Volume 11, Issue 7 — April 22, 2014
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Editorial Editorial Feature Article
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rAVe BlogSquad Industry News Audio TVs Cables, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens and Accessories
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Fewer Sources: Less Money, Or More?
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
If there’s any one trend that residential AV integrators need to come to grips with, it’s the fact that what’s driving the business today isn’t hardware, it’s content.
Time was you could tell a great AV system on sight not just by the quality of the gear, but the number of source devices involved. At its peak, my home system had a five-disc CD player, DVD player, VCR, S-VHS VCR, audio out from the 27-inch Sony Trinitron CRT, Sony Playstation 1, a dual deck cassette player and my beloved MiniDisc recorder.
But that was a long time ago. Today in my media room we use the Wii more for Netflix than for games, we still use the HD-PVR and we occasionally use the DVD player, but not often. On top of that, more media gets viewed in our house via non-traditional means. At any given time both iPads in the house are streaming kids’ TV via Netflix.
And that seems to be the norm today. Talking to both AV integrators and manufacturer’s representatives, homeowners focus isn’t on having as many sources in the rack as possible, but getting access to the content they want, where they want it. What are the two most popular sources today? Netflix and Apple TV (broadcast HD-PVRs are a distant third).
None of those three sources are exactly dripping with gross profit dollars either. So to borrow the question from the film Jerry Maguire, does that mean: “Fewer Sources, Less Money?”
Not necessarily. For one thing, taking dollars away from one category doesn’t mean taking dollars away from an entire project. If there’s one thing the industry learned from the way that iPad has rolled like a tank over control systems touch panels, it’s that. While dedicated automation touch panel sales have been in free fall for the past two years integrators quickly learned that the client’s budget is what it is. The consensus has been that if the client is spending fifty grand, a hundred grand, a quarter million, whatever, that money is still going to be spent. Replacing touch panels with iPads has meant taking thousands of dollars out of the control budget and funneling it into higher margin categories like speakers and projectors and screens.
So the lesson here is that while the number of sources clients are paying you to integrate are dwindling, there are still profitable opportunities in the client’s system design that are within your grasp.
Beyond hardware margins, there’s also the profit from labor dollars for your expertise. All this stuff is networked now, and your clients want, no, they demand a seamless, trouble free Network. That’s where you come in, and that’s what you bill them for.
The bottom line here is that if a typical AV installation is now going to incorporate gaming, streaming media, HD broadcast and access to the clients own media files then the focus for integrators is on offering high performance solutions to display and hear them, as well as their network skills. As one of my friends on the manufacturing side said to me, people need simple controls, better speakers and bigger amplifiers.
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Amazon Playing the TV Card
By Steve Sechrist Display Central
In case you missed it, Amazon has joined the STB (set-top-box) brigade with its own Amazon Fire device, as part of its future digital content delivery plans. A quip from the online press release gives the big picture: “Amazon integrates the hardware, software, and the content into an easy-to-use, seamless, end-to-end service for customers,” and this new STB is just one more piece in that delivery mechanism.
In fact, Amazon, the world’s largest web reseller, is so successful at video streaming, it announced today it has surpassed both Hulu and Apple in streaming video usage from its Prime membership service. That puts the company up there with the big boys in the future of broadcast distribution over the Internet, but it won’t stop there.
Content Production Too
Amazon previously announced it will also produce original content for TV, with a $1M commitment for a pilot comedy series Alpha House. But Yahoo and Microsoft also want into this space, as both announced plans to develop and produce their own original TV content. Yesterday, Yahoo said it was planning to produce four shows, or “original web series” of 30-minute comedy episodes. Meanwhile, Microsoft previously announced it will open up a new TV studio and hired former TV executive (Nancy Tellem, CBS) to deliver content through its Xbox console that doubles as a set-top-box for TV delivery. These web companies join the list of other web delivery services that have moved to producing their own content, most notably, Netflix (House of Cards).
