Volume 11, Issue 15 — August 14, 2014
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Editorial Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News rAVe BlogSquad Audio Control & Signal Processing Cables, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens and Accessories TVs In Brief
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Why Are Mounts Still Stupidly Heavy?
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
Last month I installed a mount for a 46” Samsung TV I hung on the wall in my daughter’s bedroom. It was, literally, déjà vu to the last time I installed a TV — some four years ago — when I realized that having a TV light enough that one person can hang it on a wall themselves is USELESS when the mount can’t be installed by one person alone.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, the mount — a model from Chief — was designed to be hung by one person, but was so dang heavy I had to hold three things at once — (using my mouth as the third appendage).
I just couldn’t get the mount up, consistently, because of how darn heavy it was. It’s beautiful — smooth, steel, thin — but heavy. Too heavy to hold steadily in place and screw it on the wall simultaneously with just two hands. I needed help.
So, why is it with all today’s technology that not a single mount company seems to be focused on making them lighter? Sure, there are aluminum ones and so-called lighter steel, but no one is using technology like carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber (aka graphite fiber) is a composite material of miniature fibers (approximately 5–10 μm in diameter) that are basically carbon atoms. I won’t get too deep in to the technical aspects of carbon fiber, but basically in production, these carbon atoms are turned into a woven material (yes, woven like cotton to make a shirt) that is combined with a plastic resin (a super-strong glue) that makes a super-light material that’s as strong (even stronger in most applications) than steel but consisting of 1/30th the weight.
Ever watched the Tour de France? Well, those riders all ride on carbon fiber bikes that weigh like 11 pounds (sans gears) total. Some 25 years ago, they were all made of aluminum or steel and weighed two to three times as much.
Oh, helicopters, cars, boats and now airplanes use carbon fiber. So, yes, mounts can use them too.
Think out it. I called three of the big five mouth companies to find out what they would do if they had a client with a 50+ pound mount for something and it was broken, mis-shipped or bent — they all said they’d tell the customer to dispose of it and send them a new one. Wan to know why? Simple: It costs more to ship these mounts than it does to make them. So, it’s not worth it.
For us, the integrators and users, making mounts from carbon fiber would mean that, yes, we could use one person to install them — no matter how big. It means packaging would be reduced significantly, making them instantly green (something that no mount can really currently claim) and they can be made a lot smaller to hold more weight. The size of the mount wouldn’t necessarily correlate to the size of display it can hold.
So, why hasn’t a mount company thought of this? Well, they have and I know they have as I’ve mentioned it to Peerless-AV, Chief and Premier at least once over the past three years. And, no takers. They all say, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” but, so far, nothing.
Bummer. Now, I can’t come down too hard on these companies as they’ve been busy, each in its own way – reinventing itself. Peerless-AV went from a metal-bending US-based mount manufacturer to now a wireless systems company integrating wireless video into mount systems and selling them as stand-alone products, too. Chief has become the de facto-standard for interactive mounts, automated mounts and they’re probably doing more digital signage mounting for the quick-serve and fast-food industry than anyone and Premier re-engineered its entire company focus over the past 12 months. So, they’ve all been busy.
But, if peer-pressure has any weight (no pun intended) — let’s kick this off. Let them know you’d love to see greener, easier, lighter and better mounts by incorporating carbon fiber.
Oh, did I forget to mention that Stormtrooper uniforms are made of carbon fiber too?
Image via CitizenBrooklyn.com Leave a Comment
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Choosing Between Wired or Wireless
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
Any readers who’ve never been asked by a client, “Will it be wireless?” — raise your hand.
That’s what I thought.
It’s true that today we have a huge number of wireless options for AV and control. There are solid working options today that were glitch and disappointing five years ago, and only wishful thinking ten years ago. But as the saying goes: Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Should AV Pros always go with the wireless option first in their projects? I say no. While wireless is a big help to the custom channel, hard-wired installations are still necessary. For that matter wired technology continues to evolve almost as rapidly as wireless.
