Thank you “Coleman” for assisting us today. He started the day in our morning kick off meeting, moved on to supervising the Construction Review, and finished his day analyzing acoustic reflection & the exact location of the 62hz standing wave in our reference theater.
Today we embark on a mission. The International Security Conference is wrapping up today here in perfect weather day Las Vegas, and I’ll be scavenging the exposition floor looking for a new product. A product that many manufacturers promised me would be announced soon. Well…..this is the show to announce them, so I’m expecting some good news.
What is it? In the last 6 months we have had about a dozen clients ask for High Definition Surveillance cameras with the ability to Pan, Tilt, and Zoom remotely. Technically, this isn’t new because IP versions of these cameras have existed for years (and for thousands of dollars). But this year we will see the HD over coax cable cameras. Thus bringing both the price and complexity of a full HD solution way, way down.
Ahhh, That time ‘o year again….I’m humming an Andy William’s Christmas song. In a few hours I’ll be heading over to the largest trade show in the world. For a tech geek, this is like Toys-R-Us mixed in with a Willy Wonka factory on Christmas Eve.
CES 2012…the Consumer Electronics Show is about to open, and this year is going to be a GREAT conference. Just about every square foot of convention space in Las Vegas is booked, the economy is improving, electronics sales are up, and this year…..there are going to be some AMAZING products on display.
There will be plenty of surprises, but here is what I already know about and plan on seeing over the next few days. Please note….there are godzillions of products being shown….below is what I am interested in seeing, It is not a definitive list of all showstopper breakthroughs:
The “iLounge”…and area of the show set aside for Apple accessories has grown to 85,000 square feet this year.
LG is going to have a BIG show for two reasons.
LG #1) an 84″ 3D display which they are calling “UHD” or Ultra High Definition. We have been calling displays with this resolution “4K” (it is 4 times the resolution of today’s best HD TV’s) up until now. I think I like “Ultra High Definition” better. At any rate, a TV this size and with this pixel density is going to look like a window on your wall. I’ve seen ‘em before….but this one is going to be different. It isn’t a concept. We will likely see this one for sale some time in 2012.
LG#2) OLED…Organic Light Emitting Diode. In the past, I’ve seen 20″ Sony OLED displays that cost $20,000….yes….$1,000 per inch. Apparently LG is figuring out how to make it big and how to make it affordable. OLED is the Shangri-La of display technology. The 20″ Sony models are used by “colorists” in the movie industry….OLED is the best it can be. Reference. Perfect blacks, accurate & stable colors, etc. Ohhh and the other benefits…ultra low energy consumption and ultra thin. What LG is supposed to have on display is a 55″ OLED TV, that is 4mm thin. Read that again….4 MILLIMETERS thin. This one isn’t a concept either…it will make it to consumers in 2012. Guessing $8,000 later this year….and half that within 3 years.
Digital Health Fitness – 170 different exhibitors will be at the trade show. This sector really should be getting more creative with the explosive growth in Wii Fit and Kinect Sports. I hope they have something interesting.
“Ultrabooks” Apparently this will be the theme of the show. Getting rammed down our throat like 3D the last two years. Here is what happened. Apple Macbook Air laptop computers are cool and selling really, really well. Windows needs one. Intel decided to call them “Ultrabooks.” As a really happy mac user, I don’t care much about these, but I do want to learn more about them. Specifically, do they offer anything more than the Macbook Air? Or are they playing catchup ala Android tablets chasing an ever improving iPad.
Peachtree Audio will be releasing a new “DAC” or Digital to Analog Converter that I’m really interested in seeing. This product called the “Grand Integrated” may be the audiophile’s dream solution for stereo listening. Computer audio usually gets lumped in with poor speakers, lossy mp3 recordings, etc… But there is another side to it. Ultra high bitrate, lossless recordings can be bought on sites like HDTracks.com (I have quite a few) and computers are powerful enough to decode them. Couple a computer with a really good DAC & reference headphones or Amp / Speakers and you have an audiophile dream system.
Whoops..time is rolling…better go shave and get cleaned up for Show Time!! Time to hum a few bars of “It’s the most wonderful time of the year….” in the shower.
A few days ago I had lunch with my friend Loren Maldoon with Proficient Audio and we discussed a product they are working on which I’m now very excited about! An “LCR Sound Bar” is a purpose-built speaker specifically for wall mounted flat screen displays which contains all the pieces necessary for a traditional left and right stereo signal. But in addition…it contains center channel speakers which takes advantage of today’s prime time shows and movies which are broadcast in surround sound.
