futurist, Larry has an invested interest in the development of functional environments that combine structural builds with advanced technology solutions, having been involved with the most prestigious LED screen installations located in New York’s Times Square.

Larry said, “The way the team at The LED Studio is designing and building installations is completely different to anything I’ve seen in the market. I will be focused on developing and growing the team working internationally to offer clients an alternative solution with a proven long-term success rate on a global scale.

“LED is reaching an incredibly exciting point in the market and it’s interesting to see how it’s changing the daily lives of the general public and how they interact with their surroundings. Concentrating solely on LED display technology fascinates me. There are endless possibilities for clients to make a difference with indoor and outdoor LED, as well as future-proof their technology choices, so I’m looking forward to being part of developing the usage of this platform.”

Exertis, a leading distributor of technology products, has announced the appointment of Sam Williams as Director of Sales – B2B. Sam has been with Exertis for 15 years and has been instrumental in building high-performance teams across the business. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having spent four successful years in B2B and ten years in retail.

Most recently, Sam has been the Director of Sales (Accessories & Own Brand) for the last 18 months.

Based in Exertis’ Basingstoke office, Williams will report into Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer.

Sam said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead our B2B sales function. We have a great foundation to work from with an ambitious, talented and highly experienced team. Exertis is a fast moving and dynamic business and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer, Exertis UK&I, added, “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sam on his new role. Sam has spent the last 15 years gaining invaluable experience within the business and I wish him every success moving forwards.”

CI trade association, CEDIA has named Daryl Friedman as Global President and CEO. He will assume the role on November 29, 2021.

Daryl has spent more than 30 years in non-profit leadership roles, having overseen membership, advocacy, industry relations, and the technical wing for the 25,000-member Recording Academy. The Academy, known globally for the GRAMMY Awards,

Larry Zol

12 NOVEMBER 2021

is the association representing technical and creative professionals in music.

“We’ve found someone that I am confident will be the step-change in leadership that CEDIA needs and deserves,” said Jamie Briesemeister, CEDIA Board and Executive Search Committee member. “Daryl has decades of experience in trade association leadership and member advocacy. He exudes a humble nature that draws conversation and consensus, and he deeply values technical expertise and artistry. Daryl has a vision for what CEDIA can be—and will be—and he has the experience to realise it.”

“Having represented audio professionals for most of my career, I’ve long admired CEDIA for championing immersive audio experiences in the home,” noted Daryl. “Now, as our homes become the hub for work, education, entertainment and wellness, CEDIA members are the indispensable partners for making our homes more comfortable and connected.

This is truly CEDIA’s moment, and I am honoured to join the team at this exciting time.”

Daryl has successfully advocated for legislation providing assistance to the recording community during the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting the rights of creators in the streaming era, earning the title of ‘the music creators’ man in Washington’ from Billboard. He also conceived and grew GRAMMYs on the Hill, an annual advocacy program attended by both congressional and music industry leaders. He has worked to grow and modernise the Academy’s membership, leading initiatives to update recruitment practices to reflect the industry’s diversity.

Daryl’s interest in technology was reinforced by his close work with the Academy’s Producers and Engineers Wing. A key advisor to the Wing’s leadership of technologists and manufacturers, he visited studios across the country and spoke frequently about the need to protect the rights of those who use their technological skills to improve people’s lives.

“The CEDIA Board was keenly aware of the need to attract a visionary leader,” said Board and Executive Search Committee member, Alex Capecelatro. “CEDIA plays an important role for many of our businesses, but the landscape has shifted dramatically over the last few years. We’re all adjusting to a post-pandemic world; Daryl can help us usher in this new era for our industry.”

“Daryl is a very positive, thoughtful, and inspiring communicator. He is ready to listen, understand, and engage in constructive dialogue. I believe that he will apply what he already knows as well as what he learns to allow him to lead from the front,” said David Weinstein, CEDIA Board vice-chairperson. “There is so much opportunity for the custom integrator community at this time. With Daryl in this leadership role, I am very confident that he will help us to raise the profile of our association for the mutual benefit of the entire system integration and control industry.”

Daryl Friedman

/Essentialinstall

Adam Griffin

@Install_mag

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ESSENTIAL HABITECH

MAKE THE SWITCH TO SIMPLICITY

Netvio has devised a unique ‘program less’ design environment, comprising ‘Netvio 360’ design software, the ‘Netvio Go’ end-user app and complementary hardware

The gift of innovation from Netvio means you can build more powerful AV networks in much less time says Habitech’s Jonathan Pengilley.

It took a 16th Century genius to draw a connection between simplicity and sophistication, and five hundred years on, an extraordinary leap of innovation to prove it in the home. Harnessing elevated powers of intuitive simplicity, our new AV distribution brand, Netvio combines game-changing software and hardware to introduce unprecedented design practicality end-to-end, sweeping complexity aside in a radically simpler but more sophisticated approach to AV distribution.

SIMPLIFYING COMPLEXITY Aimed predominantly at the resi market between the highest end installs and entry level, Netvio will allow integrators to deliver versatile and reliable AV design and control more easily, in less time and for ultra-competitive budgets.

It’s the brainchild of ex-Wyrestorm CEO Derek Hulbert who has returned to CI after three years to challenge a traditional reliance on complex hardware ecosystems. Using the best computer science brains from leading research institutions outside the CI bubble, the team

14 NOVEMBER 2021

at Netvio has devised a unique ‘program less’ design environment, comprising ‘Netvio 360’ design software, the ‘Netvio Go’ end-user app and a custom-tailored line-up of good/better/ best matrices, AVoIP encoder/decoders and HDMI extenders.

Rather brilliantly, Netvio’s ground-breaking design protocol steps nimbly from hardware auto-discovery, through configuration and optimisation to end-user control, simplifying at every stage while gifting iintegrators with a heightened level of creative versatility. At once, decisions become simpler and functionality more sophisticated in a new world of coherent ‘fullspectrum’ end-to-end AV design and delivery.

360 GAME-CHANGER The easy option for any manufacturer is to continually generate custom software to initiate local ‘conversations’. Radically, the Netvio 360 utility generates a lingua franca for all network elements. Its genius resides in the ability to configure multiple AV distribution technologies whilst generating simple control interfaces in a single piece of software. In effect the 360 frontend acts as a bridge, so regardless of HDBaseT, JPEG2000, SDVoE etc, the install experience

remains the same, lowering barriers to design and installation. If you’re using HDBaseT for high quality AV transmission in mission-critical spaces for instance, you can use AVoIP to reach rooms in a new extension, and design for both on the same interface.

And to make it even easier, Netvio 360 provides for the auto discovery, configuration and optimisation of Netvio products. Connect PC or Mac and Netvio elements to the same network, start the 360 application, hit autodiscovery, and then sit back and see all devices populate the screen. Auto discovery means you don’t have to worry about changing IP settings, setting complex subnets, remembering default IP addresses or even optimising inputs/outputs for Netvio products: nine times out of ten, Netvio’s default settings will achieve the best audio and video quality right out of the box.

Moreover, Netvio 360’s visual design canvas allows you to add, drag and drop displays, media sources and audio products. Fingerdraw control paths for each device, selecting from IR, RS-232, IP and CEC (subject to device capability), then group displays into single or expanded zones and add custom images to area/zone buttons. When you draw the line for

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ESSENTIAL HABITECH

HDMI, IR, RS-232, and introduce an IP device, Netvio automates the creation of the UI, adding the system device command structures and setting-up comms info (like baud rate and port number etc).

For added convenience, the software will operate without connection to a Netvio product, so you can export an image of the project to a team member on site. What’s more, third-party devices that require IP info will have it requested when adding the unit to the design. In other words, Netvio 360 means intuitive virtuosity, no coding and savings in the bank! Time to launch Netvio GO!

SOFT POWER, HARD CORE As you might expect, the brand’s ‘easier for all’ mantra extends to the hardware, which has been streamlined through exhaustive market research to simplify decisions. Compatible with Netvio 360, there are compact 4x4 HDMI and HDBaseT matrix models, together with an 8x8 HDBaseT matrix and an 8x6+2 hybrid, plus three 4K HDR receivers (two with ARC) splitting AV locally. Alongside, Netvio’s AVoIP offering includes high performance JPEG2000 4K/60 HDR encoder/decoder pairs and a dual network controller. Main elements are complemented by a common-sense range of five HDMI extenders embracing 1080p to full functioning HDBaseT 5-Play capabilities and including ARC, Ethernet and 4K/60 HDR up to 70m. These are joined by two 18Gb 4K/60 HDR uncompressed splitters with 4K/1080p scaling, analogue and digital audio outputs and

Netvio 360 is a unifying touch-controlled crossplatform design interface

Netvio GO is your end-user AV control application, intrinsically linked with 360.

Compatible with Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, GO can control any AV device via IR, RS-232, CEC and IP to manage signal distribution, media sources, displays and audio products. You simply add each device by using the GO app to scan the QR code that 360 generates.

And just to make the process even faster, Netvio has come up with ‘micro-drivers’. These are efficient packets of code, which wrap up all necessary UI design elements and control commands. When you add micro-drivers for, say, SKYQ, AppleTV and a Yamaha amp to your project in the 360 software, those devices will automatically have interfaces in the GO app.

In most instances micro-drivers will already be available, but if not, Netvio can write the code for you - sometimes within minutes - so your project isn’t held up for days. And for extra pizazz, GO supports an amazing 1080p/30 preview stream through Netvio’s JP4 AVoIP encoders, to deliver a uniquely engaging end-user experience.

Netvio GO is your customer’s control app, intrinsically linked with 360

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EDID configuration. That’s it. When too many choices make life complicated and too few limit opportunity, Netvio offers the optimum toolkit

GO FOR CONTROL

inputs with routing on the 4x4 and 8x8 matrix models. That’s a powerful list - even before you include the brand’s astonishingly time-efficient free-on-board software design capabilities.

for fast and profitable project delivery.

Custom hardware spans HDMI, HDBT and AVoIP

UNRIVALLED VALUE

Netvio’s MX-HT2-0808-10 8x8 matrix

DISCOVER, CONFIGURE, OPTIMISE, DESIGN Because Netvio refuses to be pigeonholed, it doesn’t compete directly with established control brands. On the contrary, the vision is to deliver high-performance video and audio switching, display, source and audio control inone, without the need for a control system at all. The attraction could be purely budgetary or complementary, allowing, for instance, C4 dealers to quote for projects previously out of bounds based on price, or to add further zones at a lower cost base. It could also be access to capability, showing new market entrants an easier path to greater rewards. Even when projects call for special customisation, Netvio can oblige with its ‘concierge’ service, available through Habitech.

So, the proposition is as simple as it should be. Netvio is here to disrupt the market mentality that for too long has specialised in complicating a relatively simple idea. When you can work across HDMI, HDBaseT, AVoIP and SDVoE, and configure and connect highperformance AV with your index finger, the truth in Leonardo da Vinci’s words is demonstrably apparent. Through the smart power of Netvio, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

To appreciate the brilliance of Netvio, please arrange a dem with the team.

