TURN TO P.10 FOR THE ELAN INSIGHT
2018 SHOWCASE AN
P U B L I CAT I O N
2018
Home from
home Award winning home control brand ELAN opens European HQ in the UK and appoints two new distributors
ELAN makes smart home control easy - from entertainment and media to lighting, heating, security cameras and more.
Essential_Install_FrontCover_Elan.indd 1 Cover.indd 1
18/12/2018 16:23 20/12/2018 10:43
for the new school. Custom install speakers.
Bathroom & outdoor TVs.
The thinking remote.
TM
Whole-home entertainment.
4K video walls.
Commercial AV distribution.
Media presenter solutions
HDMI troubleshooting tools.
HD over IP distribution.
Fibre-optic AV interconnects.
HDMI 2.1 ready interconnects.
AV cables & adapters.
HDMI ďŹ eld test & calibration.
18G ďŹ bre-optic AV cabling.
Meeting room table connectivity
Table-top connector panels.
TV stands & mounts.
HALL 1 - N110
01684 576 348
Untitled-1 1
sales@oneav.co.uk
oneav.co.uk
28/11/2018 09:08
2018 Showcase | Contents
TURN TO P.10 FOR THE ELAN INSIGHT
2018 SHOWCASE AN
P U B L I CAT I O N
2018
Home from
home Award winning home control brand ELAN opens European HQ in the UK and appoints two new distributors
ELAN makes smart home control easy - from entertainment and media to lighting, heating, security cameras and more.
Essential_Install_FrontCover_Elan.indd 1
18/12/2018 16:23
2018 Showcase This issue…
2 Editor’s Comment
Big year, with bigger years to come! You ever get the feeling that something significant is just around the corner?
6 A Time For Reflection
Meridian Audio has enjoyed a successful 2018, with a number of exciting developments — from new design and training support initiatives to product and partnership development. Katy Bradshaw, director of marketing for Meridian, reflects on these milestones and looks ahead to ISE 2019.
10 Elan Home Systems chooses the UK for its new European HQ
Award winning home control brand ELAN has chosen the UK as its new home in Europe. From January 1 2019, ELAN’s parent company, Nortek Security and Control, will open the doors to their new support centre in Nottingham.
Meridian Audio
6
14 BEMCO and KNX
Complete KNX training programme and five reasons why KNX is the right choice for your business. Check out the total package from this forward thinking distributor and the KNX platform.
16 Theatre of dreams
Every integrator can now deliver the world’s most desirable home cinema environments with a little help from Habitech. Jonathan Pengilley explains the bountiful value of its new partnership with CinemaTech.
Elan Home Systems
10
December/January 2019 | 1 Contents.indd 1
21/12/2018 09:19
2018 Showcase | Editor’s Comment
Its been a big year for automation and AV, however the industry looks set to achieve even better things in the next few years (image courtesy of Pulse Cinemas and Seven Integration)
Daniel J Sait, Editor-in-chief
Big year, with bigger years to come! You ever get the feeling that something significant is just around the corner? That feeling can be based on gut instinct, reliable data or experience or in an ideal scenario all three of those things. Well EI has that feeling right now about the AV/Install industry, and is happy to report its based on the holy trinity of experience, data and gut. Every single report we have read in the last 12 months has put the growth of the AV and automation industry on a protectory not seen before. Yes, these things can be selfserving, but on the whole, they are based on real data and for all of them to be showing growth on the scale that they are is significant. So what about experience? Well ever since EI began writing about the ‘custom install’ industry, people have been saying house automation will be the next ‘big thing’. Frankly, most of these predictions were way too early and missed the one glaring fact, that there simply was not a system or approach that would tie everything together and get it to work. Well for good or ill, we have that now, its called the Internet and when this industry was birthed, it barely existed and certainly did not have the reach or power to make any difference. So, having experienced, false dawns before, EI likes to think it
knows the real thing when its comes into view. Its pretty clear that home automation, now the products and systems are in place, will be a very big phenomenon, and its up to those of us who have been in the industry a long time to make sure those who have done the ground work get the benefit. Now we come to gut and its our belief that the innovation and ability shown by the industry as it stands at this point, means that the dedicated home and building automation industry will grab a big slice of what is coming. Yes massive companies like Google and the like will take their share, but the pro high-quality industry will too. And you know what else EI’s gut says? Massive global corps have not had a good year PR wise, there is a ground-swell of consumers out there who want the more human touch they can only get from a proper dedicated expert. We as an industry have all this on side, and that is before we even talk about the power of music and cinema, two categories that, for a quality result, simply cannot be obtained from any other industry. Enjoying music and great content is THE leisure activity of the 21st century, and this industry is in the prime spot to exploit it. EI sincerely hopes you had a great 2018 and will have an even better 2019!
