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Friday, March 31, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Best Home Music Systems of 2017
Determining the best home music systems is by no means and easy task. But each year, the judging committee and Electronic House magazine selects from numerous submissions entered by many manufacturers the top products and systems for your home. The judges consider innovation, uniqueness, and practical benefits to end users when choosing the winners of categories including audio, video, home control and automation, home theater, smart lighting, and home security. In this, our first announcement of our 2017 Products of the Year (view the 2016 winners), we present the best home music systems of 2017. We will reveal the winners of the remaining categories in the weeks ahead, so be sure to visit electronichouse.com often.
Audio Components, Amplifiers, Receivers, Tuners, Processors, Audio Streaming Devices
WINNER: Meridian 258 Amplifier
For this product Meridian has adopted an advanced linear power supply that provides superior isolation from the AC supply. A short signal path within the 258 ensures complete signal purity and separation between channels, and the multi-layer circuit boards provide the very best electromagnetic performance.
Housed in a compact chassis, this small but powerful amplifier takes up minimal space in an equipment rack. Built-in Class D amplifiers are highly efficient, with a low operating temperature that does not require an internal fan or any external cooling, thus negating the need for additional rack space and cooling mechanisms, while also eliminating associated labor costs. Aluminum construction combined with audiophile-grade components improves the lifetime and reliability of the product, making the 258 a genuinely “fit and forget” solution.
Price: $2,000
Loudspeakers and Soundbars
WINNER: Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Soundbar
The soundbar also features Night mode, dropping the low frequency response of the soundbar and sub’s driver array, reducing the amount of sound that carries, so sleeping roommates or family members are less likely to be disturbed.
The MagniFi Mini offers several one-button preset EQ settings, including Movies, Music and Sports, optimizing the soundbar and subwoofer to provide the clearest dialogue, surround sound and bass for the best audio experience.
It is also capable of wireless music streaming directly from a smartphone, tablet, or other compatible device to leverage Google Cast or Bluetooth.
Despite its small stature, measuring 13.4 inches long and 3.1 inches tall, the MagniFi Mini packs four 2.25-inch drivers and two 12mm tweeters. The included wireless subwoofer unloads deep bass, perfectly complementing the sonic spectrum and providing the impact needed to deliver a truly immersive listening experience. It comes with both an HDMI and optical cable for easy connection to TVs.
Price: $299.95
Multiroom Audio Systems
WINNER: Bluesound Gen 2 Multiroom Audio System
The Bluesound Gen 2 system features BluOS, a proprietary purpose-built operating system that connects, organizes, and controls all the ways to enjoy music, whether it is streamed from the cloud, stored on a smart device or computer, or stored on CDs. Bluesound integrates all these sources into a single music stream, and delivers studio-quality music to every room in the home.
Bluesound was also the first technology to partner with MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) to offer studio-quality sound exactly as the artist intended. MQA is a revolutionary end-to-end technology that captures and delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download. Bluesound worked closely with MQA to implement technology inside every Bluesound Player to ensure the listener will hear MQA encoded music and streams exactly like the source.
The ability to stream music and sound directly from your handheld smart device either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is another great new enhancement.
Every room has a different acoustic requirement and Bluesound has a player to fit every situation, from night table alarm to party room disco. Of the latest models, four connect with any new or existing audio system and three are complete plug-and-play music systems.
The models that make up the Bluesound ecosystem are:
NODE 2 Wireless Streaming Music Player, $499
POWERNODE 2 Amplified Wireless Streaming Music Player, $799
VAULT 2 Streaming Music Player, 2TB Storage and CD Ripper, $1199
PULSE 2 Full Size All-In-One Wireless Streaming Music Player, $699
PULSE MINI All-In-One Wireless Streaming Music Player, $499
PULSE FLEX All-In-One Wireless Portable Streaming Music Player, $299
PULSE Soundbar high performance that can serve as core of a streaming multi-room system, $999
PULSE Sub Wireless Subwoofer with flexible mounting options, $599
Subwoofers
WINNER: GoldenEar SuperSub X Subwoofer
The attractive enclosure of the SuperSub X is intricately and effectively braced in order to eliminate the possibility of resonances or the flexing of cabinet panels due to the tremendous internal pressure. There is a unique (patent pending) combination of two fully inertially-balanced 8-inch long-throw active drivers in the horizontal plane and two fully inertially-balanced 10½-inch x 9½-inch planar infrasonic radiators in the vertical plane. This force-cancelling inertial balancing preserves and focuses all the energy produced by the transducers in order to effectively move the air in the room, as well as enabling full recovery of the finest details, rather than allowing loss and blurring due to wasted box movement.