And profitability is key to Netvio’s proposition, because in any business, time is money. You can buy the cheapest option but if it takes significantly longer to install and needs additional devices to add functionality, where do you end up? Netvio products gift you with the economies that will ultimately boost your bottom line. From the hardware alone, you’ll benefit from 70m 4K/60 HDR HDBaseT outputs for the price of 40m capability in other brands, Ethernet transport on 70m HDBT outputs, independent output scaling across the range, mirrored HDMI/HDBT outputs on the 4x4 and 8x8 matrix models, high quality preview streams on AVoIP, the highest levels of network security on all products, 4K/60 HDR support across the range, matrix ARC capture and routing, and as many as four audio-only

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Netvio’s EX-HT2-701-10-RX HDMI extender

Habitech habitech.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2021 15

ESSENTIAL PULSE CINEMAS

REFERENCE CINEMA, BEAUTIFULLY RE-IMAGINED Pulse Cinemas proudly introduce their new Reference Cinema, confident that the months of planning and expert execution, will change what home cinema can mean forever.

A subtle, but beautiful floral design adorns the walls - which are in fact Vicoustic acoustic panels treating and improving the room’s audio abilities, so right from the off we are dealing with form meeting function to a very high-level. The next thing the eye is drawn to is the attractive Vicoustic diffusers, which are mounted at regular vertical intervals around the room, framing the space and adding another level of sophistication and drama.

Once again, the design is multi-functional as behind the diffusers is intelligent Lutron lighting; adding a deeper aesthetic impact and practical results, bringing the house lights up and down as required. Form meeting function is taken to even greater heights here as some of the diffuser panels do not just hide lighting, but also speakers from the Alcons Audio array, which has been expertly woven into the cinema.

Completing the acoustic treatment of the room is a beautiful black Vicoustic sculptural ceiling mounted diffuser, again adding great visual impact with practical advantages to audio performance.

Kapes Patel, Technical Director explains, “Designing a true Reference Cinema for us was never going to be just about hitting recommended industry levels for out-put, room dimensions and so on, that is a given. We wanted to go further and come up with ways to combine interior design and performance - not as a compromise for each other, but as a single entity taking a genuinely holistic approach where everything improves the look, feel and performance of everything else. The diffusers/lighting panel/speaker covers are just one example of this approach which permeates throughout the cinema.”

16 NOVEMBER 2021

The approach Pulse have taken here means that if you are used to dressing home cinema walls with cloth (to cover a multitude of sins to get the room finished) witnessing what they have achieved here, will change your mind forever on the right way to create and present a home cinema.

NEW LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE, COMFORT AND DESIGN

Continuing the opulent approach to this space, are two rows of Fortress Seating. On the front row are four West End models (two with lounger extensions) and on the back, four sumptuous Nova models. All the seats have been fitted with slightly different abilities and control button arrays to show the versatility of what Fortress Seating can deliver, some are also fitted with D-Box functionality. After the initial impact of noting how comfortable and

stunning these seats are, like the rest of the cinema, the positive first impression goes to another level when you realise how precise and user friendly the adjustment capabilities are.

Whether it’s finding the right height for your feet or the exact support necessary for the head and neck, these expertly created seats deliver. Even before the performance starts, this cinema puts you in the best of moods, relaxed and ready to be entertained.

This room also benefits from some truly cutting-edge world-class equipment. Sim2’s Dual Stack Nero 4 combines two machines, which are already world-beaters, into a Reference level projector array which takes our understanding of what an image can be like to new heights.

Kapes explains. “HDR has long been held aloft as the next generation of viewing technologies to really deliver at a new

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ESSENTIAL PULSE CINEMAS

experience. As is always the case, technologies arrive before equipment makers and content producers fully understand how to get the very best out of it. However, it is also true that there comes a point where you can say, ”this is what it is supposed to be like, and boy is it good!”

Delivering the audio to populate this world class cinema is a collection of Alcons Audio CRM Series laid out to deliver the true potential of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. You can check out all the technical on this fantastic brand on the Pulse Cinemas website, but for our purposes here, just imagine the best performance you have heard in a cinema and go up several notches.

Kapes explains, “The brand has taken everything it knows from the commercial world and created a truly world beating domestic audio system that, coupled with its intelligent amplification products, literally makes this cinema sing, its an instrument as much as anything else you will listen to using it. Soulful, warm and powerful, all at the same time. We have been waiting for home cinema to sound like this, the wait is over.”

Many other Pulse Cinemas high-performance staples populate this cinema. Kaleidescape is of course front and centre providing the content

and a Décor Mask Screen Research installation will provide the perfect partner for the rest of the equipment as well as delivering even more aesthetic value to the room.

Pulling the whole space together is RTI, placing every aspect of this cinema into the palm of the hand of any user, easy to use is not the right phrase, a pleasure to use is the correct one.

Kapes sums up, “Home cinema to a point has always attempted to mimic its commercial counter-part and why not, we started out trying to match its performance, but then we went past what most commercial cinemas achieve. Certain aesthetic and build approaches were necessary to get there, but the knowledge and abilities of the systems we have now can take home cinema into a new era standing proudly on its own, not just a noisy neighbour, but as good as any highlevel commercial cinema performance wise, but better because we can completely personalise each creation for each client. Come and see what we have built here and learn how to recreate it for your customers.”

Pulse Cinemas pulsecinemas.com

Reference Cinema Equipment List • Sim2 Dual Nero 4S • XLR3 Deco Mask 150in • Trinnov Altitude 32 • Alcons ALC Sentinel 3 • Alcons ALC Sentinel 10 • Alcons Speakers • CRMS-MK II • CRMS-SRHV • CRMSC-SRIW • CRMS-SRHV • CRMSC-SRIW • CRMS-LFE18 • CRMS-LFE18sl • Acoustic Treatment • Vicoustic MD55 • Custom printed Vicoustic VMT panels • Vicoustic VicPattern Ultra Wavewood • Vicoustic Multifuser Wood 36 • Fortress Nova Theatre Chairs with D-BOX • Fortress West End Theatre Chairs

Film-making glamour and high-performance equipment are combined

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NOVEMBER 2021 17

ESSENTIAL CEDIA

PUTTING SKY UNDER THE MAGNIFYING GLASS Simon Fulstow, founder of CEDIA member SONA, examines Sky Glass, its potential and pitfalls.

Sky’s new ‘Glass’ offering promises new opportunities for the all-powerful TV service, but right now, without long term evaluation of the product or the service itself, what are the promised advantages (and potential pitfalls) of the new platform?

Does this latest announcement actually offer any significant advantage over Sky’s current products, and will this be enough to usher in a new era of television and associated services?

You can certainly understand Sky’s desire to control the entire user experience. In the CI market, we’re used to consolidating services and systems together so that the user experience is as seamless and intuitive as possible. As individual providers and systems become capable of so much more, it’s natural that these features start to become more accessible.

It’s clear that Sky is looking to create a single pane of glass (see what I did there…?) experience, where its users don’t even need to leave the Sky ecosystem to access whatever they want to watch, and they are watching it all through a Sky branded device. The opportunities for Sky if they control that access are extremely powerful.

It does feel like they have missed an opportunity with Sky Glass, however, in not making the service available without a TV set. It’s clearly a mass market decision – and something that they may change in future but tying customers into a ‘Sky’ TV with a soundbar, rather than giving them freedom of choice over choosing their own TV and competing head-to-

18 NOVEMBER 2021

head with the likes of Sony, LG and Samsung… well, it’s a bold decision.

Whilst Glass does offer significant advantages over Q from a multi-user perspective – current information says up to 9 devices (3 TVs & 6 puck) will be supported on a single system – it’s important to look at every element of the system. What is the impact on system design and how will it affect subsequent conversations with clients regarding operation and reliability?

Glass is a completely online service, with no backup or alternative if your internet service is having an off day or you run out of bandwidth.

For many that could be a fundamental issue with the service - with required download speeds of 10 and 25Mb/s for each HD or 4K stream respectively, that’s between 90 and 225Mb/s required for nine concurrent streams.

There is also no storage available on device for your saved programmes. So whilst theoretically free from the constraints of the 2TB hard drive on your SkyQ Silver box, all your favourites are stored in the cloud and streamed directly, whenever you want to enjoy them.

Sky apparently want to control this element of how you access and watch your content so tightly that there will be additional charges to enable fast forwarding through adverts on saved programmes – an interesting concept!

It does feel like they have missed a blindingly obvious solution here (and it may be in the pipeline) by not simply enabling Glass or an equivalent as an addition to their existing SkyQ

system as virtually all the UHD content on Q is currently delivered in this manner already.

For customers with high speed leased lines, or in areas with FTTH connections then this type of service will be very appealing.

However, I would personally be very hesitant to recommend a TV service completely dependant on internet connection (and quite a lot of it when the entire family are at home watching different shows).

It’s also worth considering another element of what we call the ‘Sky dilemma’. As mentioned at the start of this piece, Sky have a powerful monopoly on how the vast majority of our clients watch TV, and whilst on demand service providers, such as, Netflix and Amazon have transformed the landscape of content provision, over 99% of our clients still all have and use Sky daily as part of their entertain solution.

With that in mind, we’re essentially forced to use hardware imposed on us, with limited ‘high level’ technical support and reliability issues that in our experience leave much to be desired.

Whilst our system design and topology is designed to mitigate reliability issues through the use of power management, maintenance and remote rebooting – the majority of service issues are generally caused by a ‘Sky box’ issue.

That is certainly a point worth considering when discussing Sky’s latest and greatest with your clients and project partners.

SONA sona.technology

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ESSENTIAL FUTURE OF INSTALL

CONTENT AND CONTROL CONNECTED Habitech’s Justin Martin-Lawrence, Jonathan Pengilley and Charles Redgrave-Plumb don their mystic weeds to deliver personal visions of CI’s future.

Justin Martin-Lawrence: content is king, so what are you doing about it?

It isn’t particularly delphic to imagine a world of wider streaming choice and eversmarter home control.

There’s no question that access to content will continue to drive the shape of the smart home and CI’s role within it.

Two distinct markets for smart home control are evolving. At one end you have the IoT cosmos, and at the other, the CI sphere. Driven by the media giants using content streamed over Wi-Fi, controlled from smartphone and voice enabled, the IoT phenomenon is aimed at making average homes ‘smart’. Truly democratic pricing allows inexpensive and easy access to the servers of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify and Tidal. In this market, streaming devices dominate, but the trajectory will inspire many more AV manufacturers to place Cloud access (like Chromecast) inside their products. This will create a growing ecosystem of home devices that intuitively join the home LAN, making it effortless for the owner to appreciate wider content choice via their smartphone or tablet: DIY control for all, no programming required.

At the expensive end, the original CEDIA vision still predominates, centralising distribution and deploying proprietary

20 NOVEMBER 2021

interfaces, requiring big programming inputs and macros to simplify home control, giving the owner a few buttons to press on a wall panel or remote handset. Against the extraordinary technical achievements of IoT however, this model is heading for a big reboot.

The big question for me is whether the progress of time will bring the two together.

Could the custom future combine the instant network discovery and zero programming of IoT with the unifying nature of current proprietary control systems? I’m picturing an inclusive ‘Jetson’s’ style whole-house tableau including voice activation mixed with local control over all content and every device from a universal interface mirrored on TVs and smart devices. Is this utopian fantasy? The answer, alas, is probably yes. Because even though protocols exist across platforms, there will always be proprietary systems that won’t integrate. Brands like B&O and Meridian for instance have their own way of doing things, and unless manufacturers undergo a profound transformation, the instinct will be to keep their technology in-house and deny easy compatibility with rival products. This realpolitik will prolong the necessity for integrators to instal third-party drivers, at least in the immediate future.