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR: Jordan O’Brien, jordan@allthingsmedialtd.com SALES DIRECTOR: Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com PUBLISHER: David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com ACCOUNTS: susan@allthingsmedialtd.com CIRCULATION: carol@allthingsmedialtd.com STUDIO MANAGER: Ben Bristow, ben@allthingsmedialtd.com GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jon Appleton, jon@allthingsmedialtd.com Essential Install magazine, Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Chatham, Kent ME5 8UD. T: +44 (0)1634 673163 F: +44 (0)1634 673173 Whist we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur. All articles are copyright and remain the property of Essential Install magazine.
2 | October 2018 Editor's Comment.indd 2
20/12/2018 10:44
Untitled-6 1
12/12/2018 14:54
Multi-room AV 4 every home, available 2 order now for 2019 Benefits Compact Matrix with 4 x HDMI in, 2 x HDBaseT™ out + 1 mirrored HDMI out Built in 2 x 20W amplifier plus mirrored line out Android and iOS app to control multiple sources & display as well as matrix Independent output up/down scaling 4K HDR 10/12 bit with AVLC (Adaptive Visually Lossless Compression) 4K 50/60Hz (RGB/YUV 4:4:4 & YUV 4:2:2 & 4:2:0) HDMI 2.0A & HDCP 2.2 HDBaseT™
Key
CAT5e/6/7
HDMI
HDBaseT™
HDMI
Available on the
PUV-1710LRX-AVLC *UI subject to change DISCOVER OVER 350 ADVANCED AUDIO VISUAL SOLUTIONS AT
www.CYPEUROPE.com 421 Advert - 2DPS (ARTWORK) .indd 1 Untitled-13
20/12/2018 17:01
®
01. Apple TV 4K
02. Xbox One X 4 x HDMI Sources
PUV-1710LRX-AVLC 03. HDR Blu-Ray Player
01.
02.
03.
04. Sky Q
04.
MA-421 SALES: TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
Untitled-13 3
+ 44 (0) 20 3137 9180 + 44 (0) 20 3137 6690 20/12/2018 20/12/2018 16:34 17:02
2018 Showcase | Meridian Audio
Meridian has delivered some strong product releases for 2018
A Time For Reflection
Meridian Audio has enjoyed a successful 2018, with a number of exciting developments — from new design and training support initiatives to product and partnership development. Here, Katy Bradshaw, director of marketing for Meridian, reflects on these milestones and looks ahead to ISE 2019. Design support
We extended our Design and Specification Service to add more value for integrators thanks to a special collaboration with the award-winning software, The CEDIA Designer (TCD). From September 2018, our dealers had the option to create their own instant cinema and media room designs using TCD software with a complimentary license provided by Meridian. In addition, they can still use our personal and tailored Design and Specification Service, managed by our team of experts when specifying Meridian audio products on whole home and superyacht projects.
Training
In 2018, we launched the Meridian Bitesize Training Webinars for the integrator of today. Available globally, these conversational webinars make it more convenient for more people to learn. As short, 30 minutes sessions, these webinars are tailored to the information that integrators actually need to know rather than going into too much detail and hoping that one size fits all, as it doesn’t. Following the first webinar on the 271 Digital Theatre Controller, Anthony Gallon from Clever Association, commented, “This webinar is concise and informative, explaining how the Meridian 271 can be
6 | December 2018 Meridian.indd 6
20/12/2018 10:48
2018 Showcase | Meridian Audio
Cinema will continue to be a big focus for Meridian
used in a fully active Meridian cinema environment, or a hybrid solution where third-party passive loudspeakers are used. We have a couple of cinema projects looming where the 271 will be used and there was enough technical insight and useful tips to prepare us fully for those.” At the 2018 EMEA CEDIA Awards, these webinars received a special mention on behalf of the judges who decided to highly commend Meridian for introducing a new training initiative.
