December/January 2019
Image Courtesy of Eagle Sentry
The essential magazine for the custom install industry
Designing a Better World
with
Tim Sinnaeve, Barco residential managing director, explores how installers can help the interior design community improve their projects and
INSIDE
become an essential part of the plan not part of the problem.
Cover.indd 1
ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
SOUND AS A POUND ADVICE
MUSIC SYSTEMS OUR AUDIOPHILE REPORT
ESSENTIAL REVIEW
PHILIPS TV IS BACK!
20/12/2018 14:17
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
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Blustr
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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
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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
Essential Install | Contents
December/January 2019
Image Courtesy of Eagle Sentry
The essential magazine for the custom install industry
Designing a Better World
with
Tim Sinnaeve, Barco residential managing director, explores how installers can help the interior design community improve their projects and
INSIDE
become an essential part of the plan not part of the problem.
ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
SOUND AS A POUND ADVICE
MUSIC SYSTEMS OUR AUDIOPHILE REPORT
ESSENTIAL REVIEW
PHILIPS TV IS BACK!
December/ January 2019 This issue…
REGULARS
FEATURES
5 From The Editor’s Chair
24 Essential Habitech
7 Essential News
26 EI Live! 2019
12 HDANYWHERE
54 Essential Review: Philips 65in OLED 903
Megalithic structures
16 Makes Friends With Barco
CinemaTech takes control
If its interesting, its in here
How to be a boon for the design community
A message from the organiser
Playing nice with NEEO
The sweet sound of success
Has TP Vision hit a home run?
14 Essential CEDIA
59 Essential Products
Get password smart
28 Multi-room And Music Delivery Systems
Choice hardware happenings
18 Case Study: JL Automation An ELAN smart home for baseball superstar
42 Acoustic Treatment
Room taming techniques
50 Virtual Reality
What does the future hold in the home?
52 Showroom Showcase
The Custom AV Distribution Tour
Case Study
18
Music Systems
28
Showroom Showcase
52
Pending first audit.
Acoustic Treatment
42
2 | December/January 2019 Contents.indd 2
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LINEAR THINKING CROMO LINE LindyCables.com
DISCOVER LINDY lindy.com
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Personalised smart home control systems
ELAN smart home control is available from UK distributor Aldous Systems www.aldoussystems.co.uk
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pages 24-25
Think the install community has nothing in common with the builders of Stonehenge? Think again
From the
Editor’s Desk Future Facing
Daniel J Sait, editor-in-chief
This reference is probably the most obscure with regards to the home entertainment and AV industry I have ever used. Bear with me however, as it does make sense, I think… I was watching a documentary the other day by music chameleon and national treasure Julian Cope, a hugely successful solo artist with over 30 albums to date and former member of post-punk band The Teardrop Explodes. The film was not about music, it was about megalithic culture; the culture that produced the massive stone temples, such as Stonehenge, which litter the island of Britain. Julian became interested in the subject a few years back and produced the astoundingly detailed book, The Modern Antiquarian: A Pre-millennial Odyssey Through Megalithic Britain, where he visited and wrote about every site of note related to this culture. Julian has a characterful phrase that he uses a lot to describe a positive person, he says they are or were ‘future facing mofos’. By this he means someone who is acutely aware of their surroundings and present situation, but also very conscious of the future and their place within it. He argues the culture that was able to create these hugely impressive structures, with very basic tools, were driven by a highly developed sense of their place in the world, a desire to work with their surroundings, and a need to see what was precious to them survive and thrive into the future. If he is right, they were pretty successful at it, because we still see their work today and their culture lasted way
longer than our modern post-industrial revolution one has, so far at least. It occurred to me that, the professional install community could well learn a thing or two from our ancient ancestors and have lots in common. In common we have a skilled understanding of the very latest technology available, an awareness of how we have got here, and a desire to see our work prosper into the future and provide positive experiences for all those who come into contact with it. Our ancestors were hugely successful because they understood their own value, and how to project that into the future. They really took an enormous amount of time to think about it and create a legacy. I think the install community have a similar opportunity, and the Christmas and New Year break is always a good time for a bit of thinking and planning. At EI we always like to come back into the new year with some fresh ideas on how to build on what we have already achieved, and think about the future. It’s a good chance for any business to do the same, ask those really fundamental but often over looked big questions, what is the business for? what does it do? what might it do in the future? Should we change or stay the same? Thinking about these types of ideas I have found to be hugely beneficial, I would invite all readers to also have a go and like our ancestors be future facing for a long time to come.
Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
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 STUDIOEssential MANAGER: Ben Bristow, ben@allthingsmedialtd.com GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jon Appleton, jon@allthingsmedialtd.com
INSTALL MAGAZINE
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.
Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE
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Essential Install | News
Essential News Sponsored by
smart home accessories
faradite.com
Smart home happenings and automation announcements
Aldous Systems to distribute ELAN in the UK Trade distributor Aldous Systems has announced that the company will be an official distribution partner for the ELAN control system effective January 1, 2019. Aldous Systems has been serving the custom install channel for 16 years providing a range of CI brands across the UK and Ireland. This recent addition complements the existing portfolio of products and solutions and will be available to Aldous Systems trade customers stand alone or in conjunction with other Aldous Systems brands. Managing director of Aldous Systems, Jason Aldous, said, “We are very excited about this new addition to our portfolio. ELAN really has got some amazing capabilities. Control systems on the market today seem to fit into two categories, they are either templated and the installer has limited user interface customisation ability, but they are quick to programme, or they are fully customisable, but they take much longer to programme and can be cost prohibitive. “ELAN seem to have got the balance just right as you can programme a system very quickly with their templated user interface, but you also have the freedom to customise them if you need to. I also love the fact that you don’t have to spend hours creating endless macros to switch different AV sources to different rooms. It just figures it out for you.” Sales and marketing manager at patent company of ELAN, Nortek, Phil Davis, added, “We are thrilled to have Aldous Systems on board. They have a strong technical background and a unique focus to customer service and will be a real asset as we grow the customer base with our award-winning ELAN Controls platform. We are looking forward to working with Aldous Systems and their customers in the new year.” Aldous Systems says that it has stock on route due to land early in the new year and are ready to support ELAN veterans as well as people new to ELAN. Online training is available now so installers new to ELAN can start to get up to speed at their own pace from anywhere and then they can take a hands-on training course to get to grips with the system. Aldous Systems is also geared up ready to offer installer tech support for existing and new projects. More information is available direct from Aldous Systems. Aldous Systems 01296 719582, aldoussystems.co.uk
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Essential Install | News – Sponsored by
smart home accessories
faradite.com
Savant teams with USAI Lighting to deliver advanced lighting education and design tools
Savant is looking to help dealers learn more about lighting
Automation platform Savant has introduced an educational platform featuring online tools in support of Savant integrators seeking to add lighting fixture sales and installation as part of their services. This new tool set, along with USAI Lighting’s dealer education initiatives are designed to give integrators the confidence they need to succeed within this category. Savant’s new interactive Fixture Designer tool is available to all authorised integrators via the Savant Store. This resource has been designed to help integrators understand the variety of options available in each fixture style, including available colour technologies, housing options and trim finishes. Once fixtures have been selected, integrators will have access to everything they need including detailed pricing, fixture specification sheets, IES photometric files and associated part numbers. Savant’s new five-module online training series is now available on the Savant University and includes a product offering overview, quoting best practices, system architecture overview, and a getstarted guide on how to create and quote your next project using the new Savant Fixture Designer. Savant argues its educational initiatives, along with Savant’s newest DMX lighting products and TrueImage user experience are enabling integrators to envision a holistic smart solution for their clients and achieve success within the lighting category. Educating technology integrators on the opportunities and best practices in the lighting market is an important step toward being successful for the company in this category. Savant Europe 01488 649 340, savanteurope.co.uk
Alltrade launches superfast, multi-platform website
Designed to be fast and efficient, Alltrade’s new website is live
Bolstering its online presence alongside the recent substantial investment in Trade Counters across the UK, Alltrade has unveiled its latest generation website. Leveraging cloud-based IT systems, fibre connectivity and the fastest web servers available, the new site focuses on a slick multi-platform interface and intuitive navigation. With Alltrade now offering over 5,000 lines for CI, AV, Home Automation and TV signal distribution professionals, the company wanted to make it easier to find, select and order its products. Comments Alltrade MD, Steve Simper, “Our original website was ground-breaking when it launched way back in 1995. It allowed our trade customers to check stock, get live pricing and place orders online, which was revolutionary for trade distribution at the time. Our new 4th generation website continues to lead the way, capitalising on our cutting-edge IT infrastructure and designed by the awardwinning Madison Web Solutions.” The new site is mobile and tablet friendly with complete order history, product favourite lists and the ability to save complete orders as templates. Instant payment can be made via stored credit cards and Alltrade offers extensive credit facilities subject to status. Users can also leave product reviews, save/change and delete various delivery addresses or use the website’s new ‘click and collect’ feature from any Alltrade Trade Counter. With Alltrade using its own fleet of vehicles for the majority of next-day deliveries, regular customers can benefit from a working relationship with the long-standing drivers and Alltrade’s key-holding service to drop off stock when no-one is available. In addition to the extensive product portfolio with live stock levels, the new site offers a complete calendar and online booking for Alltrade’s nationwide installer training seminars. There are links to key events and access to the Alltrade Technical Team for specialist support and its free project planning service. Linked to Alltrade’s social media presence with its regular new product announcements, the new site is reportedly already seeing a stream of new trade visitors signing up as Alltrade customers. Alltrade 0844 225 2700, alltrade.co.uk
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The Matrix Transformed
One Standard Platform
Matrix Switching . AV Processing . AV over IP
sdvoe.org | ISE 2019 – Stand 3-B150
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Essential Install | News – Sponsored by
CEDIA is gearing up for another packed education programme for ISE 2019
smart home accessories
faradite.com
CEDIA education at ISE CEDIA is returning to Integrated Systems Europe 2019 with a four-day education programme. Sponsored by Samsung, CEDIA Training at ISE 2019 is designed to help integrators learn new skills, discover emerging technologies, and be inspired for business growth and success. New for ISE 2019, CEDIA brings a full-day Home Cinema Design Masterclass to the show on Monday February 4, which will be taught by the world’s three renowned experts in the field -Joel Silver, Anthony Grimani, and Theo Kalomirakis. Taking place at the RAI the day before the main ISE show floor opens, the Home Cinema Design Masterclass will help delegates learn the secrets of high-performance home cinema design and maximise their knowledge in the strongest revenue generating sector of the industry. It will feature three ‘deep dive’ sessions focused on video performance, advanced audio techniques, and the cinema environment. The session will round out with a panel Q&A session where students will have the opportunity to submit questions on any aspect of home cinema design to the group. Attendees will leave this session with a free one-month trial (worth €85) of The CEDIA Designer’s Home Cinema Pro level tool. “Whatever your level and skill-set within the industry, there will be something for everyone at ISE 2019,” comments Thomas Darling, CEDIA’s senior vice president of development and education. “From core technical courses and business success training to the latest insights on emerging trends, our programme will cover all the bases for delegates in attendance. We’re especially excited to headline the training at ISE with a specially curated Home Cinema Design Masterclass. ISE is the perfect destination to enhance your industry knowledge, with so much great training in one place for just one week. We encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity and book today.” CEDIA will also present a number of emerging trends courses. These sessions will look at predictions for the next big drivers likely to transform the market in a time of increasing change. From advanced display technology, to augmented and virtual reality, these courses are designed to leave attendees well-equipped to plan for a strong future. Both CEDIA members and non-members can purchase a CEDIA All Access Training Pass which gives unlimited entry to CEDIA education sessions during the show (excluding Monday’s Home Cinema Design Masterclass.) CEDIA 01480 213 744, cedia.co.uk
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Essential Install | HDANYWHERE
HDANYWHERE has introduced increased Neeo compatibility
New NEEO integration solves single-room limitations A smart whole-home AV control alternative that delivers on ease of use and set up is being offered by cooperation between HDANYWHERE and the NEEO smart home remote. One of the biggest pro-integrator frustrations with the much-desired NEEO smart remote has been solved, says smart home connectivity and control expert HDANYWHERE. A long-standing partnership between the NEEO platform and HDANYWHERE’s range of products has delivered a unique embedded setup option within the NEEO brain (the control part of the Neeo product offering) that enables NEEO to break free from its single room constraints to offer full control over rack-located devices, as well as multiple remote room located devices using just one NEEO brain and multiple NEEO remotes. HDANYWHERE explains that when paired with any MHUB video matrix, NEEO can now leverage the manufacturer’s patented uControl IP2IR technology to utilise the infrared I/O ports on both the matrix and the multi-zone IR pathways on the HDBaseT display receivers, to give rack-and-room control of devices. This brand-new level of control and integration of the NEEO platform also gives seamless control over
an MHUB video and audio (V&A) stack. In addition to HDMI video matrix switchers (the MHUB ‘V’ part), HDANYWHERE also offers a new multi-zone audio matrix-amplifier with improved DSP (the MHUB ‘A’ part) which delivers multiple locations of pixel-perfect 4K video and 110W amplified audio zones from a central point. Maximising multimedia enjoyment throughout the whole home with immersive entertainment, but without the usual tech clutter dotted about. All of this enhanced functionality as well as lots more besides will be on show at HDANYWHERE’s ISE stand in Amsterdam in February 2019. Located at booth 5-U62, visitors can experience the new NEEO integration in person, alongside a range of new product launches to be revealed in EI next month. Alternatively, if you already own an MHUB and a NEEO, all of the new functionality will be made available via a simple software patch during the next upgrade. HDA, 01684 576 348 hdanywhere.com
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Essential Install | CEDIA
Pa55w0rd to paradise – who are your virtual key holders? Geoff offers some sage advice on how to use passwords correctly
Geoff Meads, managing director of website design specialists and CEDIA member Presto, examines the development and future of those pesky passwords. It seems like every minute of the day we’re being asked to input a password. For online banking, social accounts, or to check a utility bill. An endless list of services now involves generating and using a password just for basic functionality. We’ve also seen the format of the passwords we choose grow from an ‘open season’ approach with any old string of text being adequate, to more complex requirements including capital and lowercase letters, numbers, special characters and punctuation. A recent survey suggested over 25% of corporate employees use the same password for every company system they use. That figure only represents those who admitted it, so the real number is likely to be higher. So how do we, as human beings, keep track of all these passwords and share them safely when other people need access to the same accounts? Do we need to take more care when creating, remembering and using passwords? But first, how does a password work…?
