HTA Update - 05/28/2008 (Plain Text Version)
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E-mail Our Editor In this issue: Home Buyers Benefit from Home TechnologyFor most families, their home is the center of family life. Whether it’s a starter or ultimate dream-come-true masterpiece, the house sets the stage for the way families live and play. That’s why home builders should consider personalizing the homes they build by including home technology products. They enhance a home’s ambiance and envelop the senses in every possible way. Blending high fidelity and architecture is one way to complement a family’s individual lifestyle. Because it’s not just how a home looks that makes it magic to live in, it’s also how it sounds that sets it apart. Audio combined with visual elements touch family and friends in special ways. Over the past decade multi-room audio has become a necessity for contemporary living. Having sound around the house in the old days was a limited proposition. Typically it involved a boom box or mini stereo system in every room. But that just doesn’t cut it today for several reasons. First of all, the vast majority of boom boxes and mini systems look and sound terrible. Secondly, it simply takes up too much space to have five or six separate sound systems spread throughout the house. And lastly, digital music sources like satellite radio and iPod storage has family members wanting to enjoy their favorite radio stations or private music collection anywhere in the house, not just in one location. Taking the country by storm, multi-room audio enables everyone in the family to listen to whatever they wish, whenever they want to and wherever they desire to listen. To better understand the benefits of a multi-room sound system it’s important to know what’s in included in a system. Components of Multi-room Audio Loudspeakers. With all of the modern advances, sound still comes from loudspeakers, but the loudspeakers used in today’s multi-room systems look and perform far better than loudspeakers did in the days of old. Today, multi-room loudspeakers are built right into walls and ceilings. Technologies have advanced to the point where the sound of in-wall or ceiling mount loudspeakers rival old style bookshelf or floor standing loudspeakers. So any house can have all that great sound and none of the ugly baggage associated with box–type loudspeakers. Outdoor sound is also growing in popularity. Millions of homeowners are discovering that the outdoor spaces around their houses are just as important as the ones indoors. So naturally, they want to personalize these areas with sound too. Well here’s some good news, modern loudspeaker manufacturers have figured out how to provide stellar sound from concealed areas. Loudspeakers in weatherproof cabinets can blend seamlessly with their architectural surroundings, yet provide living room quality sound outdoors. All this means that every space, indoors or out, can be personalized for home buyers with terrific sound. Receivers. The development of multi-zone receivers makes it possible to listen to great sound from various audio sources in different locations simultaneously. A customer can listen to background music in the home office while the news is on in the master bath. The kids can play music from their digital collections in their separate rooms, all at the same time. So everyone gets the exact music or program material they want without hassle or bothering anyone else. Multi-room audio, made possible by this new breed of electronics, delivers unique and personal sound for everyone in the family and every entertaining occasion. Benefits of Multi-room Audio No clutter. That’s because most of the components of multi-room audio systems are concealed. For the first time, all of the homeowners’ program material can be accessed and controlled from conveniently located keypads or hand held remote controls. No more shelves of components or clunky table radios. The elegant and intuitive user interfaces of sophisticated multi-room audio systems blend seamlessly with household décor and complement any lifestyle. This makes them more of a joy to operate as they are to listen to. Moreover, modern computer technology makes even the most complicated systems easy to use for the whole family. The most complicated systems are automated and operate flawlessly with the press of a single button. Added pleasure and value. Along with elevating the quality of home life, home builders that include multi-room audio systems in their projects are likely to see enhanced home values. These systems add to the panache and differentiate a home from others, making it more attractive to potential buyers. Great sound around the house is an important touch point that lets everyone know how special and well thought out the home actually is. So, not only are new home buyers likely to get hours of living pleasure from a multi-room audio purchase, home builders will increase their returns from homes that include home technology products. Now that’s what I call real value. Frank K. Sterns, president of Niles Audio Corporation, possesses a formidable background in the consumer-electronics business. His experience and expertise span marketing, sales, and product development in the home, car, high-end, and custom-installation markets. Sterns is responsible for all aspects of the company’s strategy and operations and is focused on accelerating the pace of innovation while remaining true to the company’s roots. He is a member of AES (Audio Engineering Society), AMA (American Management Association), CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association), and PARA (the Professional Audio Retailers Association). He can be reached at 1-800-289-4434 or fsterns@nilesaudio.com.
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