Integrator Finds The Sound Of Success With Niles Cynema Soundfield In-Wall Soundbar

International custom electronics integrator Jim Beaumont of HomeTech Europe has installed hundreds, if not thousands of different products throughout his career, and he’s never seen anything quite as unique as the Niles Cynema Soundfield in-wall soundbar from Core Brands. As the first of its kind, the Cynema Soundfield naturally has some ‘wow’ factor to it, but according to Beaumont it’s the practical application of a high-quality soundbar that virtually disappears that’s making it fly off the shelves.

“When I heard about the Niles Cynema Soundfield I knew some of my clients would love it, but I didn’t think I’d sell 10 of them in the first month!” Beaumont said. “Niles recognized that homeowners want good sound to match their attractive wall-mounted TVs, but they also want it to be as unobtrusive as the TV itself. With TVs getting thinner and thinner, the TV manufacturers have run out of room for good speakers, and the only solution when your TV is an inch off the wall is to put the speakers into the wall itself.”

Beaumont says his clients and the designers he works with immediately see the value in a soundbar that can be painted over and literally disappear into the wall. For years, in-wall speakers have been the preferred solution of integrators and interior designers because they blend into the room, but they can be expensive and difficult to install in an existing room because of wiring and additional components such as amplifiers and AV receivers. The Cynema Soundfield solves this issue because it requires just two wires, one for audio signal and one for power, and it can be installed in less than an hour by a certified Niles installer, even if the TV is already hung on the wall.

“It’s easy to sell because it can be used in retrofits, new homes, board rooms and even retail locations like hotel lobbies, without anyone even knowing it’s there,” Beaumont continued. “Several of my clients were so excited when I showed it to them that they bought multiple units for multiple rooms. I think the market for this innovative premium sound solution could be huge, and I’m going to sell as many of them as I can.”

And it’s easy to complete the home theater experience with one of Niles’ small, powerful subwoofers and wireless kit, so the sub can go anywhere the homeowners want without running wires. The wireless kit hooks right up to the Cynema Soundfield’s amplifier, so there’s no separate amp or receiver necessary.

What makes the Cynema Soundfield so unique is its rail system; the only thing that gets cut into the wall is a thin metal rail that sits flush with the drywall, and then the three individual speakers and the amplifier simply lock into the rail. With such a fast installation time, models that match TVs of all sizes, plenty of power and fidelity (30W RMS per speaker, three speakers per soundbar) and the ability to paint the grill and make the speaker invisible, the Niles Cynema Soundfield is a hot item for electronics integrators and design-conscious homeowners everywhere.

The Cynema Soundfield includes inputs for optical audio, HDMI and analog audio, and can also be integrated into a multi-room audio system. It features autosense turn-on so that no separate remote is required, and it simply turns on whenever it receives an audio signal from either the TV or a connected multi-room audio system.

Homeowner Doesn’t Skip a Beat with Niles® Speakers Indoors and Outdoors

As a successful businessman, homeowner Gino LaVerghetta knows that using the most reliable, highest quality equipment can be the difference between an enjoyable experience and a frustrating one.  That’s precisely why he chose Niles’® legendary loudspeakers for his new home theater and outdoor audio system, which provide audiophile quality sound whether he’s watching his favorite film or entertaining guests in the backyard.

 

“I’ve been in several homes with indoor/outdoor distributed audio systems, and I was always amazed at the drop in sound quality when we went outside,” LaVerghetta said.  “So I asked Dave Febbraio, owner of Stuctured Home Solutions, LLC, what I should do, and he said Niles’ new GS Garden Speakers were the perfect solution.  He was right!  If I turn the indoor and outdoor speakers on at the same time and then walk outside, it sounds like I’m just stepping into the next room, with music that has the same power, clarity and definition as indoors.  I’m especially impressed with the in-ground subwoofer because it helps deliver the full soundscape of my favorite music without putting a big box in the yard.”

The pros at Structured Home Solutions, LLC built LaVerghetta’s jealousy-inducing home theater sound system with five Niles HD Series LCR in-wall speakers and a Sunfire® HRS8 subwoofer, then continued the audio excellence outdoors with four Niles Garden Series GS4 satellite loudspeakers and a Niles GSS10 in-ground 10-inch subwoofer.  With all the speakers covered by Niles’ industry-leading lifetime limited warranty, LaVerghetta knows that his system will provide years of unparalleled sound both indoors and outdoors.

LaVerghetta’s home also features the ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System to make the audio system simple and easy to control.  The g! system allows the whole family to use their iPhones, iPads, Android mobile devices, ELAN in-wall touchscreens and eight ELAN HR2 remotes to control the home’s music, TVs, Lutron® lighting, Aprilaire® HVAC, Jandy® pool and spa controls, ELK® security system and seven Panasonic® PTZ IP surveillance cameras.