Making a hash of it
Generating a ‘safe’ password is a relatively simple affair. Start with a word you’ll remember, change some characters to numbers (‘o’ to ‘0’, ‘s’ to ‘5’, see the title of this article as an example), change a letter or two to a capital, and add a couple of numbers from your birthday to the end. Job done. But what happens to the password once you’ve created it? If it’s being stored in a database or filing system, can’t it just be read by a hacker? In a word, no. We’re all used to Wi-Fi networks that use encryption to hide the contents of our browsing from prying eyes. However, while Wi-Fi and other transmission protocols use two-way encryption, password encryption use something a little different — one-way encryption. Two-way encryption encrypts the message at transmission using an agreed ‘key’ string and the recipient decrypts the message using the same key. Without the key the message is just garbage.
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Essential Install | CEDIA
One-way encryption has no decrypt option. As the password is entered at the point of account creation and it is immediately encrypted using a one-way ‘hashing’ algorithm. This takes the password and encrypts it to a jumbled fixed-length piece of data that is unrecognisable from the password. As an example, the popular SHA-2 algorithm outputs a 256 piece of binary data. Each hash is unique and cannot be ‘reverse engineered’ back to the original string. In fact, the quickest mathematical way to get back to the original text is often to keep hashing possible input strings until the output matches the hash you’re trying to decode. Even a very powerful computer might take years to figure out the right password. So, let’s imagine you’ve signed up for an account on a new website. The password you’ve chosen will be hashed and stored in a database with your other user information. When you come to login again, the password you enter at login will be hashed and the output compared to the one in the database. If there’s a match, you’re logged in. If not, you’re kept out. Meanwhile, anyone reading the database will just see hashed versions of your password with no way to decode it.
How many?
So, how many passwords is the average integrator likely to have to store? Well, putting aside your personal accounts (e.g. your bank account), let’s start with internal company systems. Let’s imagine you use a company-wide Dropbox account, Google Drive, and file server. Often these passwords are shared across employees. Next, you’ll have a work email account, maybe a Windows user group password, and company social media accounts too. Add in your credentials for websites for supplies, trade bodies, and professional awards bodies, and the list is growing fast. Now, what about client work? In a typical project, we might be required to store and use an ISP password, the router’s menu password, passwords for all the WAPs, layer 3 switches, NAS drives, PCs and Macs in the system, control devices, smartphones and tablets, media accounts (Netflix, Spotify, Tidal etc.), TV service, IP cameras, NVR, VPN… The list can seem endless but it’s certainly not unrealistic to imagine over 100 passwords per installation!
An inconvenient truth
So, let’s ask a difficult question… Who has control of the passwords being used within your company? Do you have a password storage solution in place? Are only those employees working on a specific project allowed access to that project’s passwords? And finally, how many of the passwords in use within the company are common across employees or projects? Let’s imagine a disaster scenario… A previously trustworthy employee leaves under a cloud to join a competitor. How many internal systems can they still log into? How quickly can you shut them out from accessing your systems and data? How many other employees will now need a new password because you’ve changed it to prevent the rogue employee access? Now, as a previously trustworthy employee, how many client systems did they have access to? How many of those systems use common passwords and how quickly can you get around to those systems and change all the passwords? And, how quickly can you update the passwords held by other employees, so they can still do their job?
And what if you’re a sole trader operating alone? If you were to die, are all your company passwords stored with a trusted third party like a lawyer or an accountant, so your family could wrap up your affairs now that you’re gone? Feeling nervous yet? You are? Good.
Because our customers have better lawyers than we do…
Hopefully, the above has at least started you thinking about how you store and use passwords both internally and for client projects. Here’s a couple of suggestions you might consider helping protect yourself and your clients from disaster: • Register your top-level passwords with a trusted third party like an accountant or lawyer with instructions on what to do if you die. Think of it as a company will. • Update those records as you change the passwords in the future! • Ask your employees to sign a password control policy that prevents the storing, disclosing, or mis-using the passwords you’re entrusting to them. While suing a previous employee might be a painful process, asking them to sign an agreed policy can act as a strong deterrent. • Investigate password vault services to store passwords securely and only allow access to users temporarily when needed. And finally, remember that ‘12345’, ‘qwerty’ and ‘password’ are not secure passwords, even though they remain the most commonly used! CEDIA, cedia.net
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Essential Install | Barco
A great example of Barco technology complementing interior design from U.S installer Eagle Sentry
Better by design
Tim Sinnaeve, Barco residential managing director, discusses ways installers can help the interior design community improve their projects and become an essential part of the process rather than a ‘necessary evil’. Tim is ambitious for technology to become an enabler of better interior design
Many of our industry’s experiences for the residential market are aimed at wealthy customers. But are we really maximising the potential there? One of the ways you can begin to get an idea of the potential for growth is to find out how many wealthy people there are in the world. Thankfully there is quite a bit of research on this and having a keen interest in statistics and analytics we really looked into this and came to the basic conclusion that in proportion to the rest of the world, the numbers are small, but as a potential market in absolute numbers, it is very large. When you look at that number and then you look at the size of our industry, something doesn’t make sense, as it would seem that we may only be reaching 5% of our potential customers, and currently we as an industry certainly do not exploit the potential to the full. Let’s say we currently only get to 5%, if we could increase that to 10%, we are doubling the size of the industry. You also have to take into account that wealthy people tend to have more than one home, often two or three, so again there is big potential there; reaching just one client opens up several opportunities. Put simply, of the people that could potentially want our services, it would seem that not nearly enough of them know about us or the experiences we can offer, and we primarily reach the people that already come looking for us.
Increasing reach
So why don’t we reach more of them? The crucial thing here is to look at who influences what goes into a home. It’s difficult to get numbers on this, but I would bet that in this scenario, the influence of the interior design and architect community goes way up and ours goes down. So how do we improve? We need to create great technology, sure, however at Barco often I have said our biggest asset is that we have some of the best engineers in the world and our biggest weakness is that we have some of the best engineers in the world. Build it and they will come? Well that’s true for a small amount of people, but what about everyone else? We have to improve our game in every area. Content and experience is so important, you can be in the best cinema in the world, but what about if you don’t like the movie? We focus lots on cinema of course, but what about New Media Art, what about high-end gaming? Both areas I believe with really huge potential for growth, particularly given the progress and innovation in those areas. Just take a look at some of the latest 4K games on PC, with real-time ray-tracing made possible by the latest generations of graphics cards.
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Essential Install | Barco
However, even if we have the best experiences possible, designers and architects often look at technology and consider it a necessary evil. No designer wants to have to try and fit a flat panel TV into their designs, no matter how nice of a TV it is. And the larger it gets, the more of a potential eyesore it becomes. We need to get around this issue if we are to unlock the potential. As an industry we need to discover ways to better integrate with architecture and design, and I’m not just talking about building relationships to generate leads for new projects. I’ve always been passionate about architecture, design and technology so for me it’s a fascinating process to examine how these three areas can combine and help improve the awareness of and performance of our industry. How can we put technology in function of design and architecture, making it a true design material? Architects and designers have to have a high degree of knowledge on materials as they are important tools to create their designs with. Why can’t we do the same with technology? Earlier this year, I had an interesting opportunity to put some of my thinking around this subject to the test. The Hilton Hotel Group in partnership with HDExpo organised a special event named ‘Hilton The Box’ and invited some top North American Design Firms to design the luxury hotel room of the future. It is important to remember here that these design firms operating in the high end hospitality space are often the same ones as for high end residential projects. The teams had 24 hours to design the room and could enlist the assistance of any of the suppliers present. The theme was to be the 1920s.
My first observation was that other than Lutron and Barco, no other tech firms from our industry were involved, and all the other vendors that were there that the designers could call on were interior materials companies, furniture makers and so on. We clearly weren’t part of this community. I was left alone pretty much for the first two hours and when the design teams did sit down with me, it almost felt like they were just being polite. That had given me some time however to come up with my own design ideas using technology. When we sat down, I suggested they think of it as an architectural digital canvas, that we can integrate and make part of their designs, and create a range of experiences such as art, movies and information. Imagine if the guest walks in and one whole wall is a massive image of Times Square in the 1920s, or say the client has a meeting later on, that same canvas becomes the meeting facilitator, and then in the evening a sports bar. Describing scenarios like this really made sense to them, and talking about new media art for example provided a connection point with something that is already important to this community. Only then did I talk about the tech, just to show proof points of how we could help realise some of their design ideas with the different technology elements, how they are integrated, hidden and don’t need to interfere with but can enhance and complement design, as well as show examples of some interesting realisations about which equipment we use. To my own surprise, less than 24 hours later the winning design had no less than three projection systems in a small hotel room. So, in the space of a few short hours we really went from virtual unknowns to important enabler of the design. And interestingly it turned out that while the designers did not have a lot of knowledge about the technology and experiences we could offer, most of them had an unanswered question in their mind before our conversation even took place: ‘How do we get rid of the TV?’. Three months later, the space was actually built for HDExpo in Las Vegas, and people were blown away by the overall result. This exercise was also an opportunity for me to prove what is possible in small spaces, so opens up the high-end apartment market too. Think of the potential in London and New York City alone! So, at Barco Residential, I see our mission together with our integration partners as creating architectural digital canvases which can deliver on a huge range of cultural, entertainment and design experiences, which enables the design community in unique ways to enhance and complement their designs. If we work together as an industry to achieve this, then I’m confident we will be able to unlock a lot of that untapped potential we talked about earlier. Barco 08082348120, barco.com
“To my own surprise, less than 24 hours later the winning design by Chapi Chapo Design of Toronto had no less than three projection systems in a small hotel room. So, in the space of a few short hours we really went from virtual unknowns to important enabler of the design”.
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19/12/2018 11:49
Essential Install | Case Study: JL Automation
The resort style pool is very popular with the family
Elan provides peace of mind when the owners are away
ELAN hits one out of the park for San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain
Matt Cain’s Nortek Security & Control (NSC) system includes control by ELAN, audio by SpeakerCraft, Sunfire and power conditioning by Panamax. Regarded as a key contributor to the MLB San Francisco Giants’ success over the last decade, retired pitcher Matt Cain has two World Series championships under his belt and is a possible first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame. After retiring from baseball in 2017, Matt moved out of the spotlight to the quiet serenity of Paradise Valley, Arizona, where he built a custom 8,300 sqft Southwestinspired smart home, fully equipped with an ELAN control system designed by US installer JL Automation. “With a games room, home theatre, five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a resort-style pool, an outdoor putting green and more, the Cain family required an expansive and all-inclusive automation system to give them the instant control they desired,” says JL Automation president Jon Lunt. “ELAN is the best automation system for the job because it enables seamless access to all major subsystems, including audio, video, climate, security and irrigation.”
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19/12/2018 15:16
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17/12/2018 15:16
Essential Install | Case Study: JL Automation
Matt travels a lot, so time at home is precious
System security
Jon and his team installed a complete ELAN FlagshipCertified System with an extended product warranty for the family. The smart home infrastructure is anchored by an ELAN gSC10 Controller for whole-home system control and an ELAN g1 Controller dedicated to door intercom and gate automation. An ELAN S1616A multi-room AV controller and ELAN 8x8 HDBaseT 4K HDMI matrix distribute audio and video throughout the entire home to several Sunfire in-wall subwoofers, SpeakerCraft in-ceiling speakers and multiple Sony televisions. In the equipment rack, a Panamax M4320-PRO Power Conditioner protects the entire system.
While designing the system, security was of major importance to Matt, who travels frequently and lives with his wife and two young daughters. JL Automation used the ELAN Intercom feature at every entrance point, pairing it with automatic door locks, gate openers, and security cameras, which allows Matt to monitor, control the opening and closing of the doors with full feedback from his smartphone. “ELAN is extremely convenient for securing the home,” Matt says. “Being able to monitor the doors and the entire property when I’m home or away is a significant benefit. I never have to wonder if I locked the doors. I just know because the information is right in the palm of my hand.” JL Automation also installed motion detectors throughout the property that are automatically turned on by ELAN in the evening. If motion is detected, lights will turn on, and Cain will receive a notification on his
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“The Lode Audio platform is one of the few multi room audio systems that hails performance as its primary aim. It is extremely important that we work with like-minded companies and this integration in particular highlights the importance of high quality music streaming to the custom installation market.” Pål Bråtelund TIDAL Strategic Partnership Manager
Custom AV Distribution Ltd Phone: 01628 563344
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info@cavd.co.uk www.cavd.co.uk
Custom AV Distribution CAVDistribution & CAVDtechnical
20/12/2018 09:52
Essential Install | Case Study: JL Automation
Matt is a big fan of the ease of use delivered by the ELAN system
smartphone. Lunt also configured a particular security event scene that allows the family to hit ‘goodnight’ on their ELAN touch panel, locking the doors and turning off the televisions, music, and lights. In addition to full-property surveillance, the Cains also wanted the system to help them entertain in any space of the home. Controlled and automated by ELAN, JL Automation outfitted the property with a beat-bumping 360° audio experience made possible with SpeakerCraft AIM Series 2 in-wall and in-ceiling speakers paired with Sunfire in-wall subwoofers. “These speakers provide a really great surround-sound experience in every room,” Jon explains. “Any area of the house can become the perfect place for entertaining.” One such space is the dual game room/home theatre, which includes an ELAN-controlled Sony VPL-VZ1000ES 4K short throw projector hidden in a custom-made Salamander UST Miami Media Cabinet, and a Severtson Screens tension deluxe motorised 16:9 11in screen. One button press on an ELAN remote will dim the lights,
Essential Kit List • ELAN automation • SpeakerCraft speakers • Sunfire subs • Panamax power conditioning
turn on the projector, and ramp up the sound. “The Cain family really took advantage of ELAN’s ability to customise automation to meet their needs,” Jon says. According to Matt, the system has seamlessly merged into his family’s every day routine. “Even our kids are able to use ELAN to turn on the lights and televisions – it’s that intuitive,” he says. “And beyond that, it’s so reliable. With ELAN, I know that it’s going to work every time.” ELAN, elanhomesystems.com
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The evolution continues OS 2 delivered the foundation OS 3 perfects the experience
A simpler, smarter, more sophisticated user experience. Fast deployment for any size home project. And the best hardware in the business. No one brings it home like Crestron Home powered by OS3.
