Here we are in 2016, 14 years since the Sonos brand launched, and but with a thousand other audio brands on the market, Sonos is still the leading maker of wireless speakers. Why’s that? Well, for starters, the Sonos products are very good (this editor has them in several rooms of his house). They set […]
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Hardwired vs Wireless Whole-House Music Systems
There are two schools of thought when it comes to installing a whole-house music system into a home: you can run no wire at all, relying on your home’s wireless network to deliver music from audio components to speakers, or you can utilize low-voltage cabling as the mode of transportation for your music. Both have […]
Get the Guide10 Awesome A/V Applications from CEDIA Expo 2015
From immersive and wireless audio to 4K RGB laser video, we take a look at some great audio and video statements made at CEDIA Expo 2015.
As usual, the show floor and demo rooms at the 2015 CEDIA Expo served up plenty of eye and ear candy for custom installers to consider. Perhaps expected, there were Dolby Atmos demos everywhere (and this year some DTS:X and Auro demos as well) highlighting the audio side of the A/V equation. On the video […]
Get the GuideHardwired vs Wireless Whole-House Music Systems
There are two schools of thought when it comes to installing a whole-house music system into a home: you can run no wire at all, relying on your home’s wireless network to deliver music from audio components to speakers, or you can utilize low-voltage cabling as the mode of transportation for your music. Both have […]
Get the GuideEditor's Note: What's Cooking?
If it’s cooking in my kitchen it’s likely to be a ham and cheese Hot Pocket or a Tombstone pizza. Quick, easy, and … YUCK. If I had more time to plan and prepare a real, honest-to-goodness meal, I’d dump my old standbys faster than a bad boyfriend. I’m pretty sure my guilt over poor […]
Get the GuideHands On: SmartThings Smart Home Control and Automation System Review
Updated. Originally published March 2014. There are a lot of smart things in this review. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. In the case of this test I was probably the dumbest thing in the room. I’ve setup a number of smart home hubs (like this one and this one), programmed my own Control4 system […]
Get the GuideCut the Cords and the Clutter With Wireless Surround Speakers
You no longer need to be tethered when it comes to creating a home theater.
With a wireless system you no longer need to be tethered to your home theater.
Get the Guide6 Wireless Speakers You May Not Have Heard of but Should Listen to
Wireless speakers don’t have to be all business. You’re probably heard of Sonos speakers, but there are many other audio companies offering unique approaches to the wireless speaker market. Just as traditional speakers can be flexible in their design, from basic box speakers to the objet d’art that is the B&W Nautilus, wireless speakers can […]
Get the Guide4 Easy Ways to Hide TV Wires and Speaker Wire
Television makers are spending more time than ever on the designs of their sets— thin bezels, shiny chrome, anything to add some pizazz to your entertainment center. Makers of other components like DVRs, set-top boxes, even receivers, are paying more attention to how their products look in addition to how they work. After all, who […]
Get the GuideRadical Restoration: Home of the Year Under $50,000 Gold
IT ALL STARTED WITH A TINY, DILAPIDATED 800-SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright district of Oak Park, Ill. Other than its revered architectural style, there was nothing remarkable about the residence, which owner Shireesh Reddy purchased on a short sale a few years ago. Despite the outward appearance of the rundown residence, he […]
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