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Volume 9, Issue 7 — April 12, 2012
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Kaleidescape Loses: But Is It A Tempest In A Teapot?
By Lee Distad
rAVe Columnist As everybody even remotely involved in the AV and CE channels knows by now last week Kaleidescape lost its attempt to appeal the injunction ruled against the company in its seven years-long battle with the DVD-CCA.
Saxe Brickenden, president of distribution company Evolution Home Entertainment points out that the ruling against Kaleidescape underlines a shocking double standard that has come to exist in the two big stored media worlds: music versus movies. He points out rather tartly that Hollywood and the music industry have demanded treatment of their products that is inherently in conflict. Says Brickenden: “Empirically, they are both stored bits of information purchased by consumers who wish to transfer their purchases to stored memory for convenient playback when, and where, they wish. Even if we take the same example in two analogous scenarios — music and movies, and we look at applications for an individual's own enjoyment only, as opposed to using them for resale, or to sell tickets to their friends, we will see two very different treatments by the law.” He further points out that in the case of music media, iTunes is most often the software choice of the consumer. But due to the very different evolution of copy code implementation, movies are treated differently by the law, and he thinks that’s silly.
He further asserts that the implications of the Kaleidescape decision will be felt by the clientele and their integrators. “Another hardware category, and the services sold to support it, will disappear,” he says.
But integrators would be well advised to embrace the change by re-thinking the type of services they provide, and that’s a positive in his book. He says, “While there will undoubtedly be an accelerated adoption of Apple TV, and a skipping of the extra step of ripping an obsolete spinning technology, the more widespread and almost universal use of iTunes means that the progressive integrator will be spending less time toiling simply, "making it work," and more time getting creative and, ‘making it cool!’” He backs that up with the observation that he’s seen the same thing with the adoption of Savant by his dealers. “Our integrators are spending less time writing code to make it work, so they could dedicate more time to making automation do what the client wants it to do, in the way they want to interact with their devices.” As with many things in life, every scenario, even the death of DVD ripping, has an upside.
However, at least according to some industry veterans, the decision appears to be Sturm und Drang, with few real ramifications. When asked for his feelings about the ruling, Igor Kivritsky, owner of high-end Vancouver shop HiFi Center replied with two words “WHO CARES?”
Actually, he responded with a lot more words than that, but that was just his opening salvo. In Kivritsky’s opinion, the last seven years have been an colossal waste of time and money. “Like bitter relatives, the DVD-CCA can’t even remember why they’re fighting,” he says. “They even acknowledged, in writing, that Kaleidescape’s technology has not negatively impacted their business. Instead it’s been a legal catfight, probably prompted by their lawyers, pushing the right buttons in order to keep the billable hours rolling.”
And in all that time, during which the DVD-CCA was trying to stop Kaleidescape from breaking the DVD codec in order to store movies on servers, the world has changed, and passed DVD ripping by. “Let me put this in perspective,” Kivritsky explains. “The minimum buy-in to get your own Kaleidescape is fifteen grand. If you have that much money to spend, you’re spending fifty, one hundred, five hundred-thousand on your AV system. Those clients who are spending that kind of money want the best AV experience possible. DVD just isn’t good enough anymore.”
Kivritsky further asserts that “in the past year one hundred percent of our Kaleidescape business has been either Blu-ray Vaults for new clients, or existing Kaleidescape owners upgrading to Blu-ray Vaults.” More specifically, they’re paying HiFi Center to rip out their old DVD RAID servers and replace them with Blu-ray management. So what are his clients doing with their old DVD collections if they’re moving to Blu-ray? “They’re giving them away or throwing them away,” Kivritsky states bluntly.
“Kaleidescape lost a court battle against them for a business that they’re not even in anymore,” concludes Kivritsky. “If that doesn’t make the DVD-CCA look like a bunch of clowns, then I don’t know what does.”
Lee Distad is a rAVe columnist and freelance writer covering topics from CE to global business and finance in both print and online. Reach him at lee@ravepubs.com
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Share Article Back to Top Is Service Compatible the Answer to Broadening 3D Adoption?