Introducing Crestron Home, powered by OS 3
VISIT US AT ISE, HALL 2, STAND C20 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. Š2018 Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Ad_2018_CrestronHome_v19_PRINT_210x297_EI_2019-01_v3.indd 1 Untitled-11 1
12/13/18 10:35 AM 17/12/2018 15:17
Essential Install | Habitech
New CinemaTech/Sonance Reference theatre at Basingstoke will sell the immersive power of perfect acoustics to your customers
Tune the room and the cinema will sing Since the advent of home cinema performance standards the ‘elephant in the room’ has been room acoustics. CinemaTech’s expertise puts that right to awesome effect.
You can install the best system, but you’ll be missing the magic if the room’s not ready for sound. CinemaTech’s acoustic technology gives every integrator the power to deliver – and charge for – the wonder of complete AV immersion, as Habitech’s Jonathan Pengilley explains. In 1983, US filmmaker and entrepreneur George Lucas recruited audio engineer Tomlinson Holman to ensure that the sound of his third Star Wars epic The Return of the Jedi could be reproduced accurately in the best theatres. Along with upgrades to crossover and sound system design, the resulting THX standard required acoustic and architectural specifications to be met – including a floating floor, non-parallel walls and acoustically treated surfaces – in order to create a ‘predictable playback environment’. Today, as a symbol of quality, the famous THX badge adorns all kinds of home cinema hardware, but the tech focus has remained resolutely on the audio system, completely ignoring the other half of Mr Holman’s blockbusting ideal. Since the advent of home THX, the elephant in the cinema, so to speak, has been its acoustics.
Fix the room for optimum audio and hey presto, voices are more intelligible, imaging and panning three-dimensional, and the sound more accurate top to bottom. All at once disbelief is easier to suspend and the immersive impact of big-screen cinema is delivered. Which is why, at the very apex of home cinema design, companies like CinemaTech have spent millions of dollars developing an acoustic treatment system that generates a ‘predictable playback environment’ every time in every space. Our exclusive partnership with CinemaTech, expressed perfectly by the pristine new demo cinema at Basingstoke, will introduce you and your clients to the transformative experience of film sound in a dedicated acousticallyoptimised theatre, and reveal how CinemaTech’s Design Service Program (DSP) and Acoustic Room System technology are deployed to achieve it.
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19/12/2018 13:54
Essential Install | Habitech
CinemaTech Acoustic Room System
CinemaTech’s reversible acoustic panel provides HF absorption on one side and reflection/ LF absorption on the other
The CT diffusion panel effective above 1kHz
CinemaTech’s Acoustic Room System software produces a plan of panel positions customised to deliver the optimum sound from the system in the room. These are the plans for the new CinemaTech/ Sonance Reference Theatre at Habitech
Proven in luxury cinema builds all over the world, Cinematech’s key acoustic technology is a wall treatment effective to 100Hz from just 3.175cm of profile depth. The company’s proprietary software produces a custom treatment plan involving reversible wall panels (operating down to 100Hz), and diffusion panels effective above 1kHz. Working in combination, these panels deliver a precise balance of absorption, reflection and diffusion to generate maximum performance from the audio system you install. A patented reversible acoustic core material is deployed for absorption and reflection. The soft side gives excellent high frequency absorption and the hard side contributes three functions to overall design success: low transmission loss to prevent sound from escaping into other rooms; the right amount of high frequency reflection to boost speech intelligibility, fidelity and clarity while stopping the space becoming too ‘dead’; and low frequency absorption through diaphragmatic dampening, resulting in the elimination of bass boom. The Acoustic Room System diffuser design comprises a random series of diamond shapes varying in height within the system’s 3.175 cm profile. Operational from 1 kHz and up, the diamonds produce scattering in both horizontal and vertical planes, their rounded edges avoiding the high frequency snap flutter that affects straight-edge designs.
Acoustic Room System Step 1: retainer framework installed
Acoustic Room System Step 2: acoustic panels installed according to plan
Applying the magic
After room construction and sheetrock installation, and once the design elements (columns and architectural woodwork etc) defined by the Design Service Programme are added, the CinemaTech specialist applies the 3.175cm-deep fabric retainer to provide the framework for the panels and acoustically transparent fabric. CinemaTech’s acoustic panels and diffusers are then installed directly to the sheetrock according to plan, and concealed behind an acoustically transparent fabric while the finishing visual design elements are completed.
High-end home cinema in the making
The spellbinding reality of our CinemaTech/Sonance Reference theatre not only confirms the logic behind the unity of room and system design, it also bears witness to the fluid partnership of CinemaTech’s team with integrators, builders and lighting specialists. Although every project is unique, the glorious outcome is always a quality of design and AV reproduction that redefines the experience. Resurrecting Mr Holman’s big idea, CinemaTech’s services,
Acoustic Room System Step 3: acoustically transparent fabric installed and design elements completed
managed and supplied through Habitech, will harmonise the system with the room for a level of home theatre intimacy that just has to be believed. No doubt George Lucas would approve. Habitech 01256 638500, habitech.co.uk
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19/12/2018 13:55
Essential Install | EI Live!
EI Live! expansion and industry support
David Kitchener, ATM MD and organiser of EI Live!, explains the ambition and ideas behind the move to a new venue and expansion of the show’s exhibitor and visitor profile.
David Kitchener explains the big plans for EI Live! 2019
For the past ten years since the conception of Essential Install magazine, I have strived to build and expand our industry, with the philosophy that if the industry grows, we all grow. I believe our company and products have always been there for the industry in one way, shape or form. Some years ago, you may remember I launched Intelligent Homes magazine, a newsstand consumer title designed to create the awareness of the industry for the consumer – but at the time we had to make the decision to either continue with Intelligent Homes or launch what was then Essential Install Live! South (now EI Live! of course). Given the resources we had at the time, you know the route we went – but don’t rule out the resurrection of Intelligent Homes in the future! However, I wanted to pen a few words to rally the industry behind EI Live! 2019. You may have seen the ‘Big Reveal’ campaign marketed across social media and industry eblasts – not to mention through our leading title Essential Install magazine – so you will know we are moving the show to a brand-new venue in the shape of Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. For the first time, we are also including commercial AV and automation as well as smart products from the world of electrical contracting. Given our ownership of another leading title, Electrical Contracting News, we will be able to bring to bear the full marketing power of another industry-dominating title to help promote and take the show to a new level, as well as promoting the show to commercial AV installers through our online presence via Essential Install Commercial and through our growing contacts in that side of the industry. I’m the first one to hold my hands up if we don’t deliver in some way and having said this, we all know that footfall is the litmus test to a successful exhibition. This is what we have been criticised for, a fact of which I am completely aware. Two years ago, the old venue for EI Live!, Sandown Park, could only give us venue dates in July; at the time we took them because we didn’t have an alternative venue. However, the footfall was not what it should have been, mainly due to the dates we were given, and frankly it has been difficult to return to the former glory, in terms of footfall, for the past couple of years at a venue that lost some of the early momentum it had provided. However, we now have a fantastic, world-class new venue and the ability and facility to give EI Live! a complete shot in the arm – which is the mission statement for the 2019 event.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
EI Live! 2019 takes place at The Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre from April 30 to May 1. Register at eiliveshow.com
The UK needs a national show The UK needs a national exhibition to further our industry. With ISE moving to Barcelona in 2021, and the increased logistics of getting to Barcelona compared to Amsterdam, establishing a genuine UK national show has never been more important. ISE will continue to be a great event, but for UK and Northern European installers, we want to provide an alternative that delivers the business benefits without the headache of extended travel, accommodation and other associated costs. We actually made the decision to move EI Live! before the ISE announcement was made, as we wanted to deliver the show via this fantastic new venue regardless of what happened elsewhere. So, we are upping our game big time, with the show floor centring around the EI Live! Technical Theatre, which will host world-class speakers along with the introduction of CPD points to further develop the visitors’ skills. With the introduction of commercial AV and electrical contracting smart products, together with the brand-new venue, we believe we have the basis for a very successful show. Most of the installers we speak to daily are talking about the current growth potential in our industry, so the show is rising to meet that challenge by offering more variety in a better venue to help support and expand the industry. However, we cannot do this all on our own; every successful show is a partnership between those who exhibit and those who visit. This is your industry exhibition; let’s all get behind it and make it the best it can be for the sector, now and for a long time into the future. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any of your show needs, and if I can’t, one of the EI Live! team will answer any questions you may have. If you want to exhibit, get in touch – or if you are planning on visiting, registration is now open! EI Live! 2019 01634 673 163, eiliveshow.com
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
Crestron Pyng offers more support for Sonos
Shake your money maker! There have never been more ways for consumers to get to and listen to the music they love. EI takes a look at some of the systems that can allow installers to make their customer’s musical dreams come true. Habitech supplies Yamaha’s MusicCast system, one of the first systems to exploit network power to deliver audio around the home. Now integrated with Yamaha’s AV receivers, soundbars, streaming amplifiers, Hi-Fi components and systems, MusicCast offers consumers a high level of flexibility. Connect all MusicCast devices to the same network and start sharing audio throughout the home, all controlled via the MusicCast app. Recently the system has evolved to include Alexa voice control, new multi-zone amplifiers and two new speakers. The new MusicCast 50 and MusicCast 20 smart speakers are scaled for larger and smaller spaces, but offer the same MusicCast operation and control. They can be used as standalone speakers, in pairs, or as wireless surround speakers with a compatible MusicCast AV receiver or sound bar.
Exclusive to Habitech and designed for the custom integration of whole home audio systems, the XDAQS5400RK MusicCast Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier provides four zones of audio streaming and eight channels of high-performance audio amplification in an ultra-slim, 1U-high, rack-mountable enclosure. Expandable and flexible, the QS (Quad Streamer) works with the MusicCast multi-room audio system over Ethernet and with local RCA connections, allowing it to be linked with AV receivers, sound bars and Hi-Fi systems in a wide variety of configurations. Each QS streams four zones of audio, expandable to 32 zones (with additional units) offering simultaneous playback in linked groups of up to 20 zones. Each offers eight channels of efficient ICEpower amplification at 50W/channel (8 ohms), bridgeable and 4-ohm capable,
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Rediscover Your Music CUSTOM INSTALL
CI Features include:
- 12v Triggers - Presets - IR inputs - Interrupts
- Fully-featured automation drivers - Audio inputs - USB Port for Service & Data - Rack Mounting
The Multi-Room HiFi you (and your customers) have been waiting for... Multi-Room System of the year 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017
The Bluesound/BluOS Difference... - Designed for CI and for the end-user - MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) Certified - Hear it as the recording studio intended - NAD Electronics - 45 years experience delivering outstanding amplification & sound quality - Convenience features that users love:- App control, IR control, one-touch presets, headphone jacks and Bluetooth - CI features that installers love:- functional drivers, triggers, interrupts, presets, rack mounting and more - Unique product model - Vault 2 - features built-in CD Ripper, NAS Drive & Streamer - Feature-rich App provides fast time to music
CERTIFIED
Distributed and supported in the UK by Anatech Distribution, Unit 12, Teddington Business Park, Station Road, Teddington, London Borough of Richmond, TW11 9BQ
info@anatech.co.uk | +44 (0) 20 8977 8633 | www.anatech.co.uk
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27/02/2018 15:44
Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
The Yamaha MusicCast family is growing
featuring a unique ground loop/hum-free circuit design. The QS supports high-res audio playback up to 192 kHz/24-bit and employs the same premium ESS Sabre DACs (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) and PML capacitors used in Yamaha’s flagship AVENTAGE AV receivers. In addition, the QS offers four zone pre-outs that enable it to be combined with the XDA-AMP5400RK, a companion four-zone, eight-channel amplifier with identical bridgeable power capabilities, to provide greater power or speaker coverage for large areas in a home. Easy multi-room control is via the free MusicCast app which offers personalisation features (including the ability to assign custom images to rooms, and to rename, rearrange and hide sources) as well as network access to playlists on smartphones, tablets, local storage and through streaming services via built-in Pandora, Spotify Connect, SiriusXM Internet Radio, TIDAL, Deezer and Napster. The QS also supports IP control by third-party control systems such as Control 4, Elan and RTI. The QS also offers an Aux input that can be selected for playback in any zone and a Cut-In input that automatically senses an input signal and temporarily overrides the selected source. This offers the flexibility to integrate media players, CD changers or paging systems. Thru-Outs allow the setup of a bus to additional QS units while the integration of doorbell chimes and gate alerts is possible via chime contact closure inputs. Output zones and chime sound selection can be configured using a Web UI. NuVo has been with Habitech in the UK for many years, offering a Wi-Fi or LAN powered family of components. Using the free app, it’s possible to access music libraries on the local network, online music services and Internet radio stations. Online services include Napster, Deezer, Spotify and Tunein. The NuVo ecosystem has been expanded recently by P20 control keypads and P30 touchscreen, new multi-zone player/ amps, the P500 soundbar system and the P400 desktop zone player. Drivers for easy control integration with third-party systems like C4, Crestron, RTI, Savant and Vantage are available.