The fact of the matter is, the audio coming from flat panel displays stinks….bad. And it is getting worse every year. It isn’t that the manufacturers are not building a quality product…today’s displays are remarkable! It is just a matter of size and form factor being driven by consumers. The reality is, consumers have a strong preference for ultra thin displays so the display manufacturers must design and build ultra thin in order to sell units. Unfortunately, what most consumers don’t know is that this comes with a sacrifice. Sound… Speakers need a volume of space and an enclosure to work properly, and there simply isn’t any space available in thin flat panels. We have been offering in-ceiling speakers for years, and I’m pleased we will soon have an elegant and affordable alternative. I haven’t heard the sound from this new product….but years of working with the Proficient brand has given me confidence that it will perform really well.
Proficient’s Sound Bar will be available in January. I plan on installing one in our showroom for full demonstration soon after we finish evaluation and testing.
All to often I get excited about advances in new home technology products that 90% of the population really doesn’t care about. But hey….that’s my passion & interest and I thoroughly enjoy it. Besides, many of these products end up becoming common in the home within a few years time.
Well….this week I had an opportunity to see something that we believe will have an immediate impact. We will be offering it as soon as they are released, our showroom will have it installed ASAP, and I’ll be ordering up a number of them for my own home. Yes….I’m PUMPED! One years worth of evaluating, reviewing, and indecision regarding this product line is now over.
Are you ready? What could it possibly be? What could it be that is getting us so pumped up? Drumroll please…..
Intelligent Motorized Window Shades
Really? Ho Hum….. How could that possibly be exciting?
Here is why… For the first time in the history of the planet, intelligent window coverings for the home have become affordable for the majority of home owners. Two weeks ago, this was a luxury priced item that very few home owners took advantage of…specifically very high end homes. Today I can effectively source and install these at a price the mass market can afford. And the best part…quality. Manufactured by Lutron…the inventor of the dimmer & recognized leader in elegant and reliable lighting products. Lutron has recently unveiled a new line of automated cellular window shades that start at $299!!
Lutron Scene Control
I had a chance to see them a few days ago, and it is probably obvious to you by now that they made an impact
For us, natural light (not the beer) has been the “missing link” in our lighting control product category. Think about this…..in a windowless room, all illumination is provided by electric lights. But very few rooms in a home fit this criterion….even fewer when you consider rooms that are living spaces. Think about how important windows and natural light are to the appearance and elegance of your interior. Think about both problematic direct sunlight and the darkness of your black windows at night. Now think about all of the different light levels in between. With intelligent window shades, we now have control over the natural light inside your home. Coupling this with our electric lighting fixture control provides you a tremendous impact on your home’s interior beauty, efficiency, comfort and safety.
Besides being “super cool,” some other valuable benefits of intelligent window coverings include:
PRIVACY: Touch a wall switch, launch a smart phone app, or grab your remote control. Individual windows or groups of windows will provide privacy. Different fabrics can be chosen to provide silhouette privacy or complete black out privacy.
EFFICIENCY: Let your home lower the shades when direct sunlight hits certain windows in the summer and raise your shades to warm the home during the winter. Take control of the sun and let it save you money on your heating and air conditioning bills.
ELEGANCE: Nothing can accentuate ALL of your home furnishings and decor like light. Hollywood studios, museums, and the showcase homes you see in magazines all understand this. As an amateur photographer, it is amazing to me the different results you can get by changing light. Both the placement and the color of light can yield many different looks and moods.
PROTECTION: Protect your investment in flooring, furniture, and interior wall paint. Now your home can do that for you by blocking the fabric bleaching UV rays when they are strongest.
SECURITY: Away on Vacation? One of the most popular features of lighting control products is to give your home an “occupied” look when you are away from home by randomly turning lights on and off. With intelligent window coverings, we can accomplish the same lived in appearance during the day time. In an alarm event, your home will also open all intelligent shades to provide your neighbors visibility inside the home.
As usual, Lutron has provided extensive information about these new products on their web site.
Looking forward to learning about the first real product that can compete with the iPad tomorrow. I’m betting Amazon’s entry into the tablet market will be a huge success. Apparently they took the open source Google Android operating system and completely forked it. Expecting a whole new User Interface and App ecosystem, but it will be priced to move and gain rapid market share.