There’s more to completing a successful project, whether wired or wireless, than just the technology. It’s not just the tools; it’s how you use them. Installing a physical network comes down to being faster with more bandwidth, more inexpensively and with greater reliability for all systems. Wireless is at the mercy of external factors when it comes to download speeds. The need for a high bandwidth, structured wiring backbone becoming even more important as networked entertainment grows. Waiting while content buffers on a 100-inch screen kind of defeats the purpose.
Despite advances in wireless, wired is still fastest and most reliable when transmitting audio and video, but as far as control and communication, selecting which way to go has more to do with the application and what the client wants to do.
Today it’s common for control systems have a combination of wired and wireless within the same system. And vendors like Crestron use several different wireless platforms within its family of automation products, including long-range, two-way RF, mesh network technology and enhanced Wi-Fi. Each gives you a different data rate, range and functionality depending on the environment and client expectations
When it comes to wired installations, best practices are central to a successful installation. After all, the best technologies all still need to be installed the right way to work. When in doubt, run Cat6. Everywhere.
The mandate of running lines is especially clear when an integrator looks hard at what’s coming up on the industry’s horizon. Today, a flat panel is no longer just a flat panel — it’s a multimedia display device. With smart TVs, wiring Ethernet to display locations isn’t optional, it’s mandatory. Two years from now, even more so.
AV pros need to educate their clients, and gently move them away from the preconceptions that they have when they first walk in the showroom. Clients expect that wireless can do everything, and the reality is that it just doesn’t work that way. Even now, the thought of running media to a dozen locations all around the house to via wireless gives me a headache.
For serious future proofing, run either conduit or three lines of Cat6 to every location in the house, or both. Three lines of Cat6 between source and display locations will provide tremendous capabilities, now and later on.
With wireless, look for solutions that use the strongest signals and the biggest bandwidth, to better get the job done. Wireless remains the choice of reaching areas where wires aren’t desirable, such as getting out into the backyard without drilling through outside walls and compromising vapor barriers.
On that note, since projects today require huge amounts of bandwidth, AV pros need to specify enterprise-level wireless routers. With the load that the network will be under, cheap routers from a big box store won’t work. And you absolutely can’t make do with what’s already in the client’s house.
You’ll probably find that many of your clients who own their own companies will understand that need, based on their own IT experiences at work, so it won’t be as hard to sell them on more solid network hardware as you might think. As with any other hardware, you need to install routers intended for wireless AV into your own offices/showroom and torture test them before trusting them into your client’s homes. It’s the only way to be sure.
One important trick I learned from my old boss and mentor when selecting new router hardware is to look at the support page and check the last firmware update: If a router has been on the market for a year, but the last firmware update was two days ago that might be a sign that the unit is not stable enough for your purposes.
Pivotal to making wireless work well is the need to understand the importance of device locations and placements. Radio waves can be blocked by dense metal and electronics, such as a flat panel. Most wireless receivers don’t have to be line of sight but you can’t wedge one into the bracket between a flat panel and the wall and get a good connection. Another common no-no is placing them inside a metal rack, since all that metal acts as an antenna for interfering RF frequencies. Either on top of a rack or mounting the antennas outside the rack is a better solution.
Is fiber optic going to be copper wiring’s successor? Maybe one day. While many dealers are running fiber, few are actually using it. Instead, they’re hedging against the future.
Still, it’s not enough to run fiber, you need to be cognizant of what you actually plan to do with it. Are you running single mode or multi-mode fiber? Do you even know? The risk here is that the fiber run today might be a poor choice when paired with a future vendor that you’re not using today.
The lesson here is to educate yourself, and figure out the way forward, while still paying attention to the basics, and good install practices. Leave a Comment
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Is Quantum Dot the Next Step in LCD TV Evolution?
By Yoonsung Chung DisplaySearch
As the LCD industry matures and standardizes, industry players find it harder to differentiate. At the same time, AMOLED is competing in key markets such as smartphone and tablet PC displays, in part due to their color performance. One response to this situation is adoption of quantum dots, which promise high color gamut performance (over 100 percent of NTSC, or National Television System Committee, specification). This means that quantum dots can enable LCDs to offer similar color gamut performance to AMOLEDs.
Some brands have adopted quantum dots in their products, such as Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX tablet PC and Sony’s Triluminos TV in 2013. However, quantum dots must surmount some hurdles to achieve wide usage. The first is the issue of Cadimium, which most quantum dots contain, and which is a regulated substance due to enviromental concerns. The second is the high price of quantum dot materials.
