NOVEMBER 2020
THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY
FINALLY NO COMPROMISE
THE FUTURE OF INSTALL ITS CRYSTAL BALL TIME!
SECURITY
CYBERCRIME TIME
MATRIX, SIGNAL MANAGEMENT ADAPT TO DOMINATE
16x16 4K 18Gbps MATRI X SU P P OR TIN G
NEW C U S T O M P R O
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PRO16HBT100CS
Custom Pro Matrix Hub featuring 16 x HDMI 2.0 inputs, 16 x HDBaseT™ outputs (4K 60Hz 4:4:4 to 70m, 1080p up to 100m) and 12 x simultaneous HDMI 2.0 outputs. J Supports 4K UHD video up to 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 (18Gbps) over HDBaseT™ using Colour Space Conversion up to 70m at 4K 60Hz 4:4:4, or up to 100m at 1080p J 16 x analogue L/R audio inputs which can be embedded onto corresponding HDMI / HDBaseT™ zone outputs J Audio breakout board with line-level volume control J 3rd Party drivers available for major commercial & residential control brands
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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 J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI 2.0 18Gbps specification over HDBaseT™ J Supports 4K resolutions including HDR (4K 60Hz 4:4:4) to a distance of 40m
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1080p up to 150m
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J Advanced Colour Space Conversion (CSC) supports HDMI2.0 18Gbps specification including HDR support
M U L T I C A S T
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4 K
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45 18
27 51
CONTENTS
November 2020
4 FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR
32 PMC
7 ESSENTIAL NEWS
INTEGRATED AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TVs
18 PULSE CINEMAS
23 TIME TO CHOOSE TV
20 ESSENTIAL CEDIA
27 BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED
34 SMART THINKING
53 SMART AV DISTRIBUTION
Let’s work together!
A right royal news round-up The power of integrated automated audio Calibration is what you need! Neil Truckell, Director, Acoustic Energy, stands up for stand-alone
FEATURES
The new CI Series
AWE builds the case for OLED Mirror image for full integration The power of Ajax!
54 CASE STUDY
Jung takes control on Chelsea Island
14 HABITECH AND SONANCE Finally, no compromise!
61 ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS Top toytastic time
YOUR DISTRIBUTOR www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk
23 14 34 THE FUTURE OF INSTALL
SECURITY
30 SMART DUST
45 CYBERSECURITY FOR HOMEWORKERS
Chris Turner, MD of Faradite
Jeffrey Singer, Executive Director, Global Residential Marketing, Crestron
31 SAY HI TO CI-FI
Any Oattes, UK & Ireland Sales Director at Fine Sounds UK
MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT
48 SECURING YOUR SYSTEMS
Iain Gordon, KNX UK Association Vice-President and founder of smart building install company GES Digital
47 POSITIVE PROTECTION
36 ALL CHANGE?
Ophir David, Product Manager, Kramer
Stuart Tickle, MD at AWE Europe
38 MATRIX REVOLUTIONS
Martin Ellis, CEO at matrix and signal management specialist, Pulse-Eight
42 CYP
Insight from the coalface
FOR Smart Home www.avoke.co.uk | av@avoke.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2020
THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR THE AV AND SMART HOME INDUSTRY
pages 14–15
FINALLY NO COMPROMISE
THE FUTURE OF INSTALL ITS CRYSTAL BALL TIME!
SECURITY
CYBERCRIME TIME
MATRIX, SIGNAL MANAGEMENT ADAPT TO DOMINATE
NOVEMBER
LET’S WORK TOGETHER! One thing EI was certainly hoping would not be the subject looming over the industry at this point in the year is the COVID 19 situation, however events – and let’s be honest here – government incompetence, have both contributed to keeping this issue in the headlines. As regional lockdowns come into place and Wales starts a two-week lockdown, EI is reminded of the thoughts in an earlier comment where we touched on the idea of self-reliance, where the industry would have to make sensible choices and come up with workable tactics to cope with the pandemic as well as taking advantage of any centralised initiatives. This is of course still the case, but EI is keen to look forward and not dwell too much on the current situation, as the idea of self-reliance and creating our own opportunities should be a permanent mantra for an industry such as ours: we create the technology we work with, why not the opportunities as well? Many installation companies take the time to make sure their staff are fully trained on all the latest kit, meaning the firm can take advantage of all the technologies that customers are going to want. It’s not always easy as it can be costly in terms of cash and time, but It’s worth it in the long run. Other forms of self-reliance include of
course finding effective ways to advertise the products and services we deliver, again not easy, but worth mastering. All these are obvious examples, however what may be slightly less obvious are the opportunities that present themselves when building relationships with other trades, and EI does not just mean the most logical ones such as electricians, cabinet makers and interior designers. Success can be found in less obvious relationships, the only real prerequisite is that there has to be shared interest in the same client group. So when thinking about possible collaborations to drive awareness and create more work opportunities, think laterally, think locally, try and identify businesses who are trying to reach the same people you are and see if mutually beneficial events, information sharing or initiatives that can come from it. A good way to start this process can be taking the time to go to local networking sessions for businesses (COVID-permitting). Again – perhaps an obvious example, but you never know who you are going to meet and where it might end up. It’s an old, hackneyed phrase, but ‘spending time on your business instead of in your business’, really can pay off, often in unexpected ways. Daniel J Sait Editor
Connecting with other trades from a wide cross section can pay dividends
04 NOVEMBER 2020
GETTING IN TOUCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Daniel Sait, dan@allthingsmedialtd.com
SALES DIRECTOR
Ian Kitchener, ian@allthingsmedialtd.com
GROUP AD MANAGER
Claire Talty, claire@allthingsmedialtd.com
PUBLISHER
David Kitchener, david@allthingsmedialtd.com
STUDIO MANAGER
Mark Weller, mark@allthingsmedialtd.com
ACCOUNTS
susan@allthingsmedialtd.com
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SOCIALS /INSTALL_MAG /ESSENTIALINSTALL Whilst we make every effort that everything printed in Essential Install magazine is factually correct, we cannot be held responsible if factual errors occur. All articles are copyright and remain the property of Essential Install magazine.
DALI
No compromise in-wall audio Enjoy unparalleled audio performance from a discreet, in-wall speaker solution with the DALI PHANTOM M Series. Comprising of two models, PHANTOM M-250 and PHANTOM M-375, the series is ideal for home cinema or stereo use. With integrated sealed back-boxes and a mounting depth of only 100mm, each model delivers best-in-class sound along with quick and easy installation.
PHANTOM M -375
PHANTOM M -250
The slim yet powerful DALI PHANTOM M series has been developed with versatility in mind so can be easily integrated into a variety of audio systems. Both models offer spacious and room-filling DALI sound - without physically dominating your living space.
Download whitepaper, product sheet and more at: www.dali-speakers.com/phantom
Cabinet Dimensions: 250mm x 775mm x 100mm
PHANTOM M
Laser TV. Deliver more drama and wow-factor than even the largest flat panel TV with a colossal 120� of 4K laser-projection, on a motorised vertically-rising screen.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
&
Contact a Laser TV Specialist today on 01684 576 348 or team@oneav.co.uk
.co.uk
NEWS
NEWS CEDIA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2020 EMEA CEDIA AWARDS Matt Nimmons, Managing Director of CEDIA EMEA began the digital ceremony by welcoming attendees to the 2020 awards and taking a trip down memory lane by looking back at past events. Following an address from Tabatha O’Connor, outgoing CEDIA President and CEO and CEDIA Board of Directors Chairman, Rob Sutherland, the ceremony began, with the event sponsors revealing the 2020 winners, which included an EMEA Global winner. The event also featured video messages from CEDIA Award winners and interviews with CEDIA members who have supported their community during the pandemic. Also included was a cocktail masterclass featuring one-of-a-kind craft cocktails that were designed for the sponsors. “This year’s event was a special one,” commented Matt Nimmons. “While we weren’t all in the same room, I enjoyed teaming up with our sponsors to announce the winners and I know that many members gathered with their teams for socially distanced watch parties. It’s been a challenging year for all, but our members delivered some fantastic projects this year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 CEDIA Awards.” The EMEA CEDIA Awards 2020 event was supported by platinum sponsor, Monitor Audio; gold sponsors, Blustream, Crestron, Ring, and Samsung; and silver sponsor, Habitech. Full list of CEDIA Winners Home Cinema Level I Winner: Sound Sense (India) – The Dark Night Home Cinema Level II Winner: Cyberhomes (UK) – Spinney Integrated Home Level I Winner: Intuitive Homes & Ultamation (UK) – The Manor House Integrated Home Level II Winner: Henri (France) – Villa Africa Highly Commended: Awicon Technologies (India) Jashn Bagh Integrated Home Level III Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It Highly Commended: Perfect Integration (UK) – Beaconsfield Brilliance
Media Room Level I Winner: M.E.G.A. AV Installations (UK) – Retro Media Room Media Room Level II Winner: Perfect Integration (UK) – Loft Luxury Multiple Dwelling Unit Design Winner: Perfect Integration (UK) – The Turner at Park Crescent Best Dressed Rack Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It Best Documentation Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It Highly Commended: Perfect Integration (UK) – The Turner at Park Crescent Highly Commended: Sound Sense (India) – The Dark Night Best Lighting Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It Best Hardware Winner: Lithe Audio – Pro Series wireless ceiling speaker Best Software Winner: Trinnov – Audio Optimizer
New Savant Pro Remote X2 Completely redesigned in an all-new sleek and minimalist design, the new X2 features a 3.1” touch screen with voice control and Siri integration, end-user personalisation features, multi-room support, and quick touchscreen access to Savant scenes, settings and services. Available in a range of finishes, including Jet Black and Rose Gold, contact us to order your Pro Remote X2 now!
Best Training Winner: Habitech Best Trade Supplier Winner: Gallo Acoustics Life Lived Best at Home Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It Technology Meets Design Winner: Henri (France) – Villa Africa Best Integrated Home – Global Winner: SONA (UK) – The I’s Have It (EMEA)
For further information on Savant, contact the industry professionals at RGB Communications.
Best Home Cinema – Global Winner: Audio Images (USA) – KA Theater Best Media Room – Global Winner: Boutique AV(Australia) – Bespoke Art Deco Media Room
rgbcomms.co.uk or call us today on
01488 73366 Best Home Cinema Level I winner was Sound Sense for The Dark Night
RGB Head Office, 2 Lambourn Business Park, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford, RG17 7RY
Distributor of the Year Finalist
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NOVEMBER 2020 07 EI Strip Ads September.indd 1
21/08/2020 13:2
TRULY INVISIBLE FULL R ANGE AUDIO We believe that Stealth Acoustics LRx series are the finest invisible speakers available. We challenge you to compare Stealth Acoustics to your current invisible speaker brand and move to the next level in performance and commercial benefits. Book a meeting with our sales team to start the challenge: bit.ly/Book-GTUK-Meeting
NORTH UK AND IRELAND
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Alan Briggs M: 07342 190 051 E: alan@genesistechnologies.co.uk
Jay Singh M: 07584 460 209 E: jay@genesistechnologies.co.uk
YOUR PARTNER IN EXCELLENCE
NEWS
HABITECH WINS CEDIA’S BEST TRAINING INITIATIVE FOR 2020 UK Habitech, specialist distributor to residential and commercial CI, is delighted to have delivered CEDIA’s Best Training Initiative for 2020. As a key service obligation to custom integrators, the quality of product training is a leading measure of the value added by any distributor to their businesses, says the company. Habitech says its commitment to training proficiency combined with an ability to identify new trends in technology and product demand has allowed the company to develop better focussed and more productive support for customers. This award, which recognises Habitech’s training creativity over the last year - including the shift to webinar training during lockdown - is especially appreciated and valued, coming as it does from the CI pros that Habitech endeavours to serve every day of the week. To offer remote training under COVID regulations Habitech invested in a webinar platform, which allowed the company to broadcast live training with interactive Q&A from participants. Habitech tasked its product managers to adapt their course content to
remote learning and as full lockdown arrived, training manager Justin Martin-Lawrence built engaging and relevant content, delivering over 60 webinars for more than 2,500 attendees in total. Commenting, Habitech MD Jonathan Pengilley, says, “We are absolutely delighted to have received the recognition of CEDIA members once again. The 2020 Best Training is very special to us, coming at a time when physical interaction proved impossible. Above all it demonstrates the ingenuity of this industry to be productive no matter what comes down the line. A big thank you to all the integrators who voted for us; we know you have a choice of suppliers and really appreciate your support.” The 2020 CEDIA Training Award complements a Best Trade Supplier Finalist Award this year and other CEDIA awards successes for Habitech including the 2015 Best Training Initiative Award and Best Trade Supplier Awards in 2014, 2018 and 2019. Habitech habitech.co.uk
Whole home lighting control made simple with RA2 Select Enjoy personalised and flexible smart lighting and shade control for any home and budget, with RA2 Select. Adjust your lighting to suit your mood with Lutron’s range of control interfaces, including easy to use plug-in dimmers that add smart dimming to any table or floor lamp.