By Chris Chinnock
Senior Editor and Analyst, Insight Media For those of you who are not familiar with the term "service compatible," this refers to a new broadcast standard that could augment, and maybe replace, the current 3D broadcast standard called "frame compatible." The frame compatible format has allowed cable and satellite providers to deliver 3D content to 3DTVs with minimal upgrade to their existing infrastructure. But there are trade-offs to this approach, which service compatible formats will address – and may be the key to broader acceptance and viewing of 3D content.
The frame compatible format takes full resolution left and right eye images and packs them together into a single video frame. The most common formats are side-by-side and top/bottom. This approach reduces the resolution of the original stereo pair so that the decoded 3D image will have some loss of fidelity when viewed on the 3DTV. Several companies have proprietary methods to reduce fidelity loss, but these do not seem to be widely used at this time.
The other big trade-off with frame compatible is that the 3D signal is not viewable on a 2D set — you will see a side-by-side or top/bottom formatted image. Therefore, 3D content must be broadcast on a separate channel from the 2D version – thus doubling bandwidth and creating separate telecasts that are less accessible and visible to consumers.
The service compatible formats under consideration in various standards bodies address the two primary issues of full resolution to each eye and the need for a second broadcast channel.
While a number of formats are under consideration (more details are available in our IMU course on the topic), MVC (Multi-Video Coding) is now the frontrunner within the DVB standards-setting task force, said David Wood, deputy director of the European Broadcast Union Technical Committee in an email to Insight Media. MVC is the standard used to create Blu-ray discs. To encode a 3D movie, the codec first calculates the "difference" between each pixel in the left and right eye images. The metadata representing this pixel difference is then attached to the original left eye image and encoded into an mpeg stream that is recorded on the disc. The Blu-ray player decodes this and restores full resolution left and right eye images to offer 3D signals for a 3DTV, or the original left eye image for a 2DTV. 3D Blu-ray is the image quality standard for 3D today.
To adapt MVC for broadcast, Wood noted that, "MVC is a specification already done in MPEG so we don’t need to wait… we just have to add appropriate signaling."
Note that a broadcast version of MVC will deliver full resolution per eye, and allows a single stream to deliver both the 2D and 3D versions of the content. However, the service compatible system will require the deployment of new set-top boxes – an infrastructure investment.
Cable and satellite operators will only consider such a rollout if they think it will have a return on investment. Improved delivery of 3D may be part of this equation, but other advanced features on new set top boxes could also sway the decision.
I also want to highlight a key point that Corning’s technology development manager, Robert Boudreau, made in an email exchange. His point was that in the transition from black and white TV to color TV, major shows were broadcast in color on the major networks to help spur adoption of the technology (remember Disney’s Wonderful World of Color?). Viewers saw an icon that identified the show as being broadcast in color, which was visible if you had a color TV, but shown in black and white if you did not. This created huge mainstream awareness of the color technology and a desire among consumers to upgrade their TVs.
The service compatible format has the potential to do the same thing for 3D. If major sporting events and prime time network shows were available in 2D or 3D on the same channel, this would make it a lot easier for the consumer to watch 3D content — and a greater array of high quality content.
Woods said they should have a draft service compatible document this summer, so rollout could not be that far away — at least in countries that use the DVB standard. The ATSC committees working on 3D and other advanced standards are likely looking closely at MVC, too.
So, the service compatible format, in combination with broader availability of 3D content, could easily combine for a second wave of 3D enthusiasm in 2013/2014.