Price: $1,249
The post Best Home Music Systems of 2017 appeared first on Electronic House.
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Monoprice Monolith 7-Channel Amplifier Review
Monoprice may have made its name making cheap HDMI cables but there's absolutely nothing cheap about their new line of audiophile-grade Monolith amplifiers. The Monolith 7 is a 7-channel, 200wpc (with all channels driven), 93 pound beast of an amplifier. From its build to astonishing real-world performance the Monolith 7 may just rank as one of the best price/performance amplifiers you can buy. We put the Monolith through a battery of tests and came away impressed. Read our full review and watch our YouTube Video to see why the Monolith really is THAT good.
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Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Leviton Launches Wi-Fi Lighting Products
Leviton Manufacturing, a giant in lighting and electrical products, just launched its first Wi-Fi lighting products, including three in-wall and two plug-in switches/dimmers under the Decora Smart brand. The line is just the beginning of a complete Wi-Fi ecosystem for mass-market home automation, which includes a new DIY-friendly app called My Leviton, as well as a brand new SHaaS (smart home as a service) platform for integration and remote access.
Currently, the new ecosystem includes just the five lighting products under the “Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology” banner. Leviton’s dimmers and switches don’t require a hub for automation. They communicate to Leviton’s cloud services through an existing home network (plus they have on-board intelligence like clocks that work even when the network is down). For added functionality, though, they can be voice-controlled out-of-the-box via Amazon Alexa and (soon) other smart-home hubs.
“Integration with other smart devices and hubs is “on the roadmap,” says Leviton marketing director Greg Rhoades. “There will be organic expansion and partnership expansions,” he says. “We want to go way beyond lighting control and voice control. … We want to provide options with best-of-breed providers.”
Apple Homekit Lighting Coming Soon
In a month or two, Leviton will launch a separate Apple Homekit version of the Wi-Fi products for integration with the Apple Home app. Hard-core iOS fans will want to stay in the Apple family, says Rhoades, who is “very confident in this [Homekit] solution in the long term.”
He thinks Apple Home has one of the easiest set-up processes for home automation, enabling the user to enroll products by simply taking pictures of them. The app even auto-generates recommended configurations for scenes such as goodnight.
“They’ve done a really good job curating the ecosystem to bring the Apple experience to the home,” Rhoades suggests. “That’s why it’s so important to have a dedicated product that is super-easy for the user.”
He adds that Leviton makes clear on its packaging which Wi-Fi products work only with the My Leviton app and ecosystem, and which work with Homekit.
What’s Special About Leviton’s Solution
Before developing the new products, Leviton took a good hard look at the marketplace, says Leviton marketing director Greg Rhoades: “We asked, ‘What is not being done in this space?’”
Leviton is already a leading provider of Z-Wave light switches, dimmers and accessories. The company also makes ZigBee devices, mostly for commercial controls. Recently Leviton launched Bluetooth (BLE) switches, dimmers and fan controls, as well.
Besides their feature sets – we’ll get to those – here’s what makes Leviton’s new product line stand out from much of the competition.
- Lighting history. After 110 years in the lighting, infrastructure and controls business, Leviton knows a thing or two about the category.
- Automation history. In 2012, Leviton acquired Home Automation Inc.(HAI), a smart-home pioneer with more than three decades in the business, so Leviton knows a thing or two about the category. With HAI, Leviton is a leading supplier and innovator in professionally installed security systems, energy management, multiroom audio, access controls and other popular subsystems.
While its existing smart devices such as thermostats don’t employ Wi-Fi, there’s no reason why the company couldn’t develop versions with Decora Smart Wi-Fi (or Homekit). In fact, IP thermostats most likely will be the next product for the new ecosystem.
- Decora. You know Decora™switches – the design standard for light switches, outlets and faceplates? That’s a Leviton trademark. Besides incorporating the design into its light switches, Leviton uses the Decora look-and-feel in its numerous other product lines including electrical outlets, Ethernet and coax jacks, dumb faceplates, home-automation keypads, audio controls and more.
“We took the de facto standard for lighting [aesthetics] – Decora – and made it smart,” Rhoades explains. “It can harmonize with other Leviton Decora devices in the home, all blending seamlessly.”
