Polk Provides Surround Effects Wirelessly
 C.I.S. - Charlotte NC's #1 Polk Audio Speaker Dealer! The Wireless Surround F/X speaker from Polk Audio offers a versatile alternative to traditional rear speakers.
While companies such as Micromega raised eyebrows on the electronics side of wireless audio at CES 2010, several companies were making sweet music to the ears of those who want to reduce cable clutter of a surround-sound system.
Polk Audio was one of those, as the company used an engaging demonstration of an “August Rush” Blu-ray in conjunction with Polk’s sound system comprising one of its SurroundBar units for the front channels and its new Wireless Surround F/X for those surround effects. I took a seat on the couch of Polk’s Venetian Hotel demo room to hear it for myself.
The Blu-ray clip was a scene filled with street noises whirring from everywhere, making great use of all channels in the system. Director of sales Dan Wakefield had a good time noting the looks on visitors’ faces as they began looking around for what presumably was a set of wall- or ceiling-mounted rear speakers.
To everyone’s surprise, they would be directed to look down at the floor, behind the couch that served as the listening sweet spot. That’s where the compact Wireless Surround F/X speaker sat unassumingly. About the size of a small dipole surround speaker, the Polk product features four 2.5-inch full-range drivers and a 5.25-inch woofer, powered by a small multichannel DSP amplifier.
I knew where the unit was placed, but my ears were just as pleasantly fooled while I lounged during “August Rush.” As Wakefield promised, the surround effects seem to arrive from about head level as well as from both left and right despite coming out of a single box. Between the soundbar and the wireless speaker, the combination proved quite effective at filling the room with surround sound.
A three-position DSP control helps optimize the audio image for floor, table and shelf applications, Polk says, opening versatile placement options for installers and homeowners. Look for Wireless Surround F/X in Q2 of this year for $399.
by Arlen Schweiger
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/polk_provides_surround_effects_wirelessly/C92
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Asheville NC’s Source For Your Custom Home Electronics and Automation Needs!
Posted in Audio Systems, Gaming Systems, Home Theater, Media Rooms, Music and Movies
|
Tagged central vac dealers in charlotte nc, charlotte audio, Charlotte onkyo dealers, Charlotte Polk Audio retailers, geek squad in charlotte nc, HD installers in Charlotte nc, home audio consultation and design, home automation companies in charlotte, home theater design asheville davidson, Home theater installers Lake Norman, home theater wiring, innovative systems, Lighting control dealers in lake norman, marantz dealers in Charlotte nc, media room design consultation in charlotte, Mooresville, outdoor speakers, Speakercraft rukus speakers, tv installation, tweeter charlotte, Universal Remote programmers in charlotte nc
|
9 Equipment Racks Fuel Tech-Heavy Home
 CIS - NC's #1 Choice For Home Automation and Structured Wiring Services! This home is loaded with controls and A/V, including Wilson Audio speaker systems in the theater and the gym.
We’ve seen some large home technology installations, but this is definitely one of the most comprehensive—and top-notch for A/V considering there’s not one, but two rooms that contain high-end Wilson Audio speaker systems.
It’s not even a mega, mega 20,000-square-foot home, though it does amount to about half of that area when you combine the 8,000-square-foot main house and 2,500-square-foot guest house. But this home is tech-savvy from top to bottom, with nine Middle Atlantic equipment racks throughout the house loaded with brains and brawn.
For starters, there’s full Lutron lighting controls, six zones of HVAC control, Jandy controls for the pool, spa and front fountains, security system with pan-and-scan cameras, intelligent multiline phone system, and all of that plus the A/V throughout the house is under the easy operation of a Crestron home automation system.
There are 26 zones of audio and 24 zones of video, including a powerful Kaleidescape media server system that’s routed to all the main rooms, bedrooms and gym. The gym also features those wonderful Wilson Audio speakers to rev things up for a workout.