Quantum dot makers are working on solving these issues. For example, Nanoco has produced Cadmium-free quantum dot materials, and other makers have secured a temporary exemption for Cadmium in products with quantum dot-based displays imported into Europe. Regarding price, many materials and films makers are entering the market, especially from Korea such as Samsung, LG, Sangbo, LMS, Hanwha and SKC-Haas. Increased competition will likely help to lower prices in the near future.
As mentioned above, Korean makers have great interest in quantum dots. Since Korea has two giant brands — Samsung and LG – who are leading technology trends in the industry, it is natural and understandable. in our Quantum Dot Technology and Market Forecast Report, we forecast that penetration of quantum dots is relatively high in smartphones, as the panel cost is relatively small compared to TVs and other large sized applications, and quantum dot solution cost is relative low due to the small display size. In addtion, the high AMOLED penetration in smartphones indicates the competitive need for improved color performance in LCDs.
It is also noteworthy that Korean makers also have interest in quantum dots for TVs. It is believed that Samsung is putting resources into quantum dot LCD TVs and that they will release products soon. Since Samsung has recently de-emphasized AMOLED TV, it makes sense that they would look to quantum dots to improve LCD TV performance. Samsung may also be developing their own quantum dot supply chainas well. At the same time, Samsung’s biggest competitor, LG Electronics, may also have interest. Since the LG Group has its own chemical and optical film businesses, it is possible that LG can build a quantum dot eco-system as well, but LG is focused on AMOLED TV, so it is somewhat delicate situation for LG Electronics.
DisplaySearch forecasts that quantum dot penetration in LCD TVs will be less than 1 percent in 2015, but will approach 10 percent in 2020, meaning 2 million and over 26 million sets, respectively. If Korean makers are building up their own quantum dot eco-system, it could enable them to achieve lower costs with stable supply. Korean makers may be thinking of repeating their experience with LED TV, when they led in both technology and volume. If quantum dot TV is as successful as LED TV, it could extend the LCD TV era and hold off the threat of AMOLED TV. The key issue will be how the brands position and market quantum dot technology, and whether wide color gamut is attractive enough to consumers to enable a price premium.
We will be exploring quantum dot and other wide color gamut technologies at the Emerging Display Technologies Conference on August 5th in San Jose.
This column was reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Here Come the 4K Monitors
By Steve Sechrist Display Central
With the 4K display revolution in full swing, some consumers are opting to get a toe in the ultra high resolution waters, not with a 60″+ TV for the living room, but a much more manageable 28-inch desktop monitor. Taiwan based Acer is just one of the most recent display makers adding to the availability of 4K monitors with its newly announced B286HK now selling in Taiwan for $763.
Other notable makers producing 4K monitors in this size include the Samsung U28D590D, and Dell’s P2815Q, both selling for $700, plus Dell’s high end UP2414Q that sells for just around $1K. Philips also began selling in May 2014, its 28-inch UHD, 288P6LJEB, that lists on Amazon for just $599 and Asus has its PB287Q that is selling for $650. One other, shown at CES, was the Lenovo ThinkVision Pro 2840m with an MSRP of $749.
There’s plenty to like with the move to UHD monitors including the 8.29M pixels (that’s a 6.2M boost over full HD’s 2.07M) particularly when viewed from close up like when looking at a desktop monitor. In some ways, UHD monitors make more sense than TV applications (that you view more than three feet away.) The distance makes it harder to discern the added pixels on a TV but with a monitor viewed close up, you really can see the level of detail on your desktop. Viewers can also gain significantly from the expanded pixel real estate offered by 4K monitors’ higher resolution. Multiple windows in full HD, and the extension of the idea implemented in Philips new Multi-view technology, allows for display of two computer feeds simultaneously on the same monitor in side-by-side mode. This provides a good case for the move to 4K monitors.