For further information on Lutron, contact the industry professionals at RGB Communications.
INCORPORATE THE LIGHTING DESIGNER FOR LESS Electrical
contractors,
lighting
designers
and
technology integrators are increasingly finding themselves working alongside each other to design and specify integrated lighting systems. While working with the same goal in mind, all three professionals have their own responsibility on the project. The electrical contractors understand the mathematics and the requirements for electrically correct and safe electrical systems, while lighting designers focus on fixtures, colour temperature and colour rendering indexes and the technology integrators deal with lighting control systems, installation and specific lighting control systems.
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All three of these elements need to be compatible, specified alongside each other, and installed correctly to make sure they work. However, with the three professions not necessarily understanding what the others are working on, there’s often room for mistakes. The Lighting Designer (TLD), with its cloud-based design and specification tool that has been developed for the lighting industry, feels it has an important role to play here. TLD created its software to allow all three professions to use the same system, inputting their relevant information and creating a working document that covers all aspects of the job.
rgbcomms.co.uk or call us today on
01488 73366 RGB Head Office, 2 Lambourn Business Park, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford, RG17 7RY
Distributor of the Year Finalist
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NOVEMBER 2020 09 EI Strip Ads September.indd 2
21/08/2020 13:2
The Gramercy & Nero
the benchmark for luxury theater seating
The Ferrier A triple-motorized incline mechanism allows the user to operate the footrest, backrest and headrest INDEPENDENTLY from one-another. This allows the user to ensure maximum comfort by fine-tuning their preferred seating position.
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NEWS
With two different approaches - ‘top down’ and ‘bottom up’ – whether you are a technology integrator who uses a programming software like Crestron D3 Pro or Lutron HomeWorks, or an electrical contractor or lighting designer who marks up the lighting requirements on a design drawing or spreadsheet, this information can quickly and easily be added into TLD. “Since our launch in June, registered users have been working on projects in TLD and it’s been fantastic to see the way in which the software has improved the design and specification process for
them,” comments Guy Singleton, TLD’s inventor. In the background, we’ve been working hard to develop new tools and fine tune any issues that we’ve come across along the way. We believe that the software saves integrators, electrical contractors and lighting designers both time and money and provides them with a more efficient way of working on
19” RACK SPECIALISTS!
lighting projects.” The Lighting Designer thelightingdesigner.com
Part of the Infrastructure range from
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Installers can sign up for TLD from £200
YEARS AND COUNTING!
ESSENTIAL PEOPLE Integrated security manufacturer TDSi is pleased to announce the appointment of Zara Taylor as Marketing Manager. Zara, who is based at the company’s global headquarters in Poole, Dorset, is overseeing the company’s ongoing and rapidly expanding digital and marketing strategies. TDSi’s Managing Director, John Davies commented, “We’re excited at the prospect of seeing Zara’s skills being put to work, as we take our marketing activity to the next level with a good dose of Millennial thinking and knowhow. Zara’s knowledge of the digital and social landscape will add fresh impetus to our marketing drive, as we bring new products out of our development pipeline and augment our sales channel strategies, both at home and abroad. I know that Zara will have a positive impact on our activities, and I’m delighted she’s now a part of the team.”
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Having graduated from the University of Northampton in 2017 with a First-Class BA in Fashion Marketing, Zara has worked in the marketing industry for three years for a variety of different industries including: hospitality, automotive, fashion and now security. Zara stated, “I am very excited to be leading TDSi’s continued vanguard into the digital world, which is a vital part of the security industry’s continued growth and evolution. Security needs are universal across all industries and our customers and potential customers operate across all vertical sectors, so it is vital that we continue to deliver relevant and exciting messaging to all these audiences through all digital channels. We have many exciting developments taking place at TDSi which we will be unveiling over the coming months and into 2021, and I look forward to being a key part of this.” Paul Bayliss joins Custom AV Distribution as Business Development Manager. Many people will be familiar with Paul already who has been in the industry for a number of years with PMC, Marata Vision and Gecko Home Cinema.
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Available from the experts at
rgbcomms.co.uk or call us today on
01488 73366 RGB Head Office, 2 Lambourn Business Park, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford, RG17 7RY
Distributor of the Year Finalist
NOVEMBER 2020 11
NEWS
Jamie Pullen, Managing Director of Custom AV Distribution, said, “We are delighted to have Paul onboard. His background in high end audio and video adds to our strength as a company and will add value to the integrators we work with.” Pro Audio Technology (PRO) and Theory Audio Design (Theory) have announced the appointment of Mark Goldman to VP of Sales, supporting both brands and overseeing domestic and international markets. Mark has deep roots in the AV industry, bringing over 30 years of experience selling high-end audio, and also owning premier AV integration company, Sound Components, for over 20 years. Mark joins the companies at an exciting time as PRO is on track to have its best year in its 16-year history, and Theory is building significant momentum in both the residential and commercial markets since shipping began in early 2020. Having Mark on board will only further drive growth across the two brands and he will be a tremendous resource for their global network of reps, distributors and dealers. “Working for one of PRO’s premium dealers afforded me exposure to the PRO and Theory brands, the products’ nearly limitless performance capabilities and impressive engineering,” said Mark. “When experiencing demonstrations of the PRO and Theory systems first hand, I felt the same spark I had when I started working in AV in the ‘90s. I am a firm believer that you need to be passionate about what you sell to be successful, and I know I can stand behind PRO and Theory with confidence. I look forward to leveraging my lifelong experience in audio and custom integration to drive growth across these distinguished brands.” Atlona, a Panduit company, has promoted David Shamir to VP of Product Management. Reporting to Atlona co-founder and CEO Ilya Khayn, David will continue to lead the company’s product strategy while expanding his responsibilities to oversee engineering and product development. David takes on his new role as the AV industry navigates many disruptive changes, from technology transitions to pandemic-driven shifts in how people work and learn. Combining product management and engineering leadership into a single role streamlines Atlona’s internal processes, increasing the company’s agility and responsiveness to rapidly evolving market needs.
“Our industry was already very dynamic and constantly changing, but the pandemic has accelerated many existing trends while making AV more critical in environments such as small and home offices,” said David. “With Covid-19, things are changing by the minute, making it challenging to accurately predict how the AV market will evolve. We will stay as nimble as possible to address our customers’ changing needs, while offering flexible solutions that help them adapt to world conditions and whatever their ‘new normal’ becomes.” Having successfully completed 25 installations, Together for Cinema has expanded its team to ensure it can continue to bring the industry together and deliver cinemas to hospice projects across the UK. Ian Morrish, who founded Together for Cinema in 2009, will remain a key figure and will now be supported by Wendy Griffiths from trade body, CEDIA, Melanie Malcolm from Leeds-based integration firm, Bespoke Home Cinemas and Shereen Russell and Jeff Hayward from marketing agency, Wildwood PR. “The original target for Together for Cinema was to complete 25 projects by 2020, which we’ve now reached with our cinema room for the White Lodge Centre in Chertsey,” said Ian. “From the start, the industry has pulled together to support Together for Cinema with home technology integrators, suppliers and brands all offering their services and products for free. The level of backing has been, quite frankly, staggering and the feedback from hospices on the enjoyment these spaces have provided to children, older residents, their families and staff has been emotional but so rewarding for everyone involved. “For these reasons, I’m determined to take Together for Cinema forward to achieve the next 25 installations, but I recognise that it’s grown to be much more than a one-person job,” he added. “In different ways, Wendy, Melanie, Shereen and Jeff have all supported Together for Cinema up to this point and they’ll now be joining me more formally on the Together for Cinema team to help with finding, organising and marketing the next series of projects.” The new team has already started planning the next batch of installs, with the 26th project due to begin at the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield in 2021. Melanie will be managing this project along with her team at Bespoke Home Cinemas. Together for Cinema is actively looking for integrators and brands to get on board for future installations.
Together for Cinema recently completed its 25th install at the White Lodge Centre in Chertsey
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NOVEMBER 2020 13
ESSENTIAL HABITECH
Sonance Motion Flex: finally, invisible speakers that sound like their visible counterparts
FINALLY, NO COMPROMISE Promising the performance of visible speakers, the new Sonance Motion Flex Invisible range changes everything, says Habitech’s Jonathan Pengilley. In 1983 Scott Struthers and Geoff Spencer put a speaker in a wall and changed home audio forever. Since then the big CI mission has been to make AV disappear, with the company they founded leading the charge. Instinctively, America’s most influential CI speaker maker builds products by ‘degrees of invisibility’ from the super-stealthy VPs and Architectural Series to the ultimate expression of Sonance ethos: the completely invisible speaker. But as any engineer will tell you, the design downside to invisibles of every stripe has always been sound quality. Even though the disappearing form-factor makes perfect sense aesthetically, too many dealers have shied away from the idea because they didn’t believe that consumers would get the sound they deserved. Consequently the ‘holy grail’ for every brand has been to make invisibles sound like visible speakers. For Sonance it’s a philosophical
14 NOVEMBER 2020
challenge as much as a commercial one, as chief engineer Todd Ryan explains: “if an invisible speaker could reproduce sound with the quality level of a visible speaker then that would be the ultimate promise of the brand”. Today, with the arrival of the Motion Flex Invisible range, that promise has been kept.
THE GREATEST WOW OF ALL
It’s taken two years of research into the physics of flat diaphragms to refine the ideal marriage of aesthetics and acoustics. Traditionally the drivers inside all invisible speakers, including Sonance models, are mounted to a metal frame and drive the diaphragm directly and simultaneously. But there’s nothing to stop the waves from the mid driver rippling outwards to interfere with those from the bass driver on the same radiating surface, boosting distortion and colouration. It’s a recipe for acoustic disaster and, as it turns out, completely avoidable. Because, in a breakthrough for invisible speaker design, Sonance has found a way to isolate discrete wave patterns on a single diaphragm for optimum fidelity. First the team recalibrated its Klippel laser scanning tools (designed to study the micro behaviour of cone diaphragms) to map the movement of flat surfaces, revealing that
different drivers produce very distinct responses in the diaphragm: mid/hf drivers create a bending wave motion while woofers generate a totally different pistonic movement. Armed with this proprietary knowledge, the team devised a blend of four innovations to ensure that the two waveforms can successfully co-exist on the same panel. They called it Motion Flex technology.
THE FRONT DIAPHRAGM
The new diaphragm is made from FibreReinforced Polymer (FRP), selected for its exceptional temperature/dimensional stability and leading acoustic and vibrational performance. Covering the diaphragm is a paper, matching the properties of gypsum wall board to allow the topping compound to dry evenly without cracking.
THE TRANSDUCERS
Custom designed for the project, the allnew ‘Wave Flex’ mid/hf driver has a wide response from 30kHz down to lower midrange frequencies where it crosses over to the proprietary ‘Air Flex’ carbon-fibre woofer. As part of the Motion Flex approach, the woofer couples to a chamber of air behind the diaphragm, and it’s the air rather than the woofer itself that drives the panel, producing a uniformly pistonic surface motion.
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ESSENTIAL HABITECH
THE ISOLATING BAFFLE AND CDX CROSSOVER
Unlike typical invisible speaker designs and according to Hi-Fi lore, the Motion Flex drivers are installed within a rigid baffle, in this case formed from a fire-proof alloy of Polycarbonate and ABS. Between the drivers and at the periphery, the baffle is permanently bonded to the diaphragm, allowing the area in front of the drivers to radiate freely. Effectively this divides the diaphragm into two discrete radiators, isolating the output of the Wave Flex driver from the Air Flex woofer. As a result, distortion and coloration drop like a stone, setting a new performance benchmark for invisible speakers. With the proprietary Constant Directivity (CDX) network dividing input frequencies at an unusually low crossover point, the Motion Flex system offers excellent 170° horizontal/vertical dispersion and smooth off-axis response for optimal sound quality from wall or ceiling.
PARADIGM SHIFT
The results speak for themselves, surpassing even Sonance’s lofty expectations. Test bench gains were so emphatic they made comparison with other invisibles useless. Instead the team had to measure their next-gen progeny against flagship models from Sonance’s award-winning, visible, VP range. For Todd Ryan the new IS line-up has taken the ultimate CI engineering challenge in its stride. As he says in the launch video, “I have 100% confidence that if these were put behind a screen and you had no idea what was playing, in a million years you would not guess that this was an invisible speaker product, even when compared with any of our competitors’ visible speakers.” This is an astonishing outcome for a system buried behind a layer of ‘mud’.