Even so, the next generation of control systems is set to simplify the mechanics. Our new distribution brand (Netvio) for instance has gone outside the industry to introduce an extremely powerful network design interface, where IoT-type practicality meets convention.

It allows HDBT and AVoIP to be mixed and

controlled within the same system, and through an innovation called ‘micro-drivers’, offers a more convenient way to generate the control codes. It also provides easy end-user control through a complementary smartphone app.

As such, Netvio signals a new direction for home control.

Elsewhere, greater IoT effortlessness is sure to emerge from wider voice control integration.

The huge investment needed to deploy this feature is on a scale that CI manufacturers will never be able to replicate, so I’m expecting many more to embrace Alexa and Siri, symbolising another likely area of future convergence.

Manufacturers will also need to design products that exploit properly installed Wi-Fi, because the inevitability of ever faster internet speed means that Wi-Fi, and the skills needed to preserve and manage data in whole-house scenarios, will take on a far greater significance.

Which is why we’ve been supporting this skillset since 2012. More than ever before, you’ll need the most capable networking hardware and WI-Fi6 to broadcast soaring content payloads to data-hungry devices. Before too long, 10G, multi-gig and fibre will become your only networking options.

Again, you don’t need to be an oracle to predict the eventual dominance of fibre TTP and the possibility of connecting Gigabit speeds all the way from the router to a matrix/switch and then to a fibre port on the device. I believe the future for wired networks is baked-in, along with the emergence of AVoIP as the principal carrier in resi installs, in parallel with wireless networks

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ESSENTIAL FUTURE OF INSTALL

Concepts like Netflix will continue to grow, but other tech like electric vehicle charging will feature too

fast enough to carry 4K and above (with Atmos

devices in the home, as well as EV chargers

sound) uncompressed around the home. It’s not

on the driveway. Under current plans, the sale

impossible to imagine a future in which all you’ll

of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned

need to distribute big data is to run power to

from 2030, so chargers are set to become an

devices and APs.

essential feature of future homes. This means

Charles RedgravePlumb: future homes do all the thinking I’d

agree in

with

Justin

predicting

that

So, while a single unifying streaming/control

that CI installers should invest in adding electrical

platform covering every room, recognising

experience to their offering. The Government’s

every device, and providing universal access to

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)

control systems will

content is for the birds, there will be areas of

grant currently provides a 75% contribution to

become a thing of the

IoT/CI convergence which will make things more

the cost of one charge point, capped at £350,

past. Entertainment

intuitive for you and your customers. For me

but this is likely to increase with the pressure

delivery will move

CI’s future role and greatest technical challenge

to hit Net Zero by 2050. I would think about a

is to be able to design robust ultra-fast Wi-Fi, which overcomes all physical barriers in the exceptional homes we transform. Master this

complex, centralised

to casting as apps

future strategy that includes a focus on green

like

Spotify

and

initiatives, because outreach of this kind is bound

Netflix enforce the use of their own app-based

to pay dividends.

platforms, and there will be a generational

and things will get easier all-round.

shift in control towards phones and tablets as younger family members will expect to use their

Jonathan Pengilley: take advantage of green initiatives

phones for everything in the home.

Control interfaces with multiple responses based on time-of-day are the future. For

I believe that future CI will

example, a button press at midday could turn on

embrace a broader range of

specific lights and music while the same button

products, therefore product cost will come down and demand and opportunities will increase. For instance, although one-in-10 new smart homes has smart

after nightfall could prompt the operation of lights and blinds. And future homes will have the capability to respond to external conditions; sunset for instance could trigger lights up and blinds down. Eventually, home automation

lighting today, this is expected to rise to nine-in-10 by 2050. What’s more, I’d

with minimal human involvement will become

say there needs to be a sea change in electricity

their owners need and when they need it.

infrastructure, because the grid will be called

Effectively, your systems will do all the thinking

upon to support rocketing numbers of smart

for their owners.

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the norm, so that homes intuitively know what

NOVEMBER 2021 23

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ESSENTIAL FUTURE OF INSTALL

ONE SOLUTION TO RULE THEM ALL: THE FUTURE IS IN COMPATIBILITY Phillip Pini, Director Residential Sales UK at Crestron, considers the future of an industry that lives at the cutting edge.

The smart device most people have in their homes today, is a Smart TV. These have very much taken over – in occurrence and in usability.

Combined with a universal remote that controls the television, Blu-ray player, top box and surround sound amp etc. After that, a homeowner may look into smart lighting, or smart heating controls, a smart doorbell, or even smart window furnishings. And before they know it, they have a plethora of smart devices, but not a smart home!

That however is about to change. Because the future is in connectivity and compatibility.

Even though we have our roots firmly in audio visual and control technologies, at Crestron we realise that AV alone is not the future of the industry. Smart devices entering the home and presenting huge growth for the sector represents the need for continued change.

Environmental control alongside security is in huge demand within the sector. Do-ityourself installations have given end users and installers a great chance to learn the basics of what is possible and what can be connected and controlled. And once they’ve learned those, they are ready to move on to the big leagues.

26 NOVEMBER 2021

Distributed systems always suit new builds or complete refurbishments but having solutions for retrofit applications is also something that is in high demand. Smarter, smaller and more powerful are all terms we can use to describe Crestron’s technological advancements - alongside simple to use.

As the users grow older, their need for comfort – and expendable income – grows too.

Suddenly we have a giant potential client base that is looking for a flexible, adjustable complete system. And of course, they want to be able to play around with it, and have it personalised according to their needs. In the past, scheduling and adapting was done by a professional. Now, the industry is giving the end customer more control. Hide controls and rooms on the user interface so the jokester of the family can’t turn on the master bedroom television in the middle of the night while you’re sleeping? Check!

Change images and names for your rooms, for a complete personalised experience? Check!

Modify speaker settings? Check! But having a good, standard UI platform that takes the guessing and testing out of it, should still feel

comfortable for the enduser, even the inexperienced ones. And to successfully deploy a smart home system and establish a smooth longterm experience for the homeowner, it’s critical that they rely on fully trained and certified home technology experts for the design, installation, and support.

Because the truth is that it doesn’t just start and end with an OS that delivers the speed and simplicity you want as an installer, and the intuitive experience your clients demand. Obviously, it’s more beneficial if you can set up fast with no programming.

But the key is in having one solution that can control it all - lighting, heating, shading, audio and blinds.

By lack of a standard protocol, the future is in a solution that offers compatibility to third party devices. A true smart home system works seamlessly with other technologies across the home, including, but not limited to, security cameras, smart door locks, the HVAC system, shades, lighting, audio and video distribution, outdoor and landscaping controls, and pool/ spa controls. And user experience is everything, so the homeowner can control everything in the home from a single touch screen, remote or app on their mobile device, instead of having to deal with multiple apps to control different things. Third party compatibility is key here. As is plug and play functionality, so you don’t have to restart the complete programming simply because the customer wants to install a new speaker in a room.

The future of our sector is in connectivity and compatibility. While in the front end every system is unique, the backend is the same for everyone: it should be safe, secure, uniform and compatible with every smart device in the house.

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ESSENTIAL FUTURE OF INSTALL

A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE VIDEO WALL MARKET Piet Vanhuyse, global segment marketing director for large video walls at Barco takes a look at the immediate future of the video wall sector.

In many ways, 2021 has been both the longest and fastest year many of us can remember. The global pandemic forced us to once again pivot many aspects of our personal and professional lives. Along the way, businesses embraced new and upgraded technologies to meet employee demands, close gaps and identify new efficiencies – a trend that offers boundless opportunity in the new year.

As more organisations begin welcoming employees back to the office in some capacity, this digital evolution is becoming more evident.

Large-format video walls that previously existed in the background and solely provided corporate information now are taking a more prominent and colourful position in reception areas, meeting rooms and show rooms. Across a host of applications, business leaders see video walls as an opportunity to introduce creativity and a ‘wow’ factor that invites employees and guests to the office and serves as a differentiator.

The close of 2021 saw more business and IT leaders evaluating potential video wall upgrades and installations, setting the tone for another busy year across the market. However, what we learned from this past turbulent year will enable success and growth in 2022. Here are just three of the ways we see a bright future ahead for the video wall space.

THE RISE OF LED

While the video wall market will continue to offer flexible, customised solutions that suit a range of business needs, the last year has seen notable shifts in the market that should carry over into the new year.

The past year has cemented LED as the gold standard of the video wall space. Businesses who have the budget and intent are more willing to invest in displays that produce superior image quality, colour vibrancy and accurate detail. In turn, large video walls that previously were only seen in common, public spaces are becoming – and will continue to become – a standard fixture in corporate environments.

Even as LED displays extend their popularity, the market and demand for LCD video walls remains solid. While not all

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businesses are ready to or can afford to make substantial technology investments following a turbulent year, those seeking impactful change at a more affordable price are finding a match in LCD displays that support collaboration while delivering meaningful value.

On the other hand, while it still maintains a place in the corporate space, rear projection continues to see a reduced demand. Projection video walls have a niche in applications that require precise and continuous functionality and are less concerned with stunning, highquality images, such as control rooms and security centres. However, among publicfacing environments, we’re likely to see the tide continue to shift more to LED and LCD video walls where visual appeal plays a greater role.

THE PUSH FOR TECHORATION

In 2021, the use of video wall technology to create memorable and immersive experiences in public spaces literally became an art form.

While a years-old concept, techoration – or the use of video walls and other display technologies as canvases for engaging, informative and entertaining content – became one of the most fun and competitive innovations we saw last year. With video walls serving as a blank canvas, businesses redefined and extended their brands to public spaces through colourful and brilliant visuals, videos and interactive experiences.

The simultaneous emergence of techoration and more powerful video walls will only foster more creativity in 2022 and beyond.

Businesses now understand the challenge of creating memorable first and last impressions and regaining eyes that went elsewhere during the pandemic, and the race to techorate will drive both higher demand for video walls and first-of-their-kind applications.

display space. Businesses are under greater pressure from stakeholders and customers to reduce their environmental impact, including a push for technologies that require less power and fewer resources to operate and maintain.

In turn, video wall manufacturers now are re-evaluating how to develop displays that deliver powerful visual accuracy and impact in a more responsible fashion. For example, we’re beginning to see displays that automatically go into ‘eco-mode’ when not in use to conserve power.

With the potential to enliven well-travelled spaces and offer new avenues for engagement and visibility that guides decision-making, the role and presence of video walls in business spaces is only likely to grow in the new era. The role of and demand for video walls changed like never seen before in 2021, but prepared us for success in 2022 and beyond.

There’s no doubt that technology and innovation will continue to help us survive and thrive, and I’m excited to see what’s ahead in the new year and beyond.

Piet Vanhuyse sees a bright future for the video wall market

THE COMMITMENT TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

As the new year approaches, sustainability will continue to evolve from a buzz word to an essential function – even within the visual

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NOVEMBER 2021 29

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ESSENTIAL SPEAKERS

PEOPLE LIKE IT LOUD AND CLEAR Ekin Binal, Product Line Manager, Audio Solutions at Crestron provides some sound advice.

If you looked around the last time you took public transport, walked through a city or been close to anyone alone in public, you’ve without a doubt noticed that many of the people you encountered had headphones on or earbuds in.

We all love to immerse ourselves in music and if we could, most of us would likely do it all the time. Yet, walking around with headphones on at home is impractical (and not terribly polite, especially if others are home). So instead we turn to multi-room audio distribution coupled with high-quality speakers for accessible, immersive and engaging audio at home.