As long as it facilitates an even easier shopping experience through Amazon, I guess it makes sense to lose money on hardware sales?
But isn’t “dumping” an illegal practice?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUNFIRE® WELCOMES 75TH MEMBER TO FLAGSHIP DEALER PROGRAM
Flagship dealer program continues to expand, highlights the benefits of providing a full home theater demo.
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, July 6, 2011 – Sunfire®, a leader in the design and manufacture of hi-fidelity home theater audio products, today announced that Las Vegas-based Progressive Home has become the 75th member of its Flagship Dealer Program.
“We are excited to welcome Progressive Home as the 75th member of our nationwide family of flagship dealers,” said Mark Weisenberg, general manager of Sunfire. “Progressive Home learned that Sunfire Flagship products are optimized to perform in a system as our engineers intended. Actively demonstrating a 5.1 Sunfire XT System delivers the unique sonic experience of Sunfire, all out of the smallest form factors available. And once Progressive Home realized the added business value that the Flagship program delivers, they signed up. They are among a small group of elite dealers around the world that through the use of Sunfire XT products, come to understand the power of delivering unique, active, exciting audio demonstrations and the benefits gained by adopting this strategy.”
“Sunfire is incredibly innovative,” said Mike Lemke, president of Progressive Home. “They make products that really upgrade the industry and are on par with equipment that is much, much more expensive. Having flagship status sets us apart and shows customers that we’ve been recognized as a quality dealer.”
“The art and science of the demo has been declining over the years,” remarked Weisenberg. “The Flagship Program addresses this by motivating and incentivizing dealers to merchandise and actively demo complete 5.1 Sunfire XT systems in a consistent, professional manner. Dealers participating in the program maintain a system on active display, receive aggressive discounts and extended payment terms, realize increased profitability on the XT Flagship products, and gain exposure in the company’s national advertising campaigns as well as being referred to as the “best of the best” on Sunfire’s dealer locator on their web site.
“Everyone wins. As the consumer experiences a well-executed Sunfire demonstration, the value of Sunfire becomes obvious while the dealer becomes the authority in the market in the eyes of their clients. So Flagship Dealers win more bids and sell more audio components, generating higher profits. Realizing profitable, sustainable growth in these tough economic conditions is good for everyone.
“The biggest asset for any dealer, besides their design expertise, is their ability to offer an exciting demo, which is why our Flagship Dealer Program aims to help our dealers provide the most impressive demos possible for each and every customer.”
The demo room itself is not limited to a one-size-fits-all system. There are a number of different options for the dealer to choose from, including in-wall, on-wall, on-shelf and bipole speaker setups. Progressive Home is utilizing multiple subwoofers in their system, which Sunfire considers the ideal setup for high-end home theaters.
When a dealer sells a complete Sunfire system, the company will even arrange for a special themed gift basket to be delivered to the customer, including popcorn, candy, and specially-made invitations for friends to come experience the new home theater. It’s an added touch that extends Sunfire’s Flagship Dealer support beyond the product, delivering unique value that today’s consumer appreciates.
About Sunfire:
Founded by renowned audio innovator Bob Carver, Sunfire designs, develops, manufactures and markets the smallest, most powerful speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers in the world. Sold in over 65 countries, Sunfire combines unconventional thinking with precision engineering to create innovative theater products that deliver exceptional performance – whenever, and wherever, they are heard. Carver’s thirty five years of scientific research have resulted in numerous patents including the Tracking Downconverter™ power supply used in the company’s receivers and amplifiers; and High Pressure, High Back-emf technology found in the company’s speakers. Complete information on Sunfire, its products and technology, is readily available at www.sunfire.com.
About The AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands: NILES® Audio (www.nilesaudio.com), ELAN® Home Systems (www.elanhomesystems.com), Xantech® (www.xantech.com), ATON® (www.atonhome.com), and Sunfire® (www.sunfire.com). The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.
Contact:
Eric Gross
Griffin Integrated Communications
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is underway in Los Angeles and responsible for most of the news stories in the Consumer Electronics press for the last two days.
This is old news, but still unbelievable to me…. Since 2009, Electronic Gaming generates more revenue than the Music and Movie industries combined! The once silly “gaming” conference it taken very seriously now, and these products are very much a part of today’s Progressive Home.