INVISIBLE EVERYWHERE
Installation practicality has also taken a giant leap forward. At 12mm the Motion Flex baffle is the same depth as the surrounding plasterboard
so installs effortlessly flush without the need for shims to compensate for depth disparity. Install flexibility is boosted by a narrower rear profile, compatible with stud and joist spacing down to 12in (305mm). And to keep contractors honest, the new range incorporates the Sonance Depth Identification Sensing Calibration (DISC) feature in which four steel discs embedded in the baffle work with a hand-held depth gauge accessory to measure the finish depth. Now you have a way to test whether the contractor has applied the ideal finish thickness of 1-1.5mm before the final finishing stage.
Klippel analysis of flat surfaces reveals that mid/ hf drivers create a bending wave motion (top) while woofers generate a totally different pistonic movement
THE LINE-UP
As many as new six models give you the versatility to design completely invisible fullrange systems of consistent high fidelity but with different levels of bass according to room size. Use the IS6 for a broad range of applications with a companion IS10W sub extending down to 35Hz. The IS8 is the best choice for larger rooms and snugs, and for the largest spaces the daddy IS10 will deliver fullrange dynamics light years in advance of any rival. Also planned are a 100V line IS8T and the IS15W, an 818 x 818mm panel for use with IS6 and IS8 in a completely invisible home theatre sound system. Imagine that! All models have a mounting depth of 68mm save the IS15W at 86mm.
IS6
IS8 and IS8T
LISTEN AND YOU’LL SEE
Sonance isn’t the first company to claim amazing sound quality from its invisibles, but it is the first to back it up with a blind demo. The new IS demo kit is easy to set up, completely mobile and self-contained, so call us to arrange a time and place of your choosing. You’ll have nothing to lose, and the ultimate CI speaker magic to deploy.
IS10
Habitech habitech.co.uk
IS10W with IS15W to come
Game-changing IS8 invisible: diaphragm, DISC discs, baffle, drivers and CDX crossover in perfect harmony
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NOVEMBER 2020 15
Audio matrix included Two matrix systems for the price of one. Route audio from these audio ports to any traditional audio output OR any of the video (HDMI/HDBaseT) outputs.
“Full Fat� 18G interfacing MHUB PRO 2.0 has 18G interfacing throughout the entire system to ensure that it can cope with any future AV advancements.
MHUB PRO 2.0 We dreamt up the dream matrix.
MHUB PRO 2.0 - designed to tackle the modern AV challenges integrators face today. Featuring 18G 4K HDR inputs and outputs (with TPC), internal video scaling to any displays, ARC audio from any compatible display and an independent audio matrix. Powered by uControl or powerful 3rd-party advanced integration drivers, MHUB PRO 2.0 redefines what a premium user and installer experience can be.
To find your nearest distributor: HDANYWHERE.com/distributors
YE WAR AR RAN T
Y*
18G native or over TPC Your choice. For cinema purists choose native HDMI. For distance and lossless quality choose HDBaseT with Tipping Point Compression.
Stereo or multi-channel audio Simultaneous audio output in either 2ch downmixed stereo or 5.1 multichannel.
Our most compatible port ever.
SuperPort. 18G Native over HDMI 18G over HDBaseT 2.0 w/TPC Auto Downscaling (4K > 1080p) Audio Return Channel (ARC) Input Audio Source Embedding over HDMI or HDBaseT
*when registered on HDA Cloud
ESSENTIAL PULSE CINEMAS
THE POWER OF INTEGRATED AUTOMATED AUDIO Simon Schino, Sales Manager and Russell Hughes, Technical Sales Support Manager, explain why Paradigm Architectural speakers and RTI are such a powerful combination. Simon explains, “With Paradigm, there is no value in the absence of performance, this is a speaker creator that deeply cares about what it makes. Having visited the factory, it really is impressive the lengths the company goes to in designing and building the products. With the company’s stand-alone speakers like the Persona cutting such a fine figure with beautiful colours and high-performance curves, it can be easy to forget that hidden away, the Paradigm Architectural family is just getting quietly on with being outstanding.” If you are unfamiliar with how the range lines up, in order of performance, the CI Elite series carries Paradigm’s Crafted in Canada credentials and has all the technology
Discrete multi-room systems driven by Paradigm and Anthem, controlled by RTI
18 NOVEMBER 2020
advantages and grille aesthetics of its range mate, the CI PRO, but adds oversized voice coils and X-PAL pure aluminium cone technology for the ultimate in sound performance for the range. In the middle of the family, the aforementioned, CI PRO series, also Crafted in Canada boasts the hallmark Paradigm sound quality, plus the new bezel-free micro-perf grille also featured on the Elite. Hitting a particular price point, the CI HOME series is the only one from the family that is manufactured in China, but is still designed in-house at Paradigm and offers a strong workhorse speaker for cinemas and multi-room application where budgets need to be watched. Key technologies that are leveraged here include Paradigm’s patented Active Ridge Technology (ART) surrounds featured on the CI PRO and CI Elite series. Most driver surrounds add little beyond their functional use of marrying the driver to the speaker, but Paradigm’s ART
surrounds are ‘over-moulded’ directly onto the driver cones and are made of audiophile-grade injection-moulded thermoplastic elastomer. The design looks to achieve a more durable, more tenacious union between driver and chassis, allowing for greater excursion with no chance of breach, ensuring a long life of high performance even if the system is driven hard. Paradigm says that drivers attached in this way deliver an impressive measurable 3dB gain in output and 50% reduction in distortion. Another benefit enjoyed by Paradigm speakers underlined by Simon is the work the company has done with researchers at The National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa, Canada. The speaker maker and researchers wanted to find out if ‘good sound’ could be quantified or measured. As a result of hundreds of scientific tests, over decades of research, analysts and investigators were able to show measurable characteristics of ‘good sound’, basically what makes a speaker sound more pleasing to the human ear. Pleasing sound was found to demonstrate three characteristics: A Flat Midrange, (the highest-scoring speakers did not emphasise any one midrange frequency), Smooth Total Energy Response, (the best scoring speakers dispersed sound uniformly), and Low Distortion, (the speakers with the highest scores also exhibited very low levels of distortion). Simon explains, “So armed with this information, guess what Paradigm has done over the years? Instil in its designs these very principles shown to be the most pleasing to the human ear. It makes the Architectural range a really strong family of speakers, each one with a real-world application that installers will recognise and appreciate, especially after they hear how good they are. We are open here at Pulse HQ. If you want to come and have a social distanced demo, just ask. Going further
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ESSENTIAL PULSE CINEMAS
however, what really takes these already very good speakers to the next level is, like all good things in the install industry, combining them with complementary technology. “In this case we are able to partner the Architectural series with processors from Anthem that have been designed and created in tandem – they are AV bedfellows in every sense of the word and when combined it’s like the audio equivalent of strawberries and cream! That kind of reliable high-quality sound, repeatable across home cinema and multi-zone systems is of real value.” Simon continues, “The ability of the Anthem brand to offer the chance to tune and control the sound of the project just raises the game of every project they are used in. The Anthem Room Correction (ARC) system, whether its fine-tuning a Paradigm – equipped home cinema or a multi-room system, provides the opportunity to enable the speakers to reach their full potential no matter how challenging the environment. “Making the cinema sing or ironing out the bumps created by a hard surface space such as a kitchen, Anthem and Paradigm Architectural combined are a powerful duo indeed. When installers think of integrated speakers, we want them to think of Paradigm, because we know how good they are and how reliable the combination of Paradigm and Anthem is across project types. And don’t forget that a 60% margin is available on many of the models!”
THE RIGHT CONTROL
Pulse has also just announced the introduction of the RTI CCK-32 Custom Control Kit which includes: 1x XP-3 control processor, 1x T2x remote control, 1x Single user RTiPanel License and 3x IR emitters. Russell, resident RTI expert at Pulse Cinemas, takes up the story, “At Pulse we go further by offering you a control platform that adds real value to each project beyond simply making things work. The recent introduction of the CCK-32 Custom Control Kit is a great example of that. A competitively priced package (£1,400) that features some of the brand’s most accomplished products, the kit is a fantastic solution for smaller projects and cinema installs. What starts out as a reliable package from which to control your AV, builds into something really special when we can supply the kit to you already programmed with the equipment you are going to be using in the system. “The CCK-32 can also be used for larger projects with several of the kits being part of a much bigger whole house system. Not only is the XP-3 control processor one of the most reliable around, customers love the T2x remote, it’s cool looking, feels great in the hand and people have realised now they want a dedicated controller, not a smart device that only does half the job and is permanently somewhere else. The
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Mid-Size Cinema Kit List and Price RTI CCK-32 Control Kit Anthem MRX-720 Sim2 Domino 4 Subwoofer Paradigm X10 Centre Paradigm CI-PRO-P1-LCR
T2x also has the advantage of the hard buttons that people can use instinctively, staring down at a screen for functions you can do just by feel, really is not a good use of design or technology.” Russell is also convinced RTI hits exactly the right spot when it comes to AV control. “RTI is in my view the best system for creating those complex larger macros that you need to set off pleasing and easy firing up of complex systems”, he says. “There is just enough that is fast and easy to set up, but also just enough precise control so you can make sure all those handshakes and delays happen exactly right so operation is smooth every time. Start up and close down cycles are often where issues occur most – frustrating for all concerned. RTI is great
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Left +Right Paradigm CI-PRO-P1-LCR x 2 Surround Paradigm CI-PRO-P65-IW x 2 Atmos Paradigm CI-PRO-C80-R x 2 SRP £21,151.92 inc VAT
for controlling those key interactions the client has with their system.” Russell concludes, “We know the market has options when it comes to purchasing their RTI, but we feel the value we add to the platform is in the strong partnership RTI delivers with the rest of the brands we supply – it’s a particularly good for Kaleidescape for example. Having a control platform that will do ‘stuff’ is fine, but the real art with install is finding technologies that genuinely complement each other. That is why RTI is our platform of choice, because it is the best fit for everything else that we supply.” Pulse Cinemas pulsecinemas.com
NOVEMBER 2020 19
ESSENTIAL CEDIA
CALIBRATION IS KEY Joel Silver, Founder of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and the 2018 CEDIA Lifetime Award recipient explains why calibration is key. Why calibrate? Why is this important? Well, it’s probably my favourite question, and I’ve been asked it for 20 plus years. And the short answer is: It’s just what we do. People trust us with their homes. We’re supposed to know what we’re doing with electronics. They trust their doctors and lawyers and car mechanics to have the equipment and training to run things properly.
CALIBRATION GOES MAINSTREAM I know the questions I need to ask when I’m working with a client to get the best results out of any TV: ‘Tell me where you watch. Tell me what the lighting is like when you watch. Tell me what time of day you watch. Tell me what you watch — movies, sports, concerts? — and your TV has all the adjustments necessary to make good pictures.’
20 NOVEMBER 2020
Fortunately, though, the message I have been preaching for years has been adopted by TV makers across the globe. What’s happened now with the advent of calibration going mainstream with major retailers and over 7,000 people globally doing it, manufacturers have really come through because this is a very competitive business. The sets I’m working on are state-of-the-art, reference-quality sets. And we work with menu management, writing the menus for the adjustments, checking functionality of the adjustments. There’s a trickle-down effect at work here. The software that’s written for high-end TVs is usually very close to what goes into the basic TV. So, if you learn the $7,000 television from a foreign manufacturer, don’t be surprised that the $700 TV has almost the same adjustments.
What’s that mean? I can open the blinds, I can have a room with a really beautiful view of the ocean or the mountains, have some light coming into the room, and have a set compete with that light successfully by getting close to 2,000 nits. It makes HDR look fantastic. CEDIA cedia.net
BUT THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE
So why recommend a more expensive TV to your clients? Right now, of paramount interest is power — high dynamic range. We measure light in units that are nicknamed nits. It’s the slang term for candela per metre square. Back in the old cathode-ray tube days, we were lucky to see a set put out roughly a hundred nits on a good day. Now, though, we’ve got pricier sets with high powered LEDs that are approaching 2,000 units.
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FINALLY NO COMPROMISE With the performance of high quality visible speakers, the Motion Flex Invisible range changes everything…
watch the video
PictureFrame.TV the luxury television company www.pictureframe.tv info@pictureframe.tv 020 3719 2909 Unit U2, Rose Industrial Estate Marlow Bottom Buckinghamshire SL7 3ND
Whether it’s a TV that looks like a mirror or a painting, we are able to cater for every room in the home. We specialise in integrating televisions into the Interior Design of a home. Televisions are larger than they’ve ever been, and often spoil the look and feel of a room. At PictureFrame.TV, we believe they should blend into your home’s design. Please visit our website for more information about what we can do for you.