Leviton makes Decora products in scores of different colors and finishes.
- Warranty. Leviton offers a category-leading 5-year warranty on its lighting products, which is about five times more generous than everyone else’s.
- Worldwide network of installers. Leviton has a very large following of professional installers – both line-voltage electrical contractors and low-voltage integrators – that can provide automation services around the products, which is something you won’t get with DIY offerings from Belkin Wemo and others. While the Wi-Fi products and My Leviton app are meant for the mass market, including DIY, the products no doubt will be embraced by Leviton’s home-automation and electrical-contracting dealers.
“What’s really cool for us,” says Rhoades, “is that it lets individual consumers toe their own way into the automation world, and then provides broader opportunities for pros to build and tailor automation systems for a larger audience.”
Decora Smart with Wi-Fi: Features, Advantages
As mentioned above, Leviton’s new Wi-Fi-enabled devices don’t require a home-automation hub, as they simply use the home’s existing network for integration and remote access. This is the case with most Wi-Fi devices.
The Products
The following products in the Decora Smart Wi-Fi product family are now available for sale in all channels, including DIY and pro.
DW1KD Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology 1000W Dimmer
DW6HD Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology 600W Dimmer
DW15S Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology 15 Amp Switch
DW3HL Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology Plug-In Dimmer
DW15A Decora Smart with Wi-Fi Technology Plug-In Outlet
Unlike many smart switches, though, Leviton builds in some extra intelligence, such as a clock for controlling devices on a schedule, even if the network goes down.
Here are some other useful features of the product and the Leviton ecosystem:
- Low prices. Retail pricing on the new products are high competitive, ranging from $40 for a plug-in switch to $50 for a 1000W in-wall dimmer.
- No service fees. There is no charge for the My Leviton app, and no recurring fees for remote access. Of course, that could change if Leviton builds out the ecosystem.
- Support for multiple load types. Decora Smart dimmers and switches support LED, CFL and incandescent bulbs and have also been “engineered for compatibility with sensitive low-wattage LED bulbs.”
- Advanced settings. In addition to creating and controlling scenes, users can use the app to adjust fade rates, brightness levels, bulb types and the behavior of the LEDs embedded in the switches.
- Off means off. Most dimmers don’t actually turn bulbs “off” when the off button is pressed and the room goes to dark. They just go imperceptibly dim. In the case of Leviton’s products, “off means off.” Leviton actually kills the connection to the load.
- Comprehensive lighting line. As Rhoades explains, none of the other providers of Wi-Fi-based lighting controls offers the breadth of products as Leviton. For example, some companies offer switches but not dimmers, or plug-in devices but not switches, and vice versa. Most don’t offer solutions for multi-pole lighting (e.g., three-way switches) or support for multiple load types like Leviton does.
If you consider “multi-way capability, advanced technology for low wattage bulbs, plus multiple color options and wallplates to the offering … this is the most complete and advanced IoT lighting control on the market,” says Richard Westfall, VP and GM of Leviton Energy Management, Controls & Automation.
The post Leviton Launches Wi-Fi Lighting Products appeared first on Electronic House.
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Virtual Reality Headset Helps You Design Your Home Theater
Virtual reality headsets aren’t all fun and games. A new service from Andrew Lucas London and its sister company Andrew Lucas Studios is enabling consumers to “walk through” their new home theater or smart home by donning an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. At the same time, they receive an estimate on how much the project will cost.
Demonstrated at a recent home show, the virtual reality technology developed by Andrew Lucas Studios, allows users to move themselves around an entire property in a similar manner to Google Street View. They can swell on the aspects that interest them and interact with the space around them, giving them a clear idea of the proposed home theater or smart home solution. From there, they can make changes to the design.
Design and Price Your Theater
For example homeowners can upgrade to a different set of components, choose a larger screen, or add a user interface. Andrew Lucas’ online quotation tool automatically adjusts the price in real time. The quote shows not only the price of the equipment, but also the projected extra costs for labor, cabling, and post-installation service.
“Virtual reality can be an incredibly useful tool for clarifying in the customer’s mind exactly what an architect or smart home specialist is hoping to achieve,” says Hamza Abbas, sales director at Andrew Lucas Studios. “A video flythrough or 3D rendering can offer a certain level of insight, but a VR experience is a much more realistic experience, with the added bonus of letting the prospective homeowner explore their property at a pace that suits them.”