Chris Chinnock is a senior analyst and editor from Insight Media. Reach him at chris@insightmedia.info
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Online Video Set to Surpass Physical Media
By Aldo Cugnini
Consultant, Insight Media The inevitable is about to happen, perhaps sooner than anyone thought. The DVD format, first introduced in 1996, and its 2003 successor Blu-ray, as well as legacy VHS, are about to be passed in viewing volume by online paid video downloads. The legal, paid consumption of movies online in the United States will reach 3.4 billion views or transactions in 2012, approximately 1 billion units higher than the 2.4 billion for physical video for this year, according to information and analytics provider IHS. Online sales are defined as electronic sell-through (EST, with a one-time fee to download and store locally), Internet video on demand (iVOD, one-time streaming) and subscription video on demand (SVOD, repeat streaming by subscription). Just last year, physical video still had the leading share of the market, with 2.6 billion views or transactions, compared to 1.4 billion for online. Although it is declining, physical video this year will still command more viewing time from Americans, who will spend an estimated 4.3 billion hours on DVDs and Blu-ray discs, compared to 3.2 billion hours for movies online. But it’s amazing how close those numbers are, as well. "The year 2012 will be the final nail to the coffin on the old idea that consumers won’t accept premium content distribution over the Internet," says IHS senior principal analyst Dan Cryan. "In fact, the growth in online consumption is part of a broader trend that has seen the total number of movies consumed from services that are traditionally considered ‘home entertainment’ grow by 40 percent between 2007 and 2011, even as the number of movies viewed on physical formats has declined." Apparently, says IHS, the surge in consumption of online video is due to the rise of flat-rate subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu, which offer customers unlimited on-demand movies for a fixed monthly or annual fee. The result is that subscriptions in 2011 accounted for 94 percent of all paid online movie consumption in the United States, compared to just 1.3 percent of units consumed that were bought on an ownership basis via electronic sell-through. But although online sales will account for the majority of transactions this year, it is set to attract a far lower share of revenue in 2012, at $1.7 billion, measured against $11.1 billion derived from physical formats. This is because consumers will pay an average of 51 cents for every movie consumed online, compared to $4.72 for physical video. The pattern will likely remain unchanged even by 2016, predicts IHS, with online accounting for 17 percent of revenue compared to 75 percent for physical video and pay-TV video on demand taking the remaining 8 percent. When the Internet and audio CDs were still in their infancy, techno-pundits decried the absurdity of selling bits to consumers on physical media. We’re now seeing the inevitable – the ubiquity of Internet connectivity will all but obsolete physical media as a means for distributing content. (In a related development, note the struggles that the U.S. Postal Service is going through.) How long until DVD and Blu-ray become completely irrelevant? As IHS’ Cryan points out, "almost nine years after the launch of the iTunes Store, CDs are still a vital part of the music business." Netflix started streaming video over the Internet in 2007, and applying the same CD-longevity measure to digital video on disc would suggest the formats are still around in 2016. Any bets?
Aldo Cugnini is an analyst for Insight Media. Reach him at aldo@insightmedia.info
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Share Article Back to Top Go to Hell DVD — and Take Blu-ray with You
By Gary Kayye
rAVe Founder I just finished reading a report published today by Leichtman Research Group — the market analyst firm I've been following for some time now and whose data I trust. Basically, the report cites the real numbers on so-called connected TVs (Internet-enabled) and what's going on with them in the home. So far, 38 percent of all U.S. households have them already — or have an AppleTV or Roku box connected to their HDTV — a 10 percent increase in less than two years.
What's happening is that, instead of 2020 being the year the DVD dies, it appears that it might be as early as 2015. In fact, declines are already happening now. Many are saying that the high was 2011 and that 2012 will see a decline in both sales AND rentals of DVDs — the physical media — and this includes RedBox. That the public will, by 2015, be done with the physical media — the disc.
Well, all I have to say is "go to hell DVD and take Blu-ray with you."
Why?
Well, my angst with Blu-ray is the same as everyone's. Even with these so-called quick-loading players, they still suck. You never know for sure if the disc will actually load — until you see it playing on the screen, and you certainly don't know if you're gonna make it through the entire movie without it freaking out and pausing half way through. And, as for DVD, the format has always sucked. The quality varies, the video noise has mysteriously gotten worse ever since the day Blu-ray won the HD DVD battle (yeah, you thought I didn't notice, huh, Sony?) and they, too scratch and stop and freeze.
