In the market for a new flat screen TV? Instead of purchasing an expensive entertainment center, it is often easier and cost effective to mount it on the wall. Wall mounting allows you to save valuable space in your home by putting the TV anywhere in the room. Further, some wall mounts have swivels that allow you to adjust the viewing angle, giving you more flexibility. If you have decided to mount your TV, you may be tempted to do it yourself. But below are the reasons why you should think of hiring a professional.

1. You could damage your wall or TV

If you are not careful, you risk doing damage that could necessitate expensive repairs. You run the risk of structural damage to your house particularly if your wall has metal studs or is made of plaster. You also risk breaking your TV, which defeats the purpose of installing the mount in the first place.

2. You need to know how to use power tools properly

If you are not someone who does carpentry on a regular basis, you may not know how to use all the equipment required to install the TV. Wall mounting requires quite a few tools, including a power drill, socket wrench, stud sensor, level, padded blanket and measuring tape. Even if you do have the necessary equipment, if you are not sure how to use it, you could end up damaging your wall or TV.

3. Mount installation is more than a one-man job

In order to properly install the mount, you will have to lift the TV. This is not a job for only one person. To avoid dropping the TV and potentially hurting yourself, it is best to hire a pro.

4. Where are you going to put your cable box, disc player and surround sound equipment?

Professionals are equipped to manage the many wires and connections auxiliary equipment use to connect with your television in order to enjoy surround sound, streaming and ability to play 4k Blu Ray movie discs through your wall mounted television.

5. Hire a professional to make the process quick and easy

Installing a wall mount is not a matter of simply reading instructions. A TV wall mount has a lot of advantages, but the last thing you want is broken TV caused by trying to cut corners. Calling a professional will result in a perfectly placed TV using proper weight rated materials, wires installed within the wall in no time at all.

For more information on TV mounting and installation click here

Are you ready to automate your home? If so, you’re likely doing so for one of three factors: fear, fun, or function. At least that’s what research firm Argus Insights surmises from information gathered in a recent study of consumer attitudes toward home technology. “We see smart home adoption being driven by three factors: fear, fun, and function,” says John Feland, CEO of Argus Insights. “For service providers, the fear factor drives home security as the key reason to purchase and use. DIY consumers, on the other hand, blend function and fear, with climate control typically being the gateway to the smart home experience.”

So whether it’s fear that’s causing you to think about adding technology to your home, or function or fun, here are some recommended systems for reason:

FEAR FACTOR

Security System: Naturally, this is the most practical place to start if you’re concerned about the safety of your home and family. You’ll want a system that can be monitored and controlled remotely (most support this capability) by you and a professional monitoring service, is easy to use for every member of the family, and is compatible with other types of home technology systems, like lighting control systems and heating and cooling systems.

Electronic Door Lock: Requiring no keys, these locks are particularly helpful to parents of latchkey kids. The door can be opened by punching in a secret passcode, which you set up and can change at any time. You can receive a ping on your smartphone when the lock is disengaged so that you know the second your kids are home from school. And if they forget to lock the house back up, you can handle it right from a smartphone app.

Surveillance Camera: Seeing is believing, and there’s no better way to keep tabs on the happenings in and around your house than with an Internet-connected surveillance camera. Look for one with an integrated motion sensor and microphone. The motion sensor tells the camera to snap and send a picture to your smartphone; the microphone lets you speak with whoever triggered the motion sensor.

FUN FACTOR

Whole-House Entertainment System: Having a killer sound system and video setup in a single area of your house is one thing—being able to spread all of that wonderful entertainment content to several rooms of your house is quite another. Choose a system that supports the number of entertainment areas you envision and the number of components you own or plan to own (plus leaves growing room for additional rooms and components). Also, keep in mind that some systems require the additional of low-voltage wiring, while others distribute signals wirelessly—plan accordingly.

Home Theater: Owning a home theater is the ultimate in high-tech fun, but it’s not just the stellar video and audio that makes a home theater a delightful addition to your home. The process of designing one can actually be fun, too. In addition to a video projector, screen and surround-sound system, you can incorporate motion simulators underneath the seats, twinkling fiber optic stars on the ceiling, and illuminated marquees, and unique touches.

