Volume 12, Issue 9 — May 14, 2015
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Industry News Audio Cables, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens and Accessories Control & Signal Processing
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The Value Of Ongoing Training
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
When business owners think about education and training for their employees, the most obvious reason for training is to equip employees with the necessary skills and abilities to perform their job to a minimum standard of competence. But there are more important reasons than that, not least of which is the ability to excel, and deliver a higher level of performance. This ultimately benefits not only the employer, but also their employees and even their customers.
Investing in education and training benefits employers, their employees, and ultimately, their customers. Well-trained employees are able to be more efficient and productive, and as a result worth more to their employer, meaning they justify higher compensation.
From the employer’s perspective, the benefits of investing in training are cumulative. An efficient crew means that the company’s workload can be scaled upwards. If your team can grow from doing work on one project a day to three, which is entirely possible, your productivity has tripled. That directly affects both the top line revenue and bottom line profitability of the company.
Increased productivity goes beyond new installations. If service techs who normally can make two service calls in the AM and two after lunch add a fifth service call into their day, that’s a 20 percent increase in productivity. Further to that, company sales people who’ve trained to polish their sales skills can expect a higher closing ratio, even if the total number of prospects they’ve got in their sales funnel has gone down. In addition, the benefits of a well-trained staff include other, less tangible, but still worthwhile benefits.
Carrying certifications from organizations like CEDIA or InfoComm contributes to building the company’s brand, and differentiating them from competitors. That perception of quality impacts how the business is promoted: When your salespeople talk to a customer, they can sell on value, or they can sell on price. Value exists at a wide range of costs, but with price, you can only talk about how low yours is. Selling your company’s expertise means clients are buying something they can feel good about, instead of a bottom-barrel installation from the guys who made the lowest bid.
One surprisingly common objection that business owners have to spending money on training is that their employees might decide to leverage their new skill level into a job somewhere else, or even leave to start a rival company. While that is a valid concern (and it does happen), the fact is that the benefits of more highly training personnel outweigh the potential downside.
Repeating what we covered earlier: Greater operational efficiencies will improve the bottom line. This doesn’t just benefit the employer; it also mean that the employee can earn higher compensation as a result. After all, aren’t you going to pay someone more if they’re worth more to the company? Besides, having untrained employees is a far worse choice. Let me ask you this: Would your company rather have highly trained employees who might leave or untrained employees who might stay? Leave a Comment
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CEDIA Announces Judging Panel for Electronic Lifestyles Awards CEDIA has announced the panel of judges that will evaluate the home technology professional categories in the 2015 Electronic Lifestyles Awards. Unveiling the judging panel was one of the key changes adopted for the CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards with the input of members and the Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to let the industry know who the 2015 judges are, not only to be more transparent about the awards program but also to recognize the volunteers who lend CEDIA their time and expertise to evaluate these projects,” said Dennis Erskine, vice chairman of the CEDIA Board and Electronic Lifestyles Awards co-chair.
2015 Awards Judges – Home Technology Professional Categories
Co-Chairs
- Dennis Erskine
Erskine Group, Inc.
- Michael Pope
Audio Video Interiors
Judges
- Ian Bryant
Simplified Concepts
- Eric Lee
Integrated Control Experts, Inc.
- Gerry Lemay
Home Acoustics Alliance
- Joel Silver
Imaging Science Foundation
- Dave Tkachuk
Symbol Logic
- Chris Wright
Wright Works
- John Bishop
Bishop Audio Services
The entry process is currently open for both home technology professional and manufacturer awards categories. All entries must be completed by 8 p.m. ET on May 18, 2015. Additional information about the Electronic Lifestyles Awards program can be found here. Leave a Comment
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CEDIA EXPO Heads to Dallas This OctoberMark your calendar for October 14-17, 2015, when CEDIA EXPO will descend upon the Lone Star State for the first time in several years. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas will host thousands of home technology professionals for the industry’s most wall-to-wall week of product news, training, networking, and more.
And CEDIA EXPO couldn’t be returning to the great city of Dallas at a better time. The city is reclaiming and reframing some of it’s neighborhoods, and visitors will be impressed. The March 2015 issue of American Way Magazine highlighted the following must-do list…
Arts District and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Arts District downtown is home to several astonishing venues — theaters, performance and symphony halls, museums and high-rise condos. It’s worth attending an event or trying top restaurants Tei-An or Proof + Pantry.