ESSENTIAL INSTALLATION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TVS
TIME TO CHOOSE TV Nick Mott, Sales Manager at distributor AWE runs through some of the highlights of the highperformance TV landscape including when to choose TV over projection and some high praise for OLED technology.
better than any of the other technologies. OLEDs are thinner, offer superior contrast, have the best black levels, don’t require backlighting, and have wide viewing angles.
The Sony AG9 can act as a center channel for audio
BEST BLACK LEVELS
There are a number of reasons why an integrator should choose a TV over a projector, for example the environment, aesthetics, required screen size and budget. I think it is important that when you are working on a dedicated cinema, we would always recommend using a projector. However, for spaces where movie watching isn’t the main requirement, such as in a media room, kitchen, bedroom or dining room, a TV is the way to go. Specifically, an OLED TV.
OLED screens offer the best black levels as the pixels are light-emitting and can turn themselves off completely. In contrast with LED TVs, there’s a backlight and so when you close a pixel, light can still get through. Now, they have rectified this with addressable dimming by having multiple backlights that can be turned on and off individually, but even then, if you’ve got text in the middle of the screen, you get halos around it causing grey behind the text. With an OLED screen, the text will be in bright white and the background is definitively black.
OLED
WIDE VIEWING ANGLES
When it comes to televisions, we strongly believe that an OLED screen is significantly
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With OLED TVs, you get wide viewing angles of about 170°. This means that you
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can sit off-centre and still see the image on the screen. Therefore, if you are putting a TV into a multipurpose space, an OLED should always be specified because you get better viewing.
THINNER IS BETTER
For homeowners and interior designers, the aesthetics of a TV are very important. Recent developments mean that some OLED screens don’t just blend into the interior design, but enhance it. For example, the art-inspired LG GX Gallery series. This range offers a minimalist aesthetic, made possible by OLED’s revolutionary panel technology that does not require a backlight. It also includes a gallery art feature, turning the TV into a work of art when not in use.
NOVEMBER 2020 23
Capital Collection
Our new Capital Collection of wall mounted, rectangular Mirror TV’s use NEOD Mirror TV technology and are framed with exclusive luxury, hand crafted frames by the superb master craftsmen at Joseph McCarthy Mirrors in Kent. Influenced by our many projects in London locations, they are perfect for use in any residential or hotel applications - in living rooms, bedrooms, drawing rooms, offices or suites and look particularly good over beautiful fireplaces, a natural home for a Mirror TV. In order to create the illusion, a Mirror TV must look seamless in any given room design.
We use the very finest frames and our product is engineered to perfectiovh no visible brackets, fixings or unsightly cables so that even the side profile is very elegant. Integrated with the latest Samsung 4K TV technology offering superb performance, functionality and connectivity. Simply choose from three TV sizes 43”, 49” or 55” and your choice from 12 exclusive frame designs that best suit your customers interior style. Contact us today to become an authorised dealer.
Splashback TV and Mirror TV Walls T: 01273 735 476 info@reflectv.co.uk www.reflectv.co.uk
NEOD also design, build and install Splashback TV’s or Mirror TV walls. Simply tell us the size of the glass area and TV size required and we will custom make a mirror that will perfectly fit your space.
ESSENTIAL INSTALLATION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TVS
This results in a refined hanging art-style TV with state-of-the-art picture quality, producing the deepest blacks, most realistic colours and an infinite contrast, providing a truly discreet yet ultimate TV experience in the living room. Its ultra-thin, sleek form factor measures just 20mm deep with no need for a separate unit for the electronics and connections. With a flush recessed wall bracket provided and speaker upgrade connectivity, the GX offers a CI optimised solution which mounts flush to the wall, blending seamlessly into any space.
OLED is the strongest allround picture performer
PICTURE QUALITY
Not all rooms are perfect environments for watching content on a screen. There are those spaces that have a lot of ambient light, large windows, or areas where the lights don’t get turned off. This can be a real challenge for integrators to overcome, unless they specify an OLED TV such as the Panasonic HZ980, which features Dolby Vision IQ. You no longer have to worry about manually trying to get the brightness right, as Dolby Vision IQ make shows and movies look great in
any room at any time of the day by ‘intelligently’ adjusting the picture quality regardless of the ambient light or content type. Using advanced ambient light sensors in the TV, it will change the contrast and brightness to display every detail perfectly. In effect, it’s calibration on the fly.
LIMITED SPACE
With a desire for flush mounted TVs, integrators are challenged with being able to hide the centre channel. With a screen such as the Sony AG9 4K HDR Premium OLED TV, you can connect an amplifier to the output connector behind the TV to transform it into a high-quality centre speaker. Acoustic Surface Audio+ provides an immersive sound experience with the sound coming from the entire screen, providing pictures and sound in perfect harmony. OLED screens are still more expensive than LED TVs, however I would advise not to compromise on quality by going for something cheaper because, ultimately, OLED is the best. It ticks the boxes for your clients.
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NOVEMBER 2020 25
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Available in six sizes to accommodate 19"- 65" screens and will fit any VESA compatible mount bracket. Full range of climate control accessories also available.
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ESSENTIAL INSTALLATION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TVS
BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED Dan Booker, Owner of Reflectv, UK distributor for the NEOD mirror TV brand, assesses the current situation and future for fully integrated TVs. We have been distributing NEOD Mirror TV products here in the UK since 2010 and over this time we have seen demand for hidden TV technology grow significantly. Typically, our clients care very much about the aesthetics of their property’s interiors and often appoint interior designers for their new build or refurbishing projects. Interior designers spend considerable amounts of time and effort to keep everything looking luxurious and in keeping with the property and clients’ style. Any form of visible technology is frowned upon and deemed unsightly which often results in them actively swaying the client away from any form of technology in certain rooms. However, we know that people love technology too and even in situations where installers are not getting the final say, it’s up to us to educate everyone, customers and interiors professionals and propose new products that
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aim to provide solutions for these types of projects. It’s important to bear in mind that interiors pros only have hostility to technology because often they are simply not familiar with what can be achieved with fully integrated products. This goes for many different types of technology; speakers, control points and particularly TVs, are seen as large, ugly and totally opposite to what an interior designer is going to try and create for their customer. When you think about it, why should they know anything about what we can offer? Pretty sure most degrees and courses concerning interiors don’t include integrating modern technologies such as the kind we provide, so again it’s up to us to bring that education to the market confidently in the knowledge that it wont just ‘blend-in’ it will actually make the project better and provide the interiors professional with more opportunities to match their customer’s design aesthetic, not less. This should help installers build bridges with the design community as we offer genuine value to what they are trying to achieve. Also, whilst there is still a big education
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and awareness job to be done, the ultimate aim is to get more of the design community thinking about our products and what they can do for their customers, so we actually have the design community coming to us and asking us to partner up right at the start of a project. This ideal situation is beginning to take shape as more designers and those concerned with interiors are getting the message and understanding the value, however it’s up to the installer community to keep pushing home that message and building awareness. If you don’t have any firm contacts with interior designers, begin to look around now and see if there are firms working in similar areas, even the same jobs perhaps, where closer relations could pay dividends in the short and longer term.
THE PRODUCTS
Products like the range of bespoke NEOD Mirror TVs that we offer are a great way to deliver on those integration promises. First and foremost it is a beautiful unique mirror that has been made to the client’s exact specification, in the correct
NOVEMBER 2020 27
ESSENTIAL INSTALLATION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE TVS
Kitchens and bathrooms are also fertile areas for integrated TVs
proportion for the space and with a stunning hand crafted bespoke frame made by our superb Kent based framers Joseph McCarthy. The TV/Frame can be rectangular, square, round or indeed any shape required and each frame will be crafted in full consultation with the client or interior designer, resulting in a mirror that looks perfectly integrated into their interior. The important thing to note here is the build quality and level of personalisation. Products like these really can match any other type of cabinet or furniture that is being created for a property, so they can sit side by side in any proposal with everything else and feel totally at home to the customer and other professionals working on the project. Let’s not forget the technology; NEOD uses high-quality Samsung 4K TV technology integrated behind the mirror which importantly you cannot tell is there until it is switched on. Once turned on, the quality of the images should be as impressive as the rest of the product and thankfully with Samsung image tech these are stunning. Also don’t forget the extra level of luxury this type of product adds to any viewing experience – most makers can deliver decent images these days, but can they do it with style and grace? Not in a standard TV presentation they can’t. As well as bespoke framed mirror TVs, we are seeing more demand for TVs integrated into kitchen/bathroom splashbacks or entire mirrored walls, so it’s important not to forget these areas when assessing where your clients might benefit from properly integrated TV
28 NOVEMBER 2020
options. The kitchen in particular can often be the heart of a home, particularly in the winter, so offering options there can provide added value for the client and for the project too. There are actually endless ways that mirror TVs can provide a solution for projects where they
wish to hide technology, adding real value to the project and creating superb margin opportunities for the dealer too. We provide full consultation and design services with detailed drawings and samples where necessary and we look forward to working with you on your next project.
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THE FUTURE OF INSTALL
SMART DUST! Chris Turner, Managing Director of sensor specialist Faradite, takes a look at the technology of the future with some interesting predictions.
When practically all the major phones and tablets already support Wi-Fi 6, why would you design for anything less?
30 NOVEMBER 2020
I believe there are three main pillars that will enable the future of the smart home accessories market: Communication and control, delivery of power and novel sensors/actuators. We have smart watches, rings and phones that measure our vitals, but think of the possibilities if we had physical implants – our home’s ability to adapt to our mood with dynamic playlists/lighting moods would be huge. In the future we will see a big swing from building – centric to personal – centric control. Think of your new BMW, it has pre-sets per driver based on the key, so it changes settings based on who is in the car. Imagine if your home could do the same, it would know that Zoe is in the living room and she is hot because she has just done a run, so it would reduce the temperature. When Gill enters, the blinds would open because it would know that she has just got up and needs natural daylight. This change in control methodology is enabled by a mixture of bio implants, wearables and AI. All of this relies on connectivity both inside and outside the home. Communication is fundamentally the most important part of any smart home; today we have wireless and wired devices that are on local networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth meshes, KNX, Z-Wave, etc. These all connect back to a local base or communicate peer to peer. But as security cryto technology gets better, we will have low bandwidth city-wide area wireless networks. Our devices will connect to these city-wide area networks instead of locally. We are already seeing this movement within the silo of smart cities. But in the future the communication ‘air gap’ between the city and the home will reduce and eventually be eliminated. Also, as soon as homes are sharing their data with the city, then the city can start to offer services that will benefit the homeowner. For example, in Russian cities, homes are centrally heated by a local boiler station and it can be optimised by knowing the total heating demand in the city leading to massive cost and environmental benefits. Currently the size of wireless devices is limited by the size of practical power connectors or standard battery pack sizes. But the delivery of power is going to change.
Currently we have proximity wireless charging, but in the future, wireless midrange charging will become standard. This would work with a central charging hub per floor which would power the devices in its vicinity. With the rise of micro super capacitors enabling batteries to be smaller, we will see small wireless devices that might not need charging. As a result of the devices being smaller, fixings are going to have to change, with more focus on novel adhesives for applying devices to surfaces as standard screws / springs become the limiting factor to form factor and design. Today we have holograms, but what is the future of volumetric displays? Are we going to be able to touch and feel our displays and what opportunities does that propose? There is also potential in smart fabrics, one application could be controlling the amount of light allowed into a room in a dynamic way linked directly to lux sensors, think of tuneable blinds. I can also envision a world where the window treatment will be able to dynamically reflect heat based on the heating controls either calling for heat or cooling, further reducing our dependency on heating and air conditioning. Within the next few years, I would be shocked if we did not see the introduction of Covid/ virus related sensor capability in domestic and commercial properties. This clearly has massive benefits to the residents and could become standard in all high-end residential homes. I also think we will see more focus on air quality sensors. I also think that we are going to see the introduction of re-configurable spaces in domestic dwellings, especially in those with restricted space. As a result, we are going to need to think about how our AV, lighting, sensors etc are going to be able to adapt and re-position themselves as the function of the room changes. Another technology that shows promise to enable re-configurable surfaces is smart dust, the minimisation of electronics to the level that it could be embedded into surfaces. This could lead to light emitting surfaces which could be configured to emit light in the correct places, or enable surfaces to be full of sensors that could measure the environment. The future is certainly going to be complex and the needs/ wants of consumers is currently going to push the bounds of what is possible.