Expanding into new markets
New partnerships also came through in 2018
At the beginning of 2018, we announced a new partnership with LG Electronics (LG). With Meridian’s unrivalled sound quality and pioneering approach to audio, and LG’s reputation for producing award-winning, innovative consumer electronics, the collaboration has allowed the two companies to deliver unique solutions for the ultimate listening experience. The partnership has gone from strength to strength with some of the products from the range of soundbars, smart speakers, and portables already winning prestigious industry awards. In October, the partnership took a significant step forward. For the first time, Meridian’s High Resolution audio technology is now being used in the LG V40 ThinQ smartphone. Known as ‘Audio tuned with Meridian,’ this phone delivers high-quality, natural sound to anyone, anywhere.
Distributed by Meridian We welcomed integrators to our HQ in Huntingdon in June to learn more about the dynamic range of products on offer. The ‘Distributed by Meridian Day’ included three informative sessions on Barco Residential and Display Technologies, with demonstrations, hands-on product showcases, and networking opportunities throughout the day. The event showed integrators that together, Meridian, Barco Residential, and Display Technologies can provide the necessary components for an unbeatable home cinema or media room installation. Attendees were introduced to the range of products, including the Barco Residential 5K Loki Cinemascope projector, which was demonstrated in our advanced Reference Digital Theatre, the £21,000 Barco Medea projector, which works in conjunction with a Meridian 271 Digital Theatre Controller and in-wall DSP loudspeakers in the media room, and Display Technologies screens, vertical mirror mounts, and performance-enhancing image surfaces.
ISE 2019
Experience Meridian’s innovative, brand new 210 Streamer, on show at ISE 2019. This versatile product is designed to help integrators meet client demand for reliable, high quality audio streaming throughout the home, with minimal fuss and with maximum quality. The 210 can be connected over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to any smart phone or tablet, with volume and playback controls synchronised between streaming apps and the Meridian system. Supporting Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay and Roon, as well as offering DLNA / UPnP compatibility, the 210 can also be connected directly to a pair of DSP loudspeakers or to any system via a SpeakerLink input for ultimate flexibility. With its built-in Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) decoder and Meridian High Resolution (MHR) audio, the 210 is capable of delivering flawless, studio master quality MQA encoded music without degradation or loss in quality. Visit us on stand 7-H240 at ISE 2019 to find out more. Meridian 01480 445 678, meridian-audio.com
December 2018 | 7 Meridian.indd 7
20/12/2018 10:48
NE W
4K HDR SUPPOR TING
4K HDR up to 40m
PRO88HBT70CS
Custom Pro 8x8 HDBaseT CSC Matrix (4K 60Hz 4:4:4 up to 40m) - Supports 4K HDR, IP Control, PoH, 2-Way IR, 4 x Simultaneous HDMI outputs , Audio Breakout with volume control
C U S T O M P R O
J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI2.0 18Gbps specification over HDBaseT™ J Supports 4K resolutions including HDR ( 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 ) to a distance of 40m Blustream is delighted to announce the arrival of the first HDBaseT matrix solutions that support 4K HDR resolutions. The Custom Pro range is expanding with a host of new 4K HDR supported boards. What do we mean by that? We mean that by using our advanced Colour Space Conversion the Custom Pro supports 18Gbps 60Hz 4:4:4 (4K HDR). The New Custom Pro solution is the perfect choice for installations 60Hz 4:4:4
that are required to deliver the very latest 4K HDR resolutions.