According to Febbraio, the project grew exponentially after LaVerghetta saw the quality of Stuctured Home Solutions’ work and recognized the value and potential of a professionally installed home control system.

“After working for Gino for a short time and seeing the quality of the house he was building, I knew he would not settle for anything less from my company or the equipment we installed,” Febbraio said.  “I knew the Niles outdoor set would be a perfect fit for the large space we needed to cover and that he would be happy with the result.  These speakers compliment the 46” Sunbrite TV we installed and comprise the 16th audio zone in the house all controlled by the g! system.  Keeping quality consistent and exceeding the client’s expectations allowed us to expand this project from a simple four-zone audio system to the 16-zone AV control system with fully integrated home automation that it is today.”

When considering the control possibilities, LaVerghetta recognized that in the next five to 10 years most homes of comparable size will have automation systems and extensive AV systems, so he wanted his home to be ahead of the curve.  “There are so many benefits of integrated home technologies, from energy conservation to enhanced security and peace of mind, and of course being able to control it all remotely.  Whatever you invest in the system you absolutely get back through savings in energy, time and hassle.  I love sitting down to dinner with my family and then using my iPhone to turn on some music without getting up from the table.

“The whole system has quickly become an integral part of our home.  For instance, part of my nighttime routine is using the touchscreen in my bedroom to make sure that all the lights are off or dimmed, the alarm is set, the garage is closed and all the TVs and audio systems are off.  And with the ability to dim and set timers for our lights, the kids never have to wander around in the dark to find the bathroom at night.  The system offers so many conveniences that I’m still finding new ways to make my home easier to use every day.”

ELAN g! Makes Lakefront Home In 'The Spa City' The Ultimate Place To Relax

It’s difficult to imagine a place that sounds more relaxing than Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is known as “The Spa City” for its natural thermal springs.  But local homeowner Brandon Adams realized that his lakefront home could be an even more stress-free environment if the house could run itself automatically — meaning that the heating, air conditioning, lighting, security and surveillance would work on their own, and be easy to adjust when necessary. After a recent installation of the incredibly powerful and simple to use ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System, this fantasy of the autonomous home is now a reality, offering him one-touch control of every major home subsystem including music and TV in every room!

First, Adams hired Taggart Architecture to design a series of pools and outdoor living areas to connect his new home with the adjacent house.  His next call was to Jonesboro, Arkansas-based custom integrator Sound Concepts, which outfitted the home, including all the new living areas, with the latest in audio, video and control technology.  The ELAN g! system integrates Lutron lighting and motorized window shades, an HAI security system, IP surveillance cameras, HAI thermostats, garage door controls, 11 Samsung TVs (one outdoors), 45 speakers (indoors and outdoors), and a 7.2 surround sound home theater with two Sunfire HRS12 subwoofers, an Epson projector and a Dragonfly 120” screen.  It even incorporates control of the LED lighting on the home’s rooftop dome, the lakefront and in the boathouses.

According to Sound Concepts owner Ryan Heringer, “Mr. Adams’ amazing lakefront home combines the best designs, building materials and craftsmanship with the best home technologies to create a true 21st century living environment, both indoors and out.  The home basically runs itself, with pre-programmed schedules for lighting, heating, cooling and the pool equipment, which he can adjust any time with just a few simple buttons on any ELAN g! interface. Simplicity and ease of use is the most important aspect of any technology, so ELAN hit the bullseye when they gave g! the same type of easy-to-understand interface that made the iPhone so popular.”

Adams uses a combination of interfaces to control his home, with easy access through the g!Mobile iPhone and iPad apps, two 10-inch ELAN in-wall touchscreens in the pool house, 13 ELAN in-wall touchscreen throughout the home and boat houses, an under-counter ELAN 10-inch touchscreen, and 10 powerful ELAN HR2 multimedia and home control remotes.

“When I’m outside it’s very convenient to use my iPhone to control the music, the lights and the pool,” Adams said, “but when I’m in the house I almost always use a touch panel or one of the ELAN remotes because they are always on, so it’s easier and faster.  The remotes are absolutely the best choice to control the TVs because of the play/pause and volume controls, and it’s just like using a normal TV remote, except it can also turn down the lights and turn up the a/c.  Taggart Architecture and Sound Concepts delivered on their promises, and I’m still blown away at how beautiful the property is and how the technology brings everything together.”

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide.  To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.  ELAN is part of the CORE Brands division of the Nortek Technology Solutions Segment (www.nortek-inc.com).  CORE Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech®.