For obvious reasons, we’ve all spent a lot more time at home the past year and a half. We are also spending more of that time in key functional and recreational areas around the house – time spent cooking in the kitchen replaced dining out, and the backyard became its own vacation destination. These fundamental changes in how we live drove a desire for an elevated listening experience at home. Those changes have driven consumer awareness and demands, too. Open and outdoor spaces like these can require a lot of power and clarity to produce a satisfying listening experience. Fortunately, high quality, robust speakers with world-class components

32 NOVEMBER 2021

such as ceramic tweeters and carbon fiber woofers allow us to fill these spaces with clear and dynamic outputs.

A great loudspeaker is just one part of the signal chain, however. With advances in streaming technology changing the expectations of audiophiles, it is critical to properly plan out entire audio delivery solutions. So, when we invested heavily into Crestron DM NAX, our highly scalable audioover IP-distribution platform, we started out by building new amplifiers with integrated media streaming and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) technologies, new audio-over-IP technology and in partnership with Origin Acoustics) new speakers. We chose to collaborate with Origin Acoustics – well-known for their refined architectural speakers – because of their experience in providing both the installer and the homeowner the optimal experience. By building the full audio chain, from source to DSP to amplification with DM NAX to our new speakers made by Origin Acoustics, we have created a comprehensive end-to-end listening experience that is unparalleled in terms of versatility and performance. These components all come together seamlessly for a state-of-theart home audio distribution system that can

meet the needs of even the most demanding post-quarantine audiophile.

Another important reason to look at speakers as part of the complete audio solution – and not just a single, specialized element – is the rise of multi-channel music. While twochannel solutions in the custom integration arena are still the most popular audio format among our customers, that will not always be the case. Apple, for instance, is now offering Spatial Audio in its Apple Music subscription music service. Suddenly it’s entirely possible to not just listen to your favorite song in stereo, but in a truly immersive multi-channel format. Only with a whole end-to-end multi-channel audio solution with will you be able to take advantage of that listening experience. Obviously, at Crestron we are very interested in supporting these immersive, new technologies.

It’s remarkable how audio is such a critical part of our lives at home, and how it’s continuously growing in importance. It impacts how we entertain, relax and work. The quality of the sound installation in all the different spaces in and around a home is integral to the listening experience, so we’ve made it our goal to provide the best way to ‘live inside the music.’

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ESSENTIAL SPEAKERS

ENGINEERED PERFORMANCE, AESTHETICS AND RESOLUTION ENHANCEMENT Barry Sheldrick, Director of Sales at Meridian examines the demands on the modern loudspeaker.

Our ambition is to enable people to fall in love

extreme audio engineering that’s needed whilst

In many cases, clients want to make a standout

with their music and movies, wherever they

at the same time meeting the client’s demand

feature of their beautiful loudspeaker, not hide

are. We want to create an authentic, lifelike

on loudspeaker looks is hugely important.

it away.

and natural experience as possible. To do that,

Take our DSP750 in-wall loudspeaker as an

Dealers can also choose bespoke colour

we always place the listener at the heart of

example. Specifically designed and engineered

services from the RAL colour system to create

every performance, using our engineering and

for

an ideal paint colour match for the loudspeaker

psychoacoustics expertise to deliver unrivalled

installations as well as dedicated home cinema

sound experiences. That’s what Meridian is all

installations, this loudspeaker combines power

The Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath shade

about. We also see other factors at work that

and fidelity to give our dealers a discrete,

of grey is proving an especially popular choice

impact upon speaker design and challenge us

outstanding solution that packs one heck of

for Meridian floor-standing loudspeakers at

to take the engineering behind loudspeaker

a punch.

present. We’ve also colour matched cabinets to

performance to new heights.

AESTHETICS

the

most

demanding

architectural

cabinet with the interior.

But aesthetics are not concerned with

Porsche and Lamborghini colours as well as to

simply hearing and not seeing the loudspeaker.

particular interior finishes in the home or in the

Great cabinet design and customisation allow

client’s car.

Aesthetics is one key trend in custom

dealers to make a statement for their client as

Through our DbM (Distributed by Meridian)

installation. Being able to bring the level of

well as delivering fantastic audio performance.

business, we’re also noticing an uptick in

34 NOVEMBER 2021

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CINEMA-QUALITY SOUND FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

At Artcoustic, we combine cinema-quality performance with high-end design for everyday living.

Our range is uniquely designed to be scalable, delivering the ultimate cinematic experience, from the smallest snug to the largest living space. The modular design of our speakers enables us to increase and decrease sound output to create a precise configuration for your space.

Our specialist partners will ensure that systems are designed specifically for the rooms they will be installed in, always delivering reference level performance to industry recognised standards.

ESSENTIAL SPEAKERS

interest for the incredible glass cabinet speakers available from Waterfall. These glass speakers bring a distinctive, classic elegance to any interior, and fit with any style of contemporary décor. Obviously, they sound great too!

RESOLUTION ENHANCEMENT Resolution enhancement is another trend. There are more audio platforms available than video services and clients typically have

significant streaming streaming their own

preferences that we, as an industry, are unlikely to be able to influence.

We embrace this range of choice and flexibility that clients have. It’s our job as the manufacturer to ensure that our products can make the content sound as great as it possibly can, irrespective of the source.

This takes us back to the extreme engineering principles that underscore everything we do at Meridian.

The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) architecture within our loudspeakers includes

our proprietary enhancement technologies, such as, FIFO buffering, upsampling, apodising filters and MHR (Meridian High Resolution).

These technologies remove variable timing errors ( jitter) typically with content delivered from streaming sources. Jitter degrades the music’s sense of space and diminishes realism.

The result is the best possible audio outcome from all digital sources. Thanks to Meridian’s technology, clients can enjoy improved clarity and a much more natural feeling of the instruments, vocals and their interrelationship.

Loudspeakers these days have to perform aesthetically as well as sonically

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NOVEMBER 2021 37

ESSENTIAL SPEAKERS

THE SOUND OF THINGS TO COME

Andy Oattes, UK & Ireland Sales Director, Fine Sounds UK and Roberto Gamba of speaker maker Sonus Faber discuss loudspeaker development - present and future.

Andy Oattes (AO): As far as I understand, the basic principles of loudspeaker acoustic design haven’t changed in a very long time.

The objective is to create the desired speaker by implementing the very best acoustic design methodology and by using mechanical design tools, engineering, and manufacturing processes to remove the negative effects of unwarranted dispersion and vibration and to ensure that sound reaches the ear, with minimal distortion and maximum resolution and accuracy. It’s an iterative process. (That’s probably way too simplistic, but you get the idea, it a complicated thing).

On the face of it, it appears that loudspeakers are easy to design and a low barrier to entry (think about the sheer number of speaker brands on the market), but it’s very hard to make a great speaker! There are many design choices along the way, with both positive and negative effects and ultimately the end-product depends on a myriad of factors, led generally by the design philosophy of the brand and the price point and application of the speaker.

What has changed, however, is the plethora of materials now available for use, the advance in design software and design process, incredible improvements in engineering and fabrication.

38 NOVEMBER 2021

And the ever-growing demands of the consumer. These are good things. All very good things, that inevitably provide the consumer with a kaleidoscopic choice of options.

Lying at the heart of any choice, should be, in my humble opinion, the pursuit of the best music or movie performance possible for the budget! The question then becomes, ‘what do I really want from a loudspeaker’, and there is the answer to one of the main growth areas in the

integration space: performance. The other main growth area is customisation or personalisation.

DEALING WITH PERFORMANCE FIRST

The advent of streaming brought the age of commoditisation to CI. The priority was on ease of control and stability. From an integrator’s perspective; designing-out failure was a real focus so as to ensure happy clients

Capturing the feeling of a musical instrument has never been easy

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ESSENTIAL SPEAKERS

and avoiding loss-making projects, so I totally get it. But the maturation of digital content, streaming and IP, together with evolutions in control and ‘play-direct’ options from content providers such as Tidal and Spotify and great options such as Roon. Once we move away from needing to engineer out points of failure caused by an immature technology, we can get back to performance as the key focus. And this is what is happening. Who would have thought a pandemic would act as the catalyst for consumers to reconnect with music and movies? But they have and they will continue to do so. That curiosity deserves a great demo and a great demo unlocks the potential of a great sounding and performing system. The net result of a rebalanced project with greater spend on audio and video, is happier customers with better systems!

ON THE SUBJECT OF CUSTOMISATION

We’re experiencing a greater desire from the consumer to see the speaker. Thinking about it, this makes sense, certainly in a stereo capacity. A move to better quality systems, will typically flow into freestanding speakers which will provide dramatically better performance.

The same could be said about on-wall and soundbars. I’ve seen a growing number of suppliers looking at clever ways to RAL code finishes or create complete custom solutions where the client can personalise their purchase.

If you think about the cinema environment, there are companies such at HTE at the higherend who provide a full acoustic and interior design for amazing cinemas, at the other end

of the spectrum, options such as cinema build systems provide lovely solutions for a different price point and customer.

THE PACE OF CHANGE

Roberto Gamba: It seems that the pace of change in the CI industry is increasing, but with this comes many technological and performance advantages. One such example is immersive audio; we’re at the very beginning of really understanding what this new paradigm in audio can provide us, but for the client, if they work with a great integrator, it’s going to be truly revelatory!

Focusing in on performance is key because we need to are trying to create as close as possible to a real, live experience in people’s homes, so we shouldn’t only say CI but for sure push towards ‘CI-FI’ (custom install fidelity), so we transfer the incredible performance aspects and understanding of reproduction in Hi-Fi inside the home theatre world and this will truly become a Private Cinema with the best ever experience!

In recent years, clients have built new spaces inside their homes and have discovered a lot of new opportunity to enjoy special moments with their family. This is a beautiful thing. Designing and building products that can fit all the application in this area is an enormous challenge because we can install inside houses, hotels, marine environment, but the requirements are not always the same. We need to take care about depth, easy installation, high resistance, low maintenance but maintaining a very high performance.

From the multi room environment to the heart of the experience, the private/immersive theatre that is a key place where the family can share time together. From my perspective the requirement are very clear, we don’t need to watch a movie but be actually be a part of the movie! To achieve this, we need an exceptional system that is engineered and designed to the highest performance standards: Focus, Envelopment and Dynamics. All individual aspects and components need to be state of the art and the concept coherent. For this reason coming from the High End allow to build product with an High quality.

Andy Oattes: Lastly, working with the very best integrators who are committed to providing the best performance is vital to the creation of the end users final system. Standards truly matter. Over-reach is a consequence of poor understanding, so a robust system of training and mentoring for new integrators is important. I feel that it is inevitable that more integrators will move to having demonstration rooms or perhaps even showrooms. This seems as obvious to me, as it was for Hi-FI dealers to have demo rooms, then stores. Clients will demand to see and hear what they’re investing in and this will work for all parties. Working together with CEDIA on their performance facts project, is a huge aspect on truly galvanising our understanding of what standards and buzzwords really mean.

Better transparency for the industry, removing nonsense marketing speak and allowing clients to really understand the purchase, to see and hear what is amazing, is key to the next leap towards truly outstanding systems.

Today’s speakers need to adapt to different platforms, some new, some with longer pedigrees

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NOVEMBER 2021 41

AWE COMPANY FOCUS

A SERIOUSLY GOOD CINEMA AWE’s upgraded reference cinema is ‘insanely good’, says Stuart Tickle, AWE Europe’s Managing Director.