Users will be able to also see how the installation cost could be divided into a monthly payment scheme, allowing them to pay for their home over a period of time instead of purchasing everything up front.
“One of the main frustrations a typical smart home customer has is in understanding the ‘hidden’ costs that occur in a smart home project,” says Krystian Zajac, chairman and founder of Andrew Lucas London. “Our new quotation tool brings complete transparency to the quotation process, letting our customers understand exactly what costs are incurred by certain areas of the smart home and allowing them to tailor their property to suit their needs – and their budget.”
Home Design Services
The online quotation tool covers Andrew Lucas’ three main services: home theater, smart home and virtual reality.
Home Theater
An Andrew Lucas home theater is designed to meet any client’s entertainment needs, whether they’re a film aficionado seeking perfect quality or a parent looking for a space to relax and watch the latest Disney films with their kids.
Although the specific products cannot be disclosed, the company’s fully furnished home theater offering includes a professional projection system and screen (including 4K Ultra-HD projection system with HDR support options), acoustic treatment and 5.1, 7.1 or 3D audio speaker systems (including hidden speakers), AV receiver and universal remote as well as climate and lighting control.
“We will offer products from multiple manufacturers to suit the needs of the property owner,” says Zajac. He says once someone picks a package and gets the pricing, they can go ahead and purchase it.
“They will be able to pay a deposit and secure the order; in due course, we will also allow clients to pay for their smart home, home cinema or VR room with regular monthly payments over an agreed period,” says Zajac. “For home cinema we have three options on a sliding scale, based on price and functionality. All of these can be personalized with optional extras.”
All of the company’s smart homes, home cinemas and VR rooms are designed and installed by the Andrew Lucas team.
Smart Home
For a smart home project, homeowners can input the basic details of their property and select up to three packages: security, comfort and entertainment. These can then be personalized with several technology upgrades, finishes and additional control interfaces, with a price estimate adjusting in real-time to show the price of equipment and projected extra costs such as labor, cabling and aftercare.
“We offer both wired or wireless options for smart home packages, each containing a number of ‘essential’ products,” says Zajac. “These are calculated to match the layout of the home.”
The packages include intruder alarms, smoke and leak detection, indoor/outdoor cameras, video doorbells, heating control, smart lighting, motorized shades, voice control integration, unified control, as well as multiroom audio/surround-sound audio, video distribution and streaming outdoor speakers.
Each of the solutions is modular, so the customer can start with a single-feature system (e.g. smart heating control) or choose a whole-house set-up. Meanwhile, the company’s dedicated app allows users to manage their entire property from their phone, from lighting and shades to home entertainment and security systems.
Virtual Reality
“This is also something we offer to other smart home installers that wish to provide visualizations of this sort to their own clients,” says Zajac.
The company’s VR room offering is described as a ‘wireless, backpack-based experience’ that includes high-end VR platforms and gaming PCs, as well as room-scale tracking technology, acoustic treatment, 3D audio speakers, plus, the virtual reality room can be fitted with extra technology to double up as a panic room.
This includes blast-proof doors, hidden cameras, a reserve power supply, a separate phone line and a biohazard protection system that monitors air quality and filters out hazardous substances via the ventilation system.
The post Virtual Reality Headset Helps You Design Your Home Theater appeared first on Electronic House.
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3D Printing Creates Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
By employing a 3D printing process, Alienology Audio has made its T3TRA speaker all in one piece without any seams or joints. According to Alienology, this eliminates conflicting vibrations and resonances. Because the unibody frame is 3D printed, the material is absolutely uniform in density at all points. The company says it is intentionally using 3D printing to ensure that the performance is identical across all T3TRA speakers.
3D Printing Benefits
Seamlessly tied together by the frame are four precision laser cut sides made of high grade, multi-layer birch plywood to produce a warm and natural feel.
Its shape is not only visually appealing but offers true sonic benefits. Tetrahedron, in geometric terms, is one of the most ideal shapes, the simplest 3D form possible that is fully structurally stable and self-supporting. All the sides of the speaker are identical equilateral triangles, in this case with rounded edges. Standing waves are diminished by eliminating parallel sides and edge diffraction is reduced by having rounded corners and fewer sides, according to Alienology Audio.
The speaker driver is a highly rated, magnetically shielded 3-inch full range unit with a concave membrane that is made of aluminum.