Another product worth a look is Tivoli’s versatile ART range of wireless multi-room system options which include a retro universal music system featuring AM/FM, DAB+, Bluetooth, CD, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, line input and output, and Amazon Alexa voice assistance. Inspired by the furniture styles of the 1960s, the table-top unit is fully controlled by Tivoli’s ART Series app. The Music System Home uses a four-channel amplifier driving two 3.5in full range drivers and two .75in tweeters and is available in walnut, white or black wood finish. Custom AV Distribution (CAVD) offers access to the abilities of the Lode family of audio music streamers especially designed to the CI market. The distributor comments that dealers love the third-party integration, feature set, compact chassis, Hi-Fi quality sound and realistic margin compared to some other brands. CAVD says that throughout 2018, dealers across the world have been comparing the audio quality to high-end Hi-Fi streamers often at four times the cost and claiming that the Lode’s musically rich sound quality is comparable, if not better in some instances. Each Lode zone is equipped with a Burr Brown DAC to present a high-quality audio signal to a multi-room amplifier and speakers. The new LA-2D dual stream server is expected to be particularly popular for entry level multiroom residential systems, especially for the MDU market. CAVD argues this will mean that the Lode range has the perfect product for any project; a single streamer, a dual output version and the popular four stream LA-4D. Combine any number of these across a property to create a synchronised 64 zone LodeNET music system. New firmware launched in 2018 added Sound Machine integration; a music service for commercial applications. Hotel, bar, retail and venue managers can access curated content for their business as well as schedule message and announcement playback for specific zones to keep customers informed. Meridian is unveiling its brand-new 210 Streamer at ISE 2019. The maker says 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 smartphone 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 flexibility. With its built-in MQA decoder and Meridian High Resolution (MHR) audio, Meridian says the 210 is capable of delivering flawless, studio master quality MQA encoded music without degradation or loss in quality. Another option is the Meridian 271 Digital Theatre Controller which provides a link to integrate any analogue or digital AV processor or receiver with Meridian’s DSP loudspeakers, delivering high-quality immersive, hi-res audio for home theatre. Able to deliver analogue, digital and 3D format applications, the 271 offers 16 unbalanced inputs, 16 balanced inputs and the option of 16 digital inputs, depending on the choice of processor. This enables the connection of any Atmos, Auro or DTS-X processor to Meridian speakers. In addition, the 251 Powered Zone Controller features two powerful cool-running channels of on-board amplification enabled for hi-res audio, including MQA. It also offers IP and IR control, a native iPad network control app and Meridian Sooloos control.
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
Look out for new products at ISE from Meridian
This year Sonos has looked to enhance its platform with new products including the Beam, its compact TV sound-bar, and perhaps more significantly the Sonos Amp and its intention to produce a range of integrated architectural speakers to complement the Sonos Amp in partnership with Sonance. Sonos says it has also fully opened its developer platform and has also added new control APIs. Perhaps the company would not admit this publicly, but Sonos knows it is not perceived as a ‘quality’ option by the CI market. Happy to build its platform in the retail channel and mostly let the installer community fend for itself has seemingly been the model; however this looks to be changing and the company is now more openly trying to provide installers more options to deliver flexibility and quality into a Sonos system. The Amp for example offers installers the option of adding their or the end-user’s choice of speaker to the system for better audio performance. This is underlined by the fact that this amp is twice as powerful as its predecessor, whilst also supporting Apple’s AirPlay 2 and more than 100 streaming services. Launching globally in February 2019, UK pricing will be £599. The Amp is also designed to fit into standard AV racks and can power up to four speakers with 125W per channel. Onboard HDMI and line-in ports means TVs, turntables, CD changers, and other audio components can connect with Amp and become part of the Sonos system, offering more flexibility. EI will be reviewing the Amp in the new year, so stay tuned for what we think will be a significant year for the brand and the CI space.
Michael Short, global residential marketing manager, at Crestron points out that new to the Pyng platform (OS 2) is support for all Sonos products (including the Play ONE, Play:5 and the connect:AMP). Sonos products are instantly identified as sources so that all products can instantly be grouped and set-up as ‘rooms’ allowing end-users to choose content to be played from one room rather than a centralised source. Offering integration of the Sonos app, the Crestron Pyng OS 2 platform continues its mission to make Crestron as a concept more accessible to a wider range of customers. The Denon Heos system continues to evolve and is available in the UK from AWE. The HEOS Super Link is designed specifically to enable music to be enjoyed everywhere around a home. This networked multi-room pre-amplifier is capable of supporting up to four HEOS zones, housed within a rack mountable and compact framework. AWE says that by combining the Super Link with a high-performance amplifier, installers can achieve a powerful distributed home entertainment system. The setup also features Amazon Alexa voice integration, dedicated analogue, fibre optic and coaxial outputs for each zone as well as third party control capability. The HEOS Drive delivers a four-zone, eight-channel multi-room amplifier all within a single 2U tall, rack mountable chassis, with 70W of Class D amplification per output. The functionality of this amplifier is similar to the HEOS Amp, but offers higher quality, four zones and increased flexibility. For larger projects, installers can use up to eight units for up to 32 zones. HEOS Drive
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
The Denon Heos platform continues to expand
has access to all the popular streaming music services including Spotify, Rhapsody, Pandora, TIDAL, TuneIn, LastFM and more. Another part of the family is the HEOS AVR which combines 5.1 channel surround sound with HEOS multi-room music streaming, and the option of utilising wireless HEOS speakers as surround channels, creating a cable-free multichannel system. It will drive conventional speakers with its built-in Class D amplification or will work with a mix of both wired and wireless speakers. As well as delivering TV shows and movies in surround sound, the HEOS AVR can stream music from a home computer or online services. Henley Audio is a distributor with some really strong offerings and as documented earlier in the year by EI, the company is keen to attract more installers. One of the most accomplished brands available is Roon, the music concierge platform, which also has its own hardware in the Roon Nuleus and Nucleus+ music servers. Performing very strongly in review in the September issue of EI (Nucleus + model), these servers are designed to give the Roon platform a turbo boost for quality of sound and speed of service. These mean and moody looking fanless servers act as the ‘brain’ of a home’s music system, managing all the music on hard drives, NAS, and streaming content. Adding the Roon remote app enables the user to play music using a wide variety of audio devices, including AirPlay, Sonos, Roon Ready, Devialet, KEF, Meridian, Squeezebox, and a big choice of USB DACs. Priced at £1500 for the Nucleus and £2500 for the Nucleus +, the products also have Control4 and Crestron drivers available. The ultimate aim of the product line is to combine automation and ease of use, with audiophile playback. A neat little partner for the Roon platform is the Stream Box S2 Ultra, designed to bring high-end network connectivity to any USB-enabled DAC. Rather than having to consider expensive or inconvenient upgrades, the small size and keen price of the product means you don’t need to change a system to enjoy wireless (or wired) streaming from any DAC with a USB input. With its own dedicated internal power supply and premium components, the USB output ‘detoxes’ the USB signal, removing noise and unwanted artefacts. Great as a Roon Ready network streamer, the Stream Box S2 Ultra is instantly recognised by any Roon server once connected to a USB DAC, so its possible to transmit via Roon’s bespoke RAAT protocol and experience the full Roon experience from any existing, non-Roon-certified equipment.
The unit can also act as a universal network bridge offering a solution for building a small music server based on the Volumio platform. Volumio allows for playback from Spotify, Tidal, Shoutcast (Internet Radio) and Shairport (Airplay), as well as UPnP network services or attached USB hard drives, all controlled over IP via its own app. The Stream Box S2 Ultra supports almost any file-type that a DAC does, opening up the option to handle file types like 352.8kHz PCM and DSD256. If your DAC is MQA-enabled the Stream Box S2 Ultra can pass through MQA signals without alteration, for exact unfolding by the DAC. Henley also has a bunch of other brands and products worth checking out. Bluesound is a platform that has been making lots of in-roads of late with several recent additions to its capabilities. Offering a quality approach to multi-room music systems, with a strong retrofit capability, the platform recently released its Gen 2i operating system upgrade bringing dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Apple AirPlay 2 support, upgraded Bluetooth codecs as well as improved amplification and acoustics. The Bluesound family is now made up of; NODE 2i, POWERNODE 2i, VAULT 2i, PULSE 2i, PULSE MINI 2i, PULSE FLEX 2i, and PULSE SOUNDBAR 2i. There are no changes being made to the PULSE SUB. All Gen 2i models will be offered in a choice of black or white finishes. All Bluesound models feature the BluOS music management system that connects, organises and controls all of the user’s music from stored files to streaming services and makes them available around the property. All Bluesound Gen 2i models are now able to support AirPlay 2, allowing owners to stream just about any sound from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac in sync. Customers can stream music, books, and podcasts from their favourite apps, or watch videos on their Apple device while streaming the audio through to their Gen 2i Player. AirPlay 2 also gives users more options for control, including using Siri. Add a Gen 2i Player to the Apple Home App on an iPhone or iPad, then Apple Music subscribers can use their iOS device or HomePod to deliver voice commands. Also, by grouping a Gen 2i Player with older Bluesound Players in the BluOS App, existing customers can add AirPlay 2 compatibility to their whole BluOS system. Gen 2i also delivers two-way Bluetooth, featuring receive and transmit functionality allowing users to wirelessly stream from their device to a Bluesound Player. The Transmit capability means the user can now use their Bluesound Gen 2i Player as a source, sending what they are listening to via Bluetooth to a pair of wireless
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
Bluesound has found fans with a quality approach to multiroom
headphones. There is just one exception: Bluesound PULSE FLEX 2i only supports the Receive functionality via Bluetooth. The advanced Qualcomm CSR8675 chip used in these new products also supports aptX HD Bluetooth wireless audio for higher quality playback. With the ability to support streams up to 24bit/48kHz, a customer streaming from an aptX HD compatible device to a Gen 2i Player is able to listen to better-than-CD quality, wirelessly. Bluesound has also upgraded the Wi-Fi chipset technology in its Bluesound Players to the latest Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band offering, so the system can take advantage of the less noisy 5 GHz band if needed. Maker of the brand, Lenbrook International, has also announced that a first set of Amazon Alexa Skills for its BluOS Hi-Res Distributed Audio platform, will be available January 15, 2019. Users of BluOS Enabled products from Bluesound, NAD Electronics, and DALI Speakers, will benefit from hands-free control of their music from any Amazon Echo device, opening up another new world of control for users of the manufacturer’s products. Bluesound is distributed in the UK by Anatech Distribution. The DaVinci Group, Inc. (TDG), has developed an interesting option for integrating the Amazon Echo Dot into a smart home audio platform. The VAIL Amp is a small flush mounted in-wall 60W Amp featuring a secure dock for Amazon’s Echo Dot (Gen 2). Basically, the VAIL Amp becomes an in-wall volume control keypad, voice control, and streaming music source allowing for accurate voice intelligibility and light switch level access to the Dot’s surface controls. Its amplifier can be connected to up to two pairs of any in-ceiling, in-wall or cabinet speakers. The Vail Amp powers the Echo Dot leaving the user to use Alexa as they normally would, for music streaming, or as part of a whole house control system. The VAIL Amp enhances the features of the Echo Dot by providing a better way to leverage existing whole house capabilities such as multi-room party mode, whole house paging or whole house voice control. It comes
with a wall plate, which allows installers to to add a TV, CD Player or PC and also add a subwoofer to make a 2.1 system. Alternatively, the amp can be powered from up to 300ft away using standard 16/2 speaker cable. Vail Amps for Echo Dot Gen 3 and also for Google Home are expected in Spring 2019. The products are available from Avoke. Elipson says its new ‘Music Centre Mini’ targets Hi-Fi and custom installation markets delivering a compact Bluetooth amplifier to partner its speaker and source products. The product is designed to provide convenient, easy placement and connection to all Elipson products such as turntables and spherical Planet or custom installation loudspeakers. The MC Mini boasts 2 x 80W Class D amps and outputs include a subwoofer out, 3.5mm line out, left and right speakers and a USB charge. The MC mini also offers versatility from multiple inputs including Digital Optical, Aux 3.5mm, RCAs and an Infrared IR 3.5mm. Wireless connectivity is integrated using Bluetooth APTX. A large, easy-to-use control knob is positioned on the front panel, although a comprehensive remote control is included. The Sleep/Standby mode enables wake up operation from connected sources and for CI use, an IR sensor with connecting cable and easy-fit mounting brackets for wall or in-ceiling installations are supplied. This product is also supplied via Avoke. The MERGING+NADAC brand was born out of the repeated request from Merging’s mastering and recording engineer customers to provide a DAC for the audiophile market. The company worked on transferring its high-quality approach in the pro world with 25 years in the market to the consumer market, and has delivered a choice of the MERGING+PLAYER or the MERGING+NADAC. Both models use the same digital to analogue converters delivering the excellence of the professional recording studio into the home environment for the most discerning of audiophiles, says the maker.