AWE has always been ahead of the game. We were the first distributor with a fully equipped show apartment where dealers could bring their clients for a taste of the full custom installation experience.

In 2014, we opened the first Dolby Atmos home cinema demonstration in Europe and in 2018 previewed the first Imax Enhanced home cinema. Now, we’re proud to announce the next stage in the evolution of our demonstration spaces in Epsom, following a radical audio transformation.

Our appointment by Sound United as exclusive distributor for Bowers & Wilkins and Rotel to the UK CI channel has presented us with the opportunity for this major revamp. With these two premium audio brands on board, we wanted to showcase their premium home cinema products in a setting that will do their performance full justice.

That place is our newly upgraded Reference Cinema. We’ve heard it for ourselves, and it sounds extraordinary. The audio clarity, the

42 NOVEMBER 2021

precision, the power of the performance and the

We’ve fitted Bowers & Wilkins CI 800

sonic detail is a major uplift from anything we’ve

Series Diamond speakers and Custom Theatre

heard before.

At the heart of this exceptional performance are a combination of Bowers & Wilkins

subwoofers in a 7.4.6 configuration. A Marantz processor feeds into a stack of Rotel power

architectural in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers,

amplifiers housed in a new 44U rack located in

cabinet subwoofers and Rotel Power Amplifiers.

the adjacent comms room.

The Reference cinema has had an audio and aesthetic upgrade

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AWE COMPANY FOCUS

The Bowers & Wilkins CWM8.3D, CWM8.5D, CCM8.5D are exceptionally wellengineered loudspeakers. These in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers feature all the key transducer technologies developed for the globally renowned 800 Series Diamond.

This includes Diamond dome tweeters, Continuum midrange drivers and Aerofoil bass cones. Each of the loudspeakers we’ve installed in the cinema fits into precision-engineered, separate matrix-braced backboxes for ease of installation and dramatically improved audio performance with minimal reverberation and resonance.

Four cabinet subwoofers (CTSW15) with 15in bass drivers provide the heart-thumping bass that completes this jaw-dropping loudspeaker set-up.

THE POWER BEHIND THE PERFORMANCE Driving the Bowers & Wilkins speakers are five Rotel Power amplifiers. Three RB-1590’s and two RMB-1585’s provide the immense power which gives us a huge sound stage and great dynamics.

This powerful, immersive audio system is matched by the incredible 4m wide HDR picture provided by a 10,000 lumen and 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut, Sony VPL-GTZ380 Native 4K laser projector. It’s Sony’s flagship home cinema projector for a reason so make sure you take a closer look at that too when you visit. We also have the full range of Sony native 4K lamp and laser projectors available to demonstrate.

We collaborated with industry favourite, Cinema Build Systems on the aesthetic of the room. They’ve worked with us to reimagine the Reference Cinema’s interior, equipping it with a stunning new look, thanks to their Cinema Space Frame system, combined with Camira fabric walling and embedded colour-changing LED Light diffuser strips.

We’re really excited about the transformation.

The upgraded reference Cinema is an amazing experience that we can’t wait to share with you all – and your clients - so get in touch and book your demonstration now via the AWE website.

AWE awe-europe.com

The new Reference cinema is open for business!

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NOVEMBER 2021 43

PATHS

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INSTALL PIONEER

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DOLBY ATMOS MUSIC MASTER EI speaks with with Dyre Gormsen, Immersive Sound Mix and Mastering Engineer at the iconic Eastcote Studios. Dyre is one the engineers pioneering the use of the Dolby Atmos music format.

Tell us about the history of the studio?

Eastcote is version 1.2 of what Philip and Chaz (Engineer - Philip Bagenal and Chaz Jankel of Ian Dury and the Blockheads) started in the 80’s.

The studio had been running successfully and untouched since then, until about a year and a half ago when we had the chance to update it, adding to the arsenal of tricks and great recording features.

Eastcote has a 40-year long history, celebrated in a book by Martin Terefe created during lockdown while I was refurbishing the studio with an amazing team of artists, musicians and builders of all trades.

I have been working here for more than 15 years, more than a third of Eastcote’s life. The place has a certain spark to it that you rarely find in recording establishments.

The studio is unique in its raw and super refined recording environment that has been producing world class records for more than 40 years. Massive Attack, The Arctic Monkeys, Adele, just to mention a few - and the sound and work ethic are still there with a dedicated and extremely competent team.

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Tell us about your introduction to Dolby Atmos Music In November of 2020 I bought some AMS-NEVE DFC consoles at an online BBC auction. I started looking at what they could do and quickly came across Dolby Atmos Music on Tidal. It had me excited to think about how artists and consumers could experience music in other ways than stereo, and how it could inspire the future of music and technology.

The first time I heard it was at Pro AV supplier HHB. My first impression was that it was an extremely powerful mixing tool that had so many possibilities. I immediately felt that the transition of Dolby Atmos into the music industry was a great move.

How does the format actually differ from others?

Dolby Atmos has its own set of guidelines for delivery. For Apple Music, the format is delivered via ADM files, which is a fold down WAV file whose SPL is -18db for the master with 2dB of headroom on each side. This is much lower than a stereo master, there’s about a 10dB difference. What I really love about Dolby Atmos is that dynamics are back in recorded music. The mixes are just as powerful without being smashed to pieces and we’re not still stuck in the loudness wars that stereo masters have fought for many years. The dynamics are much closer to Vinyl.

What is different about how you record and mix in this format?

Recording-wise it’s the same as usual stereo recording. The difference is when you start spreading it out in Dolby Atmos, you can take advantage of the use of more ambient microphones for drums etc., especially when recording live shows or streaming where there is an audience to really make you feel like you are in the room.

The main difference is in the mixing stage.

Rather than mixing down to stereo’s two channels, there are up to 128 channels of audio to consider when mixing in Atmos. This makes the usual

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46 NOVEMBER 2021

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INSTALL PIONEER

mastering and pumping stereo mixes redundant.

You must think differently to achieve what you want.

I find it inspiring to be free to place instrumentation where I want. I find myself listening more intensely and for longer without being too attached to the screen.

Is there anything the artist needs to be aware of when recording in the format?

It’s pretty much business as usual when recording.

Most people would probably start in stereo when creating and tracking and leave Dolby Atmos to the mixing stage. Working directly is something that will come with time. It is possible to have the Dolby Atmos Render on your laptop with your usual DAW; Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Live Abolition and so on. I’m excited to see where music creators are going to take this, there are a lot of creative people out there that will be able to take their work to the next level.

Tell us about your new Dolby Atmos Music mixing room.

The actual room is an old hayloft that we converted into a mastering studio. This works well as there is not a single straight angle in the room and it has a slanted ceiling. This all helps us with regards to the acoustics of the room. It’s treated with acoustic fabric panels and what I call acoustic furniture that helps the sound of the room. Everything from treating the back and sides of tables and racks with rock wool and acoustic fabric, and in general using sound absorbing materials.

The Atmos Speaker system consists of PMC Result6s (LRC) and PMC Wafer2s as surround and height. It’s a 7.1.4 system with an eight channel Crown amplifier for the Wafer2s. I got a Genelec SUB that I rate highly, unfortunately it is not in production any more but I was lucky enough to find one in great condition.

I use Pro Tools Ultimate and the Dolby Renderer on the same Mac, an Avid MTRX Studio with the DAD MOM controller and one AVID HDX Card. This works really well; I haven’t come across issues with this system so far. Plenty of CPU for both Pro Tools and the Dolby Render.

It’s a great addition to what we do at Eastcote Mastering and I find it really enjoyable to mix in Dolby Atmos. It feels a bit like the canvas has finally gotten a lot bigger with more possibilities.

I don’t mean flying sound around randomly, but really expanding the stereo picture we know to surround you more like at great sounding live gig. It

can give you that same special feeling in the body if it’s done right.

How pleased are you with the results of the first Dolby Atmos Music recordings?

I’m extremely happy with the results, both stem mixing from the stereo mix, and taking a production directly from the multitrack recording to do the actual mix in Dolby Atmos and folding it down to stereo again. I find this works really well, getting great results on Mathias Winther’s new Album. Doing it that way around for the first time has been a really great experience to see how the Atmos mix folds down. It really sounds great, with lots of depth and punch in the stereo.

RACKS

What Dolby Atmos Music projects are you working on next?

Danish artist Mathias Winther’s new album, Yungblud’s catalogue and a bunch of other stuff.

What are the main benefits for the listener?

The listeners’ experience can come through Dolby Atmos’ sound bars where you can really get that immersive and live feeling in the way it projects the sound around you. This immersive experience can convey the music’s emotion far more effectively than your usual mono or stereo devices.

Headphones are my favourite way to listen to immersive music at home, but I am very keen to see what devices will be brought out over the coming years to support the format. The great thing is that you can easily enjoy it with your normal headphones, as well as specialised headphones which will bring the immersive feeling out even more.

Where does the format go next?

It’s a really big thing that Apple has taken it on and I’m positive they will do what they can to elevate it.

It will take a while for everyone to have an iPhone 12 or higher. I think it will take about three years for the format to really be available to everyone. I can also see most cars having Dolby Atmos in the future, something that I know has already been implemented by some manufacturers.

Will all music be made like this someday, or will it remain a ‘niche’?

I do think its going to be a deliverable for the major labels and there will be lots of music available in Dolby Atmos in the future and musicians will take to it as they discover the power of it.

Making music in a new way, Dyre has embraced the new format

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NOVEMBER 2021 47

TOGETHER FOR CINEMA

BRINGING THE TOGETHER FOR CINEMA EXPERIENCE TO ROSE ROAD Together For Cinema Founder, Ian Morrish, provides EI with a full report of one of the latest projects to be completed; Rose Road Association, Southampton, Hampshire.

The opening ceremony took place on September 15

Rose Road Association is located in Southampton, Hampshire. It is full of people working passionately to achieve their vision a world where disability is not a barrier. They have been doing this since 1952 across Hampshire and the surrounding areas, working with children and young adults with complex multiple disabilities and health needs. They have become a much-needed extended family for many people and they do it with fun and professionalism.

On April 13, we got together in Southampton and it was clear that there was an opportunity for us to help. There was a large space available that Rose Road were willing to redesign to accommodate the proposed cinema room. The challenge is to find the right installer to project manage and install. By pure coincidence Iain Brown, (formerly of Kensington Home Technology), contacted me for a catch up.

He had closed his London business and moved down towards the coast of Dorset and had set up Wessex AV. Iain had already completed four cinema room installations for TFC and once he heard about Rose Road he was on board.

Iain explains, “The room we were looking to use was being used as a general storage area. The space was open plan and quite large. Working with Mark Duncan, the facilities manager, we marked out a space which allowed us to create a good sized room, without having to move any of the ceiling mounted AC units and still providing the necessary fire exit space.

48 NOVEMBER 2021

The room we designed was about 6.5m x 6.5m and benefitted from having no natural light. It was established that although the room will be predominately used for movies, the space would also need to be used for team meetings and training.

“Once we had a room design, I then set about designing a system that met the brief.

Like all the projects I have done for TFC, we look to incorporate the hardware that has already been generously donated as the basis of the design. I was keen to get as big a screen as possible, as we had a big room. We also had the space and receiver to install a 9.2.2 surround sound system which would give us great sound in the room.”