Display System Concerns
But before we jump on the 3840×2860 desktop pixel bandwagon, there are some notable issues to address, not the least of which is getting all those extra pixels to light up, from even a more recent desktop or laptop system. System Compatibility is one of the most visible of issues for the UHD monitor set, so much so, that most 2012 vintage PCs with integrated graphics or GPU may require a firmware upgrade like the one offered by Intel for its Ivy Bridge CPU based machines. The AMD based systems with its Trinity APU also support UHD moving forward from the mid-2012 era onward.
The Intel Haswell processor based systems can also be problematic with 4K output depending on the “class” of processor. For example the Core i5-4200U (a U class found in many Ultrabooks) limits output via DisplayPort to 30Hz and an even lower 24Hz over HDMI. Other processors from Intel like the M-class Core i-7-4700MQ easily push out the 3840 x 2160 signal at a fast 60Hz making for some super high quality viewing. But keep in mind UHD support at 6oHz via HDMI requires the new HDMI 2.0 hardware (upgrade from v.1.4) that didn’t arrive until Q3’13, so if your system pre-dates this you are stuck in 30 fps land (via HDMI connectivity) and that could lead to a painful viewing experience – and for most a deal killer.
On systems with a separate GPU, UHD is supported in both the NVIDIA (600 series) and AMD’s (Radeon HD 6000) chips beginning around mid-2012. So most of these systems with an independent GPU and which are newer than 24 months should be able to handle UHD just fine.
So if you’re not quite ready for a new UHD TV, and have a fairly recent desktop or laptop system that supports 4K output, a sub $1,000 monitor may be just the ticket to a whole new experience and potential productivity boost. Leave a Comment
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CEDIA Announces 2014 Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards Finalists CEDIA EXPO has announced the 2014 Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards finalists. The finalists include 30 products in the Best New Product category. The winners will be announced at a press conference on Fri., Sept. 12 at 9:00 a.m. at CEDIA EXPO 2014. Winners will also be recognized at the annual Electronic Lifestyles Awards Celebration on Sat., Sept. 13. Finalists are:
- Basalte: Sentido
- Control4: To Be Announced
- Crestron: 4K DigitalMedia™ Receiver and Room Controller
- Crestron: Crestron Pyng™
- Digital Projection International: INSIGHT LASER 4K
- iPort: Launchport with Buttons
- Lutron Electronics: Finire with Xicato, Lutron Ivalo Collection
- Lutron Electronics: Lutron Caseta Wireless with Smart Bridge Pro and App
- Lutron Electronics: Lutron Power Module with Ecosystem
- Lutron Electronics: Lutron Sivoia QS Triathlon Roller Shade
- Nexus 21: L-90 TV Lift
- OmniMount: OmniMount PJT40 Projector Mount
- Origin Acoustics: The Director Collection
- Panamax: Panamax SM-3 Pro
- Pro Audio Technology: Pro Audio Technology PRO SoundTools
- QMotion: QMotion Motorized Drapery Rods
- RTI: T3x Remote Control
- Savant Systems, LLC: Savant Smart Host
- Savant Systems, LLC: Savant SmartView Video Tiling
- Savant Systems, LLC: Savant Universal Remote
- SEURA: Storm Outdoor TV
- Snap AV: OvrC Remote Management Software
- Snap AV: Strong Evolve Hybrid Rack System
- SnapAV: Wattbox 200 IP-Enabled VersaBox Drop-In Power Supply
- Sonance: Sonance Architectural Discreet Opening System
- Sonance: Soundbar
- Sony Electronics: HAP-Z1ES Hi-Res Music Player
- Sony Electronics: VPL-VW600ES 4K Front Projector
- Sony Electronics: XBR-X950B 4K Ultra HDTV
- Wilson Electronics: PRO 70X
Additional product details can be found here. Leave a Comment
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D-Tools to Add Mobile Installation Management and Inventory Management Through QuickBooksD-Tools today announced a major new release of its flagship software platform, System Integrator 2015. Being launched at CEDIA Expo 2014 and available in Q4, the new SI 2015 release adds valuable new productivity features and enhancements that enable commercial and residential AV integrators to both streamline business processes and increase profitability while simultaneously maximizing efficiencies and reducing overhead. SI 2015 will be available as an upgrade for existing customers and will be provided at no cost for customers participating in the D-Tools Software Assurance program.