Where Wilson really rocks the house, though, is with its full surround system, driven by mighty Halcro amplifiers, in the dedicated media room. The video is just as sweet, too, with a Meridian projector beaming onto a motorized Stewart Filmscreen masking screen system.
There are even outdoor rock speakers and three outdoor subwoofers to cover the outside, where the family can also relax in a fully loaded BBQ area. Of course, Crestron touchpanels are everywhere in the home for truly simple command of all the systems, from all of that lighting down to the motorized TV cabinet doors in the master bedroom.
by Arlen Schweiger
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/9_equipment_racks_fuel_tech-heavy_home/
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Asheville NC’s Source For Your Custom Home Electronics and Automation Needs!
Posted in Audio Systems, Automation, Flat Panel TV's, HAI, Home Theater, lighting control, Media Rooms, technology
|
Tagged audio advice, b & k dealers charlotte, Best Buy, charlotte home audio, geek squad in charlotte nc, hd installers charlotte davidson, high end audio, Home Automation, home automation companies in charlotte, Home Theater, home theater wiring, integrated home audio video, martin logan dealers, multiroom audio, outdoor rock speakers, speakercraft dealers in charlotte nc, tweeter charlotte, weatherproof speakers, whole house audio, zobo
|
Should You Buy a Demo HDTV?
 C.I.S. - Davidson NC's Choice For 3d Media Room Sales & Design! Before you buy, consider the lifespan of a TV that stays on all the time at full brightness, the accessories that get tossed, the quality of the new sets vs. the old, and more.
Retailers are clearing out their HDTV inventories to make room for the 2010 models, which are coming out in a burst, rather than the typical steady stream.
Should you go for a deal on an older model or wait for a shiny new one?
HD Guru Gary Merson breaks it down:
TV Improvements
On the larger LCD and plasma screens, the improvements are fairly substantial in terms of quality, connectivity and of course 3D.
“If you are looking for a higher end model or want 3D (all 40″ and larger), we recommend going for a 2010,” Merson writes.
Wear and tear
The one thing that tends to wear out on TVs is the light source. TV makers give us the specs for lifespan, but not for the life of a TV that’s on all the time at full brightness, as they would be on the retail floor.
Merson has some fancy tools for checking the age of a TV, figuring out its age and determining its lifespan.
Where’s the box?
Merson divulges this dirty little Best Buy secret, and apparently they’re not too happy about it:
Many retailers (including Best Buy) demo larger flat screen sets on the wall, which makes retailing sense. What doesn’t make sense is Best Buy’s wasteful and environmentally irresponsible policy of discarding cartons, packing materials, owner’s manuals, cables, accessories and, incredibly, sometimes even the remote controls and table stands!
Should you buy a demo?
Ultimately, Merson recommends against it for many reasons. Instead, he suggests this:
HD Guru recommends purchasing a new factory sealed closeout model if it’s at a substantial discount or go for a 2010 model. A demo unit should only be considered if you do not need to purchase replacement accessories and are offered a 40% discount (offer to pay less to the Best Buy store manager, who has demo price discretion) and even then only buy after you’ve checked the TV’s age and verified there’s no screen burn-in, scratches, chips, scuffs or bulb burnout.
For more details, visit HDGuru.com
by Julie Jacobson
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/should_you_buy_a_demo_hdtv/
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Asheville NC’s Source For Home Electronics Sales, Service and Installation!
Posted in 3D TV, Flat Panel TV's, Home Theater, News
|
Tagged asheville audio tv, audio advice, Best Buy, charlotte audio tv, charlotte custom home builders, geek squad in charlotte nc, hd video distribution, Home audio charlotte davidson, home audio consultation and design, home automation companies in charlotte, home theater installation, home theater wiring, marantz dealers in Charlotte nc, media room planning charlotte, Samsung, Sony, tv installation, tweeter charlotte, whole house stereo, zobo
|
|
|
|
