Best Products of 2009
12.08.2009 — It’s pretty safe to say we’re all glad that 2009 is almost over and we can look ahead with some optimism.
Despite the economic woes, 2009 wasn’t a total failure. There were many great products released that ran the gamut from Blu-ray players to projectors, receivers, subwoofers and more.
These products revealed several trends that are expected to grow in 2010, including adoption of Blu-ray, 2.40:1 home systems, migration to two-channel audio and more.
We’ve rounded up the Best Products of 2009 and broken them down by several categories:
* Best Overall Products
* Best Video Products
* Best Audio Products
* Best Blu-ray Player and Movies
* Best Accessories
* Best Video Games
Click here to view the Best Products of 2009
By Robert Archer
http://www.cepro.com/article/best_products_of_2009/
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Entertainment Audio and Video services in North Carolina.
Posted in Audio Systems, Automation, Blu-ray, Flat Panel TV's, lighting control
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Tagged 2.40:1, accessories, audio, audio advice, Blu-ray, electronic house, flat panel tv, Home Automation, home builders, home specialties, home systems, i-phone, i-pod, indian trail nc, innovative systems, Marantz, martin logan, Media Rooms, nano, new construction, new homes, projectors, receivers, retrofit, s3-av, snap av, Speakercraft, speakers, subwoofers, trends, TV Mounts, two-channel, wii, x-box, zobo
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Inside SpeakerCraft’s Booth at CEDIA Expo 2009
SpeakerCraft’s CEDIA Expo 2009 booth couldn’t be more different than its 2008 Expo booth.
Last year the company de-emphasized products and played up business — albeit in the context of watching scantily clad dancers.
“We’re displaying almost all of our products [this year],” says Dave Donald, VP of marketing. The shift in focus is “sort of a yin and yang thing.”
“We did our business message last year. And we took it out on the road all year. This year, we’re back to products.”
Among the products SpeakerCraft is showing in booth 2418 are its Nirv multiroom audio system, which president Jeremy Burkhardt teased as “the largest product introduction ever.”
SpeakerCraft also is showing its first-ever receivers that are part of the new Vital line.
SpeakerCraft’s booth, of course, isn’t without its flare. The large “Burning Man”-esque tents seem to attract installers — hence the relatively big crowds.
We were wondering if SpeakerCraft’s always-interesting booth would emphasis “Nirv or Nudity.” The answer is Nirv.
By Tom LeBlanc
http://www.cepro.com/article/inside_speakercrafts_booth_at_cedia_expo_2009/K32
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Home Entertainment Audio and Video services in North Carolina.
Posted in Audio Systems
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Tagged audio distribution, Cedia, control systems, in-ceiling speakers, in-wall speakers, kevlar speakers, Media Rooms, MODE keypad, multiroom audio, Nirv, pivoting speakers, receivers, Speakercraft, speakers, subwoofers, surround receivers, Tantra speakers, tweeters, Vital, whole house audio
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It’s a Fan. No it’s an Audio System. Hey, it’s Both!
You can’t have an audio system without speakers, however, it’s the speakers that cause the most problems, especially with respect to interior design. Known for their wide selection of residential ceiling fans, Hunter has teamed up with Soundolier Integrated Wireless Technologies to create the Concert Breeze, a combination ceiling fan and powered audio system.
At first glance, the Concert Breeze looks like any common ceiling fan, yet hidden inside the fan’s light is a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless audio system. Without the hassle and expense of running wires, the Concert Breeze receives full range digital quality audio from any source, up to 300ft away. Simply connect a Soundolier Maestro wireless transmitter to any audio source – TV, mp3 player, etc. – through the speaker level or 3.5mm input jack and send stereo DSP audio to the Concert Breeze. Four selectable stereo signal channels virtually eliminate interference and one transmitter can send the signal to an unlimited number of receiver devices within the signal range.
According to Brendan Byrne, Senior Vice President of ceiling fans for Hunter, “The ceiling fan’s central location in the room naturally makes for a more premium sound since the speaker location can greatly affect the overall audio quality. With this design, the speaker is optimally located in the center of the room, so, the music literally showers over everyone equally.”
Paul Schleipfer, Marketing Manager for Soundolier explains the advantages further, “When distributing sound, audio coming from overhead has an all-encompassing effect that fills a room more naturally. It’s the reason airports, restaurants and other public buildings place speakers in the ceiling. However, with custom built speakers in the ceiling the challenge is incorporating them with lighting, electrical, and of course, ceiling fans. When a speaker is placed above the fan, it creates a strobing effect and destroys audio clarity. With the high quality speaker system and light housed beneath the fan in a single powered unit, the sound quality is preserved plus it blends in seamlessly with the environment and decor.”
The fan can be used in conjunction with a subwoofer and other audio components for a complete home audio experience. The unit comes with a credit card sized wireless remote that controls both the volume of the sound system and the brightness of the lamp. The Concert Breeze comes in two options: an indoor rated model available in brushed nickel with dark cherry blades and an indoor-outdoor model with bronze finish for covered porches or sunrooms. The Concert Breeze sells for $499 and is available at authorized Hunter and Soundolier dealers.
Courtesy of http://www.hometheaterdesignmag.com
CIS-NC.COM
Posted in Audio Systems
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Tagged audio, audio fans, cable satellite, central vaccum, Custom Installation Services, HD video, Home audio & video news, home audio consultation and design, Home Automation, home electronics industry, Home Entertainment, home entertainment systems, lighting control, patio entertainment systems, phone & networking, Structured Wiring, surround sound, surround sound installation, whole house audio, wireless audio systems, wireless speakers, wireless surround sound
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