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THE FUTURE OF INSTALL
SAY HI TO CI-FI Andy Oattes, UK & Ireland Sales Director at Fine Sounds UK, argues installers should look to add more high-quality music experiences into their projects. Do you remember listening to music before the advent of streaming? I do and it was a very different experience to the one that we have promoted and engaged in over the years since networked entertainment became the major driving force. You could say more comforting in its simplicity, it was (is) very easy to pick-up a piece of vinyl or a CD and play your music. It was simpler but also many times more limited in the amount of content available to us on demand. You could say both good and bad. But the emphasis was very much more towards high performance and the business model for integrators made a lot more sense to me: a happier customer with a system that genuinely thrilled them and the added bonus of better margin for your business - a win-win. The great irony has been that with the move towards networked systems, we, for a period at least, traded very consciously, ease of use of the system over the quality of music reproduction. And in doing so, we traded profitability for commodity. Now there are many good reasons for deploying systems that work for your clients - I get that. But I think we forgot about how great sound is a VITAL component of any system. And I think we lost our interest in high performance music systems along the way. The same can be said about most areas of technology in our homes. Technology has the potential to improve our lives, but sometimes, while the tech is developing, our ability to engage with content in particular in the way
Have we sacrificed high-quality for convenience?
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we want for us and our clients, is made harder, less intuitive and more costly. Ultimately if not planned and implemented properly, we can have a situation where a high spending client has a poor performing audio and video solution, but a very ‘high tech’ costly system. We are designing the system around the control and not towards performance. Engineering out failure as the priority, can be to the determinant of the end result. I do not know about you, but I generally want to amaze my customers and the surest way of doing that is by pressing the play button on a great sounding system!
THE POWER OF MUSIC
It has been proven that music reproduction is good for us at a neurological level, and the better the reproduction, the greater the benefit. However, I fully accept that the ability to access your music intuitively matters greatly, but as in many industries, things do go in cycles and I believe we are getting back to a point that you don’t need to sacrifice high performance systems for commoditised solutions because you’re scared of reliability and ease of access. Finally, systems are available that are easy to use, reliable and amazing in their ability to sound superb! That is definitely something to embrace fully. In the last 10 years we saw the advent of systems such as the Logitech Squeezebox and other early networked music devices that were early tech, difficult to use and created a flow of customers and businesses in our space moved away from quality and towards commodity and reliability. However, now I look to streaming services such as Tidal with a play direct capability, Spotify with connect, Qobuz which is marching onwards, Roon with its amazing platform and MQA which has always strived towards the highest reproduction possible and I feel very optimistic about where we are going. Also have you noted that vinyl is still growing year on year? It’s no surprise to me that something so simple and so high performance continues to grow. In this new world of overconsumption, perhaps we need to get back to the simpler pleasure of a great system. If you have never experienced one, believe me, you need to. So, explore high performance audio and video systems in your projects, work with your clients to provide them the very best they can achieve. Make music front and centre of your agenda. I know, many, many customers that have become life-long friends because I did exactly that. They’ve gone on to find a lot of happiness in their homes with a great audio system; make it happen for them and you will create happy customers too. Ci-Fi is simply, Custom Install Hi-Fidelity.
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Ms Maurice was one of the artists broadcast in MQA from the JAZZ RE:FEST event
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NOVEMBER 2020 31
PMC ADVERTORIAL
THE QUESTION IS ‘WHAT IS A CUSTOM INSTALLATION LOUDSPEAKER’? To PMC, or The Professional Monitor Company, this is a much more complex question than is it 6in or 8in in diameter and how does it fix into the ceiling or wall? For PMC the clue is in the full name of the company. It’s not interested in creating another range of identikit ‘hole-filler’ ceiling speakers, but rather a range that lives up to its established pedigree as a manufacturer of professional monitor quality loudspeakers. Enter the new ci series, a range of speakers that have been designed to bring Hollywood studio quality into the home. Since 1991, when PMC was founded, its speakers have been used to create the biggest Hollywood movie soundtracks and it’s the only loudspeaker company to have been awarded an Emmy® for its contribution to recording excellence. So what better speakers to use in the home than the ones that are actually used to make the movies? The new ci series speakers are already being used in Dolby Atmos production suites around the world and have recently been chosen to power the mammoth global touring exhibition, ‘The Rolling Stones – Unzipped’.
Say hello to a revolutionary range of five in-wall and on-wall speakers, plus a dedicated subwoofer: the ci30, ci45, ci65, ci90slim, ci140 and ci140sub. All are designed from the ground up and incorporate PMC’s proprietary technologies and renowned audio quality.
On-wall or in-wall – it’s your choice The ci30, ci45, ci65, ci90slim are supplied ready for use as in-wall speakers, with a Qikfire™ mounting system which makes them very ‘installer-friendly’. The ci90slim is also perfect for retro fit – just the right size to go into existing studwork. And, by use of an optional sleeve to conceal the in-wall mounting system they can be used as elegant and discrete on-wall models. The cabinets share a shallow depth of just 100mm, which makes them ideal for use behind a fixed or drop down screen or they are equally well at home alongside a fixed TV.
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The ci140 and matching ci140sub are on-wall speakers with a modest depth of 150mm.
Bags of technology
Driving the ci series is a whole raft of technologies that are unique to PMC. The new 130mm LT and LTx woofers are long-throw, high-power designs, using a natural-fibre dished cone and inverted dust cap to reduce unwanted high frequency reflections. Both drivers have been created for use with the Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) bass loading technology found in all PMC speakers. This uses the energy generated by the bass units in a much more efficient manner than ported or sealed boxes. In ATL speakers, the highly braced cabinet is lined with custom-designed acoustic foam that absorbs all but the very lowest frequencies. These then exit from a front-panel vent, extending the low-frequency response, acting in effect as an additional bass driver and creating the impression of a much larger speaker. The ATL vent features PMC’s Laminair technology, which is based on aerodynamic principals as employed in Formula One. Laminair reduces turbulence and drag in the airflow, increasing efficiency, for a smooth laminar airflow as it exits the line with audible effects of a faster, higher definition bass, accurate timing and dynamics, without unwanted air noise.
All the cabinets are enclosed at the rear, to ensure that sound leakage to adjoining rooms is kept to an absolute minimum – really important in family environments and MDUs. It’s no longer necessary to rely on the cavity construction of the wall to enhance the sound. PMC has long been known for its professional midrange dome drivers. The all new 50mm dome in the ci140 features N-compass™ technology - a new dispersion flange for a flat frequency response and phenomenal off-axis performance. For a cinema LCR system this is perfect as it is ideal for both horizontal or vertical placement, providing an identical immersive audio experience from all listening positions.
You want bass?
The ci140 is complemented by the dedicated and identically sized ci140sub. It’s got the same four bass drive units used in the ci140 and the ATL. Used alongside any of the ci series speakers and particularly with the ci140, it reproduces additional low frequency output – exactly what’s needed for home theatre installations and full frequency music reproduction without the need for a large, intrusive, stand-alone subwoofer.
Mix and match
Every PMC speaker is voiced the same, from the smallest bookshelf model to the largest studio monitor and the ci series is no different. This means the installation is not constrained by the speaker design – there’s a model in the ci series and wider PMC range for every situation and they can be mixed and matched without compromising the audio. With so much flexibility, the installer’s (and the interior designer’s) life is made so much easier and the client gets the ultimate in immersive home theatre experiences. Welcome to the PMC ci series and the speakers that make the movies. PMC pmc-speakers.com/
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SMART THINKING
STANDING UP FOR STAND-ALONE Neil Truckell, Director at speaker maker Acoustic Energy, reminds installers that often stand-alone is still the best option. When health and environmental factors demand we spend more time in our homes, the importance of enjoying listening to music and watching movies becomes ever more beneficial, particularly when played through high quality audio systems. We are also entering the traditional autumn/winter season when the climate dictates how much time we spend indoors… and subsequently effects annual loudspeakers sales.
SOUND QUALITY
The Custom Installation market is dominated by discreet in wall/on wall speaker solutions that tend to be invisible but lack the sound quality and presence of a traditional loudspeaker. Unless it is a dedicated home cinema installation, traditional ‘box’ standalone speakers are left out in favour of the more discrete solutions. Although some higher spec’d in-ceiling/wall speakers can offer a certain level of ‘premium’ audio quality, the increase in cost can often result in lower audio quality comparisons to conventional stand-alone speakers. The best way to promote the benefits of stand-alone speaker systems is by demonstrating them within the client’s home.
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Particularly for the discerning music-loving consumer the quality of sound will be the most important benefit to promote. This can then be backed by the design and style of the speakers in addition to their size, cabinet finish and how they integrate with the client’s furniture and living area.
LIFESTYLE
Over the past circa five years there certainly seems to be a growing trend for premium audio equipment to be on show in consumer’s homes and interiors and not hidden away in walls and ceilings. Stand-alone speakers can play an important part in creating a statement by reflecting lifestyle status and appreciation of high-quality products, brands and latest technologies. Impressive looking floor-standing speakers can often enhance the style and interior design of a room… when classified as pieces of furniture encased with fashionable high-gloss piano finishes or matching wood veneers. Similarly, where space is at a premium in smaller rooms and apartments, ‘active’ standalone speakers can also provide discrete and simplified audio solutions when partnered with streaming devices. A pair of high-quality active speakers connected to a DAC/streamer or even a turntable/pre-amp can offer unequalled performance and convenience to both the client and installer.
INSTALLER BENEFIT
Most high-quality stand-alone speakers can also provide the installer with faster and easier installation without the need to create holes in walls and ceilings. Even if the thought of messy speaker cables trailing around the room creates a barrier with the client, the most common solutions result in cables discretely hidden in the lower part of the walls with only the terminal panels showing to connect the speakers to. Stand-alone speakers should also mean higher sale values whilst achieving useful increases in profit margins, as loudspeakers inherently offer far higher margins than electronics and software.
BRITISH DEMAND
Recent evidence suggests the more the consumer spends on audio equipment and particularly stand-alone loudspeakers, the more important it is they are from a British company with history and credentials. Many British speaker companies have witnessed an increase in demand from the install sector, derived from both independent installers and specialist retailers who have expanded their business by offering a bespoke custom installation service. Floor-standing models such as Acoustic Energy’s AE520s have seen the most significant growth, mainly due to their performance and multi-driver array design, but also from a British brand with a pedigree attached.
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FINALLY NO COMPROMISE “I have 100% confidence that if these were put behind a screen and you had no idea what was playing, you would not guess that this was an invisible speaker product, even when compared with any of our competitors’ visible speakers.” Todd Ryan Chief Speaker Engineer
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ESSENTIAL MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT
ALL CHANGE? empty. The flexibility built into newer solutions allows you to populate them all, for example as a 2x32 or 32x2 switcher. Using this method means you can achieve higher quality and better coverage without the need to invest in a higher specification solution, which again would leave slots unused and repeat the problem.
How will systems evolve in the future? Ophir David, Product Manager at manufacturer Kramer, answers a few key questions concerning the matrix and signal management sector.
As technology advances and changes, what are the key roles played by this category now and how have these changed? One of the main drivers of change has been the increasing advancements in screen resolution and clients wanting to achieve the maximum quality output for their displays. As an industry, we’ve most recently adjusted to this with 4K resolution and are now future proofing solutions ready for the arrival of 8K, which we are slowly seeing starting to emerge. With the increasing variation across platforms and the industry’s ever-changing requirements, products need to be designed with two key considerations in mind: flexibility and multi format connectivity. Flexible, to us, means having the capability for interchangeable I/Os. Multiple inputs and outputs are being seen across more and more products and the result is modular matrix switchers for AV signals that are suitable for a wider range of applications and drive higher quality. We also need multi format options for input and output connectivity. Previously, clients only had the need for one type of connectivity, so products focused on being HDMI or SDI, for example, but now we need mixed signal devices. This gives us the ability to extend the sum of the port with emerging options, including HDBaseT and optical extensions, to extend and distribute uncompressed, high definition video, audio and power. This mix of formats is essential to users and is helping to drive cost effective solutions. For example, traditionally a 34-port system is used as a 17x17, so in most cases some slots remain
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The future centres around being ready for flexible switching and multiformat extensions. Systems need to combine both capabilities to keep up with the ever-increasing sizes, diversification of environments and complexity of installations. The designs need to enable complete customisation and provide an end-to-end AV solution for both current requirements and future technologies.
What are the main challenges the sector faces from a technical point of view? As technology needs increase, customers also want the size of the solution to decrease. The challenge is around providing the ultimate flexibility through software and variety of multiformat hardware options from one convenient solution. The solution as a whole needs to be simple and intuitive to use, with no lengthy explanations or training required. The connections also need to be reliable and low maintenance. Another key requirement is automatic detection when switching between cards and different formats. The solution needs to instantly reconfigure and recognise a new input, without any set up process detracting from the user experience. Systems have become increasingly complex in their abilities, but it is our priority through our design not to make them more complex for the user. Our focus is on creating a straightforward and user-friendly solution, both for IT managers who need to be able to monitor
the system remotely and for integrators, where small form factors help to simplify installations.