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
The VAIL Amp offers an innovative take on music delivery
The ROON compatible MERGING+PLAYER is a music streamer and pre amp in one, designed to combine of the best music player available and the best sounding DAC delivering access the user’s music library remotely from a tablet or phone and connect directly to the user’s amplifier or headphones. The unit can come as a stereo or multi-channel model. The Stereo model comes with two balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA phone outputs and stereo headphone output with separate volume controls. The eight channels of the ESS Sabre ES9008S Reference D/A converter are merged into two for improved linearity, greater dynamic range and a lower noise floor. The eight channel model can be set at any time to operate in eight discrete channel modes for surround sound music or stereo mode to enjoy the same advantages of merging eight into two channels as the stereo version. The MERGING+NADAC is designed to be used in networked audio systems, but is also fitted with standard digital interfaces allowing it to provide high levels of performance with CD transports, media players, streamers and other stand-alone digital sources. This also comes as a stereo of multi-channel version. Respected audio maker Naim was a player in the multi-room market for a time with its NaimNet system. Whilst that particular approach did not endure, it did drive Naim’s success in music servers and network player market. The company made the decision around five years ago to develop a new platform of network players with more power and flexibility and to also include platforms such as AirPlay/AiPlay 2 and Chromecast to give the products more flexibility and reach.
Naim’s Uniti range has found lots of fans and has been a big success for the brand globally. Naim followed this with its ND Network players using the same core platform, but with the emphasis more on sound quality than being a one box solution. Naim argues that its ND555 is almost certainly the best sounding network player available today. Naim also offers its Mu-so and Mu-so QB all in one system, delivering less power, but the same level of compatibility. Also a firm favourite in the family are the Uniti range of network players, which includes a server which can deliver up to 10 streams. In fact, if needed the Mu-so family also has capabilities in this area playing the same music across six players or different music in different rooms. As far as the more dedicated CI market is concerned, Naim is taking a more cautious approach here, but has been doing some work with software specialist Intrinsic Group to produce two zone drivers for its products for Crestron and Control4 which are available now. Distributor Karma-AV has introduced the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System and SoundBase Wireless Bridge. Created by the audio specialists at SVS, the new wireless network devices are designed to transform the sound quality of music streaming available from the everyday smart speaker experience, says the distributor. Equipped with both Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone/ device control, the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System is a smart active/passive speaker pair that offers dynamic full-range sound and stereo separation from online music services and local sources. The maker says 200W (50W x 4) amplification, a high-resolution 192KHz/24-bit DAC and a precisely tuned digital crossover combine with easy control to deliver a compact and convenient multi-source, high-fidelity playback platform. Control is via smart device over Wi-Fi through the DTS Play-Fi app, direct over Wi-Fi from pre-set via the front panel display or through Amazon Alexa. In addition, optical and line level inputs allow the Prime Wireless system to boost the audio experience of PC/NAS based music files, TVs and gaming consoles. The Play-Fi app provides access to music streaming services and playlists, Internet radio and local storage from any smartphone or tablet as well as the ability to control audio from as many as 32 compatible products across 16 zones. For the more discerning listener, the platform features a ‘Critical Listening Mode’ designed for high resolution 24bit/192kHz playback. Available in a piano gloss black finish, the SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System also offers a standard subwoofer line output, while a USB port accepts SVS’s SoundPath Wireless Audio Adaptor for wireless sub connection. The USB port can also be used for charging mobile devices. The Prime Wireless SoundBase adds high-resolution wireless audio streaming, connectivity and smart speaker control to existing loudspeakers and systems. The product is DTS Play-Fi enabled for multi-room/multi-zone wireless audio streaming and control from any smartphone/tablet. A line level output also allows the unit to operate as a wireless streaming source for any two-channel or home theatre system. The new British-made Elements Streamer from Leema Acoustics offers a generous feature count from a spacesaving chassis and now comes with Tidal integration, Spotify Connect, a high-quality ESS Sabre DAC and support for USB drive playback. Handmade in the Welshpool factory in Powys, the streamer, (which was first unveiled in prototype form at Sound and Vision in February 2018), is now
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Essential Install | Music Systems and Delivery
High-quality streamers that combine audio quality with convenience are on the rise, including Leema Acoustic’s Elements Streamer
available following an extensive development and testing programme throughout 2018. The unit has been conceived by Leema co-founder Lee Taylor, who has overseen the project from initiation to final assembly. Despite a price of just £1,295, the player is based on the same high-performance streaming module in Leema’s Quasar amplifier (£2,995). The addition of a highperformance ESS 9018 Sabre DAC, with ESS-patented 32-bit Hyperstreamä DAC architecture and proprietary Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology, eliminates input-clock jitter for unmatched clarity when streaming, says the maker. The product can both ‘push’ and ‘pull’ music to and from suitable DLNA/UPnP devices on the same network, enabling streaming across a wide range of networked devices, including smartphones and smart devices, tablets, laptops, computers, NAS drives and streaming music servers, such as Leema Acoustics’ recently launched Sirius (£3,995). Control is via the free mconnect Player UPnP/DLNA App by ConversDigital, available for Android and iOS. The Elements Streamer has built-in support for Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and vTuner radio; Spotify connect is also supported, along with file playback from Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive, plus local playback from USB drives, enabling whole legacy music collections to be accessed with Leema Acoustics’ ‘analogue from digital’ sound quality promise. The device’s connectivity suite includes balanced and unbalanced outputs, optical and coaxial digital outputs, as well as a USB input and Ethernet port. Twin Wi-Fi antennas provide increased signal stability and an IEC inlet socket enables the use of high-performance power cables. Invision offers access to the AudioControl brand including the Director matrix amplifiers which offer installers dual benefits as they can be operated as a standalone DSP amplifier or as part of a third-party control system with Control4, Crestron, Savant and RTI. Integration drivers provide two-way feedback allowing a control system to send commands and receive status and configuration information back from the amplifier. They also feature a set of control commands including discrete zone and source selection as well as volume control, with instant feedback to the system, so that things never get out of sync. Advanced driver features include settings such as bass and treble adjustment, group controls enabling/disabling signal sense, as well as recalling EQ presets.
The Sound Partners Programme offers exclusive Speaker Profiles by leading speaker brands encrypted into the DSP. These are defined by brand, model, with custom EQ settings and filters provided by the speaker manufacturer. Invision also supplies the Autonomic brand offering music streaming and multi-room audio capabilities. Autonomic supports full High-resolution Audio (HRA) at 24bit/192kHz, and the products also work with RTI, Savant, Control4, Crestron and URC. A recent release is the MMS-1e Music Streamer, a solid-state, single-source music player complete with the features and functionality now expected from the Mirage family. Integrate the MMS-1e into any popular automation system, and deliver playback of 24-bit/192kHz highresolution audio, in addition to the most popular online music streaming services. Plus, mirrored physical outputs via eAudioCast allow for increased flexibility. Paired with the M-120e Digital Amplifier, the MMS-1e supports up to two discrete streams of audio-over-Ethernet using eAudioCast technology. Also making waves is the Linn Selekt DSM, a new network music player that promises to bring the ‘feeling’ back to digital audio. Linn says the set-up is designed to deliver a tactile and beautiful musical experience and will make any system sound better as well and help consumers fall in love with music all over again. Selekt DSM’s jewel-like dial and smart buttons are ready to be personalised to each customer’s wishes, providing instant access to favourite music by making it possible to operate the product without the need for an app. The glass dial begins to glow when approached and turns with watch-like precision in response to a touch. The customisable smart buttons, which have been crafted to feel like piano keys, respond instantly with the detailed music information appearing on the onyx-black OLED display. Linn says Selekt DSM fits with any system. It’s available as a dedicated streaming source to drive any separates system, or you can include an integrated amplifier to streamline each system – just add speakers and its ready to rock.
Habitech 01256 638 500, habitech.co.uk CAVD 01628 563 344, cavd.co.uk Meridian 01480 445 678, meridian-audio.com AWE Europe 01372 729 995, awe-europe.com Henley Audio 01235 511 166, henleyaudio.co.uk Crestron 0845 873 8787, crestron.eu Anatech Distribution 020 89778633, bluesound.anatech.co.uk Avoke 01628 857958, avoke.co.uk MERGING+NADAC 0118 402 5090, mergingnadac.co.uk Naim 01722 426 600, www.naimaudio.com Karma-AV 01423 358846, info@karma-av.co.uk Leema Acoustics/ MIAN Audio Distribution 01223 782 474, leema-acoustics.com, mianuk.com Invision UK 01359 270 280, invisionuk.com Sonos sonos.com
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Essential Install | Acoustic Treatment
Sound as a pound
With more systems and products coming onto the market, opportunities to make margin from better sounding rooms represents a significant opportunity. EI takes a look at some of the options.
A complete system of room treatment, design and furnishings is available from the HTE system
The Home Theatre Environment (HTE) system is available in the UK from distributor Custom AV Distribution (CAVD). “Integrators partnering with HTE can offer the most unique, progressive and interior design led acoustic solution on the market”, says CAVD’s Wayne Hyde, “It’s the simplest way for residential installers to deliver the most acoustically perfect, comfortable rooms.” Wayne adds, “Each HTE system is custom designed, built in Italy and tuned to treat all four walls of your client’s room. This includes multiple acoustic wall panels that also crucially form the main design of the room. You do not have to use stretched fabric anymore! “Aesthetically all of the panels look the similar, but behind the luxurious fabric, each panel is a crafted piece employing a wide range of thicknesses, slots, holes and HTE’s Ecofiber. “The complete acoustic panel system is cleverly mounted to the wall on HTE’s Alustud and Aluconnect isolation structure rather than a clumsy looking timber framework. This structure forms a continuous air gap around the room of approximately 100mm to mount wall speakers and hide cables. More importantly, it balances the air pressure in the room, working in conjunction with
the various panels of mid-low, mid-high diffraction and absorption panels.” Wayne argues, “This method is unique to HTE and the subject that leading home cinema designers worldwide point out as giving Maurizio Conti’s (acoustics expert and creator of the concept) rooms such a distinctive feel and sound.” As well as attractive wall panelling, many projects include fabric door coverings, and side walls with shelves and niches. Wayne explains, “Again, all materials used are sensitive and attuned to the audio performance. Most integrators take up the option to include bespoke seating from HTE, meaning that the feel and fabrics will complement the room design perfectly.” Other optional extras include tiers and steps, and a platform at the screen end of the room, all part of HTE’s SilentRise and SilentStep product range. Flooring can be included with Italian carpet or solid hardwood for example and ceilings options include further acoustic treatment with innovative CeilingClouds. The system can treat cinemas, media room and stereo listening spaces, more info available from the team at CAVD.
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Essential Install | Acoustic Treatment
CinemaTech offers a complete and easy to fit series of treatments for cinemas and listening rooms
Distributor Habitech has been promoting heavily of late its new relationship with U.S cinema design and acoustic treatment platform CinemaTech. Cinematech’s key acoustic technology is a wall treatment effective to 100 Hz from just 3.175cm of profile depth. The company’s proprietary software produces a custom treatment plan involving reversible wall panels (operating down to 100Hz), and diffusion panels effective above 1kHz. Working in combination, these panels are designed to deliver a precise balance of absorption, reflection and diffusion to generate maximum performance from each audio system. A patented reversible acoustic core material is deployed for absorption and reflection. The soft side (insulation) gives high frequency absorption and the hard side (sheetrock) contributes three functions to overall design success; low transmission loss to prevent sound from escaping into other rooms, the right amount of high frequency reflection to boost speech intelligibility, fidelity and clarity while stopping the space becoming too ‘dead’ and low frequency absorption through diaphragmatic dampening, resulting in the elimination of bass boom. The Acoustic Room System diffuser design comprises a random series of diamond shapes varying in height within the system’s 3.175 cm profile. Operational from 1 kHz and up, the diamonds produce scattering in both horizontal and vertical planes, their rounded edges avoiding the high frequency snap flutter that affects straight-edge designs. After room construction and sheetrock installation, the CinemaTech specialist applies the 3.175cm-deep fabric retainer to provide the framework for the panels and
acoustically transparent fabric. CinemaTech’s acoustic panels and diffusers are then installed directly to the sheetrock according to plan and concealed behind an acoustically transparent fabric while the finishing visual design elements are completed. The CinemaTech concept is another system which provides the complete process from planning through to supply of the actually treatments themselves. The company has been very successful in the U.S and is now offering its services through Habitech. Differing levels of support are provided from a complete end to end service, to lower levels of help on the actual installation once a company is confident with the system. This company also supplies a range of seating to match the treatments. Full details available from Habitech. Another distributor offering a solution here is KarmaAV via the Ultimate Track system, part of the Ultimate Screens family. Ultimate Track is described as a unique fabric walling track, and the most installer-friendly fabric walling system on the market. The track system is designed to remedy many of the problems posed by existing track system designs. It’s designed by Ultimate Screens and manufactured in the UK (all tooling, extrusions and packaging), leading to better control over quality, lead time, cost and availability. The use of a thicker outside leg allows the track to function as both a perimeter and intermediate track. Unlike some of the imported systems, which use imperial sizes, this system uses an 18 mm track height which allows the installer to use standard 18 mm plywood or MDF to create support structures for sockets, speakers or lights beneath the stretched fabric.