Downloading is awesome. Setting aside the crappy Netflix library of downloadable stuff, it works nearly flawlessly — and the SD stuff looks nearly as nice as Blu-ray. So, why do I still like it even if the library of options is bad? Well, that's temporary. You can always spend more at the iTunes store — their selection is the world's best. But, if the dang disc thingy would go ahead and go away, I promise you the selection issue would be solved! Hollywood is doing this on purpose to help prop up the dying format they still gouge us with.
Look, I want them to make money, but I want them to be fair. Their pricing model is left over from the VHS days and they're not evolving. In fact, if they would, they'd make much more money and the opportunity would be greater.
For example, what about this model? Release a movie in the theater at at home at the exact same time. Many people have home theaters as good as many movie theaters, or, would prefer to actually watch a movie at home anyway. So, instead of missing out on those folks (count me in here) totally and having us pay only $3 or $4 for a movie, give us the OPTION to pay $50, $75 or even $100 to be able to watch it at home the same day as it comes out in the theater. That's not gouging as I can always opt-out and not rent it, go to the theater and see if for $10 or wait three months later for the $4 iTunes fee or even a year later as part of my Netflix streaming package.
You could even do a tiered-package approach. So, charge me $100 to see it the same day it comes out. Then, two weeks later, lower it to $75. Then, maybe a month after that, $50. And so on. Eventually you'll capture everyone with that option as most people will wait until the end-price — like they do now — but guess what, that 5 percent that will pay early will garner you a ton of new money — distribution-free profit — that you control!
Seriously, consider it!
I'll bet you that five percent I quoted above, is a low-ball number, too.
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Share Article Back to Top The Business Case for an Enterprise-Grade Wireless Infrastructure Strategy As more wireless devices are used to control and interact with automation systems, electronic systems contractors (ESCs) face a substantial challenge: selling and supporting a robust wireless platform that can service the client’s automation system and general wireless computing needs.
Providing reliable, consistent wireless access requires a keen understanding of enterprise-grade Wi-Fi technology. ESCs must also have the skill to design, program, and implement this type of wireless networking platform.
The good news is, there is a strategy available that offers an opportunity for both greater project profitability and system reliability: enterprise-grade managed Wi-Fi with a centrally managed wireless controller.
To help ESCs develop this service offering, CEDIA’s Technology Advisory Group is creating a new Mobile Devices in Residential Systems Integration white paper series that both examines and recommends best practices for the adoption of mobile devices as being core to a company’s strategy for a converged IP ecosystem in the home.
The first installment in this series, titled The Business Case: Why Your Business Needs an Enterprise-Grade Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, is now available. This document focuses on why an ESC business needs an enterprise-grade wireless infrastructure strategy.
“Mobile device integration is a very real part of our industry’s future. It’s not going away,” said Dave Pedigo, senior director of technology. “Through these white papers, we hope to provide our members with guidance to navigate this emerging market opportunity.”
The new white paper is available free of charge for CEDIA members and $9.99 for non-members in the CEDIA Marketplace. Additional white papers on this topic will be released throughout 2012. |
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Share Article Back to Top This Week From rAVe's BlogSquad Back to Top Philips and TPV Announce Television Joint Venture Named TP Vision Philips Electronics today announced that the transaction to create a Television joint venture with TPV Technology Limited has been completed. The joint venture will be called TP Vision and will be 70 percent owned by TPV and 30 percent by Philips. TP Vision will develop, manufacture and market Philips branded TV sets. So, Philips is back, again, in consumer TVs.
TP Vision will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales of Philips’ Television worldwide, with the exception of mainland China, India, United States, Canada, Mexico and certain countries in South America. As part of the transaction, the Philips Television innovation and manufacturing sites, commercial organizations, headquarters and employee base of close to 3,300 will transfer to TP Vision.
The key terms and conditions of the transaction are in line with the announcement made on Nov. 1, 2011, which can be viewed online via the following link http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/news/press/2011/20111101_tpv_signing.wpd
Philips Television has operated as a standalone business within Philips Consumer Lifestyle since Jan. 1, 2012.