HDCP 2.2
PRO88HBT100CS
2.0
EDID
HDR
4K HDR up to 70m
Custom Pro 8x8 HDBaseT CSC Matrix (4K 60Hz 4:4:4 up to 70m) - Supports 4K HDR, IP & RS-232 Control, PoH, 2-Way IR, 4 x Simultaneous outputs, Audio Breakout with volume control J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI2.0 18Gbps specification over HDBaseT™ 60Hz 4:4:4
HDCP 2.2
2.0
EDID
HDR
J Supports 4K resolutions including HDR ( 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 ) to a distance of 70m
Blustream_EI_2018_December.indd 1 Untitled-4 2
18/12/2018 16:49 15:54 18/12/2018
Blustr
W NE
J 18 Gbps Guaranteed J Supports 4K UHD video including 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 J Supports full HDR 10-bit, 12-bit and 16-bit colour depths J Optimised design for the toughest installation environments J Available in lengths from 0.5m - 100m
HEX100CS-KIT
W NE
W NE
HEX70CS-KIT 70m HDBaseT™ Extender Set Supporting 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 (40m)
100m HDBaseT™ Extender Set Supporting 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 (70m)
J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering CSC scaling with zero latency
J Advanced HDBaseT™ technology offering CSC scaling with zero latency
J Supports 4K UHD video up to 40m (3840x2160 @60Hz 4:4:4 and @60Hz
J Supports 4K UHD video up to 70m (3840x2160 @60Hz 4:4:4 and @60Hz
4:2:2 including HDR)
4:2:2 including HDR)
W NE
C O N T R A C T O R
S E R I E S
C44-KIT Contractor 4x4 HDBaseT™ Matrix Kit 70m (4K up to 40m) Includes 4x HEX70B-RX HDBaseT™ Receivers
We have launched a series of regular interactive online tutorials, focused on providing
2.0
3D
A U D I O
EDID
PoE
WEB
GUI
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
using CSC and DSC
J New Product Launch Information HDMI Video Scaling and Dolby / DTS Downmixing Products
convenient, bite sized insights
J The Future of HDMI - Specification 2.1
into the latest Blustream
J The Complexities of 4K Distribution
solutions and the day to day
J Multicast UHD Video over IP
challenges we all currently face
J HDBaseT™ Best Practice
in our rapidly evolving market.
J HDMI 2.0 Best Practice
Book Now J
Blustream_EI_2018_December.indd 2 Untitled-4 3
HDCP 2.2
J New Product Launch Information 4K60 4:4:4
At www.blustream.co.uk
15:54
HD
A U D I O
Our UK address: The Service Station,
Tel: +44(0)115 824 7000
Melton Road, Hickling Pastures,
Email: sales@blustream.co.uk
Nottinghamshire, LE14 3QG
Web: www.blustream.co.uk
United Kingdom.
18/12/2018 16:50 15:54 18/12/2018
2018 Showcase | ELAN
Elan Home Systems chooses the UK for its new European HQ Award winning home control brand ELAN has chosen the UK as its new home in Europe. From January 1 2019, ELAN’s parent company, Nortek Security and Control, will open the doors to their new support centre in Nottingham. From this new operational base the company will actively support sales, marketing and technical support for local distributors and installation partners throughout Europe. Jeff Costello, vice president of sales at Nortek, summarised the motivation for opening a dedicated UK operation, “As the global market for home automation and control continues to expand we wanted to create a tangible manufacturer presence for ELAN within Europe. The UK market is particularly strong for our control solutions so it made perfect sense to make this our home.” The new UK operation promises to deliver new standards of support for ELAN customers. Leon Tomasevic, sales manager for ELAN in Europe explains, “Our installation partners in the UK rightfully need industry leading manufacturer support on several fronts to maximise their business. By opening a support centre located in the centre of the country we are able
to provide unrivalled technical, training and marketing support for both our distributors and their customers. Our showroom and training centre will quickly become an important resource for our partners and help us deliver a significantly increased presence in the UK market.” Leon continues, “ELAN is a truly global brand for customised home control. The unique combination of cutting-edge hardware with intuitive easy to configure software make it a liberating experience for both the custom installer and end user. In the last 18 months a number of new product categories have been added to the range of integrated ELAN hardware making the sales argument more compelling than ever. The role of the new UK operation is to give all our existing and new partners increased confidence through the constant and consistent delivery of market leading training and support services.”