And how will these challenges be met? These challenges are being met through futureproofed designs that truly understand the evolving needs of the user and can solve the technology hurdles that they are encountering. Consider the matrix: the focus has been on increasing accessibility with web interfaces, as these have proved the most useful for our clients and are the easiest to configure. These solutions are now able to start working instantly straight out-of-the-box, with no specific configuration needs. For switchers, we’ve been working to meet the challenges around flexibility and multi format connectivity. We have now integrated HDMI and USB-C connectivity, amongst others, into the same unit, which is driving the industry forwards. For extenders, these need to cover the maximum resolution, provide multiple connection options and achieve an attraction price point.
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In an even more connected word, flexibility is paramount
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MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT
MATRIX REVOLUTIONS Martin Ellis, CEO at matrix and signal management specialist Pulse-Eight, offers his view on the present and future of the sector, spying a possible realignment where consumers get more of what they want with installers perhaps having to give a little more. The market has evolved recently so that there is less tech in the same room as today’s large screen TVs. Content delivery has evolved so that either smaller products like a Chromecast plug directly into a TV or apps accessed through the TV’s operating system offer a myriad of content options. Consequently, there is less ‘traditional’ hardware that needs to be networked around a home, this will only accelerate in time, (Oppo stopped making high-end Blu-ray players for a reason). It’s also the case that much of the new content delivery systems only charge significantly for content – any hardware concerned is free or sold at a loss often just to get the customer onto the platform and then that is where the money is
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made. There is a hint here, that in some instances, installers will also have to be ‘relaxed’ about the profit margins in some of the products they will be expected to fit, and concentrate hard on their ‘services’ as the true value of the relationship as well as the really high-performance products that only integrators can offer. For signal distribution this is not all bad news, there is still plenty of other equipment that needs to be on a network – don’t forget areas such as security CCTV cameras for example. There is also still a job for the installer community in providing solid networks for all the new online visual and audio content that consumers want to access in more areas. Also consider the possibility that rather than the content delivery sources being held in the traditional rack and sent around a property, products are more likely to be in the room where they get used the most. Consider the next generation of games console coming this year, once the user has experienced what it can do in their living room, they are going to want that everywhere, but they will still want to access the main box conveniently in the space that it gets used the most. We as an industry have to evolve and deliver that to the market. It might not be
how we want to and have traditionally achieved reliable performance, but as the market evolves and customers grow more confident with the technology, my guess is that the centralised rack approach will often not be what they really want or what will benefit them most. Of course, delivering what the customer gets the most use and pleasure from creates repeat business. The signal distribution systems of the future then, will be more of a genuine network with the content producing hardware more spread out around the home physically, but with their functionality available in multiple areas of the home. It was definitely a worry when the Sky Q system first launched. For a large group of people that are not too worried about quality, it was now possible to have all their viewing choices around the home without the need of a matrix. But the metrics we see on our systems clearly show that people want that 4K performance everywhere – once they have seen it on their main screen, they won’t accept anything less at their other viewing spots and of course Sky’s client boxes can’t do 4K. So, for those concerned with quality, support from our sector is still needed. As I mentioned earlier, I think this phenomenon will only
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MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT
THE FUTURE
Next gen consoles and games will up the ante in terms of performance
increase as the next gen games consoles arrive. The next-generation PS5 and Xbox Series S / X are delivering big steps forward, making them faster and with better imaging than ever before, as with the Sky Q system – users are going to want these enhanced experiences everywhere. As for our own sector, we haven’t been standing still either and platforms such as the Valens VS3000 chipset deliver long-distance transmission (100m/328ft) of uncompressed HDMI2.0 (4K 60Hz with 4:4:4 chroma encoding) over a category cable. Products built around this chipset can deliver the enhanced content and faster response over larger networks that are needed, but it’s also not going to break the bank. The chips are available now, with hardware due to arrive Q2 of next year. The story does not end there of course, the next step for this generation of chip set is to reintroduce compression, so products based around it can handle 8K transmission. That is how the sector will evolve in the coming years. Then there is the world of AV over IP, which has its advantages and disadvantages. When this technology first came on the scene, quite
a few people seemed to be of the attitude that ‘this is what I am going to use now and nothing else’. However out in the field there are plenty of projects that because of the size of network needed and budget issues, it’s just not the right option – ‘too much gun’ if you like. In my opinion there are also limitations with platforms such as SDVoE – it can deliver 4K for sure, but does it have the headroom to keep evolving and keep delivering new functionality? With its ‘10G AV over IP’ structure it is now at capacity, so where does it go from here? There are other systems out there that can deliver 4K using 1G AV over IP instead, and yes it uses compression, but it has space to evolve. Do not get me wrong, AV over IP is a strong approach, but for many domestic projects it might not always be the best or most cost-effective solution.
So, we have 4K, we can handle that, and of course 8K is coming, but will we need to network that in the same way? As I said earlier, I think products that can deliver that type of content will have spread out over the home, and much of the capability will be inside TVs and other smaller equipment sited at the TV, but will rely on a strong network to spread that capability around the home. It’s likely that enhanced internet support and ‘signal management’ rather than delivery will be the future. Content, especially high-quality content, is fragmenting; it’s getting confusing for end users – they need someone to make sense of it all and deliver what they want quickly and easily when they sit down to relax. Sky has made the right choice: by allowing other apps onto their platform, they might lose a few viewers here and there, but at least they are controlling ‘where’ people go in the first place to start watching. Ultimately, installers need to improve this sometimes confusing experience for the end user and beef up performance where possible with better equipment and a rock solid network. We have audio management built into our latest matrix which deals with the issue of people switching between different content platforms, ensuring they always have the right audio delivery experience. Ultimately it’s all about curating the experience, and making the tech home friendly. Our instinct may be to put everything in a rack and then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, but is that really what the distribution customer is going to want or need in the future? Will the consumer expect to be a little more involved, able to adjust things about their system without always needing the input of the installer? I think we will have to evolve a bit and let customers have a little more ownership of the system here and there, and installers concentrate on the stuff that only they can do – that is where the real value add is.
Will consumers want more control over their systems in the future?
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MATRIX AND SIGNAL MANAGEMENT
END OF THE LINE? Daniel Branton, Key Account Manager, CYP Europe, asks do we still need a matrix for AV distribution? The simple answer is yes, and no. I appreciate that this is not a particularly definitive answer but, what with the various technologies now available, it all comes down to the type of installation and how the AV distribution is to be deployed. Let’s look at the options for some clarity. Generally, were an installation requiring multiple devices to be displayed on multiple screens, the obvious choice was for either an HDMI matrix, assuming that the cable lengths were reasonable (up to 10 metres), or an HDBaseT matrix, which can deliver 4K signals over a distance of up to 100 metres. Each solution has multiple inputs/outputs depending on the requirements of the install and have been specified across the board within both residential and commercial applications for years. However, they do have a few shortcomings. Firstly, once specified and installed, the user is locked into the quantity of both inputs and outputs. Yes, there can be work arounds, but these tend to be complex. Premium HDMI cables are only able to offer signal runs of up to seven metres for true 4K HDR UHD picture definition and HDBaseT, albeit extremely clever and of very high quality, has to compress the signal via a third-party technology, such as our AVLC (Adaptive Visual Lossless Compression),
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to achieve 4K HDR UHD due to its limited bandwidth (HDBaseT is ‘limited’ to 10.2Gbps bandwidth, whereas full 4K UHD HDR requires a bandwidth of up to 18Gbps), therefore not delivering native 4K UHD HDR. Thankfully, there are alternatives, with AV over IP solutions now becoming far more popular. Key to this is the capability to add as many inputs and outputs as desired. If you need additional sources or displays, just add more transmitters or receivers, etc. The beauty of this system is that there are devices available that make the setting up of these systems extremely easy, such as our own CYP IP-CS7 controller. This ‘finds’ all of the transmitters/receivers and allows for simple drag and drop set up, making initial set up and ongoing additions easy to configure. 4K UHD signals (up to 3G) are catered for with this 1Gb system. Recently introduced, SDVoE (Software Defined Video-over-Ethernet) technology is now available and becoming more affordable. Put simply, SDVoE is based around a 10Gb network switch and combines the best of Catbased cabling with fibre to be a totally adaptive system. 4K HDR AV signals are now capable of reaching up to 100m via a network switch, whilst multi-mode fibre systems are capable of reaching up to 550m. And for extreme cases, single-mode fibre systems are now capable of distributing a native 4K HDR signal up to 30km. Clearly, for residential users, 30Km is likely to
be a little extreme. With exceptional features like video wall, multi-view, USB, audio routing, super-fast switching and medical grade “as close to zero” latency, SDVoE stacks up as the best choice when only the best will do. As with the 1Gb AV over IP system, an added benefit of SDVoE technology is that as long as the network switch has the capacity, you can add additional transmitters and receivers as and when you need to, all of which are simply configured. When looking at the options, the use of the different technologies all depends on the application and the customer requirements. For small to medium residential properties, the matrix still does have a place, especially if cost is a consideration. It is a tried and tested solution that offers extremely good reliability and quality, albeit not native. But were you to have a customer looking for a system that can be expanded in the future, then I would certainly recommend that you suggest either 1Gb AV over IP or 10Gb SDVoE solutions, as they add greater flexibility and, ultimately, higher quality AV distribution. So, what should you use for your next installation? With all of the questions and solutions available, it will inevitably come down to what your customer wants and the best solution you feel is appropriate. However, please do bear in mind that not everything is as obvious as it might at first seem and that the options are wide, yet all suit certain purposes.
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ESSENTIAL SECURITY
CYBER SECURITY FOR HOME WORKERS Jeffrey Singer, Executive Director, Product Marketing at Crestron, identifies an opportunity for residential installers, but also warns of the dangers to cyber security introduced by increased home working. The way we work and collaborate has forever changed. As a result of the pandemic, many employees and businesses across the world have had to shift to remote and hybrid working in order to adhere to social distancing and safety measures. In turn, employees are now spending more time at home than ever before and must have the capabilities to perform their jobs at the same level they were able to previously in-person. Many industries worldwide, especially the residential installation industry, have had to ramp up services and expand offerings to be able to equip homes with the latest work-from-home technologies to support remote employees. While the breadth of solutions has increased drastically, more and more employers are realising that they need to deliver new technologies that enable people to effectively work and collaborate from home. This opens up an opportunity for installers. Crestron has responded swiftly by creating transformative solutions that enable employees to work from anywhere. Our industry knows that remote workers need simple, flexible, secure and high-quality solutions to ensure each and every virtual connection is effective and collaborative from any workspace or television. For residential installers, adding value to existing customers or expanding solutions for new customers is key. This is achieved by implementing home conferencing as a standalone system or integrating into the larger smart home platform. The creation and evolution of new home conferencing technologies is a big win for the install industry, and the future is bright. As companies continue to deliver more technology to support remote workers across the globe, installers will have the opportunity to offer more solutions than ever before. But these opportunities come with risks. While the AV aspect is paramount, maybe an even bigger shift for residential installers is the focus they should have on security from both a network and hardware perspective. A few decades ago, technology was developed for the professional world, mainly military use, and trickled down to the general
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population. There are plenty of examples: the internet, gps, drones, digital cameras, microwave ovens, computers, jet engines. The list goes on. That has since shifted. Tablets, smartphones, even voice engines were originally invented for personal use and are gradually finding their way into the professional world, including conference rooms. As a result, worldwide companies and governments are setting up taskforces and teams that investigate the security behind Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). But in residential installations, consumers pay less attention to network security. This is where the IT department of the company comes in, but also where the residential installer can make a difference. Remote employees should always be reminded that they are not on the corporate network, which means that home network security protocols generally don’t match the protocols of companies. Employees are sharing the same confidential information with their colleagues, but now over a potentially less secure connection. Residential installers should always make sure that they’re using secure hardware and infrastructure. Their clients’ home routers and network connections should be synced up, and secure software should be used. Additionally, there should never be an assumption that a Wi-Fi router is not hackable. Crestron believes that we should accept that
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attacks will continue and that the technology and tactics used by hackers will keep evolving. But that doesn’t mean that we should leave the door open. Crestron takes security very seriously. Which is exactly why we have been investing millions into the development of secure products, with many having been certified by the US Department of Defence or are on the official Approved Product List. Most recently, DM NVX was added to the list as an Open Video Distribution System, meaning it can be deployed alongside other equipment on official DoD networks. Our hardware supports enterprise-grade security protocols and is government certified. It is the same hardware used in mission critical operations such as military field command centres, emergency operation centres, and hospitals around the world. 802.1x authentication, AES encryption, Active Directory credential management, JITC Certification, SSH, secure CIP, PKI certificates, TLS, and HTTPS, among others, make the Crestron security feature set unmatched in the industry. We don’t make a light version for home applications and one for the military. The software is different, the user experience is different, how you are interacting with that system and how you are using it is different, but the hardware platform behind it is the same.