Custom Integrator Creates A Stealth Whole-House Audio System Using Niles In-Wall And Rock Speakers

When designing a whole-house audio system for a 14,000 square foot residence, many integrators use a mishmash of different speakers from several manufacturers, each with different characteristics, abilities and styling, resulting in an inconsistent listening experience and design aesthetic from room to room. Mike Flanagan of Overland Park, Kansas-based Home Systems by Design believes in giving his clients a consistent high fidelity audio experience with components that can be hidden from view, which is why he chose to outfit this 14,000 square foot, 16-audio zone home with 72 Niles® in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor rock speakers.

Most of the home’s speakers are from the Niles ceiling-mount DS series, which was introduced in 2001 and features Niles’ patented Directed Soundfield technology. This unique technology resolves architectural issues such as cathedral or vaulted ceilings, alignment with in–ceiling lighting, or a plasma display over a fireplace that leaves no space for a center channel speaker. They are perfect for home theater environments and surround sound systems, and they also perform very well in whole-house distributed music applications. Their flexibility enables installers to direct the sound where it needs to go to achieve optimal acoustic performance.

“I have been selling and installing Niles speakers since they entered the residential market more than 30 years ago, and I have never received a single complaint,” said Flanagan. “The superb sound quality keeps the men happy, and the fact that Niles in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are nearly invisible makes the women even happier! And the DS series speakers give the homeowners the best surround sound experience possible with ceiling-mount speakers, which no other manufacturer can match.”

The gem of this system is the media room, which features a 180” 2.35:1 Stewart Filmscreen, a Sim2 LED projector, nine Niles Stagefront speakers and two 15-inch subwoofers, with all the speakers hidden behind paneling—a completely invisible 11-speaker surround sound system! The media room has 12 motorized leather recliners and a full bar in the rear with additional seating for four. It is the ultimate room for hosting parties or fundraisers, which the homeowners plan to do. Home Systems by Design even set up the video system so what is playing in the theater can be rebroadcast throughout the whole house, making it perfect for showing house-wide messaging during the fundraisers.

According to the homeowner, “Home Systems by Design really came through for us and gave us exactly what we wanted. The audio system sounds great throughout the whole house, especially in the theater, and you’d be hard pressed to point out every speaker because they blend into the walls and ceilings so well. When we watch a movie in the media room it really feels like we are at the movies, which is amazing.”

There are 13 flat screen TVs throughout the home, four with surround sound systems, and they can all play content from six DSS receivers, three Apple Mac Minis, two cable boxes and a 400-disc Blu-ray changer. There are also three local Blu-ray players.

The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is also integrated with the home’s LiteTouch lighting system, security system and 10-camera surveillance system are also integrated with the ELAN g! system, giving the family total control over their living environment. The homeowners can be access and control the system through seven ELAN TS7 7” touch screens, seven ELAN HR2 remotes, four iPads and two iPhones.

Home Systems By Design builds custom home audio/video and home control systems to meet their customer’s exact needs and budgets. Since opening in 1992, they have worked with a large network of builders in the Kansas City, Kansas Metro Area and come so highly recommended that they get nearly 85 percent of their business from customer referrals. For more information, please visit www.hsbd.com.

Hank "Moose" Alexander Returns to Niles as Western Regional Sales Manager

Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the return of Hank “Moose” Alexander to the company to serve as its new Western Regional Sales Manager, reporting directly to Niles President Mike “Sparky” Detmer. Alexander assumes the position vacated by Kenneth Johnsen, who has been promoted to serve as The AVC Group’s International Training Manager.

“The return of Moose Alexander to our team speaks volumes about the many exciting things that are happening today at Niles,” Detmer said today. “I had a feeling that when Moose left us two years ago he would be back and that day has come — and his return could not have come at a better time. We are entering a dynamic new phase in the history of Niles, and Moose’s experience, talents and leadership skills are going to play a major role in our long term future success.”

Hank Alexander is widely known as a complete sales professional with a 20-year track record of penetrating new markets, exceeding company goals and motivating, coaching and training sales teams to increase revenues and efficiencies. He is also recognized for his abilities in management, business development, marketing, product design and development, and inception and management of sale programs in the high-end commercial and residential custom consumer electronics field.

Alexander returns to Niles from Crestron, where he has served as Mountain States Regional Sales Manager since 2008. Prior to that he was the Western Regional Sales Manager for Niles from 2006 through 2008, where he was responsible for the supervision of seven rep firms, the retail launch of the ICS IntelliControl brand, and 20 percent year-over-year annual growth for three consecutive years.