D-Tools is here. Leave a Comment
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CEDIA EXPO Hosts Thought Leaders Panel Industry thought leaders from Comcast, DISH, GigaOm Research, iControl, Dolby, Auro, Pioneer and Sony Pictures Entertainment will participate in three CEDIA Training panels at CEDIA EXPO 2014. In addition, Geoff Mulligan, chairman of the IPSO Alliance and former Presidential Innovation Fellow will present a course on the Internet of Things.
“The topics these training courses and panels are covering don’t just represent ‘cool’ emerging trends, they’re vital topics. 4K, object based audio, commoditized home automation, and the internet of things will change how home technology professionals do business,” said Dave Pedigo, senior director of learning & emerging trends. “These new courses, combined with the Opening Keynote presented by Sony and the Training Keynote by CompTIA, really will provide attendees a full picture of all that is going on in the industry.”
New Additions & Panel Announcements:
- Atmos, Auro3D & More: Bringing Object Based Audio from the Cinema to the Home Theater (ESD0035-1) – Moderated by CEDIA Fellow Michael Heiss. Representatives from Dolby, Auro, Pioneer, and sound expert Dr. Floyd Toole
- Commoditized Home Automation: It’s (Not) a Threat (ESB0029) – Moderated by Gordon VanZuiden. Representatives from iControl and GigaOm Research
- Ultra HD/4K: It’s Way More than Just Pixels (EST0870) – Moderated by CEDIA Fellow Michael Heiss. Representatives from DISH, Comcast, Sony Pictures Entertainment
- The recently added course on the Internet of Things (EST090-1) is a course that applies not only to home technology professionals but also to manufacturers.
“2014 has been named the year of the Internet of Things, so getting to glean information from the inventor of 6LoWPAN couldn’t be more relevant,” said Pedigo. “Attendees have the opportunity learn more about what will become the de-facto standard for IP in the industry.”
Here are the show details. Leave a Comment
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Anuva Automation Acquires TiO Brand of App-Based Control System Products Anuva Automation has acquired TiO, the Android-based home automation company. TiO (stands for Turn it On) is definitely a new approach to home automation, driven by what they company calls an “outside in” philosophy that focuses on the customer experience. Through the TiO Android app, users can create macro functions for every room of their homes that includes streaming music, lighting control, climate control and control of other systems.
Anuva Automation will be building all of the TiO products in Florida and using a nearly flat system pricing structure so that integrators all get the same pricing regardless of volume. The company is trying to get traction in HomeAV right now.
You can see the TiO system here. Leave a Comment
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Blue Line Partners with Essex Powerlines to Lower Home Energy Usage Blue Line Innovations today announced how customers of Essex Powerlines receive Blue Line’s in-home energy display for free, when signing up for Ontario’s saveONenergy peaksaver PLUS program.
The display can save consumers roughly 10 percent on average on their home energy costs. With peak energy rates in Ontario having increased 48 percent over the past 5 years (9.1 cents to 13.5 cents per kilowatt), Blue Line and peaksaverPLUS allows consumers to immediately adjust their electricity consumption to offset summer air conditioner usage, phantom power waste and expected future rate hikes.
Key features include:
- Overall increased awareness of energy consumption
- Alerts you when consuming expensive energy at peak times, so you can adjust activity to reduce costs
- Provides instant feedback on changes to electricity usage, so you can immediately see cost-savings
- Displays electricity used by key appliance and how minor adjustments can lead to savings
- Eliminates hidden electricity waste through real-time display of power consumption — see how much is being used when you believe the home is “turned off”
- Estimating feature provides feedback on the impact of changes and uses recent trends to provide a next 30-day usage projection.
Here are some details and a video that explains it. Leave a Comment
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Terra Introduces New CA Series Flush Mount All-Climate SpeakersTerra is introducing a brand new CA series of flush mount, all-climate speakers at CEDIA Expo in Denver this year. The new bezel-free design utilizes edge-to-edge powder coated aluminum micro-perforated grilles, which makes them less visually obtrusive once installed. Terra says the series’ crossover networks has been upgraded and enhanced to significantly improve sound quality across the board. The networks have been re-configured using higher quality component parts to smooth frequency response and increase efficiency.
