Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Best Contemporary Smart Home, Silver and Bronze Winners, More Than $150,000

Silver Winner: Ultra-Modern Amenities Artfully Enhance NYC Residence

For this project that Rich AV Design outfitted on New York City’s Upper West Side, the owner had purchased three units for renovation into one and wanted a Savant system solution similar to the one in family’s existing home, only with some extra technology. The integrator collaborated with the client’s interior designer, Nick Deramo of Ingro Inc., through the Highline Construction Company, to execute their vision.

“We focused on combining technology and style. This meant working with some untraditional partners and unique installation techniques for a sleek, modern look,” says Rich AV Design owner Josh Rich.

For example, a Ketra lighting system was a high priority. Ketra automatically adjusts color temperature according to outside light to regulate the family’s circadian rhythm, Rich explains, like blue hues enabling natural relaxation; also, Ketra brings stylistic benefits, like the 2,000 color-changing LEDs that create art in the grand foyer.

 

Decorative mounts for Savant sunshades and Lutron blackout shades with in-wall recessed side channels combine form and function for automated window treatments accessing the Manhattan skyline. Aesthetic matters also included using Trufig for all keypads, outlets and iPorts to create sleek control framework, Rich notes.

Stealth Acoustics Invisible speakers tap into the Savant multiroom audio system, while TruAudio soundbars add to the setups for surround sound in the living and family rooms. The living room has a 75-inch TV within marble framing while the family room has an 85-inch TV in a custom A/V cabinet.

Systems & Equipment

  • Savant controls
  • Lutron lighting control
  • Ketra, DMX, Dali fixtures
  • Savant, Lutron shades
  • Stealth Acoustics, TruAudio speakers
  • Sony, LG TVs
  • Access Networks, Ruckus network
  • SurgeX UPS

 

Bronze Winner: Installation Tricks Hide Treasure Trove of A/V Riches

photography by Benjamin Edelstein

Where does one’s jaw begin to drop after entering this 11,000-square-foot modern marvel of a residence overlooking the intercoastal waters of Miami? Integrator MAXICON outfitted seven bedrooms, family room, dining room, living room, dedicated theater, gym, and outdoor pool, terrace and cabana.

For starters, automation and security touches begin with the gate and door intercom remotely accessible and controllable from a smartphone as part of the Savant control system. The first floor offers several highlights and ways Lutron shades take on importance.

In the home theater — which includes Sony projector, Seymour screen, Klipsch speakers and Kaleidescape server — the drapery gray blackout fabric shades ensure the darkest viewing environment. Elsewhere, individually controllable blackouts and sheers allow sunlight when desired. They’re key in the family room, which offers dual viewing options — the new Samsung Frame TV, as well as a concealed projection system prepped to drop from the ceiling at the touch of a button.

The second floor takes guests into another media room, featuring a Leon Speakers soundbar and 65-inch TV. The master suite includes a 75-inch ceiling-stowed TV, and Origin Acoustics in-ceiling speakers and Sony TV in the master bath. An outdoor seating area pipes music into Sonance outdoor speakers.

Finally, there’s the high-tech gym. “Once you enter into this modernistic space the only thing left is a great workout with the Peloton Bikes while watching the latest sports news on the 55-inch flushed-mounted TV,” says MAXICON’s Jessica Persyko.

Systems & Equipment

Savant controls

  • Lutron lighting/shade controls
  • Sony TVs, projector
  • Samsung Frame TV
  • Screen Innovations screen
  • Klipsch, Stealth Acoustics, Sonance, Leon, Origin Acoustics speakers
  • AudioControl electronics
  • Future Automation mounts/lifts
  • Oppo Blu-ray player
  • Araknis network

The post Best Contemporary Smart Home, Silver and Bronze Winners, More Than $150,000 appeared first on Electronic House.



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https://www.electronichouse.com/homes-of-the-year/best-contemporary-smart-homes-silver-and-bronze-winners-more-than-150000/

Best Home Theaters, Silver and Bronze, $150,000 And More

New Self-Powered Wireless Controller Aims to Simplify Smart Home Control

Berlin-based Senic has announced a self-powered wireless controller that aims to simplify the smart home experience by providing one-click control over Sonos speakers, Philips Hue lighting, and other smart devices.


from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/new-self-powered-wireless-controller-aims-simplify-smart-home-control-0

Creedence Clearwater Revival Celebrates 50 Years with 7-LP Box Set

Video Premiere: Abbey Road’s Miles Showell on how he mastered albums from the band’s prolific 1968-1972 period.

Craft Recordings is celebrating the brief but astonishingly prolific career of one of America’s greatest rock-and-roll bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival, with a 50th anniversary LP box set comprising all seven of the band’s studio albums on 180-gram vinyl.



from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/creedence-clearwater-revival-celebrates-50-years-7-lp-box-set

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

When is a Subwoofer a Subwoofer?

A recent product announcement from Amazon, and a news item on this site and elsewhere, touted the launch of a “subwoofer” to supplement the response of Amazon’s popular Echo vocal assistant. Presumably it will work with the even smaller Echo Dot as well. But for me it raised a couple of eyebrows.

Given that the low frequency response of an Echo alone probably doesn’t reproduce any useful output much lower than 100Hz (admittedly an educated guess), the Echo Sub certainly can't hurt. But given its size and its 6-inch driver, there's no way that such a product it can be considered a subwoofer...



from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/when-subwoofer-subwoofer

First Audio Amplifier on Display at New York AES Show

The Audio History Library & Museum is paying tribute to the early days of audio in a special display it has put together for the 145th International AES Convention, which opens tomorrow (October 17) and runs through Saturday at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.


from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/first-audio-amplifier-display-new-york-aes-show

The Pohlmann Interview

As this magazine celebrates its 60th anniversary, we are trying to reconcile the fact that Ken Pohlmann is the longest-serving contributor to these pages. Frankly, we’re not sure why we ever hired him 30 years ago. In an effort to find out, we asked Mr. Pohlmann to share his stories of his early days at the magazine. —The Editors


from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/pohlmann-interview