Integrated Home Control: The beauty of a home control system is its ability to make individual technologies perform in unison. While this feature in and of itself might not be what most would consider fun, it definitely inspires fun by enabling you to prepare your house at the touch of a button for an impromptu gathering of friends, an elaborate dinner party, a birthday celebration, the Super Bowl, the holidays … really any occasion you can think of. In an instant, the lights, the music, the temperature, and the TVs are ready for whatever fun-filled activity you have planned.

FUNCTION

Networking System: There are two types of networking systems: hardwired and wireless, and each contribute largely to functionality of the technologies you’ve chosen to add to your home, be it a whole-house entertainment system or a security system. Commands issued to smart home systems from smartphones, tablets, keypads, touch panels, handheld remotes, and other devices need to reach their intended destinations with no hiccups during travel, and the only way to ensure that this happens is with a robust, reliable home network.

Lighting and Shading Controls: Often deemed the cornerstones of a smart house, being able to conveniently control lights and motorized windows shades makes your home so much easier to manage, not to mention helps save electricity and enhances comfort. Like most smart home systems, lighting control systems and motorized shading come in both hardwired and wireless varieties, and can focus on one room or the entire house. Our advice: choose a system that’s affordable and easy to install into your home, yet can be expanded and updated when you’re ready.

Smart Thermostat: Everyone wants to feel comfortable at home, and this boils down to the thermostat on the wall. It determines how and when your home’s HVAC unit operates, and if that thermostat is difficult to deal with … well, your HVAC will probably have a difficult time delivering the perfect indoor climate. Swapping your old dumb thermostat for a new smart one is an easy, affordable update that makes your HVAC system function efficiently without sacrificing any of your comfort. Today’s thermostats are being designed with all sorts of cool features, like the ability to learn your heating and cooling habits, report weather conditions, control air cleaners and ventilation systems, and more, so investigate thoroughly before choosing one for your house.

Click here for more information on home automation

The ability to turn lights on and off from a keypad, controller, or smartphone may not sound all that essential. Once you have that type of system though, it’s downright addictive. Attaching technology to everyday tasks can turn the mundane into something super-cool. After all, a smart lighting system is convenient, energy-efficient, and kind of awesome.

Forget running around the house to flip switches or worrying about whether or not the lights were left on for the entire weekend. Smart lighting puts all of the control into your palm, whether you’re sitting on the couch or on a beach a thousand miles away. It can even create the ultimate atmosphere for a party, a movie night, or just a quiet dinner for two.

However, one of our favorite things about smart lighting is how well it plays with other devices in the smart home. Still considering a smart lighting system? Check out five ways you can tie lighting into other areas of your Electronic House.

Motion Sensors. In the Electronic House, sensors are everywhere—and so many of them can be integrated with a smart lighting system. For instance, you can set lights to turn on when a motion sensor is triggered. This won’t just alert you to potential intruders, but can also turn on lights when you pull into a dark driveway. You can even tie those lights into motion detectors, so a pathway will illuminate as you walk from the driveway to the front door. This option would be great for parties, guiding guests to entryways and gathering areas. If you’re worried about having too many lights on at once, consider installing an occupancy sensor, which will turn lights on and off based on whether or not someone is in the room.

Home Theater. Of course, all of the best home theater action occurs in the dark. However, you can create the ultimate movie experience by tying lighting into your living room, media room, or dedicated home theater equipment. One button can close automated curtains and shades, crank up the receiver and Blu-ray player, and dim lights. That same button can even trigger pathway lighting so users can get to the snack bar or restroom without causing a stir. Then when you go to shut down the system, one button can pull up lights alerting guests to exits, the bar, or a gaming area.

Smoke Detectors. Smoke detectors are a must-have in every house. If you want to add a bit of tech into that essential item, consider tying those detectors into your smart lighting setup. Of course, we’re used to getting an audible alert when there’s an emergency, but lighting can deliver a visual cue as well. The system can be set up to flash lights or even illuminate a safe pathway from the bedrooms to the front door.

Door Locks. Who goes there? If you’re worried about home security, consider integrating lighting with those smart door locks. For some, this may seem like a no-brainer. Having the two tied together can turn on the lights whenever you unlock the door, so you never have to enter a dark home. More importantly, it can alert you to when someone else enters the home. When combined, you can set the lighting system to flash or maybe even change colors when someone steps into the foyer. Either way, this combination can make sure you know when someone is coming and going, as well as when.