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Crestron Announces Eighth Annual Integration Awards Crestron announced a call recently for entries for its eighth annual Integration Awards, which honor the "most innovative and creative residential installations featuring Crestron solutions." Crestron dealers can submit projects for nomination in thirteen creative categories including Biggest, Baddest Home, Home Sweet Home Theater, and Ultimate Connected Home. Contest finalists will be notified by Aug. 1, 2012. Winners will be announced and recognized at CEDIA 2012, held Sept. 6-8, 2012 in Indianapolis, Ind. Eligible projects must have been completed between July 2011 and June 2012. Entries must be received by June 29, 2012.
To download an awards application or get more information, click here: http://www.crestron.com/integrationawardsinfo
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Share Article Back to Top Pacific Media’s End User Survey Claims Interest in Home Theater Projectors Up 66 Percent Pacific Media Associates (PMA) has released its findings on the current use and future purchase intentions of consumer projector users.
This is the final set of important results from PMA’s sixth biennial large-scale (1000 responses) and statistically-representative survey of United States users and intenders of front projectors, both individual consumers and organizations. The survey focused on topics of timely interest, including requests for additional or modified questions from PMA’s extensive client base of front projector manufacturers. This set of findings focused on end-user consumers who own, or plan to buy, a home theater projector.
“Our 2011 survey showed an increased interest in front projector use in the home, compared to our previous survey, conducted in 2009,” says Dr. William Coggshall, President of PMA. “In 2009, 11 percent of the survey respondents expected to buy a projector vs. another type of large-screen display. Our recent 2011 survey showed that figure has increased to 18 percent.”
Results also showed that movies are the preferred content type for current projector owners, with 25 percent of owners using their projectors to watch movies and other pre-recorded videos. Watching TV, which ranked number one in the previous survey, lost ground in the latest survey. Movies, 3D Sports, 3D games, and 3D TV programs also gained popularity as reasons to buy a 3D projector.
Expectations for placing a projector in a dedicated home theater were significantly lower than in PMA’s 2009 end user survey, possibly because consumers have cut back on large-scale remodeling projects that might be associated with dedicated media rooms. This could explain why a lot of the high-end/luxury projector brands have moved down-market over the past year year, offering products at compelling prices.
Sony (whom respondents considered the “best” brand), Panasonic, Acer and LG are among the most-owned brands, while Sony, LG, and JVC are among the most intended brands.
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Share Article Back to Top Atmel (Who?) to Debut Flexible Touch Display Atmel Corporation, a public company that's traded on NASDAQ with symbol ATML but is little known in the AV industry, yesterday announced that it is sending out beta samples of what the company call XSense — a highly flexible, film-based touch sensor (in other words, a touch-panel technology that so flexible you can roll it up). Atmel says that XSense touch sensors will not only enable a new generation of smartphones and tablets, but also extend touch capabilities into a wider array of new consumer and industrial products. Since Atmel is a publicly traded company, you have to lend it credence as they'd be in trouble if they exaggerated something as big as this!
Based on a proprietary roll-to-roll metal mesh technology, XSense touch sensors provide a high-performance alternative to existing touch sensors. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will now be able to develop larger, lighter, sleeker, curved and edgeless designs for smartphones, tablets, Ultrabooks and a host of new touch-enabled products. XSense touch sensors are optimal for a wide range of touchscreen products, enabling thinner sensor stacks with superior performance and excellent optical clarity. With such advantages as flawless touch performance, enhanced noise immunity, low sheet resistance and low power consumption, designers will now be able to turn unique touch-based concepts into functional designs at lower total system costs compared to current market alternatives.
The company also sees this as something that will transform the large screen market as well. So, flesible touch screen digital signage and HDTVs may be sooner on the horizon than we thought!
Here are all the details on the technology: http://www.atmel.com/Microsite/xsense/default.aspx
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Share Article Back to Top Extron Debuts 1×2 HDMI DA Extron this week launched the HDMI DA2, a one-input, two-output distribution amplifier for HDMI video and embedded multi-channel digital audio. The HDMI DA2 supports HDMI at 6.75 Gbps, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D, Lip Sync and HD lossless audio formats. This HDCP-compliant distribution amplifier supports all HDTV rates including 1080p/60 and PC resolutions up to 1920×1200. It features two Extron-exclusive technologies: EDID Minder, which maintains continuous EDID communication between connected devices; and Key Minder, which authenticates and maintains continuous HDCP encryption between input and output devices.