All this didn’t have to be. Most web businesses probably don’t want to be in the TV production business and would gladly (willingly) distribute popular TV shows and films through their OTT solutions, but the entrenched (old broadcast) industry continues to say Nyet (no), so as it is said, “Mohammed must go to the mountain.”
It’s interesting that some of these web company announcements coincide with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show that starts this week in Las Vegas. It brings to mind thoughts of the original (old) network TV landscape. In the USA, this was a troika of alphabet networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) that cut their teeth in radio, (RCA or Radio Corporation of America) and moved with the help of then-broadcast kingpin David Sarnoff into the Golden Age of television. For a time they were the market. They produced the content and controlled the schedule that told viewers just when they will consume it. No more. Once viewers had a taste of ala carte viewing (arguably first with time shifting from TiVo) there was no looking back at the old way of doing things.
So at NAB this week, it may be wise to reflect on the Michael Powell (then FCC chair) warning to the broadcast industry one decade ago (2004). “Evolve or Die” was his prognosis, and one look around the show floor speaks to the truth of that vision. In fact, both have happened since that comment was made in an age when the Forbes top technology trend was the laptop overtaking the desktop (and prices as low as $700 by Christmas), flat TVs were mostly $4,000 plasmas, and iPods still only played music. So get ready for the continuing onslaught of web encroachment into broadcast as the evolution continues (as it always will). Leave a Comment
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A Visit With Savant
By Leonard Suskin Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch
Discussion of some project details recently brought me to the Savant Systems showroom in lower Manhattan. In addition to the matter at hand, I was treated to a showroom tour as well as a discussion on their offerings, the overall Savant ecosystem, and where they hope to be in the future.
The demo space is laid out the way many such spaces are, as a series of simulated rooms designed to showcase the technology in a variety of settings. There’s a corporate boardroom with a conference table, a small classroom, a working bar (complete with liquor), and a variety of residential spaces including a sitting-room and a Theo Kalomirakis-designed screening room. The spaces all have a nice, modern look and are powered by Savant’s control system. Many spaces, including the theater, use Savant’s video-tiling as well as their control, switching, and transport.
As you may or may not know, Savant doesn’t manufacture touch panels. Instead, consumer tablets (in most cases iPads, although Android support is well on its way) as control interfaces. For some very special spaces I see the value in a commercial, hardwired touchpanel with physical buttons and capable of live video preview. For the vast majority of spaces an iPad is a 10″ Wi-Fi touchpanel at a fraction the cost of offerings from Crestron or AMX. The nice thing about an iPad is that it’s very responsive – as much if not more so than the latest generation of commercial panels. They took advantage of this in some aspects of the standard GUI design, including drag-and drop and pinch-to-zoom gestures.
The residential space broke away from the standard interface to show off something a bit fancier. The iPad there had a scrollable image of the room in which we were standing. Clicking on a room element (a light, for instance) would open controls for that element. Even niftier, turning on a light made the light appear lit not only on the iPad interface, but on the picture of the iPad within the interface. It is, no question, a slick bit of GUI design.
What Savant is known for — at least to me — is their Apple-based control systems. For those who don’t know, “Apple-based” is very much literal in this context. If you take the cover off one of their control processors, you’ll find an actual Mac mini on the inside. They also have the sort of custom-engraved 8-button decora keypads one seems from many control manufacturers. A variety of control extenders are available, including IP to IR or RS232. Given the number of extenders available and the capabilities of one processor, Savant claims the ability to run an entire campus including scores of rooms using a single unit (although this would be ill-advised as creating a single-point of failure).
They also showed off their switching and distribution equipment. It’s the by-now familiar card-cage style switchers with local inputs, local output, and HDBaseT cards. Like many, their cards are of the four-in or four-out variety. Unfortunately, there are no HDBaseT input cards available yet. These are promised soon.
The rest of the discussion was about software. Savant is very proud of their “Blueprint” programming interface, claiming it to be easier and more user-friendly than competitors. They also boast an energy/resource management platform. This is a very nice thing which I’m increasingly suggesting as a standard part of the integrated control system for large deployments.
