A couple of us here at AV Specialists, were recently were given the opportunity to take a trip to Binghamton NY and tour the McIntosh Audio factory. Being able to see how this product is made as well as formal training on how the circuits work was eye opening indeed. Also valuable was the explanation on why they have so many different models.
The home network has come a long way from it's simple beginnings. From even as recently as a year or two ago, the AV related data we move over the network has increased significantly. At first, the home network was used mostly for accessing the internet or downloading music files. Then as time moved on and technology progressed we started seeing streaming music and video services such as Pandora and Netflix.
There are as many opinions about what constitutes a good audio speaker as there are music listeners in the world. Still, some audio technology companies have significantly differentiated themselves from the rest of the industry with their dedication to providing the very best speaker lines. Here are just two of our favorite brands and a few of their products:
Home theater technology keeps improving whether you are ready for it or not. TV technology is no different, with the latest innovations coming in the form of OLED TVs. With new models becoming available on a regular basis now, it's safe to say that OLED display technology is here to stay.
So you've got your home theater set up perfectly; impeccable surround sound speakers, first-rate audio receiver and amp, and integration with all of your input sources. But with every high quality component that you've purchased comes a remote. It's not uncommon to have more than five electronic components that are remote controlled, so if you're using five different remote control devices, you’re likely feeling frustrated and annoyed.
Wouldn’t you love to enjoy movie nights and music-filled dinners on the patio or lawn? Imagine music wafting through the evening air—or catching the game while you cool off in the pool.
Accomplishing this goal, however, is not as easy as just installing the equipment and hoping for the best. As Floridians, we know that any outdoor event needs a weather contingency. But, if done right, your outdoor AV installation in Tampa can withstand the elements.
I came in early today to meet one of the crew for a job they had to start early. Once I got them going for the day and because I was already here at 5:30 a.m., I decided to stay and get some work done. Also, because I knew the phone wasn’t going to ring at that hour I could turn up the music and get lost in it.
When you want to use your brand new home theater system at its fullest potential, finding some good movies to take advantage of your surround sound is a great place to start. With a professional quality receiver from Marantz paired up with some Totem speakers, the only way to totally experience the system is to find a movie that was designed for thrills in the theater.
With all the new TV technology trends out there, it's easy to get caught up in the hype. When you're looking to get the most out of your home entertainment system, having the ability to stream content can be convenient, but there are several options from which to choose.
With the birth of some exciting new TV technology trends and the likely death of others, 2014 is set to be a year of great flux for home entertainment. The AV industry is shaking off dead weight technologies, such as 3D televisions, that didn't end up being as revolutionary as some manufacturers expected, and replacing them with some truly innovative technology.
When purchasing a TV, you want to educate yourself on the latest TV technology trends, so you can invest in the features that will get the most use in your household, and will be compatible with your favorite content, programming subscription(s), and devices. In our last blog post, TV Technology Trends: The Death of the 3D TV, we discussed a TV trend that we believe is on its way out. Now, let's talk about two trends that we expect to gain popularity in 2014.
Imagine being able to control every electronic component—this means lights, music, appliances, and even the “smart” locks on your front and back doors!—of your home whether you are there or not.
If asked to name the most popular streaming service, I am sure most people would say Pandora. I would guess most people that like to listen to music have heard of Pandora, Rhapsody and maybe even Spotify. These services are great because they allow you to listen to music on the go or at home without having to have the physical media, but what if you don’t want to start collecting music from scratch? What if you want to digitize your existing music collection?
Since we had a great response to our blog, “Digitizing Your Music Collection? Try Murfie,” we invited Tyler Stubbe from Murfie to give our readers an insider’s perspective on this unique streaming music service. Below, he explains how Murfie works, and what makes it an awesome choice for music lovers who want to digitize their collections.
Originally billed as a simple – if somewhat elegant – wireless lighting control system, the Lutron RadioRA 2 is actually a far more versatile total home control system that will amaze you with its range of capabilities. In addition to controlling the amount of in home lighting through the use of dimmers and other switches, the RadioRA 2 also affords remote control of the window shades and the thermostat settings as well as control of other appliances.
When it comes to home theater design there are several different types of televisions available for purchase. LED, LCD, and Plasma TVs are the most common types you’ll come across when working on your home theater design. Now this purchase is extremely important, as the television is often the central piece of equipment in any home theater.
Despite being one of those memorable, two-syllable words that rolls right off the tongue, Totem is largely unknown to the casual audiophile, much less the average consumer. Depending on who you ask, that’s either sad or just fine, as Totem Acoustics has been happily supplying its niche with a reliably clean and detailed sound for over 25 years.
Of all the music services I have Songza is favorite. They have in my opinion the best selection and most tailored genre playlists. Every time I go to listen to music they have the ability to get me more closely to what I am looking for than the other lists. For example, the other I was looking for something lively as we were headed to the Eric Church concert here in Tampa. So I went to Songza, Genre, Country and here's a sampling of what was available:
I've heard a lot of people say or imply that Steve Jobs and Apple have ruined music. One of the more famous people being none other than Jon Bon Jovi himself, who is attributed to this quote, "Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business." - Bon Jovi.
Today we’re constantly moving and meeting goals. We live in Multi-task Nation where everything is a click or a swipe away. Our consistent need for our digital interfaces to be faster, clearer, and better practically outpaces the technology that supports us. With all that instant gratification and communication, as well as the ever-increasing demands of work and family, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget about some of the little things. Those little things that help keep you grounded, like listening to your favorite music.