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perpetual innovation New Crestron Home features keep coming. Now, support for LutronÂŽ and DALIÂŽ lighting control. Password protection of sensitive subsystems. Audio interrupts and assignable sound files from touch screens. And a steady stream of new features to come.
Learn more at crestron.com/home 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. Š2020 Crestron Electronics, Inc.
ESSENTIAL SECURITY
Ring X-Line is one of the products opening up more areas for installers
POSITIVE PROTECTION Stuart Tickle, MD at AWE Europe, argues the time and technology has never been better for smart home installers to get more involved in home security. Home security is one of those areas that for many years has stayed tantalisingly out of reach for many technology integrators. That is now changing fast as more and more IP connected security devices come onto the market that can be easily integrated onto a home network. We’re seeing increasing global sales of smart security cameras, video doorbells, locks and detectors, with video doorbells, in particular, enjoying a huge 57% increase in shipments in 2019 compared to the previous year, according to Futuresource. At AWE, we’re certain this growth is set to continue, with the acceleration enhanced further by the recent pandemic experience. Consumers spending more time at home are more acutely aware of their environment and how technology can improve how they live. For example, home deliveries have increased exponentially during the COVID-19 crisis, with products frequently left outside, unsigned for and more at risk of theft. Upgrading home security, with the addition of video doorbell technology, is an obvious step that many homeowners can now take. Security device installation can now be easily achieved and the huge end-user valueadd is why many integrators, both large and small, are moving quickly to make security products a standard part of their solution.
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But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what Steve Moore from the renowned London integrator and multiple CEDIA award-winner, SMC has to say on the market opportunity for integrators around home security: “SMC have designed, sold and installed NSI-compliant (police monitored) intruder alarms and CCTV systems for around 25 years so we know the cost and effort of regulation (including ISO 9001 registration) is quite onerous. The requirement for qualified, security-checked aftercare resource 24/7 may also deter some companies from entering this sector. Now, we see customers looking for simpler, more reliable experiences that work across the various properties they and their family use, with an especial focus on user experience,” SMC is especially excited about video doorbell technology and the benefits this can bring. “Take Ring X-Line from AWE, as an example,” continues Steve. “It offers a compelling, high performance solution, providing much of the functionality of more expensive bespoke systems at a significantly lower cost and with a much more engaging user experience using the simple
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Ring app. It’s a great alternative to ‘traditional’ alarms and CCTV systems for many simple family homes or refurb projects.” “The integration of the alarm and CCTV functions, with a single, context-aware timeline in the app is great, and very easy to use. The ability to select between battery/powered and wired/wireless options makes things easy to specify, particularly where refurbishment projects are concerned. We can deploy the app on phones and tablets and provide simple integration with third-party control systems. The Amazon/Alexa integrations in the background make things easier for many consumers.”
The growth in networked and smart based security systems has increased opportunities for installers
NOVEMBER 2020 47
ESSENTIAL SECURITY
SECURING YOUR SYSTEMS
Iain Gordon, KNX UK Association Vice-President and founder of smart building install company GES Digital, takes a look at data security and how to deliver it. Whilst none of us would expect a lawsuit the size of the one that landed on Easy Jet’s desk last May for £18bn after a data breach involving personal data of nine million customers, it serves to remind us that the issues with protecting clients’ data has never been more important. As whole-building control becomes the zeitgeist and custom install projects integrate more applications (lighting, HVAC, security, monitoring etc), then having knowledge of the risks associated with creating digital domains at client’s properties is paramount. Just as essential of course, is implementing strategies to mitigate the risks and prevent unwelcome letters from the lawyers.
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KNX has, for a long time, been acknowledged as the leading and game-changing global solution for controlling any type of building for almost any type of use. Its backward and forward compatibility has proven over the last 30 years that it is the most robust, sustainable and sensible choice. It has not been overhauled or had its core language altered, or even seen its ubiquitous green cable changed. It has however adapted beautifully – to aesthetic trends, to usability and to updates in how certain elements of an installation are influenced or controlled. Imagine someone taking a PIR sensor off the outside of the building and attaching a programming laptop with software into the system. This could then expose all of the operations of that building, and maybe other attached buildings, into the hands of an attacker. It could be that this has been carried out on an IP level too (far more likely), by someone accessing an open port on a system used for maintenance, establishing the technology at the other end and then creating havoc within the system and other attached systems. Recent cases of IP connected HVAC controllers acting as hacking bridges have been reported with lawsuits filed and fines levied.
It cannot be overstated how important it is to have a robust approach to IP security, and we have all seen various levels of both complexity and redundancy in this area. It can be daunting but there are simple steps you can take to ensure you maintain that critical client relationship. Whether that is in-house or by the use of an external (and insured) IT/IP expert, awareness is paramount. That’s why the KNX Secure encryption/ decryption standard covers the devices and both sides of system data. Prevention of unauthorised access to the programming sections of the devices can be successfully implemented using a token exchange method, as used by banks and financial institutions. This would stop any possibility of changing the settings on any of the secure system devices. The engineer attaching to the system would have to have the token keys appropriate to the installation and a system password to access the devices. The data side of KNX Secure can be looked at in two parts: Internal system data on a BUS level and at the IP level which can be within the installation but would also cover site to site, maintenance and monitoring and other functional uses.
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Lithe Audio Pro-Series Ceiling Speaker
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ESSENTIAL SECURITY
In a traditional KNX system, the internal communication telegrams are of a known telegram construction and data set. With the addition of KNX Secure encryption, this is completely altered with no chance of decryption due to its 128BIT approach. Compliant products can be recognised by the KNX Secure icon, so do be aware that you need KNX Secure devices at both ends of an inter-building connection for IP security. Furthermore, on an IP level, the same approach is taken by KNX Secure to ensure complete security. This would then prevent someone intercepting, altering and re-introducing data to influence with the buildings operation, or maybe open all the doors. This is done by pairing devices across IP and token exchanges. This means that critical and sensitive data or building functions can be guarded with effective hacker prevention. You can be sure when your client asks how you approach systems security, (and they will at some stage), that KNX will take care of this problem and be ready to adapt to
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the next set of demands as they become clear. Now you only have to address how you secure all of the other attached technology you have installed. IP, BACnet, dynamic facades, LED lighting, DALI 1 & 2, Voice, and more are
all commonly interfaced with KNX, so it should be no surprise that KNX has ensured that the security aspect of an installation’s data transfer is fully implemented. The market leaders have set the tone, it’s now up to the others to follow.
Commercial spaces like the British Library as well as residential projects can take advantage of KNX Secure
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NOVEMBER 2020 51
SMART AV DISTRIBUTION: ADVERTORIAL
STAY SMART: SELECT AJAX HUB 2 PLUS Smart AV Distribution underlines the advantages of the Ajax security brand and in particular the recently released Hub 2 Plus. Ajax is a pro-grade wireless alarm system developed by Ajax Systems. The company has produced professional security equipment since 2011 and today protects over 700, 000 users in 100+ countries. The Ajax product line includes 32 units for indoor and outdoor protection featuring motion, fire, and leakage detectors, as well as control panels (Hubs), sirens, range extenders, keyboards, panic buttons and devices for the smart home. Devices operate for 5-7 years on battery power, and exterior products work both on battery external power supply. If trouble comes, Ajax activates sirens, alerts users via mobile app, and requests for help from the alarm response company. The system also provides photo verification of alarms. For video surveillance, it’s possible to integrate video cameras from third-party brands into Ajax. Certified with Grade 2, the system is fully secured with anti-sabotage and anti-jamming systems, encrypted channels and authentication. There is also a separate mobile/desktop app for installers and security companies.
Ajax system provide peace of mind throughout the home
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HUB 2 PLUS
Hub 2 Plus is the company’s top performing communication product supporting Wi-Fi and three mobile communication standards, including LTE which increases the speed of visual alarm verification, improves response efficiency and sets a new standard in the security industry. Hub 2 Plus supports 200 devices, 100 cameras, 200 users and 64 scenarios making it the most suited solution to protect an object of any size and complexity. 5 ReX radio signal range extenders makes it a universal solution for protection of both apartments and business centres. A a new processor and increased memory capacity will keep Hub 2 Plus ahead of the competition for a long time. Four independent channels — Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and two SIM cards — prevent the risk of a connection failure at two levels simultaneously, physical and service provider. If connection problems occur, switching between channels will take place automatically and immediately. Delivery of an animated series of photos from MotionCam motion detectors to users’ smartphones and to the monitoring stations takes seconds even via mobile internet. Photos from the MotionCam are transferred to the Hub 2 Plus via the Wings encrypted radio protocol, and the fastest available internet connection is used for delivery from the hub to the recipient. MotionCam cannot be activated on demand; the detector only takes pictures in the event of an alarm protecting the user’s privacy. Hub 2 Plus relies on Ajax Systems’ proven signature technologies running on a real-time operating system–OS Malevich–which is protected against malfunctions and cyber-attacks. For communication of the system devices, Hub 2 PlususesJeweller–anencryptedradioprotocolfora two-way communication which transmits alarms in 0.15 seconds and switches to the backup frequency in case of interference. An encrypted communication and a real-time operating system make hacking the Hub 2 Plus a futile task.
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With Hub 2 Plus, users can have up to 64 scenarios that automate security and help minimise human error reacting to alarms to protect the people and property. Compared to the Hub 2, the Hub 2 Plus has a 4.5 times more powerful processor and 8 times more memory. This lays a solid foundation for future system development through the OS Malevich updates. The upgrade process is completed over the air in minutes and does not require intervention of an installation engineer or a user. There are no keyboards on Ajax hubs — everything is managed through the app. Ajax Systems developed an easy-to-use app for end users as well as separate apps for professionals, which take into account the needs of installation engineers and operators of security monitoring stations. Apps are available on all popular platforms: Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. The hub is attached to the surface using the SmartBracket mounting plate; there is no need to dismantle the control panel. To start working, simply connect the hub to a network and add it to the app by scanning a QR-code. With the help of the app, you can manage security modes, view videos from the connected cameras and the system event history, remotely manage electrical appliances and create automation scenarios. With the OS Malevich 2.9 release, all hubs obtained the feature of automatic data transfer from another hub. Now, transition to the Hub 2 Plus will take about 15 minutes. Without reconnecting the devices, inviting users, and configuring the system. Smart AV Distribution savdistribution.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2020 53
ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: READY CONTROLS
JUNG TAKES CONTROL ON CHELSEA ISLAND Jung products take centre stage at this beautiful, stylish and much sought after development in the heart of one of London’s most fashionable districts. Dan Lawless, Operations Manager at Ready Controls, the installation firm responsible for the automation aspect of the project, desribes the vital role Jung played in creating these most desirable of dwellings. Ready Controls specialises in home automation and controls and for this project, key personnel included Dan as operations manager and his fellow Director, Thomas Alt who was the main programming engineer for the site.
Close to Chelsea Harbour, the apartments have spectacular views of the iconic river Thames and up into central London. Naturally, this swish address needed to have interiors and modern systems to match the exclusive location. The building was designed by internationally famous architects, Arney Fender Katsalidis, making a confident statement with its clean lines and large glass fronts. On the sixth floor there is a garden designed by renowned designer, Neill Strain, which offers a 360° view of the area. Dan further explains, “The Chelsea Island development consists of 89 luxury apartments where we designed and installed a KNX system that controls the apartments’ lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation and blinds.”
The finish of the control units in the project perfectly match the aesthetics of the interiors, adding another level of luxury to each dwelling. Dan explains, “We have worked with Jung products for many years due to their reliability and high level of craftsmanship. However, our relationship really grew on the Chelsea Island project. Here, Jung provided us with vital support that was needed to attain client approval on the project strategy. Jung provided a personable and efficient support system that aids in a project running smoothly and, of course, we were able to use the maker’s attractive and highly reliable products to get the apartments to the level they needed to be at.”
The F50 room controller was a key part of the project
54 NOVEMBER 2020
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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: READY CONTROLS
Dan adds, “I particularly like the KNX F50 switch which we used on this project – it has the perfect balance of technicality and aesthetics – meeting everyone’s preferences. It was the perfect fit for Chelsea Island.” Jung also played a part in putting the right people together to achieve the result demanded by a project such as this. Dan reveals, “This project was for a new client, an M&E contractor called ARK mechanical and electrical. We were recommended by a Jung rep called Michael Seeland. ARK is now a returning client of ours, so it was a great introduction for all concerned.” Dan also explains that the original design brief for the building specified a different control system. However, Jung and KNX was proposed by ARK and with Jung’s support, the Ready Controls team designed a system using Jung products that met and delivered the project’s specified requirements.” The client was a little cautious about including a home automation system throughout, due to a perceived high-cost burden and hesitance over the level of bespoke control and finish that could be achieved. Happily, Jung and the team at Ready Controls were able to create a proposal that delivered on cost, and control that changed the clients’ perception. Jung’s use of the KNX building automation protocol continues to pay dividends as the platform grows in popularity right across Europe due to its cost advantages and high reliability. Jung can add its control options and strong aesthetics over the top of the KNX backbone, making the combination a very strong proposition for developers, builders and end-users. Dan says, “Jung manufactures a vast amount of KNX products. 85% of the system at Chelsea Island was made up of Jung products. The client did have a specific requirement for another maker’s touchscreen; however, as the whole system is based around KNX, it was easy to make everything work in perfect harmony.” Flexibility is always key with projects such as this, as Dan explains: “The clients’ consultant had specified the control needs for the buttons on the switches. The versatility of the Jung F50 switch allowed these to be met with ease. Almost all switches throughout the building have a different function, but the F50 coped easily.”