Lower Greenville
Dying and decaying just a few years ago, this area of Greenville Avenue has been revitalized by widening its sidewalks and narrowing the road. Hot spots include the Truck Yard for beer and cheesesteaks, Blind Butcher for meats and beverages, and Nora Restaurant and Bar for some of the best Afghan food in the city.
Bishop Arts District
This collection of restaurants, bars and shops is considered ground zero for the collection of new urbanists transforming Dallas. Boulevardíer is a top-tier neighborhood bistro, Oddfellows grinds world-class coffees, plus the neighborhood has nearly two dozen shops and galleries — including, of course, a bicycle shop (Oak Cliff Bicycle Company). (Also, take the trip just down West Davis Street to Bolsa—it’s worth it.)
Klyde Warren Park
Built above a freeway that formerly cut off downtown from the burgeoning Uptown neighborhood, this small urban oasis is usually filled with families, concerts, food trucks and a gorgeous restaurant (Savor Gastropub).
BarBelmont and Smoke
A twofer you’ll remember, especially if you go at night, as The Belmont Hotel’s bar and its next-door-neighbor restaurant will blow you away with the nighttime view of the Dallas skyline and the sparkling food and drinks.
You can make your trip to Dallas easier by planning ahead, CEDIA member housing opens May 12 (today!), non-member housing opens July 14. Make sure to mark your calendar for July 8 when registration opens so you can enjoy the largest savings CEDIA EXPO has to offer.
You can register for CEDIA EXPO here. Leave a Comment
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CEDIA Introduces Humanitarian AwardThe Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has opened nominations for a new Humanitarian Award that will recognize a company or individual who is working to improve life at home for those with special needs.
“Our industry was formed by passionate individuals and companies seeking to improve and enhance the lifestyles of their clients with technology,” said Dennis Erskine, vice chairman of the CEDIA Board and Electronic Lifestyles Awards Co-Chair. “This award is to recognize those individuals or organizations who have improved life at home for challenged individuals or families using technology.”
The recipient of the CEDIA Humanitarian Award will have demonstrated compassion through their work by creating solutions to enable an individual or family requiring special assistance to complete their daily activities with the support of technology.
Projects will be judged solely by the CEDIA Board of Directors on the content provided within the award application. All applications must be received by May 27, 2015. Additional information about the Humanitarian Award, including the application, can be found here. Leave a Comment
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CES Attendance Bodes Well for All AV Shows in 2015The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the owner and producer of the International CES Show, today announced that verified attendance at the 2015 International CES reached a record 176,676 industry professionals with 48,833 coming from outside of the U.S. The 2015 CES also set a number of other records, including more than 3,600 exhibitors, more than 2.23 million net square feet of exhibit space, 6,952 media and analyst attendees, 703,602 mentions of #CES2015 during the show with 7.51 billion total potential Twitter impressions, and 153 countries represented. The independent audit, performed by Veris Consulting, LLC, confirms CES’ status as the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. The full CES attendance audit summary report will be available online at the end of June.
As CES and the consumer technology industry continue to grow, CEA is establishing procedures to cap attendance at the 2016 International CES at 176,000, or close to a level comparable to the 2015 CES, in an effort to ensure that attendees continue to have a quality experience.
The new procedures that CEA will enact for the 2016 CES include:
Enhanced credentialing:
- New registrants or previous registrants who did not attend the 2014 or 2015 CES will be subject to new enhanced credentialing and tighter qualification criteria. This means that although individuals may have qualified for registration in previous years, they must resubmit credentials to qualify for the 2016 CES.
- To qualify, all registrants must provide a brief description of their industry affiliation along with links to their company website with an employee roster, a description of their business engagement at CES or a link to a current publication or article the registrant authored or in which they were quoted or cited as an industry professional. Alternately, registrants may also provide a business card, health insurance card or other proof of employment verification. In addition, in order to expedite affiliated registrants through the verification process, CES will ask registrants to include a business email address. Additional details can be found here once registration opens later this year.
- Those who attended one of the past two shows will be allowed to register without providing additional industry qualifications.
- CES remains a trade-only event and is not open to the general public.
A new registration fee structure:
- CEA is implementing a $100 advanced fee for all registrants beginning July 8 when registration launches.
- CEA is providing alumni who attended the 2014 or 2015 CES with a 30-day window of complimentary registration before the $100 fee goes into effect for this audience.