Prior to his first tour at Niles, Alexander held sales management positions at ReQuest, Kenwood, Vann’s Electronic Billings Mt and Video Sat and Sound. He studied Business Management, Communications and Law at the University of Wyoming — Casper and the University of Arizona — Tempe.

Niles SI-1230 12-Channel Power Amplifier Inducted Into CEDIA Product Hall of Fame at CEDIA Expo 2011

The Niles® SI-1230 12-Channel Systems Integration Amplifier was inducted into the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame last week at CEDIA Expo 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. According to CEDIA, "The Product Hall of Fame was developed to show the origins of the residential electronics industry and track the progression of product development and technology."

The SI-1230 Systems Integration Amplifier is a 12-channel power amplifier that delivers exceptional sound quality and offers unique configuration features that solve common whole-house distributed audio challenges.

“We developed the SI-1230 Systems Integration Amplifier to help the professional systems designer simplify and optimize today’s complex installations through an array of application specific features that enhance flexibility and performance,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, President of Niles. “Niles continues to lead the custom audio industry in both design and innovation, and our passion for excellence has now been recognized with the SI-1230’s induction into the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame. I accept this honor on behalf of everyone here at Niles. ”

The SI-1230 is a 12-channel amplifier that delivers a solid 30 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms and 37 watts per channel RMS into 4 ohms. The massive Multi-Tap Toroid power transformer features six independent secondary transformers for each of the six amplifier modules. As a result, the SI-1230 delivers twenty percent more power than its predecessor, the SI-1200. This extraordinary power supply design provides the energy necessary to deliver solid, deep, controlled bass response to a house full of speakers.

In addition, Each of the SI-1230’s six adjacent output pairs are bridgeable, allowing for up to six 80 watt channels by sliding the bridging switches located between each pair to the “bridged” position. This enables you to allocate more power to specific locations, such as large rooms or outdoor applications.

Sunfire Atmos Awarded 2011 EXC!TE Award By CustomRetailer Magazine

Sunfire®, a specialist in the design, manufacture and marketing of luxury home theater products for the worldwide custom specialist and retail markets, today was awarded a 2011 EXC!TE Award by CustomRetailer Magazine for its new Sunfire Atmos subwoofer. The award will be presented to Sunfire on Sept. 8 at the 2011 EXC!TE Awards Party at CEDIA Expo 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“The Atmos sets a new bar for small, powerful, accurate subwoofers. It is relevant for today’s consumers who demand high performance and reliability out of a small cabinet,” said Mark Weisenberg, Sunfire General Manager. “Our engineers started from scratch and developed a incredibly tough aluminum enclosure that accommodates the tremendous air pressure generated by the woofer.”

CustomRetailer Magazine presents its annual EXC!TE Awards to the best products available to the industry. Each year, CustomRetailer invites nominations of products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Past winners stand out as particularly impressive, considering the unique challenges custom installers face every day on the job. The impact these products have had on the industry is felt in the installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

The Atmos features a custom designed 6.5” woofer paired with a unique new asymmetrical cardiod surround, allowing over 1.5” of excursion. Resembling the variable thickness of the human heart, the surround provides superior control of the 6.5” driver, reducing distortion and increasing fidelity and reliability. The Atmos outperforms many 10” and 12” models.

Quietly containing the monstrous, cool running 1400W amplifier using Sunfire’s exclusive Tracking Downconverter technology required space-age engineering, which is why Sunfire used FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to design the Atmos, including the aluminum cabinet and the drivers as well as redesigning the Tracking Downconverter amplifier. This patient attention to detail gave the Atmos unequalled fidelity and high output, all out of an impossibly small aluminum extruded cabinet.

Sunfire® Debuts Its Smallest, Most Powerful Subwoofer

Sunfire®, a specialist in the design, manufacture and marketing of luxury home theater products for the worldwide custom specialist and retail markets, today debuted its Atmos™ subwoofer, the smallest, most powerful subwoofer in its class.

The Atmos features a custom designed 6.5” woofer paired with a unique new asymmetrical cardiod surround, allowing over 1.5” of excursion. Resembling the variable thickness of the human heart, the surround provides superior control of the 6.5” driver, reducing distortion and increasing fidelity and reliability. The Atmos outperforms many 10” and 12” models.

Quietly containing the monstrous, cool running 1400W amplifier using Sunfire’s exclusive Tracking Downconverter technology required space-age engineering, which is why Sunfire used FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to design the Atmos, including the aluminum cabinet and the drivers as well as redesigning the Tracking Downconverter amplifier. This patient attention to detail gave the Atmos unequalled fidelity and high output, all out of an impossibly small aluminum extruded cabinet.