Iain explains, “Meanwhile Rose Road built the room in double quick time and within a couple of months the room was ready for us, painted and carpeted – and they were looking for an opening date in August! This was prudently moved back until September. But still a lot to do! We then had to push our suppliers to secure everything we needed and I had to move things around to get everything installed in time.

As always, our suppliers came through. As with all projects there are snags that crop up in the install, but with the help of Mark Duncan and his team, these were overcome and we managed to be ready for the opening.”

Juno Hollyhock, CEO, Rose Road Association, adds, “Our children are rarely able to go to a mainstream cinema and enjoy a film with their families. Multiple barriers, both physical and social, stand in their way. Fast forward (see what I did there) to a meeting with Ian Morrish from TFC and his whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm left me in no doubt that they believed that we could have our own cinema room and they were utterly invested in making sure that this happened.

“We love our new cinema room and the looks on the faces of our children was so beautiful when they saw it. Many of them have sensory impairments and this level of audio and visual excellence helps to ensure that they have the fullest sensory experience possible.”

A longer version of this case study is available on essentialinstall.com.

Together For Cinema togetherforcinema.co.uk

EQUIPMENT LIST AND ASSISTANCE • AV Stumpfl (Screen): Decoframe, 16:9, 336 x 196 cm, Flex white CI micro perforated.

• Camira (Cloth): Acoustic wall frame cloth.

• Crestron (Control): CP3, TSR-302 and CEN-RFGW-EX. • Denon / Sound United (AV Receiver): AVCX3700.

• Epson (Projector): TW6100.

• OneAV (Cables): Various cables as required including 9 x HDMI cables, 200m of speaker cable and 200m of CAT6 cable with Patch Leads.

• Karma AV (Fabric Wall Frame): 20 x 2.4m strips of acoustic wall framing, & rotary insertion tool.

• Middle Atlantic / Legrand (Cabinet): C5 Credenza rack including cabinet, shelving, blanks, bars and drawers.

• Monitor Audio (Speakers): 3 x WT380, 4 x CPWT260 in wall, 2 x C265 and 2 x CW10 in black.

• Sony (BluRay Player): UPB X800M2 with smart apps.

• TDI Group (Accessories): Projector mount, PDU, rack accessories, connectors.

• Various: DVD donations.

• Wessex AV (Various): Timber framing and acoustic mats.

On top of the list above many other products and accessories were generously donated by Iain Brown of Wessex AV. Faradite, filming for the opening ceremony.

HDANYWHERE, provision of film-crew, results to be released soon!

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Powering the Leading Multiroom Audio Ecosystem for Custom Installation

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ESSENTIAL MATRIXES AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT

SERIOUS, SUPER, SIGNALS Gabi Shriki, Head Senior VP, AV Business at Valens, examines HDBaseT Spec 3.0, enabling state-of-the-art AV Signal Management.

KEEP IT REAL, KEEP IT UNCOMPRESSED

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There has never been a better time for watching television than now. 4K resolution with ultrahigh definition, superior High Dynamic Range (HDR) performance, better contrast ratios and brighter colours.

But how many people set up their brandnew TVs in their homes, only to find that their TV looks just about the same as their old one?

We hear this story all the time from consumers, and it’s obvious to us what’s happening. The connectivity infrastructure in their home is not set up to handle their new TV. Their image quality is downgraded and compressed in the cables, and the resulting image is a disappointment. And it’s the same story for video conferencing and education segments, where video conferencing has become the cornerstone of communications in the COVID era.

HDBaseT technology is set to break this state of affairs in the ProAV industry, providing the state-of-the-art infrastructure needed to optimally connect state-of-the-art equipment.

This will happen with HDBaseT Spec 3.0, the latest stage of evolution in HDBaseT technology. HDBaseT Spec 3.0 is the only fully uncompressed solution on the market, enabling the distribution of HDMI 2.0 4K@60 4:4:4 for up to 100m/328ft over a single Category cable.

Being uncompressed, Spec 3.0 will ensure that your systems are future proof.

On top of that, Spec 3.0 brings the brightest and best specs to market, including:

52 NOVEMBER 2021

• Audio - I2S-4, S/PDIF. • Support for HDCP2.x and 1.x authentication and encryption.

• True high-speed USB 2.0 data rates that address the increasing demand for USB peripherals, including cameras, KVM, and interactive applications.

• 1Gb Ethernet, allowing for support of the ever-growing usage of streaming services.

• Power over HDBaseT. Of course, Spec 3.0 is interoperable and backwards compatible with previous HDBaseT specifications. True to the promise of HDBaseT, Spec 3.0 offers budget-friendly, plug & play installations.

In terms of IT management, Spec 3.0 will provide an unprecedented level of accessibility for maintenance. With the option of connectivity of HDBaseT devices to the cloud, Spec 3.0 products can be configured remotely, and IT departments can engage in real time monitoring of devices, schedule software and firmware updates and much more.

bit more of an annoyance. Or the stakes might be higher if you’re in a medical grade setting performing surgery using cameras to navigate your way through the body. In that case, latency could be very serious.

HDBASET AND THE VS3000 STELLO CHIPSET The Valens VS3000 Stello chipset is the key enabler for HDBaseT Spec 3.0 - the only solution for long-range distribution of uncompressed HDMI 2.0, with zero latency.

The chipset family includes highly integrated ICs for the convergence and extension of AV signals over a single standard Category cable.

But most pertinent to this discussion, the VS3000 Stello includes a built-in switching core. This unique capability allows for easy implementation of features that had previously been imposed on equipment manufacturers, such as: • HDMI local looping • Audio insert extract features

ZERO LATENCY

• HDBaseT port duality for supporting

Uncompressed also means no latency, which is important in signal routing within a room. If you’re sitting at home watching Neflix, you don’t mind a little bit of delay between when you push the play button and when Squid Games starts rolling. But if you’re in, say, a classroom, where you’re trying to teach unruly children and are faced with audio-video delays, this might be a

transceivers Spec 3.0 is already taking over the industry.

Dozens of the manufacturers, including all the leading brands, are developing matrixes and switches, who had all already based their product lines on HDBaseT technology, are now migrating to HDBaseT Spec 3.0.

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CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF BUSINESS

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ESSENTIAL MATRIXES AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT

MATRIX REVELATIONS The Pulse-Eight team, UK innovator in the matrix and signal management sector, offer answers on some of the thorniest issues currently facing the industry.

Matrix products and AV over IP solutions are still vying for attention and dealers need to decide which is appropriate for each project

What are the most common technical challenges facing this sector currently?

It’s fair to say that the most predominant technical challenge in this industry at the moment is the ongoing global components shortage. Almost everyone in the industry has been affected by this in one way or another. This shortage is resulting in many manufacturers experiencing longer and longer component lead times. Which, unfortunately, is creating bottle necks in product shipping. As a Manufacturer in Great Britain, Pulse-Eight is having to get creative with its distribution equipment.

We have worked around this parts obsolescence issue by creatively redesigning products that utilise parts that are becoming available.

AV over IP or conventional matrix, where are we?

When comparing AV over IP versus conventional matrices, both categories are very important, but it’s true that each has its own place in the industry. Conventional fix formatted matrices, which Pulse-Eight have been working with for the past decade, have a ceiling in the residential space especially when it comes to input and output counts. This, in comparison to an IP solution, could be seen as limited.

When looking at our own soon to be launched AV over IP solution that offers endless connectivity from an input and an output perspective, ultimately creates a clear path into a commercial space whereas a residential fixedformat matrix is limited.

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@Install_mag

Where can the sector go next in providing the next step change in functionality?

As far as looking to the future of the industry and providing the next step change in functionality, we as an industry need to accept new technology. Embracing and working with new formats such as 8K and 16K is imperative as clients will demand these resolutions as they become more mainstream. In addition, you only have to look at current announcements such as Sky with their new Sky Glass display to see how the world is potentially opening up a different ways clients are receiving media.

/Essentialinstall

Set-top boxes will potentially soon be a thing of the past, with content being delivered via onboards. As an industry we need to look towards working more with integrated solutions, but also at the same time rolling with any new format changes and any increases in enhancements in video and audio distribution qualities and signal management options. Staying on top of the needs and demands of the ever-changing client should remain a top priority. We should be working to integrate the latest technology into our products to ensure the most premium and advanced experiences for our clients.

NOVEMBER 2021 55

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CONNECT TECHNOLOGY

//

CONNECT PEOPLE

SMART THINKING: DR SHELLEY JAMES

HUMAN CENTRED LIGHTING - TRICK OR TREAT?

Dr Shelley James, founder of the Age of Light Innovations Group, PhD from the Royal College of Art, international expert on light and well-being, and recent speaker at EI Live! 2021 explains why human centric lighting is so important.

Sounds like marketing hype? Expensive?

Difficult? I hope to convince you by the end of this article that it’s not difficult and it’s not expensive. And getting it right could help you to build lifelong relationships with your clients, help them to save money and cut their carbon footprint too.

How many of you are ‘morning’ people? Do you have teenage children who struggle to get out of bed? Most of the time we have to work on the same ‘time zone’ but science shows that everyone is slightly different - and that changes over time.

Distribution of chronotypes (that’s when you naturally feel awake and when you’d rather be in bed), how much sleep you need and how that changes over time varies a lot. For example, a teenager’s body clock runs around two hours later than an adult: your 7am is 5am for them.

And over the age of 70, you might turn into an extreme night owl - or an early bird. One experiment in a London school changed the start time to 10:00am so that the kids could get the eight hours they need. The results were impressive - reduced illness after two years fell

58 NOVEMBER 2021

by 50% and improved academic performancereversed once the start time went back to ‘normal’ and a 12% increase in the value-added number of students making good academic progress.

And how many of you are over 40 years of age? You won’t have noticed because those changes happen slowly over time. But your eyes are slowly becoming cloudy and yellowing with age. By the time you’re 40, you need twice as much light as a 10-year-old to get the same effect.

A recent study by the CIE (The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) suggests that women prefer warmer light and will still polish off a large breakfast even though it’s in a room with only blue light, because we have a better sense of smell, so we can override the slightly odd look of the food on offer. The point is that you are all human - there is an ‘average’ - like the sound level from a loudspeaker or the amount of treble you want in the mix, but everyone is different and that’s where the ‘human-centred’ bit comes in.

So, what we call ‘circadian’ (circa = around, dian = day) simply means lighting that helps the body to know what time it is. That matters because every single cell in your body and brain works together like a super-efficient just in time delivery system. Your heart gets ready to pump up the pressure as you rise from your bed, your gut gets the chemicals ready to break down your breakfast and your brain draws power to process the inbox.

That clock is such a powerful driver that when it gets out of whack, things start to go badly wrong. Lost sleep for one night is the equivalent of driving with a shot of whiskey in your blood.

And over time, it’s, quite literally, lethal. The World Health Organisation has classified disruption to the circadian system as a probable carcinogen.

And if you can remember what it feels like to be jet-lagged, you will probably have a glimpse of what that means: foggy brain, weight gain, low mood. Children who have disrupted body clocks are more likely to be obese, get lower scores at school and have an increased risk of suicide. So, your body clock is highly personal, very important and it uses light to tell the time.

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ne

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SMART THINKING: DR SHELLEY JAMES

The eyes are part of a sophisticated system that uses light to tell the body exactly what time it is

It needs a strong signal - bright, cool light in the morning so that it can switch off at night.

