All Products Filed in Multiroom Audio

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

There's no question that powerline technologies have advanced far beyond the Clapper.

A good example of how far the technologies have advanced can be found in Western Digital's WD Livewire Powerline AV Network kit.

Western Digital says the product is compatible with the HomePlug AV powerline networking standard and it allows CE Pros to retrofit a home with network connections by using its existing electrical outlets.

The Lake Forest, Calif.-based computing company says the system offers 200Mbps of data transfer speeds and enough ports to support the connection of seven networked devices, which could be anything from a console gaming system, to a Blu-ray Disc player with BD Live technologies.

Western Digital adds the powerline solution also supports 1080p video streams and its set up is plug-and-play to facilitate quick installations.

Friday, August 20, 2010

iPort is shipping its CM-IW2000 (CM2000) Control Mount for iPad, which has received a "Made For iPad" designation from Apple. The CM2000 allows an Apple iPad to be used as an in-wall touch panel, providing continuous charging of the iPad and connection via Wi-Fi.

Ari Supran, CEO of Dana Innovations, parent company of iPort, Sonance and TRUFIG, says the company is "extremely proud to be licensed by Apple for Made For iPad."

The iPort CM2000 secures the iPad into the wall with a discreet bezel and mounting frame, which is held magnetically to the metal wall box. The iPad home button remains accessible while its power button is replicated on the outer edge of the CM2000 frame. Power connection is made via Cat 5 cable running from the CM2000 through the wall to a single-gang power connection wall plate, which supports connection to the included power supply.

The CM2000 has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $499.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

With devices like Blu-ray players, HDTVs and streaming devices becoming commodity items, these products are more accessible than ever to a broader range of consumers.

Audio Authority's new HXE-11 HDMI over Coax system provides installers a simple way of connecting those devices and facilitating their clients' high-definition home theater needs.

The system is capable of transmitting and receiving 1080p video and lossless audio over a single RG-6 cable for more than 200 feet.

The Lexington, Ken.-based manufacturer says that the system, which is comprised of a Model 1341T Transmitter and the Model 1341R Receiver, provides installers with an alternative to balun-based Cat-5 solutions.

Audio Authority adds the coax system is HDCP compliant, and that it's set up is plug-and-play with no programming required.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

With the release of the new TX-NR1008, TX-NR808 and the TX-NR708, the consumer electronics company Onkyo is providing budget-conscious consumers a trio of A/V receivers that provide everything necessary to assemble a modern home theater.

All three receivers offer HDMI 1.4a connections to support 3D video playback, and they also offer video Faroudja's DCDi upscaling and processing technologies. Other features packaged into the receivers include Ethernet connectivity to stream a variety of digital files such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC and LPCM. The Windows 7 and DLNA 1.5-certified receivers can also play content from Pandora, Rhapsody, vTuner and Sirius Internet Radio to enable installers to network the receivers for connectivity throughout a home.

Onkyo differentiates the receivers through some higher end performance options such as secondary zone functions. The TX-NR708 requires a powered second zone, while the 808 powers the second zone and comes equipped with pre-outs for zones two and three. The TX-NR1008 takes it a step further by providing amplification for zones two and three, while also providing users with an extra HDMI output.

Additionally, all three receivers offer Audyssey room equalization, and lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio audio processing.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Whether it's iPhones, iPads or iPod Touches, Apple, Inc., is selling millions of these products each quarter and the public's appetite for Apple gear remains as strong as it's ever been.

The Calif.-based company iPort is helping owners of those Apple products integrate them into their homes and electronics systems through the debut of the CM-IW100T (CM100) iPod Touch Control Mount.

The CM100 lets you use the iPod touch as a touchscreen controller and music streamer of both stored tunes and audio from the device’s apps. Of course, as a touchscreen similar to that of automation companies, depending on your apps you can use the iPod touch or iPad for audio, video, lighting and climate controls.