Features of the HDMI DA2 include automatic input cable equalization, automatic bit depth management, selectable output muting and indicators for monitoring and troubleshooting. Input cable equalization restores and reshapes incoming HDMI signals, reducing the need for additional signal conditioning equipment by compensating for weak source signals or signal loss from a long input cable.
For more information on the HDMI DA2, go here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=hdmida2
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Share Article Back to Top Crestron's New Waterproof Remote Is, Well, Out There Crestron's new UFO Waterproof Remote Control is a buoyant saucer-shaped remote that includes rubber-coated buttons for macro functions, as well as a color LCD readout. Crestron is marketing it for indoor and outdoor use in or around pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, spas and on yachts.
The user interface features customizable menus with color icons and is molded in a rugged, rubberized outer skin which Crestron says makes the UFO resistant to damage from chlorine, salt water and sterilization solutions.
The UFO also provides extended wireless coverage and two-way feedback from a 2.8" active-matrix color LCD display. Using Crestron 2.4 GHz RF wireless technology, Crestron says it allows extended coverage performance up to 200 feet indoors, and 1,000 feet outdoors using the optional Extended Range RF Wireless Gateway.
Here are all the stats: http://bit.ly/H78AWp |
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HAI Intros ZigBee Remote for Kwikset Door Locks HAI's MicroControl is a standalone remote control for ZigBee wireless door locks that provides homeowners or building managers a status ofor each lock and the ability to lock or unlock specific door locks. HAI says the ZigBee integration has been specifically verified with the Black & Decker Kwikset SmartCode locks, but it should work with other locks that support the standard ZigBee Home Automation profile lock cluster.
The HAI ZigBee lock integrations are shipping now. They are compatible with all Ethernet-enabled Omni and Lumina controllers, including Omni Pro II, Omni IIe, Lumina Pro, and Lumina, utilizing firmware version 3.10 or later. The ZigBee integrations require usage of HAI's MicroControl, HAI part number 81A00-2WHZB, or the HAI Zigbee Interface Module, HAI Part Number, 81A00-3ZB, running firmware 14.08 or later.
Here are all the details: http://bit.ly/H7deUi
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Share Article Back to Top Chief Introduces Industry-First Program for Custom, Preloaded AV Racks Chief has just launched RackBuilder Delivered, a one of a kind program that configures and delivers Chief rack systems preloaded to a users’ specifications.
Customers can quickly build a custom rack configuration using Chief’s online, newly-renovated RackBuilder application. Orders are then processed, preloaded and repackaged in Chief’s warehouse, then shipped to the customer.
The program is now available to all Chief customers at no additional charge. In addition to the convenience and time savings, the final configuration significantly reduces the amount of packaging used in shipping, and the amount of packaging that the customer is responsible for disposing of or recycling.
One of the main features in the new application is the smart logic that guides users in product selections and compatibilities as they build. Other enhancements include drag-and-drop editing, the ability to save and email configurations, a third-party components compatibility database, access to MSRP pricing, and a SpecBuilder automated collection option that gathers all necessary DWG, CAD and related documents.
Want details? Click here: http://www.chiefmfg.com/rackbuilder
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Share Article Back to Top Bryston Updates Flagship Amp Bryston has replaced its flagship (B-100) amp with the introduction of the B-135 SST. This amp is spec'd to output 135 watts per channel into 8 ohms with seven high level inputs, a pass-through feature (typically for home theater applications), one tape loop and a pre-out/main-in feature. The $4,695 B-135 SST also includes an option for an onboard DAC for an additional $1,395 and the optional moving magnet phono stage for an additional $600. It will be available in May.