Smartphones. We’re used to smart lighting having an app component for remote control. Believe it or not though, some smart lighting systems can actually sense when you (and your phone) are on your way home, and will react accordingly by turning the lights on or off. This type of automation is achieved by tying your lighting system into your phone’s geofencing features. Geofencing taps into the phone’s GPS system, in order to alert your lighting system when you’re in the area. In order for it to work, you need to make sure you actually have your phone on you. Leaving it at home or at the office isn’t going to be much of a help. However, if you are addicted to carrying that phone, you may never have to enter into a dark driveway or doorway—all without programming, scheduling, or actually touching any buttons.

Crestron has a deserved reputation for reliability, compatibility and being one of the most complete smart home systems available. Filmmaker Andrew Lucas documents a Chelsie space renovated to create a simulacrum of a home environment and demonstrate how Crestron can fit into each and every room of a residence.

So you own a nice sound system that incorporates both new digital sources and some legacy source components that you do not want to part with. A great way to increase the performance while maximizing dynamic range from all of these is to add an external DAC.

What is a DAC and What is it Used For?

A DAC, or digital to analog converter, converts digital signals into analog signals. DACs are built into CD and DVD players, and other audio devices. The DAC has one of the most important jobs for sound quality: it creates an analog signal from the digital pulses stored on a disc and its accuracy determines the sound quality of the music we hear.

What is an External DAC and What is it Used for?

An external DAC is a separate component not built into a player that has many popular uses for audiophiles, gamers and computer users. The most common use of an external DAC is to upgrade the DACs in an existing CD or DVD player. Digital technology is changing constantly and even a five-year old CD or DVD player has DACs that have probably seen improvements since that time. Adding an external DAC upgrades the player without replacing it, extending its useful life. Other uses for an external DAC include upgrading the sound of the music stored on a PC or Mac computer or to enhance the sound quality of video games.

What are the benefits of an external DAC?

The main benefit of a good external DAC is sound quality. The audio quality of converting a digital signal to analog is highly dependent upon bit rate, sampling frequency, digital filters and other electronic processes. A specialized DAC is designed for the best audio performance. DACs are also improved year over year and older DACs, such as those found in older CD and DVD players do not perform as well as newer models. Computer audio also benefits from an external DAC because the DACs built into computers are generally not the best quality.

The Bryston BDA-3  External DAC

The best external DAC that we offer is the BDA-3 from esteemed audio equipment manufactuer, Bryston.

The Bryston BDA-3 is a world class DAC (digital to analog converter) that is packed with the perfect mix of features making it an essential part of your digital audio chain. Use diverse audio sources such as Bryston’s BDP digital music players, computers, music servers, and CD players to get the most accurate and superb sounding digital playback currently available. The BDA-3 is a magnificent DAC best suited for systems where high performance is desired.

The BDA-3 delivers superb sonic performance through re-sampling and re-clocking of the digital input signal. With the exception of user-selectable up-sampling, the BDA-3 doesn’t convert anything to another format or re-sample at a non-native rate. The most notable difference between the BDA-2 and BDA-3, in addition to PCM playback capable of 384kHz/32 bit resolution, is that the BDA-3 is fully DSD enabled. The BDA-3 can decode up to DSD-256, through asynchronous USB inputs, and accepts SACD input via HDMI. The BDA-3 incorporates 10 separate inputs which include four 2-channel HDMI, asynchronous USB, AES/EBU, TOSLINK, and digital coax. Additionally, the network module which facilitates control via TCP/IP and RS-232 makes the BDA-3 a must for modern home automation.

Inputs: 4x HDMI, 2x USB 2.0 Type B, 2x S/PDIF (1x BNC, 1x RCA), 1x Optical (TOSLINK), 1x AES/EBU
Outputs: HDMI, RCA, XLR
Control: TCP/IP, IR, DC, RS-232

Come into our showroom and let us demonstrate the awesome performance of the Bryston BDA-3 external DAC and you will immediately want one of these as part of your sound system.