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Essential Install | Acoustic Treatment
GIK Acoustics Europe combines art and acoustics to add style and character for each project
A company which has been active in the sector for many years is GIK Acoustics Europe. David Shevyn, general manager for the company, explains, “Since GIK Acoustics inception in 2004 we set ourselves the tasks of not just the manufacture and retail of acoustic treatment and solutions, but that we would provide the best customer experiences to ensure that every customer would be an advocate for the next. We also committed to ensure that we would continue to innovate and further push the boundaries of acoustics as a science and help our customers to manipulate the sound in their room in a positive way. Lastly we promised to promote the art of acoustics and help educate people interested in how acoustic treatment could work for them.” David adds, “To meet that end we already have lots of resources available to all GIK Acoustics customers and potential customers. We have for some time offered free acoustic advice via our web portals. This takes the form of understanding your room, the equipment you have, the purpose you use the room for, any restrictions you face and via the web, great customer interaction, photographs and room testing results. In addition to this, we have lots of articles and videos on all aspects of room treatment, covering topics as wide as sub-woofer placement, reflection points, how to treat a home cinema and beyond. We also in recent years have taken this educational approach on the road, delivering lectures in places such as Milan, Amsterdam and New York and working with schools and trade shows.” Not just experts in sound, the company has also been developing its aesthetics game too. David explains, “In the last 18 months we have really been concentrating on the visual aspect of acoustic treatment. This started with the introduction of our Impression Series (and since been expanded). These acoustic panels and bass traps combine proven, effective absorption with beautifully decorative plates to deliver an aural and visual statement to enhance any room. The rigid plate not only gives the panel a stylish appearance, but also helps reflect/scatter high frequency content in the room giving the proper balance
needed. And since then we have added a brand new art visualizer programme where you can either upload your own pictures and see them on our panels before ordering or choose from our database of over one million free images, there is something to suit everyone. “We also offer our Beta Version of our Room Visualizer, this allows you to recreate your own space in 3D and place your furniture into the room, add our panels and then walk around it to see what the visual impact of adding our products will make. Both of these new introductions have gone down incredibly well with our customers.” There is lots of useful information, guides and FAQ on the company’s site with regards to the acoustic art panels delivering a good degree of control and confidence that the end result will be as expected. Also well worth checking out the online acoustics visualiser, it’s a really useful and fast tool to get an idea of what the room is going to look like and could be a good sales tool as well. With long experience in commercial as well as residential systems including studios, well worth taping into the knowledge and large range of solutions this company has. Available from distributor Invision, is the Artnovion brand of treatments. Artnovion is a manufacturer of high quality room acoustic products, the company’s extensive portfolio includes a range of absorption and diffusion panels, bass traps and room acoustic treatments, all of which are available from the distributor. Artnovion has recently announced a brand-new patented technology called TDPA. This new technology is incorporated in the Artnovion bass traps and sub trap and allows treatment of frequencies as low as 40Hz with just one bass trap. The TPDA or the Tuneable Pistonic Diaphragmatic Membrane is a patented Artnovion system, that was developed to satisfy the demand for precise low frequency absorption. Invision says TDPA is the only system on the market that can be effectively tuned to work as low as 40Hz. The TPDA is a new approach to low frequency absorption, it is comprised of a calibrated mass suspended on an elastic membrane. The maker
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Essential Install | Acoustic Treatment
Artnovion keeps developing its solutions and has also introduced a measurement app
argues that tuning a traditional membrane system to very low frequency has historically resulted in very large, and not very efficient products. This new method separates the mass and elastic support into separate elements, preserving the range of movement (with low activation energy) and guaranteeing true pistonic movement. A further advantage of this technique is that the mass of the membrane can be easily modified, allowing you to calibrate the resonant frequency of the bass trap. This results in a product that can be precisely tuned to be effective at each rooms’ specific resonant frequencies. The TPDA technology is used in the recently overhauled Artnovion bass trap range. The brand is another offering the chance to create personalised versions of the treatments via artwork. In particular, the Azores range can have customised printable designs added to the treatments, to create a unique acoustic panel and put a personal touch into each room design. From family photos to patterns, artwork and logo’s, Azores printable is billed as one of the most versatile acoustic panels in the world – allowing the creation of special shapes and designs. The printing is carried out directly onto the fabric using water based pigments. The fabric undergoes a special heat conditioning process to ensure long-lasting vibrance and UV protection. No additional chemicals are used in the preparation or printing of the fabrics – so there is an ecofriendly angle to method as well. As many would argue that low frequency control is the foundation of acoustic treatment, another highlights from the Artnovion family is the Eiger Sub Trap. Designed to be the ultimate combination of performance and finesse, this product combats the strong modal frequencies that can be the make-or-break of many rooms, often uncontrollable without altering room structure. This Sub Trap offers a fresh approach on low frequency control – a fine-tuneable device with high performance. The maker argues the Sub Trap is a new category of acoustic treatment, targeting the subbass frequency range boasting the highest absorption coefficient per volume on the market. It employs Artnovion’s latest membrane technology, a symbiosis
of precision engineering and material science, creating a device that can be precisely calibrated to work at the exact resonant frequency of a space. The maker also offers its own app. Impulso is a free app engineered by Artnovion to measure any room acoustics in accordance with your retrospective Artnovion panels via a smartphone or tablet (iOS only). You can view the reverberation time (RT) in octave bands and then simulate how the acoustic response of your room can improve with the addition of Artnovion products. Installers can also check the frequency response of each measurement. The process is started by simply typing the room dimensions and the type of room needed to be measured. Then, choose your source of measurement (through a speaker or an external impulse, a balloon or clap) and get personalised feedback on the results from Artnovion staff – just send them the results and the basics of the space. The company’s project department is fully available to assist installers with further designing each room. Distributor Pulse Cinemas naturally has an interest in this field and offers the range of solutions from Vicoustic. A company that aims to demystify the subject and offer a whole range of easy to understand and access solutions, Vicoustic also offers full support to make sure each project goes as planned and assist installers in building knowledge about the concept. Vicoustic aims to provide the best products and services for acoustic treatment, guaranteeing high-quality material, attractive design options and highly noticeable results. Combined with consulting and a portfolio of material from a wide range of products, Vicoustic offers a complete audio treatment partner whatever the type of project being undertaken. Vicoustic also underlines that it has a flexible company structure that allows it to adapt to changing market needs, allowing the company to react and deliver the solutions the market requires. The company’s portfolio includes a range of absorption and diffusion panels, insolation products, bass traps, as well as portable acoustic treatment products. The company says one of its key assets is combining the right performance with the right level of aesthetic quality, this is especially important in home cinema as the look and feel of the room is often as important to the client as how it sounds of course. Getting a surround sound just right, at both soft and high levels, is a difficult task. Vicoustic looks to solve these acoustic problems and can creates custom made solutions for each project. There is a whole department within the Vicoustic set up which concentrates on supporting installers to get the treatments for each room right and maximise on the acoustic benefit. With experts in acoustics and interior design within the company, installers are able to pull on knowledge from both disciplines to get the right result. All installers need to do is provide the details of each project and Vicoustic can design treatments that will take the room to where it needs to be.
CAVD 01628 563 344, cavd.co.uk Habitech 01256 638 500, habitech.co.uk Karma-AV 01423 358 846, karma-av.co.uk GIK Acoustics Europe 0203 815 8608, gikacoustics.co.uk Invision 01359 270 280, invisionuk.com Pulse Cinemas 01279 647 039, pulsecinemas.com
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Essential Install | Smart Thinking: VR
Reality Bites
EI checks in with Ken Brueck, Modus VR co-founder, supplier of VR sales tools for installers, to get his views on the wider future of VR in the home. What applications/experiences will VR deliver into the home over the next few years?
Modus VR helps installers excite clients about their projects, but what is next for this tech?
I think the next big home-focused VR experiences haven’t been invented yet. We know they’ll be longer and more uniquely suited to VR, but we’re still in the early discovery phases of what VR can do. The first radio broadcasts were recordings of people reading the newspaper. The first TV broadcasts were radio shows being filmed. There’s a pattern of reusing existing content in new mediums while content creators figure out how to leverage new technology. That’s what we’re seeing in VR right now — there are many applications that let you watch Netflix on a virtual screen, create virtual computer monitors to write emails, or play previously released video games with a VR spin. They’re novel, but they aren’t unlocking the full potential of VR. If you’re using a new medium to do the same things you could always do before, then it means there’s still room to grow. There are also many short form experiments that are pushing the limits of games, entertainment, leisure, exercise, and science. Out of those will come the experiences that make VR a household item. What will those be? I don’t think anyone knows yet and that’s what makes it so exciting.
Will these be practical or more entertainment based?
They’ll be gaming, socialising, exercising and perhaps even educational. For VR to be a viable home product, the experiences need to be frequently reusable. Most practical uses of VR seem to fit better in the commercial space. People aren’t shopping for furniture or remodelling their home every week. They are however playing games, socialising, exercising and learning constantly. VR has unique value to offer in those areas and that’s where we’ll start to see people asking how they ever got by without it.
How will these be experienced. Will a headset always be needed or will something else evolve to deliver the experiences?
It depends on how you define ‘virtual reality’. That term was even being used to describe Quicktime 360 panoramas in the 90s! We define VR as an experience that makes you genuinely feel like you’re somewhere else. If you can’t forget where you really are for a moment, then it’s not virtual reality.
In technobabble, that means stereoscopic rendering close to the eyes with six degrees of freedom for both your head and your hands. Short of holograms or some other sci-fi level technology, headsets and eventually glasses are going to be the mechanism for quite some time in the home space.
Does augmented reality also have a future in the home? Is this perhaps a more potentially fruitful area?
It definitely has a future in the home. I’m grateful you phrased it as ‘also’ because VR and AR are not mutually exclusive. They both have different strengths and weaknesses. While virtual reality is fantastic for providing an escape, augmented reality is great for experiences where you want (or need) to be in the here and now. It’s easy to imagine hundreds of areas where AR could help in everyday situations: cooking, shopping, to-do lists, DIY projects, etc. They all benefit from having additional information laid on top of what you’re seeing. Even controlling your home automation would be a dream. The conversation around AR gets even more complex because there are so many technology approaches that impact the user experience. AR’s usefulness will be hurt if it’s forever limited to holding your phone up to your face. Things get exponentially more interesting when experiences like the Magic Leap and Hololense are small, portable, and powerful enough that they can be incorporated into your all day, everyday life. Is it more fruitful? Possibly, but viable AR technology is much farther away than viable VR technology is.
Tell us any news/announcements about your AV sales platform
Have the killer apps that will make VR work been invented yet?
We launched at CEDIA back in September of this year. Since then, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s clear that VR, when done well and without gimmicks, is a powerful experience that can solve realworld problems faster than other approaches. Modus VR is often people’s first experience with virtual reality and it can be a great segue to talk about VR in the home. As far as announcements go, we’re just getting started. Stay tuned over the coming months for announcements about new manufacturing partners in speakers, seating, screens, acoustic treatments and more! Modus VR modusvr.com
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20/12/2018 09:41
Essential Install | Showrooms
A marvel in Marlow
In a new occasional feature, EI showcases some of the best showrooms in the UK that installers and their customers can access to make their AV, home cinema and automation dreams come true. This month, Marlow based Custom AV Distribution. Jamie Pullen made the move to form Custom AV Distribution (CAVD) in August 2014. His relationship with AV and home cinema product manufacturers and installers alike meant that it was a natural decision. A typical day for Jamie involves sales meetings, writing proposals for luxury AV projects and showroom demonstrations. A more recent recruit, Wayne Hyde, is CAVD’s technical manager. Wayne’s extensive background of working in live sound, sales and as a residential systems designer means that the CAVD team can provide technical support, audio calibration and training for their dealer network. Claire Pullen runs operations for CAVD and is also considered as one of the UK’s leading professionals in projection technology. Claire takes care of the back office on a day-to-day basis, but also supplies UK installers with projection solutions. Once you have found the company HQ tucked away in the beautiful countryside and admired the spectacular population of Red Kites that also live in the area, the inside of the showroom is no less impressive, packing loads into a relatively compact space. Completed in the summer of 2017, the CAVD showroom is available to residential AV dealers to experience the brands and products the company represents. Installers often also take up the opportunity to bring their clients, which of course can be especially useful if they do not have demonstration facilities of their own. At the CAVD showroom, there are three main areas where visitors can experience immersive surround sound, stereo multiroom sound, video projection and mirror TVs. Wayne describes ‘The Lounge Zone’, “Surrounded by a luxurious interior featuring traditional oak beams, cosy seating and smart lighting, our Lounge Zone has been set up to demonstrate the immense Dynaudio ‘Studio’ series speaker system. Switchable between a stereo mode for multiroom audio and surround sound for media rooms, sit back and let yourself be transported into a truly impressive audio experience.”
Having experienced this zone recently, EI has to say, the Dynaudio speakers are particularly worth checking out. All the performance that the brand has been known for down the years is now available in an accessible format for installers.
The Lounge Zone: Installed Products
• Lode Audio LA4-D four zone music streamer • Datasat LS10 audio processor, 15 XLR outputs (13+2LFE), Atmos, DTS:X, Auro,Dirac, 2.0/2.2 • ADA SAK 16X150, 16 channel x 150W at 8 Ohms power amplifier • Dynaudio S4-LCR65 modular speaker system for Left, Centre, Right duties • Dynaudio S4-C80 ceiling speakers for surround/stereo • Dynaudio SUB6 subwoofer for LFE As for the Home Cinema Zone, Wayne explains, “With a combination of high-performance products, this zone hits a price point that’s in-line with typical private theatre installations. Dealers will be treated to a demonstration of 4K, and HDR projection onto the best acoustically transparent screen on the market. “Surround sound has been configured as a 7.2.4 speaker layout optimised for Dolby Atmos playback whilst also supporting DTS:X. Bass and dynamics are rarely represented so well at this price point and this authentic sound system is the way to deliver great audio to a movie loving family.”