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NOVEMBER 2020 57
MARGINAL GAINS MULTI-ROOM MUSIC. THE HI-RES WAY
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ESSENTIAL CASE STUDY: READY CONTROLS The Jung KNX platform within the building also delivers convenience, security and economy as all the building’s abilities and numerous multimedia functions can be networked and controlled centrally. Visualisation and evaluation of energy consumption via smart metering can also be implemented via the KNX backbone. Dan concludes, “We are really delighted with what we have achieved at Chelsea Island. A vast amount of the apartments have been sold and are occupied. We have returned many times for some end user bespoke adjustments and have had nothing but great feedback. I feel we really changed the perceived norm of control systems being expensive and unreliable by delivering a workable, inexpensive system that worked first time and delivered the strong aesthetics that are so important in a development like this.” Graham Oliver, Director, Jung UK, sums up, “We are really delighted with the result achieved at Chelsea Island. It underlines Jung’s ability to deliver on control, with the right aesthetics today’s developers and occupiers demand, as well as coming in at a cost that will surprise.” Jung Equipment List For Chelsea Island • KNX Dali gateways • Blind controllers • F50 room controllers and switches in a stainless-steel finish • Jung underfloor heating controllers • Jung phase lighting dimmers Jung jung.de/en Images Courtesy of Franklin Franklin Photography UK
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NOVEMBER 2020 59
Altitude32
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01359 270280 | sales@invisionuk.com
PRODUCTS
LITHE AUDIO GETS SOME AIR! Lithe Audio has just announced the arrival of
And what makes them even more attractive
the first certified Wi-Fi ceiling speakers with
is that they’re an all-in-one solution – with the
AirPlay 2 built-in. The addition of Apple’s latest
60W RMS amplifier and Wi-Fi built-in. This
protocol enables users to group Lithe Audio’s
means that there’s no need for speaker cables
all-in-one ceiling speakers together with any
or separate AV equipment, making them really
other AirPlay 2-enabled speakers and systems
easy to install or retro-fit into any home.”
to create a fully immersive multi-brand, multiroom audio solution.
Using AirPlay 2 alongside HomeKit and Siri, every compatible device in a household can be
“This is a truly exciting development for us
controlled using voice.
– and for consumers who now have the option
Lithe Audio’s update adds Apple HomeKit
of a cost-effective addition to their multi-room
compatibility to the Wi-Fi speakers, allowing
home entertainment systems and don’t need
users to create automations and link lighting,
to be locked in to a single-brand solution,” says
heating, security and audio through an iPhone,
Amit Ravat, MD and co-founder of Lithe Audio.
iPad or Mac. It also allows users to pair their
AirPlay 2 enables users to control all their
music to play with motion sensors, pulse
AV technology – soundbars, speakers, TVs –
switches or alarm systems.
from one device, transforming their iPhone,
It will also now be possible to ask Siri to turn
iPad or Mac into an all-in-one entertainment
on the lights, adjust the thermostat and play a
hub. The addition of AirPlay 2 to Lithe Audio
favourite playlist through the speakers.
Wi-Fi speakers enables them to become part
To ensure a complete and safe home
of this home entertainment experience, working
solution, the Lithe Audio Wi-Fi speakers with
with other brands and across multiple devices to
AirPlay 2 also come in an IP44 version for safe
stream high quality audio throughout the home.
use in bathrooms.
Amit adds, “Our ceiling speakers deliver superb sound quality, with a pin-sharp clarity
Lithe Audio
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The frameless speakers are designed to ‘disappear’ into the ceiling, only protruding 3mm
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NOVEMBER 2020 61
It’s official...
Lyngdorf makes the world’s best surround processors “The Lyngdorf MP-50 processor and SDA-2400 amplifiers are now in a class of their own.” Widescreen Review “The Lyngdorf MP-60 delivers the best performance I’ve heard from any processor to date and I’ve heard them all.” AVForum “After living with the MP-60 for quite some time, I’ve come to the conclusion is the best processor money can buy.” Home Cinema Choice “With RoomPerfectTM, the MP-60 produces the best sound quality heard for the lowest cost so far. You get SOTA surround sound performance for much lower cost than with other top tier contenders.” Widescreen Review “I can categorically state that I have never heard such pristine home cinema audio outside the mixing suites at Skywalker Sound.” Home Theatre Forum “In my opinion the MP-60 exists in a class of its own with performance that is best described as perfect.” AVForum
Gecko Home Cinema • 01635 268114 • www.lyngdorf.com
PRODUCTS
MARANTZ GOES 8K CRAZY! Marantz has announced details of its 8K surround AV pre-amplifier, the AV7706. Featuring 11.2 channel XLR and RCA pre-outs, the AV7706 is designed as the bedrock of any system demanding masterful fidelity, says its maker. Designed for use with external amplification like the Marantz MM8077, MM7055 and MM7025, the AV7706 is not only a strong AV processor, it is a capable analogue preamplifier with Marantz’s proprietary HDAM circuitry in the preamp section, ensuring channel separation, minimum crosstalk and enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally ELNA capacitators together with other selected components in the analogue and digital section, are on-board to ensure exceptional power and dynamic ability for traditional physical sources, like record players and CDs as well as digital media. The AV7706 provides decent connectivity options with eight HDMI inputs and three outputs. One dedicated 8K input supports 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz pass-through capability, while all other inputs support up to 4K/60Hz and 4:4:4 Pure Colour sub-sampling, Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10, 3D, BT 2020 pass-through and the latest HDCP 2.3 copy protection standard. Showcasing all the latest HDMI technologies and specifications, Marantz says the AV7706 enables enthusiasts to elevate their video viewing,
gaming and TV-watching experience with HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, auto low latency mode (ALLM), variable refresh rate (VRR), quick media switching (QMS) and quick frame transport (QFT) support on all inputs. The video processor can also upscale any native video source up to 8K quality. In addition, the AV7706 features HDMI eARC which supports 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in high quality directly from the TV source. The AV7706 also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, IMAX Enhanced and Auro-3D. The AV7706 has a dedicated pre-amplifier board featuring Marantz Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module (HDAM) technology that provides ultra-fast slew rate, true wideband performance and maximum dynamic range to deliver the promised sound quality. Marantz marantz.com/en-gb New 8K capability from Marantz
TIME FOR CONTROL4 TO CHIME! Control4 has introduced the Chime Video Doorbell, designed to bring the power of a smart home OS to the front door. The important difference the company is underlining between its solution and existing smart doorbells, is that they are standalone and whilst can be integrated into a smart home to a certain level, they cannot match the level of integration that full compatibility with Control4 OS 3 will deliver. Charlie Kindel, Chief Product and Technology Officer for SnapAV, says, “Chime marries security and automation to a level that has never been done before. Users can determine what actions they want to occur when motion is detected or the doorbell is pressed. It’s entirely customisable, transforming the doorbell’s role in the smart home to deliver the experience homeowners want.” Compatibility with Control4 OS 3 means integrators can deliver automations based on motion or a doorbell press, or they can be user-initiated. For example, users can see and speak with a visitor while unlocking the door, turning on the lights-inside and outside and disarming the security system all within the Control4 app. Advanced motion detection with five adjustable zones keeps homeowners alerted to movements around the front door, opting to receive video notifications when movement is detected in a specific video zone, or when the doorbell is pressed.
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Control4 is also very pleased with the appearance of the product, obviously trying to create a differential between it and what they company sees as more ‘DIY’ looking options. Available in two metallic finishes (black and satin-nickel), Chime features HD video with a 5-megapixel camera for a sharp, crisp video experience, a 180° field view to see more of the property, and a built-in night mode for visibility in the dark. It also enables natural two-way communications using standards-based communications technology, allowing users to hear and speak at the same time without having to press an intercom button. Control4 control4.com Someone’s knocking at the door!
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NOVEMBER 2020 63
PRODUCTS
BLUES POWER! Bluesound has announced the PULSE SUB+, an all-new subwoofer addition to the brand’s ecosystem. The SUB+ has been created to add deep bass to any wireless or wired Bluesound system and features the convenience of precision app control. The new Bluesound model builds on everything the original PULSE SUB offered and takes it to the next level. Available to UK installers/dealers via Anatech Distribution, the Bluesound PULSE SUB+ (MRSP £749) is offered in a choice of black or white finish and is configurable to a wide range of applications. For ease of installation, it comes supplied with a wall mount bracket and magnetic rubber feet. Available to pre-order now, the SUB+ will begin shipping in November 2020. An 8in long-throw woofer and 150W smart amplifier with DSP delivers low frequencies to a deep 22Hz. Acoustically, the design approach is true to the brand’s musically-inclined Hi-Fi heritage and results in what the maker describes as a tight, quick, musical subwoofer, equally well suited for music or home cinema. Aimed for maximum output from minimal size (18in W X 11.8in H X 5.75inD) the unit is designed to blend into any room application and any décor.
Bluesound designed it to be simple and it set up starts by using the BluOS Controller app to quickly setup and pair the SUB+ with any Bluesound product. With BluOS onboard, the user benefits from simple and intuitive app controls. For placement flexibility, a SUB+ wall mount bracket is included to allow the unit to be located almost anywhere in the room. The magnetic rubber feet can also be used to stand the SUB+ vertically for placement behind or beside a sofa or chair, or it can be placed horizontally underneath a couch or end table.
With its BluOS smarts, the 8in driver, the 150W Smart DSP Amplifier, and the versatility in placement and connection options, the PULSE SUB+ has been introduced to offer a truly meaningful addition to virtually any entertainment setup. Bluesound bluesound.com anatech.co.uk
The SUB+ is trailed as an ideal addition for movie and music lovers
MERIDIAN GETS ACTIVE Meridian Audio has introduced the DSP730, an in-wall digital active loudspeaker that provides both power and fidelity. Designed to deliver Hi-Res audio in small and medium-sized rooms, the loudspeaker joins the DSP750 in the Reference range of Meridian Audio’s Architectural product series. This reference loudspeaker delivers performance, is accuracy and bass for both music and films and id designed for easy and flexible installation in cinema rooms or for distributed audio applications. The DSP730 provides a maximum output of 115dB at 1m and bass extension down to 38Hz. The drive units have been carefully selected to deliver strong off-axis performance, providing wide dispersion for a large sweet spot and optimal coverage of listening positions. The DSP730 features the same custom beryllium tweeter as the DSP750, which is capable of playing Hi-Res audio over 40kHz. The 100mm mid-range driver delivers clear dialogue, while the 160mm bass driver produces bass frequencies with speed and accuracy. The three drive units realise the full potential of the Hi-Res amplifiers and the Class-M DSP engine, which provides thermal and dynamic bass protection for detailed and accurate sound.
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Three bridged pairs of Class-D amplifiers deliver over 100W to each drive unit and have been integrated into the design of the loudspeaker, eliminating any need for rack mounted amplifiers. These amps have been designed to operate comfortably and run perfectly cool, even at the highest listening levels. The DSP730 features Meridian’s Enhanced Bass Alignment (EBA) technology to provide accurate bass alignment. EBA allows the bass to arrive at the listener in time with the higher frequencies, delivering perfectly timed playback. The speaker also features Meridian Centre Elevation technology and ‘L+R’ soundbarmode for TV applications. In the soundbar mode, the loudspeaker plays a balanced mix of left and right audio, while the Centre Elevation technology raises the perceived image location from an under-screen loudspeaker to the centre of the screen. The DSP730 can be combined with the Meridian DSW600 in-wall subwoofer to produce a full-range, two-box solution. Meridian Audio meridian-audio.com
Available now, the Meridian DSP730 is priced at £5,000 RRP
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FINALLY NO COMPROMISE “What we’ve achieved with this is something that I never thought we could get to…I think it will be a long time before any of our competitors can equal this level of performance…if ever” Todd Ryan Chief Speaker Engineer.
watch the video
SUPPORTING THE UKʼS FINEST CUSTOM INSTALLERS
W: www.pulsecinemas.com
E: info@pulsecinemas.com
T: +44 1279 647 039