There are two styles of T3TRA speakers:
T3TRA ACTIVE speaker has built-in 20W amplifier with Bluetooth. It is ideal if you plan to use your speakers strictly with Bluetooth enabled devices. It is available as a single speaker with both channels joined into a mono configuration or as a stereo pair-two speakers where one speaker has a built-in amplifier and the other is passive and linked to the amp using speaker wire. Essentially, the first speaker is an ACTIVE the second speaker is a CLASSIC speaker.
T3TRA CLASSIC is the same as the ACTIVE just without amplification.
Instead, there are speaker terminals for use with audio amplifier.
Currently on Kickstarter, the T3TRA speakers are available in orange, red, green, or yellow. The speaker is rated at 30W with 8 ohm nominal impedance. Its dimensions are about 5.5″ (14cm) tall, and each side is about 6″ (15cm).
The post 3D Printing Creates Wireless Bluetooth Speaker appeared first on Electronic House.
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Philips Hue and the Health Benefits of Smart Lighting
Smart lighting like the Philips Hue smart bulb is able to make our lives more convenient, no doubt. Being able to tap one button on a smartphone to activate a group of lights as you enter your house is quicker and easier than strolling through the house to tap multiple individual wall switches. It’s also a lot safer. How many times have you tripped over toy in your footpath during your voyage down a dark hallway? Or worse yet, have you ever stumbled down a dark stairway?
Smart Lighting Reduces Accidents
Smart lighting systems can reduce the risk of the serious injuries that when you try to navigate your way through a dark house. There are many other health benefits, too. Daylight Savings time, for example, can really mess with our body’s internal clock—our circadian rhythm that essentially tell us when to go to sleep, when to get up, when to eat/digest, and so on. Light is both our friend and enemy here, since our body syncs up to the sun’s rays for our 24-hour cycle and circadian rhythm balance.
When the sun rises and sets later in the day, our circadian rhythm gets out of whack. The result: You feel sluggish, moody, and tired. The shift in day and night might also impacts your overall health. According to Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D,:
“The vast majority of your hormones, including melatonin and cortisol, cycle during the day. This impacts every system in your body, from your immune system, to how well you digest your food, to how much insulin is released in response to sugar intake–all change based on the time of day. This is why prioritizing circadian rhythms is so important: it regulates the natural ups and downs that your hormones go through throughout the day and night. When your circadian rhythms are properly regulated, you sleep well, you have energy in the mornings, your energy is constant throughout the day until it starts to gradually diminish in the evening… and it reduces your risk of chronic disease.”
Smart Light Switches
So how can you put your circadian rhythm back on track? The same smart light switches that respond to a command initiated from a smartphone can be programmed to follow an on/off scheduled that you create. Instead of letting the sun tell you when to sleep and when to wake, the scheduled light switches can dim at the same time each night to signal your body that it’s time to go to bed. In the morning, they can do the opposite, turning on at a bright level as a cue to get of bed. Check out Lutron, Leviton, Insteon, and Legrand for affordable, easy to install smart dimmer switches. These are widely available at home improvement stores like Home Depot and online at amazon.com
Colored Lighting
Studies show that it’s not just the intensity of a home’s artificial lighting that can help maintain a healthy circadian rhythm, but also the color of the light. The objective is to create a bright blue light during the day and dim red light in the evening. Smart, color-changing light bulbs screw into sockets just like regular light bulbs. They can emit a rainbow of different colors, controllable through a smartphone app. You can find them from various manufacturers, Philips, Stack, LIFX, and Sengled at home improvement stores at online.
In addition to helping you get your rhythm back on track, colored lighting is a verified mood booster. Dim, soft, pale-colored lights can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, while crisp, bright, vibrant colored lighting can improve productivity.
Automated Shading
Finally, automated shading, particularly blackout shading, can be one of the greatest biohacks for getting a good night sleep and maintaining you circadian rhythm. Automated shading put on a schedule to lift and lower at the same time every day. It can help block out the sun so that you go to bed when you should, for example. They can work in concert with your smart lighting to create an environment that is good for your health. Battery-powered shading can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer, and is available at home improvement stores and online.
The post Philips Hue and the Health Benefits of Smart Lighting appeared first on Electronic House.
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Monday, March 27, 2017
2017 Subwoofer Roundup: Seven Models Compared From $600-$700
Let's say you need great bass and have a $700 budget: what subwoofers should you be looking at? In this article, we will briefly go over seven of the top contenders in this price range. The subs in this comparison are more alike than different in terms of specifications, and any of them look to be fine choices for accomplishing the task of great bass. However, each does have different strengths. So, which is best for your particular application? Read on to find out the specialty of each.