Should Savant be considered a viable commercial alternative as well as a residential solution? They at least are working hard enough to position themselves that way and have enough capability to be a part of the conversation. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing what’s next from them. Leave a Comment
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ESP/SurgeX Acquires SurgeX InternationalESP/SurgeX, a manufacturer of power protection and intelligence solutions for AV, IT, digital signage and other markets, has announced the acquisition of SurgeX International, which had been operating as a separate entity since Electronic Systems Protection, Inc (ESP) acquired SurgeX North America in 2008. The move unifies all SurgeX operations under a single management team located in Knightdale, NC.
Global demand for smart energy and power management products is growing and the acquisition allows SurgeX to better serve the needs of an electricity-dependent world. The company is uniquely suited to handle the demand of established and developing markets based on its existing operational capabilities and extensive product offerings across IT, audio video, digital signage, office supplies, imaging, healthcare, hospitality, security and more. Uniting worldwide operations and management of SurgeX assets in the Knightdale, NC headquarters will increase product development and result in more consistent service for customers, distributors and dealers.
More information about SurgeX is here. Leave a Comment
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Chief Updates Design Center ResourceChief has updated its online Design Center to provide AV consultants, architects and designers with a library of downloadable information to make specifying AV mounts easier.
Specifiers can find Revit files, CAD, tech drawings, manuals and literature for 24 of Chief’s most popular products. The site also lists certification information for the solutions.
Chief’s downloadable documentation also can be found on Autodesk SEEK.
As a Cornerstone Partner of the AIA, Chief offers a free binder for architects, designers and consultants. The binders are filled with information on all Chief’s AV solutions along with a selection guide to provide Chief’s top recommendations based on typology. Binders are mailed after filling out a simple form at the Chief Design Center. Leave a Comment
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NuVo Releases Android Version of Direct StreamNuVo Technologies has released the Android version of Direct Stream for its Player Portfolio app that allows users to stream content stored on any Android device directly to the NuVo system. Available now for download, the NuVo Player App version 1.8 enables Android devices with track selection, volume control and more. Direct Stream for iOS devices is also available, released on March 19th.
Audio files residing on the device itself are accessible if both the device and the NuVo Player Portfolio system are on the same network. When connected, each Android becomes another audio source, the content of which is accessible as a library within the app and can be listened to by any zone on the system. As many as 16 streams can be accessed simultaneously, and the app provides controls for play/pause, next song/last song and shuffle mode.
The app with Direct Stream requires that the NuVo Player Portfolio be updated with firmware version 1.8. If the firmware has not yet been updated, opening the app will initiate the download and installation of the new version. Once the system is updated and the app is opened, it will initiate a brief tutorial on using the direct stream feature. The app is available here and more information about NuVo is available here. Leave a Comment
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Terra Speakers Updates AC SeriesTerra, a manufacturer of all-climate loudspeakers, has updated the look and durability of its AC series enclosure models. The new AC grilles are made from aluminum in place of the molded resin types previously used. The grilles incorporate carefully sized micro-perforations in order to balance attractiveness and speaker protection while having a minimal impact on sonic clarity.
Perforated aluminum is ideal for all-climate speakers because it won’t rust like steel. Terra says its specialized powder coating process allows for excellent color matching with the polyethylene enclosure and the resulting finish is significantly more durable than commonly used powder coatings.
The new look AC series is now shipping in Terra’s standard black, white and green colors. Custom colors are available on special order. Complete specs on the AC Series are available here. Leave a Comment
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Bay Audio Intros PTM+ Home Theater Solution With Custom On-Site Tuning Bay Audio has introduced the PTM+ home theater solution, which pairs loudspeaker technology with collaborative specification and onsite factory tuning — what the company says are two critical stages of the theater design and build process.