In addition, iPort says the Control Mounts can be installed vertically or horizontally to enable CE Pros to cater to each client's usage preferences.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Over the years Extron has built a reputation as a premium manufacturer of commercial audio/video equipment.

The company's new SSP 7.1 Surround Sound Processor should continue to reinforce its reputation through its inclusion of many installer-friendly features.

Highlighting some of the processor's features are a seven-channel, nine-band parametric equalizer, operating modes like "Live" and "Emulate" with file saving capabilities, 100ms of lip sync correction, a full choice of Dolby and DTS surround processing modes, RS-232 and the company's 2.0 setup software.

Extron designed the rack-mountable processor for use in commercial and corporate environments, and it's included a full selection of inputs to provide installation flexibility.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Back in May Qsonix announced a working relationship with Wadia that would help the distribution of its products and the performance of its products.

Six weeks later the company has introduced its Q2 series of products. These new products are said to utilize a new design and they feature digital output designs from Wadia Digital.

Some of the improvements made to the Q2 line include a new enclosure that's highlighted by a machined aluminum front panel. The company has also addressed its user interface and added options like Apple iPad control capabilities.

Improvements made to its audio circuits include the ability to support 24-bit/192kHz uncompressed audio files and a custom designed digital output section from Wadia. The servers offer AES/EBU balanced digital audio, S/PDIF, Toslink and USB digital outputs, as well as four discrete analog output options, hard wired IR connections and the ability to support third-party control systems from companies like Crestron and AMX.

Qsonix also offers the servers with a choice of 1TB or 2TB hard drives, 15 inch or 17 inch touchscreens, built-in support for PC and Apple computers and iPods, iPhones and iPads.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

NuVo Technologies has unveiled a new twist in iPod docking formats: the wall-mounted NuVoDock. It's not an in-wall, it's not a table-stand, but it's an on-wall iPod docking system.

The Wall-Mounted NuVoDock comes in wired and wireless models.The company says the form factor gives consumers the ability to locate the iPod dock "exactly where it’s most convenient."

David Rodarte, president of NuVo Technologies, says, “The on-wall model gives users the option to locate the iPod dock in a handy location that’s off counters, desktops and away from small children for a clutter-free solution,” he added.

Like all of NuVo’s iPod docks, the Wall-Mounted NuVoDock uses NuVoNet smart source communication for control and navigation from a NuVo control pad. Consumers can browse their entire music library by artist, song, album, genre, play list or favorites. The dock is compatible with a variety of Apple products, including the iPod Touch, and also serves as an iPod charging station.

The Wall-Mounted NuVoDock for iPod is compatible with NuVo’s Renovia, Grand Concerto and Essentia (E6G) systems. The unit is priced at MSRP $499.00 and is available from authorized NuVo Technologies’ dealers.

With the housing market still struggling to grow, the custom installation industry is still searching for ways to reach consumers and one of the most popular ways has been to market to existing homeowners.

Naim's UnitiSystem is a product solution that CE Pros can present to existing home owning clients that want multiroom audio, but don't want to go through the expense and mess of retrofitting hardware and cabling in their home. The product line includes the Naim Uniti main component, which houses a CD player, a radio tuner, an integrated amplifier, Internet radio and the UPnP-enabled device includes streaming wireless connectivity to stream up to six streams of music, analog and digital inputs and iPod connectivity provisions.

The line also includes the UnitiQute, which is similar to the Uniti except that it doesn't incorporate a CD player and it can be used as a local device. Rounding out the system is the UnitiServe, which is a music server that's also UPnP enabled and it's designed for ripping, streaming and local connectivity with digital outputs.

Recently the British company bolstered the functionality of the system by releasing an iPhone control app. Naim says the app provides iPhone and iPod Touch users with a wireless control option for the system.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

San Clemente, Calif.-based Sonance has one of the largest custom installation product lines in the entire specialty A/V industry.