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Friday, March 24, 2017
Fluance DB12 $300 12" Ported Subwoofer Preview
Those looking to beef up the bass in their bookshelf speaker system on a tight budget would do well to give Fluance's new DB12 subwoofer a try. The DB12 is an unusually compact subwoofer for a ported 12” design. Its polite size and refined finish allow it to fit in very aesthetically demanding situations. Check out our preview on this compact sub for $300- Shipping included! Bass enthusiasts serious about sound will want to pick up a pair of these subs for improved bass response and output for the entire seated area.
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Thursday, March 23, 2017
7 Smart Home Predictions for the Future
In a recent Forbes article, a few CIOs, CTOs and tech executives from the Forbes Technology Council laid out their own smart home predictions for the next game-changing innovations.
Here’s a hint: they’re not talking about immersive sound and virtual reality. They’re talking about AI for physical health, preemptive repair and interactive GPS technology.
- AIs Will Watch Health
“Advances in AI will fuel smart home technology. Information will be sent to the cloud and analyzed by neural networks to determine the smartest settings,” says Gideon Kimbrell, InList. “Machine learning will become even better at predicting the desires of the occupant, beyond changing temperature. In the future, things like Life Alert will be obsolete, as the whole home will sense the well-being of its occupants and save their lives, if necessary.”
- Macro Actions Will Be Called By Voice
“Controlled by a voice-activated assistant, at home or remotely, we will have access to any task we want to achieve through sensors and control devices,” says Steve Wilkes, Striim. “This won’t be limited to out-of-the-box functionality, but will enable you to define your own actions and flows. Say ‘I want to chill’ could dim the lights, close the blinds, pour you a drink, and play your favorite music.”
- Pictures Frames Can Change Depending on Who’s Near
“Digital photo frames have existed for years, but have barely evolved,” says Jeff Jahn, DynamiX. “I see the next innovation coming in a relatively inexpensive replacement for the traditional frame. Coupled with a phone, nearby frames could update based on who is in the room. Leveraging displays that mimic traditional paper without back lighting would allow for long life without hard wiring.”
- Appliances Will Predict the Need for Repairs
“I think your home will send reminders to your service personnel about problems within the home, or maintenance issues like your vehicle letting you know if any services need to be done,” says Chalmers Brown, Due. “This could be with air conditioning and heating, or with appliances. This will help homeowners do a better job of staying on top of maintenance that could reduce their repair bills.”
- Homes That Micro-Generate Electricity
“The most interesting idea I’ve seen that has yet to be widely commercialized is micro-generation of electricity,” says Kurt Dykema, Twisthink. “There’s a 10-15 percent energy loss between the power plant and your home, so if a cost-effective device could be designed that would not only heat your home, but also generate the electricity you need at the same time, it might make financial sense and help save the planet at the same time.”
- GPS Lets Devices Know When the Owner Nears Home
“I think GPS technology will allow smart home applications to prepare your home for you as you near its location,” says Andrew Kucheriavy, Intechnic. “Imagine the temperature adjusting to your ideal level, and your preferred scents, sounds, and lights greeting you as you arrive. This will save time and money as customers reduce waste such as heat and air conditioning when they are away from their homes.”
- Not All Devices Will Demand Internet Access
“Consumers are continuing to demand more and better security to ensure their data remains private,” says Neill Feather, SiteLock. “As smart home technology evolves, security protections can and should be incorporated from the start of product design. Designers must also ask whether enabling internet connectivity makes sense to the product’s function, or if more centralized and secure networks will suffice instead.”
The post 7 Smart Home Predictions for the Future appeared first on Electronic House.
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10 Outdoor Speakers for Less Than $150
Outdoor speakers can turn a drab back yard into an exciting escape by delivering all of your favorite tunes to the deck, patio, garden, and anywhere else you might roam. There are styles galore in the world of outdoor speakers, so whatever your listening pleasure, you’ll be sure to find something that’ll satisfy. The following 10 outdoor speakers are all priced at less than $150, so even your wallet will feel happy.