Home Cinema Zone: Installed products
• Home Theatre Environment (HTE) La Fenice and acoustic design panelling • JVC DLA-X7700 projector • Screen Excellence Reference Fixed Frame 16:9 with Enlightor NEO S 4K Fabric with black backing • V width: 2680mm/105.5in V heights: 1506mm/59.3in V diagonal: 3074mm/121in • Datasat LS10 audio processor, 15 XLR outputs (13+2LFE), Atmos, DTS:X, Auro, Dirac, 2.0/2.2 • ADA SAK 16X150, 16 channel x 150W at 8 Ohms power amplifier runs surrounds and both LFE subwoofers in parallel mode – 300 W per subwoofer • Audio Excellence Quattro 06 DSP power amplifier, four channels x 600W at 8 Ohms for L,C,R + Bass Extension • Audio Excellence Vertex 2 speakers for Left, Centre, Right • Audio Excellence Raijuu 1 subwoofers linked for Bass Extension to L,C,R • Audio Excellence Raijuu 1 subwoofers linked for the LFE channel • Audio Excellence Vertex 1 speakers for surround, rear surround and Atmos • Audio Excellence In-Wall mounting kits for (3) V2s and (6) V1s
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Essential Install | Showrooms
Dining Room Zone: Installed products • AGATH 49in TV from the In-Wall T2 range with separate Media Module option with standard fit Super Clear Glass option • Nakymatone ECHT invisible ‘plaster over’ loudspeaker (pair) • ADA PTM 1645 16 channel, eight zone power amplifier
Representing a totally hidden AV solution, the Dining Room Zone has been created to deliver the true ‘wow’ factor that so many clients seek. Wayne says, “The totally hidden 49in TV hides behind a beautiful super clear mirror finish and comes to life with a vibrant image when recalled by the control system. Popular for residential bathrooms, dining rooms and commercial spaces such as hotel lobbies and bathrooms. “Clear, precise audio envelopes the listener, emanating from two completely ‘invisible’ loudspeakers either side of the mirror. Plastered and then painted over, the ECHT Nakymatone speakers transform the wall into your source of music. This is luxury custom installation at its best and both brands, AGATH and Nakymatone, prove why they are so popular with installers across the UK.”
So after spending all the hours needed to create this impressive space, what is the team’s favourite part? Wayne enthuses, “I think the newly finished Dynaudio demonstration in the Lounge Zone is now my favourite. Visiting dealers constantly comment ‘That’s without a subwoofer?’ when we demonstrate the surround sound system with the subwoofer disconnected before we connect it! The Left, Centre and Right speakers provide a rich and deep bass experience whilst retaining clear dialogue, sound effects and fast timing. It’s typical of Dynaudio.” Integrators are most welcome to call CAVD on 01628 563344 or email infoatcavd.co.uk to make a booking, and yes, absolutely installers are welcome to bring clients. A warm welcome awaits! CAVD 01628 563344, cavd.co.uk
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EssentialREVIEW Philips 65in OLED 903
Colour me good! This month our CI-focused reviewer, Richard Stevenson, takes a look at the Philips 65in OLED 903.
Is this the best sounding TV since CRT sets?
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EssentialREVIEW Philips 65in OLED 903 After a quiet period, the Philips brand has come back strong with products like the 65OLED903
Philips, once the darling of the European TV market, is making headway into regaining that position with its latest line-up of 4K UHD screens. Since TP Vision took over the production of Philips TVs, the brand has made partnerships with some of the best in the business, while they have also innovated on everything from audio and picture quality, to neat features that help its sets stand-out. In 2018, that formula has seen the brand scoop more five star reviews and annual awards than it has seen for many years. The flagship 65OLED903 maximises that partnership strategy. The 903’s picture is based around a top-spec LG-made 4K OLED panel, the sound is courtesy of a project with Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), and the OS is Google’s finest. The imaging software, industrial design and Ambilight 3 LED rear lighting with Hue integration all come from the geniuses at TP Vision. The new OLED panel is said to deliver a 10% increase in light output over previous generations, allied to the technology’s already class-leading black level and contrast ratio. The latter is further enhanced with HDR10+ support. The company’s own Perfect Natural Reality feature manipulates brightness, sharpness and contrast performance in real-time in an endeavour to give SDR content the same quality and impact as HDR. The panel is driven by the in-house P5 engine. Sound comes courtesy of an innovative B&W speaker. This includes a narrow soundbar below the screen, with separate enclosures for each channel. and a rear-facing bass driver array set into its own enclosure. B&W worked with TP Vision on the amplification and DSP with the aim of creating a soundstage much bigger than typical panel TVs, with lower distortion and improved dialogue clarity. Even the soundbar’s acoustically transparent grille cloth is produced in partnership with leading Danish fabric company Kvadrat. Powered by the Android TV operating system running on a quad core processor with 16GB of expandable onboard memory, the user interface and smarts are slick and fast. Imminent firmware updates will bring a new UI, Google Assistant built-in and Amazon Alexa control of the TV. You get on-board twin tuners for DVB, satellite and HbbTV, with the ability to pause live TV and record to USB. Networking options include dual-band Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Philips Ambilight has been around for some time and arrives here in its third-generation. At the rear of the TV are lines of powerful RGB LEDs, placed along the sides and the top of the screen and projecting onto the wall behind. It can be set to a single colour, track the colours of on-screen content or change with the TV sound. There is also integration with Philips Hue smart lighting, allowing room lamps to sync with the Ambilight colours. The overall package looks stunning even turned off. It is supplied with two remote controls, one with a handy alpha-numeric keyboard on the rear, subtle cross-bar feet for desktop placement and VESA 300 x 300 wall-mount threads.
Performance With a quality 4K feed from the likes of Netflix or a UHD Blu-ray player, the 65OLED903’s picture really pops with stunning contrast, excellent colour saturation and superb detail. HDR content in particular has masses of punch and impact, making even our reference LG OLED65C8 look rather subtle and understated by comparison. HD to 4K scaling is equally impressive with very smooth motion and impressive resolution. We struggled to get skin tones spot-on using the basic picture menus, but calibrators can use the full suite of ISF controls built-in. The dynamic picture presentation is also best observed at a reasonable viewing distance, and we would suggest 3m plus. Up close and personal the picture can look a little granular and unnaturally processed. Calibrated and viewed from a suitable distance, the Philips picture competes head-on with flagship models from LG, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic. Sound-wise, it surpasses them with consummate ease. There are plenty of trims and DSP modes to choose from, but any one of them delivers a sound with scale, robustness and clarity quite unlike any other TV available. B&W has done a first-class job of giving the 65OLED903 perhaps the best on-board sound from any TV since CRT cabinets allowed decent-sized drivers and enclosures. So, could this TV cut out the opportunity to sell and install a soundbar or build an AV system around the TV? Well, no. While the OLED903’s audio is a huge improvement for the flat panel TV genre, a top-spec soundbar and subwoofer combination will still create a much bigger and more engaging sound, particularly with movies. The Philips’ ability to deliver crystal clear dialogue, spacious effects and punchy soundtracks without an absolute need to power up such ancillary sound systems is a real boon for basic, day-to-day viewing convenience. The customer can operate the TV without powering up the soundbar, searching for another remote control or trying to select the correct audio input just to watch EastEnders. B&W’s influence here has made this a superb sounding everyday TV. Ambilight 3 may or may not be an everyday feature as its effect can polarize opinion. This implementation is the brightest and most dynamic yet, each area of the LED array independently responding to the colours of nearby on-screen content. We paired the system with 20 meters of Hue Lightstrip Plus room lighting for an incredibly immersive and/or distractingly annoying effect… depending on your point of view. Football footage turned the room green punctuated by colours of team jerseys when the camera zooms in to players, and it made watching colourful films like Incredibles 2, frankly, trippy. I liked it! Operationally, Android TV is not without its quirks, but these tend to get ironed out quicker than bugs with proprietary platforms. And they all have them. Moreover, seamless integration with Google Apps, Google Assistant, Chromecast and Google Home make this TV a compelling smart home hub that opens the door to offering customers other smart systems and integrations. The 65OLED903 is a design masterpiece TV that brings together best-inclass suppliers and TP Vision’s innovative and sometimes left-field ideas. The result is a TV that stands out in terms of picture punch, built-in sound and potential for CI smart home integration.
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Essential Install | Training Dates
AL LT R A D E
H A B I T EC H
ANTIFERENCE CLEAR FLOW TRAINING
ARCAM - PRODUCT TRAINING (1 DAY COURSE)
DATES/LOCATION: February 19th (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon-1:30pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, February 20th (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon1:30pm) Maidstone Branch, February 21st (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon1:30pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, February 26th (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon-1:30pm) Reading Branch, February 27th (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon1:30pm) Cardiff Branch, February 28th (Foundation 10am-11:30am/Advanced 12noon-1:30pm) Bournemouth Branch COST: Free
DSCR IRS SYSTEM - ADVANCED SKY Q FAULTFINDING, COMMISSIONING & PLANNING (WHYTE & PROMAX) DATES/LOCATION: January 23rd (9:30am) Brighton & Hove Branch COST: Free
INTRODUCTION TO SONOS DATES/LOCATION: February 5th (10am) Brighton & Hove/Bournemouth Branches, February 7th (10am) Hemel Hempstead/Reading Branches (2pm) Maidstone Branch COST: Free
LEVEL 1 UBIQUITI DATES/LOCATION: January 9th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, January 10th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 17th (2pm) Maidstone Branch, January 31st (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, February 20th (2pm) Brighton & Hove and Bournemouth Branches, February 21st (2pm) Reading Branch, February 28th (2pm) Maidstone Branch COST: Free
LEVEL 2 UBIQUITI DATES/LOCATION: January 9th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, January 16th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, February 27th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch COST: Free
INTRODUCTION TO IRS
DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 29th January, 12th March, 7th May, 2nd July, 17th September, 12th November COST: Free
DAHUA (1 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 15th January, 21st February, 19th March, 9th April,15th May, 25th June, 31st July, 4th September, 16th October, 13th November COST: Free
WISDOM AUDIO - PRODUCT TRAINING (1 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 22nd January, 5th March, 14th May, 9th July, 24th September, 5th November COST: Free
WYRESTORM - 4K HDR (1 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 23rd January, 27th February, 20th March, 24th April, 22nd May, 26th June, 24th July, 25th September, 25th October, 27th November COST: Free
WYRESTORM - NETWORK HD (1 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 24th January, 28th February, 21st March, 25th April, 23rd May, 27th June, 25th July, 26th September, 31st October, 28th November COST: Free
YAMAHA COMMERCIAL AUDIO TRAINING (1 DAY COURSE) DATES/LOCATION: Basingstoke; 26th February, 16th April, 21st May, 18th June, 5th September, 17th October, 14th November COST: Free to Habitech customers
MORE INFORMATION »
Habitech 01256 638 500, habitech.co.uk
DATES/LOCATION: January 10th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, January 31st (2pm) Maidstone Branch, February 6th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, February 13th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, February 14th (2pm) Reading Branch, February 28th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch COST: Free
INTRODUCTION TO FIBRE DATES/LOCATION: January 10th (2pm) Maidstone Branch, January 16th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch, January 17th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead Branch, January 30th (2pm) Cardiff Branch, January 31st (2pm) Reading Branch, February 6th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, February 21st (2pm) Maidstone Branch, February 27th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch COST: Free
INTRODUCTION TO CCTV DATES/LOCATION: January 23rd (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, January 24th (2pm) Hemel Hempstead/Maidstone/Reading Branches, January 30th (2pm) Brighton & Hove Branch COST: Free
CAT5E/6, THEIR CONNECTORS AND BEYOND DATES/LOCATION: January 17th (2pm) Reading Branch, January 30th (2pm) Bournemouth Branch, February 14th (2pm) Brighton & Hove/Hemel Hempstead/Maidstone Branches, February 28th (2pm) Reading Branch COST: Free
MORE INFORMATION »
For more information or to book call 0344 225 2700/01273 765180, email training@alltrade.co.uk or visit alltrade.co.uk
56 | December/January 2019 Training Dates.indd 56
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Essential Install | Training Dates
TRAINING DATES SET FOR 2019? Get your training dates included in our training pages for upcoming issues. Contact Daniel Sait to add your training to the next issue. Email: dan@allthingsmedia.com Call: 01634 673 163
Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE
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Essential INSTALL MAGAZINE
WITH EVER-CHANGING STANDARDS, RULES & REGULATIONS, TRAINING HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO THE CUSTOM INSTALL INDUSTRY’S PROGRESSION.
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Essential Install | Products
Essential products
Opulent offerings of AV automation New lacquering techniques mean the gloss versions have an attractive glasslike finish, while the wood versions have open veneers for a warm, natural feeling
Evoking a new era Dynaudio has launched Evoke – a new, five-strong collection of passive speakers designed to bring highend technology, build-quality and luxurious finishes to two channel or home cinema set-ups. Dynaudio says that the Evoke range features advanced technology taken directly from Dynaudio’s high-end Contour line and the top-of-the-range Confidence series (previewed at this year’s Munich High-End show). The range consists of two stand-mounted speakers (Evoke 10 and Evoke 20), two floor-standers (Evoke 30 and Evoke 50) and a dedicated centre-channel (Evoke 25C) that turns the line-up into a full home-cinema system. The new Cerotar tweeter makes its debut in Evoke, a design based on Dynaudio’s award-winning Esotar Forty anniversary tweeter and the powerful Esotar3 found in the new Confidence. Underneath the 28mm soft-dome diaphragm sits the new Hexis inner dome (something you’ll currently only find in Confidence). This optimises the airflow behind the playing surface to smooth-out the tweeter’s frequency response and eliminate unwanted resonances. The new motor has strontium carbonate Ferrite+ ceramic magnets to further increase sensitivity.