Expanding its line of products, the company has just introduced its new 12-inch SUB12-500 and 10-inch SUB10-250 architectural subwoofers. The new subwoofers, which fit in a standard 2x4 stud bay, are part of the company's Cinema Series of products and they incorporate the company's micro-trim grille technology, 1-inch and 1/2-inch thick MDF (medium density fiberboard) enclosures, aluminum bracing and long-strand fiberglass internal dampening material.

The SUB12-500 employs a 12-inch woofer and the SUB10-250 employs a 10-inch woofer. Both subs both use outboard Class D amplifiers and they include line level, speaker level connections and high-pass filters. Sonance says the SUB12-500 is capable of playing down to 25Hz at 114dB, and the SUB10-250 has low frequency extension down to 30Hz at sound pressure levels (SPLs) as high 108dB.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Apple TV has always been viewed as a niche product for do-it-yourselfer (DIY'er) A/V enthusiasts, computer geeks and custom installers.

Now as rumors swirl about a new cloud-based Apple TV product announcement from the Cupertino, Calif. electronics company, specialty electronics manufacturers like Autonomic Controls are producing Apple enhancement products that enable installers to integrate Apple products into their system solutions.

Autonomic Controls' new Apple TV module for Crestron is SystemBuilder compatible, which the company says increases installers' ability to utilize Apple TV in their Crestron-based home control, home theater and whole-house A/V designs.

The module also enables installers to implement multiple Apple TV units running PC and Mac versions of iTunes, and it also recognizes Apple AirTunes via Ethernet to facilitate multi-zone control and media browsing from any touchpanel in the system.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

David Frangioni's career has come full circle now that he's launched his new line of architectural loudspeakers.

As a musician, engineer, producer, custom installer and now manufacturer, Frangioni has been involved in nearly every phase of the audio process. Now with the debut of Frangioni Speaker Systems, Frangioni says that he is filling a void within the speaker category with a moderately priced in-wall and an in-ceiling speaker.

Frangioni says the speakers have been designed to be easy to drive, which makes the applicable to whole-house audio installations, and they've also been engineered to produce a wide soundstage without straining to achieve high sound pressure levels (SPLs).

The weather-resistant speakers incorporate aluminum frames, aluminum drivers, silk-dome tweeters, rigid construction methods and they mount nearly flush to a surface. Information about the speaker line can be found at Audio One.

Monday, May 24, 2010

One of the top solutions in the world of retrofit home electronics is the scalable Sonos line of products.

Last week the company announced its new 3.2v software update, which it says will be free to all Sonos customers.

According to the company, the new software includes updates such as Clear Channel's iheartradio as a free music service, stereo pairing capabilities for the Sonos S5 and music cross fading that allows for smooth transitions between songs.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

It could be the best of circumstances to be a manufacturer in a crowded market now that the economy is starting to pick up and installers are once again finding work.

That's what the start-up manufacturer Live-Wall is hoping for now that its begun production of its direct-radiating invisible speaker system.

The company's new LW-1218 is said to install in a similar fashion as a standard in-wall loudspeaker, but it differs in that installers can mud the speaker in and paint over the speaker to create an invisible speaker solution.

According to the company, the 12-inch x 18-inch x 2.875-inch speaker incorporates a neodymium motor 2-inch voice coil and flat-fiberglass diaphragm that helps the speaker produce a frequency range of 54Hz to 20kHz.

Bay Audio distributes the speaker, which is said to have a sensitivity rating of 102dB, and the company adds the weather-resistant speaker can be installed nearly anywhere, including spaces such as walls, ceilings, soffits.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Adding to its ever growing line of products, SnapAV has just introduced its AniWareBox series of digital video/audio over Cat-5 devices.

SnapAV engineered the products, which measure less than one-inch tall to fit into small spaces that include within a wall and equipment racks.

The company says the product is available in single and multiple component video/HD Audio versions, and it says the boxes are capable of sending HD signals up to 350 feet.