- Registration for qualified media will remain free of charge.
- Registration fees will increase to $300 beginning December 21 through the 2016 CES. This move is to encourage more registrants to sign up prior to December 21 to allow CEA ample time to verify credentials for those who register after that date.
“Our new procedures will help us cap the overall growth in CES attendance, promoting a quality business experience for our guests while focusing show and consumer technology industry growth in key areas, including new markets and trends,” said Karen Chupka, CEA senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy.
“The average CES attendee has 33 business meetings at our event so it’s crucial that we make the networking and dealmaking opportunities as easy as possible for our guests,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA president and CEO. “CES is the world’s leading annual innovation event and is setting records across every major category including international attendance. We must always innovate to ensure that CES remains the must-attend event for any professional connected to innovation. These new procedures will help us meet this goal.”
“We believe this number strikes the balance we seek between producing a show that truly reflects the size and scope of the global consumer technology industry while helping our participants have a positive, quality business experience,” said Chupka. “We won’t, however, turn qualified attendees away at the door! We will refine our new processes as necessary during registration in an effort to stay within our target attendance.”
Registration for the 2016 CES will open on July 8. More details on 2016 CES policies and procedures can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Beale Street Audio Reveals Beale Xpress Line, Adds New Distributors Beale Street Audio is broadening its product line to include Beale Xpress, a line of amplifiers, subwoofers and speakers designed for integration and featuring its Sonic Vortex Technology. The line includes residential audio solutions, 70/100v speakers for commercial applications and products for the international market.
Initial Beale Xpress speaker offerings will include: 4, 6.5 and 8-inch in-ceiling models, 4 and 6.5-inch in-wall models, angled in-ceiling and dual voice coil models, 6.5 and 8-inch in-ceiling subwoofers, and 70/100v in-ceiling speakers for commercial applications, all powered by Sonic Vortex. The Beale Xpress line also includes single room and multi-room amplifiers, subwoofer amplifiers, IR products, EZBrackets, kits accessories and more. All products mentioned are available now, or will be within 45 days.
Beale Xpress products will also be available in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa from BMB Electronics B.V., the Netherlands-based distribution company Beale Street Audio recently acquired. BMB will prime Beale Xpress for immediate international expansion by serving as the central European hub for all Beale Street Audio product lines and instantly creating a more efficient and responsive supply chain.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Extron Adds SM 28 Fast Installing, Two-Way Surface Mount Speakers Extron has launched the SM 28 SpeedMount Surface Mount Speaker, a two-way speaker with a patent pending, concealed wall mounting system. It features an 8″ (20.3 cm) woofer with dual tuned ports and a 1.1″ (2.8 cm) tweeter. The SM 28 provides a frequency range from 59 Hz to 22 kHz, and a power rating of 90 watts continuous pink noise, 180 watts continuous program capacity. The Extron exclusive mounting system is designed to accommodate division-of-labor installations and save costs. The SM 28 is available as an 8 ohm model, and an SM 28T version which can operate in 8 ohm direct as well as 70 volt and 100 volt modes. The SM 28T features a six-position power tap selector for up to 64 watts, which can conveniently be accessed through the grille from outside the speaker.
For installers, the flexible mounting system includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. The 0° mounting plate provides the electrical connections and allows the SM 28 to be oriented vertically or horizontally, flush with the wall. When the versatile 10° mounting adapter is added to the mounting plate, the SM 28 can be positioned with a 10° tilt downward, upward, left, or right.
The SM 28 saves time and installation costs for AV system contractors working with low-voltage contractors in a division-of-labor installation. During rough-in, a low-voltage contractor installs the mounting system on the wall and terminates the speaker cable to the mount’s integrated wiring contacts. Later, the AV system contractor completes the installation by sliding the SM 28 onto the mount.
The SM 28 is sold in pairs and carries a 5 year parts and labor warranty. It is available in a black or white finish and includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. Also available is an optional yoke mount kit for the SM 28. It allows for vertical or horizontal speaker mounting on a wall, or on a ceiling, and provides 180° of pivot in 10° detented steps.
Here are the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Ships AIR Landscape Speakers Crestron’s AIR line of Landscape Speakers (LS4T and LS6T) and In-ground Subwoofer (IGS82T) include selectable 8-ohm, 70-volt or 100-volt operation as well as the ability to be attached to a post or wall, or secured directly into the landscape using the 18-inch mounting stakes provided. These extra-long stakes allow the speakers to be implanted into the ground safely and firmly. No more worries about stakes tipping over when placed in mulch or gravel. Once the stakes are placed in the ground, the speakers can be positioned and adjusted effortlessly.