The CA series is IP65 rated and ideal for providing exceptional sound quality under the most adverse all-climate conditions including sea-going ships, outdoors exposed to the elements, in steam rooms, saunas, pool houses, showers, bathrooms and more. Like every Terra all-climate speaker, the CA series in manufactured in Maine, including our in-house built woofer/mid-range drivers and incorporates over 70 percent USA sourced component parts.
The first model in the new series, the CA.8, 8-inch two-way speaker, will ship in October and the remainder of the series, which includes 6.5- and 5.25-inch drivers and single-point-stereo models, will roll out over the next three to four months. Round or square grilles will need to be specified at time of order.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Quantum Data Debuts 780 Series Test Generators for 4K HDMIThe Quantum Data 780 Series of handheld test generators are battery-powered, portable video and audio generators and HDMI analyzers that enable you to conduct quick, on-site verification testing and troubleshooting of your HDMI system and analog video (VGA or RGB) displays. The 780 Series include a reference HDMI source and a reference HDMI sink interface allowing you to test audio, video and HDMI protocols — HDCP, EDID, CEC and infoframes — of any type of HDMI device: sources, repeaters and sinks.
There are four models:
The 780: The 780 supports HDMI testing at pixel rates up to 165MHz and TMDS rates up to 225MHz for deep color on the output and pixel rates up to 150MHz on the HDMI input.
The 780A – 4K: The 780A supports testing of 4K Ultra HD HDMI 2.0 devices at 50/60Hz. And it also tests HDMI 2.0 features including 4:2:0 pixel encoding on sources and sinks and EDID emulation for testing HDMI 2.0 sources and distribution devices.
The 780B – 4K: The 780B supports all the features of the 780A including 300MHz on the HDMI Rx and Rx ports for testing of 4K Ultra HD HDMI 2.0 devices at 50/60Hz, but adds a larger screen (7 inches). In addition to supporting of testing of HDMI 2.0 devices including tests for 4:2:0 pixel encoding on sources and sinks and EDID emulation for testing HDMI 2.0 sources, it also outputs 21:9 aspect ratio formats. Finally, an automated EDID test option enables automated testing of source devices’ handling of a variety of EDIDs.
The 780C – 4K: The Quantum Data 780C Multi-Interface Interoperability Tester is a portable digital video generator and analyzer that enables you to run tests on various digital video devices and network distribution devices on site or in the R&D lab. The 780C instrument provides a 7 inch color touch screen for operation and for viewing status of outgoing and incoming video and audio. The 780C is equipped with multiple interface types including HDMI, HDBaseT, 3G-SDI and component analog. Testing digital interfaces is supported by both an output port and an input port to allow testing of digital video sources, displays, audio devices and distribution devices. Testing hybrid converter devices supporting 3G-SDI, HDMI, HDBaseT distribution networks is possible as well.
Here’s a comparison chart of the four units. Leave a Comment
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Transformative Engineering Debuts Simple HDMI to CATx Extender Transformative Engineering’s new HLE-1 Lite HDMI Extender uses a version of HDBaseT known as “HDBaseT Lite” for HDMI extension up 70 Meters, along with bi-directional IR over a single CAT5e or CAT6 UTP cable. Using a single 24V DC power supply injected at the transmitter side and also providing remote power to its companion receiver module. The HLE-1′s HDMI features include support for 4Kx2K resolution, 3-D, and all current audio formats including DTS-HD and Dolby True-HD.
The HLE-1 includes built-in cable length compensation that supposedly works with no dials or switches (not sure how this is possible with various lengths) and it has a single HDMI input, one HDBaseT RJ45 output, and bi-directional IRDA connections that are Xantech compatible.
The Transformative Engineering HLE-1 kit consists of one HLE-1TX HDMI transmitter module, one HLE-1RX HDMI receiver module, and the 24V power supply. The HLE-1, which is backed by a three-year warranty, is currently available to dealers and has a suggested retail price of $349.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Peerless-AV Adds New Line of Ceiling Mounts for Displays, ProjectorsPeerless-AV this month announced a new line of ceiling mounts for flat panel displays and projectors. Aimed at both residential and commercial applications, the line consists of three products:
- ST940-EXA/B/C: Three extension lengths (A, B, or C) of a flat panel ceiling mount for 22″-40″ displays that have a combined extension range of 13″-43″. Mounts are available in black or white finish.