10 Outdoor Speakers for Less Than $150
Yamaha NS-AW150WH 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speakers
Each Yamaha NS-AW150WH speaker in this pair has built-in feet, perfect for placing on a table or shelf. If you’d rather wall-mount them, the included bracket allows for horizontal or vertical placement. Each speaker employs a 5-inch woofer and a 1/2-inch dome tweeter, so you can experience your music in full, from thumping bass to crystal-clear high notes. The speakers can handle 120 watts, and are built to withstand all that Mother Nature can dish out.
$74.99
OSD Audio RS660OM Rock Satellite Speaker
The OSD RS6600M Rock Speaker blend into any rock formation and complements the landscape. Made from non-water-absorbing materials that can withstand all weather conditions, this speaker won’t freeze or crack in the winter. It has a 6.5-inch polypropylene cone woofer, 1-inch dome tweeter, and its 250-watt power handling will send immersive sound whever you need it.
$74.99
TIC GS-3 Outdoor In-Ground Speaker
Many speakers project sound out from the face of their grille. The TIC GS-3, however, disperses audio in a 360-degree pattern. The shrub green finish of this omni-directional speaker will accent and aesthetically enhance any exterior landscape setting. It boasts a 200-watt full range driver, 8-inch woofer, 2-inch tweeter. Most of the housing can be buried in the ground, lending extra stability and cosmetic unobtrusiveness.
$76.88
Theater Solutions 2R4S Outdoor Rock Speakers
Here’s another rock speaker option, the 2R4S from Theater Solutions. This 2-way weatherproof rock speaker has a rigid acoustically inert enclosure that are silicone sealed and rust resistant steel grilles. The 4-inch 8 ohm rubber surround woofers with silver-mica cones and half inch ferro-fluid cooled dome tweeters are designed for the outdoor climate. It handles a maximum of 250 watts.
$59.99
Russound Acclaim 5 Series OutBack Indoor/Outdoor Speakers (Pair)
The Acclaim 5 Series OutBack speakers from Russound can perform beautifully outdoors as well as inside the house. Sealed enclosures, salt-tested marine grade hardware, and aluminum grilles make them tough. Wall mounts and bookshelf feet are included to make them usable anywhere in your home. They can be mounted horizontally, vertically, in corners, on poles, or standing upright.
Boston Acoustics SOUNDWARE Indoor/Outdoor Speaker
The Boston Acoustics SoundWare indoor/outdoor has a cute shape that makes it not only nice to look at but versatile when it comes to placement. With the included brackets it can be mounted under the eaves or on the deck. Tucked neatly away a corner, or simply stationed on a table. The brackets enable the speaker to be tilted up, down, and sideways, aimed at your current listening spot. This two-way speaker with has a 4 ½-inch woofer and ¾-inch tweeter.
$99.oo
Dayton Audio IO525 Indoor/Outdoor Speaker (Pair)
Each of the IO525 speakers from Dayton Audio features a mineral-filled poly cone 5-1/4-inch woofer and metalized Mylar 1-inch dome tweeter, for full-range high fidelity performance. The crossover network was computer optimized by Dayton Audio and then fine-tuned via extensive listening tests. Rugged ABS construction and aluminum grilles make these suitable for outdoor listening. Power handling is 75 watts maximum.
$86.65
OSD PS525 Planter Speaker Omni
Sights and sounds come together in a speaker that doubles as a planter, the PS525 from OSD. The speakers offer not only a place to pot plants but an unobtrusive way to get speakers close the patio. Rectangular and round planter speakers are available. This is an omni-directional speaker, which means it disperses sound in a 360-degree pattern. The dispersion plate, which forms the base of the planter, is designed to deliver high frequencies at 12 degrees above horizontal, so If you’re standing in the yard, the high frequencies aren’t being lost at your feet.
$59.95
Polk Audio Sat30 Speakers
The Sat30 satellite speakers from Polk Audio can be planted in your landscaping, hung the eaves, or installed anywhere you want to mix great sound with the great outdoors. Capable of handling up to 100 Watts of power, the speaker features a 3 1/2-inch long-throw midrange driver with 1-inch voice coil, and a 3/4-inch composite dome neodymium tweeter. These speakers are designed to live outside year-round, with permanent color impregnation and all-weather waterproofing and a 5-year warranty.
$86.13
OSD Audio BH525 Hanging Bird House Speaker
Now for a little whimsy … disguised as a birdhouse, the OSD BH525 outdoor speaker provides 360 degrees of sound while it hangs from the limb of a tree. The specially designed cabinetry includes bass enhanced SoundPort technology to produce bass response like 6.5-inch speakers. It boasts 100 watts of power handling, 5.25-inch woofer, and 13mm PEI tweeter.
