There are rack installations in closets that are hot and so full that there aren’t any spaces left for a cooling system. Then there are closets with shelf-mounted systems that also need cooling. Active Thermal Management says that Dual-Cool can solve both problems as it has a two-mode cooling system that’s equally effective cooling racks […]
TP Vision, the company that markets and brands Philips TVs in Europe and other parts of the world, has announced a new line of TVs that are powered by Android. There are two lines, the 8100 and 8200 TVs, which are 1080p resolution, and the Ultra HD 8800 series, offering 4K resolution. These will first […]
In order to differentiate themselves from the big box stores on the one side and the trunk-slammers on the other AV pros set themselves up as systems specialists. They present themselves to clients as consultants who will deliver a complete solution. People who just want to watch TV can go to a big box store […]
Get ready for a new Apple TV device, perhaps this one with gesture hand controls from Apple’s fresh acquisition of Prime Sense (the company that brought you the Microsoft Kinect). You can be sure that a new device is in the offing as the media is busy screaming (yet again) headlines that Apple and Comcast […]
The Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA) Association, an industry group dedicated to bringing wireless audio products to the home theater market, and the Association of Loudspeaker Manufacturing and Acoustics International (ALMA), a not-for-profit trade association of loudspeakers manufacturers, today announced the signing of membership agreements in each other’s organizations. ALMA International and the WiSA Association […]
In the industry’s first-ever independent survey asking AV’ers which projection technology, LCD or DLP, they prefer, LCD has won in a big way. We will do this survey annually in the future, so we’ll see how it evolves over time. Our February survey was pretty simple — Which technology do you prefer: LCD or DLP, […]
BenQ America has started shipping its 1920×1080 resolution RL2460HT monitor for gaming — perfect for RTS- and MOBA-style games, as well as fighting games — a big enough market in AV that we even have a GAMING section of articles on our website. The company is also introducing its stylish “bumble bee” black and yellow […]
NuVo Technologies has released a new iOS feature for its Player Portfolio app that allows users to stream content stored on any iOS device directly to the NuVo system. The NuVo Player App version 1.8.1, available now for download, enables direct stream capability for iOS devices using iOS 6 or later. It supports track selection, […]
Italy-based Eighteen Sound this week announced the 18iD extended low frequency neodymium transducer. The new subwoofer is engineered for maximum power transfer when operated with Class D and similar (iPal compatible) amplifiers and is designed for vented and bandpass subwoofer cabinets. It works best with amplifiers capable of delivering 2,600 watts of power (10,000-watt peak). […]
The new curve TVs are an interesting display development that found much traction since first released in 2013. New LCD models were introduced at the recent CES and follow-up DSE trade shows in January and February respectively. Some see the new curved large display as a gimmick, and that it is an example of engineers […]
Last column, I went over some basic types of gamers based on preferred hardware. Beyond that, it’s worth understanding gaming genres, as it can relate to some particular accessory sales and furniture placement. I’m also going to paint in some broad strokes to keep this article from taking 18 years to read. But, rest assured, […]
Sharp this month announced the nationwide availability of its AQUOS Q+ series of televisions, which Sharp first showed at CES this year. The Q+ line feature 10 million more subpixels than standard Full HD, for more detail, depth and color. Through a new process (Q+), the displays can take a 4K signal and play it […]
If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, then the road to progress is paved with technologies that never lived up to their hype. For every technology or product category that changed the industry, the world, or both, there’s always one or more losers; they were marketed just as hard, with tons of […]
Phase Technology this week started shipping a new soundbar, the ultra-thin Teatro TSB3.0, which has left, right and center channels paired with what Phase is calling two “Spatial Field Expanders (SFE).” The unit offers a passive 8 ohm design, allowing users to integrate the soundbar with their existing AV system. It incorporates two 3” mineral-filled […]
Pakedge Device & Software’s new S8Wpde is an 8-Port Gigabit Switch powered by PoE (Power over Ethernet), which is aimed at the home market, as well as SMB applications like multi-room AV, security camera and monitoring and small office AV routing. The S8Wpde can be powered via PoE from another switch, allowing it to be […]
We frequently get calls from owners and tenants who wish to improve the sound isolation between apartments and condominiums, particularly in older units. The call often begins with, “I want something I can spray on to the wall to soundproof it so I don’t hear my neighbor’s stereo…” or “My neighbor’s snoring keeps me awake […]