And as we get older that signalling system slows down and needs more help than ever.

The trouble is that the lights in our homes and offices are just not bright enough to give it that wake-up signal (300 lux in an average office compared to 10,000 lux on a cloudy day), and are too bright in the evening to allow it to switch off (40 lux from an iPad to 1 lux on a moonlit night). So where does human-centred light come in? It’s an umbrella term for an approach to lighting that is designed with the human in mind - chronotype, age, gender and activity.

TUNABLE LIGHTING

‘Tunable’ is one dimension of that critical ‘day-night’ shift (from cool to warm) - you are increasing or reducing the amount of that ‘wake up’ wavelength in the lighting. You can do that with two light sources - bright cool blue above and warm dim low-level lamps - or use a control to change the light in the same source. It also turns out that you will perform better in a wordpairing test and be more accurate under bright cool light and give people the benefit of the doubt if you see them in a warm light.

create higher visual comfort and improves your ability to sleep. They may also help with the onset of myopia although the research is still underway. Truly human-centred lighting is simply lighting designed for humans: their age, their gender and what they are doing; Bright, cool light is a powerful wake-up call; Gentle, warm light is the cue to relax and connect and finally darkness, like silence, is golden.

THE ROLE OF CONTROLS

To go back to the sound system analogy, how many of you have clients who love all those buttons - and others who just want it to work?

And how many of you have been called in to sort out a system that simply wasn’t fit for purpose and gave the whole sector a bad name? Well, it’s the same with lighting.

A human-centred lighting system will deliver light when and where you need it, using high-

quality components designed to last. The new EU Circular Design Regulations mean that lighting products in the future will need to be designed to be modular so that sensors and other components can be upgraded separately.

The next generation of lights are designed with wireless sensors that will allow you to cut the time and cost of installation and programming upgrades and integrate artificial lighting with daylight and security systems.

You can cut electricity bills, reduce landfill - and deliver the dynamic and life-affirming qualities of the day-night cycle that will have your clients singing your praises and coming back for more.

It’s not expensive, it’s not complicated and you could make the world of difference to your clients, your business and the planet!

Age of Light AgeofLightInnovations.com

FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING

What the marketing people call ‘full spectrum’ is another dimension of that ‘tunable’ idea.

‘Full spectrum’ lights mimic the wavelengths of light you find in the sun. Like with sound, rubbish in, rubbish out. This is the difference in the appearance of an apple in ‘full spectrum’ vs. the same ‘colour temperature’ with a different colour rendering index.

The benefits of full spectrum go beyond your ability to appreciate one of your five a day. It turns out that lights that deliver more wavelengths,

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Genuinely human centric lighting is not as hard to create as you might think

/Essentialinstall

NOVEMBER 2021 61

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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: CINEMA ROOMS

MULTI-PLAYER HOME CINEMA! Simon Gregory, director at Cinema Rooms, gives EI the tour of this very well-appointed home cinema with particular emphasis on some serious game play abilities and cool atmospheric lighting.

Simon explains that the space was originally a

Simon explains, “The customer visited the

Its often the case of course that any hidden

recording studio in an out-building of the client’s

Artcoustic showroom based in Chelmsford

issues on a project like this don’t come to

house. Being a recording studio, the room already

with us and together we designed the room

light until the work gets under way, as Simon

sounded very good with full acoustic treatment,

going for a 9.4.4 Dolby Atmos systems as

reveals, “Work began on the outbuilding but

but was very dated in terms of aesthetics. The

optimal for the room. We created full concept

upon further inspection we found the building

customer’s brief was to turn this room into a

drawings so the customer could see what

to not be structurally sound! The roof was

modern multi-use space, able to deliver high-

the final systems would entail and proceeded

basically coming down and the walls were not

performance for movies, music and gaming for

from there.”

clamped. However, we have plenty of skills in-

family and friends. The space also needed to

The customer is a big drum and bass fan,

house to deal with this type of issue and our

double up as an office as, like many people of

so the four subs in the room come in handy on

room designer Maciek fitted the new roof and

course, the client now works from home a lot

that score, but also provide really exciting for

made the building safe so we could get on with

more than before the COVID 19 situation.

gaming and movies.

the project.”

64 NOVEMBER 2021

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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: CINEMA ROOMS

With all the old acoustic treatments stripped out, the team decided on creating a room within a room for the ideal level of isolation and audio control.

Simon reveals, “We called the guys at iKoustic and with their help decided on the MuteClip Stud Double Masonry Wall Soundproofing system which delivers isolation and good acoustic performance inside the room as well. We also opted for the MuteClip LP Double Timber Ceiling Soundproofing for the same reasons. “The space also benefits from a floating floor and Tecsound treatment throughout also by iKoustic. We also included a fire door which you would enter via the lobby area which also houses the equipment stack,

A powerful PC is in place for next level gaming

drinks, snacks and a slushy maker.”

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NOVEMBER 2021 65

DM NAXTM AUDIO-OVER-IP DISTRIBUTION + CRESTRON RESIDENTIAL SPEAKERS BY ORIGIN ACOUSTICS

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• Supports AES67 and Dante® audio networking • Works seamlessly with voice assistants

• Local inputs and outputs • Easy to install speakers built with premium materials for optimal performance

Visit crestron.com/resiaudio 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. ©2021 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: CINEMA ROOMS

LIGHT FANTASTIC Getting the lighting right on this project was very important for the customer as the system needed to reflect the multi-use scenario that would be taking place.

room and allowed the speakers to be hidden

really took things to another level handling ratios

and still heard and the Nano lights to shine

automatically for movies, streaming services

through and not overpower the room. It looks

and games with ease.

and sounds fantastic!”

Once the room was completed and cables

Philips Hue lights were used for the main

run, the room really started to take shape and

lights, and for the side and back walls Nanoleaf

after a longer than expected project (due to the

Light Panels were employed, incorporating

roof) the cinema room was complete and ready

music sync and screen mirror features for

to go to work.

a fully immersive, next-level gaming and

The system was then calibrated for sound to get the reference 105db and video calibration

entertainment experience.

Simon adds, “We also used Camira

“We also used the RTI control system to get the whole room working seamlessly and a high-end PC was added for work and gaming purposes. The client is over the moon with his new dedicated multi -purpose outbuilding which takes every activity the room has been designed for to new heights.”

for projector and the Lumagen processor.

Nexus fabric with the Cinema Build System

Simon adds, “The Sony laser 790 offers

fabric tracking system. This completed the

fantastic image quality, but adding the Lumagen

Cinema Rooms cinema-rooms.co.uk

The in-wall lighting panels add style and complement whatever activity is taking place

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NOVEMBER 2021 67

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

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• • • • • •

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

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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: CINEMA ROOMS

Made in Taiwan UK Branch Office

Essential Cinema Kit List Screen Excellence Reference 2:40.1 120in Acoustic masked screen Artcoustic 9.4.4 Dolby Atmos system 3 x Spitfire 4-2’s, 6 x SL Artcoustic Target Mini 4 x SL Architect 2-1, 4 x Spitfire Sub 2’s Sony VPL 790 projector Marantz pre/power 8805 8077 Kaleidescape movie server Lumagen processor Sky Q

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01908 443 660 contact@lilin.uk essentialinstall.com

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NOVEMBER 2021 69

PRODUCTS

NAD LAUNCHES NEW C 700 BLUOS STREAMING AMPLIFIER

High performing, audio video connectivity delivered in plastic free packaging

Coax Cables

NAD Electronics continues its expansion in the ‘just add speakers’ category with the introduction of the C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier. The C 700 suggested retail price is £1299 and began shipping globally in late October.

Inside the solid aluminium housing is a HybridDigital UcD amplifier and BluOS Enabled network streamer. Using the BluOS app, the ability to cue music from a digital library, or stream from internet radio and online services like Spotify, Amazon Music HD, Tidal, and Qobuz is straightforward. The C 700 delivers an experience similar to the Masters Series M10 BluOS Music Streaming Amplifier.

The C 700 is housed in a solid aluminium case, with a smooth glass front panel and 5in high-definition colour display that shows album artwork, track status and system settings. Via the C 700’s colour display, adjusting amplifier settings is quick and convenient with the added benefit of having the ability to learn commands from any preexisting remote control.

The efficient UcD amplifier design is known for ultra-low noise and distortion through the frequency range, regardless of the loudspeaker load. Employing NAD’s HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology, the C 700 can deliver 2x80W of continuous power and 2x120W of instantaneous power, for high-quality music reproduction.

The C 700 has everything needed to play music, by just adding speakers. The BluOS app creates an intuitive way to select music from dozens of different streaming services, internet radio, or to play music stored on an external drive connected to the C 700’s USB port.

In addition to the audiophile grade speaker outputs, the C 700 has a subwoofer output jack where it’s required. Convenient low and high-pass crossover settings in the BluOS app provide a strong blend between the subwoofer and main speakers.

NAD nadelectronics.com

The C 700 has two pairs of RCA analogue inputs, as well as coaxial and optical digital inputs

SONY INTRODUCES THE SRS-NS7 ‘WEARABLE PERSONAL THEATRE’

experience different with auraa

Visit www.aura-av.com to find out more Email: aura@mayflex.com

Call: 0800

75 75 65

70 NOVEMBER 2021

Sony’s SRS-NS7 is the described world’s first Dolby Atmos compatible wireless neckband speaker with Sony’s BRAVIA XR models. It delivers Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound experience providing an optimised cinematic experience with the 360 Spatial Sound Personaliser app.

Sony says the SRS-NS7 works with the supplied wireless transmitter, and BRAVIA XR TVs, to create the ideal arrangement of virtual Dolby Atmos speakers around the listener. To use it, connect the supplied wireless transmitter to the TV with an optical cable and USB cable, then pair the SRSNS7 with the transmitter via Bluetooth connection.

For a personalised experience, users can employ the 360 Spatial Sound Personaliser app to take photos of their ears, to analyse their unique hearing characteristics as a result, integrate these characteristics into the SRS-NS7 audio experience.

Aside from enjoying Dolby Atmos content on a TV, on the music side the SRS-NS7 also supports 360 Reality Audio when used with a smartphone.

Available via a smartphone from compatible music services such as Deezer, nugs.net and TIDAL, users can immerse in music. The SRS-NS7 also pairs with devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Using Sony’s audio technologies, the maker says the SRS-NS7 delivers crystal clear

acoustics and powerful sound pressure for richer, deeper sounds for the ultimate personal cinema experience. This is thanks to an X-Balanced Speaker Unit that provides the optimum speaker size in a compact body and increases sound pressure and reduces distortion for clear music and vocals. Alongside this, the upward facing speaker delivers clear sound directly at the listener without disturbing others, so users can be fully immersed in movies and music even at midnight.

