European Custom Installer

System Integration for the Connected Home

Audio

AudioControl Ships Rialto 400 Amp

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The AudioControl Rialto 400 is a compact amplifier with a built-in digital to audio converter (DAC) providing both analog and digital systems (including Sonos systems) with greater performance and higher sound quality.

Rialto 400It delivers 100W per channel into 8ohms and 200W per channel into 4ohm loads. A Wolfson DAC improves audio quality, allowing digital and analog audio systems to perform with better speakers across the home.

The company claims the amp has AccuBASS circuitry to add bass response lost in most digital compression schemes, and "brings it back to the signal path."

 

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B&W Intros CM10 Floorstanding Speaker

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Bowers and Wilkins updates the flagship CM9 floorstanding speaker with the CM10, the first number the CM series to carry technology from the high-end 800 series.

BM10The technology in question involves having the tweeter on top of the speaker cabinet (as seen in PM1 bookshelf speaker), creating what the company says is "more natural, spacious sound." The tweeter features an all-aluminium design with a second aluminium layer, creating a "double-dome" design.

Such construction prevents the voice coil from distorting at higher frequencies (pushing break-up frequency up from 30kHz to 38kHz) while moving the tweeter out of the cabinet also provides space for a 3rd bass driver.

 

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NuVo Music Port Gets Android App

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The NuVo  Music Port and Music Port Elite source components receive a further control option-- a free Android remote control app is now available from the Google Play store.

NuVo SystemBoth Music Port and Music Port Elite work with the NuVo Concerto, Essentia and Renovia whole home audio systems, and can act as standalone sources. The systems offer 4 simultaneous audio streams from internally- or network-stored content and a number of internet radio subscription services.

Currently in beta, the app is compatible with any NuVo system including the Music Port or Music Port Elite components. It allows for simple source navigation and zone control, as well as queue filling, volume adjustment and source switching, via Android devices.

Go NuVo

Sonance Updates Visual Performance Range

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Sonance adds 50 new models to the Visual Performance speaker series, with models including round, square, rectangle, 4-inch and 6-inch (2-way), 8inch (3-way), single stereo, LCR, Surround, thinline, extreme, woofers and subwoofers.

Sonance speakersThe speakers use the latest Sonance technology and construction in materials such as carbon fibre, rohacell, kevlar, nomex and polypropylene. The company says it employed computer modeling and test software (FineMotor, FineCone, MOTiv, Clio FW10 and Klippel Distortion Analyzer) to produce consistent frequency response and sonic signature across all listening levels and minimal distortion at higher volume.

Power response is +/-60 degrees, allowing optimal speaker positioning (such as aligned with down lights) while providing uncompromised sound quality and coverage.

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Pioneer Intros Speaker Bar

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Pioneer announces its first soundbar since 1998 at CE Week 2013-- the SP-SB23W Speaker Bar, a composite wood number packing x6 independently amplified speakers and an 8-channel active digital crossover network.

Pioneer Speaker BarDesigned by speaker engineer Andrew Jones, the Sound Bar promises "excellent full-range sound from a small, simple solution audio package" complete with an RF moulded curved wood enclosure able to withstand "flexing" to produce better audio at high volumes.

It features six individual drivers, four 3-inch woofers and two 1-inch soft dome tweeters in an arrangement Pioneer claims produces a wide dispersion pattern.  The woofers feature a vented pole piece improving bass response, while a custom "wave guide" enclosure holds the tweeters for increased output sensitivity and controlled high-frequency dispersion.

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CEDIA on Wireless Audio

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According to CEDIA wireless audio might represent a smaller piece of the audio installation pie, but it still offers plenty of opportunities-- thus the association's latest white paper, Wireless Audio Solutions: Technology and Best Practices.

Wireless audio“At one time, wireless audio solutions were considered a Band-Aid for “no cut” situations or low performance solutions for the DIY market,” CEDIA says. “But as technology has improved, wireless audio is an excellent business opportunity for home technology professionals, and the Wireless Audio Solutions white paper can help them get started.”

Through the white paper installers get knowledge on wireless audio and how it adds a viable revenue stream to their business-- such as recurring revenue opportunities and easy system upgrades for customers wanting to either gradually build a system or upgrade an existing, basic wireless audio system.

Other topics covered include best installation and configuration practices, available technology and consumer interest.

The Wireless Audio Solutions: Technologies and Best Practices white paper is available free of charge for CEDIA members, and can be acquired from the CEDIA online marketplace.

Go CEDIA Releases Wireless Speaker White Paper

Audinate Goes Mainstream in Partnership with BOSE

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by Gary Kayye, rAVe Founder

BOSE cloud

Everyone in ProAV generally makes fun of BOSE Corporation. For years, it’s sold products to consumers without any technical specs, performance details and without any information about how a product it makes is differentiated from another product of a different brand (e.g., Sony, Mitsubishi or Panasonic).

But, there’s one thing we universally love with the BOSE brand name on it: its noise cancellation headphones. No one else makes better ones — not JBL, not Sony and certainly not Sennheiser.

And, for years, we’ve joked that BOSE is “better sound through marketing.”

But, now BOSE has joined forces with companies like JBL, Bosch, Shure, Yamaha and Peavey, albeit indirectly, with its new partnership with Audinate to license the company’s patented Dante media networking technology.

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