“The Atmos sets a new bar for small, powerful, accurate subwoofers. It is relevant for today’s consumers who demand high performance and reliability out of a small cabinet,” said Sunfire General Manager Mark Weisenberg. “Our engineers started from scratch and developed a incredibly tough aluminum enclosure that accommodates the tremendous air pressure generated by the woofer.”

Sunfire knows that every room is different, which is why the Atmos features an auto-room equalizer circuit that automatically adjusts the sub’s response to best suit the room acoustics for maximum bass quality and performance.

Thanks to the Atmos’ newly designed foot, which was inspired by the tire industry, the subwoofer will remain in place even at mind-numbing volumes. And measuring just 8.5” x 8.9” x 10.1”, the Atmos fits anywhere. For those thrill-seekers requiring even more bass, two Atmos subwoofers can be paired with just one wire through its conveniently located master/slave connectors.

The Atmos will begin shipping in Q2 2011 on a limited availability basis.

Sunfire Rocks The World With Dynamic Series Subwoofers, Delivering Bigger Bass Performance For Budget Conscious Consumers

Sunfire®, a specialist in the design, manufacture and marketing of luxury home theater products for the worldwide custom specialist and retail markets, today announced the worldwide introduction of its powerful, yet budget-friendly Dynamic Series of subwoofers. Tuned for both low frequency home theater effects and powerhouse musical bass lines, these new subwoofers boast up to 600 Watts Peak Power.

The Sunfire Dynamic Series’ 8”, 10” and 12” subwoofers are the perfect blend of form and function and the ideal choice for systems where small size and high output are required. Sunfire's new digital amplifier delivers from 400 to 600 Watts of cool running peak output in the three models, with unprecedented performance at this price point. Each subwoofer features a Sunfire-designed woofer and acoustically matched passive radiator – twice the speakers for twice the bass. The DS family is also the first in the Sunfire line built around energy efficient Class-D amplification, dynamically adjusting the output of the subwoofer's power supply to suite the requirements of the incoming audio signal. Add a low-power standby mode with signal-sensing power on/off and you have a solid performer over time, while continuously variable phase, crossover and volume controls mean fast and precise setups. An optional 2.4GHz wireless transmitter and receiver make “no-new-wires” possible, even in challenging environments. Up to 4 receivers and subwoofers are supported from a single transmitter.

“For the last fifteen years, Sunfire’s customers have been obsessed with performance,” said Mark Weisenberg, Sunfire General Manager. “Our new Dynamic Series builds on our pedigree of subwoofer excellence and delivers unsurpassed bass-for-the-buck. Now more enthusiasts than ever will be able to enjoy the Sunfire experience in their homes.”

Other products found in this price range simply focus on the quantity of output over a limited frequency range, limiting the quality of performance to only a few kinds of material. Today’s consumer watches and listens to a wide variety of content – TV, movies, music, games, etc. – using the same system, which demands both quality and quantity. Sunfire engineers designed these speakers with the company’s proprietary Frequency Filtration Design™ (FFD), preserving a spectral balance across the entire bass frequency range to deliver superior balance and definition PLUS high output no matter what source material is being used. In subwoofer terms, music demands definition over a wider range of bass frequencies, while movies are equalized for optimum performance at slightly different frequencies to accentuate the special effects. The Sunfire Dynamic Series achieves both. Small rooms, big bass - no problem!

The Sunfire Dynamic Series is available in three sizes, the SDS-8 8” driver, at 32Hz-150Hz, with a peak power of 400W, the SDS-10 10” driver, at 30Hz-150Hz, with a peak of 500W and the SDS-12 12” driver, at 28 Hz-150Hz, at 600W peak power. The SDS-8 lists for a U.S. MSRP of $350, the SDS-10 for $450, the SDS-12 for $550 and the optional 2.4 GHz wireless kit for $150. The speakers are available for immediate delivery.

Sunfire Dynamic Series:
• Front firing active woofer, down firing passive radiator
• Fiber composite, poly-coated woofers
• Sealed cabinet with low distortion, computer-optimized woofers
• Optional 2.4GHz wireless transmitter and receiver for no-new-wires installation
• High efficiency Class-D digital amplifier
• Low-power standby mode with signal-sensing power on/off
• Continuously variable phase, crossover and volume controls
• High-pass, line-level outputs
• Gold plated connections
• Black ash cabinet
• SDS-8 8” driver, 32Hz-150Hz, Peak 400W
• SDS-10 10” driver, 30Hz-150Hz, Peak 500W
• SDS-12 12” driver, 28 Hz-150Hz, Peak 600W