Probably the biggest news from the show is from Nintendo with their announcement of the successor to the Wii, called the Wii U. Like the original Wii, they have made a revolutionary change to how games work with a new type of controller. Microsoft did a great job perfecting on the motion control of the Wii with their “Kinect” product, but now they have a new type of controller to chase down.
At the Expo, Nintendo was showing a variety of different uses for a controller with a display embedded in it to get game developers excited about the potential. Considering the success of the original Wii, this new interface will get their attention and it will undoubtedly result in some incredibly unique and creative uses for our future entertainment experience.
This will be a late 2012 release and pricing has not been set, but Nintendo has a good history of releasing affordable products compared to their competitors.
This video is what Nintendo played for the audience during their announcement. To me, it is impressive….but I also think it is the tip of the iceberg in terms of creative uses for this controller.
We are in a good mood today….
Sunfire has awarded us “Flagship Dealer” status in the state of Nevada. This company and its founder Bob Carver have an incredible story and reputation in the audio business, so this recognition is quite an honor for us.
I am of course impressed with the amazing performance and quality of the speaker and amplifier products they make. But what most stands out to me about this company is their history of innovation. There are countless stories about how the founder of this company has challenged the status quo in what I consider a stodgy, audiophile-elite industry…and he did it with an inventors spirit. Just like Edison’s light bulb…trial and error & hard work have resulted in some incredible, benchmark setting products over the decades. Ruffling feathers during the journey & obeying only the laws of physics.
To me, that is just plain cool….
So is a 2,700 watt earth-shattering subwoofer with precise fidelity that measures only 10 inches on each side.
I didn’t believe it either, but I’ve collected my jaw from the floor and now I’m an evangelist for this incredible product.
For our reference quality theater we have matched this subwoofer with Sunfire’s on-wall loudspeakers in a room sized specifically for dealing best with low frequency issues known as “bass modes.” We also calculated and installed a precise blend of sound absorption, diffusion, and reflective acoustic treatments throughout the room to bring the most out of the audio system. The result is a remarkable sounding room for all seats in the theater.
Honestly….the nicest sounding room I’ve experienced.
The Movie Theater industry was blindsided today with a major announcement by four major Hollywood studios. Starting next month, DirecTV will launch a premium pay-per-view service called “Home Premiere” For $30 per rental, many of the “still in theater” movie titles will be available to you at home 60 days after their theatrical release date. This news comes from Universal, 20th Century Fox, Sony, and Warner Bros studios. The notable studios who did not commit are Dreamworks, Paramount, MGM, and Disney. Apparently, the National Association of Theater Owners is quite upset.
What do we think?
Over the last ten years, we have installed surround sound systems in thousands of homes in Las Vegas, the quality and cost of high resolution large screen displays for the home has plummeted, and now this announcement will undoubtedly have another severe impact on Theater attendance. The cost of creating a viewing and listening experience in the home is far less than it used to be, and in many cases, superior to the quality of your local theater. Thus, I think that the primary reason of those who have a dedicated home theater or decent family room cinema system venture out to the movie theater is to catch the latest releases.
Progressive Home Theater
So for me, this announcement is great news. $30 is steep, but far less than what I spend taking my family to the movies. Add to that complete flexibility on the schedule, the fact that my feet won’t get sticky from who knows what is on the floor, my bag of popcorn in the microwave tastes just fine, and that I don’t have to huddle around with strangers in uncomfortable seats? No brainer… This also presents me with an opportunity to have friends over to watch a movie (UFC makes me ill).
I am most anxious to see and hear the quality of this new format. The digital formats used by theaters and the reference quality format used at home (Blu-ray) are different, but they do share the characteristic of being only slightly compressed and being very large in terms of actual data. I’m anxious to see if we can skip through the previews and FBI warnings (shame on the studios for forcing us through these on Blu-ray). I am anxious to see what resolution DirecTV uses as well as the quality of the video compression the studios use for this new format. I’m also anxious to see what the audio sound track includes. Many movie soundtracks are also remixed by the studio for home use (smaller rooms) prior to going on the Blu-ray burner for distribution. I sure hope quality becomes an important factor for this format. If it isn’t impressive, I won’t spend $30…..I’ll wait for the Blu-ray, or I’ll go to a really good theater and spend a fortune on popcorn.
In the least, this a big step towards giving us a “Theatrical Release” and an “At Home Release” on the same date. It isn’t there yet, but it is closer. Isn’t that really what we all want?