The speakers come in an attractive bronze textured finish and they are sold in pairs.
The AIR In-Ground Subwoofer (IGS82T) features dual 8″ low-frequency drivers, 22 to 120 Hz frequency range, 200 Watt power handling, 8 ohms nominal impedance and a built-in 70/100V transformer. The subwoofer is designed for in-ground placement and includes a bronze textured portal cap.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Pakedge Intros New Access Point in WK-1According to Pakedge, the WK-1 is an enterprise-grade 802.11ac wireless access point with a built-in 2×2 radio (claiming speed three times the speed and throughput of wireless-N access points).
Available in white, making it ideal for most indoor installations, the new wireless-AC access point can also be painted to blend in to almost any architectural environment. It will also be available in black which might be used in auditoriums, theaters, or other dim lit conditions.
Powered by PoE+ and with a high signal-to-noise ratio, it delivers a clear signal from anywhere – making it ideal in hard to reach places. Included brackets allow the WK-1 to quickly and easily be mounted to standard or drop-tile style ceilings and walls. Because it is PoE powered the WK-1 does not need to be plugged into a power outlet, allowing integrators more freedom in deciding where the WAP could be placed.
The new, improved GUI makes set up easy. Redesigned for a more unified look to facilitate a more consist experience across the Pakedge platform, the new WK-1 user interface is what Pakedge says is intuitive and incredibly simple. Integrators can access the GUI, set up preferences, and upload firmware in a matter of minutes.
The WK-1 is the most recent Pakedge product to be enabled for the manufacturer’s Custom Engineering program, which burns integrators’ preferred configurations into the firmware. This means an integrator can still make configuration tweaks on a customized wireless, but can revert back to their preferred customization by hitting the factory default button. This essentially condenses your best system integrator’s knowledge and experience and programs in directly into the devices.
In addition, these customized units are co-branded with Pakedge — the integrator’s logo will be visible from the device interface and on the serial number label. The Pakedge Custom Engineering is intended to help dealers scale their business a little more, extending their market reach to new customers more efficiently and effectively while still gaining a profit.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Joy Carpets Expands Any Day Matinee Home Theater Carpet Collection Joy Carpets & Co. continues to expand its Any Day Matinee Collection with new introductions for Spring 2015. These unique styles have broad appeal and range from whimsical and casual to sophisticated and modern. A first in the floor covering industry, Any Day Matinee allows homeowners to break free from the mainstream and express personal style when selecting carpet for home theaters or family entertainment areas.
Manufactured with only the highest quality raw materials, Joy Carpets continues its legacy of excellence with Any Day Matinee. Able to withstand the most demanding interior environments, these carpets resist soil, stains, are easily cleaned, and are backed by comprehensive wear warranties for peace of mind.
“We are pleasantly surprised with the success of Any Day Matinee in the A/V industry,” said Nick Dobosh, president. “Our hope is this collection continues to gain momentum as home theater professionals become accustomed to selling and handling the installation of carpet. Joy Carpets is proud to be leading the way in this niche floor covering market.”
Here are the complete carpet details and swatches. Leave a Comment
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RTI Ships T3x Remote Control Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI) has started their T3x wireless controller – a two-way controller that includes video intercom capabilities, a haptic feedback touchscreen, and grip sensors while sustaining an incredibly sleek design and a lower price than its predecessor.
RTI’s T3x remote control is promoted as being completely customizable with a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen interface with programmable “soft touch” hard buttons The T3x also features integrated grip sensors to keep the unit awake during use and an accelerometer that provides instant-on response and control via movements. The T3x allows direct control via infrared transmission in addition to three built-in wireless modes. Using RTI’s dual-RF platform, the T3x supports 433-MHz RF for one-way control while the device’s 2.4-GHz ZigBee capabilities allow bi-directional communication with RTI processors and seamless integration of third-party components such as music servers, lighting, HVAC, and security systems. For the ultimate control experience, the unit’s integrated 802.11b/g wireless Ethernet allows enhanced two-way control including dynamic graphics, IP cameras feeds and wireless program updates.
Here are all the details. 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).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
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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Copyright 2015 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
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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