$49.95
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Flexson Charging Stand Adds Light to Sonos Music
The Flexson charging stand does more than juice up a Sonos Play:1 speaker. It also provides soft illumination and incorporates a pair of USB power outlets that homeowners can use to charge their smart devices, wearables, e-readers and other electronics.
The integrated light in the Flexson charging stand is controllable through the product’s integrated touch-sensitive controls, which Flexson says makes it a nice addition to a bedside nightstand and similar locations.
Plus, it just looks so much nicer than a standard plain-old charging station. The lighting adds a touch of style to your home while making sure your speaker is powered and ready to play your favorite tunes at a moment’s notice. And with a price of $60, you can probably afford to have at least a couple in the house. Put one in living room where you typically listen to music, another one in the home office, and, of course, on your bedroom nightstand. It’s an easy addition that leverages your investment in a Sonos music system.
The charging stand will be available through Flexson’s American distributor American Audio Video in a choice of black or white to match the color of Sonos products. It will be available at the end of March.
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Lutron’s HomeWorks QS Helps Home Achieve NetZero Rating
It’s tough to imagine technology enabling a home to conserve so much energy that it’s able to sustain itself. After all, electronic systems require power to operate, and when a residence is outfitted with some of the most elaborate lighting and automation systems on the planet, it’s natural to envision an electric bill that’s through the roof.
Significant household energy savings seem even more unbelievable when it happens in a house that stretches almost 13,000 square feet.
Lutron’s HomeWorks QS Manages Power Consumption
In many cases, a big home with a big technology footprint would equate to a big power suck, but by leveraging the intelligence and integration friendliness of a Lutron HomeWorks QS system, the home systems integrators from Conundrum Technologies, of Avon, Colo., were able to create a home environment that’s so energy efficient that it earned Net-Zero status (A Net-Zero home produces the same amount of power that it consumes).
Achieving a Net-Zero rating wasn’t something that the team at Conundrum, nor the homeowners, took lightly. Often, investing in technology for energy savings takes a back seat to fun features like home theaters and whole-house audio systems. But for the owners of White Hawk Ranch, energy efficiency was a top priority. It had to be, given the stringent homebuilding mandates in Boulder, Colorado, where the home is located. Per Boulder building codes, any house that measures more than 5,000-square feet must be Net-Zero. Based on its size, White Hawk Ranch definitely qualified.
36,605 kWh of Electricity; $167 Utility Credit
Most of the energy savings occur automatically, as governed by the custom-programmed and carefully engineered Lutron HomeWorks QS system. Leveraging the HomeWorks QS system’s ability to communicate with and manage other electronic systems, Conundrum Technologies put the HomeWorks QS system in charge of monitoring the amount of electricity generated by the Sun Power PV system and making intelligent decisions on how to set the lights, window shades, and thermostats based on available solar energy. “The HomeWorks QS system singlehandedly manages 36,605 kWh of electricity annually,” Perez says. “The HERS rating for this home was -3, meaning that the overall energy use annually will produce a credit of $167 from the utilities.”
Daylight Harvesting Helps Conserve Energy
No matter what the HomeWorks QS system decides to do, its status and the status of everything connected to it is fed to the homeowners via the Lutron Connect app, viewable on their smartphones. Meanwhile, the status of the Sun Power system goes to the home’s Savant home control app. Conundrum added a Savant home control system to give the owners another method of interacting with the lights, shades, HVAC, and PV system, as well as the whole-house audio system and other features.
Automatic adjustments to reduce energy consumption is the key to effortless savings. The owners report that they have saved $1,500 a month on their electricity bills. Additionally, Conundrum installed Lutron’s Palladiom keypads throughout
As the owners of White Hawk Ranch have discovered, technologies like the HomeWorks QS system can foster a lifestyle of luxury and frugality. Governed by this system, LED lights and other electronic elements are able to beautifully accentuate features of the home and enable the homeowners to live comfortably, while curbing energy use for huge paybacks on their electricity bills.
Related articles:
Article one: Lutron RadioRA 2 and Amazon Alexa Pair up in Post Bachelor Pad
Article two: Lutron Lighting Takes to the High Seas in a 130-foot Yacht
Article three: Lutron Lighting System Rescues Home from Control Complexities
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