We are approaching the time of the year where tech companies start to release their new products to the market. Most of us tech geeks are anxiously waiting for Apple’s new MacBook Pro release (a product that has not received any love in the past three years), and the new Nexus phones, which will run the new Android operating system code named “Android N.” But for now, us geeks are being presented with the release of Sony’s new flagship 4K HDR Ultra HD TV Z series. This product is the pinnacle of innovation for high-end television. As Sony Electronics U.S. president Mike Fasulo puts it “A generational advance in TV technology.” Sony added various new updates to their new line up which include:

New Z Series:

• Backlight Master Drive: This master drive is a backlight boosting technology that expands the contrast and brightness of the image. It operates using special embedded algorithms that touches on the discrete LEDs allowing the image to acquire deeper blacks and brighter whites. Side note: The pixel sorting algorithm must be quite complex as it has to take into account 8.30 million pixels into an array and sort this array, compare, and put into display. Sony engineers probably must keep the complexity of this to a minimum.
• X1 Extreme Processor: To start off, the new X1 chip has over 40% more real-time processing power then the previous chip. The processor is now equipped with a database containing thousands of images that are used for runtime comparison that allow enhancement to the image you see. This goes beyond what we expect from a TV. Now our TVs are being engineered with powerful enough CPUs that leap into into the world of computer vision. Computer vision is used in robotics for autonomous controls and typically uses images from database that resemble the environment the robot is put into in order to make intelligent decisions. This is normally called topological visual mapping and is similar to what our TV are being engineered to do. The new Sony’s however, use it to upscale to 4K and reduce noise from image. Side note: I wonder if the engineers at Sony are using ROS operating system with OpenCV in order to achieve this. Very common in the robotics industry. Great job, Sony.
• Android TV: Running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the new OS allows user to interact with their TV using voice commands and incorporate a better smartphone/TV duality.
• Other Feature: Object-based HDR re-master, dual database processing, and Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR, which analyzes images in each scene and corrects color and contrast of each object individually.

 

 

Comparison with previous flagship TV:

• In the previous Sony flagship TV, local dimming was controlled by zones with several LEDs, now discrete LEDs control the dimming and boosting of LEDs individually. To add, the optical design of the new TV now allows better dynamic range and means that we no longer have to give up color purity and brightness for the black levels.

 

Prices:

• The new XBR75Z9D and XBR65Z9D are available for presale as of this moment and have an expected delivery for the end of the summer. The price for the Z series 65-inch is going to be $6,999 and the 75-inch will have an expected price of $9,999.

Conclusion:

The new Sony flagship 4K HDR Ultra HD TV Z series is a giant leap forward for mankind. With a newly engineered CPU, 40% more powerful then previous model, the new Sony flagship television will sure blow one away. The addition of a database that compares thousands of images, the Super Bit Mapping technology, and the Backlight Master Drive, makes the new Sony Z series an outstanding piece of engineering. With this said, I think the new Sony Z series is ahead of the race in the 4K television industry.

For well over 100 years, the telephone was the primary means of communication in our lives – first at home and then on the go. Today, the Internet is the backbone of communications, enabling us to talk, text, email, video chat, stream or download all forms of media and access information anywhere, anytime.

A home network facilitates communication between PCs, tablets, TVs, smartphones and countless other devices so we can share information, stream audio and video into our spaces, provide automation and control of our home and much more. The network provides a gateway to the Internet as well, allowing us to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues, access streaming services like Netflix and monitor or control the growing number of Internet-enabled household features and devices.

Building a Digital Foundation

“The network is the digital foundation of the home,” says Ken Briggs, Sr. Systems Designer of Gainesville, Fl. based integration firm, Electronics World. “Like a physical foundation, if it is weak in any way so are all the electronics that sit on it. The home network is the primary subsystem in a home automation system.”

Briggs advises homeowners who are planning for a multi-room audio/video or home-automation project to think of the network as an infrastructure investment like electric or plumbing.

The Crossroads of Communication

Why is the network so important? “Most A/V and home-automation products these days are IP-driven,” explains Justin Paden, Installation Technician for Electronics World. An average home can easily have 25 or more devices connected to the network simultaneously, he says. TVs, Blu-ray players, media streamers, A/V receivers, Xbox and appliances, wireless music systems and more each get their own IP address on the network.

“All of those devices are talking with each other on a regular basis, grabbing information from the web and sharing information with each other 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Briggs says. “It’s an information engine.”