The new Esotec+woofers feature Dynaudio’s proprietary MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) in their diaphragms like all the maker’s speakers. The 14cm versions in Evoke 10,30 and 25C have new surrounds and improved Ferrite+ magnet systems to extend their throw, their frequency response and their low-frequency dynamics – all while maintaining stellar midrange performance. The 18cm drivers in Evoke 20 and 50 borrow technology from Contour and Confidence to deliver eyebrow-raising low-frequency dynamics and timing. The Evoke 50’s midrange driver is directly derived from the one in the popular Contour 60. It has a neodymium magnet, plus lightweight materials (including an aluminium voicecoil) specifically optimised for midrange duties. All Evoke speakers feature high-grade crossovers fitted with select components for high-quality performance. Each of the cabinets is available in four finishes: Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut Wood and Blonde Wood. The whole range will begin shipping early in 2019. Further details are available from Dynaudio’s UK distributor Custom AV Distribution. Custom AV Distribution 01628 563344, cavd.co.uk
Tension mounts at Optoma Optoma’s new 4K ISF certified electric tab tensioned screens are described as amongst the easiest in the market to fit
Optoma has just launched two new 4K ISF certified electric screens, suitable for both business and home use, to complement its range of 4K UHD projectors. The 16:9 screens (DE-9120ETT and DE-9106ETT) have been designed with a tension adjustment system that keeps the screen fabric tensioned at every point. The special matte white fabric contains a layer of diamond patterns designed to enhance picture quality and colour and maximise the performance of ultra-high definition content. Bob Johnson, product manager at Optoma Europe says, “As Optoma is the number one brand for 4K UHD projectors worldwide, we have launched these screens to complement our growing range of 4K UHD projectors. The screens will ensure our customers get the best possible experience from their equipment whether this be for business or home use – screening movies or sharing presentations.” As well as the ISF certification, Optoma claims the 106in and 120in screens feature one of the best mounting systems on the market, making them quick and easy to install. Two small L-shaped brackets, fit to the wall or ceiling anywhere along the length of the case. Once the screen is clipped into the brackets an aluminium level secures it in position. The IR receiver on the front of the curved case can be controlled with a simple handheld remote. If the screen is installed behind a pelmet, or recessed into the ceiling, a small external IR eye is also included. Its 12V trigger input allows the screen to be activated from any projector or AV control system with a 12-volt output. Optoma 01923 691 800, optoma.co.uk
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Loki Cinemascope The new Barco Residential Loki Cinemascope laser projector offers the same Ultra HD enhancements as his Loki stablemate, coupled with a high-capacity 2.37:1 aspect DLP engine. This exceptional design allows a 2.40:1 film to be shown without requiring an anamorphic lens. In partnership with Genesis Technologies and Meridian Audio, we help you create the very best home cinema and media room experience for your customers. 路 Motorized DCI notch filters 路 HDR10
To find out more contact neil@genesistechnologies.co.uk or design@meridian.co.uk
路 HDMI 2.0a 路 HDCP 2.2
www.barco.com/residential
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Essential Install | Products
Arcam has joined the IMAX Enhanced party
Arcam joins IMAX Enhanced Programme The IMAX Enhanced initiative, which is designed to bring next level audio and visual experiences into the home, has received a boost with Arcam announcing its partnership with the programme. IMAX Enhanced is a new certification and licensing programme combining high-quality consumer electronics products with IMAX digitally re-mastered 4K HDR content and DTS audio technologies created to offer consumers a new level of quality in immersive sight and sound experiences for the home. The debut line of IMAX Enhanced Arcam AV receivers will comprise the AVR390, AVR550, AVR850 and AV860, and will be available to buy from Q4 this year. As one of the programme’s initial licensees, the Cambridge-based maker will offer a line of IMAX Enhanced Arcam AV receivers, enabling consumers to experience the IMAX signature sound mix, delivered by DTS, and all with the power and grace of Arcam’s remarkable line of AV engines, says the maker. To become IMAX Enhanced-certified, consumer electronics manufacturers must meet stringent performance standards, set by a certification committee comprised of IMAX and DTS engineers and some of Hollywood’s leading technical specialists. Arcam enthuses that those settling down to a home movie with audio powered by an IMAX Enhanced Arcam AV receiver can expect a heart-pounding immersive sonic experience. Arcam’s IMAX Enhanced AV receivers feature DTS:X immersive audio decoding that is optimised to properly reproduce the full dynamic range of IMAX theatrical sound mixes available in IMAX Enhanced content. With meticulous adjustments modelled on the IMAX theatrical sound system, this proprietary IMAX audio mix is translated for home theatre environments and exclusively delivered using a special variant of the DTS:X codec technology to deliver the IMAX signature sound experience in the home. Additionally, IMAX says it is working with its global studio and content partners to make available a steady stream of IMAX Enhanced versions of blockbuster movies and additional programming. Arcam 01223 203 200, arcam.co.uk
James Loudspeaker expands SPL3-Series James Loudspeaker gets big screen TV friendly
Increased popularity and lower price points of 75-inch displays has resulted in increased market demand for premium sound bar solutions from the CI channel, so James Loudspeaker has expanded this series to match 75in TVs. James Loudspeaker has introduced the SPL3LCR-75 sound bar engineered to provide an off-the-shelf, cost-effective premium solution for integrators. The maker will now keep this fixed-width model in stock to accommodate increased demand. Integrators will still have access to the limitless custom sound bar solutions (#custom) from James Loudspeaker as well. The James Loudspeaker SPL3LCR-75 is a complete entertainment solution, designed to provide left and right-channel audio into any space. This new model is available in satin black with a width of 65 7/8in, which matches the smallest measurement of any recently introduced 75in display from the Samsung or Sony lineups. The SPL3LCR-75 is a scant 1.5in deep, delivers bass down to 80Hz and comes with a sturdy Z-bracket for seamless wall mounting. “Integrators have been asking for a cost-effective solution that fits these displays because there are so many 75in TVs from Sony and Samsung in the sub-$3000 price range,” explains national sales director Keith Parke. “The $1,700 price point for a premium sound bar from James Loudspeaker to match these new displays makes perfect sense for the custom integration channel.” The SPL3LCR-75 sound bar is available now and joins the family of solutions from James Loudspeaker including SPL3 sound bars for 65in sets and 55in sets. Pulse Cinemas +44 (0) 1279 647039 pulsecinemas.com
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THE SMART HOMES OF THE FUTURE
REGISTER NOW
Explore smart building technologies at ISE 2019 Discover the latest smart technologies and solutions that are driving this fast-moving market sector. ISE and the Smart Building Conference are the must-attend events for AV professionals working in smart buildings.
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Essential Install | Products
A Fyne trio of bass boosters Recent entrant into the AV space, Fyne Audio has launched the F3 Series, a trio of affordable subwoofers packing blockbuster bass and classic style. Seismic bass doesn’t have to cost the earth, says Fyne and the company adds that its new Audio F3 Series delivers innovative DDX Direct Digital amplification, advanced DSP and the maker’s extensive know-how in driver and cabinet design at a keen price. From £299.99 for the punchy F3-8 up to the ‘mighty’ F3-12 at £599.99, the F3 Series subwoofers boast high power amplifiers, deep bass extension and a choice of controls for convenient integration. The F3 cabinets are heavyweight and extensively braced, with large diameter ports using a mathematical derived flare profile at both ends for extremely low turbulence. The black oak finish cabinets are fitted with large, compliant feet that are kinder to floors and offer better room coupling than spikes. Fyne’s front-mounted F3 Series drivers major on deep bass with fast transient attack. The cone material is formed with a unique mix of fibres to create a light and stiff piston, with rubber roll surround and deep coil assembly affording long throw excursion and high-power handling. The maker says the range exploits the benefits of cutting-edge electronic technology, using Direct Digital Amplification (DDX) throughout. DDX builds on Class D technology with higher power, better efficiency, lower RFI output and enhanced sonic characteristics. Fyne says the result is a clean, muscular sounding amplifier with extremely low distortion and plenty of headroom. The F3 Series advanced DSP engine has enabled control features normally only found in much more expensive subs, argues Fyne. In addition to switchable LFE / Normal input, phase reverse and signal sensing power on, all F3 subs boast automatic dynamic range management and overload protection and Fyne’s Bass Boost function. This feature gives a +3dB lift through critical movie LFE frequencies to deliver an immersive and engaging home theatre experience. All the units are available now. Fyne Audio 0141 428 4008, fyneaudio.com
Fyne time to add some bass
McIntosh slims down flagship
Slimmer, but still powerful, the XRT1.1K
The trend of taking flagship technology and scaling it down in both size and price continues. McIntosh is the latest company to take this approach, with the firm scaling down its XRT2.1K loudspeaker and taking much of that technology and offering it in a smaller, more affordable package. The new XRT1.1K loudspeaker has been priced at just £59,995, which is significantly less than the £137,500 price tag carried by its bigger sibling. Despite the price drop, much of the technology remains the same. That includes a nanocarbon-driver, which debuted on the XRT2.1K, but will now be available at the new lower price point. Despite the inclusion of similar technologies, the XRT1.1K is noticeably different from its bigger sibling. It’s 35cm shorter and 78kg lighter, while there’s a total of 70 individual drivers; compared to the XRT2.1K’s 81 drivers. The new model’s drivers consist of four bass drivers, two low-frequency mid-range drivers, 24 upper-frequency mid-range drivers and 40 tweeters, which means the number of lower-frequency mid-range drivers has remained the same as the XRT2.1K, while there are two fewer bass drivers, five fewer tweeters and four fewer upper-frequency mid-range drivers. Thankfully, the bass driver and low-frequency midrange driver technology has been directly lifted from the XRT2.1K and incorporated into the XRT1.1K. Each loudspeaker is hand-made in New York, while the seven-layer high-gloss piano black finish gives it a premium look. The XRT1.1K’s design, a four-way ported arrangement, uses McIntosh’s line array driver configuration to yield a wide and even sound field. With McIntosh’s line array design, listeners closer to the XRT1.1K will not be overpowered by extremely high volumes as they will only be on-axis to a portion of the drivers; listeners farther away will be on-axis to more of the drivers and will be able to hear the music without any large drop-off in sound level or quality. The speaker grilles feature black-knit cloth with high-gloss trim; the grilles can be removed via magnetic fasteners to expose the drivers. The base plate is made of machined aluminium and glass. It has four adjustable feet that allow the speaker to make contact with the floor, thus eliminating a possible source of distortion or vibration amplifiers and other products. MicIntosh mcintoshlabs.com
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Essential Install | Products
Crestron gets touchy feely Crestron has announced that ekey biometric systems GmbH, a leading provider of fingerprint access solutions, is now an official Crestron integration partner. The wall-mounted ekey finger scanners integrate with Crestron 3-Series control systems allowing Crestron residential integrators to introduce one-touch door entry to their smart home designs. Crestron argues fingerprint door entry also enhances security by eliminating hackable four-digit codes and the possibility of key or access card forgery. “ekey and Crestron took up the challenge of making door entry more secure and convenient,” says Michael Short, global residential marketing manager for Crestron. “To deliver on that, we focused on one of the aspects that makes us unique as human beings – fingerprints. Now, in essence, your finger is the key to your Crestron smart home.” ekey products are designed to provide a convenient, secure, and simple alternative to conventional entry access. They leverage biometric processes to provide added security, and make stolen keys, cards, and forgotten passwords or codes a thing of the past. It’s impossible for home owners to lock themselves out, as their finger is always, literally, on hand. They provide the additional benefit of enabling building control systems to track who’s coming in. Georg Schaffer, head of export, ekey biometric systems, says, “As a specialist in finger print technology and a proven vendor of outdoor rated fingerprint readers, we are very excited about our partnership with Crestron and the possibilities of this advanced integration. It’s like turning Crestron into a biometric access control system by itself, featuring simplified administration centrally via – for instance – a Crestron touch screen. By saving multiple fingerprints of individual users, different functions can be triggered. Whereas your right index finger will become your new key for unlocking your front door, your left index finger will trigger a silent alarm when used under duress.” Easy to install and administer, ekey products are currently compatible with Crestron 3-Series control systems with a RS485 COM port, and SIMPL Windows software. Crestron 0845 873 8787, crestron.eu
The tide comes in at Plex
Crestron and ekay are now compatible
Content delivery platform Plex has announced the addition of highquality music service Tidal, to its offering and has also worked out some innovative ways to combine it Tidal is now part of the Plex offering with a user’s own existing library. Users gain access to Tidal’s 60 million high-quality music tracks, 244,000+ videos, and unique editorial content. This partnership adds access to TIDAL into the Plex app, with an exclusive subscription deal that amplifies both services. Plex and TIDAL deliver two subscriptions to high-quality media services, for one price. Plex users can enjoy TIDAL’s s music catalogue, original and exclusive content, concert live streams, and curated playlists on its own, or to augment a personal music collection, seamlessly within the Plex apps. With Plex, TIDAL users will now be able to merge many of their disparate media apps, bringing their favourite music alongside podcasts, web shows, live TV, recorded movies and shows, and their own personal media collections. The company is also offering a free 30-day trial to intro the new service. “An incredible music and media experience is something that matters to both TIDAL and Plex users, and the addition of TIDAL’s music streaming service within Plex makes it the only solution that organises and curates all major media types in one place,” says Keith Valory, CEO of Plex. “It’s another step closer to making all the media that matters to you accessible from one app, on any device, anytime.” Lior Tibon, COO of TIDAL, adds, “Plex’s focus on high-quality content aligns perfectly with the unique music and content experience that TIDAL fans love. Partnering with Plex is part of our continued strategy of integrating TIDAL seamlessly into subscribers’ lives with a one-stop shop like Plex.” The launch of music streaming with TIDAL follows the recent launches of Plex News, Plex Web Shows and Plex Podcasts, enabling Plex to deliver a variety of third-party content from some of the newest and most popular forms of digital entertainment. Plex plex.tv
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EIBackCoverV6.pdf
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24/05/2018
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BENQ
PRISMASONIC
FORTRESS SEATING
LUTRON
PARADIGM
VICOUSTIC
AUDIO CONTROL
ANTHEM
KALEIDESCAPE
PIXELGEN
SCREEN RESEARCH
D-BOX
NEAR SPEAKERS
FURMAN
BGW
JAMES LOUDSPEAKER
STORM AUDIO
DIGITAL PROJECTION
www.pulsecinemas.com Untitled-5 1
info@pulsecinemas.com
CRESTRON
LOEWE
Tel: 01279 647 039 24/05/2018 11:15