10 | December/January 2019 Elan.indd 10
20/12/2018 15:23
2018 Showcase | ELAN
New UK distributors
Further changes to the UK operation include the appointment of two new ELAN distributors. Complementing the long-term success of existing partner Indigo Distribution, both Aldous Systems and Alltrade will now also distribute the ELAN brand in the UK and Ireland. Authorised dealers will be able to take advantage of a truly nationwide presence for the brand with training centres and product roadshows taking place in several towns and cities across the country. Phil Davis, UK sales manager for ELAN explained the new distribution strategy, “Our primary goal is to create a leading marketing and support presence for the brand in the UK. From this base we plan to support an expanded distribution network that capitalises on the strengths of our partners. Aldous Systems and Alltrade are both very well-established custom install distributors with unrivalled experience of our market. Coupled with the knowledge and drive from Indigo we are all suitably excited about the opportunities ahead.” A further addition to the UK based team is Peter Kelly who has been appointed as the new technical product manager for ELAN in Europe. Peter has previously worked with ELAN through UK partner, Indigo distribution, and is particularly excited by what the future holds, “ELAN is one of those brands that is easy to fall in love with, I’ve been working with it day-to-day for the last four years and can honestly say it feels part of me! Our new UK operation will have a particular focus on working closely with dealers throughout their learning experience and first installations. We know the ELAN solution is market leading and we also know our role in the UK is to drive business through the delivery of unrivalled manufacturer support. We can’t wait to get started.” ELAN is one of several award-winning electronics brands within the portfolio of Nortek Security and Control. In addition to ELAN, the new UK operation will also provide an active market presence for Niles, Xantech, 2GIG, Furman, SpeakerCraft, Sunfire and Proficient.
All the Nortek Security and Control brands will have a significant presence at the upcoming ISE show in Amsterdam in February. Live demonstrations and several new product launches are planned for this year’s show. The Nortek Security and Control booth can be found in Hall 1, N-50. For more information about ELAN home control solutions please contact 0115 824 4000 or email leon. tomasevic@nortekcontrol.com Contact Indigo on 028 9145 5565 or email matthew@indigodistribution.co.uk Contact Aldous Systems on 01296 719 582 or email jason.aldous@aldoussystems.co.uk Contact Alltrade on 0344 225 2700 or email leeharding@alltrade.co.uk
December/January 2019 | 11 Elan.indd 11
20/12/2018 15:23
, E NU
E V W E N … S E T A D NEW
NEW ! S E I T I L I POSSIB One all-encompassing AV, entertainment and automation show, EI Live! will challenge industry norms, push the boundaries, and launch a platform on which a smarter, brighter future can be established.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE PATH TO A SMARTER FUTURE
eiliveshow.com Platinum Sponsors
EI_2019_01 NewPossibilities.indd 2
19/12/2018 12:48
Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre April 30 | May 1, 2019
N
EI_2019_01 NewPossibilities.indd 3
PE
O
T S I
G E
R
O I T A R
O N
W
! N
@EILiveShow #EILFuture | #EILiveShow
19/12/2018 12:48
Untitled-6 2
20/12/2018 10:25
Untitled-6 3
20/12/2018 10:25
2018 Showcase | Habitech
Theatre of dreams Habitech’s new Sonance Reference theatre design by CinemaTech offers the experience of a luxury, acoustically optimised cinema environment to you and your customers
Cinematech’s Design Service Programme provides you with design drawings and an acoustic design plan
Every integrator can now deliver the world’s most desirable home cinema environments with a little help from Habitech. Jonathan Pengilley explains the bountiful value of its new partnership with CinemaTech. If Haynes, the car manual people, wrote the book on CI it would include a big intimidating chapter called ‘Private Home Theatres’. This is because the building of a highly specialised room-within-a-room not only stretches CI’s ‘hide and simplify’ skill repertoire, it demands the collective craftsmanship of builders, carpenters, joiners, acousticians and designers at the top of their game. You may well be a wireless wizard and a doyen of signal distribution, but you’d have to think long and hard about taking on the largest and most complex investment in a single room within the home. There is a way, however, for all integrators to share in the rewards of this exclusive market from a standing start. Through our new partnership with CinemaTech, you don’t have to build a team of specialists, we’ll provide one for you! To label CinemaTech as a ‘home cinema designer’ is like describing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 as ‘just going up and down the keys’. With hundreds of prestigious projects to its name, the CinemaTech design team can apply 25 years’ of experience to the successful and most
exacting delivery of your bespoke theatre. Habitech’s exclusive partnership with CinemaTech gives you access to its industry-leading Design Service Program (DSP), which, through meticulous consultation, generates a unique interior design for the space, followed by accurate 3D design renders.