The supplied wireless transmitter helps minimise audio delay for SRS-NS7 when connected with BRAVIA XR TVs. Sony sony.co.uk

The SRS-NS7 is said to provide hours of comfortable viewing thanks to its flexible and ergonomic design

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Lyngdorf makes the world’s best surround processors “The Lyngdorf MP-50 processor and SDA-2400 amplifiers are now in a class of their own.” Widescreen Review “The Lyngdorf MP-60 delivers the best performance I’ve heard from any processor to date and I’ve heard them all.” AVForum “After living with the MP-60 for quite some time, I’ve come to the conclusion is the best processor money can buy.” Home Cinema Choice “With RoomPerfectTM, the MP-60 produces the best sound quality heard for the lowest cost so far. You get SOTA surround sound performance for much lower cost than with other top tier contenders.” Widescreen Review “I can categorically state that I have never heard such pristine home cinema audio outside the mixing suites at Skywalker Sound.” Home Theatre Forum “In my opinion the MP-60 exists in a class of its own with performance that is best described as perfect.” AVForum

Gecko Home Cinema • 01635 268114 • www.lyngdorf.com

PRODUCTS

TRINNOV LAUNCHES AMPLITUDE16 POWER AMP Initial shipments of the Amplitude16 are scheduled to begin December 2021

Designed for immersive home cinemas, with custom integration in mind, the Amplitude16 becomes perhaps the most versatile power amplifier available today, says Trinnov, providing integrators with the ability to meet diverse channel counts and power requirements with optimal rack efficiency.

Effectively two eight-channel amplifiers on a single 3RU chassis, the Amplitude16 has dual power supplies, each requiring its own 15A AC mains power inlet. In its base model, it is a 16-channel power amplifier with a continuous power rating of 200W/channel at 8 ohms and 400W/channel at 4 ohms. Maximum continuous power with all 16 channels driven is 2800W at 115V and 3200W at 230V with less than 0.1% THD+N. Going beyond, the Amplitude16 provides the integrator with the option to bridge pairs of amplifier channels to increase available power for specific outputs. This enables the integrator to maximise power for the channels with the greatest demand (e.g., left, center, and right screen channels). In bridged mode, the power for one channel increases to 800W/channel at 8 ohms and

over 1,000W/channel at 4 ohms. Peak Power with all channels driven is 6080W with 1% THD+N. “When we set out to create a new companion amplifier for Trinnov’s Altitude processors, we recognised that just another power amp would not do. It needed to be something special to carry the Trinnov name, and the Amplitude16 indeed fits that description,” says Arnaud Laborie, Trinnov CEO. “Its unique versatility provides integrators and system designers with a great-sounding, powerful tool for optimising dynamic power delivery by channel in a space-saving, cost and energy-efficient manner.”

Anticipating future advanced applications, another feature of the Amplitude16 is its optional Dante input board, which provides an option for connecting the amplifier to any Altitude processor via a network switch. This optional board also includes functions for monitoring the amplifier hardware status.

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Trinnov trinnov.com

SKY GLASS CLASS? Sky has announced the launch of Sky Glass, simplifying the way customers watch TV by integrating hardware, software and content. Sky Glass will be the only TV with ‘Sky inside’.

For the first time users can get Sky TV over Wi-Fi, with no satellite dish, no box and no fuss says Sky. The streaming TV has been available in the UK from October and will launch in Sky’s other European markets from 2022.

The set offers Ultra HD and Quantum Dot technology producing over 1 billion colours and also has Dolby Atmos compatibility with built-in speakers and sub-woofer. Users can also use voice activation to control the product and the set is billed as world’s first TV to be certified as a CarbonNeutral product.

By taking this step, Sky will operate across the whole value chain, from content production, through to connectivity and aggregation, all coming together on the Sky Glass screen.

Sky Glass comes in a choice of three sizes (Small 43in, Medium 55in and Large 65in) and five colours. Choose from Ocean blue, Ceramic white, Racing green, Dusky pink, or Anthracite black, with matching remotes and customisable speaker fascias for extra personalisation. It has a mounting bracket integrated into the TV, or a colour matched stand. With a single wire and just one plug, Sky Glass is designed to reduce clutter, while the woven acoustic mesh used to optimise sound

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performance and millimetre-perfect perforations help Sky Glass sound good. Sky Glass also knows what is being watched and optimises sound and picture, while Intelligent Zonal Technology works to bring darker darks and ‘brights’ that look brighter.

With far field voice and Glance Motion Technology, users can just say ‘Hello Sky’ or walk past to bring the streaming TV to life. A new home page makes it easier to find, watch and play favourite content from across Sky, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, ITV Hub, All4, Spotify, Peloton and PlayWorks.

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Sky Glass sky.com/glass

Sky Glass will add a high spec 4K smart camera in 2022 designed to transform chat, games, workout and entertainment

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PRODUCTS

Q ACOUSTICS EXPANDS CONCEPT LOUDSPEAKER RANGE

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Q Acoustics has introduced the newest models of its award-winning series of Concept stereo and home cinema loudspeakers: Concept 30 standmount, Concept 50 floor-standing and Concept 90 centre-channel. Taking acoustic technology and design cues pioneered in the flagship Concept 300 and 500, while also introducing new innovations, parent to the brand, Armour Home says these new Q Acoustics models deliver truly high-end home audio performance without the high-end price tag.

Designed to deliver the quietest cabinet possible, unaffected by internal and external resonances, the speakers’ aim is to deliver a focused stereo imaging, accurate audio and an extended holographic soundstage to emulate a live performance in the home.

Concept range audio innovations include: Gelcore cabinet construction reduces higher frequency cabinet noise, Point-2-Point (P2P) internal bracing stiffens the cabinet to minimise lower frequency vibrations (not Concept 90), Helmholtz Pressure Equalisers (HPE) reduces internal pressure and standing waves (Concept 50 and 500 only) and isolation suspension base eradicates unwanted external and internal vibrations.

New audio innovations on the Concept 30, 50 and 90 include a driver assembly mounted to the front aluminium baffle by pretensioned studs to give the correct acoustic seal, while dampen

vibrations and minimise structural coupling of the assembly in main cabinet. There is also a ground-up mid/bass and tweeter driver design for increased power handling and a high-frequency driver is fully hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated (floating) from the front baffle to protect from internal resonances from the mid/bass driver.

The crossover design is mounted on the isolation base, to minimise any microphonic pick up and away from electro-magnetic fields radiated by the drive units.

Q Acoustics qacoustics.co.uk

The Concept series is designed to work in any 2.1 or 5.1 configuration

NAIM EXTENDS ITS MUSIC-STREAMING OPTIONS WITH TIDAL CONNECT UPDATE

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Naim Audio has introduced more listening options for its family of music-streaming players and systems, with a free software update enabling TIDAL Connect.

TIDAL Connect allows users to explore all the rich features of the TIDAL App, and stream choices in high-quality direct to a Naim player or system.

Users can continue to enjoy core TIDAL streaming functionality via the Naim App if they prefer.

The Firmware 3.7 update for Uniti Atom, Uniti Atom Headphone Edition, Uniti Star and Uniti Nova music-streaming systems, plus ND5 XS2, NDX 2 and ND 555 dedicated streaming players, was released on September 16 so is live now, with a matching update to follow for the Mu-so 2nd Generation family of wireless speakers.

The update is quick and easy to install via the Naim App.

“It’s great to offer Naim owners yet more music options via this free upgrade, with even more functionality to come from our scalable streaming platform”, says Paul Neville, Naim’s Research & Development Director.

TIDAL Connect is available to all subscribers to the streaming service; a 90-day free trial is available for new users when they buy any of the current Naim streaming family.

Naim Audio naimaudio.com

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MEMBERSHIP MEANS COMMUNITY Your CEDIA membership puts you in the centre of a thriving community of home technology integrators — a network of thousands dedicated to helping you build connections, stay competitive, and tap into new opportunities for growth.

Find out about all the benefits that come with being a CEDIA member – or renew to stay connected to those resources at cedia.net/membership.

PRODUCTS

ARCAM ANNOUNCES THE ‘IMMERSIVE AND MUSICAL’ AVR5 The AVR5 is compatible with Roon and MQA

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ARCAM’S new AVR decodes 12-channels of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and is compatible with Dolby Vision up to 4K, Apple AirPlay2, Bluetooth aptX HD, Chromecast, MQA and Roon.

The AVR5, bringing the Cambridge maker’s AVR performance to a new, lower price point becomes the HDA range’s entry-level receiver, easing in alongside its fellow Class AB AV receivers, the AVR10 and AVR20, and the range-topping G Class AVR30.

The AVR5 natively decodes 12 channels of immersive audio from Dolby Atmos (with upmixing from Dolby Surround) and DTS-X (with upmixing from DTS:Neural:X), designed to deliver a musical and cinema-like experience from a 7.1.4 speaker array.

Compatible with Dolby Vision and HLG, the AVR5 is a good choice for those playing the latest

content from the likes of Disney+ and Netflix, as well as the Xbox Series X/S and compatible Bluray players. The ARCAM receiver’s HDMI sockets enable 4K HDR passthrough, with its eARC support making it possible for a suitably equipped TV to send back lossless audio. The AVR5, like all other current ARCAM AVRs, can be upgraded to support HDMI 2.1 for uncompressed 8K video on all inputs and outputs.

The ARCAM HDA range opener reveals strong audio technology, including a brace of ESS ES9026PRO DACs. The ARCAM design team’s implementation of this ESS HyperStream II DAC maximises the performance achieving low noise. The bedrock to the AVR5’s musicality is its seven ARCAM Class AB amplification channels, driven by a custom in-house designed linear supply fully capable of sustaining 1.5KW of total power consumption.

AVR5 users can stream from smartphones and tablets using Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX HD, Google Chromecast built-in, and Spotify Connect.

The 2021-updated Harman MusicLife UPnP app enables playback and control of the AVR5 on Android and iOS and facilitates internet radio, music streaming, and podcast listening.

Arcam arcam.co.uk

SNAP ONE RELEASES OVRC UPDATES

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Snap One has announced several improvements and upgrades to the OvrC platform. From improved monitoring accuracy and notifications to Pakedge BakPak migration into OvrC, the system is more effective simplifying installations and providing superior ongoing service capabilities, says its creator.

“The latest OvrC update brings improved notification accuracy, more actionable information, and better, faster UI navigation.” says Snap One Product Manager Evan Marty. “Snap One Partners will find troubleshooting installations is easier than ever thanks to new capabilities and improved workflows.”

Leveraging the power and intelligence of the OvrC cloud, the notification engine can better detect truly disconnected devices, resulting in an 80% reduction in email alerts to Partners.

With the new protocols, a device is now listed as ‘Disconnected’ only when OvrC cloud servers and the OvrC Pro Scanner show the device as disconnected. This more rigorous verification process increases the accuracy of alerts, while the event type (‘connect’, ‘disconnect’, ‘limited’) is conveniently listed at the very top of the email.

The ‘limited’ type is a new designation that denotes products that connect to OvrC servers that are disconnected from the OvrC cloud but still active on the local network, after which Partners can access the local UI to resolve issues.

A WattBox device is also now listed as ‘limited’ if a port is shut down due to over current events that can occur during installation.

To enhance visibility into device issues and expedite action, the OvrC UI now groups events by device, allowing users to immediately gauge customer impact and issue duration. The UI also features a new ‘reference ID’ listing for each service interruption that can be marked ‘seen’ to differentiate new notifications from older events.

Additionally, a new full-width contact info page allows for one-click phone calls to customers from within the OvrC interface, while each project can utilize unique searchable Job Codes and local time zones to further simplify client management.

Snap One snapone.com

Important updates for the OvrC platform

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HOME OF LUTRON We can offer the most inspirational design possibilities from the entire Lutron residential range, including HomeWorks, HomeWorks Wireless and RA2 Select, and with our specialist on hand, help you to create the ultimate in lighting luxury and sophistication for your customers.

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

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To learn more about these brands or speak to our specialist team call 01256 378550 or email exertisone@exertis.co.uk