Other B-135 SST features include:
- 30,000 MFD of filter capacitance per channel
- Three new ultra-low-noise power transformers – two for analog circuits, one for digital circuits
- Totally separate ground paths for digital and analog sections
- Two quick-connect 12 Volt output triggers – (one programmable)
- New digitally controlled analog volume dial
- Four assignable digital inputs
- R232 and IR control
Complete specs are here: http://www.bryston.com/products/power_amps/B135.html
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Niles Introduces New Line of Outdoor Rock and Planter Speakers This month Niles introduced its next generation of outdoor speakers. The Niles GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock and Planter Speakers are engineered to deliver the highest quality audio fidelity and weather any outdoor climate, according to the company. The new line is available for immediate delivery to dealers.
The GeoRealistic Pro Series speakers feature a new protective finish and a new four-layer fiberglass weave, which Niles says makes them at least five times more durable and long-lasting than the current model of rock speakers, even under the most extreme UV conditions. The advanced conformal coatings on the crossover boards will protect the speakers against moisture, dust and chemicals. The speakers are able to withstand temperature ranges from 50°F to 185°F (-45° to 85° Celsius).
They are available in four different models: the 5” RS5Pro, 6” RS6Pro, 6” RS6SiPro with dual tweeter, and the 8” RS8SiPro with dual tweeter. Each model is available in five different colors — granite, speckled granite, sandstone, coral and shale brown.
The Niles Planter Speakers are designed to blend into any outdoor environment. Available in two types, the PB6Si Pro rectangular box shape, and the PS6Si Pro circular planter, each speaker is available in two colors, terra cotta and weathered concrete.
For more info on the GeoRealistic Pro Series, click here: http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Weatherproof%20Rock%20Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1
For more information on the new planter speakers, click here: http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Planter%20Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1
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Share Article Back to Top ClearOne Releases Crestron and AMX Control System Modules for StreamNet ClearOne just announced it has finally released free control software modules that enable AMX or Crestron integrators, making it easier to integrate these systems with StreamNet to deliver AV over IP for any size commercial control and AV distribution project.
Each of the integration software modules allows customization so integrators can create their own graphical user interface for any StreamNet system using a sample program source code and instructions that come with the modules.
Both the AMX and Crestron integration software modules are available for download from ClearOne website here: http://www.clearone.com/
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Share Article Back to Top Walt Zerbe Joins Legrand as Product Manager Legrand announced this week that audio industry veteran Walt Zerbe will re-join the company as Product Manager, beginning April 23, 2012. In his new role, Mr. Zerbe will be responsible for the implementation of new audio and entertainment products and will be based out of the company’s headquarters in Middletown, PA. Zerbe was a product manager previously with Legrand until 2007, when he left to work for Russound.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Atlona Appoints New CFO and Director of Technical and Customer Support Atlona announced this week that it has appointed Robert Colaizzi as the company's chief financial officer, and Ruddy Soehartono as the director of technical and customer support.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Crestron Opens New Distribution Center in Orangeburg, NY Crestron Electronics has opened a new warehouse and distribution center in Orangeburg, NY. The 100,000-square-foot facility doubles the size of the company's warehouse space in Carlstadt, N.J.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Channel Vision Joins Crestron’s Integrated Partner Program Channel Vision announced this month that it has joined Crestron's Integrated Partner Program. This program is designedto allow manufacturer's products to operate seamlessly in a Crestron systems environment.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top SAVANT Adds Heatmiser to Partners in Excellence Cooperative Program Savant Systems has announced the addition of Heatmiser, a designer and builder of energy management systems for residential and commercial applications that are distributed throughout Europe, to its Partners in Excellence cooperative program.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Elk Products Names Todd Hudson as Vice President of Sales and Marketing Elk Products, a manufacturer of security and control products, has appointed Todd Hudson as vice president of sales and marketing. Hudson is responsible for growing Elk’s business in the security and automation markets. He has an engineering degree from Clemson University.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top HAI Hires Metro Sales Group Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), a manufacturer of integrated automation and security products, announced recently that it has contracted Metro Sales Group to act as a manufacturer's representative. Metro Sales Group will support New York and Northern New Jersey (including Tom's River). The company's support will be in addition to HAI's Robert Pickral, eastern regional sales manager.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top 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.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 2012 – 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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