Listening to music on headphones, while on the move, is certainly the top way we experience music nowadays. But Meridian’s latest product is betting that there are enough of you out there listening to music on headphones sitting at a desk or at home that you’ll appreciate the company’s Prime Headphone Amplifier. Meridian’s Prime Headphone […]
Last year’s rAVe Readers’ Choice Awards garnered over 62,000 votes — the largest number of votes of ANY AV industry awards — ever! Help us beat that this year! Our 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards nomination period just opened. So, submit your nominations TODAY for your favorites in AV. Nominations will be open until Sun., March […]
BenQ America has started shipping the Ultra-Lite GP20, a palm-sized projector spec’d at 700 ANSI lumens and with native WXGA (1280×800) resolution. With features including mirroring for MHL-equipped devices, the GP20 can play content from anything from a phone to a Roku player and can project up to a 10-foot diagonal image at 10 feet […]
Speaking broadly, there are two kinds of residential AV companies: There are the ones that have been in business for a decade or more, and there are the new companies, just started, most of whom fold in their first three years. With the latter group, eventually the company reaches the point where there are dozens, […]
The CEDIA Awards recognize and promote high quality system design, installation and integration within the home automation industry. The awards are open to Home Technology Professional (HTP) members across Region 1 (the UK and Europe, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East, Africa, India and Pakistan). CEDIA has made some significant changes to the scheme […]
In my last article I got pretty specific with theater customizations that not every theater gaming client would need. This month I’ll dial it back in a and give a broader field guide to identify the particular genus and species of your gamer client. This will give you an edge on design recommendations, as well […]
Pakedge Device & Software has introduced its new S8Wpde 8-Port gigabit switch, which can be powered by PoE or AC, letting the S8Wpde function in either new and old buildings alike (PoE or not). Plug-and-play features allow this switch to run without any installation of software. The S8Wpde is fully compliant with all network protocols. […]
Extron’s new Global Configurator Professional is a configuration software for its Pro Series control systems that can be used to configure a system to control everything from single projector classrooms to large, control system designs. Features, such as conditional logic, variables and macros provide even greater flexibility for more sophisticated control scenarios. The Controller Groups […]
Savant Systems has launched an all-new control system called the Smart Series that lists for $1,599. The hub is something called the Smart Host remote and controller and, according to Savant, it has the capability to control a home theater, music, security, thermostat, lights, energy management, automated shades and more, all from a single app. […]
Everyone who’s ever been to CEDIA EXPO loves it. And, what’s not to love? It’s basically a big-boy toy fair. The biggest TVs debut at CEDIA. 3D debuted at CEDIA. 4K resolution TVs debuted at CEDIA. Wireless audio was first shown at CEDIA. Wireless HDMI — you guessed it: CEDIA. But, the HomeAV market, in […]
We have an inside source that tells us that Best Buy is about to “dump” California-based integrator AudioVisions. AudioVisions was acquired by Best Buy in 2006 for around $7 Million and was supposed to represent the company’s foray into high-end custom HomeAV custom integration. However, apparently, after owning the company for nearly seven years, Best […]
BenQ America just introduced its new MH680 and MH740 projectors, both of which are 1920×1080, 1-chip DLP projectors claiming a lamp life of 6,500 hours. Designed using the company’s “Colorific” picture system, the MH680 is spec’d at 10,000:1 contrast ratio and 3,000 lumen brightness, while the MH740 features a spec of 11,000:1 contrast ratio and […]
Today at Mobile World Congress, Texas Instruments released the 0.3” HD Tilt & Roll Pixel (TRP) DLP Pico chipset, its smallest, most power-efficient micro-mirror array. This chipset can generate high-definition (HD) displays from compact electronics, including tablets, smartphones, accessories, wearable displays, augmented reality displays, interactive surface computing, digital signage and control panels. The new 0.3” […]
Sonance has finally shipped the long-awaited VP80R Visual Performance Series entry-level one-piece round and square in-wall speaker. Designed using a micro-trim grille that makes the speaker flush with the wall, the VP80R is actually a round speaker that can be finished with either a round or square grille-adapter, depending on the decor of the home […]
I recently had an interesting conversation with someone in the product design space at a university that I wanted to share — and get your thoughts about. He asked, “You used to be a professor — should my students take computer science even if they don’t want to be programmers?” My answer probably won’t surprise […]
Each year at this time, I am alerted to the coming of spring by that special fragrance that’s in the air, by those sounds that indicate the coming of a new season. In our business, that fragrance is the smell of shrink wrap and packing peanuts, and it harkens the coming of new technologies that […]