The largest signal processor is the room
Incorporated within every project is CinemaTech’s patented Acoustic Room System, developed to create the optimum acoustic environment for the most compelling home theatre experiences. It’s the only acoustic wall treatment system that works down to 100 Hz from just 3.175cm of profile depth. With a finely calibrated combination of high/mid frequency, reflecting/diffusing panels and low-frequency absorbers, CinemaTech tunes the theatre environment to achieve the maximum performance from the audio system you specify.
16 | December/January 2019 Habitech.indd 16
20/12/2018 15:17
2018 Showcase | Habitech
Render v Real. CinemaTech’s DSP produces accurate 3D room renders of the design. Opposite shows the render followed by the finished theatre space
Welcome to the world’s most exclusive cinema design club
So when you have a customer for the most haute of home theatres, how does the process pan out? First we’ll arrange a consultation to explain the design/installation process and establish room dimensions, potential uses for the space, max guest capacity, preliminary system configuration and seating plan, time frames, and a ballpark budget. Next comes the design consultation, involving CinemaTech‘s design team at an upfront cost of £3k through Habitech (refunded if the value of CinemaTech services and products exceeds £20k). We’ll begin the Design Service Programme to determine your customer’s style preferences using thousands of design permutations, involving material and finish samples, including equipment options, lighting and seating choices. This info is fed back to the CinemaTech team, which then produces the preliminary design drawings and dimensional room analysis for acoustical optimisation, together with accurate 3D room renders of exactly how the room will look when constructed. Finally, at the detailed project planning stage, Habitech will submit CinemaTech’s quote for services and panels to you, adding options including build labour, AV system, seating, and lighting design. Then you’ll present the global project quote to your happy customer.
Light touch or tighter grip: you decide
Outside the CinemaTech elements, you decide how to divide the workload. We can project manage the entire shebang if that’s what you want. The beauty of this new value-added service is that while your contact with the customer remains inviolable, your level of involvement is elastic. For instance, if you’re already established in the market you may elect to buy-in CinemaTech’s acoustic tech alone. But if you’re taking your first steps in luxury theatre design, you will need support. This may include our product guys, as well as proven builders and lighting specialists. Long story short, right through the planning, design and build stages we’ll be working in the background to offer you a level of backup that adjusts to fit your needs. And because we’ve already completed the successful build of our Sonance/CinemaTech reference theatre at Basingstoke, we’ll have a living environment to show you and your customers, as well as specialist suppliers to recommend. Naturally we’d be happy to configure and deliver the AV hardware, but you’re free to specify any system – that’s your prerogative. We’ll simply ask you to install, test and commission the AV elements as your minimum contribution to the project. Most importantly, we won’t contact your customer directly because you’re the boss and we’re the support team.
We’ll raise our game together
With Habitech at your side, you’ll have the ammunition to target every home cinema space, from the modest media room to the most desirable, unique and precision-crafted home theatre environment. Not only can we provide the high performance hardware, the training and the product support, we can now offer you CinemaTech’s unprecedented design knowhow and, via our new demonstration rooms, the best possible experience of discreet AV systems in familiar home settings. For your cinema design business I’d call that a full house of opportunities!
Habitech habitech.co.uk, 01256 638 500
December/January 2019 | 17 Habitech.indd 17
20/12/2018 15:17
Become a
Introducing MHUB PRO V&A Bundles V&A bundles are a better way to watch and listen at home. Get multiple zones of 4K video and 110W audio in a one cost-effective package. Available to order now.
HDANYWHERE.COM Untitled-4 1
20/11/2018 12:56