The Bay Audio PTM+ lineup is fully customizable to accommodate each installation since Bay Audio’s factory-trained personnel would be tuning each system. Standard sizes include a compact, high output monitor, center channel, in-wall loudspeaker, bass staging module and subwoofers in three sizes. PTM+ loudspeakers’ design elements include inert 1-inch MDF cabinet designs veneered inside and out, multiple internal braces to lock all cabinet walls in place and eliminate unwanted resonances. PTM+ loudspeakers also include an energy dispersion pad behind each premium grade driver to absorb unwanted vibrations. PTM+ loudspeakers feature precision tuned crossover networks utilizing 5 percent resistors, 250-volt polypropylene capacitors, high-quality bypass capacitors and 12-gauge internal wiring.
Two worksheets are generated by Bay Audio for each theater — one addressing technical specifications of the room, the other addressing design and décor. Bay Audio will dispatch a trained technician to each completed PTM+ home theater installation in order to correctly calibrate output levels, equalization, time alignment and any other adjustable parameters of the system.
For more information on the PTM+ Home Theater Solution, click here. Leave a Comment
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Sony Announces Pricing, Ship Dates for Newest 4K Bravia TVsAt CES, Sony announced 4K TVs as part of its Bravia lineup. Sony announced ship dates and pricing for those TVs. They will ship this June and are priced starting at $2,099 for the entry-level 49-inch model. There are nine models across three different series. There are four sizes of the XBR-X850B, three of the XBR-X900B and two for the flagship XBR-950B. Pricing is as follows:
XBR-X850B
- 49-inch – $2,100
- 55-inch – $3,000
- 65-inch – $4,000
- 70-inch – $5,500
XBR-X900B
- 55-inch – $4,000
- 65-inch – $5,000
- 79-inch – $9,000
XBR-X950B
- 65-inch – $8,000
- 85-inch – $24,999
All of the TVs offer HDMI 2.0, allowing for 4K/60p; HEVC/H.265 decoding; Sony’s X-Reality PRO technology for upscaling lower resolution content; Sony’s ClearAudio+ technology for “better than average” audio; access to Sony’s new gaming services, Playstation Now; and mobile home link 3.0, which can take a 4K output from a compatible smartphone or tablet. The mid-line XBR-X900B upgrades customers to a new form-factor, and the flagship XBR-X950B offers direct LED array lighting.
Sony also announced it will ship an updated version of its 4K media player, the FMP-X10, this summer.
See all of the specs for the different models here. Leave a Comment
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Active Thermal Management Shows Dual CoolThere are rack installations in closets that are hot and so full that there aren’t any spaces left for a cooling system. Then there are closets with shelf-mounted systems that also need cooling. Active Thermal Management says that Dual-Cool can solve both problems as it has a two-mode cooling system that’s equally effective cooling racks and shelves, in both cases moving heated air to an attic or an adjacent area through 5′ of flexible tubing.
A benefit of Dual-Cool in a rack installation is that it mounts to the rack’s rear rails, taking up no front rack space. It’s 2U rack units high and only 7″ deep and it mounts easily behind a shallow component near the top of the rack. A remote thermal probe starts Dual-cool’s fans turning at low speed (adjustable) at 90F (also adjustable) and switches it to full speed if the temperature rises another 10 degrees.
Rack or shelf installation, heated air is pulled up from below Dual-Cool’s chassis by three powerful fans, and is exhausted through 5’ of insulated flexible tubing.
Here are details. Leave a Comment
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Elite Screens Intros Starling SeriesElite Screens has introduced the new Starling Series, an economically priced line of electric projection screens. Featuring a metal casing with either gloss white or black, the series has the Spectra White FG (fiber glass backed) matte white surface screen fabric with 160-degree viewing angle and 1.1 gain. Elite Screens says it has a quiet and efficient synchronous motor.
The Starling electric projection screen ships fully assembled with a complete set of Infrared and Radio Frequency Remotes, along with an in-line UP/STOP/DOWN control box switch.
It’s available in a range of sizes including 100″, 120″ and 135″ in a 16:9 HDTV format.
Complete specs are here. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
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rAVe HomeAV Edition contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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