Robust Hardware and Expertise Required

Briggs says homeowners who are investing in home automation often mistakenly believe that the demands of a modern home-automation system can be met with common hardware you can buy at a typical big-box store.

“Standard devices, such as inexpensive routers, are not prepared to service their home and do not offer the tools to solve bandwidth allocation problems” – tools that provide remote access to the system so the integrator can troubleshoot and often fix problems, avoiding costly service calls. The bottom line: You need an experienced installation technician who knows how to assemble a robust network – one built with the same “enterprise” hardware businesses use.

Take Wi-Fi, which has become ubiquitous in our lives. “Your wireless is only as good as the routing and switching,” Briggs says. “Without a good router and a good switch, it’s not going to do the job.”

Factor in the growing trend of using Smart Phones and iPads (tablets) to control home entertainment, lighting, temperature and you-name-it, and the network becomes even more critical. “If you use basic, off-the-shelf wireless boosters in a large home, you’ll drop off one and have to disconnect and reconnect to another if you’re walking around with an iPad,” Briggs says. By contrast, a properly-built network will see that the signal is getting low on one access point and jump seamlessly to the next one.

The Future

As we look ahead, the home network becomes even more important. “It’s really the future of entertainment,” Briggs says. “We have more and more cloud services at our disposal, and the cloud is absolutely dependent on your home being connected to the Internet. Whether it’s an iPad streaming music from Pandora or Netflix on your television, it is all being delivered by your network. The ISP gets it to the pole and to your modem but after the modem it’s up to the homeowner to build an engine to move that information around the house.”

Advice

The best advice for homeowners, when you’re ready to move forward with your home networking project be sure to consult a professional to design a scalable home network built for today’s needs and your needs for the future. “It’s no longer good enough to install some cat5 cable to a router with a robust antenna, that was okay in 2007” Briggs continues, “In 2016 there’s on average 20 plus devices pulling bandwidth from a home network at any given point in time of the day along with portable wireless devices roaming the entire landscape of the home.” Whether building new or retrofitting an existing home seeking the advice of a professional is recommended to ensure all of your devices will work seamlessly across your network regardless of their type.

From Norfolk to Omaha Cox Communications customers are up in arms about being forced to add equipment to their televisions in order to view content, any content, regardless whether its 480, 720 or 1080 resolution. Now the transition arrives in the Gainesville and Ocala markets. Analog has been eliminated and high definition signals will now be locked down from viewing. As for 4K transmissions, well that’s another transition issue discussion for a different time! While the mini box confounds many across the country, Cox say’s its ready to help. However their 28 page manual for the 4 wide inch by 3 inch deep by 1.75 tall box with HDMI and optical digital audio outputs doesn’t discuss how the box should integrate with many of Electronics World legacy installations or installations done by other a/v specialty contractors in the Gainesville/Ocala community over the last 20 years.

At this time we urge our past clients and clients of any other a/v installation companies to contact us for assistance during this transition period. We have many options that will allow you to continue to enjoy basic and premium content for television viewing and listening through your audio system with no or minimal disruption to how you presently operate your system. In addition we have options to improve upon Cox’s mini box offering, allowing you to receive much more content without paying any more for cable service and in the case of premium cable TV households, your bill can be reduced.

Business and Home service customers who have closed circuit television camera systems, modulated distributed video and any type of analog video delivery system including systems designed with component video cabling (Pr/Py/Pb or Red, blue, green) prevalent from 1997 to 2007, will soon learn come June 14^th their means of accessing their equipment will either not work or require adjustment in order to work. Those with household distributed audio systems may also be effected, as the new Cox mini-box doesn’t feature compatible audio connections with stereo and surround sound receivers featuring analog zone 2 distributed audio outputs.

Those of us who purchased digital televisions in the hope that a televisions internal high definition tuner will provide access to basic high definition cable channels will need to make an adjustment. The FCC ruled in 2014 allowing cable companies like Cox to scramble their digital transmissions, thus requiring the need for a converter box, hence the introduction of the “Cox mini-box”. Terrestrial antenna reception directly from local television stations will not be scrambled and is still free. Electronics World can assist you with the transition to the mini-box or suggest alternatives to the mini-box, you do have more than one or two choices during this transition. But hurry, the June 14^th 2016 deadline is fast approaching, stop by or give Electronics World a call today.