- PJF3-UNV (Flush Mount) and PJF3-EXA/B/C: Four extension lengths (Flush, A, B, or C) with a combined extension range of 13″-43″ and a ball-and-socket-style projector mount for projectors up to 50 pounds. Mounts are available in black or white finish.
- PRG3-EXA/B/C: Three extension lengths (A, B, or C) with a combined extension range of 13″-43″ and a precision gear style projector mount for projectors up to 50 pounds. Mounts are available in black or white finish.
With a column comprised of aluminum, the mounts are 60 percent lighter than traditional steel designs, further simplifying the installation process. Plus, the column acts as an internal cable management system, concealing the cables for a seamless look that can blend into most architectural designs. A cosmetic cover for the ceiling plate completes the look.
Peerless-AV’s new line of ceiling mounts feature tool-less display height and tilt adjustment as well as a combined extension range from 13″ to 43″. The mounts are OSHPD approved and UL/CUL certified. They will be available later this month. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Screen Excellence Debuts New Retractable Screens Screen Excellence’s new line of Solid Retractable Screens are shipping and include for what they are claiming as a flat tensioned white projection surface. Delivered in a white case with an IR or RF remote control switch for opening and closing the screen, they are all 1.2 gain screens with white fireproof fabric.
Sizes range from 80″ to 160” diagonally and are available in both HD (16:9) and WS (2.1:1) format but they say they can custom manufacturer a screen in any size if you don’t mind waiting four weeks.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Elite Screens’ eFinity Offers Edge-less Projection ScreenElite Prime Vision is now offering “edge-free” screens. The eFinity design is a projection screen offering the aesthetic value off an edge-free design with the added benefit of LED backlighting. It has an internal aluminum framework that is enclosed in a wrap-around material design to create the “edge-free” effect. It also comes with an anodized aluminum, 10-millimeter edge bezel for those who still prefer some sort of border on the image. The product is easy to assemble and has sliding wall brackets that Elite says ensures a perfectly centered installation every time. As an added value, the frame includes a detachable LED backlighting kit with remote to activate its 16 color options and four modes.
The screen itself is a 1.3 gain material with a 70º viewing angle. The Silver-Gray protective surface coating is a reflective compound that filters out indirect light while enhancing contrast levels.
Elite Screens’ PolarStar-eFinity Projection Screen has a starting list price of $ 2,248 and will be first available in either a 100″ or 120” (HDTV) 16:9 aspect ratio, with more sizes to come.
More details are here. Leave a Comment
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Vu Technologies Debuts with 40”, 55” and 65” LCDs with Built-in PCsAlthough you may never have heard of them, a company called Vu Technology is aiming at the home entertainment and digital signage markets with three LED-lit LCD monitors with built-in PCs — a 40”, a 55” and a 65”. Obviously all three can be connected to a network wirelessly or wired, and the 1920×1080 resolution displays claim a 500 nit brightness spec and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio (take that with a grain of salt). Use them at your own risk as we’ve never seen them live.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Bay Audio Hires Audio Associates as Rep Company for Two Eastern TerritoriesBay Audio, a manufacturer of premium loudspeaker solutions for A/V integrators and specialty dealers, has announced the appointment of Audio Associates of Somerset, NJ as its independent sales representation covering two territories — Metro New York (including Long Island, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware) and the Mid-Atlantic region (including Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia).
To read the complete press release online, click here. Leave a Comment
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Polk Audio Renews Participation in D-Tools MVP ProgramD-Tools Inc. announced today that Polk Audio has renewed its participation in the D-Tools MVP program. Polk Audio is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high performance audio products. Users of D-Tools SIX will have continued free access to the company’s full suite of Home Theater audio products. D-Tools product database better enables D-Tools System Integrator users to specify Polk Audio’s products.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Leave a Comment
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Kramer’s Dave Bright Appointed to AQAV Board of DirectorsKramer Electronics, the first educational partner with the Association for Quality in Audio Video Technology (AQAV), has announced that Kramer U.S. President Dave Bright has been appointed to the board of directors of AQAV.
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
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